NBA New Season Preview: George Joins to Form a Big Three; Embiid’s Health Will Determine the Team’s Prospects

The new NBA season is about to kick off, and today we introduce one of the traditional Eastern Conference powerhouses—the Philadelphia 76ers.

Review of last season:

Last season, the 76ers were plagued by injuries. Core player Embiid missed more than half of the games, eventually finishing seventh in the East with a record of 47 wins and 35 losses. In the play-in tournament, the 76ers defeated the Heat, securing their playoff berth. In the first round of the playoffs, the 76ers lost to the Knicks 2-4, failing to advance to the semifinals. During the games that Embiid missed due to injury, Maxey performed at an All-Star level, successfully making the All-Star team and being named Most Improved Player of the season, becoming the biggest highlight for the 76ers last season.

Changes during the offseason:

During the offseason, there were significant changes to the 76ers’ roster. They renewed contracts with Maxey, Lowry, Martin, and Oubre, among whom Maxey and Oubre performed outstandingly last season, while Lowry brings veteran experience. They signed All-Star Paul George, former rebounding champion Drummond, veteran Eric Gordon, Reggie Jackson, Caleb Martin, and Yanfeng Jiale, with Yanfeng Jiale performing well in the Olympics this summer.

In terms of rookies, the 76ers selected McCain with the 16th pick and Bona with the 41st pick. Of course, several players also left the 76ers. Batum and Bamba joined the Clippers, Hield and Melton joined the Warriors, Payne joined the Knicks, and Paul Reed joined the Pistons.

Outlook for the new season:

With the addition of Paul George, the 76ers’ lineup looks luxurious. The trio of Embiid, George, and Maxey appears formidable on paper. Embiid is one of the strongest inside players in the league, George is a two-way player, and Maxey is a rising star. With solid contributors like Oubre, Martin, and Reggie Jackson, as well as veterans like Lowry, Gordon, and Drummond, the roster looks very promising.

How far can the 76ers go in the new season? To a large extent, it depends on Embiid. Since entering the league, his injuries have been a concern. Last season, he missed 43 regular-season games. If he can stay healthy and perform strongly, the 76ers’ new season is very much worth looking forward to.

Predicted starting lineup: Maxey, George, Embiid, Oubre, Martin

Predicted regular-season ranking: Top four in the East