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The Philadelphia 76ers had an amazing outing in their first game of the 2020-21 NBA Season as they beat the Washington Wizards 113-107. The 76ers are among the contenders to come out of the East, having two prime all-stars in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons on their roster. With a new head coach in Doc Rivers and a new GM, the organization has stepped up, and now it's time for the players to do the same.
The New York Knicks are a young team that are heading in the right direction. With a young core as well as high draft picks, the Knicks Head coach Tom Thibodeau has something to work with. RJ Barrett continues to show star potential as he embraces the roles of leader and primary scorer. However, the Knicks suffered 121-107 a loss to the Indiana Pacers in their 2020-21 NBA season opener.
Combined Starting 5 (Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks)
We take a look at the best combined starting five across both these teams. This list leaves out players who are injured or not available for the game.
Center - Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
Considered to be one of the most talented big men in the league, Joel Embiid has had a string of disappointing seasons along with well-advertised chemistry issues with Ben Simmons. This year, Embiid will be looking to set an example and prove himself to be the most dominant big man in the league while leading his team to a championship.
In the opening game of their campaign, Embiid showcased his potential, leading the team with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and a block while shooting 10 of 17 from the field. He was an offensive and defensive force in the paint as he dominated the whole game, getting the Philadelphia 76ers their first win of the season.
Power forward - Julius Randle (New York Knicks)
Julius Randle has established himself as a solid starter for the New York Knicks. An offensive force down on the block, he is someone who could grow into one of the best offensive power forwards in the league. Randle is a consistent scorer but needs to work on his defense if he wants to make any real impact in the league.
In the opening game of their season, Randle put up 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assist in just 28 minutes of play. The former LA Lakers player has a lot of potential, and it will be interesting to see how coach Thibodeau uses him going forward.
Small Forward - Tobias Harris (Philadelphia 76ers)
The Philadelphia 76ers seem to be in a bind when it comes to Tobias Harris. The former LA Clippers All-Star is on a 4-year $140 million contract that hasn't paid off for the organization.
In Harris, the team has a quality stretch four to pair with Embiid and Simmons. On paper, the fit is excellent as Harris is an above-average shooter. He can still rebound and get over 20 points per game but his ineffective shooting and stagnant offense have hurt the team.
In the 76ers first game of their season, Harris put up 10 points and 8 rebounds while shooting 3 of 13 from the field and 0 for 4 from beyond the arc. The Philadelphia 76ers have shown interest in trading him but his massive 30 million-plus a year contract will be hard to move.
Shooting Guard - RJ Barrett (New York Knicks)
In his sophomore year, RJ Barrett has shown flashes of brilliance as he has emerged as the team's primary ball-handler and their main scorer. Perhaps this could be the season he breaks out and becomes the player everyone thought he would be coming out of college.
Barrett has shown exceptional ball-handling skills and has the knack for scoring clutch points. Although he is weak on the defensive side, Barrett will grow into a better defender as he has the size and the length to contest the league's best players.
In the first game of his sophomore season, RJ Barrett lead the team in scoring with 27 points while grabbing 8 rebounds to go with 5 assists in a 14 point loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Point Guard - Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
A jump shot away from being LeBron James. That is what of the NBA believes about Ben Simmons. He is a rare generational talents that we see once in a lifetime. His passing ability and touch in the paint are phenomenal. On the other end, the one-time All-Star was a candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year last season and was selected to his first All-Defensive 1st team.
Ben Simmons is nearly the complete package with just one flaw - he cannot shoot. Simmons is one of the worst 3-point shooters in the league and has faced a lot of criticism for his hesitancy to take jump shots.
He has shown promise this offseason as multiple videos surfacing of him practicing and making 3s have emerged. All things considered, Ben Simmons is a star in this league and may become an MVP too someday.
In his first game with this season, Simmons put up 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists in a 6 point victory over the Washington Wizards.
Guess the Lakers players!
