Once a spark off the bench, now the franchise pillar lighting up the league at 30.9 points per game—Maxey’s growth story is fueling the Sixers’ resurgence and a promising future in Philly.
Back in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers landed at pick 21 and snagged a promising guard from Kentucky named Tyrese Maxey. At the time, Philly was already a playoff team stacked with stars like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons (pre-drama era). For a late first-rounder, opportunities were slim—Maxey started as that instant-offense, change-of-pace spark off the bench. The tape showed flashes: quick first step, smooth pull-up, endless motor. But nobody predicted this kind of leap. What Maxey has become isn’t luck or inheritance—it’s earned through relentless growth, adaptability, and that signature breakneck pace.
Fast-forward five-plus seasons, and Maxey’s trajectory feels like buying Bitcoin early: steady climbs turning into explosive gains. He’s arguably a top-5 player in the league right now. Through 36 games this 2025-26 season (as of mid-January), he’s averaging 30.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. His shooting splits? 48.0% from the field, 40.9% from three, and 87.6% from the line—edging dangerously close to that elite 50/40/90 club on massive volume (22.4 FGA, 9.2 3PA). That’s not just scoring; it’s efficient, high-level production while playing nearly 40 minutes a night as the engine.
But stats only tell part of the story. Maxey’s real glow-up shines in leadership. Embiid and Paul George have both publicly shouted him out this season—calling him the guy who’s taken over as captain. With injuries and load management hitting the bigs hard in recent years, Maxey stepped up vocally and energetically. He’s sparked a team-wide resurgence in intensity, moxie, and belief. The Sixers, sitting at 22-16 and climbing in the East standings, feel different because of his presence—constant energy, accountability, and that “we got this” vibe.
As we approach the All-Star break, Maxey’s fan voting has him locked in the top 3 in the Eastern Conference (trailing only Giannis in some tallies, neck-and-neck with others for starter status). It’s well-deserved—he’s been that consistent force. After inking his massive extension in summer 2024, the future is built around him. Pair that with this year’s draft steal, rookie VJ Edgecombe (already showing star flashes in the backcourt), and you’ve got the dream young duo every team envies. Speed, scoring, defense, chemistry—the Sixers’ guard room looks set for years.
This season, Maxey has been straight-up incredible. Whether he’s pulling off James Harden-level step-back threes from deep, blowing by defenders for acrobatic finishes at the rim, or dissecting defenses with his vision, he looks unguardable at times. Opponents are game-planning specifically around him now—doubling early, switching everything, sending help from the weak side. And he still finds ways to drop 30+ (he’s hit the mark in over half his games). That explosiveness, combined with smarter decision-making and leadership, has elevated him from bench spark to true franchise pillar.
Maxey’s not just carrying the torch—he’s lighting the way for what’s next in Philly. With Embiid and George healthy and clicking more, and Edgecombe growing fast, the ceiling feels limitless. Tyrese Maxey isn’t just evolving; he’s arrived.
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From roaring crowds to iconic eats, the Philadelphia sports scene offers some of the most passionate, intense, and unforgettable game days in the country.
Whether it’s a chilly Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field or a summer evening at Citizens Bank Park, every Philly venue delivers something unique for fans.
Philadelphia is a city that breathes sports. The energy surrounding every major game, whether football, baseball, hockey, basketball, or soccer, is woven into the city’s identity. Visitors often find that the atmosphere here goes beyond simple fandom.
It is about pride, tradition, and being part of a community that celebrates every victory and feels every loss together.
Each venue in the city has its own character and rituals that make attending a game a one-of-a-kind experience. For those exploring Philly’s entertainment culture beyond the arenas, local hotspots like Millioner add another layer to the city’s vibrant leisure scene.
Lincoln Financial Field and the Eagles’ Fierce Tradition
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Few experiences compare to an Eagles home game at Lincoln Financial Field. From the moment you step near the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, the air buzzes with anticipation. Tailgating begins early, often hours before kickoff, as fans fire up grills, set up tents, and share food and stories with complete strangers who feel like old friends.
Inside, the sound of “Fly, Eagles Fly” echoes from every corner of the stadium. The Linc’s design keeps the noise close to the field, creating an electric environment that can overwhelm even seasoned visiting teams. For many fans, the best part of the experience is the sense of unity. Win or lose, everyone in green and white shares the same emotional roller coaster.
Those looking for food should not miss the local flavor. From Tony Luke’s cheesesteaks to Chickie’s and Pete’s crab fries, the concessions at the Linc celebrate Philadelphia’s comfort food traditions. For a quick bite before the game, head to Xfinity Live across the street, where the pregame party spills over with live music and team chants.
Citizens Bank Park and the Phillies’ Family Atmosphere
While the Eagles’ home turf thrives on intensity, Citizens Bank Park offers a more laid-back but equally passionate vibe. Phillies fans bring a deep sense of tradition, often attending games as families who have followed the team for generations. The ballpark’s design makes every seat feel close to the action, and its wide concourses and open views of the field enhance the fan experience.
The food selection here is widely regarded as one of the best in Major League Baseball. Beyond the expected hot dogs and pretzels, fans can find gourmet options like Bull’s BBQ, Manco & Manco pizza, and classic roast pork sandwiches from Tony Luke’s. The Yard, located in right field, is a family-friendly zone complete with a wiffle ball field and photo spots for kids.
On summer evenings, the energy is unbeatable. The skyline glows in the distance, the crowd rises for the seventh-inning stretch, and the stadium fills with the rhythm of rally towels and cheers. For locals and visitors alike, it is the quintessential Philly summer night.
Subaru Park and the Rise of Philadelphia Union
Soccer has been steadily growing in popularity in Philadelphia, and nowhere is that more evident than at Subaru Park in Chester. The Philadelphia Union’s home sits along the Delaware River, offering a scenic backdrop for an increasingly devoted fan base. What makes the Union’s matches stand out is the community atmosphere. The Sons of Ben, the club’s official supporters’ group, leads chants, songs, and coordinated displays that make even first-time visitors feel part of the action.
The match-day experience starts well before kickoff, with tailgates lining the parking lots and fans waving blue and gold flags. Inside, the energy is constant. Soccer may not yet rival football or baseball in overall attendance, but the intensity of the Union faithful makes every goal, save, or penalty kick feel monumental.
Subaru Park also emphasizes accessibility and inclusivity, making it easy for new fans to get involved. With affordable tickets, easy transit options, and a welcoming culture, it represents the next evolution of Philadelphia’s sports identity.
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If you’ve ever set foot in Philly on game day, you know it’s not just about sports; it’s about survival of the loudest.
The city breathes football, baseball, basketball, and hockey like other places breathe air.
Lincoln Financial Field isn’t a stadium, it’s a thunder factory when the Eagles charge in. The Wells Fargo Center? Feels like it’s going to burst when the Sixers are cooking. And Citizens Bank Park on a summer night, when the Phillies claw their way back in the ninth – man, that’s pure adrenaline.
And 2025? Big-ticket events like the Army–Navy Game, Penn Relays, and the Marathon will keep the spotlight on the city, while soccer and women’s hoops are sneaking into the mainstream. Even the way people connect is shifting. Some head to their go-to bar in South Philly, others fire up fan apps and betting slips, and plenty check out platforms like SlotsSpot, a place packed with verified online casinos where you can chase some action without worrying about shady sites. Just like Philly fans demand authenticity from their teams, they expect the same from the places they play – online or off.
Iconic Teams Driving Philadelphia Sports Culture
Philly’s sports scene is like sitting at a packed poker table where every card means something big.
Credit: Pixabay – Credit: Pixabay
The Eagles are the ace, no doubt. Sundays at the Linc aren’t games, they’re all-in moments with tailgates that smell like grilled sausage and cheap beer.
The chants? They hit harder than a jackpot bell, with “E-A-G-L-E-S!” shaking the stadium like dice on a hot streak.
Team
Sport
Cultural Role in Philly Sports Culture
2025 Outlook
Eagles
NFL (Football)
The ace in Philly’s deck, built on tailgates, grit, and the iconic “E-A-G-L-E-S!” chant.
Playoff heat expected, atmosphere at the Linc unmatched.
Phillies
MLB (Baseball)
Summer heartbeat, family nights, Citizens Bank Park packed with generational pride.
Riding strong momentum, younger fan base keeps growing.
76ers
NBA (Basketball)
Symbol of resilience, “Trust the Process” turned into a cult-like following.
High playoff hopes, new energy fueling the fan scene.
Flyers
NHL (Hockey)
Pure grit, Broad Street Bullies legacy, toughness written into the DNA.
The quiet riser, bringing global vibes into Philly’s fan mix.
