Five highlights of the 76ers in the new season: How is Embiid s condition? Grimes contract renewal deadlock needs to be resolved urgently

Translator's note: The original text was published in The Athletic, and the data in the text were as of the time of publication (September 24 local time). The dates and times involved are Friday local time. Everything for

76 people will start from then on. And we can say Friday, not next month, or six weeks later, or next week, which is awesome. Now that the NBA offseason has passed, the regular season is approaching. The

76ers, just experienced one of the worst seasons in recent years, with a record of 24 wins and 58 losses, was off track from the start due to injuries, and will hold their annual media day on Friday. The Sixers will then train on the weekend before flying to Abu Dhabi where they will play two preseason games with the Knicks.

When they entered the training camp, they were a team with great highlights. Or there are too many highlights. It depends on the perspective you look at. But as we move towards preseason and regular season, here are a few of these aspects we focus on.

Joel Embiid

We naturally have to start with him. Even though Embiid has barely played much in the past year and a half, even with uncertainty in his health and his current level of play, he remains at the heart of all the actions and expectations of the Sixers this season.

This is because Embiid is one of the five best players in the world at his peak. The question is, to what extent can he approach or reach his peak? And how many games can he play? Embiid has not returned to normal since falling to the ground against the Warriors in February 2024. He has undergone several knee surgeries since then. Last season, his appearances were limited and intermittent. We don't know yet if he can, or to what extent, he can play in training camp and the upcoming preseason.

Over the past few weeks, the 76ers' social media accounts have posted several photos of Embiid on the court, and even a short video of him playing singles and hitting a jump shot. However, how many games he can play and what level he can play will determine the final appearance of the Sixers this season.

The backcourt is full of talent

Suddenly, the Sixers may have one of the best backcourts in the league, because they are undoubtedly one of the most talented backcourts. Assuming Quentin Grimes returns, they may also have strong depth.

With Grimes, Tyreth Maxie, who performed best in his career in March, Jared McCain, who recovered from a knee injury that left him out for most of last season, and rookie VJ Edgecom, who was selected from Baylor University with a Title draw, the prototype of a dynamic lineup has emerged. But there are some concerns. Their height is not as high as expected, which makes Grimes' 6-foot-5-inch (about 1.96 meters) strong figure very important. Their organizational capabilities were not as good as expected. Although they all organize in different ways, all four are more inclined to scorers than natural passers.

None of them except Edgecombe is a natural defender. However, they are talented and full of energy, and if used properly, they can cause trouble for their opponents throughout the season. They are strong athleticism, full of fighting spirit, and are players who can score quickly. Grimes may have to swing to the small forward position, and the Sixers may have to use some small squads this season. However, after so many bad seasons, getting Grimes and winning the lottery draw and picking Edgecombe has turned the Sixers' backcourt into a potentially powerful combination.

Grimes' contract issues

Speaking of Grimes, his situation as a restricted free agent has been hanging all summer. In any case, this problem must be solved. All we know is that Grimes must accept qualification quotes from 76ers by October 1. We know Grimes and the Sixers management have been trying to reach a deal all summer without success. Grimes is an important member of this team of 76ers.

As mentioned earlier, he brought much-needed height and strength to the Sixers' backcourt. He can also apply pressure by dribbling the ball to hit the basket, which is what the team roster needs. He can play in three positions and he has the ability to shoot. He can play role players and play efficiently while holding the ball. His playing style is of great value to the current 76ers lineup.

Can they protect the rebound?

If Paul George and Kelly Oubre are two starting strikers and Embiid is missing a lot of time, then this is a real problem. This is also one of the reasons Andre Drummond becomes important to the Sixers, as he has always been one of the best rebounders in the league. But Drummond’s problem is everything except rebounds.

However, if the Sixers are short in four positions this season, Drummond is worth staying in the roster with his top skills. If there is one ability he has, it is to grab rebounds. If the Sixers can effectively grab rebounds, George and Oubre are a pair of imaginative spaces. Their height, wingspan and athletic ability combinations are something that many other teams do not have. Of course, the premise is that George can stay healthy and he can prove that last season's game level was just an accidental abnormality, not his new normal.

Two styles

Embid is likely not to play the full 82 games. But even if he plays 55 to 60 games (which is a pretty optimistic prediction), it is enough for the team to show two completely different styles of playing when he plays or is not. When Embiid is on the court, the Sixers will slow down. They'll have a lot of pick-and-roll cooperation with Maxi. They will have a lot of low-single opportunities, and the offense will revolve around him. When Embiid is not present, the Sixers will speed up the pace. They will play a small lineup. They will shoot a lot of 3-pointers, and they will create offensive opportunities more by dribbling from the outside. How the Sixers combine these two styles throughout the season will be the key to their season direction. Having a superstar, but I don’t know how many games he can play, this is a unique situation. But if the 76ers want to avoid repeating the mistakes they did last year, they must prepare for a variety of different situations.

Author: Tony Jones

Translator: GWayNe