This team has NBA players turning heads. Kevin Durant marvels at this new Philadelphia 76ers team.
It’s no secret that the Philadelphia 76ers are going to be the team everybody watches throughout the NBA season. With the new additions, it’s all anyone has been talking about as they wait for the start of the season. Kevin Durant is one of those people who believe this 76ers team is a force to be reckoned with.
Durant described the new-look team as a “juggernaut” when they added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. It’s easier for Durant to talk about this team considering he’s over in the western conference. Durant has had his battles with James and knows what kind of player the 76ers are getting despite his age.
The reason for Durant’s comments isn’t just because they have James; it’s more about what they have around him. The team is composed of players who can do whatever they need to score the basket. No matter where you look, there’s no real weakness on this team. You could make an argument for who to attack on the defensive side, but it’s hard to find where that lies. Brown is like a stone wall, while Maxey has the quickness to recover. Then there’s VJ Edgecombe, who held a defensive rating of 116.4, meaning he has a very good rapport of sticking to his man like glue.
If anyone gets past, then they're stuck dealing with a rejuvenated Joel Embiid waiting in the paint. Offensively, well, that’s where the problem lies for the opponents. With James leading the charge, he has multiple options on who to go to in this team of scorers. You want a three? Dish it to a trailing Maxey. You need an easy two? Find Embiid cutting down the middle of the lane. In desperate need of a basket? Get the ball moving and find someone like Brown who can get off a shot if given space.
That’s the kind of offense this team possesses. With James orchestrating the whole thing, it makes the defenders stay on their toes, which can make them late on a closeout. This “juggernaut” team is going to be such a beauty to watch, even when the bench players get in.
From top to bottom, there’s not a single player that many would consider a liability if they had to step up and play. Anfernee Simons will be the one who gets that second unit going. With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dean Wade, who both are similar in terms of being three-and-D players, will be huge assets to keep the same tempo when they enter the game.
The 76ers are more than what you see on paper. When the games begin, they’ll show everyone why this roster is one of the best in the NBA.
