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Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is keeping the New York Knicks at the top of his Eastern Conference board, even after the Philadelphia 76ers landed LeBron James.
Johnson considers the Sixers the “biggest threat” to New York now that James has joined Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey. He sees genuine offensive firepower in that quartet but is not without reservations.
“All four are used to having the ball in their hands, so I’m interested to see what type of offense Coach Nurse draws up. I have two big questions for Philly: one is on the defensive end, and two is their team chemistry. If they answer those two… watch out!”
The Los Angeles Lakers legend is backing New York to reach a second straight NBA Finals.
Johnson’s logic is hard to argue with. Philadelphia’s projected starting five, VJ Edgecombe included, could be the best in the league on paper. But paper lineups do not win championships.
Embiid’s health remains the central variable. The Sixers now have more high-end talent around him to absorb the slack when he misses time, yet a repeat of his playoff injury issues would still be a serious problem. On top of that, fitting James, Brown, Embiid, and Maxey into a single, functional offense will demand real sacrifice from all four players.
Philadelphia clearly felt the moves were necessary. The previous core of Embiid, Maxey, and Paul George appeared to plateau, and the chances to acquire James and Brown were too significant to ignore. The upside is real. So is the risk that the experiment does not hold together.
Read also: Bryce James Could Be the Real Reason LeBron Chose the 76ers Over Everyone Else
Follow TipsGG for continued coverage of the Eastern Conference race as training camps approach.