The Philadelphia 76ers just rolled into their first preseason game with a retooled roster, beating the New York Knicks 120-97, and Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown already knows the NBA is in for a seriously tough season. This wasn’t just any preseason win either, Philly pulled it off with three of their five starters sitting out, while the Knicks played all of theirs. Yikes.
Philly’s New Look Is Straight Up Scary
Let’s be real, the 76ers didn’t just add a few pieces in the offseason, they brought in Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. That’s not just “going all in for a championship,” that’s practically signing a receipt for one. Their first preseason outing against the Knicks on Monday was a taste of what’s to come, and it was brutal. Even with head coach Nick Nurse resting some key guys, hoping to get them playing together in at least two of the remaining three preseason games, the Sixers didn’t miss a beat. Jaylen Brown dropped 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting in just 17 minutes, and get this, five *other* Philly players hit double digits, with Caleb Love leading the bench scoring with 15 points. This squad is deep, man, like Mariana Trench deep. The Knicks had their full starting lineup out there and still couldn’t even hang. That’s a statement win, preseason or not.
Mike Brown’s Got The Real Talk
When a coach with Mike Brown’s resume speaks, you listen. He’s seen some legendary teams, like the Golden State Warriors when they had Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson. He knows what a championship contender looks like, and he didn’t pull any punches about Philadelphia. “In my opinion, it definitely just got harder for everybody with the team that they assembled,” Brown said. That’s not just locker room talk, that’s a veteran coach seeing the writing on the wall. He sees the 76ers as a “real championship contender if they stay healthy,” and frankly, after that preseason opener, it’s hard to argue with him.
So, while the 76ers are just getting started, with Nick Nurse looking to get his main guys on the court together in at least two more preseason games, the message is clear. If this is them without full chemistry, the league better watch out. Mike Brown sees it clear as day, and honestly, we all should too. This season just got a whole lot more interesting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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