THE The Philadelphia 76ers should be one of the biggest challengers to the defending champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference thanks to the significant addition of Paul George join Joel Embiid And Tyrese MaxeyThese three should carry the Sixers deep into the playoffs and finally get over the hump of the second round.

The Sixers will go as far as the Big 3 will take them, but every team has a few X-factors. Every team is looking ahead to see who will be there when the going gets tough in the big moments of the playoffs. The Sixers made their free agency choices by bringing in players who fit those criteria and they are the ones who will make the difference come playoff time.

For PhiladelphiaThe three biggest X factors are:

March 31, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond (3) reacts during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY SportsMarch 31, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond (3) reacts during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

March 31, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond (3) reacts during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Drummond’s return should play a big role for the Sixers. The backup center position behind Joel Embiid has been an absolute disaster in the past and it hurt them in the playoffs against the The New York KnicksThe Sixers posted a whopping -47 in the 45 minutes Embiid was on the bench in that opening-day loss to the Knicks. That’s a concerning number considering the point differential between the two teams was just one point.

Drummond will need to be a difference maker for the Sixers when Embiid is benched. He did a tremendous job in his first appearance in Philadelphia in the 2021-22 season and will need to repeat that performance again. It is paramount that the Sixers get good production from him.

May 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) reacts to New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the second half of Game 6 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY SportsMay 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) reacts to New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the second half of Game 6 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

May 2, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) reacts to New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the second half of Game 6 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Sixers got a lot of good production out of Oubre in the 2023-24 season, as he averaged 15.4 points on a minimum contract. Now that he’s back on a new deal, he needs to play with the same sense of urgency he did in his first season in Philadelphia. He’ll likely slot into the starting five and be in the backcourt next to Maxey, so the Sixers will need him to continue to score aggressively and be a difference-maker in this upcoming title race.

December 13, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin (16) dribbles the basketball against the Charlotte Hornets during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY SportsDecember 13, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin (16) dribbles the basketball against the Charlotte Hornets during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

December 13, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin (16) dribbles the basketball against the Charlotte Hornets during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

As far as X-factors go, Martin is probably the most important. Coach Nick Nurse needs someone with big-game guts. Someone who can step up and make a difference in big playoff moments like he has in the past with the Miami Heat. Martin has shot 40.1 percent from three-point range in his playoff career and that will be a big number for this group. The Sixers will be counting on him to be the difference maker he was in Miami. He’s probably the most underrated addition this team has made this offseason.

This article was originally published on Sixers Wire: The 3 Biggest X-Factors for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2024-25 Season

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