CAMDEN, N.J. - The Sixers' first home game is Friday night, and if their season opener in Washington, D.C., was any indication of the fans' excitement level, the Wells Fargo Center will be rowdy.
Sixers fans traveled to the Capital One Arena on Wednesday and started a "Trust the Process" chant less than a minute into the game, much to the dismay of the Wizards crowd.
That enthusiasm and loyalty was not lost on the players. They are ready to feed off the vibe at the Wells Fargo Center when they host the Celtics.
"First of all, Philly fans are passionate and I love that about them," Joel Embiid said. "Just me going out there, playing hard and making plays just to get them off their seat and cheer and yell and just go crazy, I just love that type of atmosphere. It gets me going, too."
Some players block out the noise from the stands, especially if they aren't hitting their shots. Embiid, though, wants to hear the support and repay it on the court.
"If I miss foul shots and then they're cheering, I know that the next play I've got to do better," he said. "I've got to make a crazy block or I've got to make a crazy play to get them going. Then that gets me going too because I love the excitement. Since I've been in Philly, I've embraced it and I just love it."
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The players don't want the fans to hold back, either. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot has played in intense game environments overseas and welcomes the high energy in Philadelphia.
"Here, whenever you go in the street, people call your name, cheer for you," Luwawu-Cabarrot said. "During the game, it gets you going. The crazier they are, the better you feel and the better you're going to play. It's the best thing."
Brett Brown always has emphasized the responsibility he feels to give the crowd a quality product. He reiterated that doing his job well is on his mind every game. For the first time in his tenure, Brown can debut a roster constructed with direction and a foundation.
"I'm confident and comfortable with what we've built, that we can deliver this year's team to a court knowing that the base is there, there are people we really like and see as part of the future," he said.
Fans at the home opener will receive a T-shirt with caricatures of Brown, Embiid, Ben Simmons, Robert Covington, JJ Redick, Markelle Fultz and Dario Saric on it.
Going to opening night? Here's a look at the t-shirt giveaway with caricatures of Sixers on it. (photo credit: Sixers) pic.twitter.com/e9AorMUtX2— Jessica Camerato (@JCameratoNBCS) October 19, 2017
The team also is launching the PhilaFanGram camera system that fans can use to take photos with a specially-designed Sixers-themed filter.
Back-to-backs for Embiid?
Embiid is awaiting word from the medical staff to hear if he will be cleared for back-to-back games. Following Friday's game against the Celtics, the Sixers travel to Toronto to play the Raptors on Saturday.
"Yesterday I played and my body feels great today," Embiid said. "My knee feels amazing. I feel like if I had to play today, I feel like I would play depending on how I feel. But I feel like I'm ready."
Embiid was held out of consecutive games last season.
