We have arrived. The beginning of the most highly anticipated Sixers season of our lifetimes is upon us. A starting five of stars past, present, and future has been assembled to take Philadelphia to the promised land known as “beyond the second round of the playoffs”.
It all still feels a bit surreal. The Jaylen Brown trade came out of nowhere, after we had all but resigned ourselves to a purgatory riding out the contracts of Paul George and Joel Embiid. Now every conversation about the team seems like a harpist is playing while a personal chef prepares our dinner. The possibility of LeBron James signing with the Sixers was certainly discussed. But surely he would return to a past home in Cleveland or Miami. It was nice just to be thrown into the mix. Now the always a bridesmaid is being rushed to the altar in a helicopter from New York.
The actual basketball game tonight feels so much bigger than one regular season contest. The New York Knicks are raising their championship banner at the Garden prior to tip. Facing them feels like a true measuring stick moment for this group in which we’ve only seen the starting five together for one half of basketball during the preseason. Never mind that it’s just one of 82 regular season games and nobody cares about anything but the postseason anyway. They didn’t have a parade for the 2014-15 Hawks winning the conference and having all five starters in the All-Star game. Or maybe they did, I haven’t been to Atlanta in a while. The point is tonight’s result is largely inconsequential in the big picture, but it will still feel enormous in the moment.
We know we’re going to see the starting five together for their first extended run, but what about everyone else? Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (hip) are out. Adem Bona and Anfernee Simons are both listed as questionable, but were coy when asked about a return to action for the opener and appear like they will play. Dean Wade truly questionable with an ankle injury after not practicing with the team yesterday. Meanwhile, the Knicks have a clean injury report; Josh Hart sat out the preseason finale with an ankle injury but will play tonight.
Knicks fans are understandably riding high. Winning their first championship in over 50 years will do that. They should soak up every second. But it has become increasingly difficult to have a repeat champion. James Dolan is treating the second apron like the apocalypse. Mitchell Robinson was a cap casualty and as great a guy as Andre Drummond was during his team here, that’s a downgrade as a replacement. The organization has tabled extension talks with key figures like Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart. There’s only one way to go when you’ve reached the top, but the starting group is still together for New York for now, and they’ll certainly be highly motivated after seeing their grand accomplishment rise to the rafters.
Spoiling tonight for the Knicks would feel so sweet. It wouldn’t make up for having to watch New York sweep the Sixers in the playoffs, with Knicks fans taking over the arena in Philadelphia, and then seeing them make their title run, but it would sure be a nice start. More than anything, though, we want to see the coalescence of this new era of Sixers basketball. For the unselfishness and togetherness and offensive brilliance we caught glimpses of during the brief preseason to blossom on the larger stage. For the vision of this dynamite roster on paper to begin to translate into an on-court product. Mike Gansey has constructed a dream for us. Now let’s watch the players make it a reality.
**When:** Tuesday, October 20, 7:00 p.m. ET
**Where:** Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
**Watch:** NBC, Peacock
**Radio:** 97.5 The Fanatic
**Follow:** [**@LibertyBallers**](http://twitter.com/Liberty_Ballers)
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