The Sixers’ season started a week ago. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.
From LeBron James surprises to Joel Embiid’s health, we consider all the core questions around the Sixers.
We’re still early in the NBA season, but the 76ers’ season has started to take form over the past month, starting with media day in late September. We’ve now watched several games and gotten to watch the team’s big five meld together in real time. We’ve also gotten to watch the team without a few of their stars — namely LeBron James and Joel Embiid — which will be a common occurrence throughout their 82-game slate.
That said, The Inquirer decided to ask beat writers Chris Hine and Gina Mizell about their early impressions of this team, keying in on LeBron James, Joel Embiid and a few other core issues that will need to be solved during the Sixers’ quest for a title.
Question: LeBron has officially been in Philly for a month. What’s one surprising thing you’ve learned about the Hall of Famer since his arrival at media day?
Chris Hine: The willingness to adapt and set up the talent around him. He clearly recognizes what the Sixers have when it comes to their ability to play in transition, and he’s willing to push and condition his body at age 41 to play an up-tempo style of basketball.
He’s often the one making the hit-ahead passes, looking for ways to ignite a fast-break opportunity when one might not be there. At 39, I’m tired when I have to play more than a few softball games in one day. I can’t imagine running and sprinting miles in an NBA game. But it’s what this team needs, and he’s willing to do it.
Gina Mizell: I don’t know if this is surprising, per se, but it is impressive watching his playmaking in person more than a couple times per season. That’s on kick-ahead passes and in halfcourt offense. We also have gotten glimpses of his meticulous pregame routine to maintain this level of production at age 41, such as his stretch routine in the locker room period that is open to the media.
And from our perspective, I respect the way he handles himself and explains the game even in chaotic media scrums. You can tell he’s been dealing with the global celebrity limelight for a quarter century.
Q: Tyrese Maxey recently won Eastern Conference player of the week and has served as the Sixers’ scoring linchpin. Do you expect him to stay in that role? And is it best for the Sixers?
Hine: It is best for the Sixers, but I don’t know if I expect him to always be in that role, given that someone else may be cooking, as the kids say, on any night. Maxey getting catch-and-shoot three-point looks, along with getting him going in transition, are the two main ways he can maximize his efficiency.
If the Sixers are operating fluidly on offense, and they’re getting out on the break, then Maxey is going to benefit in the stat column. If the offense bogs down into isolation-heavy looks, then it’s anybody’s guess who is best for that role, given the talent in the rest of the starting lineup.
Mizell: Yes to both of those questions, at least until it’s proven that the Sixers’ offense consistently functions better with a different scoring pecking order. Maxey does not seem to be forcing things — or, at least, does not appear to be working as hard to score as he needed to for portions of the last three seasons while Embiid and/or Paul George were injured.
He cares most this season about being efficient, which should include more catch-and-shoot looks, more opportunities to come off screens and with speed and get immediately downhill, and more transition buckets. Embiid said recently that Maxey should challenge for a 50/40/90 shooting-percentage season. He does not need to average more than 28 points again to be the Sixers’ top scorer — and potentially an MVP candidate. There will be a handful of nights when Embiid, Jaylen Brown, or even James or Edgecombe goes off for 35 points.
Q: The Sixers are playing their best with Joel Embiid on the court. Is this a good or bad sign for the Sixers?
Hine: It is good, because the ceiling of this team depends on Joel Embiid being healthy and playing good basketball. It’d be alarming if Embiid was healthy and the Sixers weren’t playing their best basketball with him out there.
Of course, the Sixers need to find a solution to the backup center rotation behind him, and they should get a better picture of what that looks like when they get some injured players back. But ultimately, if the Sixers want to win a title, Embiid looking like he does now is essential.
Mizell: Mostly good, if he stays healthy. Even with the small sample size, this is the best Embiid has looked on both ends of the court since Jonathan Kuminga fell on his knee and began his years-long health issues. Though viewed as a ball-dominant (and highly skilled) big man, Embiid reiterated after amassing a triple-double in Saturday’s win over the Bucks that he prefers to get others involved with side-to-side ball movement.
With all the talent now surrounding him, this is his chance to prove it. And while the backup center conundrum is a tad overblown, given how many other frontcourt players were out for Sunday against Detroit, it has been regarded as the Sixers’ biggest positional weakness since the summer. When the trade market opens up more after Dec. 15, that could be an upgrade area.
Q: This Sixers have shown flashes on defense and in transition. In what area do you think they’ve shown the most potential?
Hine: It’s all tied together, but I think this team can be a good to very good defensive team when it is locked in on that end. Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe can be point-of-attack weapons. Tyrese Maxey continues to get better. Perahps the emphasis on transition, and the way it leads to easy points with this kind of personnel, will make it easier to focus defensively since good defense leads to good offense. That’s especially true early in the season as they are figuring things out in the halfcourt.
Mizell: Their really terrific stretches of defense in the second halves against the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers have been their most impressive basketball in the early season. But the transition game should be a weapon they can consistently utilize as they figure out their halfcourt offensive flow. James, Maxey, Brown, and Edgecombe are all among the league’s best fastbreak players.
Q: The Sixers added a lot of new faces over the summer. Who do you think has made the best first impression?
Hine: Assuming we’re not just talking about the starters, I’ll also say Caldwell-Pope. His two-way ability can be crucial for them, especially as they navigate nights during the season when James or Embiid may be out. He’s always been a sound defender, and he looks like he has plenty left in the tank when it comes to his quickness and athleticism. If he can shoot anywhere near his days with the Denver Nuggets, when he shot above 40%, that’d be a huge boost for the Sixers.
Mizell: I’ll mostly put this in the “still too early” category. But I’ll go a bit off the beaten path and say that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been a sneaky surprise. It was reasonable to question how much he had left in the tank after rough stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic. But he has been impactful along the perimeter on both ends of the floor. And when asked about teammates with championship experience, Maxey made sure to shout out KCP. That illustrates the respect he has already earned in the locker room.
