Not many players have championship experience like LeBron James. Philadelphia 76ers fans might not like to hear it, but their new superstar "hopes we [76ers] go through a three-game losing streak" to ensure they iron out any tactical issues before the postseason rolls around. While no fan wants to see their team lose games early in a campaign, building momentum in the season's latter stages is critical during a championship tilt.
LeBron knows early struggles shouldn't be a cause for concern
Most successful athletes will cite learning more from defeats than victories. Speaking on the newest season of the Mind The Game podcast, LeBron James was no different. In fact, he is actively seeking a storm to ride, as he acknowledges how much it helped his championship run with the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
LeBron stated, "We got to go through s***, and I hope we go through a three-game losing streak." He continued, "Go through a couple of games where, you know, it was a two-point game, and who was taking the shots? Who was making the plays? We got to figure it out."
And James is absolutely right; teams can't afford to still be figuring things out as the playoffs approach. The Philadelphia 76ers roster is now stacked, and they are in a vastly different reality from recent seasons.
In recent years, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey have been the go-to options when the chips are down during highly contested matchups. In all honesty, most teams follow a similar blueprint, which is why franchise stars are paid significantly more than their teammates. In the biggest moments, they are expected to shine. But who takes a back seat when five players on the floor are capable of making clutch plays?
With five stars who demand the ball in their hands on the offensive end of the floor, this will be quite the conundrum for Nick Nurse; however, there is no better time to uncover an answer to this issue than during the toughest moments of the season. LeBron knows this, but he also realizes these are questions you must answer sooner rather than later.
Fortunately, the Sixers' NBA schedule might force the franchise to face difficult realities in the opening weeks of the season.
76ers' early-season matchups are as tough as they come
Everybody wants to get off to an electric start to the season after months of no basketball, but Philadelphia fans might have to remain patient as their team irons out tactical wrinkles -- which will be music to LeBron James' ears.
The Philadelphia 76ers will travel to the reigning champions, the New York Knicks, on the opening night of the season, before returning to the Xfinity Mobile Arena to face off with the impressive Cleveland Cavaliers. After taking on a Milwaukee Bucks team in transition, the Sixers will then play the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers before again matching up with the Knicks.
Five of the 76ers' opening six fixtures are against serious playoff candidates. With Tyrese Haliburton returning to the lineup, the Pacers will be tough opposition for any team in the league. Nevertheless, this is what LeBron desires. Tougher matchups create an environment for Philadelphia to be vulnerable and for their weaknesses to be exposed early in the season.
Panic could quickly ensue in the City of Philadelphia if a stuttering start to the season becomes reality, but as LeBron James clearly states, this is something the team should embrace. Mike Brown and the Knicks proved last year that hitting momentum at the right time is more important than being consistent throughout the regular season. Solving tactical conundrums early in the year is more beneficial than blowing teams out on a nightly basis.
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