The NBA preseason is around the corner, and the Sixers are kicking it off with two international tune-up games against the New York Knicks in Abu Dhabi; one on Thursday, Oct. 2, and the other on Saturday, Oct 4, both located at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
The Sixers endured their worst season since "The Process" days last year and are looking to rebound to contender status. With so many "ifs" surrounding the team this season, this preseason trip will go a long way to help answer some of the Sixers' questions a whole lot when it comes to their current roster construction, how they want to play, and if their stars are truly healthy.
After arriving in Abu Dhabi, the team begins their quest for those answers.
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Experimenting with rotations
Heading into training camp and the preseason, head coach Nick Nurse can use these contests in Abu Dhabi to start experiment with different lineups. It is unlikely that Joel Embiid or Paul George will play in the preseason, so this a chance to focus on building lineups that can be successful with them on the court. Tyrese Maxey will obviously be a focal point this season with the concern of the availability of his two stars running mates, so the coaching staff can star to scheme around its reliable young guard.
Nurse can gauge how different five-man units mesh together, test small-ball lineups, and give extended minutes to different players to see if they can stake their claim on the regular season rotation.
Forging Chemistry
Last season's nightmare started before the season when both Joel Embiid and Paul George were injured, and the team piled up losses. They had a team meeting in Miami after a loss to the Heat, which was leaked to the media. Bad vibes seemed to linger over the team, and a trip to start the year can help to rebuild camaraderie and confidence in each other.
A closer-knit locker room can help keep a team steady when it goes through adversity, and if history is an indicator, this team will definitely have adversity this season. Hopefully this preseason trip can be something the team can look back on to help launch their bond.
As the Sixers return to stateside, the lessons learned abroad could help chart their course in a potentially wide-open Eastern Conference. Hopefully, this trip can help them arrive at the regular season with more answer than questions.
