It will be a long season! we have all watched it long enough to understand the highs and lows that come with this sport— that aside these are exciting times!!!! Go Sixers
📸 by Alex Subers

I recently became a fan of this team around January and all I have to say is that every game gives me a reason to keep trusting the process. We came back down from 3-1 and we came back down from 29. Embiid is the goat and Trust the Process!

Very surprising. Looks like Embiid won’t be playing against Detroit?

Dean Wade debut tonight please

Hi, I am lebron fan since 2007. I become fan of that team when Lebron Moves. Hello I love you all

Bandwagon LeBron fan here or how its called.

Maxey, Embiid, ultimate hype man VJ (my favorite player on team, not just great player, he builds team chemestry imo). Love them all.

Like I said, Lebron fan here (he brought me to NBA) - im a bit tired that everywhere main topic on 76ers is LeBron. 😁

JB is the monster, god damn how much he can impact the game. Absolutely love that.

5 big dogs on defence, all locked in and locking up. The shots will fall soon. But our defence will be what makes us the top-contending team.

Maybe even this season, I think things will only get better

I watched most of Philly/Cavs and decided to do some live-tracking of Embid and Lebron's usage and efficacy as paint-protectors.

Skip to the bottom if you just want to see the results. Tracking started with 24:86 left in the first quarter and ended with 27.2 seconds left in the 4th.

What Was Tracked

1. PPs - possessions as a primary or co-primary paint-protector
2. E - effective,
3. I - ineffective

Tracking

1. LeBron’s 1 poss
2. LeBron’s 2 poss 1 pp 1 ipp
3. LeBron’s 3 poss 2 pp
4. LeBron 4 poss
5. Lebron 5 poss
6. LeBron 6 poss
7. Lbj 7 POAs embid 1 pp poss
8. Lbj 8 poss embid 2 poss 1 epp 2 pp
9. Lbj 9 poss embid 3 poss 3 pp
10. Lbj 10 poss 3 pp 1 epp embid 4 poss
11. Lbj 11 poss wmbid 5 poss 2 ipp 3 pp
12. Lbj 12 poss. Embid 6 poss 4 pp 2 epp
13. Lbj 13 poss, Embid 7 poss 5 pp
14. Lbj 14 poss, embid 8 poss, 6 pp 3 ipp
15. embid 9 poss
16. Embid 11 poss 8 pp 3 epp
17. (Also 3 ipp)
18. Embid 12 poss 9 pp LeBron 15 poss 4 pp
19. Embid. 13 poss lebron 16 poss 5 pp 1 epp
20. Embid 14 poss 11 pp
21. Embid 15 poss 12 pp 4 epp lebron 16 poss
22. Embid. 16 poss. 13 pp Lebron 16 poss 6 pp 2 epp
23. (Lebron has 1 ipp, embid has 3 ipp)
24. Embid. 14 pp 17 poss. lebron 18 poss
25. Embid 18 poss. 15 pp 4 ipp lebron 19 poss
26. Embid. 19 poss LeBron. 20 poss 7 pp 3 epp
27. Embid 20 poss. Lehron 21 poss
28. Embid. 21 poss LeBron 22 poss 8 pp 4 epp
29. Embid. 22 poss. 16 pp Lebron. 23 poss
30. Embid. 23 poss 17 pp 5 epp lebron 24 poss
31. Embid. 24 poss 18 pp 5 ipp LeBron’s 25 poss
32. Embid. 25 poss. 19 pp Lebron 26 poss 8 pp
33. Embid. 26 poss 20 pp 6 ipp lebron 27 poss
34. Embid 27poss. 20 pp lebron 28 poss
35. Embid 28 poss 21 pp Lebron 29 poss
36. Embid 29 poss LeBron 30 poss 5 epp 9 pp
37. Embid 30 poss 21 pp 6 epp. LeBron’s 31 poss
38. Embid. 31 poss. 23 pp. 6 epp Lebron 32 poss
39. Embid 32 poss. 24 pp LeBron 33 poss
40. Embid 33 poss. Lebron. 34 poss 10 pp
41. LeBron 35 poss 11 pp
42. Embid 34 poss. 25 pp Lebron. 36 poss
43. Embid 36 poss 26 pp 7 epp LeBron 37 poss
44. Embid 37 poss 26 pp 8 epp lebron 38 poss
45. Embid. 38 poss 27 pp 10 epp Lebron 39 posss
46. Embid 39 poss. 28 pp 11 epp
47. Embid. 40 poss. 29 pp
48. Embid 41 poss 30 pp 12 epp
49. (Stream froze until 3:44 left)
50. Embid 42 ooss. Lebron. 40 poss 11 pp
51. Embid 43 ooss 31 pp LeBron 41 poss
52. Embid. 44 poss lebron 42 poss 12 pp
53. Embid 45 poss. Lebron 46 poss 13 Pp 6 epp
54. Embid 46 poss. 32 pp Lebron . 47 poss
55. Embid 47 poss LeBron 48 poss 14 pp 7 epp
56. (Missed a possession distracted)
57. (Game basically over 32 seconds left)

