Look for Tyrese Maxey to pick up some of the scoring load as the lead guard for the 76ers. Maxey has scored at least 21 points in nine of the last ten games he's appeared without Harden in the lineup.

New coaches both ways here but the situation seems more settled in Milwaukee with Adrian Griffin now in charge on the bench. Giannis is also recently inked to a nice contract extension to remove that potential distraction, and the addition of Dame Lillard sets a new ceiling in Milwaukee. Meanwhile Nick Nurse begins a new tenure as coach of the Sixers but the distractions regarding James Harden are worse than ever. Right now, all signals point to some real issues with the Sixer chemistry. Play Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo only averaged 0.8 steals and 0.8 blocks per game last season. That broke a streak of seven straight seasons in which he averaged at least 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks. With Jrue Holiday gone, the Bucks are going to need Giannis to step up defensively. As good as Damian Lillard is offensively, he is not good on the defensive end. This is a prime spot for Giannis to begin the season with a strong defensive performance.

I'm going to play this season opener next Thursday now because James Harden is up to his antics again, no-showing at practice today so I doubt he plays in the opener or ever again for the Sixers, and this likely will jump. The Beard is a gormless dolt and destroying whatever legacy he had but still a difference-maker on the court. Philly at this point has to take pennies on the dollar and get rid of him -- if Daryl Morey had any guts, he'd suspend him without pay or export him to China in exchange for Dwight Howard -- but this has to be a distraction. It's just what Harden wants. Excited to see the Greek Freak and Dame Lillard together for Milwaukee.