The Philadelphia 76ers kicked off the LeBron James-Jaylen Brown era with a bang, spoiling the Knicks’ banner night at Madison Square Garden with a hard-fought 106-100 win. After a bold offseason, arguably the boldest roster build in NBA history, fans finally got to see Philadelphia’s elite starting lineup hit the court for the first time. Facing the defending champions on their home court, in front of a rowdy fanbase fresh off a title, it wasn’t a perfect performance, but there was so much to love about the potential this new-look 76ers squad showed. They’re already getting a good head start in a competitive Eastern Conference, and the league should be paying attention.
They’re Built To Score, Even When Shots Aren’t Falling
Man, can this team get buckets. From the moment James signed with Philly, imagining the possibilities for this offense was easy. You’ve got the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, one of the greatest scoring centers ever in Joel Embiid, a Finals MVP who averaged 28.7 points per game last season, and a rising star guard who’s a total nightmare in transition. And every single one of them can pass. The on-paper fit was absolutely as advertised! Even with just a few weeks to gel, their limitless offensive capability was clear against a strong Knicks defense. They were consistently finding open shots, possession after possession, and they overcame some seriously bad shooting luck to grab that win. Tyrese Maxey was setting the table from the jump, connecting on two quick 3-pointers using his two-man game with Embiid, and he finished the night with a monster 28 points. Jaylen Brown was moving great without the ball in the middle quarters, finishing at the rim and taking advantage of mismatches. Even with a rough shooting night, Embiid still got it done when it mattered most, sinking a late 3-pointer that helped put the Knicks away. This squad dished out 28 assists as a team. The potential of an offense loaded with three-level threats was loud and clear, especially since they still pulled out the win despite a poor 3-point shooting night, going only 11-40 as a team.
This Fast Break Attack Is Flat-Out Lethal
Beyond just being good, this team is going to be appointment viewing. Seriously, you’ll want to tune in on NBA League Pass for this crew. Nick Nurse’s main blueprint to win this season is obviously to get his stars downhill, and it showed. Last season, Maxey ranked second in the league with 7.2 transition points per game. James wasn’t far behind at third with 7.1. And Brown? Fourth on that list with 6.7. Those numbers together are just unfair. They’re not just a good team, they’re a *show* in transition, and that’s going to be a problem for defenses across the league.
This opening win for the 76ers sends a clear message to the rest of the NBA. They battled the defending champions, overcame a hostile crowd and some tough shooting, and still walked away with a W. With that kind of firepower and a clear plan to unleash it, they’re already looking like a serious contender in what’s shaping up to be a wild Eastern Conference.
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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