Sixers host Bucks down a couple stars for season opener

Philadelphia’s new Big 3 will just be a Big 1 when Giannis and Damian Lillard come to Philadelphia for opening night.

Vibes had been terrific for the Philadelphia 76ers heading into this season. Daryl Morey was lauded for an excellent offseason that saw him land both the big fish in Paul George and a strong cast of role players. There was no Ben Simmons or James Harden around making a stink and casting a pall over the proceedings. Then, in what is unfortunately classic Sixers fashion, injuries (or also, maybe, just a plan) have blown those good vibes to smithereens.

Joel Embiid and Paul George will both be out for tonight’s season opener. George is expected, and all things considered, it’s great that his preseason knee injury was only a bone bruise. The team is correctly not rushing him back to action. However, the Embiid situation is frustrating, to say the least. How is it part of a plan to have him miss multiple games to start the season when that information was never conveyed, even to his teammates? Why did he go from playing in the Olympics to now not being able to play if there was never any sort of setback? I don’t care if Joel isn’t playing if that’s what is best for his health. I care that what the team is saying doesn’t make any sense. We’ve been dealing with a decade or so of this nonsense in regard to injury updates or non-updates and enough is enough.

OK, now that I have that out of my system, let’s focus on the positives. Sixers basketball is back! I’m excited to see how Tyrese Maxey gets even better once again this season. Andre Drummond should make the non-Embiid games far less depressing. I want to see what newcomers like Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon and Guerschon Yabusele bring to the table in games that matter. I love to see what Nick Nurse cooks up. Plus, Jared McCain isn’t even on the injury report after suffering a pulmonary contusion.

I also want to see how the team lines up against the Milwaukee Bucks, who have their own injury situation going on with Khris Middleton out following offseason ankle surgery. By his own account, Doc Rivers has never come up short, so surely the Bucks will be back competing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. I am curious about Year 2 of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, but I’m not sure there’s enough around them on this roster to make them a serious threat in the East (although I’m sure Brook Lopez will make life miserable for Philadelphia in at least one game this year). Giannis still seems at the peak of his powers, but Dame Time may be more of an early bird special at the ripe old age of 34.

With the absences, the Sixers are now listed as 3.5-point underdogs on FanDuel. Let’s get the dog masks out of the closet and root for Philadelphia to pull off the upset in the regular season opener.

Game Details

Who: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: The Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: ESPN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers