PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers wrapped up the preseason schedule with a 125-120 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics. The exhibitions are over. The real games are about to begin. It's go time for a franchise that has its eyes set on winning a championship in the 2026-27 season.

Tyrese Maxey will be a key piece of whatever success the Sixers have in the coming season as they will look to make things happen with him leading the way.

After the preseason loss to the Celtics, Maxey is ready to get Philadelphia moving in the right direction.

"I feel pretty good, pretty good," Maxey said of the Sixers. "I think we have some things we need to work on and also some things we did well tonight (Friday). So it was good."

With that being said, there is no amount of practice time or preseason games that can get the Sixers up to speed with one another. It just is what it is. That's why there will be some bumps in the road in the early going as Philadelphia figures each other out. One cannot put a number on how much time it will take for a team to build chemistry and cohesion.

"I think it’s still going to take some time," Maxey explained. "I mean, we got a lot of different guys than we did last year. A lot of guys who do a lot of different things. So definitely going to take some time."

As Maxey and the Sixers now turn their attention to the defending champion New York Knicks to open the season on Tuesday night, the 2-time All-Star is looking for this team to stay poised. They've played a ton of games at Madison Square Garden. They just need to prepare for the challenges they will face on what promises to be an emotionally charged night.

"Stay poised," Maxey said succinctly. "Game of runs. Crowd is going to be electric. Going to be loud. Stay together."