Philadelphia may have just had the most star-studded offseason since Miami welcomed their big three 16 years ago. The common thread there is LeBron James, who is somehow still doing it nearly two decades after making his first decision. The 76ers, who have an extremely talented young backcourt, added two NBA Finals MVPs to their former regular-season MVP to create the most formidable lineup they have had in this decade.
When you make moves like those, it is championship or bust. There is no margin for error, and there are no excuses to be made. With as much star power in the starting lineup as the 76ers have, there is pressure to win every night. Even before they signed LeBron James, it would have already been an immensely important year in Philly. But the self-proclaimed best player of all time comes with a set of expectations that no other player in history has. This is the most consequential year in franchise history.
Philadelphia 76ers: Over/Under 50.5 wins (-110/-120)
Last Season: 45-37, lost E. Conf Semis
Key Additions: LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Key Losses: Paul George, Quentin Grimes, Andre Drummond
The 76ers have not made the conference finals since 2001. It is safe to say that if that trend continues this season, it will be a massive failure. They have to win, and win a lot. The books certainly think they will, as they are tied with Boston for the second-highest win total in the Eastern Conference (behind New York, 51.5). My first instinct is that this team will suffer from Joel Embiid and LeBron James’ health and the overwhelming nature with which the crowd agreed that they won the Brown trade. But even if Embiid and James play 50 or so games, Brown just won 56 last year with a lesser roster on his old team. I want to fade the public and take the under on this team’s win total badly, but the talent of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecomb mixed with the experience of their frontcourt, coach, and bench makes it impossible to say they will win fewer than 51 games.
Prediction: Over 50.5 wins (-110)
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