There’s a cautiously optimistic energy brewing in Philadelphia this season - and for good reason. After a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, the 76ers are finally showing signs of life.
Tyrese Maxey has taken a massive leap, playing at an All-NBA level while leading the league in minutes. Joel Embiid, when he’s on the floor, is still very much that guy, dropping 30-plus in each of his last four games.
And rookie VJ Edgecombe? He’s not just holding his own - he’s stepping up in big moments like he’s been here before.
But here’s the reality check: despite all those bright spots, Philly is just a game and a half out of ninth place in the East. In a conference that’s tighter than ever, there’s no margin for error. That makes matchups like Monday’s against the Charlotte Hornets feel like must-wins - at least on paper.
The problem? Nothing ever comes easy with this team.
As the Sixers head into Charlotte, they’ll do so without two of their biggest names. Both Joel Embiid and Paul George have been ruled out due to left knee injury management.
With the Milwaukee Bucks coming to town the very next night, this was always going to be a tricky back-to-back for head coach Nick Nurse to navigate. And for a franchise that has to be extra cautious with its stars, especially two with long injury histories, this kind of load management is par for the course.
Still, it stings.
Philly’s coming off a tough loss to the Knicks over the weekend, and dropping another one - especially to a Hornets squad that’s been playing .500 ball since Christmas - would be a blow. The Sixers are 24-20, and while that’s respectable, it’s not exactly comfortable. Every game counts, and without Embiid and George, the margin for error shrinks even more.
This is where the depth gets tested. Maxey will have to shoulder even more of the offensive burden, and young players like Edgecombe will need to continue stepping up. The Sixers have shown flashes of being a contender, but without their two stars, they’ll need to grind out wins however they can.
It’s also worth noting just how limited the availability has been for Philly’s top duo. Embiid and George have each suited up for only 25 of the team’s 44 games.
That number drops again on Monday, and it’s become a familiar - and frustrating - theme for Sixers fans. When they’re both healthy, the ceiling is sky-high.
But that “if” continues to loom large.
For now, the Sixers will try to stay afloat, keep pace in the standings, and hope that when the stretch run arrives, they’ll have their full arsenal ready to go. Because if Embiid is healthy, and Maxey keeps playing like this, Philly’s still got the firepower to make serious noise in the East.
Tip-off against the Hornets is set for 3 p.m. ET - a rare afternoon start, thanks to weather-related schedule changes.
And with a shorthanded lineup, the Sixers will need to bring their lunch pails. This one won’t be easy.
But then again, when is it ever with this team?