Why 60 Games From Joel Embiid and Paul George Changes Everything for the Sixers
Dec 30, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Paul George (8) high five during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
It is finally Sixers game day.
They come into opening night with clear marching orders — if the veterans stay on the floor and the kids keep pushing, this season can move in the right direction fast. Getting 60-plus games from Joel Embiid and Paul George is a crucial element to the season, not just for wins but for continuity, rhythm, and shot creation.
Embiid is set for the opener, which already feels like a step in the right direction after last year’s stops and starts, while George is close and trending toward early-season minutes. Yes, we as Sixers fans hope that this season, George remembers that PPG means points per game and not podcasts per game.
The preseason offered something we haven’t seen enough of lately. Young legs are changing the pace of games and forcing opponents to chase. VJ Edgecombe looked like he belonged from the first scrimmage, guarding up, cutting hard, and making simple reads that opened up space for Tyrese Maxey to attack. It was a smart move by the front office to choose his upside on draft night because his tools fit exactly where this roster needed juice, and the way he has slid into clutch moments without demanding touches tells you he will grow as his minutes scale up.
Multiple looks this month showed him handling the deep ball well off the pick-and-roll and, most importantly, giving the Sixers a shot of elite athleticism, which helps Maxey pick his spots and keeps the second unit from getting stale and stalling out.
Depth will come into play when the season stretches into January and veteran legs start getting heavy, and the Sixers suddenly have a rare luxury in the modern league.
They can play big without feeling slow because they have three true centers to mix and match. Embiid is the anchor. Andre Drummond gives you minutes protection, boards, and a different screening profile. Rookie Adem Bona adds spring, activity, and foul creation, with Johni Broome available to soak situational minutes. It lets Nick Nurse toggle between power and pace without leaving the rim exposed.
Possibly the most important thing is that it gives Embiid real breathers that heave huge holes in the paint every time the starters sit.
The guard room is better equipped to survive the grind, too. Maxey remains the pressure valve who bends defenses to their limit in transition, and his leadership has grown with the ball in his hands. Jared McCain will miss time early, but his floor game and shooting profile should amplify the pace as soon as he is back.
Veterans like Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry will be able to stabilize possessions when the game gets into the grind. Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes can float between lineups on the wing, which gives Nurse flexibility on matchups and keeps the team from overextending Maxey’s minutes just to keep the offense organized.
George’s return will reshape the spacing map. Even at this stage of his career, he screens, relocates, and punishes soft switches, which takes the load off Maxey and his creativity when it comes to late possession ball movement, and the double teams Embiid sees on the left block. The goal is simple: stack healthy weeks, keep the rotation stable, and let the young guys’ energy set the daily standard. If that happens, the Sixers will avoid the boom and bust cycle that has defined recent seasons and give the team an opportunity at the playoffs with a team that has a clear vision of the direction they are moving in. The internal bar is not about hype; it is about being whole by March and playing connected basketball when every possession starts to mean so much more.
All of this will come down to small habits repeating — Embiid playing 60-plus games turns the defense into a top third unit. George playing 60-plus games as well gives Nurse a closer who doesn’t need the ball to add value. Edgecombe is sustaining his preseason growth, and he turns an interesting bench into a real weapon. If those three threads hold, the Sixers will not just hang around. They’ll matter in a conference that suddenly looks more open than it has in years. This team holds its destiny in its own hands. If they can manage minutes and the health of the stars, this should be an interesting season
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible, we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
Get New Articles Emailed Right To Your Inbox:
