The Case for the Over

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After acquiring Paul George in the offseason, they might have the best fit in the league among three stars in George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey. They have the potential to be a legitimate powerhouse in the league if things break right. They were on pace to win well over 50 games last year before Joel Embiid, who was having a historic season, missed a bunch of games.
 

With the addition of Andre Drummond, who was one of the best backup centers in the league last year, they could survive Embiid injuries better than they have in the past. 
 

Nick Nurse’s status within the league has fallen a bit in recent years, but is still a very good, creative coach, and should be a positive when thinking about how he impacts winning relative to other coaches. 
 

They still have some assets available to make an upgrade, if a worthwhile trade presents itself.

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The Case for the Under

 

Embiid’s health will always be a concern. He is someone that is always a candidate for missing significant time, and the 76ers may just be more cautious with him this season in hopes he’s 100% heading into the playoffs. Paul George has also had his struggles playing a lot of games in the past several years. 
 

They aren’t super deep, and if Kyle Lowry or Reggie Jackson are just cooked at this point in their respective careers, they could be pretty light in the backcourt. They don’t have any young players that could make a big leap, so there is more downside risk than upside risk when thinking about individual player performance. 

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Conclusion

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​This team is a legitimate championship contender, but they may focus more on the playoffs than the regular season. Embiid’s health gives me real concern, and for that reason I’m taking the under.