Positives the 76ers Can Take Away From Preseason Loss to Nets

The Philadelphia 76ers went over to Brooklyn riding high on their victory against the New York Knicks and had some huge ups and downs throughout the course of the game. The 76ers lost to the Nets 116-108. Even with the loss, there were some positive things to take away from this game.

1. The starting five got some crucial minutes.

Now this is what everyone came to see. LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey all made their debut, and it looked to be a decent show. James showed why many expect him to lead the team in assists as he orchestrated everything on the floor. James finished the night with five assists and 10 points. Maxey showed that he’s going to be hard to stop now that he’s running without the ball. Maxey scored 14 points on 5-8 shooting from the field. Embiid seemed to struggle for much of the night. As the only starter to not finish in double figures, Embiid looked a bit lost having seven turnovers in the first half, but that’s to be expected as he adjusts to his new teammates.

2. This offense is going to be dangerous.

The starters were dashing up and down the court trying to get easy baskets. For much of the first half this game was close, but what really made an impact was how easy it was to go from an inbound pass to the basket in a matter of seconds. While it is preseason, the team was surely trying to make a point to showcase just how easily they can score. Not only that, but the extra passes that led to open shots are going to be expected once the season gets underway.

3. This team will fight to the end.

Once the starters were out and the bench subbed in, it seemed that this game was completely out of reach. The Nets led by as many as 14 points in the game. They led for 76 percent of the game. With less than five minutes to play, the 76ers were down by double digits before fighting to climb back into it, dwindling the deficit to three before making unforced errors and giving the game away. It was nice to see the team not give up despite the fact that it’s a preseason game and they're fighting until the clock hits zero.

Regardless of the loss, there is something to be said about a team that has All-Stars leading the way and that they fight to earn their keep. The 76ers have one game left before the season begins; let’s hope they learn from this and come out stronger for it.