The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a red-hot start, going undefeated at 4-0 as they have quietly silenced the critics and won over fans with their impressive backcourt play. Tyrese Maxey is playing like a full-fledged superstar at point guard, while VJ Edgecombe has started strong, showing an unexpected level of poise in his early NBA career. Quentin Grimes has also been producing at an elite level from the bench, making him nearly irreplaceable in this trio. With all these talented guards, it's no wonder they're the key to their team's success.
However, with Jared McCain's return from injury and Embiid playing 20 putrid minutes, the Sixers have a tough road ahead as they face off against several elite teams and matchups that will challenge their backcourt even further. The upcoming four-game stretch will test whether this young guard trio can continue to produce under pressure and if the team has what it takes to stay undefeated until April.
First up is the matchup with Boston Celtics, who boast a dynamic duo of guards in Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons alongside their own elite perimeter defender, Derrick White. In their last encounter, Maxey had 40 points while Edgecombe scored 34 against White as his primary defender, showcasing what this backcourt trio brings to the table. The Celtics have two other high-scoring guards in Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons which makes for a challenging matchup.
The series between these teams could be crucial with NBA Cup playoffs at stake. This test may push the Sixers' guards to increase their intensity as they currently manage Embiid's playing time closely, possibly limiting Maxey or Edgecombe’s minutes if needed.
On Sunday, the Sixers face another young and struggling team in Brooklyn Nets. Their early-season surge last year partly led to them losing enough games to draft VJ Edgecombe. With a roster composed mostly of young players with limited experience, they now find themselves at 0-5. The loss to Atlanta Hawks dropped their defensive rating to the worst in the league – 129.1 points per 100 possessions, and their net rating is currently 29th.
In this matchup, there's an obvious vulnerability - Joel Embiid vs. Brooklyn's Nic Claxton, a center with impressive movement skills. If Embiid can't get his game going due to limited mobility, he might struggle against this athletic defender.
The Chicago Bulls have continued their surprise run with four wins so far in the season. Despite having the lowest defensive rating of any team in the league among those who have played at least 5 games, it's an unrealistic expectation that they could continue playing like that for the whole season. Their defense has allowed 25.9% from three-point attempts against them, but they also make their opponents' shots less effective when pushing the pace.
Maxey, Edgecombe, and Grimes will need to be vigilant while facing Josh Giddey, who recently secured a four-year, $100 million contract with his restricted free agency settled. It would have been interesting to see how Quentin Grimes did on the open market this past summer but Chicago opted for the more cost-effective route.
Finally, Wednesday's game pits the 76ers against the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers. While they've enjoyed dominant starts in years past, their current team lacks its former magic due to Darius Garland being injured and missing practice time, making his return a crucial factor in this match-up.
The main challenge for the Sixers is the duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who will likely force them to be more physical on defense. This trio must also prepare for Donovan Mitchell, who has been averaging 31.3 points per game before suffering an injury, with sharpshooter Sam Merrill knocking down three-point shots at a remarkable rate.
With all these factors coming into play, the upcoming four-game stretch could very well prove to be the toughest stretch yet for this young guard trio and their team as they navigate through the challenges ahead.
However, with Jared McCain's return from injury and Embiid playing 20 putrid minutes, the Sixers have a tough road ahead as they face off against several elite teams and matchups that will challenge their backcourt even further. The upcoming four-game stretch will test whether this young guard trio can continue to produce under pressure and if the team has what it takes to stay undefeated until April.
First up is the matchup with Boston Celtics, who boast a dynamic duo of guards in Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons alongside their own elite perimeter defender, Derrick White. In their last encounter, Maxey had 40 points while Edgecombe scored 34 against White as his primary defender, showcasing what this backcourt trio brings to the table. The Celtics have two other high-scoring guards in Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons which makes for a challenging matchup.
