With preseason basketball right around the corner, it’s about time to start thinking about what the Sixers will look like. Many fans have been dying to see how this team will perform after an off-season filled with roster changes, drama, and even a new coach. How will the sixers bounce back from yet another second-round exit? Will it be the same song and dance? Here are five things that you can expect from the Sixers this season.
- Another Dominant Season from Joel Embiid
This might be a given, but it isn’t something to be taken for granted. Joel Embiid is coming off his first MVP award and two straight scoring titles. For the last several years, Embiid has inserted himself into the top 5s of basketball fans everywhere. He has the handle of a guard and has some of the best footwork we have seen. He is leading a charge to revolutionize the center spot. The big man has shown no signs of slowing down and only hopes to continue, dominate, add to his legacy, and chase an NBA championship.
- A Polished Playstyle
Doc Rivers’ long overdue departure from Philadelphia finally happened. The Sixers were able to bring in another championship winning coach. Rivers "coached” a stagnant and uncreative offense. To further prove that, during the years Rivers was coach, the Sixers ranked near dead last in cut-related statistics.
2022-23: 29th
2021-22: 28th
2020-21: 30th
Surely anything Nurse puts together on the offensive side of the ball will be more involved than Rivers has ever had. After all, you can’t be worse than last. New coach Nick Nurse also brings in a new approach on the defense. Sixers fans are very familiar with Nurse’s defensive gameplans as it gave us trouble on several occasions. Nurse brings an aggressive, suffocating and trapping defense.
- Expect the Unexpected with James Harden
I guess I’m breaking the rules here on “things you can expect” but with James Harden, you never know his next move. I think the consensus was that Harden would return to this team without a doubt. Yet another Harden trade request later, the Sixers have been thrown for a loop. They have since tried to smooth things over with the all-star, despite Harden publicly calling out Sixers’ president of operations, Daryl Morey. The Sixers have all the leverage in this dispute due to a CBA clause stating if Harden were to sit out for more than 30 days, he would not be eligible to jump teams next season. As a fan, all we can do is be patient, see how it all shakes out, and hope it doesn’t have a looming effect on the season.
- Experimentation with the Rotation
We have to be patient for us to really have a grip on who we’ll see on the court this season. As expected, Nick Nurse will take some time to adjust to his new surroundings. With Nurse’s arrival, this can be a new era for the team, an opportunity for a fresh start for some guys. I believe the Sixers have many players capable of getting quality minutes. Players like Furkan Korkmaz, Paul Reed, and Jaden Springer are all looking to prove themselves and crack the rotation. With the uncertainty of James Harden, it is possible those guys get the opportunity they’re looking for.
- Yet Another Jump for Tyrese Maxey
From doubling his scoring numbers his sophomore season to finally being a twenty point per game scorer, the rise of Tyrese Maxey has been nothing short of amazing. Maxey has stepped up and showed his capabilities in leading a team. He is undoubtedly the future of this team. With Harden’s situation unpredictable, is this the season Maxey takes on a bigger load and makes yet another jump? His skills coach Drew Hanlen said he would be surprised if Maxey didn’t average at least twenty-five a game this season. Big things are coming for Mad Max.