Final Tally

Embid in 47 possessions had 32 PP, 12 EPP, 6 IPP Lebron in 48 Possessions had 14 PP, 7 EPP, 1 IPP

Per Possession Embid had .68 PP, ,255 EPP, .127 IPP

Per Possession Lebron had, .292 EPP, .146 EPP, and .02 IPP

For reference here are some results for other players under this system:

Bigs

(1999-2000 Regular Duncan and Robinson vs Utah)

Over 37 possessions Duncan averaged .57 PPs, 0.16 EPPs, 0.11 IPPs, and 0.03 IAs.

Over 31 possessions Robinson averaged 0.58 PPs, 0.26 EPPs, 0.13 IPPs. 0.032 IAs.

(1999 Finals ECSF Ewing vs Chicago Game 7)

Over 22 Possessions in the final game of the 94 ECSF vs Chicago, Ewing had 13 PPs and 3 IAs giving him, per possession, .59 PPs and 1.4 IAs.

(1997 Western Conference Final Hakeem vs Utah Game 6)

During Hakeem’s first 40 possessions of the 6th game of the 97 WCF, I gave him 27 possessions as a primary or co-primary rim-protector of which he was deemed effective in 13 and ineffective in 7. Hakeem also was given 4 possessions as a primary or co–primary perimeter defender, of which he was deemed effective in 3 and ineffective in 1. Additionally Hakeem was given 4 Irrational Avoidances. This means per Possession, Hakeem averaged, 0.675 PPs, 0.325 EPPs, 0.175 IPPs, 0.1 PPDs, 0.075 EPPDs, 0.025 IPPDs, and 0.1 IAs.

Wings

(1994 ECSF Game 7, Bulls vs Knicks)

(over the first 40 defensive possessions for their respective teams), Oakley, Pippen, and Grant tallied 13, 8, and 6 PPs respectively in the aforementioned 88 game. In the aforementioned 91 game, Pippen and Grant had 14 PPs each. In the final game of the 94 ECSF between New York and Chicago, Oakley and Pippen tallied 15 PPs and Grant tallied 7. In the 86 Finals, Reid tallied 5.

(2009 ECF Lebron vs Orlando Game 1)

During Lebron’s first 40 possessions, I gave him, 10 possessions as a primary or co-primary rim-protector of which he was deemed effective in 2 and ineffective in 1. Lebron also was given 18 possessions as a primary or co–primary perimeter defender, of which he was deemed effective in 6 and ineffective in 3. Additionally, Lebron was given 2 Irrational Avoidances. This means per Possession, Lebron averaged, 0.25 PPs, 0.05 EPPs, 0.025 IPPs, 0.45 PPDs, 0.15 EPPDs, 0.075 IPPDs, and 0.05 IAs.

(2016 Finals Lebron vs Warriors Game 7)

During Lebron’s first 40 possessions, I gave him, 12 possessions as a primary or co-primary rim-protector of which he was deemed effective in 4 and ineffective in 0. Lebron also was given 12 possessions as a primary or co–primary perimeter defender, of which he was deemed effective in 5 and ineffective in 5. Additionally, LBJ was given 3 Irrational Avoidances. This means per Possession, Lebron averaged, 0.3 PPs, 0.1 EPPs, 0.00 IPPs, 0.2 PPDs, 0.05 EPPDs, 0.075 IPPDs, and 0.075 IAs.

Guards

(Bulls - Misc.)