The series between these teams could be crucial with NBA Cup playoffs at stake. This test may push the Sixers' guards to increase their intensity as they currently manage Embiid's playing time closely, possibly limiting Maxey or Edgecombe’s minutes if needed.
On Sunday, the Sixers face another young and struggling team in Brooklyn Nets. Their early-season surge last year partly led to them losing enough games to draft VJ Edgecombe. With a roster composed mostly of young players with limited experience, they now find themselves at 0-5. The loss to Atlanta Hawks dropped their defensive rating to the worst in the league – 129.1 points per 100 possessions, and their net rating is currently 29th.
In this matchup, there's an obvious vulnerability - Joel Embiid vs. Brooklyn's Nic Claxton, a center with impressive movement skills. If Embiid can't get his game going due to limited mobility, he might struggle against this athletic defender.
The Chicago Bulls have continued their surprise run with four wins so far in the season. Despite having the lowest defensive rating of any team in the league among those who have played at least 5 games, it's an unrealistic expectation that they could continue playing like that for the whole season. Their defense has allowed 25.9% from three-point attempts against them, but they also make their opponents' shots less effective when pushing the pace.
Maxey, Edgecombe, and Grimes will need to be vigilant while facing Josh Giddey, who recently secured a four-year, $100 million contract with his restricted free agency settled. It would have been interesting to see how Quentin Grimes did on the open market this past summer but Chicago opted for the more cost-effective route.
Finally, Wednesday's game pits the 76ers against the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers. While they've enjoyed dominant starts in years past, their current team lacks its former magic due to Darius Garland being injured and missing practice time, making his return a crucial factor in this match-up.
The main challenge for the Sixers is the duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who will likely force them to be more physical on defense. This trio must also prepare for Donovan Mitchell, who has been averaging 31.3 points per game before suffering an injury, with sharpshooter Sam Merrill knocking down three-point shots at a remarkable rate.
With all these factors coming into play, the upcoming four-game stretch could very well prove to be the toughest stretch yet for this young guard trio and their team as they navigate through the challenges ahead.
! But seriously, can you blame them for wanting to keep Embiid on the court? The guy is a giant (6'11") of a center – he'd be unstoppable if only his mobility wasn't a major issue 
. And don't even get me started on Jared McCain's return... like, what's next, Ben Simmons coming out of retirement too?! 
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, but can they keep up under pressure? We'll have to wait and see... Fingers crossed it's a 76ers vs NBA Finals matchup 
Tyrese Maxey is looking like a superstar at point guard and Quentin Grimes is a game-changer off the bench 
But now they gotta face some tough matchups against elite teams... gonna be interesting to see if they can stay undefeated 
I think the real test is how well they can cope with Embiid's return and adjusting his playing time. Maxey and Edgecombe are on fire, but if they're being asked to play even more minutes, it might take some time to adjust. 
The Celtics and Bulls games could be a good indicator of their progress. 
The key is for them to stay focused under pressure and not let the defense dictate their game. 
and Edgecombe's poise in the NBA is impressing me so much 
. But, it's time to put their skills to the test 
️ if they wanna stay undefeated until April 
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... I mean, can this unbeaten streak last? It's like the ultimate test of mental toughness - can a team maintain its focus under intense scrutiny? These young guards have been on fire, but now it's time to see if they can keep that spark lit. The question is, what's the true cost of success? Are they sacrificing their own well-being for the sake of winning? And what about Embiid - is he being held back by his own limitations? Is his playing time a result of selfless leadership or just plain old pragmatism? It's all so fascinating to watch... and we're only just getting started 
They've got a tough road ahead, especially with Embiid's limited minutes. I mean, 20 putrid minutes is still 20 minutes too many for my taste 
. And don't even get me started on their next matchup against Boston - Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons are not to be underestimated 
. Maxey and his crew will need to bring their A-game if they wanna take them down.
. They need Darius Garland back in the mix ASAP or else it's gonna be a long night for the Sixers. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are no joke, either - that duo is gonna force the Sixers to be physical on defense 
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