The Sixers have the NBA's best record through nine games. Their 8-1 start includes a win in Detroit that answered their only loss of the season.
The surprise is how much of the start has been built on defense. The roster has more offensive ceiling than it has shown, but Philadelphia has kept winning close games while the larger rotation finds its shape.
An 8-1 record is not proof that every weakness is solved. It is valuable room to improve without chasing the standings, and it gives the Sixers a real base rather than an early-season theory.
