By Ahmed Abdelsalam
LeBron James' decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency has yielded immediate results, with the team owning the NBA's best record at 8-1 entering Friday.
Starting five clicks quickly
Philadelphia's revamped starting lineup — James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe and Joel Embiid — boasts a combined 36 All-Star selections, five MVP awards and five Finals MVP awards. In 77 minutes together across five games, the unit has outscored opponents by 15 points and holds opponents to 95.4 points per 100 possessions, the league's top defensive mark.
James embraces reduced role
Through seven games, James is averaging 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.4 assists while attempting a career-low 13.1 field goals per game. His willingness to defer has helped Maxey flourish, with the guard averaging 28.0 points on a career-best 48.6% shooting.
Maxey leads offensive charge
"It was a long offseason for me," Maxey said. "I worked on my passing, isolation scoring and late-game scoring." Brown credited Maxey as the team's leader, while Embiid acknowledged adjusting to fewer shot attempts, focusing on playmaking and screening.
Historical precedent favors Philadelphia
The four previous James-led teams to start a season 7-1 all reached the NBA Finals. James cautioned it is too early for Finals talk, but noted the group's chemistry: "Guys vibe with one another, guys like each other, guys enjoy being around each other."
