Ring the Damn Bell returns for a new season of Sixers basketball, big expectations, and the questions that keep Philly fans up at night.
We took the offseason off. The opinions didn’t.
Welcome back to Ring the Damn Bell, your weekly shot of Sixers news, stories, and heartbreak. John and Sage are back behind the microphones, and we’re opening a new season with a familiar combination: excitement, questions, and the uncomfortable realization that this team has us getting our hopes up again.
You know how this works. We talk ourselves into the possibilities. We start imagining what everything could look like if the pieces fit. Then two words show up and pull up a chair.
If healthy.
Wouldn’t be a Sixers season without them.
Excitement Is Back. So Are the Questions.
In our first episode back, one thing becomes clear pretty quickly: we’re excited about what this team could become. Agreeing on how much to believe? That takes a little more discussion.
An Eastern Conference Finals appearance comes up as a meaningful next step. But there’s also a healthy dose of hesitation about declaring anything before we see how the team actually plays together.
That’s where we’re starting this season. There’s room to believe. There’s also plenty left to prove.
Talent gets everybody talking in October. What happens when shots stop falling, roles get uncomfortable, and a couple of losses pile up tells you considerably more.
VJ Edgecombe Gives Us Something to Get Loud About
One subject that gets us both going: VJ Edgecombe.
The athleticism. The speed. The possibility of a play that gets you off the couch before you even realize you stood up.
John is especially bullish about where VJ’s development could lead. Sage isn’t ready to hand him the keys to the franchise just yet. That’s a conversation we’ll happily keep having.
With Tyrese Maxey also central to the discussion, there’s plenty to look forward to in the backcourt. Watching that young talent grow is part of what makes a new season worth getting excited about before we have any answers.
Bring on the breakout moments. And, yes, the monster dunks.
The Less Glamorous Stuff Still Matters
We spend plenty of the opener talking about health, rebounding, and the minutes behind Joel Embiid.
Those subjects won’t win an offseason highlight contest. They can absolutely decide how a season goes.
Can the Sixers finish defensive possessions with a rebound? What happens when Embiid sits? Can the rotation handle injuries without everything coming apart?
And how does Nick Nurse make the pieces work when the first plan needs adjusting?
We want to see the pace, the scoring, and the highlight plays. We also want to see somebody secure the basketball when a stop actually matters.
There’s Only One Ball—and a Whole Season to Figure It Out
The chemistry conversation brings some of the best back-and-forth in the episode.
There’s a case for trusting experience and a shared desire to win. There’s also a case for remembering that basketball players are human beings. Touches matter. Roles matter. Losing makes everything louder.
We’ll be watching how this team responds to those moments just as closely as we watch the good nights.
Because we’ve all seen an exciting idea on paper before. We want to see it hold up on the floor.
Welcome Back to the Ride
We’re aiming to be back about once a week, talking through what we’re seeing, arguing about what it means, and having some fun along the way.
If you’ve been with us before, welcome back. If you’re finding us for the first time, pull up a chair. You don’t have to agree with us. We’d like to hear where you don’t.
What has you most excited about this Sixers season—and what’s your biggest concern?
Watch our season-opening episode on YouTube, leave a comment, and subscribe so you can follow the season with us.
Ring the damn bell. We’re back.