Soccer boom positions Union as a bigger player in 2025.
Lacrosse
PLL & NLL
Fast, rough, fits Philly’s appetite for hard-hitting action.
Growing crowds, youth leagues feeding the pipeline.
Philly doesn’t just cheer for its teams, it bets its soul on them every season. The Eagles bring the city together like a royal flush, the Phillies keep summers alive, the Sixers fire up the young blood, and the Flyers remind everyone this town’s still got teeth.
Then you’ve got the Union and lacrosse sliding into the mix, proving Philly fans aren’t afraid to take a chance on something new if it’s got heart. No matter the season, no matter the sport, Philly’s all-in – and that’s what keeps the city’s sports culture unbeatable.
Premier Sporting Events in Philadelphia 2025
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Philly doesn’t just live off the big teams. The city’s sports culture runs on a calendar that feels like a nonstop tournament.
Every few weeks, there’s another showdown that pulls the crowd.
Event
Sport/Focus
Why It Matters in Philly
What’s Cooking in 2025
Army–Navy Game
College Football
A rivalry so intense it feels like war on turf, pumping pride into the city.
Packed Linc, national spotlight, electric atmosphere.
Penn Relays
Track & Field
Oldest and biggest track meet in the U.S., dripping with history.
Still the spring king, international runners spice it up.
Philadelphia Marathon
Running
Philly streets turn into a giant block party of sweat and cheers.
Record runners expected, tourism jackpot for the city.
Broad Street Run
10-Mile Race
Philly’s version of an all-in sprint, open to anyone ready to hustle.
More young blood signing up, bigger media buzz.
Head of the Schuylkill Regatta
Rowing
Tradition on water, showing off Philly’s river pride.
Global crews expected, turning the river into a stage.
NCAA & Pro Tournaments
Basketball, Wrestling, Golf
The city flexes as a host that can handle anything.
More big tournaments rolling in, filling hotels and bars.
Exhibitions (Savannah Bananas, etc.)
Baseball Entertainment
Pure fun, goofy but addictive – like side bets at a casino.
Guaranteed sell-outs, families piling in for the show.
That’s the thing about Philly. These events aren’t just games; they’re rituals. You’ll see locals lining Broad Street in the cold, rowdy students losing their voices at the Relays, and tourists falling in love with the chaos while crushing a cheesesteak. The city treats every event like a parlay bet – stacked, risky, but unforgettable when it hits.
Sports Bars, Food, and Local Flavor
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In Philly, the game starts long before the first whistle. The real warm-up happens at the bars and food joints where the city’s heartbeat is loudest. You walk into Chickie’s & Pete’s on an Eagles Sunday and it’s like stepping into a sportsbook where everyone’s already all-in. Buckets of wings, crab fries flying off trays, pitchers of beer sweating on the tables – and fans screaming at a pre-game highlight like they’ve got money on it. Over in South Philly, cheesesteaks aren’t just food, they’re pregame fuel. Pat’s or Geno’s? That’s the eternal coin flip, and you’d better pick a side like you’re betting red or black.
In 2025, this food-and-fan ritual has only leveled up. Craft breweries are popping up, stadium menus feel like food festivals, and even the corner bars are upping their game. But the vibe stays the same. It’s loud, it’s greasy, and it’s real. A beer in one hand, a cheesesteak in the other, and the whole place roaring like a slot machine hitting three 7s – that’s Philly sports culture in its purest flavor.
Youth Sports and Grassroots Development
Ask anyone who grew up here and they’ll tell you – Philly sports culture doesn’t start in the big arenas, it starts on cracked asphalt courts and muddy fields where kids learn to ball out before they can even spell “Eagles.” Little league football feels like a smaller version of the Linc, with parents hollering like it’s the NFC Championship. Basketball runs through neighborhood courts where kids mimic Embiid’s post moves until the lights cut out. And the colleges – Temple, Penn, Villanova – they’re like the training grounds where tomorrow’s legends cut their teeth.
Credit: Pixabay
What makes it special is that it’s not just about producing athletes. It’s about shaping loyalty, grit, and that “never back down” Philly spirit. These grassroots leagues are like free spins that keep paying out, generation after generation, feeding the big-time culture with fresh energy. In 2025, with more girls’ teams, better facilities, and even digital tools helping kids get noticed, the scene’s only getting stronger. It’s not polished, it’s not fancy, but it’s real Philly – and that’s exactly why the city’s sports culture keeps hitting like a jackpot year after year.
Conclusion
Philly’s sports culture in 2025? Feels like the city threw down on the ultimate parlay and every leg is live. The Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers – the classics, the steady hands, the ones you keep riding even after a few cold streaks because you know the heater’s coming. These teams don’t walk away from the table, and neither do their fans.
Then you toss in the events that keep the city buzzing: the Army–Navy showdown with the Linc packed to the rafters, the Penn Relays with kids flying down the track like they’ve got money on the line, the Marathon turning streets into one long sweat-drenched block party. And don’t forget the food – cheesesteaks dripping on your shirt, crab fries by the bucket, and corner bars where you walk in a stranger and cash out as family.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Hope Afloat USA is a Dragon Boat team based in Philadelphia. The women who practice and compete and paddle together all have one thing in common. They are all breast cancer survivors.
Phyllis Silverstein explains, “It’s sisterhood. It’s survivorship. It’s brought me to be with people that have been on the same journey that I’ve been on. “
They practice three times a week on the water and each time they get together they build a sense of camaraderie and give a sense of belonging to many who have faced a difficult road to recovery from their breast cancer diagnosis.
Phyllis says of her treatment and recovery, “There were definitely times I thought I wanted to give up. And so, getting in the dragon boat, I thought the same thing! The first practice, somebody handed me a paddle and I’m like I can’t do this. And then I finished and I came back for another one.”
They’re building teamwork and getting back to a normal life after facing so many challenges. And they’re winning too.
In 2025, 5 members of the team competed in Germany on the world stage on the first ever Breast Cancer Paddler team! They took home a total of three silver and three bronze medals and showed their moxie on the world stage and proved how their determination and spirit can make a big difference.
Nancy Glasgow is a paddler on Hope Afloat USA and says showing up and competing on this team is about Zen and connection.
“It’s very challenging. But that’s what you try and strive for. That’s what keeps you going. And that’s the wonderful thing about this sport. I mean, there’s no age limit on this sport. We have people in their eighties doing this and it’s a fabulous, fabulous thing.”
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There is still time before this becomes the most significant story involving the Philadelphia Eagles, but if the NFL has taught us anything, it is this.
Consider Jalen Carter. His rookie contract is about to reach its third year. Although Philadelphia may exercise the fifth-year option that is built into his contract, it won’t be long before it’s time to back up the Brinks truck. Milton Williams usually occupied the third or fourth spot on the depth chart as a defensive tackle during his four seasons in Philadelphia.
Raising awareness of the Every Kid Sports Pass and promoting youth sports participation in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas are the goals of the cooperation. The NFL’s Eagles are the second team to formally declare their support for Every Kid Sports.
With its major league teams—the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Phillies (MLB), 76ers (NBA), and Flyers (NHL)—and other professional teams in rugby, lacrosse, soccer, and ultimate disc, Philadelphia has a fervent sports culture.
The city has a strong history of winning championships in all of its main sports, a passionate and informed fan base, and renowned tailgating customs.
Sports-Related Injuries
Sports-related injuries are rather prevalent. Indeed, we are confident that the Philadelphia Eagles and their supporters have a large number of personal injury attorneys on hand in case they are needed. For instance, statistics from local law companies indicate that a sizable portion of the state’s population has the phone numbers of several lawyers or law firms on their phones.
Remember to consult a Wunderdog Sports Picks LLC attorney if you find yourself in difficulty! Finding the top personal injury attorney in Philadelphia may be a challenging task, but it is not impossible with a little investigation. To give you the greatest chance in court, we at Philadelphia Injury Lawyers consider every little detail.
The Eagles Cannot Afford to Lose a Quick Advantage
We sincerely apologize if these kinds of talks cause you needless worry. Encourage yourself. When it comes to these kinds of organizational decisions, the Eagles excel. You can be confident that Howie Roseman will solve this problem. Indeed, that raises another theory. Philadelphia is well-positioned for success in the near future, as many of its young players are on rookie contracts and deals that are relatively inexpensive by NFL standards. They have the least expensive defense in the NFL.
Partnership
In an effort to expand access to young sports, the Philadelphia Eagles are happy to announce their partnership with Every Kid Sports (EKS), a nationwide nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status. A $10,000 initial community contribution and a pledge to cover the sports registration fees for 500 young people in the Greater Philadelphia Area are part of the activation relationship. Through grants from Every Kid Sports’ flagship program, Every Kid Sports Pass, the funds will assist in paying registration fees for families with limited incomes.
