DETROIT — Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James cautioned against championship talk Wednesday night, even after his team improved to an 8-1 start, a record that usually signals something big for a James-led team.
The previous five times James has started a season at least 7-1, his team has made the NBA Finals.
“It’s too early to be talking about the Finals and things of that nature on Nov. 4,” James said after the Sixers beat the Detroit Pistons 112-106. “So we’ll continue just to buy into what we want to do. … We got a good team. Guys vibe with one another, guys like each other, guys enjoy being around each other.”
The victory avenged Philadelphia’s only loss of the season. Jaylen Brown turned in one of his best games as a Sixer, finishing with a season-high 30 points and a game-saving block on Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham. Joel Embiid added 26 points and 15 rebounds.
76ers coach Nick Nurse shared James’ outlook.
LeBron’s Hot Starts
James has a strong track record when his teams hit the ground running. In the five seasons his teams started 7-1, they reached the NBA Finals.
“I wouldn’t read any super long-term stuff into anything, cause it’s early,” he said. “I think we feel like that was another game where it feels like we’re getting a touch better. … But the goal right now is to stretch out those good periods of play and minimize those bad periods of play.”
The Sixers have started 4-0 on the road for the first time since 2000-01, the last season they reached the NBA Finals. It is also the fifth time in the past 50 seasons that Philadelphia has started 4-0 or better on the road. The 76ers reached the NBA Finals in each of the previous four instances.
“Well, those teams just had consistency throughout the whole year and every day we wanted to get better, every day,” James said. “We didn’t want to take too many steps backwards. Like I said, it can happen throughout the course of a marathon, but we understood what the assignment was and we all held each other accountable. And I think early on I kind of see that here as well.”
Injury Concerns
Tyrese Maxey left the win with an injury concern. The point guard hurt his right pinkie finger while attempting to split a double team in the game’s final seconds. In the locker room afterward, a Sixers athletic trainer briefly examined his swollen finger.
“I’ll be fine,” Maxey said when a reporter pointed out the swelling. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you this is how my finger’s looked all season since last year. But I’m fine.”
Center Adem Bona also exited in the fourth quarter with what Nurse said was a neck injury. Nurse said Bona appeared to be fine but would have an official update Thursday.
James finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. The Sixers next visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, a return to the city where James began his career and won his first title.
“We know we got a long way to go,” James said.