That is Half II in a collection previewing the Celtics’ likeliest challengers to the throne. Half I, the New York Knicks, might be discovered right here.
Just like the too-old child at summer time camp leaping off the excessive diving board, the Philadelphia 76ers made the splashiest transfer of the summer time, revamping their total roster round a brand new Massive Three in Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George. Will or not it’s sufficient to problem Boston for the throne? Spoilers: no.
I’m not a believer within the Massive Three mannequin anymore. The NBA has develop into hyper-optimized; the playoffs are about attacking weaknesses. It’s way more necessary to be balanced on each ends than to have a excessive focus of top-shelf expertise with a lower than stellar supporting solid.
The 76ers have added some good position gamers for affordable, as we’ll talk about under, however we stated the identical factor concerning the Phoenix Suns final yr. They proceeded to embarrass themselves within the first spherical regardless of having all three tentpole stars wholesome(ish).
Well being, after all, is probably the most essential issue for the 76ers. We’ve hardly ever seen a wholesome Joel Embiid within the playoffs, and Paul George is as rickety as a Lincoln flashing 150,000 miles on the odometer. If both is damage come springtime, the 76ers stop being a risk. However that’s apparent and boring to speak about, so let’s assume they make it to the playoffs intact.
Right here is my greatest guess on the new Philadelphia 76ers depth chart:
PG: Tyrese Maxey, Kyle Lowry, Reggie Jackson
SG: Kelly Oubre Jr., Eric Gordon, Jared McCain
SF: Paul George, Ricky Council IV
PF: Caleb Martin, KJ Martin, Guerschon Yabusele
C: Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond
One factor you’ll be aware proper off the bat is that the 76ers have a bevy of positionally versatile gamers. Embiid is a middle’s middle, however practically everybody on the roster can play no less than two and infrequently three positions. We’ll see a whole lot of Kyle Lowry each subsequent to and rather than Tyrese Maxey. Paul George, Kelly Oubre, and Caleb Martin are all able to taking part in two by way of 4.
Philly can’t go large, precisely, as they lack a real energy forward-sized energy ahead except former Celtic Yabusele performs much more than I count on. However they’ve a whole lot of collective size and versatile defenders.
George is the spotlight right here. The Celtics each clobbered and have been clobbered by the Clippers final yr of their two video games, and whereas George didn’t precisely explode, he typically shot effectively. One attention-grabbing tidbit: George solely had three assists whole in these two video games, because the Celtics’ capacity to remain out of rotation shrunk the passing lanes.
Picture by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Boston routinely bullied and beat up Maxey two years in the past, however he carried out higher (if not nice) in opposition to the C’s final season, exhibiting his total progress. Maxey’s uncooked pace is a tricky cowl for anybody. With George flanking him on the perimeter, Maxey might discover much more success stepping into the lane.
Embiid is a handful. Boston’s inventive defensive schemes have flummoxed Embiid previously (Jrue Vacation at middle, anybody?), however he’s at all times a risk to interrupt out for 50. Defensively, an engaged and in-shape Embiid remains to be a monster, shutting off the paint (even when doing so permits Porzingis to roam free on the perimeter).
The remainder of the supporting solid appears to be like strong on paper, however there are a whole lot of query marks. The wheels may fall off of the 38-year-old Lowry at any minute. Eric Gordon was a powerful pickup, able to holding his personal defensively whereas bombing away from method behind the arc. Nonetheless, at 35 years previous, Gordon would possibly fall into irrelevance, too.
Oubre was a pleasing shock defensively final season, however he’s by no means been shooter (though he’s at all times a prepared one). Groups turned bolder leaving him open on the three-point line final season. He must be higher than 32% from deep to keep away from being an offensive legal responsibility.
Celtics followers know Caleb friggin’ Martin. He’s most likely a little bit overtaxed because the beginning energy ahead on this workforce, however he’s a sharpened Swiss Military Knife able to productive minutes throughout three positions. Drummond is a helpful backup middle, however the extra he’s on the courtroom rather than Embiid, the higher for opponents.
The rookie Jared McCain, Council, and Yabusele are unproven, and Reggie Jackson is washed. Outdoors of Gordon and Martin, I’m not practically as excessive on this workforce’s depth as many individuals appear to be.
Strengths
The 76ers venture to be a strong two-way workforce.
They have been above-average defensively final season regardless of fewer than 40 video games with Embiid, their anchor. At age 34, Paul George stays one of many league’s greatest wing defenders. Even when he loses a step, he’ll be an enormous improve over Tobias Harris. Whereas Philly received’t be a top-five protection, they might simply hover across the seven-to-ten vary, particularly as an Jap Convention workforce.
