LeBron James is taking fewer shots than ever before in his long career, yet the Philadelphia 76ers are winning more games than any other team in the league. Through his first seven games, the four-time champion is averaging 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. His field-goal attempts have dropped to just 13.1 per game, while his free-throw attempts sit at 4.4. These numbers mark the lowest pace for his scoring average and shot volume since he entered the NBA as a rookie.
Instead of carrying the offense alone, James is now playing as a facilitator alongside a roster packed with elite scorers. On Wednesday night, Detroit Pistons fell 112-106 as the 76ers secured eight wins from their opening nine contests. This surprising drop in personal usage has allowed Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown to generate offense independently while James directs the flow.
Defense Becomes the Team Identity
While James cuts back on his scoring, the starting five has limited opponents’ scoring. The group has held teams to just 95.4 points per 100 possessions across their first five games together. For context, the league’s best defense before Thursday was allowing 103 points per 100 possessions. This gap shows how much the Sixers have improved on that end of the floor.
James made the goal clear after the win over Detroit. After defeating the Pistons on Wednesday, “Our defense is going to be our identity,” James stated, according to NBC News. The starting lineup features James, Brown, Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid, a group that combines for 36 All-Star selections. They have outscored opponents by 15 points in 77 minutes of play together.
Cleveland Returns With a Different Star
James faces his old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, for the first time since choosing Philadelphia in free agency. During 11 Cleveland seasons, he guided the franchise to its initial 2016 NBA championship. The Cavaliers enter Friday with a 4-4 record after back-to-back losses to Oklahoma City. They also face injury concerns with key player Jarrett Allen listed as questionable for tonight’s game.
Donovan Mitchell has averaged 22.5 points for Cleveland, but the team needs better collective production to beat Philadelphia. James Harden has struggled with his shooting efficiency. With the Eastern Conference’s top record, the 76ers have claimed five straight victories. James noted that his role has changed because he knows the team needs him to be ready for late-game situations.
Patience Over Hype
Despite the strong start, James warns against looking too far ahead at the end of the season. Regarding this talented group, certain fans propose an NBA Finals appearance is inevitable. James pushed back on that idea immediately after the recent win. “It’s too early to be talking about the Finals and things of that nature on Nov. 4,” James said, according to Yahoo Sports.
The veteran star wants the team to focus on building habits rather than chasing headlines. He believes the group must continue to buy into their plan and enjoy playing together. “So we’ll continue just to buy into what we want to do. … We got a good team. Guys vibe with one another, guys like each other, guys enjoy being around each other.” The Sixers still have a long way to go, but their early chemistry looks solid.
The 76ers began strongly, and James played with several established stars.
