Is anyone surprised by them so far? They are 11-4 and are winning games convincingly, despite their "weak" schedule. Can they keep it up? Are they the real deal?
They made a big leap last year and I assumed they would be better this season. This team is well-built (unlike NYK) and has great offense&defense and most importantly a great mixture of vets&youngsters. 76ers can keep their opponents to a low scoring output and get many transition opportunities with their stoppers on defense. Guys like Lou or Meeks can also light it up from downtown, giving them good spacing. Think they'll get even better in the future when guys like Jrue, Hawes and Evan make their next steps.
Thats what happens when you acquire solid players and a solid coach then stick with it. They didnt have to deal with players coming and going or off court issues. They have had so much time to form chemistry and learn everything their coach has had to offer. It took them a while to recover after the Iverson era.