The preseason is over for the Philadelphia 76ers and now is the time to get ready for the regular season beginning on Wednesday. They have a good nucleus led by the star duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and there are championship hopes within the organization.
The team brought in legitimate shooters Seth Curry and Danny Green to create the proper floor spacing that will allow the stars to operate on offense, and they brought in intriguing rookies Tyrese Maxey and Isaiah Joe that figure to be a part of the rotation.
All of these new additions, plus new coach Doc Rivers, who has had a ton of success in this league, has the veterans feeling optimistic about their chances. They have a swagger about them and they are preaching championship thoughts to the younger players.
“All the time,” Joe said. “I think we have very, very good veterans, and they’re always harping that we’re a contender. This is our year. Why wait a year? This is our year. Let’s go take it now. I think right now we’re just doing whatever it takes to be the best version of us that we can. Our chemistry on and off the court is very well, and that’s going to lead into our success.”
With these new additions, the hope is the team will bounce back from a tough 2019-20 season and break through in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers had a lot of success in the past when they put shooters around Simmons and Embiid. The hope is they will be able to replicate that success this season.
Rivers does issue a note of caution. This is a relatively new team that has not had much time to jell due to the shortened training camp and preseason.
“Really excited cautiously right now,” said Rivers. “With a new coach and a new system, I’m always concerned early in the season about early games. You don’t want to drop those games, and you just never feel like you’re exactly ready, in this situation, but we have to be and so we will be.”
The team will begin its title quest on Wednesday when its hosts Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards.
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