The partnership’s goals are to promote kids’ sports participation in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas and raise awareness of the Every Kid Sports Pass. The NFL’s second professional football team to formally collaborate with Every Kid Sports is the Eagles.
The Football Culture of Philadelphia
Fans in Philadelphia are renowned for being fervent, intense, and incredibly devoted. Whether it’s playing fantasy football, betting on their team, or tailgating before the game, many people in the city love the extra activities that come with football.
These events further heightened the city’s passion for football, and when legislation permitting greater sports betting in Pennsylvania was eventually passed, supporters had even more options, at least in terms of betting. Philadelphia’s first sportsbooks opened their doors in 2018. Apart from the ease of use, the absence of physical bookmakers in the city may also contribute to the popularity of online casinos among Philadelphia gamblers.
2026: Philadelphia’s Biggest Year for Sports
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2026, when the USA celebrates its 250th anniversary, is expected to be a historic year for Philadelphia sports. The city will host six FIFA World Cup 2026 matches at Lincoln Financial Field after being selected as one of the host cities. Five group stage matches and one round of 16 match—which will take place on July 4—are on the schedule. At the FIFA Fan Festival, which takes place at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park, fans from all around the world may watch every World Cup match.
Symbolism in Culture
The sports clubs in Philadelphia have become potent representations of the city’s tenacity and unwavering spirit. Famous sporting events, like the Flyers‘ historic wins or the Philadelphia 76ers‘ championship victories, are ingrained in the city’s culture and serve as enduring symbols of pride and tenacity. The teams’ colors and logos have influenced many aspects of Philadelphia’s aesthetic environment and have come to represent the city’s character.
In addition, Philadelphia’s sports teams’ stories of success and hardship echo the city’s own path, showing its capacity to overcome obstacles and come out stronger. These stories strike a deep chord with Philadelphians, strengthening a sense of pride and resilience that goes well beyond sports.
Professional Teams & Collegiate Sports
The Philadelphia Wings are a National Lacrosse League team that plays at the Wells Fargo Center. On its campus in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Villanova sports also hosts games at Finneran Pavilion and Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia is also home to Temple University, whose free football predictions at Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia is also home to the University of Pennsylvania, whose sports teams play in The Palestra.
For many years, the Philadelphia Big 5 schools—Saint Joseph’s, Penn, La Salle, Temple, and Villanova—have been vying for the city’s unofficial sports championship.
Honoring Philadelphia Sports’ Tenacity and Glory
These kinds of moments define Philadelphia sports. times when players step up to the plate and give performances that will live on in the memories of future generations.
From Graham’s revolutionary strip-sack to Hamel’s supremacy, these performances have influenced the city’s fervent sports culture.
Conclusion
Philadelphia football has been a journey filled with victories, disappointments, and unrelenting commitment.
Generations of supporters grew up yearning for success to return to the city, and decades went by. Philadelphians’ enduring devotion to their team has never faltered, even in hard times.
With two Super Bowl victories in the past ten years, fans have never had it so good, and the festivities have hardly subsided since.
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All around the world, people are creating communities around their favorite sports, an occurrence that is very evident in Philadelphia.
From the Eagles to the 76ers, the city has no shortage of teams that inspire loyalty among fans. With this, it’s not unusual to see fans coming together, whether online or offline.
But outside of simply supporting these teams, many community members find a source of companionship and camaraderie. In this article, we’ll touch on the various ways that sports communities build lasting connections and how you can use them to your own advantage.
Sports-Related Activities
There are so many ways to go about enjoying sports, and being part of a community of other fans means you do this with like-minded people. As such, many people turn to sports communities so that they can enjoy their favorite sports and their associated activities with others. For example, many sports fans love to place wagers on the outcome of various games. In fact, in the age of the internet, this is more popular than ever before. Turning to online platforms means more privacy and greater ease of placing wagers, which is why no verification betting options for players are very high in demand.
By joining communities, players can place wagers alongside their fellow community members, discuss odds, and celebrate wins. This also applies to things like watching games as a group, discussing their favorite players, and much more.
Exploring Group Identity
For many sports fans, the teams and games they support are not just a form of entertainment but a part of their identity. Some fans will support a single team throughout their entire life and may even pass this support to the next generation. As such, there is a great emotional high of connecting with people who are equally as passionate about certain teams. If news breaks regarding the teams, such as players being traded or new management coming on board, it can be discouraging to not have anyone to discuss with who shares your enthusiasm. And as we’ve seen both in real life and in the media, sports funds take these things very seriously.
This is why these communities will continue to thrive, because often, fans immediately gain access to people who share their own level of enthusiasm. Just like fans of musical acts or certain celebrities can find emotional support from clinging to their own communities, so do members of sports communities.
PHOTO: Unsplash
Non-Sports Support
When sports communities come together frequently, they almost inevitably develop a bond that goes beyond just sports. Some people bond within these groups over the sports themselves, but eventually become friends even outside of them. Some people will find a romantic connection, and some may even get work opportunities through these sorts of groups. Because the human experience is dynamic and a connection in one area of life can easily bleed into others, many see these sports communities as not just a connection to sports themselves but also a major social lifeline. And as long as this emotional connection is continuously provided for through these groups, they will continue to exist.
Recreational Activities
We’ve already touched on things like placing wagers and watching games, but there are other recreational activities that sports communities can collectively engage in. For example, some sports communities in a certain city may organize transport to watch live games with others. Some might pull together resources to get coveted tickets to certain games.
Some might even begin to play their own amateur sports as a way to keep fit and socialize. For anyone looking to enjoy a bubbling social life, this sort of opportunity will be very much welcome.
Support From The Teams
Sports teams rely on their supporters to stay afloat, and naturally, this means they support the various communities that exist around them. There have been instances of sports teams giving exclusive perks to prominent fan clubs, such as invitations to events, meet-and-greets, and so on. In the age of digital assets, there are even fan tokens that these community members may leverage to access tons of benefits. Sports communities and sports teams enjoy a symbiotic relationship where each needs the other to stay afloat, and thus, there is mutual support.
Rivalries
While we’ve talked a bit about the camaraderie and the positive connections that fans form within sports communities, it’s also worth looking at how rivalries can create lasting connections. We all know two sports teams that are bitter rivals, and this extends to their communities as well.
Perhaps the only thing that unites community members more than support for their favorite team is hatred of another one.
And as long as they continue to rival these teams, they will continue to seek community with other haters, and thus, these communities serve a purpose.
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Karen Harris was born and raised in South Philadelphia. Following her career in the healthcare industry, she has focused her energy on developing the new ‘African American Market’ at FDR Park.
FDR Park is already well-known for being home to the Southeast Asian Market, among others. Now, on Saturdays, guests can find African American vendors just down the road in Picnic Areas 13 and 14.
The market first opened on June 14, 2025 and will pop up each Saturday through mid-to-late October. They then plan to return in June of 2026.
Last year, the Sixers finished the season with the 7th seed in the Easter conference. Earlier in the season, they projected to finish with a much higher seed since they went 31-8 in games with Joel Embiid. Due to injury, Embiid missed most of the season so they finished with a 47-35 record. Now that Embiid wants to prioritize rest and load management, what kind of record can we expect them to have?
Guaranteed Games without Embiid
Embiid has stated that he will not play in back to backs ever in his career. This season the Sixers have 15 back to back games scheduled, and Embiid is already slated to miss the first three games. That totals up to 64 games played by itself with no additional injuries/soreness. We know Embiid will not stay healthy even with that limited schedule. Realistically, Embiid will probably miss another 10-15 games due to injuries and such. Maybe more if this knee thing is worse than their saying (which is extremely possible – maybe likely). Combining that with the back to backs brings us to around 57 games this season without any serious injuries. That’s a lot of games.
How Will They Play Without Embiid?
Like I said, the Sixers went 31-8 in the 39 games with him last year. That averages out to a record of 61-21 which would have put them at the two seed in the East.
That being said, without Embiid, they went 16-27 in games without them. This resulted in them finishing with the seventh seed and almost missing the playoffs.
If we translate that winning percentage (41.8%) into the 25 games that Embiid will hypothetically miss, and the 57 games that he hopefully plays in with last year’s percentage (74.2%), they would total up to a record of 52-30. That also would have put them at second in the conference last year.
Obviously that is hypothetical math, but if they do the exact same thing as last year they will still contend heavily in the standings. They should do even better than that.
