Happy Thanksgiving! There is a lot to be thankful for this time of year, including the Sixers, who have been one of the more pleasant surprises across the NBA one month into the season.
Just like any real team, the parts have to fit togehter. The main staples on the Thanksgiving dinner table act no differently. They are a team with a common goal of making lasting memories for friends and family.
Here are each member of the Sixers' regular rotation if they were a Thanksgiving dish:
The Sixers are Tyrese Maxey's team now. He plays every night and always shows up. He is the emotional leader, the on-court leader, and the centerpiece of everything the Sixers want to do in the present and future. After spending the last few years being the top side dish, Maxey is now the main course.
The 76ers success still is predicated on Joel Embiid's healthy and ability to a certain extent. He may not be the number one option anymore, but the team still needs him to be one of their two best players if they want to accomplish anything. Joel being out there on the floor is the key. Not every Thanksgiving table features a ham,; not every Sixers game features Joel Embiid.
VJ Edgecombe has taken Tyrese Maxey's spot as the stuffing on the team. Stuffing is a staple in every household on Thanksgiving and always comes second when mentioned side-by-side with the Turkey. The Sixers' future is about Tyrese Maxey first and VJ Edgecombe second - for now.
Corn souflee, creamed corn, corn pudding, corn bread... you get the idea. Corn is the most versatile item on the Thanksgiving table, just like Paul George is still the most versatile player on the Sixers. He can defend the wings and post at a high level, is an effective three-level scorer, and at this point is not worried about stealing the show.
When Quentin Grimes is on, he is a really useful basketball player. A perfect additive to the guard rotation. But when Grimes is having an off night shooting the ball, it negatively effects every other part of his game. There is no real in between with Grimes. You either love him or you hate him, just like cranberry sauce.
Dominick Barlow is never going to wow anybody with his stats, but his production speaks for itself. He keeps a low-profile and always does what is asked of him. The same can be said for green bean casserole, who knows it's role on the Thanksgiving table better than most.
Andre Drummond is what he is, and for this Sixers team, that's a good thing. Consitent, available, and consistently available. Mashed potatoes are always there and they are pretty hard to mess up, just like the Drummond experience.
Whether he is playing well or playing poorly, the fans want to see more Jared McCain. He has become a crowd favorite given his spontaneous personality and potential as a dead-eye, movement shooter. You would be hard pressed to find many people who leave mac and cheese off their plate on Thanksgiving.
Trendon Watford is the connector that the Sixers have lacked for what feels like forever. Gravy can top anything on the plate from the turkey to the stuffing to the array of side dishes. Gravy makes everything cohesive and Watford has a similar effect on the Sixers.
Brussels sprouts are an acquired taste. You grow up with television shows telling you that they are gross, but part of maturity is realizing they are actually delicious. When Kelly Oubre first arrived in Philadelphia, he tried to do too much and drew the ire of some of the fanbase because of it. Over the last two years, he has settled into his role on the team quite nicely and is generally liked by everyone now.
Jabari Walker is a fine player. He does not specialize in anything and he does not have a defining trait about him as a basketball player. He is kind of just there, just like bread is always just on the table.
Justin Edwards has a real future in this league if he can iron out some of the kinks in his game and become a more consistent, winning basketball player. He is always going to be a role player, but dessert is a very important role. When Edwards is feeling it, his contributions are a sweet treat to what the rest of the Sixers already have cooking, and there is nothing sweeter on Thanksgiving than a nice piece of pumpkin pie.
