PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Dust off your Sixers gear. It’s time for the 2022-23 campaign — which will be the 40th season since the 76ers last got to hold up what is now called the Larry O’Brien Trophy as NBA Champions.
Compared to the previous off-season, the one that just passed was nothing. Prior to 2021-22, the Sixers were in the Ben Simmons saga, which transcended your run-of-the-mill daily sports news. This year, much much much more quiet.
James Harden took what many would consider a new contract that helped the Sixers improve the team with players they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to add if Harden was making more money. The popular Tyrese Maxey was a man about town, going to other Philadelphia sporting events and connecting with fans even further. Frankly, the most intriguing Sixers news of the off-season was the organization revealing their intentions to build a new arena in Center City for 2031, something the majority of the current roster probably won’t get to experience wearing Sixers blue since it’s so far away – if it happens, of course.
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However, despite a mostly drama-less offseason, that doesn’t mean expectations are low. The Sixers should compete. It has been far too long since this organization made it past the second round. In fact, 1985 and 2001 remain the only two times since the ‘83 title in which the Sixers played in the Eastern Conference Finals. They’re due.
With the new season beginning Tuesday night in Boston, here are five things to know about the 2022-23 Sixers so you're ready to follow along.
1. A tougher team
After the Heat eliminated the Sixers in the second round last season, at Wells Fargo Center, a consistent theme heard from frustrated Sixers was that they weren’t tough enough against Miami. In fact, Joel Embiid specifically mentioned Miami veteran P.J. Tucker as an example of the type of toughness the Sixers needed.
What irony!
Tucker went into free agency, and signed on with the Sixers. He is one of multiple examples in which the Sixers appeared to add toughness. Another is backup big man Montrezl Harrel, who played for head coach Doc Rivers when the latter coached the Clippers.
2. A supposedly healthy James Harden
After the Sixers traded Simmons for Harden last season, there were moments where things looked outstanding, and other moments where Harden’s age left many skeptical about his abilities at this point of his career. In other words, some believed the dynamic scoring machine Harden was during his Houston Rocket days were five universes away.
Harden was clearly not 100% physically, and he admitted that put him in “dark moments.” However, he’s giving off the impression that is behind him and he’s in a really good space right now.
The Sixers don’t expect Harden to be Houston Rocket James Harden. But, Rivers still wants him to score and facilitate at the same time.
3. Tyrese Maxey All-Star?
On Sixers Media Day in late September, Tyrese Maxey – the super popular, hard working guard – was asked about personal expectations. He didn’t want to answer that question. He repeated a message from Rivers about how the Sixers are a “we team,” and not a “me team.” The soon-to-be-22-year-old spoke about being a better leader.
However, it’s no secret Maxey took a big leap as a full-time starter last season amid the Simmons saga, so it’s only natural to wonder what someone with his age and work ethic can accomplish in his third season out of college.
Could he become an NBA All-Star?
It’s possible. It’s rare for a team to have three All-Stars. Obviously, Joel Embiid is one. You have to expect Harden to be another. Can Maxey be the third? If so, that likely means things are going well for the team and he’s having a great season.
4. Is the third time the charm for Embiid?
Joel Embiid made strong MVP-cases the past two seasons, only to finish second to Denver’s Nikola Jokić both times. Embiid often talks about how individual awards aren’t his priority, and they will take care of themselves with team success.
So, while Embiid will sometimes dance around the topic, if the team wins and Embiid dominates, he’ll clearly be in the conversation. Maybe this will be the year he breaks through to the voters that he deserves the award. If that happens, it probably means things are going well for the squad.
When Embiid was asked on Media Day in late September about his offseason and taking his game to even another level, he joked he spent all summer on the couch.
Okay, Jo. That was likely a sign he wasn’t interested in answering those types of questions that day, or that he would simply let his performance speak for him.
The NBA season is a long, 82-game grind. But, the first two games are at the Celtics and at home against the Bucks. Those are good barometer games for Embiid and the Sixers in the early portion of the schedule and situations you’d expect your star to rise to.
5. Second-round jinx
And last, but certainly not least – to remind you of a most important nugget from above – the 76ers haven’t been to the Eastern Conference Finals in over 20 years. That is simply unacceptable in Philadelphia, especially for a franchise that has spent the amount of money the Sixers have in recent seasons.
The ultimate goal is not just to reach the conference finals, but in order to reach the pinnacle, you have to break through that dreaded barrier first. It’s not even November yet, so we’re still a ways off from finding out whether that will happen.
My point is, the Sixers can win at least 60 of their 82 games, get the number one seed in the conference and have a decent path to The NBA Finals.
Yet, if they don’t get past the second round – it will all mean squat.
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