VJ Edgecombe shines as Sixers fall to Paul George, Celtics

The Sixers’ third preseason game wasn’t particularly close, but that’s not overly surprising considering the Celtics played all of their stars while LeBron James, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid sat for Philadelphia.

Despite the lopsided matchup, there were still a few noteworthy takeaways for the Sixers.

Here’s what stood out.

VJ Edgecombe continues to star this preseason

Without several key starters, VJ Edgecombe had a chance to let loose, and he made the most of it.

Coming into the league, Edgecombe was rather raw in a few areas, including facilitating and finishing, but displayed tremendous athleticism and determination. Those traits allowed him to immediately play a high-usage role for the Sixers, and he continued to grow throughout  the season, much of it under the tutelage of Paul George and Tyrese Maxey.

This preseason, he has already shown an improved handle and an increased ability to read and react to the defensive looks thrown at him. Against Boston, he continued to show improvement, especially as a finisher.

There's been speculation that Edgecombe will have to take a step back to accommodate his more experienced teammates, but he, his teammates and head coach Nick Nurse have consistently emphasized sacrifice as a responsibility shared by everyone on the team.

Edgecombe is looking to fill whatever role his team needs from him, something that could change from night to night. As he continues to develop, he’ll only become more capable of filling those needs, from setting the tone defensively to playing more of a lead offensive role in support of James and Maxey.

Paul George reunites with former Sixers teammates

Jaylen Brown's return to Boston will have to wait, but Paul George faced his former Sixers teammates for the first time since the summer trade. It was a slow start for George, but he continued to display many of the same capabilities that made him a key piece for Philadelphia.

George looked largely the same, for better and worse. He struggled to get to the rim but remained an effective secondary facilitator and impact defender, recording five steals.

There appeared to be plenty of love between George and his former teammates, as Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe and others greeted him warmly. George discussed the lasting relationships he built in Philadelphia after the game.

Embed Ky Carlin's tweet featuring Paul George's postgame comments here.

Quick hits

• Outside of the starting five, no player will be more important to the Sixers’ success than Dean Wade. His numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet, but his defensive impact is impossible to miss. For years, he's been one of the few defenders who can frustrate Maxey on their own, while proving he can defend all five positions in the right setting. It’s more than just versatility; it’s the level at which he’s able to defend each position. If Edgecombe is to set the tone, Wade will be right behind him, often taking the most difficult assignment.
• Jabari Walker continues to pop off the screen for the Sixers. Without Embiid, Adem Bona, Ariel Hukporti and Dominick Barlow, the Sixers have turned to Wade and Walker as their primary centers of late. Those small-ball lineups come with shortcomings, particularly defensively, but Walker impressed offensively in this matchup and showed a willingness to space the floor, attempting seven three-pointers.

Up next for the Sixers

The two teams will meet again Friday, Oct. 16, in Philadelphia for their final preseason game. Nurse suggested the starters could return for a final tune-up before the regular season begins Tuesday, Oct. 20.

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