The Sixers may have escaped TD Garden with a narrow 117–116 victory in their first game of the season against the Celtics, but the final score told only part of the story. Several themes emerged, some sparking excitement among fans and others raising mild concern.
Two of the biggest questions surrounding the Sixers entering this season centered on the health of Joel Embiid and the potential chemistry between Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe in the backcourt. Fans were eager to see whether Embiid could not only recapture his dominant, MVP-caliber form but also remain healthy for an extended stretch. Equally intriguing was how Maxey and Edgecombe, two dynamic and athletic guards, would complement each other on the floor. While it was too early to draw sweeping conclusions after just one game, the Sixers’ season opener in Boston offered an early glimpse into both storylines — one encouraging, the other more concerning.
First, to the concern. While Embiid logged 20 minutes, his performance was far from what Sixers fans are accustomed to seeing. He shot just 1-for-9 from the field, missed all four of his three-point attempts, and finished with only four points. He also posted a minus-16 plus-minus, meaning the Sixers were outscored by 16 points during his time on the floor. That said, it would be premature to draw firm conclusions after just one game. The 2023 MVP has plenty of time to regain form, but it’s clear he’s still working to find his rhythm after undergoing arthroscopic surgery earlier this year.
Embiid, who will earn $55.2 million this season, remains confident despite the slow start. Following the game, he assured everyone “I’m good,” before adding, “It’s gonna take a while. Obviously, being on a minutes restriction, playing shorter stints, it’s hard to kind of get in the rhythm, but I got to figure it out. That’s the way they have it set up. It’s annoying, but if I want to play, I don’t really have a choice, and I want to be out there as much as possible.”
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse echoed similar sentiments, “I think that he played good. I know that’s going to sound silly, 1 for 9 [shooting]. He just didn’t shoot it very good. I thought he transferred the ball good. I thought he made some good decisions. Thought he took good shots. I thought he protected the rim. So again, that’s like, he hasn’t done much, right? He’s kind of played a scrimmage and a preseason game, and I think there’s some rust there. But I thought he was moving good and made good decisions, which is really positive.”
Now, as for the encouragement, look no further than rookie VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 overall pick out of Baylor in last June’s draft, who not only delivered a stunning performance but made history in the process. The Bahamas native erupted for 34 points, the most ever by a Sixers player in an NBA debut and the most by any rookie in a debut since Wilt Chamberlain scored 43 back in 1959, according to OptaSTATS. For comparison, Allen Iverson, the legendary Sixers guard, scored 30 in his debut in 1996 and had held the franchise record until Edgecombe surpassed it Wednesday night.
“I worked every day, and all my life, for moments like this. This is my dream,” Edgecombe noted after his historic performance.
Edgecombe’s final stat line read: 13-of-26 from the field, 5-for-13 from three-point range, with seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
In addition to Edgecombe’s record-breaking evening, Maxey put on a show of his own, giving Sixers fans an early glimpse of just how dominant this backcourt duo could be. Maxey scored a game-high 40 points and went 7-for-9 from three-point range. Together, the two guards combined for 74 points, the second most by a duo in a season opener in NBA history.
With a dynamic pairing in Edgecombe and Maxey, and a healthy Embiid alongside Paul George once he returns, this could prove to be an exciting season for the hometown Sixers.
Philadelphia will host the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday for its home opener.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.