Don't look now, but things are actually starting to fall into place for the Philadelphia Sixers. Joel Embiid is expected to play in the season-opener in Boston on Wednesday, and Paul George, who underwent knee surgery in July, is close to returning. Jared McCain will be re-evaluated in early November (soon!) after suffering a torn UCL in his thumb before the start of training camp.
It's been said a trillion times before, but if the Sixers can stay healthy (and that's a big if), they can make the deep playoff run fans have waited what feels like forever for. Last season couldn't have been more disastrous, but Philadelphia has a clean slate this season. After the playoff Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, the path to the postseason in the East is easier.
On Wednesday's "Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective" podcast, Windhorst said that the contender in the East with the healthiest roster to start the season could be the... Sixers. He pointed out that, as ESPN's Tim Bontemps said, the vibes in Philadelphia are much better than they were.
The Sixers are already raising eyebrows entering the new season
As every Sixers fan in the world knows, you have to take things a day at a time. It's too early for any team to be thinking about the playoffs, but especially Philadelphia. Who knows what the Sixers will look like by the time April rolls around? You can say that about any team, including one as dominant as the Thunder, but especially Philadelphia, which hasn't been able to catch a break.
Windhorst referred to the Sixers as being "off the board," not because he doesn't respect them, but because he can't trust them. That sums up how most fans feel.
Still, with everything trending in the right direction for Philadelphia, it's hard not to try to factor in how the Sixers fit into the equation in the East. Cleveland has been dominant the past couple of regular seasons, but that success hasn't translated to the playoffs. New York is coming off its best season in over two decades, but the Knicks are already dealing with several key injuries.
Neither one of those teams is too good for Philadelphia. The Sixers should, and could, be right in the conversation with the Cavaliers and the Knicks, but only if they can stay healthy. By the time the dust clears at the end of the 2025-26 regular season, Philadelphia could have some momentum on its side (fingers crossed).