Philadelphia is 1-0 after a 106-100 win at New York and hosts Cleveland tonight on ESPN. The talent behind that start is real, and so are the risks that came with it.
Does last season's -0.1 net rating mean anything for this team?
Last season's Sixers scored 114.3 points per 100 possessions and allowed 114.4. That made them a 45-37 team that was average on both ends. It's the baseline, but it doesn't prove much about this roster, because Jaylen Brown and LeBron James weren't on it. It does set the bar: the new pieces have to fix the defense, not just add more scoring.
Can Maxey keep playing 38.0 minutes a game?
Tyrese Maxey averaged 28.3 points and 6.6 assists in 70 games last season while playing 38.0 minutes per game, the heaviest load on the team. With Brown's 28.7 points now next to him, the hope is that his minutes come down. That doesn't prove the sharing works. Maxey scored 14 in the opener and the Sixers still won 106-100, which is one game, not a pattern.
How much Embiid can they actually count on?
Joel Embiid played 38 games last season and still averaged 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds. When he plays, he's the best big man on the roster. He missed more than half the season, though. ESPN aired Shaq saying "they can't do it without Joel Embiid." The 38 games show why that's a worry, not a comfort.
Is a 41-year-old LeBron built for a starter's workload?
LeBron James is 41. Last season he played 60 games at 33.2 minutes, averaging 20.9 points and 7.2 assists. Those are starter numbers. They don't prove he can hold up over 81 remaining games, starting tonight on one day of rest while Cleveland has had eight. ESPN's Brian Windhorst wrote about James playing center on opening night, which shows how thin the frontcourt already is.
What does a $206.6M payroll buy, and what doesn't it buy?
Philadelphia's payroll is $206.6M, over the $200.4M luxury tax line. The three biggest deals belong to Embiid ($58.1M), Brown ($57.1M) and Maxey ($40.8M). That money bought high-volume scorers, not size. Dominick Barlow is sidelined until an estimated November 2, Tacko Fall until October 24 and Ariel Hukporti until October 2027. The 2028 first is protected and the 2029 first is a swap, so there isn't much to trade.
Who is injured for the Sixers against the Cavaliers?
Dominick Barlow, Tacko Fall and Ariel Hukporti are out, and Dean Wade is day-to-day with an ankle issue. For Cleveland, Jarrett Allen is day-to-day, and Khalifa Diop and Nae'Qwan Tomlin are out.
Are the 76ers over the luxury tax?
Yes. Their payroll is $206.6M, and the luxury tax line is $200.4M.
