John Geliebter

By Zack Rosenblatt | For NJ Advance Media

PHILADELPHIA — In his introduction to local media on Monday night, Marco Belinelli cracked a smile and said "I trust the process." At this point, it's tradition for a new player to say, or tweet that. Belinelli clearly knows his audience.

Wednesday night, Belinelli actually made his debut, and the whole story of Belinelli actively seeking out the Sixers when he had other enviable options — the Thunder and Raptors both expressed interest in Belinelli after the Hawks waived him last week — says everything about how far this team has come since "The Process" started and Brett Brown was hired in 2013.

Belinelli made his Sixers debut on Wednesday and played a key role in a 104-102 win against the Heat. The Italian and 11-year veteran contributed to a comeback from a 24-point deficit, scoring 17 points overall and 11 in the fourth quarter alone. It was the Sixers fifth win in a row, 11th in a row at home and 30th on the season.

Now, the Sixers enter the All-Star break positioned for the playoffs, 7th in the Eastern Conference standings.

While Belinelli "trusts the process," this is really why he came here. After three years playing for mediocre teams like the Hawks, Hornets and Kings, Belinelli wanted to return to a winning culture.

Wait, what?

"One thing that I really love about this group, when I was in free agency (I saw) they want to win so bad and that's why I think we won this game," Belinelli said. "I'm really impressed about that ...

"I needed that. Last couple years in Sacramento, Charlotte and Atlanta it's not easy to go on the court and win games with the young guys. Just be able to be part of this team, that's what I need. From every side of basketball, something that I need inside to bring for the team. Like I said before, I want to win so bad. I really trust this process. That's the truth."

So here we are, the Sixers have won more games at the All-Star break than in the full season for each of the last four seasons.

Just how far has this franchise come? Here's a look back at how the Sixers have looked heading into the All-Star break in each of Brown's seasons as head coach.

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WATCH: Sixers' Markelle Fultz shoots from 'outside the paint' before Heat game

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John Raoux

2013-14

Record at All-Star break: 15-39

Last game before break: Lost 105-100 to Utah Jazz

Last 10 before break: 1-9

Starting line-up: James Anderson, Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, Michael Carter-Williams

Reserves: Tony Wroten, Elliot Williams, Lavoy Allen, Arnett Moultrie, Lorenzo Brown, Hollis Thompson

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Lori M. Nichols

2014-15

Record at All-Star break: 12-41

Last game before break: Lost 89-84 to Golden State Warriors

Last 10 before break: 4-6

Starting line-up: Robert Covington, Tim Frazier, Luc Mbah A Moute, Nerlens Noel, JaKarr Sampson

Reserves: Hollis Thompson, K.J. McDaniels, Jerami Grant, Henry Sims, Furkan Aldemir, Malcolm Thomas, Michael Carter-Williams (injured)

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Tim Hawk

2015-16

Record at All-Star break: 8-45

Last game before break: Lost 114-110 to Sacramento Kings

Last 10 before break: 3-7

Starting line-up: Robert Covington, Ish Smith, Jerami Grant, Nik Stauskas, Jahlil Okafor

Reserves: T.J. McConnell, Richaun Holmes, Hollis Thompson, Isaiah Canaan, Carl Landry, Kendall Marshall, Nerlens Noel (injured), JaKarr Sampson

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2016-17

Record at All-Star break: 21-35

Last game before break: Lost 116-108 to Boston Celtics

Last 10 before break: 4-6

Starting line-up: Robert Covington, T.J. McConnell, Nerlens Noel, Gerald Henderson, Ersan Ilyasova

Reserves: Dario Saric, Nik Stauskas, Sergio Rodriguez, Jahlil Okafor, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Chasson Randle, Joel Embiid (injured), Richaun Holmes

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What does Sixers' Joel Embiid think about Markelle Fultz's situation?

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John Geliebter

2017-18

Record at All-Star break: 30-25

Last game before break: Won 104-102 against Miami Heat

Last 10 before break: 6-4

Starting line-up: Robert Covington, Ben Simmons, J.J. Redick, Dario Saric, Amir Johnson

Reserves: Marco Belinelli, T.J. McConnell, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Richaun Holmes, Trevor Booker, Justin Anderson (injured), Joel Embiid (injured), Jerryd Bayless

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CURRENT EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF STANDINGS

Toronto Raptors 41-16 Boston Celtics 40-19 Cleveland Cavaliers 34-22 Washington Wizards 33-24 Milwaukee Bucks 32-24 Indiana Pacers 33-25 Philadelphia 76ers 30-25 Miami Heat 30-29

On the bubble: Detroit Pistons (28-29), Charlotte Hornets (24-33)

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Zack Rosenblatt | For NJ Advance Media

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Zack Rosenblatt may be reached at zsr1090@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZackBlatt. Find NJ.com on Facebook.