What happened: Philadelphia shifted the 24th-year veteran to the five spot for the opening tip against Detroit with Embiid out of the lineup. Head coach Nick Nurse previously listed James as a small-ball center option on Oct. 8.

Why it matters: The move gives the reshaped 76ers roster a small-ball look on nights Embiid rests rather than relying exclusively on traditional bigs such as two-way center Tacko Fall. James and Jaylen Brown made their Philadelphia debuts earlier this week as the club integrates its new rotation.

What to watch: How Philadelphia handles the interior against Detroit will indicate how often Nurse deploys James at the five during Embiid's rest days this season.