Team page/schedule | Stats: Preseason | Roster
Last year: 56-26, first in Atlantic, first in conference
Coach/GM: Larry Brown/Billy King
Arena, first game: First Union Center (20,444); Nov. 1, 1996
All-time franchise record/NBA titles: 2,221-1,869/3
Notable: Team surpassed one million in attendance for first time

THE ROTATION
Pos	Player	Key Stat	Skinny
PG	Speedy Claxton	dnp	Snow's replacement might keep job
SG	Allen Iverson	31.1 ppg	Second scoring title in three years
SF	George Lynch	82 games	Only durable Sixer hurt in playoffs, now
PF	Robert Traylor	5.7 ppg	Question: more rebs or pounds this year?
C	Dikembe Mutombo	13.5 rpg	Might score in teens this year
6th	Aaron McKie	11.6 ppg	Sixth man of year has shoulder woes
7th	Matt Harpring	11.1 ppg	Perimeter shooting a big key with him
8th	Matt Geiger	.393 FG	Fills a need, but knees hamper him

		First and foremost, the 76ers need to get healthy. They are really banged up. They lost Eric Snow for three months to a broken thumb. Allen Iverson and Aaron McKie had offseason surgeries and aren't playing yet. Also, George Lynch has a foot injury, and Dikembe Mutombo has a bad back. Larry Brown said the preseason has been a total waste. Last year the 76ers won their first 10 games and got off to a great start. I would be shocked if they could do that again. If they can get healthy, they will be back to defending their East title.

By Peter May
Special to ESPN.com

The defending Eastern Conference champions have the reigning MVP, the reigning Coach of the Year, the reigning Sixth Man, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year -- and plenty of questions.

The month of October was, basically, "a waste" in the opinion of coach Larry Brown, whose team consisted mostly of reserves. Injuries knocked Allen Iverson and Aaron McKie out of the picture and valuable point guard Eric Snow is similarly sidelined. We understand that the exhibition season means nothing, but, usually, you do have your regular players around to practice and try to pretend they care about the games.

Brown must have thought he was back in Kansas -- or at Long Beach High School. Last year, the Sixers broke from the blocks with 10 straight wins and never looked back. Last year, they were healthy. Everyone understands it's a long season and that nothing is ever won in November or December. Everyone, that is, except coaches. They live for the day and Brown faces an uncertain first few weeks. Not only are Iverson, McKie and Snow out, but George Lynch is also hurt and Tyrone Hill is in Cleveland.

So it will be a new look for the champs even when they get everyone back on board. They won't surprise anyone as they did last year. But as long as Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo are well and contributing, this team will be in the thick of things. Brown's focus will continue to be defense and Iverson will continue to get his touches and shots. It worked last year.

Who's Who
You know most of the main group. But the Sixers didn't stand still; good teams rarely do. When Hill decided not to opt out of his contract (a smart decision) he basically got himself traded back to Cleveland, where he once played well enough (1995) to be an All-Star. In return came three bodies, the largest of which (Robert Traylor) may help and the smallest of which (Matt Harpring) may really help. Harpring can shoot; have you noticed that's a rare trait on the 76ers? The third player is Cedric Henderson, who basically is around until his contract runs out. If all three fall short, they are gone at the end of the season. The other newcomer is asterisk-rookie Speedy Claxton, who missed his first season with an ACL tear. Brown loves the kid, who is bound to get time with Snow on the shelf. Also expect late-season miracle man Raja Bell to be a regular from day one.

FANTASY SLEEPER

Speedy Claxton, PG -- They say you have to take preseason numbers with a grain of salt, but what doesn't taste better with salt? Claxton's exhibition numbers -- 8 assists and 2 steals per -- seem possible. After all, with Eric Snow out three months and a majority of the rest of the Sixers' hobbled, Claxton should get plenty of playing time early in the regular season to back up his October stats. --Brandon Funston

The Big Question
We saw the Sixers nearly go all the way last season with one -- ONE -- scoring option. When Michael Jordan tried that with the Bulls, there was inevitable failure and demeaning talk about his supporting cast. Looking back, it's remarkable that Philly did so much with so little. And with zone defenses allowed this year, can the Sixers afford to still rely solely on The Answer? Maybe Harpring will be a reliable second or maybe they'll do what they did last year and hope somebody steps up. Bell was a sensation in Summer League, but that's still Summer League. The Sixers also must account for Hill, who while a pain in the you-know-what (they don't call him Ty Maintenance for nothing) did give them toughness and rebounding. They're still looking for someone like him and may find that they miss him more than they thought.

Best Case Scenario
The Sixers now know the routine and it's hardly unreasonable to expect that they will duplicate, or come close to duplicating, last year's magical season. They actually have more offensive weapons with the additions of Harpring, Claxton and Bell and maybe even Matt Geiger. The team won 56 games last season, although Brown almost quit halfway through. There's no reason they can't do it again. That's what champions do.

Worst Case Scenario
Unless Iverson decides to pursue a rap career and Mutombo is deported for falsifying his age, we can't see that dramatic off a dropoff. These guys will be among the top four teams in the conference unless the bottom falls out. But if they get a case of repeat-itis and forgot how they got where they once were, they also could drop into the 45-48 win territory. That's still good enough to play in May.

OVERRATED	UNDERRATED	TEAM MVP
Matt Geiger. For that gigantic contract he's been pretty mediocre.	George Lynch. Undersized but tough, he's gotta get Ty Hill's rebounds.	Allen Iverson. Um, any questions on this one?