Much Improved Roster
With the signing of Paul George, Caleb Martin, Guerschon Yabusele, Andre Drummond, and the (almost just as beneficial) loss of Tobias Harris, the Sixers should do better than they last year in games without Embiid. George specifically should be able to alleviate a lot of pressure on Embiid which could keep him healthier to play more games. If that happens, then the Sixers should be able to compete for a number one seed this season.
As everyone knows, Dikembe Mutombo just passed away at the young age of 58. Unfortunately, this premature death cam from his battle with brain cancer. To remember his legacy, let’s reminisce on his best and most impactful performance for the Sixers.
Controversy?
With Allen Iverson winning MVP that year, many basketball fans around the country (especially Milwaukee) suspected that the Sixers were “favored” by the NBA to win the series and go on to the finals to play another big market team in The Lakers. As the series went on, the Bucks determined the refs cheated them. Ray Allen said after game 6 that “It behooves everybody for the league to make more money, and the league knows that Philadelphia is going to make more money with L.A. than we would with L.A.”
He pulled out the classic take no accountability for losing coping strategy.
I’m a firm believer that the league isn’t rigged and people make that up to feel better about their loss. In reality, the Bucks just played poorly that series and they could barely stop a Milwaukee team that hardly beat the Sixers without Iverson in game 3.
That being said, the Bucks were in pure whine-mode heading into game 7 in Philly.
Dikembe Dominates
What’s the best way to quiet the hater? Go out and dominate the game. The complaints from the Bucks must have motivated Mutombo to do just that. He and Iverson set the tone in game 7.
With Scott Williams suspended for game 7, the Bucks lost a decent rebounding role player who averaged just under 6 rebounds and over a block per game that series. Iverson and Mutombo took advantage of a weaker playoff rotation. Iverson scored a game-high 44 points and Mutombo led the game with 19 rebounds and 7 blocks. Mutombo took charge by physically out-dueling the whole Bucks team. He obviously took the whining personally which sent him on a mission to put an end to the disrespect.
His Legacy Still Lingers
Even though Mutombo only spent under two years in Philly, he still holds a spot in our hearts today. Because of his strong play, he ended a 17 year finals drought for the team. After that the Sixers have gone on a 22 year drought that still goes on today. Without his performance, I and millions of other Philadelphians would not have had a 76ers finals run in our lifetimes. Hopefully that changes soon, but those finals still reminisce in our minds today.
Rest in peace Mutombo. Thanks for allowing the Iverson “Step Over” to happen.
After Jimmy Butler left, the Sixers have had a tough time building a roster worth of a championship. Between striking out on free agents to players holding out, there has not been much luck coming their way. Let’s take a look at how the opening day rosters stack up against each other after Butler’s departure.
6.
2021-2022
Record: 51-31, 4th in East
Roster: Danny Green, Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Andre Drummond, Georges Niang, Furkan Korkmaz, Matisse Thybulle, Charles Bassey, Jaden Springer, Paul Reed, Isaiah Joe
This was a disappointing, yet inevitable, beginning to the season. After such a terrible loss to the Hawks, where Ben Simmons passes up an easy bucket against Trae Young, Simmons received so much hate from fans and media, that he couldn’t play for the team anymore. He decided to hold out for a trade.
Since Simmons held out, that really hurt the Sixers roster to start the year. They lost their all-star point guard and had to turn over the reigns to a second-year player with much to prove: Tyrese Maxey. This nonsense helped Tyrese Maxey’s growth tremendously by giving him so much playing time.
Nevertheless, Maxey was nowhere near the player he is today, and the Sixers just didn’t have enough firepower from players other than Embiid to play that well to start the season. Tobias Harris never stepped up during his career here and no other player had the talent to help out Embiid.
5.
2023-2024
Record: 47-35, 7th in East
Roster: P.J. Tucker, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, De’Anthony Melton, Tyrese Maxey, Danny Green, Patrick Beverly, Kelly Oubre, Jaden Springer, Paul Reed
Last year, the Sixers had to go through yet another season of conflict and strife. After just a year and a half removed from the Ben Simmons debacle, James Harden decided to hold out from the team too. This caused a lot of disdain from fans to organization and many people started to really lose interest (if they hadn’t already).
Had James Harden stayed, the Sixers would have had a pretty good supporting cast for Joel Embiid. Even though he didn’t, they played well without him, going 22-10 from October to December. Unfortunately, disaster struck in this season later when Embiid tore his meniscus.
Everyone knew they needed to get something in a trade to do damage in the playoffs, but the market did not have a big move in store for them which forced the Sixers to be compensated with draft picks and minor players. This season was over before it started just like when Ben Simmons held out.
4.
2019-2020
Record: 43-30, 6th in East
Roster: Ben Simmons, Josh Richardson, Joel Embiid, Al Horford, Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton, Mike Scott, Kyle O’Quinn, James Ennis , Raul Neto, Furkan Korkmaz
Going into this season, the Sixers had high expectations. They have a solid core with an exciting young player in Josh Richardson to go along side of Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Tobias Harris. Additionally, they just acquired Joel Embiid’s kryptonite (at the time). With Al Horford, Sixers fans imagined a dominant front court where no guard could come and score with two big men capable of scoring inside and outside of the three point line. Unfortunately, this team did not live up to expectations.
After just a few months of play, everyone realized this team didn’t fit right. They lacked perimeter scoring more than anything. Horford and Embiid took away from each other much more than they built each other up. Because of these issues, the team was forced to make many moves during the season to bolster their depleted bench and lack of scoring.
It’s important to note that this was the COVID year, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that this team had major holes and would end up getting swept by the Celtics in the playoffs.
3.
2020-21
Record: 49-23, First in East
Roster: Danny Green, Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Dwight Howard, Mike Scott, Furkan Korkmaz, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, Tyrese Maxey
After a year with lackluster shooting from the outside, the Sixers corrected that issue by signing Seth Curry and Danny Green – two players who shoot the three better than anyone they had the last year. These two can also hold their own on defense since they were only ever asked to guard the worst player. With defensive stars in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, it made playing defense much easier for the rest of the team. They had the 2nd best defensive rating in the league that year.
The Sixers were also excited to have offloaded Al Horford from the team and replace him with a backup-only center. He would strictly play minutes where Embiid wasn’t on the floor. While Howard boosted the teams worst trait (rebounding), he didn’t contribute much else. The Sixers rely on their centers to score, and he couldn’t do that well at all.
For the first time in a while, the Sixers finished the regular season with the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference (this was a shortened season because of COVID as well). This gave the city some very high expectation to go deep into the playoffs.
The talent was there for this team, but mentally, Ben Simmons destroyed this team and would never be the same player again after the catastrophe in the 7-game loss to the Hawks in the postseason.
2.
2022-2023
Record: 54-28, Third in East
Record: P.J. Tucker, James Harden, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Montrezl Harrell, Danuel House, Georges Niang, Matisse Thybulle, De’Anthony Melton.
The Sixers finally got a star guard with MVP style play. James Harden was acquired by the team the year before via trade for Ben Simmons and the city yearned for a championship after so many years of disappointment – this finally seemed like the team.
James Harden and Joel Embiid built chemistry through the latter half of the previous season and were expected to shine bright together as a dominant duo. They played very well together, but Harden’s ball dominant style presented some problems with Embiid’s incompatible similarity in his style.
Luckily, Harden invested in his relationship with Tyrese Maxey which helped Maxey develop into a better version of himself. In his third year, Maxey started developing into a very solid player. This team also had talent to get the job done, but ended up falling short yet again.
1.
Current
Record: TBD
Roster: Ricky Council IV, Andre Drummond, Joel Embiid, Paul George, Eric Gordon, Reggie Jackson, Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, KJ Martin, Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Kelly Oubre, Guerschon Yabusele
Now, Tyrese Maxey is a bona fide star in the league. He and Embiid have great chemistry with each other and perfectly understand how to play along side the other. These two have grown so much together as a duo and have emerged as one of the best duos in the league.
Then, finally, after waiting so long for a free agent star signing, the Sixers signed Paul George to accompany Embiid and Maxey on their quest to a championship. Many teams add stars just to add a star, but in this case, Paul George also happens to fit perfectly with these two. Their play styles compliment each other very well.
The front office wasn’t finished after George, though. They also signed a power forward that will bring fire and intensity to the team. Caleb Martin will fit right into this city. He elevates his game when it matters, and plays with heart.
Also, Andre Drummond is returning to Philly, where he served as Embiid’s best backup just a few years ago. By signing him and bringing Lowry and Oubre back, the Sixers have some continuity from years past. These players have played together before which will only help their chances of winning this year.
The NBA season is just a month and a half away and all the teams (for the most part) have their rosters set. That being said, the sportsbooks have their futures bets pretty much all set for the year. Let’s take a look at the big ones for the Sixers.
has the Sixers tied for third best odds to win the championship with the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks at +900. Ahead of them are the Celtics (+300) and Oklahoma City (+700).
