PHILADELPHIA — Barely two weeks into the 76ers’ season, one thing is abundantly clear: They are even better than we thought.

And that says a lot in what was predicted as an NBA championship-or-bust season after blockbuster offseason acquisitions. But the thought was they would have to grow through early growing pains while incorporating All-Star newcomers LeBron James and Jaylen Brown along with rotation players Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Yet the Sixers (6-1) lead the Eastern Conference standings by a half-game, ahead of the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics. An expected Monday win against the Chicago Bulls at Xfinity Mobile Arena will enable the Sixers to start 7-1 for the first time since the 2023-24 season.

Some may point out Tyrese Maxey being the NBA’s second-leading scorer at 29.6 points per game as a primary reason for their hot start. Others will point to their defense, which ranks second in opponents’ scoring (104.9), third in defensive rating (104.9), fifth in opponents’ made field goals (37.6), and sixth in opponents’ field-goal percentage (.433).

But their ability to overcome huge deficits and subpar play has made them the East’s best team. Four of their victories have come when trailing by 10 or more points. That’s the most double-digit comeback wins this season.

“I think just steady progression for us,” VJ Edgecombe said. “We’ll go down early, come back, go up, and then give up the lead again, like we’re just trying our best just to put together a consistent all together game.

“I think that’s important and that’s the next step for us is putting together a complete game, but like I said it takes time obviously we’re still learning to play alongside each other. So, it’s all time. Time will tell for that.”

Once this team gels, it will be even tougher to beat.

Brown has yet to find a consistent rhythm after being acquired in July from the Celtics in exchange for Paul George and draft picks. Embiid is averaging 19.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.0 blocks. Taking a lot of perimeter shots, the 7-foot-2 center hasn’t exploited post mismatches. He’s also shooting a career-low 14.3 percent on three-pointers. The Sixers also need a suitable center to back up Embiid and start when the seven-time All-Star rests.

The Sixers also rank 27th out of 30 teams in rebounding (40.9 per game) and 22nd in foul shooting (.757).

But they’ve been resilient, winning games they would have lost during the previous 13 seasons.

Maxey scored 15 of his game-high 38 points in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s come-from-behind 109-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. The Sixers closed out the game on a 15-3 run. They did that on a night when Embiid and James both missed the game because it was the second night of back-to-back games.

“We’ve got multiple guys that can get it done. I think Bari [Jabari Walker] came in and gave us great minutes at the end of the game. I thought B [Labaron Philon] came in and gave us some great minutes. So, I think it’s going to take everybody, especially on a night like this, on a back-to-back, pretty tough one, not even 24 hours later between this game.

“We might have went off to a slow start for sure. In the second half we were able to find our legs – find our momentum at the right time. Two minutes left is plenty of time for us, I guess.”

These are all reasons why the Sixers have been better than expected.

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