This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Charles Curtis is filling in for Andy Nesbitt.
It was only three years ago that the 76ers were a Kawhi Leonard bouncing shot away from perhaps advancing to the Eastern Conference finals with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and J.J. Redick. That shot was a what-if for the ages.
Since then, we’ve seen some EmVP stuff from Embiid, but I’ve wondered if they were going to waste a year of superstar stuff from him if they didn’t deal Ben Simmons.
But they did. And now, with James Harden aboard, we’re FINALLY seeing a team that could truly contend.
Just three games into the Harden era, we’ve seen what the trio of Harden, Embiid and Tyrese Maxey can do (albeit, in two games against the hapless Knicks but whatever!) — a nightmarish trio of shooting and dishing. The pressure is off Embiid to be the No. 1 guy every night. Heck, I think it takes pressure off Tobias Harris, who has been up and down this year but who is now a dangerous fourth option.
The Heat and Bucks are arguably the two top true contenders in the East at the moment along with the Sixers, and Philly now has the kind of roster that can compete with them. And after all these years of trusting the process, it would be the best storyline to see this team complete that process, with Embiid winning his first ring and the same for Harden, who looks as bought in as I’ve seen since his days in Houston.
I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.
Quick hits: Who’s the starting QB for every NFL team? … Mike Trout called out Rob Manfred … and more.
— Christian D’Andrea predicted the starting QB for every NFL team in 2022.
— Mike Trout called out Rob Manfred on social media after the MLB lockout continued.
— Here’s how Tiger Woods won $8 million while hitting zero shots on the PGA Tour in 2021.