Every year, people usually put the Sixers in the top echelon of the Eastern conference, and each of those years, they have fallen short. Having Joel Embiid will always give a team a chance to win the championship. If Embiid can stay healthy in the playoffs for the first time in his career, then that’s good news for the Sixers championship odds. Seems like a solid bet for anybody riding high for the Sixers.
Wins
The Sixers are sitting at 52.5 o/u for their wins season total. Last year, the Sixers were on pace for way more than 52 wins before Embiid had his meniscus surgery. After losing him for 2 months, they finished with just 47 wins and stuck in the play-in tournament. The Celtics finished first with 64 wins, blowing away second place by 14 games.
It’s obvious that the Sixers are better than last year. They added Paul George to take more weight off of Embiid to keep him healthier into the playoffs. Most believe they will battle the Celtics for the number 1 seed in the east, which would definitely put them above 52 wins. If the Sixers live up to expectations, then their win total will be well above 52.5. Bet the over.
Points Leaders
Joel Embiid trails only Luka Doncic in the race for the regular season scoring champion. At +300, most people know that Embiid will continue his scoring dominance next year. Last year he scored more points than had minutes played, so he would be a safe bet for scoring champion.
More intriguing to see is Tyrese Maxey way down the list with +35000 odds for scoring champion. In every year of his career, Tyrese Maxey has improved his offensive game by a lot. He went from a high 20’s three point shooter to one of the best in the league in just one year. Last year he finished 15th in scoring. If he continues to get better like he has, then he could end up being a top 7-10 scorer in the league. He won’t win the scoring title, but it’s interesting to see how underrated he is around the league. He could become a top-10 player in the league this year.
The Sixers have made the most noise in free agency this year than any other team. This has been the free agency that Sixers fans have waited on for many years. Now that the bulk of the moves are completed, how does this year’s team stack up to last year’s?
Point Guard
2023:
Kyle Lowry
Cam Payne
Patrick Beverly
2024:
Kyle Lowry
Reggie Jackson
Jeff Dowtin Jr.
As of now, the point guard position looks about the same caliber of last year. With the talent at other positions, the Sixers need veterans that can distribute the ball and not turn the ball over at the point guard position. With Kyle Lowry and Reggie Jackson, they should get that style of play. Jeff Dowtin Jr. is on a two-way contract, so he probably won’t see the floor too much unless there are some injuries.
Some consider Tyrese Maxey a point guard, but with the addition of Reggie Jackson, him and Kyle Lowry should be taking the point, allowing Maxey to play at SG, his natural and more effective position.
The PG position should remain very similar to last year.
Shooting Guard
2023:
Tyrese Maxey
Buddy Hield
Ricky Council IV
De’Anthony Melton
Jaden Springer
2024:
Tyrese Maxey
Jared McCain
Eric Gordon
Ricky Council IV
The Sixers revamped their SG position with a new young player (McCain) and a new vet (Gordon). Tyrese Maxey will take most of the minutes at this position and could improve even more since last year. If Maxey gets better – like he has in every season of his career – then this could be the Sixers’ strongest position on the team. He already won most improved player in his 4th year and now has bulked up quite a bit in the offseason. Maxey will be the Sixers’ X-factor.
The Sixers also drafted Jared McCain this year. He is another undersized guard, but will have time to learn the game with Maxey ahead of him. There is no pressure for him to shine in the beginning of his NBA career which could help him grow.
In the summer league, Ricky Council IV looked very good. He obviously belongs in a league above the G-league and could start making some plays in the NBA. He could become a good player for the Sixers or they could use him as a trade piece if he excels this year.
Overall, the shooting guard position should look pretty good this year. If Maxey plays as well as last year (or better), then this will be a strong position for them and better than last year.
Small Forward
2023:
Robert Covington
Danuel House Jr.
KJ Martin
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Tobias Harris
2024:
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Paul George
KJ Martin
The biggest upgrade of the offseason came at this position with the acquisition of Paul George. Not many teams have a player with Paul George’s combination of scoring and defensive versatility. Paul George would upgrade the SF position on most of the teams in the NBA.
Not only does Paul George add a ton of skill, but it may be even more noteworthy that Tobias Harris is gone. Tobias was a non-factor in the majority of games that he played in. Losing him and his near-max contract is addition by subtraction. That allowed the Sixers to go out and make big moves in the free agent market.
Kelly Oubre could start for the Sixers, but it’s also possible that he may come off the bench. Kelly Oubre’s skill and energy off the bench will certainly provide scoring and defense for the team. We will have to wait and see what Nick Nurse decides the starting lineup will be.
Power Forward
2023:
Nicolas Batum
Marcus Morris
PJ Tucker
2024:
Losing Nicolas Batum is a bummer, but nobody should ever rely on a player with his skillset and age anyway. He had great defensive instincts, entry passes for Embiid, and could shoot the ball well. He will be missed, but the additions in other areas should make up for his loss.
There’s not much depth at this position right now, but Paul George can move over to the PF if needed. Depending on the lineups, expect to see George at the 4 throughout the season at different times.
Caleb Martin is a very underrated signing by the Sixers. He’s a hustle player that doesn’t need to score in volume and will provide solid defense and peskiness. Not only that, but he has historically raised his game in the playoffs which will come in handy for a team that lacks the mentality in the postseason. He’s undersized for his position, but having a strong defensive anchor like Embiid will help cancel that out.
With Martin and George sharing responsibilities at the PF spot, the Sixers should look improved in this position.
Center
2023:
Joel Embiid
Mo Bamba
Paul Reed
2024:
Joel Embiid
Andre Drummond
Adem Bona
If Embiid’s healthy, then the Sixers never have to worry about this position and they will have the best player, but that doesn’t happen. Recently, the Sixers have not prioritized the backup center position. This positional value is higher for the Sixers because of Embiid’s injury history. Signing Andre Drummond should help the defense stay strong while Embiid is off the floor while also helping with rebounding. Paul Reed isn’t a bad player, but he wasn’t cutting it for the Sixers. Drummond should be able to keep the Sixers even with opponents while Embiid rests instead of going negative every time.
Also, in the past the Sixers didn’t have any consistent offense coming from another position without Embiid. With Maxey’s improvements and now Paul George, they will not have to rely on a center to score points. The offense should be able to hold it down while Embiid rests.
Conclusion
Overall, the Sixers team looks a lot better on paper than it did last year. They’ve added a lot of pieces that look like they will fit with this team well. Obviously it comes down to whether they can get out of the second round of the playoffs, but for now we can look at a much improved team than last year. Adding Paul George should make this season a lot more fun to watch.
It’s no secret that Embiid has struggled in Olympic play. But why? Is Embiid out of shape? Are the rules harder? Is the game too fast? What about all the other good players on the team now? Maybe it’s a combination of all of those.
Embiid’s Fitness
It seems that every year, Embiid somehow puts on a lot of weight and loses a ton of his conditioning over the offseason. This year, Philly hoped to see a better Embiid coming into the season because of the Olympics, but he still managed to look sluggish and out of shape in a much shorter amount of time.
Not only does the lack of fitness affect the style of play and his effectiveness, but it can also lead to injury much easier than if he weighed less. Anybody that has played sports or lost weight knows they can move much better and how they want when they are in better shape. This allows people to play better and get in better position to prevent injury. Sluggish steps can put a lot more pressure on joints – especially combined with the extra weight per step.
FIBA Rules
Plenty of NBA players – Embiid certainly not excluded – get a lot of points from manipulating the rules and drawing fouls. In FIBA basketball, the refs are more reluctant to give the superstars the calls they get in the NBA. Many NBA players struggle with this adjustment at first, but the best of the best usually can figure it out. Embiid isn’t adjusting as well as others.
Even though he isn’t adjusting as well now, I think he can still get there. With all of the talent surrounding him, he should have plenty of experience to learn from. His play style makes it harder to adjust too because of no 3-second violation for defense. Embiid can’t drive to the basket as easily since the opposing team can camp in the paint as long as they want.
Hopefully Embiid can get a hang of these rules and start dominating again. If he can, then hopefully the adjusted play style can help him learn to score in even more ways back in the NBA.
Too Much Surrounding Talent?
Unlike when playing in Philly, Embiid might not be the best player on his team. When surrounded by players like Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Lebron James, the pressure may seem higher. It would make sense if Embiid is a little bit more nervous to make a mistake with teammates of that caliber.
