The NBA season is almost three weeks in now. Here are my early observations on the Philadelphia 76ers.
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The Philadelphia 76ers are currently 8-1 after losing their first game to the Milwaukee Bucks. Philadelphia has been able to go on this winning streak with no help from James Harden. Harden did not play at all for the 76ers and was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers are 0-4 in the games that Harden has played while the 76ers are playing the best basketball in the league. Philadelphia is playing great on both ends. They are scoring 120.7 points per game, which is third best in the NBA. The 76ers are only allowing 109.4 points per game which is eighth best in the league.
They are also playing much faster than last season as well. The 76ers were 27th in pace last season, so far this year they are 15th in pace.
To The Max
Tyrese Maxey has shown that he was ready to take on the roll of the primary perimeter creator. He is averaging 28.6 points, 7.2 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game. He is putting up these numbers while being very efficient. Maxey is shooting 50% from the floor and 43% from three. He dropped 50 points in his most recent performance against the Indiana Pacers.
50 BALL FOR TYRESE MAXEY 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Es5J56CrpZ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 13, 2023
Maxey shot 20/32 from the floor and 7/11 from three point range. He became the youngest 76er to score at least 45 points in a game since Allen Iverson in 1997. This performance really shows the full capability of what Maxey can do. If Maxey continues to play this well, he will win the Most Improved Player award and the voting won’t be close.
The Third Wheel Isn’t That Bad
Last season Tobias Harris averaged 14.7 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, shot 50% from the floor, and 38% from three. So far this season Harris is averaging 19.7 points per game. He is now the third option with Harden gone and thriving in that role.
Tobias Harris is currently averaging 19.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 2.6 APG. 1.0 SPG and 0.6 BPG. Shooting 50/40/90 at the moment. 58.9% from the forks. 40.7% 3P% and 90.0% FT shooting. All as the definitive 3rd option in Philadelphia.
I believe if there were ever a season, THIS would… pic.twitter.com/Kyb7XQNEoy
— Phoenix NoGravity (@phoenixthaboss) November 12, 2023
Don’t Question The Value
Joel Embiid won the Most Valuable Player award last season. He averaged 33.1 points per game, which led the NBA. Embiid shot 54% from the floor, 33% from three, and 85% from the free throw line. There were a lot of fans who thought he was the wrong choice for MVP.
This season Embiid has come back and is putting up very similar numbers. He is averaging 32.4 points per game, 11.7 rebounds per game, and 5.7 assists per game, while shooting 50% from the floor and 36% from three point range. The 29-year old has also been dominant on the defensive end of the floor averaging 2.1 blocks per game.
Going into the season, it was thought to be a two team race in the eastern conference. That is not the case as 76ers’ head coach Nick Nurse has this team rolling. The big question is, will this level of play continue in the playoffs? We are a long ways away from the playoffs but this team has the look of a real championship contender.
