The Sixers are closer to the team that was promised than the haters hoped was possible after a dispiriting month. It’s only a matter of time before they get there, assuming the stars stay healthy.

There were too many stories to count on Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center: Joel Embiid made his season debut, and he did so in the headlining contest of the opening night of this season's NBA Cup.

Ultimately, though, the result was yet another loss for the 76ers. And while the forgiving Eastern Conference standings -- where only the Boston Celtics and Cavaliers are better than .500 -- gives a team like Philadelphia time to get things together ...