LeBron James in a Sixers jersey still feels a little strange to me — and I have a feeling I'm not alone on that one. Now add Jaylen Brown next to Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and Philadelphia’s roster starts to look less like a realistic plan and more like somebody got carried away playing fantasy basketball.

But the fun part is over now. If this group really comes together, the Sixers won’t just have a collection of big names — they’ll have to figure out how all that talent fits, and who takes the big shots.

Two Different Paths Back to the Top of the East

The 3-1 Sixers head to Indiana on Wednesday to take on the 2-2 Pacers. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. It’s still early, but this is a fun first look at two teams trying to climb back toward the top of the East in very different ways. Philadelphia added star power. Indiana finally got their offensive engine back.

James gives this game plenty of national hype, but the two Tyreses could have just as much to say about how it plays out.

Maxey just won Eastern Conference Player of the Week after averaging 28.8 points over Philadelphia’s first four games. Haliburton, meanwhile, is averaging 21.8 points and 9.5 assists through the first four games of his return.

Those numbers tell different stories. Maxey’s showing he can still be Philadelphia’s top scorer even with more mouths to feed. Haliburton’s reminding Indiana what their offense is supposed to look like when everything’s clicking.

Haliburton’s Return Has Changed Indiana’s Ceiling

He missed all of last season coming back from that nasty Achilles tear he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals. Without him, the Pacers went 19-63. That’s a long, hard year of watching from the sideline when you’d just been one win away from a championship.

Sunday in Brooklyn was a lot more fun: seven Pacers scored in double figures, Indiana handed out 34 assists, and Haliburton even threw himself a bounce-pass alley-oop. Rick Carlisle’s assessment was pretty simple.

He’s back. He’s back.

Then Monday happened. Indiana took an 11-point halftime lead into Milwaukee and lost 110-102, scoring just 17 pointsin the fourth quarter. It was the second night of a road back-to-back with a depleted rotation, which played a part. So did how quickly this offense can lose their rhythm when the easy stuff stops coming.

That’s what makes Wednesday interesting.

Indiana wants Haliburton moving the ball before the defense gets comfortable, with his teammates screening and finding openings around him. Philadelphia can run, too. But when everyone’s back and the floor starts to feel crowded, the Sixers have several players who can still create something out of nothing.

The question is whether all those options actually lead to a better shot.

Embiid gave them a pretty good Saturday against Milwaukee: 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win with James sitting out. Philadelphia also gave up 31 fastbreak points that night. There’s a lot of talent here, and still a lot to clean up.

Availability Could Decide the Matchup

Availability could change the whole conversation. Embiid and VJ Edgecombe missed Sunday’s loss to Detroit and are still listed as day to day. Indiana’s also going into this one without Ivica Zubac, and Andrew Nembhard's dealing with a neck issue.

Nembhard’s absence would hurt twice. He starts next to Haliburton, and he also handles backup point guard duties with T.J. McConnell out. Now, who do you trust to run the offense when Haliburton sits?

For Philadelphia, Embiid’s status affects just about everything, from the scoring to who’s responsible for finishing a defensive possession. Detroit outrebounded the Sixers 54-37 with James starting at center. As LeBron put it afterward:

I’m not here to have a sustainable role at the five.

So if this one’s close late, watch what happens after the first option gets taken away. Does Philadelphia keep moving, or does everybody stand around waiting for somebody famous to fix it? Can Indiana get a stop and actually come down with the rebound?

I’m leaning Philadelphia if Embiid plays. The Sixers have more ways to manufacture a basket when things get tight. Winning would be another sign that they’re figuring out how to use that advantage a lot faster than most people thought they would.

For Indiana, beating this group would give Haliburton’s return some early substance against a serious opponent. The comeback already looks encouraging. Wednesday’s a chance to show just how much juice he gives this team.

All stats courtesy of NBA.com.

Want more NBA coverage? Head to Sports Pass for the latest. And for more stories that keep you informed and entertained, YourLifeBuzz has you covered.