The Philadelphia 76ers will have a new-look starting five heading into next season. Adding both Jaylen Brown and LeBron James will have a profound effect on their standing in the Eastern Conference. Last year, they were the seventh seed in the East.
Next year, they are viewed as one of the favorites to win the conference. However, not everyone believes they will be able to win when it matters the most. ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill talked to NBA executives about the 76ers, specifically how they would match up against the Knicks.
It’s clear that some around the league still don’t trust the Sixers, and it boils down to Joel Embiid.
GettyPhiladelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid holds the ball in a game. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Executives Raise Questions About 76ers’ Joel Embiid
The executives that Goodwill talked to don’t seem to trust Embiid and his ability to stay healthy when it matters the most. Specifically in a matchup with Karl-Anthony Towns, executives don’t seem to like that matchup for the Sixers because of Embiid.
“They cancel each other out. Towns is too mobile for Embiid, and Joel is too physical, provided he plays that way. I don’t trust him at all.”
Embiid’s health has been an issue for him throughout his entire career. Last year, he was only able to play 38 games in the regular season. In the postseason, he only played one game against the Knicks before breaking down again. That was one of the big reasons why they were eliminated without putting up much of a fight.
Adding both Brown and James should help the 76ers be able to manage Embiid’s health a little bit more. James is not a bastion of health either, but Brown is one of the most durable players in the NBA. Embiid just needs to be healthy when the month of April starts.
GettyPhiladelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid shoots the ball in a game. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Sixers Will Have a Giant Microscope on Them
Last season, the 76ers were not a team that was on national TV at the same level as the Lakers, Warriors, and Celtics were. That will change this year now that James has signed with the team. It wouldn’t be shocking to see half of their games on national TV.
With that comes pressure to perform. Last season, the Sixers had the 16th-best offense in the NBA. If that number doesn’t improve, fans will pile on criticism, especially towards James. The Sixers need James to average at least 20 points per game if they want to be seen as true contenders.
Keeping the team healthy at the end of the spring is going to be the highest priority. As long as they have their starters healthy heading into April, they will have a chance to win the title. They should have enough chemistry built by that point to have an effective offensive game plan.
Whether that will be good enough to beat the defending champion Knicks remains to be seen.
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