The Sixers are 2-0 and top seed in the conference after erasing a 29-point deficit, and all four stars mattered after halftime. The question that defines Nick Nurse's third season is whether Maxey, Embiid, Brown and James can share the ball and stay healthy enough to cover for a bench that barely scores.
Did the Cleveland comeback prove the four stars fit?
Partly. Maxey had 32, Embiid 24, Brown 21 and James 17 with 10 rebounds, and the starters scored 105 of the 114 points. Brown, Embiid and Maxey scored 10, 9 and 8 in a 32-16 fourth quarter. But the same group trailed 69-40 late in the first half, James turned it over five times and Brown four. That doesn't make it a system yet. It makes it a very good night.
Is Joel Embiid now the fourth option?
Charles Barkley called him that on the broadcast, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The box score disagrees: Embiid shot 8 of 16, went 7 of 9 at the line, finished +18 in 34 minutes and scored 9 in the fourth. First option or fourth, the label matters less than the touches. Nurse's job is to let the matchup decide who shoots, not the pecking order.
What happens when one of the four sits?
That's the real worry. Embiid is day-to-day for rest heading into Milwaukee, and he played 38 games last season. James is 41. When the starters sat against Cleveland, the bench gave the lead back: Simons went 0 of 4 and was -24 in 17 minutes, and Bona was -10 in 14. Seven bench points won't hold up on a night when a star is out.
Can the front office buy more depth?
Not easily. The payroll is $206.6 million against a $200.4 million luxury tax line, with Embiid at $58.1 million, Brown at $57.1 million and Maxey at $40.8 million. The 2027 and 2030 firsts are owned outright, and the 2028 first carries protections. So help has to come from inside. Barlow is out until November 2, and Wade is day-to-day with his left ankle.
Why should anyone trust Simons to turn it around?
Because he's done it before. Simons averaged 14.3 points last season and shot 38.5 percent from three, better than Maxey's 36.7. One 0-for-4 night is a sample, not a verdict. If he gets anywhere close to last season's form, the stars won't need 42-minute nights like the one Maxey just played to beat a team they should have led all along.
Is Joel Embiid playing against the Bucks?
Embiid is listed day-to-day for rest, and he's projected back for the October 24 game against Milwaukee.
How far behind were the Sixers against the Cavaliers?
They trailed by 29 points and won 114-106, outscoring Cleveland 32-16 in the fourth quarter.
