The new look Philadelphia 76ers are ready for a huge season as they lead a charge towards the NBA title.
The winners of the offseason were the Philadelphia 76ers, who acquired Jaylen Brown in a stunning trade with the Boston Celtics, giving up Paul George.
They then managed to attract the biggest free agent in basketball, with LeBron James agreeing a deal to join the team.
Despite these stunning additions to the team, Tyrese Maxey is convinced that Joel Embiid is going to be the biggest difference-maker.
Speaking to ESPN, Maxey says that having Embiid healthy for training camp has been a huge help for the 76ers preparations.
“If you haven’t been playing with a big like Joel, there’s not many. It’s very hard, very difficult to learn certain things.
“So, with him being here, we can drill those things over and over. It’s been what, like two, three weeks that we’ve had just drilling and drilling. That’s a good thing.”
Maxey’s comments highlight not just what is going right for the 76ers at the moment, but what went wrong for them in the past, with Embiid’s injury issues a constant worry.
The team is strong enough now that they do not need to rely on Embiid, but he is such a unique skilful and powerful player that he is impossible to replace when he is out of the lineup.
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Added pressure in Philadelphia
The offseason additions have piled the pressure on in Philadelphia, and that is a new challenge for rising stars Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
Jaylen Brown and LeBron James wouldn’t have it any other way, while Embiid has been used to pressure his entire time in the city.
The last time the 76ers were a #1 seed was in the shortened 2020-21 season. Amid strong competition from the champion New York Knicks, they will be looking to rise that high again, before making a playoff tilt.
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