For the Sixers, it’s not uncommon to see Embiid struggle on his first couple shots and then pick it up after that to make 12 out of his next 14 shots. With so much surrounding talent, he can’t afford to do that. If he misses 3 shots in a row and they go down, then it’s time to let KD or Steph take some shots and find the hot hand.
Should we be concerned?
Is it fun to see Embiid struggle on one of the highest stages? No. Nobody loves to see our beloved Sixer struggle, but we should not be concerned. Remember, this is a whole different league with new teammates, a new coach, and new competition. It would definitely be nice and encouraging to see Embiid dominate at this level, but we already know how dominant he is in the NBA. The NBA caters to their stars and isn’t going to change to FIBA rules. Embiid will still dominate when he’s healthy and struggle when he’s out of shape. Overall, we know the Embiid we will get and not much will change.
Just Like July of 1776, Philadelphia Is Positioning Itself To Make History Once Again.
Two Hundred and Fourty-Eight years ago — during a sweltering summer July in Philadelphia — our nation was born thanks to the brave leadership of 56 founding fathers. For seventeen days in June — Thomas Jefferson — worked each day out of a house that he had taken up residence in at 700 Market Street and poured for seventeen days on the first draft of what would become the Declaration of Independence. Occasionally he wandered into Philadelphia’s taverns, sipped ale and touched pen to hallowed parchment and inked a rough draft of those words which have become lore in America.
Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons.
When the final version was ratified at Independence Hall (Pennsylvania State House,) it was read aloud in multiple US cities including Philadelphia. By the time that the official document was signed on August 2nd — word of America’s independence had spread across the colonies. Just like the bold vision of Thomas Jefferson and of our founding fathers — our sports teams are signing documents crucial documents as well tight here in Philly.
Photo Courtesy of Sixers Nation on X.
This week, it was the Sixers who invested nearly half a billion dollars at the chance to support Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey with their quest for an NBA Title in 2024–2025 by adding veteran forward Paul George to a four-year, $212 Million max contract. The team also gave Tyrese Maxey a five-year, $204 Million extension, along with Kelly Oubre Jr. (2 years, $16 Million,) Andre Drummond (2 years, $10 Million,) and Eric Gordon (1 year, $3.3 Million.) The Sixers also drafted Adem Bona out of UCLA and Jared McClain out of Duke.
Across the Philadelphia Sports Complex Parking Lot, Lincoln Financial Field is the site of the enthusiasm of another Eagles season with Training Camp opening in three weeks. The Eagles have had a busy off-season with free agent signings as well as another stellar draft.
Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
Two contract extensions for both Devonta Smith (3-year, $75 Million) and AJ Brown (3-year, $96 Million) and the signing of All-Pro and former Penn State running back Saquon Barkley (3-year $37.75 Million) having already placed the Eagles as an 18–1 favorites to win a Lombardi in 2025.
The Eagles signed former Jets linebacker Bryce Huff to a three-year, $51.1 Million deal the undrafted free agent out of Memphis in 2020 as well as former Wisconsin star Zach Baun from the Saints, former 49ers linebacker Oren Burks, and safety CJ Gardner-Johnson also returned to the team. Offensive lineman Matt Hennessy was also signed by Philly.
The Eagles also earned one of the best grades in the NFL at the Draft by adding key talent, with all draft picks now signed as of June 6th. In the first round they drafted Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. In the second round, they added another defensive back Cooper DeJean. In the third round they drafted Jalyx Hunt an outside linebacker from Houston Christian. In the fourth round, they drafted Will Shipley from Clemson. In the fifth round, the Eagles added wide receiver Ainais Smith from Texas A&M, Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. from Clemson, and Guard Trevor Keegan from Michigan. Philadelphia’s draft selections ended in the sixth round with wide receiver Johnny Wilson from Florida State, Guard/Center Dylan McMahon from NC State.
The Flyers have made waves by signing 19-year old Matvei Michkov to a multi-year deal with an annual cap hit of about $950,000.00. They also re-signed Bobby Brink to a two-year, $3 Million Contract. With the thirteenth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, they selected center Jett Luchanko.
And who can forget our NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies who are carrying a 141-year old franchise-record for payroll in 2024 of $262 Million, which includes a cap hit of part of the 13-year, $330 million contract of Bryce Harper? In March, Zach Wheeler and the Phillies announced an MLB-record contract extension, a three year, $126 million deal. The deal won’t kick in until the start of 2025 — but when it does — Wheeler’s $42 million salary will represent the largest extension in MLB history by annual average.
Jubilant citizens cheered the public reading of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 with the decision of brave Americans inspired by Philadelphians like Benjamin Franklin to cast off the yoke of British control and tyranny imposed by King George III’s government. The cheers emanating from the South Philadelphia Sports Complex by the thousands represents the potential and expectations of the City’s four major sports franchises in 2024 and beyond.
It’s an excitement in Philadelphia as old as 1776.
After years of hoping, wishing, and wanting, the Sixers finally got the best player available in free agency – and they didn’t even have to trade for him! Most people woke up to surprising good news on Monday morning when they heard the Sixers signed Paul George. Daryl Morey could finally make something happen when given cap space heading into an offseason.
The Case for Paul George
Let’s start with the bad side.
Some people had and still do have skepticism about signing Paul George. He has played 14 seasons in the NBA already and recently turned 34. Not ancient, but definitely not young for NBA standards. Those concerns hold weight – especially given his injury history. In the last 5 years, he has only played 60 games in one of them. Luckily, that one season was last season, which gives hope to his health heading into this year. It’s no coincidence that he has his healthiest year once they found somebody else (James Harden) to dominate the ball and distribute.
Enough with the bad, there is a lot more good to talk about with him.
First off, he finished top 5 in 3-pointers made while shooting 41.3% and 45.4% on catch-and-shoot 3-point opportunities. This kind of ability from beyond the arc will tremendously help the Sixers and Joel Embiid. Sending help off of Paul George will not happen, and if it does, all Embiid needs to do is find him and watch 3 points go up on the board.
Secondly, as mentioned before, Paul George had his healthiest year last year when the Clippers acquired James Harden to primarily handle the ball. This allowed George to stay healthier throughout the year. He doesn’t have Harden anymore, but he has Maxey and Embiid as the first and second options which allows him to stay as option number 3. Hopefully this keeps him as healthy as possible throughout the year.
Also, Paul George plays great defense. He might not do it as well as he used to, but he still averaged a steal and a half last year on the season. He’s 6’8″ with a 6’11” wingspan. Not many people have this gift of size matched with athleticism. He can guard all positions and will most likely take on the responsibility of guarding players like Tatum, Luka, Lebron, etc.
In addition to defense, his size also allows him to create his own shot off the dribble. Maxey can do that, but has trouble in congested areas. Embiid can, but as a center it’s harder for him to quickly get a shot off and create space. With George’s quickness and size, he can create shots in crowded areas when he needs to.
While Paul George is not the same player he used to be a few years ago, he is still a fantastic third option on a contending basketball team. Lots of people knock him for never winning, which is fair, he has never had a player like Embiid on his team. Not to mention what could happen if Maxey continues to improve.
Returning Sixers
Tyrese Maxey will return in a Sixers uniform for the next 5 years after signing a well deserved maximum extension worth $205 million. The Sixers’ 21st pick in the 2020 draft has panned out better than anyone could have hoped. Imagine how much better Maxey will continue to improve in the coming years. He has the brightest future out of any player on the Sixers.
Kelly Oubre Jr. will also return to the Sixers on a 2-year 16.3 million dollar deal. It’s nice to see a player like Oubre stick around after bouncing around the league for a lot of his career. He just needs to stop riding his bike in the streets and everything will be ok.
After getting traded away to the Nets, then playing in Chicago, Andre Drummond signs a 2-year $10 million deal to come back to Philly. Most consider Drummond one of Embiid’s best backups during his career, so it’s good to see him return. His knack for rebounding and clogging up the defensive lane should help the Sixers during the Embiid-less minutes. His offense is limited, but Paul George and Tyrese Maxey hold all the responsibility now on offense without Embiid. Drummond’s game plan needs to stick with setting screens and dunking the ball.
New Sixers
So far, only one player comes to Philly brand new this offseason: Eric Gordon. He signed a veterans minimum for one year. He’s a classic vet who enters his 18th season this year. He’s a consistent 37% career 3-point shooter who you’d expect to see play less minutes this year than last (27). He’ll give us a few threes a night and play decent defense.
The Job’s Not Done
Currently, the Sixers only have 8 players signed, plus their two draft picks.
Joel Embiid, C
Andre Drummond, C
Paul Reed, PF/C
Paul George, SF
Kelly Oubre Jr., SF
Ricky Council IV, SF
Tyrese Maxey, PG
Eric Gordon, SG
With the only PG on the team being Maxey, expect the Sixers to aggressively pursue a PG in the coming days. Maybe they go after Kyle Lowry and resign him, but they could go after other options like Tyus Jones, Delon Wright, or (hear me out) Markelle Fultz.
