NBA All-Star Makes Bold Claim About 76ers' Playoff Hopes

The Philadelphia 76ers are the talk of the town.

First, it was the in-division trade with longtime rival Boston Celtics, where they acquired Jaylen Brown for Paul George and draft picks. Now they’ve added to their free agency class with the addition of 'The King,' LeBron James. With these acquisitions, it has the Sixers primed to be one of the favorites to win it all this season. 

The big question is can this unit remain healthy? Embiid is in and out of the lineup while James has run into his fair share of injuries. One former All-Star believes that even without these two the Sixers can still land a spot in the playoffs. On an episode of Run It Back, DeMarcus Cousins thinks the team is built to stand if James and Embiid were to both miss an extended amount of time. To be quite honest, the facts back up the claim. 

Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown have both had to assume the role of leader on their respective teams when the star player is out.

Brown also shines when the lights are bright, as he led the Celtics in points and willed them into the playoffs before Tatum returned early from an Achilles injury. Brown’s stats rival Maxey's as he also recorded 28.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. 

With both these players on the team, it’s easy to see how this team could be poised for a deep playoff run. Along with their supporting cast, V.J. Edgecombe, and new additions Anfernee Simons and Labaron Philon Jr., the second unit can hold things together while the starters get their rest. So even without James and Embiid, the case can be made.

Now the real question is, can there be cohesiveness amongst the stars? After all, there is only one ball to go around. Players as selfless as Brown and Maxey know that no one man can win it all and that a team is what gets you to the finish line. Brown has that shot creator ability the team has been missing, while Maxey can control the tempo and make some tough buckets when it matters the most.

If these things can happen, there's no doubt Cousins' assumption will be worth its weight in gold. 

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J'Mar Smith is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected].