BOSTON -- The Philadelphia 76ers are in a part of the preseason schedule where they don't play again until Friday when they host the Boston Celtics in the exhibition finale. After facing the Celtics in Boston on Saturday and having a day off on Sunday, this gives the Sixers a lot of valuable practice time.
This is a time that will allow coach Nick Nurse and Co. to have an idea of what they want to see out of this group. The vision is to, obviously, contend for a championship, but there is much to get done in order to reach that vision. The time to practice and continue growing chemistry will be a big focus throughout the week.
"First of all, we get to obviously break down the past couple games, pick apart the film, learn from it," said VJ Edgecombe.
"We also get to rest a little bit. While also still attack practices again, preparing for the regular season. Obviously, we still got one more preseason game also. So we're trying to just use that to just get as much reps as possible to be ready for the regular season."
Of course, it helps to have these preseason games and get real game reps in, but the practice time is going to prove invaluable to this group. Teams don't get the opportunity to practice too much in the regular season due to the amount of games, but the Sixers will continue to count on these types of days before the real games start on Oct. 20.
"We need it just to practice, man," added Tyrese Maxey. "These games are cool. A lot of guys didn’t play tonight. Last game was good. We had pretty much a lot of guys out there. Some guys were still missing, but practice will be good for us."
Of course, it helps now that the Sixers have film to comb over. Due to the three preseason games now, Philadelphia will be looking to look at what those exhibition games showed them and will look to make corrections. That film now will help the Sixers continue to move forward as a group.
"It’s important because like I said we was able to get everyone on the court and obviously we’re still missing (Anfernee) Simons, (Adem) Bona, (Dominick) Barlow, but I say just to get most guys in, just to see coach got to balance it out," Edgecombe added. "Obviously, just trying to figure out everybody in roles and when it comes to, you know, PT and, you know, which lineup goes when and where or whatever the coach does, I feel like this preseason helped and like I said we just got to build from there."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers discuss importance of having a week of practice coming up
