After two games, the Sixers are still waiting for a win to kick off their season. These two losses are not infamous since they have been recorded against the two best teams in the East for two years: the 2022 finalists, the Celtics, then the 2021 champions, the Bucks.
They mainly reflect the work to be done for the Sixers before dethroning these formations. Joel Embiid is very ambitious, and a simple qualification in the playoffs or even a conference final, which he has not yet experienced, will not be enough to make him happy.
“All these notions of first round, second round, conference final, Finals, that does not count”, directly claims the All-Star pivot at ESPN. “If at the end of the day we don’t win, then the moment of defeat doesn’t matter. It’s even worse, because you feel like you’ve wasted your time. We’re going to the conference finals or the Finals, okay, well done. Did we win the title? No. »
The search for “two-way players”
The Cameroonian finished two years in a row behind Nikola Jokic for the MVP trophy. The 28-year-old is at the peak of his game, his career and the Sixers don’t want to waste those precious years. The off-season was therefore devoted to surrounding him as best as possible.
“What we observed in the playoffs was our inability to play on both sides of the field,” analyzes the president of the franchise, Daryl Morey. “When Doc Rivers looked at his bench, he had to choose players who were attacking or defending. But not both at the same time. It becomes difficult for the playoffs. »
That’s why PJ Tucker, Danuel House Jr. and De’Anthony Melton, good defenders and good shooters from distance, were recruited this summer. To offer stronger weapons to Joel Embiid and no longer make him the main target of the defenses, he needed “two-way players”, and they are rare in the NBA.
“There are no more weak links around him”explains the first city, formerly of Milwaukee and Miami. “Do you want to defend on a specific player? OK. We have people for that. »
