The Sixers will be fielding a talented trio of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to take on the defending champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. On paper, Philadelphia appears to have the best chance of defeating the Cs, but there are a few key factors that will need to fall in their favor to win.

Here are the three most important factors that will determine how far the Sixers ultimately go:

Health

This will be the key word for Embiid and George as Philadelphia attempts to make a run at a title. Embiid’s unfortunate injury history has derailed everything the Sixers have tried in recent seasons, and if he’s not healthy in the playoffs, then nothing else matters – the same goes for George. The nine-time All-Star is as talented as they come and someone who can turn a game around in a heartbeat. However, he also has a long injury history, and that’s something that will affect Philadelphia’s title chances.

Andre Drummond gives Embiid a chance

When Embiid inevitably misses games, the Sixers will need Drummond to provide some reliable minutes. This is nothing new for Drummond, considering he was Embiid’s backup in the 2021-22 season before being sent to the Brooklyn Nets in the James Harden deal, but Philadelphia will need him to provide quality minutes. That’s something the Sixers sorely lacked when the big guy was out for two months in the 2023-24 season. Drummond is an improvement over the tandem of Paul Reed and Mo Bamba.