The Philadelphia 76ers are set to enter the new season with a new-look starting five, featuring Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. However, not everyone believes they will be able to win when it matters most. ESPN's Vincent Goodwill spoke to NBA executives about the 76ers, specifically how they would match up against the Knicks. It's clear that some around the league still don't trust the Sixers, and it boils down to Joel Embiid. Last result: Philadelphia 76ers 114-144 New York Knicks (2026-05-10). The 76ers were eliminated without putting up much of a fight in the playoffs, and Embiid's health was a major factor in that loss. Recent form: 0W-0D-5L (LLLLL, most recent first). Adding both Brown and James should help the 76ers be able to manage Embiid's health a little bit more. James is not a bastion of health either, but Brown is one of the most durable players in the NBA. Embiid just needs to be healthy when the month of April starts. ## What happened? The 76ers were not a team that was on national TV at the same level as the Lakers, Warriors, and Celtics were. That will change this year now that James has signed with the team. It wouldn't be shocking to see half of their games on national TV. With that comes pressure to perform. Last season, the Sixers had the 16th-best offense in the NBA. If that number doesn't improve, fans will pile on criticism, especially towards James. The Sixers need James to average at least 20 points per game if they want to be seen as true contenders. ## Why it matters for Philadelphia 76ers Last season, the 76ers were not a team that was on national TV at the same level as the Lakers, Warriors, and Celtics were. That will change this year now that James has signed with the team. It wouldn't be shocking to see half of their games on national TV. With that comes pressure to perform. Last season, the Sixers had the 16th-best offense in the NBA. If that number doesn't improve, fans will pile on criticism, especially towards James. The Sixers need James to average at least 20 points per game if they want to be seen as true contenders. ## What comes next? The 76ers will have a giant microscope on them this season. They need to manage Embiid's health at the end of the spring. As long as they have their starters healthy heading into April, they will have a chance to win the title. They should have enough chemistry built by that point to have an effective offensive game plan. Whether that will be good enough to beat the defending champion Knicks remains to be seen.