Philadelphia held its annual intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday in front of roughly 10,000 people, moving the exhibition from its G League affiliate’s arena in Delaware to its own building to accommodate demand.
Why does the venue change matter?
Because it is the clearest available measure of interest. A practice game that previously fit in a minor league arena now fills a portion of an NBA one, with fans queuing in the atrium an hour before a noon start. That is a commercial signal rather than a basketball one, and it is the most concrete thing the day produced.
What was the format?
Three 10 minute quarters, each beginning with the scoreboard set at 80 to 80 to simulate a closing situation. No official box score was kept, which means nothing from the Sixers scrimmage translates into statistics and nobody should treat sequences from it as evidence of anything beyond familiarity.
What stood out?
Connection between the new pieces. LeBron James found Joel Embiid trailing for a three, and both Tyrese Maxey and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope delivered lobs that James finished. Embiid blocked second year guard VJ Edgecombe and dunked himself, then joked that it was probably the last dunk of his career.
How does Embiid look?
Lighter, and more available. He appeared noticeably slimmer and described himself as feeling reasonably good compared with last season. James, who won a gold medal alongside him at the Paris Olympics two summers ago, said the difference is health, noting that Embiid has not missed a practice and has been held back at times when he wanted to continue.
Is that the real story?
Probably. A roster with four established stars has been discussed all preseason in terms of hierarchy and fit, which the Sixers scrimmage cannot resolve. Whether Embiid is available is a different kind of question, and it has determined the ceiling of this franchise for several years regardless of who else is on it.
What did the players say about the crowd?
That they need it. Embiid said a group assembled for its first year together faces a hard enough task and will need all the support available, from inside the building and outside it. The long serving public address announcer, who had retired and returned for this season, introduced the starters.
What does James make of the preseason?
That it is for rhythm rather than volume. He described the scrimmage as a first step in taking practice work onto a game floor, and said the preseason offers opportunities without a need to overdo it given how much the team is putting into practice.
What comes next?
A day off Sunday, then a four game preseason schedule opening at home against New York on Monday. That is the first occasion anything will be measured.
