The Philadelphia 76ers are pissed off.
Philadelphia became subject to criticism and pity as each critical injury dug it deeper into an inescapable hole. Joel Embiid and Paul George were in an undesirable spotlight as they each dealt with setbacks. This was much to the dismay of fans who saw the Philadelphia Eagles hoist a Super Bowl trophy within the same timeframe.
The 76ers had the most disappointing season in franchise history and are determined to shed their traumatic weight and implement a culture that stands regardless of who is on the floor. Philadelphia is well-positioned to bounce back in an Eastern Conference that lacks a dominant force. However, to do so, the 76ers must focus on themselves.
Building a culture
One of Philadelphia’s many issues last season was its lack of chemistry. With Embiid and George shuffled in and out of the lineup, the 76ers were unable to develop chemistry on the court or form an identity. This lack of cohesion made Philadelphia fall victim to inconsistency. Injuries were the main root of the 76ers’ struggles, but perhaps if they had an identity, they could’ve remained more competitive.
“We need a standard, like this is who we are every single day no matter who plays, no matter who doesn’t play,” Maxey said. “When you see the Philadelphia 76ers, this is what you’ll see. You’re going to see that team every single night.”
Intangibles aren’t everything, but if Philadelphia can implement a stronger culture, it could be critical to staying afloat. Embiid and George’s return dates are still to be determined, which means the 76ers could be short-handed to start the season once more. Still, Philadelphia may be better equipped, as Tyrese Maxey has been at the forefront of its energy shift, which seems to already be contagious.
Andre Drummond said on Media Day Friday that the 76ers conducted their pre-camp scrimmages without fouls. He believes those experiences have helped build Philadelphia’s intensity and toughness, while Kelly Oubre Jr. described those practices as “footsketball-ish.”
The 76ers’ youth needs guidance
Another layer of the 76ers’ cultural reset is their young core. Philadelphia prioritized expanding its collection of younger, athletic players, headlined by Jared McCain, Adem Bona, and Justin Edwards, with the draft additions of V.J. Edgecombe and Johni Brome. While the talent is there, the 76ers must rely on their veterans to set the example and establish themselves as leaders.
“I won’t be, I don’t think, a part of camp going into it,” George said. “But, I do have a voice and being a part of the team to help the young guys and kind of touch that point early on in the season to start out.”
Embiid has also shown interest in guiding Philadelphia’s influx of young talent. He aims to inform the 76ers’ youth about his previous mistakes in the hope that he can prevent them from encountering a similar fate. Embiid pointed out how he contributed to Maxey’s evolution throughout the years.
Above all, the 76ers desperately want to redeem their status in Philadelphia.
“I walk around center city every day and see the excitement of the Eagles and Phillies,” said Daryl Morey. “This offseason was about getting ourselves back to being in those conversations.”