It’s an unfamiliar vibe as we head into tonight’s Philadelphia 76ers regular season opener against the Boston Celtics. The Conference Finals or bust mindset of years past is gone. Rather than a projected
win total somewhere in the 50s, the Sixers are expected to be just over .500 with even the playoffs no certain prospect. And honestly, it’s refreshing. We’re not living or dying with this season because last one already killed us.
Instead, we get to enjoy basketball without the weight of expectations. We’re back on the climb of the early Process days. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are going to fly up and down the court. Adem Bona will block some shots and throw down alley-oops. And Joel Embiid will take the floor without even so much as an injury designation.
After Embiid made his first preseason appearance in years last week against Minnesota, he’ll now suit up for the season opener in Boston. Following last season’s ramp up and interminable absence to start the year, just this degree of clarity is an incredible breath of fresh air. Sure, Embiid’s health is not something we can ever count on with a prolonged degree of certainty, but for now, he’ll be playing basketball, and looking like a productive version of himself if the Wolves contest is any guide. With our lowered expectations, that’s more than enough.
Sure, everything isn’t perfect. Paul George’s 2025-26 debut will have to wait. Jared McCain is still recovering from surgery. Trendon Watford won’t make his Sixers debut, and power forward is definitely the biggest question mark for this roster. We’ll see if Nick Nurse decides to go very small with the starting group, whether Dominick Barlow gets the nod, or if things get funky again with Embiid and Bona together. But after the armageddon scenario of last season, we’ll take not quite perfect.
Things are unusual on the oppsoing sideline as well. Like a recent college graduate hopping in and out of hostels across Europe, the Boston Celtics are taking a gap year in the wake of Jayson Tatum’s torn achilles. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were traded away to duck the luxury tax. Al Horford walked in free agency. Minimum signings like Chris Boucher and Luka Garza will be helping to fill out the rotation. As referenced above, Jaylen Brown is questionable due to a hamstring issue, so the Sixers could be on the better side of the ‘stars sitting due to injury’ ledger for a change.
In recent years, a matchup between the Sixers and Celtics would have been a referendum on the pecking order at the top of the Eastern Conference, one in which Philadelphia fell short far too often. Now, obviously, we forever hope Boston loses, but tonight’s contest doesn’t have the blood feud spirit of past meetings. One side is battered and the other was already pummeled into submission and just hoping to get up from the mat.
I don’t know what Philadelphia is going to be this year. But there are at least 82 games for us to figure that out and I’m looking forward to the ride. Buckle up, Sixers fans.
Game Details
When: Wednesday, October 22, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
