The Sixers are ready for preseason games to get started after wrapping up training camp in the Bahamas on Saturday, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Spirits are high following an offseason roster makeover that included the addition of Paul George, the top name on this year’s free agent market.
“We had everything that we needed. I feel like a lot of teams can say that. But I feel like last year one of our main things was like that third punch, at times,” Ricky Council said. “We knew we had Tyrese (Maxey). We knew we had Joel (Embiid). But who was going to be that next punch? Who was going to be that defensive stopper? All those types of things. And I feel like we have all that and some this year. … So I feel like our depth is good. Our talent is there. We’re going to play hard. So I think we have it all.”
In addition to bringing in George, Philadelphia fortified its roster with Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson and Guerschon Yabusele, along with first-round pick Jared McCain. Coach Nick Nurse had a lot of new weapons to work with during camp, and he believes the week was productive.
“I think we got put in a lot of situations that happened organically this week, which, again, I think helped,” Nurse said. “We brought a big number to camp, which I think helped. I liked the energy, the enthusiasm for the youth. I think that helped. Lots of stuff. So, yeah, I’d say it’s a big two thumbs up for sure.”
There’s more on the Sixers:
- George has played alongside plenty of All-Stars throughout his career, and he believes the combination with Embiid and Maxey works “extremely well” together, Pompey states in a separate story. The Sixers’ new Big Three will be relied on to carry the team at both ends of the court, and George is willing to do whatever is necessary to make it successful. “I think just continuing to play off the ball,” he said of his role in the trio. “Continue to find my rhythm, staying aggressive whether I have the ball or I don’t have the ball. But I think just giving myself up for the team, whether it’s spacing, cutting, getting Tyrese off the ball because he’s getting [hot] or finding opportunities to get Joel easy looks and touches as well.”
- McCain is already learning something important about the NBA by being around his new teammates, especially those who have been in the league for several years, Pompey adds. “A lot of it is taking care of their bodies,” McCain said. “We got some older people so they have to take care of their bodies. But yeah, just making sure your mental’s straight, making sure you’re getting your work in before and after practice, but just kind of simple things.”
- Kelly Oubre has a lot more security now than when he joined the Sixers last summer on a veteran’s minimum contract, per Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Oubre signed a two-year, $16.3MM deal over the offseason, and he feels like a veteran leader on the team. “I just wanted to go to where the love was at,” he said. “… It’s hard to kind of accept me as a human being because I’m very eccentric. I’m me. So once you kind of understand who I am, it makes things easier. I was like, ‘I want to stay where I’m at because they know me and they know my heart and my intentions and who I am off the court.’”
Joel Embiid
10 years in nba
Games play 433
The best chance for him to win the East is 2025
Paul George
Paul George
4 of past 5 years
Games play 56 or less
Sixers going to the finals, unfortunately. Knicks coulda beat Boston but then ruined their chances by trading for KAT. So it comes down to Boston and Philly. Sixers got depth this year, Drummond and Oubre are so underrated. Martin was a nice pickup too. Then Gordon, Reggie and that big from the French team, they might have the best bench in the league. I hate this but I have to admit Philly is the team to beat.
Mike when you are on a 60 plus win pace with Tobias Harris and DeAnthony Melton running with you, replace with Paul George and Martin. Please.
@MikeWiz … That’s assuming that Embiid and Podcast P will be healthy and perform in the playoffs.
They never had been, never will.
Honcho Im assuming as a Celtics fan you are more hoping than assuming. You have no answer for JoJo, Maxey or George and that’s no assumption, that is a straight up fact.
^ Hope and assuming are words that should be used by a team, who hasn’t won a championship in the last 40+ years.
The CELTICS won the championship just a few months ago, in dominant fashion. That is a fact.
Try harder kid.
Please, anybody but Boston (well maybe not the Clippers).
Watch out for the Cavs this year. Real chance at making east finals. A lot more stable than Knicks and Sixers.
Will be interesting to see the progress the Pacers and Magic make after great results last season.
I thought the Sixers could squeeze Dennis Smith Jr onto the team with an Exhibit 9 contract…..but it looks like they are loaded for all positions and really at Point Guard
You are correct lefty. The sixers competition can only hope JoJo or PG goes down. In fact it’s every fans mantra.
It’s every fans mantra? Why would you say that?
I’m obviously a Warriors fan but I hope Jojo and PG play the whole season so we can enjoy watching them. Yours is kind of a strange statement to make and I’m not sure where that’s coming from.
I love hoops. May the best team stay healthy and win. I would hope that for all teams. Especially extreme Talent like Embiid or Paul george.