With such a ridiculously stacked roster, the Philadelphia 76ers do not really have a lot of firm weaknesses this coming season, at least on paper. Still, there have been some concerns among fans and pundits alike about this team's ability to defend as a unit. Well, LeBron James does not seem to be overly concerned on that end, expressing confidence in the group's ability to become one of the better defensive squads in the league.
During his media availability before the 76ers' Blue x White scrimmage, James told reporters that he envisions Philly possibly being a top-10, if not a top five team on the defensive end. He noted that there are a slew of details that they must pay close attention to, adding that the team has the length, athleticism, basketball IQ, and the schemes to be successful on defense.
LeBron James expresses confidence on the 76ers defense this season
Defense is one area where continuity and familiarity are especially important, and the 76ers clearly do not have that given their newly bolstered crew. That being said, LeBron's justification for his confidence in the team being a good defensive team has a lot of credence to it.
True enough, the 76ers already boast the tools necessary to have a top-ranked defense. Nick Nurse is a defensive-minded coach with proven experience with his switchy schemes on that end. Joel Embiid, while no longer in his defensive peak, is still a formidable stopper at the rim. James and Jaylen Brown are new to the program, but they have shown that they can turn it up on D when they want to. VJ Edgecombe showed a lot of defensive acuity in his rookie season.
Aside from the big names, Philadelphia also has some players who are predisposed toward defense by nature. Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are heady defenders who can guard multiple positions. The 76ers' crew of big men off the bench, while not flashy scorers, are more than passable defenders in their own right.
For those reasons, becoming a good defensive team will certainly come down to consistency and having good communication as James said. This group should be very special when it comes to racking up points, but with more attention to detail and commitment to the things that do not always show up in the box score, their defense could also be suffocating for their opponents, contrary to what people have been noting as a potential red flag for this squad.
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