76ers waste no time proving they're not a threat to dethrone the Celtics

Following a dominant run to the 2024 NBA Championship last year, the Boston Celtics are back and ready to compete for another. But the Eastern Conference spent the entire summer making moves in an attempt to contend with them at the top of the standings. Some of the top contenders in the conference, including the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, made huge strides.

The Sixers added Paul George, creating a Big 3 of him, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey, while the Knicks made two blockbuster trades for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. But one of the two teams is already proving to be shaky.

And it’s the 76ers.

76ers already proved why the Celtics shouldn't take them seriously

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, both Embiid and George are slated to miss the 76ers’ season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, neither is expected to play in the first week of the season.

Embiid has been dealing with injuries for years, as has George. On paper, the trio of them and Maxey is one of the best in the NBA, but in practice, there’s a chance they rarely see the court together.

Just look at last year’s Phoenix Suns. They dealt with injury issues all season, and when it finally came time for the postseason, they got rinsed by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who played together all season.

The same fate could be hurdling toward the Sixers, and the fact that they are already dealing with significant injury issues proves that they have no chance of dethroning the Celtics this year.

At the very least, the Celtics shouldn’t take the 76ers seriously until two things happen: One, they stay healthy, and two, they prove that they can beat them consistently.

Embiid has never beaten the Celtics in a playoff series. In fact, the last time Philly beat Boston in a playoff series was in 1982. Combine that with the fact that their new-look Big 3 is already hurt, and they shouldn’t be taken seriously just yet.

There is no doubting the talent Philadelphia has on the roster. Embiid is one of the best players in the league, George is an incredible shot-making wing, and Maxey is one of the most electric guards in the NBA.

But when two of the three stars have trouble staying on the court, there’s only so far the team can go, especially considering how healthy the Celtics have been historically.

The season hasn’t even started yet, and the 76ers are already proving why they have no business in the same conversations as the Celtics.