Sixers preseason 2020: 5 things to look out for

The Sixers are back! Here’s what to watch for this preseason.

After a 114 day break, Sixers basketball returns tonight. As many fans look forward to the regular season, this preseason game is a chance to see what we can expect from this team coming into the season.

I’m incredibly excited for the return of Sixers basketball even though I know this is at the risk of yet another heartbreak. I don’t completely know what to expect from this new team, but here are five things to look out for in the upcoming preseason games against the Celtics and the Pacers.

5. Cohesion and chemistry

In the last three years, the Sixers have entered the playoffs with three different lineups. Heading into the fourth year, we have yet another different starting five. This has prohibited the team from developing as a collective because players are constantly changing, season to season.

However, with a whole new coaching staff, veteran presence and an apparent commitment from the front office to the team’s success, we can hope that a winning culture has been established. Many analysts and NBA fans have insisted that Embiid and Simmons are incompatible, whereas Rivers and Morey have insisted on the opposite. It’ll be interesting to see how these two players will be used together.

I’m hoping that the eight championship rings between the players and the coaching staff can translate into the team being positive, supportive of each other and motivated to succeed. I hope this further translates into cohesion on the court, increasing efficiency on both ends of the court.

I’m also hoping to see positive morale from the team from bench celebrations after highlight plays to civil communication after mistakes. What I hope not to see is Joel threatening to slap Shake Milton in a timeout like we saw in the bubble.