The Sixers walked into Boston short-handed and left with the result that usually follows that kind of setup: a 144-106 loss, but no injuries to report. On a night when the Celtics had most of their rotation available and even got a first look at Paul George, the Sixers were without LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Anfernee Simons, Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti and Jaylen Brown, the player plenty of fans in the building had come to see.
Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe were the headliners for Philadelphia, and the absences created room for several other players to log extended minutes. The Sixers were badly outgunned, and the scoreboard showed it, but they got out clean.
Dean Wade was one of the clearest bright spots early, and his role keeps looking bigger by the day. When Philadelphia is whole, Wade profiles as a sixth man.
But with so many starters expected to miss time, he may end up starting more often than coming off the bench. That flexibility matters, especially because he can slide into the toughest defensive matchup and handle it without disrupting the rest of the lineup.
At Media Day last month, Wade explained where he feels most at home defensively: "Bigger wings and forwards are probably where I definitely hang my hat on the defensive end," Wade said at Media Day last month. "Guarded a lot of point guards before, but I definitely think I'm more comfortable guarding the bigger wings."
That showed up again Saturday, with Wade back in Nick Nurse’s starting group and taking on Jayson Tatum, while Justin Edwards drew Paul George. Wade’s value goes well beyond a box score line. He can plug into different lineups, defend multiple spots and give Philadelphia efficient two-way minutes without needing the ball.
He also keeps showing a willingness to do the dirty work. His activity on the glass has stood out in preseason, and he even kept one early possession alive with an unexpected chase-down of a miss.
With Hukporti set to miss the entire season, Wade may spend real time at center as a small-ball option. That would open the door for more five-out looks, something that could fit Brown’s one-on-one style.
Boston’s new pieces were worth watching too. George, the Celtics’ biggest offseason addition, is stepping into Brown’s old role as Tatum’s wing partner.
Philadelphia knows what he brings: stronger defense and better shooting from deep than Brown, but less of a threat as a self-creator with the ball. He looked sharp defensively in his first game in green, and he fits what Joe Mazzulla wants on both ends.
The real question, as always with George, is how often he’s actually on the floor. He is a nine-time All-Star, but availability remains part of the conversation.
The Celtics also introduced another major wrinkle by bringing in Mitchell Robinson, who came off the bench Saturday despite Neemias Queta’s breakout season a year ago. Robinson changes the game with his rebounding.
He is one of the best rebounders in NBA history and the best offensive rebounder in the league right now. His length and burst can wipe out possessions on their own, and over the years he has defended Embiid better than almost any active player.
For a Boston team that leans on second-chance three-point chances, that kind of edge is easy to see.
Boston gave up some certainty in the Brown-for-George swap, but that does not mean the Celtics stopped looking like one of the East’s top teams. There are still questions to answer. There is also still a lot of talent.
There were a few other notes worth filing away from the night. Edgecombe kept building on a preseason that has already featured eye-catching finishing at the rim.
The rookie’s ability to absorb contact and finish through it has been a real positive, especially after finishing was a clear weakness as a rookie. He also scored 23 points in Game 7 to help the Sixers erase a 3-1 series deficit against Boston, which only made the buzz around him louder.
Jabari Walker started at center with Wade backing him up, and he continued to make the most of his extended audition as a small-ball five. Nurse also turned to Saint Thomas for some minutes there in an effort to avoid overloading Walker and Wade.
Thomas is not a center, but his sturdier wing frame gives him a better chance than most of the other options on the roster. He is likely headed to the Delaware Blue Coats for his second season after signing an Exhibit 10 contract.
Labaron Philon Jr. is still working to get comfortable inside the arc, but he already looks at ease as a catch-and-shoot three-point threat. Add in the ball-handling Nurse has been praising since training camp began, and there is at least a promising early shape to his game.
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LeBron James recently underscored why the move made so much sense by praising Wades versatility after a preseason look. For a team trying to build a deeper, more adaptable rotation, that kind of endorsement matters because it points to the same trait the Sixers clearly valued: a player who can fit alongside just about anyone and still find ways to impact the game. [Read more 🡒]
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V.J. Edgecombe Just Shared What Means Even More Than A Title
V.J. Edgecombe is already drawing attention in Philadelphia as a young piece with real upside, but his latest comments cut well beyond the usual rookie chatter. The Bahamas native made clear that, for him, representing his home country carries a meaning that sits above even the biggest prize in the NBA, a striking sentiment at a time when the 76ers can legitimately think about chasing a title.
Edgecombe has plenty of reasons to dream big in Philadelphia, where the expectations are always high and the path to contention is part of the conversation from the start. Still, his focus on the Bahamas adds another layer to his profile and underscores how much international play can matter to players whose identity is rooted as much in national pride as in league success. [Read more 🡒]