1 advantage Raptors have over every Atlantic Division team
By Mike Luciano
76ers: Chemistry
The 76ers aren’t going into the season with everything operating at peak efficiency, as there has been more noise around their camp than new coach Nick Nurse would have liked. Most of it is surrounded around the mercurial point guard James Harden, who has no intention of playing in Philly.
Harden has gotten personal in his criticism of Daryl Morey, calling him a “liar” and refusing to ever play for one of his teams again. Nurse may have thought he was leaving the drama behind in Toronto, but he likely landed in an even more precarious situation.
The Toronto Raptors are more harmonious than the 76ers.
Joel Embiid hasn’t exactly done a great job of trying to quiet some of the exit rumors that have been surrounding him in recent months. Between the trade drama and a young roster that might not take well to some very vocal criticisms from Nurse, the 76ers shouldn’t be locked in as a contender just yet.
The Raptors aren’t just holding hands and singing songs beneath a rainbow backdrop right now, as they will need to figure out how to split their shots in the best way possible. At least their best players are looking for exits right after hiring a brand-new coach.