After an ugly start to the season, the Philadelphia 76ers appear to be figuring some things out. Nick Nurse’s team has won six of its last 10 games, including a 108-98 contest against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
When speaking to the media after the Sixers’ latest win, veteran wing Kelly Oubre Jr. praised the improved atmosphere within Philadelphia’s locker room.
“It’s a great vibe right now in the locker room within the guys,” Oubre said. “Jo (Embiid) is fighting through a lot, and we see that. It’s up to us to have his back always, and just continue to just take steps in the right direction, which we are doing.”
Earlier this season, Tyrese Maxey was reported to have criticized Joel Embiid’s commitment. The team also reportedly held a dreaded “players-only” meeting following its sluggish start to the basketball year. From the outside, Sixerland’s atmosphere looked dim and uninspired.
Therefore, hearing that things have turned a corner and that everyone is pulling in the same direction should be encouraging for the fan base. Nurse is a championship-winning coach. Maxey is one of the elite young talents in the league. Embiid is a perennial MVP candidate, and Paul George is a future Hall of Famer. There is no logical reason for this team to struggle the way it has.
Still, “vibes” don’t win games. Yes, it helps when everyone is enjoying their basketball, and it can foster resilience and a team spirit that fosters a collective mentality. But what happens on the court remains most important, and that means the Sixers must keep plugging away and working to live up to the clear potential within the rotation.
It’s great that the 76ers appear to have turned a corner, but what they do in the coming months will tell us everything we need to know about their championship credentials.