Offensively, George, Maxey, and Embiid are about as comfortable a match as you could find. All three can shoot, go, and dribble, every taking part in at a unique, complementary tempo. George is without doubt one of the deadliest catch-and-shooters within the NBA, and Maxey isn’t far behind. They’ll each play off of Embiid when he’s within the excessive put up, they’ll run two-man actions with one another (think about George selecting for Maxey and popping to the three-point line, or an inverted George/Embiid pick-and-roll), and so they can get a bucket in isolation.
Embiid continues to evolve. Final yr was his greatest passing season by far (5.6 assists per recreation), and he averaged a career-best 39% from deep on 3.6 makes an attempt per recreation. He received the MVP in 2022-23 and was an much more deadly offensive participant when wholesome final yr. Enjoyable reality: Embiid averaged extra factors per minute than Wilt Chamberlain did when he averaged 50 per recreation!
Surrounding these three with even semi-decent taking pictures (paging Eric Gordon) will make for an almost unstoppable assault. If this workforce struggles, it received’t be due to the offense.
One level in Boston’s favor: Philly tasks to be a free-throw monster subsequent season but once more (that they had the league’s third-highest free-throw price final season), however Boston held them to almost six fewer free throws than their season common (and that development held even within the video games they performed with Embiid). Whereas foul-drawing is a Philly energy, the Celtics’ foul avoidance has confirmed even stronger.
Picture by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
Weaknesses
The 76ers venture to be a poor defensive rebounding group. Embiid and backup middle Drummond pile up rebounds like my toddler stacking matchbox automobiles, and George is positionally strong. After that, although, there are a whole lot of undersized gamers who’ll should battle amidst the bushes to corral a miss. Boston can and will hammer the glass in opposition to this Philly workforce, as offensive rebounds can result in priceless open three pointers for Boston’s many shooters. The 76ers don’t venture to be a massively transition-oriented workforce, both, limiting the draw back of sending rebounders. Apparently, Boston struggled to reap the benefits of this final season, solely rating twenty second in offensive rebounding price in opposition to Philly. I’d count on that quantity to enhance, significantly if Luke Kornet or Neemias Queta exchange Porzingis’ minutes.
As we’ve already talked about, Philly’s different main flaw is depth, significantly on the ahead spots. George is nice, and Caleb Martin is competent. However after these two, the Sixers want no less than considered one of Council, Yabusele, and KJ Martin to show playable for 18 minutes per night time. I’ve at all times favored KJ Martin, however he can’t appear to stay anyplace he lands (and his contract might as properly have include a “TRADE ME” bumper sticker). Yabusele appeared good within the Olympics however proved unplayable offensively in his temporary NBA tenure. Council has proven flashes of a well-rounded talent set, however he performed fewer than 300 minutes final yr.
Coach Nick Nurse likes to play his greatest guys massive minutes, however this workforce has many aged and/or fragile items; a few of the younger guys can be thrust into a much bigger position whether or not they’re prepared or not. Philly must get one thing from the again finish of their bench. Don’t be stunned if Daryl Morey executes one other commerce or two to beef up the ahead rotation.
Lastly, the Celtics are lucky that three of their 4 conferences with Philly occur in February and March, so with luck, Porzingis will solely miss one recreation. For all his strengths, Embiid doesn’t need to guard Porzingis on the perimeter; the unicorn dropped 29 in opposition to Philly within the one recreation they performed in opposition to one another.
Remaining Ideas
There are actually methods for Philadelphia to make Boston’s life troublesome, significantly if Porzingis misses prolonged time. Embiid’s dimension and Maxey’s pace are two bodily attributes the Celtics have struggled with at instances, and George is an effective sufficient offensive participant to get buckets even in opposition to Boston’s stalwart defenders.
However Embiid is at his worst defensively when the Celtics go five-out. If each groups meet within the playoffs at full well being, I’d count on a monster Porzingis collection from the perimeter whereas Vacation and Derrick White take turns feasting on Maxey. Like I stated up prime, the NBA is about mitigating weaknesses, not sharpening strengths. For all their collective expertise, the 76ers can have spots to select at on each ends. Philly might need a scorching night time, possibly two. Boston would possibly go chilly for a stretch. However the Celtics are extra geared up to go after the 76ers than vice-versa, and a comparatively stress-free six-game collection appears the likeliest consequence.