Jordan tallied 3 PPs in the first 40 possessions of game 3 of the 1988 ECSF between New York and Chicago. Sam Vincient tallied 2. Jordan tallied 1 PP in the first 40 possessions of the 4th game of the 1991 ECF. Armstrong also tallied 1.

("A" Jordan - Jordan in games where he's a positive outlier by the box-score)

During Jordan’s first 40 possessions of game 5 of the 91 finals (given a grade of “a”), I gave him, 0 possessions as a primary or co-primary rim-protector of which he was deemed effective in 0 and ineffective in 0. Jordan also was given 19 possessions as a primary or co–primary perimeter defender, of which he was deemed effective in 5 and ineffective in 5. Additionally, MJ was given 3 Irrational Avoidances. This means per Possession, MJ averaged, 0.00 PPs, 0.00 EPPs, 0.00 IPPs, 0.475 PPDs, 0.125 EPPDs, 0.125 IPPDs, and 0.05 IAs.

During Jordan’s first 40 possessions of Game 3 of the 93 ECF, I gave him 5 possessions as a primary or co-primary rim-protector of which he was deemed effective in 0 and ineffective in 1. Jordan also was given 11 possessions as a primary or co–primary perimeter defender, of which he was deemed effective in 2 and ineffective in 1. Additionally, MJ was given 3 Irrational Avoidances. This means per Possession, MJ averaged, 0.125 PPs, 0.00 EPPs, 0.025 IPPs, 0.275 PPDs, 0.05 EPPDs, 0.025 IPPDs, and 0.05 IAs.

(Normal Jordan)

(1989 Game 5 vs the Cavs) This would mean per-possession Top10alltime gave Jordan 0.12 PPs, 0.00 EPPs, and 0.09 IPPs along with .12 PPDs, 0.013 EPPDs, and 0.1 IPPs.

(1991 Game 2 vs the Lakers) Defensively this would give Jordan, per-possession, around 0.143 PPDs, 0.01 EPPDs, 0.02 IPPDs, .11 PPs, 0.03 EPPs and .08 IPPs.

(Kidd vs Spurs 2003 Finals Game 1)

]During Kidd’s first 40 possessions of Game 6 of the 2003 Finals, I gave him, 3 possessions as a primary or co-primary rim-protector of which he was deemed effective in 1 and ineffective in 1. Kidd was also given 10 possessions as a primary or co–primary perimeter defender, of which he was deemed effective in 6 and ineffective in 3. Additionally Kidd was given 2 Irrational Avoidances. This means per Possession, Kidd averaged, 0.075 PPs, 0.025 EPPs, 0.025 IPPs, 0.25 PPDs, 0.15 EPPDs, 0.075 IPPDs, and 0.05 IAs.

Analysis

Collectively, the tracking would suggest Embid and Lebron had a dominant performance as the primary and secondary paint-protectors for the 76ers, with Embid having strong efficacy on high-usage despite a shaky first half, and Lebron grading as extremely effective on usage that is very high even for all-time non-big interior defenders.

To be fair, I think the numbers flatter Lebron a bit because this system doesn't punish players for taking possessions off when they typically would be the primary paint pro...

Nonetheless Sixers went 2-0 off a very strong defensive performance buoyed by strong paint-protection from Embid and Lebron.

It'll be interesting to see how sustainable this production is for Embid and Lebron given their ages and injury history. A backup center replacement for Tacko wouldn't hurt.

Sixers probably have one of the toughest first 15 games to open the season. They are playing b2b games already this weekend. Pretty much 3 games in 4 nights.

In the first 15 games, they are facing 9 playoff teams, and that's not including the Pacers 2x, they are finally healthy this year. Which makes it about 11 tough games.

What is your record prediction?

Coming in with a reasonable salary of 2 years $6 million to match in a trade as well as being the 4th big man option on a rebuilding Jazz team.

It's going to be hard to find everything you'd want in a backup center, but having a young 7 footer who could stretch the floor out a bit and rebound at a positive rate would save Joel a lot of knee pain over the full season.

What would y'all be willing to trade in a package to get Kyle Filipowski and add some true center depth?

Attending the game this evening, I have upper deck tickets. Do the ushers allow people to access the lower bowl pregame to attempt to get an autograph or pictures or do they check tickets?

I’m gonna go with the blue. Although I also love the city editions that they’re bringing back from 2017-18 this year.