No one is surprised: the Philadelphia 76ers are on an absolute roll. They are off to an 8-1 start led by a superstar lineup that includes LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.
It's too early to tell if it will hold, but so far, so good.
One of those giving credit where credit is due is former 76ers coach Doc Rivers, per The Bill Simmons Podcast. He told Simmons he believed no one could stop them, at least for now.
“They're the best team in the NBA,” Rivers said. “They're gonna be hard to beat.”
Rivers coached in Philadelphia from 2020 to 2023. During that time, Rivers finished 154-82 with a 20-15 playoff record. However, the 76ers suffered three straight first-round losses, leading to Rivers being fired in 2023.
Afterward, Rivers coached the Milwaukee Bucks from 2024 to 2026. It ultimately led to a losing record and two early playoff exits in 2024 and 2025. In 2026, Rivers stepped down as the Bucks finished 32-50. At the same time, the Miami Heat snatched up Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Meanwhile, the 76ers are dominating not only on offense, but also on defense. They allow opponents only 105.1 points per game and have a defensive rating of 105.4.
Furthermore, Maxey has emerged as their clutch performer during crunch time. James, Brown, and Embiid's veteran leadership and presence have gelled well. It also helps that head coach Nick Nurse is facilitating such an elaborate operation.
On Friday, the 76ers will face the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road at 6:30pm CST/7:30pm EST. Then, they will head to Chicago to play the Bulls on Sunday at 2:30pm CST/3:30pm EST.