I would love to see Tyus Jones sign with the Sixers. He averaged over 7 APG on the Wizards which is impressive given the option he has to pass to on that team.
Markelle Fultz is a very interesting candidate. He will most likely resign with the Magic, but I would welcome him back to Philly since plays well and can really help a team with his shot creating abilities. He has become a good NBA player, but not what we expected when he went #1 in the 2017 draft.
The Sixers also need to sign a true PF. They have plenty of SF’s, but they need a bigger body down there, and preferably one that can rebound well. Paul Reed could transition to PF, but in all likelihood, his time has come to an end here.
Not everybody, but some people believe the Sixers just got “unlucky” again and had Embiid been fully healthy they think it would have been a different story in this playoff run. Unfortunately, part of being a playoff great comes down to longevity, but even if the Sixers did make it to the ECF fully healthy, let’s see how they would stack up against the – once again – Eastern Conference champions. Included here will only be players that make the playoff rotation.
Guards
Sixers:
Tyrese Maxey
Kyle Lowry
Cam Payne
Buddy Hield
De’Anthony Melton
Celtics:
Jrue Holiday
Peyton Pritchard
Derrick White
The Sixers have more options at guard, but that’s only because their players aren’t as good. Jrue Holiday has experience (like Lowry), but he’s a few years younger and more consistent on the offensive side of the ball. With those few years of youth he has on Lowry, it allows him to play more minutes at a higher level.
Buddy Hield could be better than the Celtics’ options, but he was left out of the rotation for so long. He can shoot when he’s hot, but he can’t create a shot too well or distribute to his teammates either.
Tyrese Maxey is the best player on this list, which levels out the playing field with the guards going up against each other, but the Celtics guards know their roles which helps them each use their individual talents in the best way to help the team.
Conclusion: Celtics
The Celtics take this position group, but barely. Maxey is easily the best player, but the other Sixers players don’t give enough significant time. The Celtic guards play a better brand of playoff basketball.
Forwards
Sixers:
Kelly Oubre Jr.
Nicolas Batum
Tobias Harris
Celtics:
Jaylen Brown
Jayson Tatum
Xavier Tillman Sr.
Sam Hause
Oshae Brissett
Is this even worth debating? Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum run circles around the Sixers group of forwards, and in the playoffs, teams need good play from their wings. Without consistent wing play, no team will go far in the playoffs.
Nicolas Batum helped get the Sixers to where they needed to be during the play-in game, but he went back to his regular play after that. Nothing is wrong with that given his age and role.
Tobias Harris contributed negatively to the team throughout the whole playoff run and should not be back with the Sixers next year. He’s a liability at this point.
And lastly, Kelly Oubre. He gave the Sixers life at different points, but still can’t be someone to rely on in big spots. The Sixers should keep him on the team next year for sure. He provides some shooting on the perimeter and athleticism both on the defensive and offensive side. He doesn’t have the finesse you hope for, but he’s the best wing option the Sixers have as of now.
Conclusion: Celtics (and it’s not close)
Nobody will argue against this one. The Celtics arguably have the best group of forwards in the league.
Centers
Sixers:
Joel Embiid
Paul Reed
Mo Bamba
Celtics
Al Horford (yuck)
Luke Kornet
Backup Centers don’t usually get a lot of time, so not many teams put a lot of money and assets into that position. One team that could benefit from a good backup center is the Sixers, but unfortunately, they don’t care. With the amount of time Embiid misses, having Mo Bamba and Paul Reed just doesn’t cut it. Imagine if the Sixers could stay even or maybe gain points during Embiid’s absence from the floor in games. Or maybe if/when Embiid misses time, they don’t have the worst team out there. But that’s a rant for another day.
I will never stop saying that Al Horford purposely played for the Sixers just to suck and make them worse. He was good before them and good after them, but never played well while here. At least he’s not Embiid kryptonite anymore.
Conclusion: Sixers
While the Sixers do easily win this position battle, it doesn’t affect the game as other groups because of the position they play. Embiid will be the best player on the court when he’s out there, but wings dominate the NBA and they are needed to win. Also, when it comes to centers, teams can easily get by with someone that only does 1-2 things well. that provides opportunity to improve the rest of the team.
Tyrese Maxey stepped up on the biggest stage at the biggest time. After what looked like another disappointing ending to the season, Maxey miraculously scores seven points in the last 30 seconds of the game to force the Knicks into OT where the Sixers pulled out on top to steal a game in New York.
Deja Vu?
All Sixers fans probably felt the same way entering the last minute of the Sixers game. When Mcbride hit the free throw line jumper with 30 seconds left, plenty of Sixers fans probably turned their TV’s off and reflected on another early exit from the playoffs with another uninspired performance from Joel Embiid.
This game felt the same as many other games the Sixers have played before – battle back and forth all game just to come up short in the end. Tyrese Maxey had other plans. He converted a rare and-one 3-pointer and nailed a logo length 3 to tie things up which brought them into overtime where they sealed the deal. Maxey made a lot of noise in the sports world with his incredible play.
The Script is Flipped… for now
The Sixers did the usual “try to lose the game” thing that they usually do in these situation, but luckily the Knicks decided to do the same thing. Although he had triple double, Embiid tallied a whopping 9 turnovers in his 47 minutes played. It seemed that every time the momentum seemed to switch, Embiid would try too hard to make something happen, a pass would slip the fingers of Tobias Harris, or somebody would miss a wide open 3. Fortunately for the Sixers, the Knicks also committed timely turnovers to keep them in the game.
Even with the help of sloppy play, the Sixers found themselves in a much too similar situation: trailing in the final stages of an elimination game. Queue Tyrese Maxey-Superman mode. Not many Sixers players in previous years had the capability to turn things on when they needed to most – Embiid tends to rely on others too much to set him up for baskets, Ben Simmons would shrink in crucial moments, and James Harden would fade away while trying to do it all. The Sixers finally have a player in Tyrese Maxey with a combination of shot creating and limitless range that can bring a team back from the dead.
When called upon, Maxey delivered to bring hope to Philadelphia for at least one more game. Obviously they still have to do it two more times, but something about this team seems different than years past. Games that feel like losses turn into wins more than they used to. They need to capitalize on momentum swings like this.
Embiid Needs to Answer Back
Maxey stole the show today and has the capability to do it again, but that doesn’t mean Embiid can be OK with his quality of play tonight. I get that he missed shootaround with a migraine that could definitely be a symptom of Bell’s Palsy and is still recovering from a knee surgery, but that’s no excuse for his lackadaisical passing leading to a multitude of turnovers throughout the game. He needs to be better. He cannot expect to pull away with a win after another performance like that. The Sixers simply cannot afford it.
He Wasn’t All Bad
I still can’t hate on the big guy too much. I love him and so should everybody in Philadelphia.
Even though he only scored 19 points on 7-19 shooting, he grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out 10 assists. Obviously the game wasn’t coming to him tonight, but he did just enough to get the job done. He noticeably boxed out the Knicks more aggressively and made the right reads a lot of the time to get open shots for his teammates. He helped limit the Knicks offensive rebounds which helped the Sixers outrebound the Knicks by 6 today. That made a big impact whether anybody wants to acknowledge it or not.
Can they do it again and again?
No matter how magical tonight was, they need to do it twice more. The team stepped up and pulled it out in a subpar performance from Embiid, so just imagine what they can do if everyone is firing on all cylinders for once. Even Tobias had a good game today. They need to step it up and win this game at home to really put the pressure on the Knicks for game 7.
Embiid, Maxey, and the whole team come up clutch to make a statement in game 3 against the Knicks.
He Said They Can Win the Series
After the game 2 loss, Embiid had some bad body language, but he still came out and said they could win the series. The only way to follow up a statement like that is to come out and dominate in game 3, and dominate he did.
After coming up short two times in a row, Embiid came out and put on a show, scoring 50 points and shooting 5/7 from 3.
Slow Start
To start off the game, the NBA and their beloved replay review made three appearances just halfway through the first quarter. Kyle Lowry and Joel Embiid were both assigned flagrant 1 fouls during that time. Not only that, but Embiid found himself in very early foul trouble with 3 in the first quarter.
All Sixers fans probably didn’t feel too good after seeing that. It had all the early makings of another devastating Sixers loss, which would essentially knock them out of the playoffs. Going into halftime, the Knicks had a 3-point lead. Not good.
