As the Philadelphia 76ers move forward under new coach Nick Nurse, there is work to be done. They’re off to a terrific start (9-3) after a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, but some believe what they have will not be enough to get it done.
The Sixers are in an Eastern Conference that includes the loaded Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. Both teams have proven superstars who have led their respective teams to the NBA finals. The Bucks won a title in 2021, so there is merit to the thought that the Sixers just aren’t ready.
Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins hopped on “Bully Ball” and gave his thoughts on the Sixers and the East as a whole:
That Celtics team is so well put together, I just don’t really see any team getting past them, and I think at a certain point the Sixers will run out of firepower. I could be wrong, but my gut is telling me they’ll run out of firepower. Especially during the playoffs when schemes start getting into play and adjustments are made on the defensive end.
The Sixers have climbed to the top of the Eastern Conference in the first 10 games.
Do they have enough gas in the tank to clinch the top seed?
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— SHOWTIME Basketball (@shobasketball) November 15, 2023
The issue with the Sixers is that they haven’t done anything to really earn any type of trust in the playoffs. Both the Celtics and the Bucks have gone deep into the playoffs constantly during their current run. The Sixers have fallen in the second round of the playoffs for three consecutive seasons and five of the previous six seasons overall.
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey have morphed into an elite duo, but Philadelphia needs more. The Sixers need others to step up and that will decide how far they will go in April and May.
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