Two summers ago, I had an idea. Today, it’s going live. I am proud to announce @Vertical76ers, a comprehensive model to cover the Philadelphia 76ers to serve you: the reader, the listener, the viewer. Not the algorithm. Led by me, in partnership with @howardmegdal and @TheIXSports, we will be attacking the massive limitations to many of today’s journalism business models. Good work and the relationship between consumers and the information you want to know is always the priority. We are here to build on what elite sports journalists are doing in Philadelphia, and always have—not just for one of the most exciting seasons in Sixers history, but sustainably. We will be your home for weekly podcasts, in partnership with Blue Wire. We will provide consistent analysis and context to this historic 2026-27 season through video reports on our social channels.

The Sixers keep force-feeding this Embiid-Mobley isolation and are missing blatant mismatches that they could be exploiting elsewhere. Polar opposite of how they played against the Knicks.

9 turnovers in that first quarter for the Sixers.

Challenge successful. Jump-ball instead of a foul.

Sixers with 5 turnovers thus far. LeBron has 3 of them. He's been passive, particularly against favorable matchups. Jaylen Brown dribbling the ball a little aimlessly. Offensive clunkiness to be expected.

An explosive cheer for LeBron as he does the chalk toss.

We’re 90 minutes from tip-off and you’d think this is the Finals with the staging, tv presence, and people already in the building.

If the Sixers win tonight, they will have opened the season with victories over 2 teams that many picked to finish ahead of them in the East. Allow yourselves to buy in. Enjoy this journey. More in this morning’s newsletter @Vertical76ers: vertical76.com/p/the-king-s-…

10 hours from now, you’ll be settling in for LeBron James and Jaylen Brown’s official Sixers home debuts. FREE morning newsletter at Vertical 76 is out now and in your inboxes as long as you’re subscribed!

Sixers injury report for tomorrow’s home-opener against the Cavs: Dean Wade (ankle) — QUESTIONABLE Tacko Fall (quad)— OUT Dominick Barlow (low back stress reaction) — OUT

The Sixers don’t win last night without everybody doing their parts, but I came away most focused on Joel Embiid. He shot the ball poorly and committed 4 TOVs. But his defense was masterful and, when it came down to it, he was the one making the decisions to ice the game:

First gamer of the regular season for @Vertical76ers! - That was maybe the best season-opener of Joel Embiid's career - Why I liked the Sixers' offensive strategy - What a day it must've been for Jaylen Brown vertical76.com/p/joel-embiid…