Electric 3rd Quarter
After the aggravating start to the game, the Sixers came out firing in the third quarter, outscoring the Knicks by 16. The whole team got super hot from 3, led by Cam Payne and Embiid’s efforts from downtown. The Knicks had no answers – especially after Mitchell Robinson went down with an ankle injury. Embiid had his way throughout the whole third quarter, allowing the team to slow down in the fourth. The Sixers only outscored the Knicks in the third quarter, but they did it in such a dominant fashion that they didn’t need to in the other quarters.
Biggest Takeaways
Embiid Had to be Embiid
In my last article, I said the Sixers couldn’t win without Embiid coming out and dominating. He had to forget about bad calls and play his game. He did just that. Even after early foul trouble and a near altercation with Mitchell Robinson and D0nte DiVincenzo, Embiid stayed in the game and did his thing.
In previous years, this would have really hurt his level of play for the rest of the game, but he pushed it aside and dominated. He had a legitimate legacy game, scoring his career-high in the playoffs of 50 points.
Mitchell Robinson
After Mitchell Robinson went down, the Knicks had to put Precious Achiuwa up against Embiid with Isaiah Hartenstein sitting out due to foul trouble. This gave Embiid a humongous advantage over the much smaller Knicks team.
Achiuwa didn’t play terribly, but if Mitchell Robinson doesn’t come back this series, Embiid could have another monstrous game coming soon.
Brunson Returning to Form
It was only a matter of time before Jalen Brunson broke free of the Sixers’ plan to stifle his efforts on the court. He scored 39 points on 48.1% shooting, along with 13 assists. He had a great game. Even with those great numbers, the Sixers’ defense definitely made him work his hardest to get his points. Also, they caused him to commit some untimely turnovers that are unlike him. As long as the Sixers make him continue to work this hard for points, they can count that as a success.
Rebounding
For the first time in this series, the Sixers outrebounded the Knicks. The Knicks still had 11 offensive rebounds, but it was obvious the Sixers put an emphasis on limiting second-chance points.
More players crashed the boards today, which caused a lot of frustration among the Knicks players, who are usually rewarded more with their hustle.
Sixers’ Supporting Cast
Finally, the Sixers’ supporting cast showed up to play. Having a spark off the bench creates a huge difference in playoff games. In the last two games, the Knicks bench lit the Sixers up and demoralized them. Today, Cam Payne came in and flipped the tables. Even with his ugly-looking shot, he came in and instantly nailed some 3’s to provide some much-needed scoring outside of Embiid and Maxey.
Kelly Oubre also added 15 points. His athletic build and ability to shoot provide much-needed versatility from the wing. He forces defenders to step up on him, but he can also blow by for a dunk like he did in the first quarter.
Payne and Oubre were very important in tonight’s win.
We Have a Series
Going down 3-0 would have ended our playoff hopes, but we still can dream. 2-1 is a lot more manageable than 3-0, and many teams have come back to win from this before.
With Nick Nurse running the game plan and Embiid getting healthier every day, the Sixers can tie this series up on Sunday and put a lot of pressure on the Knicks.
A suspect has barricaded himself in a home in New Jersey and was holding hostages after shooting three people to death in suburban Philadelphia.The Saturday morning shooting in Falls Township in eastern Pennsylvania forced the cancellation of a St. Patrick’s Day parade and shut down a children’s theme park. Authorities in Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for the area for several hours, but it was canceled by early afternoon.Police said the suspect, a 26-year-old man who was currently homeless, knew the shooting victims.Falls Township police said in a statement that the shootings occurred at two locations in the township. The suspect then carjacked a vehicle and drove to Trenton, New Jersey, where he barricaded himself in a home with hostages.Video from a WPVI helicopter showed numerous police vehicles surrounding several blocks of homes in Trenton, New Jersey, where the suspect is believed to be barricaded with hostages. An officer roped off an area with crime tape, while others took cover behind vehicles. Another officer was stationed behind a wooden fence in the back of one of the multilevel homes.Middletown Township police said the suspect has ties to addresses in Bucks and Trenton and “stays in Trenton primarily.”Shaun Murphy, who lives in the Falls Township community of Levittown, said he was headed to the parade when he saw that the road had been blocked.“All the neighbors were outside wondering what was going on and then we got the notice about shelter in place,” Murphy said.“I did see ambulances coming up the street earlier without their sirens on,” Murphy said. “My neighbors were just outside with me last night, and we were just saying how great of a town and how great of a neighborhood it is.”Gov. Josh Shapiro said in social media posts that he has asked the Pennsylvania State Police to assist local law enforcement agencies.Police said Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place had been told to close until further notice, and the area’s Target store and other businesses chose to close as well.___Freida Frisaro contributed from Fort Lauderdale.
FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. —
A suspect has barricaded himself in a home in New Jersey and was holding hostages after shooting three people to death in suburban Philadelphia.
The Saturday morning shooting in Falls Township in eastern Pennsylvania forced the cancellation of a St. Patrick’s Day parade and shut down a children’s theme park. Authorities in Bucks County issued a shelter-in-place order for the area for several hours, but it was canceled by early afternoon.
Police said the suspect, a 26-year-old man who was currently homeless, knew the shooting victims.
Falls Township police said in a statement that the shootings occurred at two locations in the township. The suspect then carjacked a vehicle and drove to Trenton, New Jersey, where he barricaded himself in a home with hostages.
Video from a WPVI helicopter showed numerous police vehicles surrounding several blocks of homes in Trenton, New Jersey, where the suspect is believed to be barricaded with hostages. An officer roped off an area with crime tape, while others took cover behind vehicles. Another officer was stationed behind a wooden fence in the back of one of the multilevel homes.
Middletown Township police said the suspect has ties to addresses in Bucks and Trenton and “stays in Trenton primarily.”
Shaun Murphy, who lives in the Falls Township community of Levittown, said he was headed to the parade when he saw that the road had been blocked.
“All the neighbors were outside wondering what was going on and then we got the notice about shelter in place,” Murphy said.
“I did see ambulances coming up the street earlier without their sirens on,” Murphy said. “My neighbors were just outside with me last night, and we were just saying how great of a town and how great of a neighborhood it is.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro said in social media posts that he has asked the Pennsylvania State Police to assist local law enforcement agencies.
Police said Oxford Valley Mall and Sesame Place had been told to close until further notice, and the area’s Target store and other businesses chose to close as well.
Let’s all just take a chill pill on Tobias Harris. I get it. He scored a lot of points the last two games and was a significant factor in the Sixers getting two good wins. He played great. The only problem is, he has done this his whole time with the Sixers and his whole career before that.
Last 10 Games
Minus these last two games, Harris has scored over 20 points just one time. He averaged just 13 points per game in that 8-game stretch before games against the Hornets and the Mavs. Then, when you put those two games into the averages, voila, that average shoots up to over 16 ppg. 16 ppg is great, but the inconsistency kills.
Career Numbers
Over his career, he has averaged 16.3 ppg on around 47% shooting and a respectable 36.9% from 3. If that doesn’t tell you all you need to know, then I’m not sure what will. Those are essentially the exact number that he has put up over the last 10 games. Decent averages does not mean a good player. He has made a living from sub-par play boosted by the occasional 2-5 game stretch of good basketball that inflates his numbers to make him seem like a much better player than he is.
This season, he averages 17.6 points per game, 50% field goal, and 35.6% from 3. These are the same numbers! He is who he is and there’s no changing that.
Common Misconceptions
There’s a state going around that says the Sixers are 98-47 when Harris scored 20 or more points. OK? I bet most teams win more than they lose when more players score more points. That’s just common sense. The problem with that stat is: he’s played 362 games. He has scored 20 or more points in just 145/362 games. Broken down, that equals approximately 2 out of every 5 games. That’s not good enough for a near-max contract player.
Also, some people say “Tobias Harris can’t score like he used to anymore. He’s getting old.”
No he’s not.
Just look at his career numbers. They are the same this year as they have been every year. It’s not that he isn’t the player he was with us just a couple years ago. It’s that he isn’t sharing the court with the most dominant scorer the NBA has had in years (that’s Joel Embiid if you didn’t know).
How Much More of This?
Luckily, this is the last year of Tobias’ contract. It’s safe to say we only have to watch this consistently inconsistent basketball for just a few more months.
The only way two ways Tobias stays:
They win the NBA finals
He comes back on a very team friendly deal (I mean he owes us right?)
Those are the only two conditions that could warrant this man returning to Philadelphia next season. Daryl Morey will make a huge mistake resigning him. Even if he does sign a team friendly deal, I don’t think many people will be happy with it. He will have to take a reduced role, which could be awkward, and he’d be making less money. He would be better suited playing for a bad team where he can be his inconsistent self.
