The Philadelphia 76ers have kicked off the new NBA season with back-to-back wins and appear poised for a strong bounce-back campaign. Veteran center Andre Drummond recently credited an intense offseason as a major factor behind the Sixers’ early 2-0 record.
“This offseason has been hard for us,” Drummond told Tony Jones of The Athletic after Philadelphia’s 125-121 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. “We were scrimmaging without calling fouls. No calls. Guys were just out there, hooping. We’ve been sick of playing against each other. It’s been good to go out there and take some aggression out on other teams.”
The 32-year-old has averaged 3.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 9.5 minutes over the first two games of the season. Drummond has provided valuable relief for the 76ers as the team works through health issues and manages Joel Embiid’s playing time restrictions.
“I’m thrilled that he was able to play so well,” said 76ers head coach Nick Nurse. “And now, I’m kind of wondering why I didn’t use him earlier. I knew that I would eventually have to use him again, because Joel was down to just a few minutes in the second half. I was trying to find some spark, and he gave it. All of a sudden, the rebounding got a lot easier. We got some extra possessions. He made some good contributions.”
Philadelphia has also been bolstered by the impressive play of rookie VJ Edgecombe. After dropping 34 points in the season opener against the Boston Celtics, the 20-year-old followed up with 15 points, six rebounds, and eight assists in the win over Charlotte.
The 76ers will look to build on their hot start when the Orlando Magic visit the City of Brotherly Love on Monday night.
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