Improved health is turning the Sixers into a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic. During a three-game road winning streak that moved Philadelphia to within three games of second place, the biggest news surrounding the team is that Joel Embiid and Paul George were both in the starting lineup for all three contests. They’re pairing with the explosive backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe to make the Sixers a difficult challenge for opposing defenses.
“For three games, we have had the same players in our starting lineup,” coach Nick Nurse said. “For three games, we have started the same five people. I don’t think I’ve been able to say that very much, since I’ve been here. You guys (the reporters) would have to go and check your notes on that. It’s been good to finally have some continuity.”
The most significant development is the health of Embiid, who is showing flashes of his MVP form in recent games. He posted 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in Saturday’s win at New York and is proving that he’s still among the NBA’s best centers. Jones notes that he’s also figuring out how to benefit from playing with the team’s high-scoring guards after that relationship looked “clunky” earlier in the season.
“I’m just super happy to see Joel and Tyrese and PG on the floor and healthy,” Edgecombe said. “I’m super happy, man. It’s like the little kid in me, playing alongside the superstars that I watched growing up. Yeah, man, this is great.”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- Embiid’s performance on Saturday included his first dunk of the season, which is a sign that his troublesome right knee could be feeling better, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Embiid was nonchalant about the achievement, but his teammates were excited. “I was so happy,” Maxey said. “So now, it’s my fault because the play before, I dropped him off a pass, thinking he wasn’t going to dunk it. Now he’s telling me to throw him a lob. So I’m going to throw him a lob, and we’re going to see how that goes.”
- Maxey’s scoring numbers have made him a contender for first-team All-NBA honors, but Nurse is equally impressed by his improved defense, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). Maxey ranks fourth in the league in steals at 1.8 per game and has already blocked 28 shots, which is five away from his single-season career high. “He’s been much better this year, I think the whole way,” Nurse said. “I think you’d agree that he’s into the ball, he’s over screens, getting his share of pick-sixes, getting his share of turnovers. So he’s been really alert on that end of the floor, I think all season. He just keeps getting better.”
- There was some debate heading into the draft about who the Sixers should take with the No. 3 pick, but Edgecombe is showing they made the right choice, Pompey adds in the same piece. The rookie guard is proving there’s a lot more to his game than the highlights he displayed at Baylor. “He’s been awesome,” Nurse said. “I think just, again, the composure. I think that he has it just so steady out there. He plays like a 10-year vet with his composure. He just kind of keeps making plays. He does a little bit of everything, which is great.”
76ers and Pistons need this type of players to win the East
AD
Durant
Randle
Siakam
MPJ
George and 2 unprotected Firsts for AD
Mavs don’t want George. 76ers have to find a third team to take him
The 76ers do not need/can’t get any of those players. AD is basically the same as Embiid. Durant would kill the growth of maxey and VJ with his needs for shots. Randle is too inconsistent a shooter and makes too much money. MPJ, I don’t see the fit and he is injury prone so he and PG are basically the same. Siakam makes too much money. In order to acquire one of those players, the other team would need to be willing to take Embiid or George contract because the Sixers aren’t trading maxey. Everyone else on the team makes less than $12m/year. The math won’t math
I know old narratives are hard for some to get past but Michael Porter Jr played 77 games last season and 81 in the prior. He’s on pace to play 67 this season on a team that’s actively trying to tank. More importantly He’s never missed a playoff game other than his rookie season where he was out for the season.
You trade George for one of those guys, you would get much better.
Starters
7 footers AD and Embiid
3 guard rotation
Grimes
Maxey
VJ Edgecombe
Easily win the East
Making a trade for AD is the dumbest thing the Sixers could do.
I don’t see the fit between Embiid and AD.
76ers have the talent. All they need, a big if, is to be and stay healthy.
Sixers are playing. And VJ has a big future. Have to give them credit. Only talk of contending for the East. Is way premature yet. Best to see who shows up to play then. Still 50 games to go.
Re drafting VJ, I think the question is not “is he good?” He is. It’s “should they have taken Kon or VJ?”
No 76ers are bad. They just lost to the absolute b-squad of the Nuggets. Zero Denver starters played.