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Author: Keith Pompey

  • Sixers predictions: Regular-season record and postseason performance for the 2025-26 season

    Sixers predictions: Regular-season record and postseason performance for the 2025-26 season

    The 76ers entered last season with a brand new Big Three and big expectations to match. They appeared to be a shoo-in for the postseason and a potential contender in the Eastern Conference. Neither projection came to pass as injuries sat down Joel Embiid and Paul George for much of the year, and left Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes and Co. to gut out most of the season before giving up on the season and resorting to tanking.

    That said, this season appears to be much more of a mystery. After down seasons, Embiid and George have both vowed to come back stronger and help the Sixers win. Maxey has another All-Star caliber performance under his belt and Grimes has something to play for after signing his one-year qualifying offer. The Inquirer’s staff took a shot at predicting how this season will turn out for one of the NBA’s most enigmatic franchises.

    VJ Edgecombe outpacing Sixers expectations — and bringing his lofty goals into view

    Gina Mizell, Sixers beat writer

    Record: 43-39

    Postseason performance: First round

    Consider me somebody who agrees with the league’s general managers, who in their annual NBA.com preseason survey overwhelmingly voted the Sixers as the team whose outlook is toughest to predict in the 2025-26 season. Maybe I’m irrationally optimistic about Joel Embiid’s recent return to the court; it’s almost more important that he fully practiced two days after playing his preseason debut. But I see the Sixers carefully navigating their stars’ health throughout the regular season, executing a high-tempo style that can better survive those absences, and making it out of the play-in tournament. Then, they put a scare into the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks (remember how fun that series was two years ago) or Orlando Magic, before falling in that first-round series. At the very least, the Sixers will be a much more entertaining watch with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, and (eventually) Jared McCain in the backcourt. Everybody who slogged through last season’s misery deserves that.

    The Sixers’ Paul George, Andre Drummond and Tyrese Maxey watch their team play at the Wells Fargo Center.

    Keith Pompey, Sixers beat writer

    Record: 44-38

    Postseason Performance: First round

    No one, not even Sixers coach Nick Nurse or star player Joel Embiid can come close to accurately predicting how this season will go. That’s because there are way too many uncertainties surrounding the health and level of play Embiid and Paul George. But in what is expected to be a wide-open Eastern Conference, the Sixers should have a chance to clinch the sixth seed and avoid the NBA Play-In Tournament.

    But clinching a first-round berth might be the ceiling, barring a few miracles. The Sixers just aren’t deep enough to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, and Detroit Pistons in a playoff series. And they might have a tough time defeating the Milwaukee Bucks if Giannis Antetokounmpo plays at an MVP level.

    Marcus Hayes, Inquirer columnist

    Record: 38-44

    Postseason performance: Non-participant

    Any preseason prediction regarding this 76ers season is a fool’s errand. Joel Embiid is in better shape, but, given his injury history and proclivity, is unlikely to play in even 60 games. Paul George has a bad knee, he’s 35, and he’ll be lucky to play in 40 games. Jared McCain, the only young player with proven NBA upside, has been hurt twice (knee, thumb), and no one know’s when he’ll be back.

    Which leaves the team with Tyrese Maxey, rookie project V.J. Edgecombe, and various Kelly Oubre Jr. types. If the stars align, the Sixers will make the playoffs, win a round, maybe even two. If the stars remain crossed, they’ll miss the postseason. Given the 13 years of curses they’ve earned trying to beat the system with The Process, a disaster in both concept and execution, expecting the stars to uncross at this point is as foolhardy as any serious attempt at predicting an outcome of any season.

    Can Nick Nurse work his magic to overcome the Sixers’ injuries and lack of on-court chemistry?

    Gabriella Carroll, Inquirer staff writer

    Record: 42-40

    Postseason performance: First round

    Last season, basically everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the Sixers. This season feels virtually impossible to predict, because the variance in outcomes is so wide. The Sixers could keep Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and VJ Edgecombe mostly healthy this year, and get just enough games from Joel Embiid and Paul George to stay playoff competitive. They could have the disastrous injury luck of the 2024-25 season, and end up back in the lottery. Who knows, maybe they get supremely lucky and almost everyone is available all year? That feels like a bridge too far for the Sixers. But in what looks like it could be a down year for the Eastern Conference, making the Play-In and winning a game feels doable.

  • Sixers’ sights set on season opener against Celtics. And they could have reinforcements.

    Sixers’ sights set on season opener against Celtics. And they could have reinforcements.

    For the 76ers, Monday was all about preparation for their season opener against the Boston Celtics.

    Joel Embiid had a towel wrapped around his waist and his blue practice jersey was drenched in sweat as media members entered the gym. Both courts were occupied by players who stuck around for post-practice shooting drills.

    Every player on the roster practiced, with Jared McCain, who remains sidelined after surgery on his right thumb, being the only exception.

    VJ Edgecombe outpacing Sixers expectations — and bringing his lofty goals into view

    “Listen, we’re at the stage now where we’re doing game prep,” coach Nick Nurse said of Wednesday’s contest at TD Garden. “So everybody was involved in all of what we were doing today.

    “So we were just getting ready for Boston, cleaning up some stuff, and one more of those quickies tomorrow before we hit the road and then it’ll be game time.”

    The Sixers are eager to erase memories of last season’s 24-58 record. It marked their first losing campaign since they finished 28-54 in 2016-17. They also want to see how their new fast-paced, free-flowing offense fares in an actual NBA game.

    Coach Nick Nurse and the Sixers are eager to erase memories of last season’s 24-58 record.

    “Listen, like I said this the other day, I think we’re digging ourselves out of a pretty big hole,” Nurse said of last season. “I think that we’ve made a lot of progress, and we’ve worked hard, but you’ve got to go play the games now for real. And then you’re going to really learn about your team and what progress you made, and much of the hard work has paid off, and can it get results.

    “I mean, I think it feels good right now, the changes we’ve made. … I think it’s a tremendous test for this group Wednesday to go on the road and play a team that’s got a bunch of guys playing together for forever. I know they have changes too, but they still have a core group that’s been together forever and we’re looking forward to the test.”

    Can Nick Nurse work his magic to overcome the Sixers’ injuries and lack of on-court chemistry?

    While the Celtics do return several role players, the team will have a different look from the last two seasons. And a lot of the changes are a result of Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury. With Tatum out, the 2024 NBA champions made drastic roster moves and underwent a semi-rebuild to get under the second luxury-tax apron.

    Over the summer the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers and Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks. They also didn’t re-sign Al Horford, who accepted a two-year deal with the Golden State Warriors.

    Boston isn’t void of talent, though.

    Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) suffered an Achilles tendon injury that altered the team’s direction.

    It received standout shooting guard Anfernee Simons from Portland in exchange for Holiday. And the Celtics’ roster changes haven’t altered their style of play.

    “They’re going to play a lot of guys that can shoot the ball,” Nurse said. “They’re going to try to get you in mismatches, and they’re just really good at playing one-on-one and scoring. And if they don’t score, they find the open man. And that’s usually a three-ball.

    “So it’s the same. Some of the names have changed and the pieces have moved a little bit, for sure. But they’re playing, doing some similar things.”