The Philadelphia 76ers began their new project on a positive note. The lack of finish at the rim and certain midcourt struggles to merge so much talent in a single day were evident. Yet one should not underestimate what it means to show up at the champions’ home and spoil their celebration.
From the star quartet, perhaps Joel Embiid looked the most out of sync despite his solid rim protection. The Cameroonian big man logged 15 shot attempts but made only four, and he appeared uncomfortable in a Sixers squad that, above all, enjoyed pushing the pace in open space. At the end of the game, there was nothing left to do but remain humble. “I think the best thing LeBron brings, besides being LeBron James, is his championship mentality. I feel I know what it takes to win, but I haven’t done it. I’m looking for guidance that tells me what I’ve done wrong,” confessed the former MVP.
“I want to learn a little more. I feel like I know a lot, but I want to keep learning. All these years I haven’t had a mindset like this around me,” he added. Embiid explained that adding new faces to the project feels refreshing after a season in which, hurt, he didn’t even feel like stepping into the facilities. Maintaining health remains his primary objective for this season, hence his weight loss.
“He’s another guy who can demand responsibility from the rest,” LeBron said about Jaylen Brown. “Because he’s shown that he can reach the finish line.” Brown himself found himself out of his comfort zone and, by his words, seems to take it in stride. “Patience is a virtue. God is patient with me, so I have the capacity to be patient with others. Let the game come to me, take my time. The season is long, and I must know when to be aggressive, when to attack, and when to keep my teammates involved.”
