Two wins from two games for the Philadelphia 76ers, both against championship contenders. On paper, the team couldn't have asked for a better start, but their second game of the season against the Cleveland Cavaliers brought difficulties -- but that's okay. Easy victories early in the season can paper over serious cracks; the Sixers were triumphant while learning important lessons that will benefit the team in the long term.
Despite stunning the New York Knicks on opening night, the Cleveland Cavaliers posed a sterner test for the Sixers. Philadelphia trailed by 29 points with around one minute left in the second quarter. They were sloppy, lackluster, and struggled to make an impact on both sides of the ball. As a new lineup trying to figure things out, this kind of performance was expected at some point, and a loss wouldn't have affected the team's championship ambitions.
In fact, it could be argued that there is more to learn from a loss than from a win. However, the 76ers got the best of both worlds. This first-half abomination allowed Nick Nurse to make several in-game adjustments that will benefit him in future games, and his players proved they can execute what the coach drew up.
Nick Nurse learned a lot about his roster
Before the season began, so many questions surrounded this new-look 76ers roster. Are there too many ball handlers on the team? Who will lead the 76ers' offense? Where can the coach turn if this team needs dragging to victory? With 82 games on the schedule, Philadelphia has plenty of time to work this out, but the win over the Cavaliers provided the head coach with some form of clarity.
Throughout the contest, Tyrese Maxey was a constant threat. His electric movement on and off the ball kept Cleveland's defenders on the back foot. Maxey ended the game with 32 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals, shooting 52.2% from the floor. Most importantly, in the moments that the Cavs gained momentum, Maxey responded with a bucket of his own. If Nick Nurse was still undecided on his lead offensive option, the answer is now abundantly clear.
Not every answer was positive, despite the brilliant nature of the win. For example, Joel Embiid's understudy has yet to be decided. While Adem Bona continuously showed his energy and love for the game, his 14 minutes in the rotation weren't overly effective. The 23-year-old picked up 3 fouls and recorded a -10 point differential. Philadelphia can't expect to compete for a championship if they fail to find an Embiid alternative for another season.
Defeating another Eastern Conference rival was important for the 76ers; however, the lackluster first-half performance has given Nick Nurse plenty of problems to address and several positives to build on. The Sixers don't need their egos stroked early in the season; they need their weaknesses exposed, giving the coaching staff a sufficient amount of time to create effective solutions before the postseason quickly arrives.
This was strangely the perfect experience for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Add us as a preferred source on Google