It’s one game.
That’s what most Sixers fans will tell themselves after a rough opening night in Boston Tuesday.
And it’s very true. Joel Embiid struggled and will likely still need time to get into full game shape. There’s little doubt he will look more like his MVP-caliber self. With so many new pieces, the defense blew assignments and had miscommunications, while the offense was stagnant and plagued by turnovers. Given the NBA track record of the Sixers’ newcomers, it feels like those things will get better as well.
But you don’t have to look too far for the biggest positive of the evening: James Harden.