The 76ers have been playing really well in March thus far. They are 8-1 in March, with their only loss coming at the hands of the Bucks last Wednesday. Since the All-Star Break the team has played mostly without Joel Embiid, who is out currently with a left knee bruise. They have also had to play a few games without Ben Simmons as well. Tobias “I Got Snubbed” Harris and the bench has kept this team afloat during this stretch. With the trade deadline looming this Thursday, March 25^th, here is a look at some of my observations from the last few games and what the deadline may look like for the Sixers:

• The entire Sixers organization and city of Philadelphia collectively held their breath when Joel Embiid hit the floor grabbing his knee in the 3^rd quarter of the Wizards game. The morning after we got good news that it was a bone bruise due to a hyperextension. The Sixers announced Embiid would be re-evaluated in 2-3 weeks. There has been talk of Joel feeling better now and could push the 2-week timetable, but we will see. The Sixers have been winning games without him, so hopefully they continue that trend. I would prefer if he doesn’t rush back and he’s healthy when we need him down the stretch.
• When Joel was injured, it seemed like his MVP aspirations went out of the window. Now with Lebron James out for multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain, Embiid can play his way back in the conversation when he returns. He would likely be duking it out against Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Brooklyn’s James Harden.
• The offense has done quite well without Embiid or Simmons playing. They have scored 127 (twice), 134, and 129.
• The Bucks caught us slipping on a back-to-back without Embiid and came back to beat us in OT. Giannis sat on the court and we will remember that buddy. Better believe Joel made a mental note.
• The Knicks games have been like 90s basketball. Bad shooting, tough defense, and trash talking. The Sixers beat the Knicks 99-96 last Tuesday and somehow won 101-100 Sunday night. Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons were both average in those games, but the squad was able to tough it out. Those are the type of games you could have in the playoffs, so I believe it was a good thing that this team experienced them. SIDE NOTE: Julius Randle just talks to the refs whatever way he wants to and never gets T’d up. I think it’s crazy!
• The bench has really turned it around since the All-Star break! The combination of Shake, Furk, Dwight and Bradley have helped this team during this stretch. Although they have been great, I am hoping that this does not stop the Front Office from upgrading this roster.
• With the trade deadline approaching on Thursday, the Sixers have been mentioned in one constant rumor over the last 3 weeks. They have been mentioned as being one of the suitors in the Kyle Lowry sweepstakes. Not sure how you feel about Kyle Lowry, but I think he could be a game changer for this team. He can create his own shot, handle the rock, and play great defense. He is a little older but can grow with this team for the next few years if he can commit to a 2-year extension. The major issue is what it would take to get Lowry back in his hometown. Salary wise, Lowry makes 30 million dollars. In order to get close with the salary cap match, Danny Green and his 15 million dollars would have to be traded. Is Kyle Lowry an upgrade from Green? Yes. Although he may be an upgrade, it seems as if Doc, the team, and front office values everything that Green brings on and off the court. Doc has mentioned his veteran leadership and him being the stabilizer for the group’s team chemistry, which reportedly has been great. It would also probably cost the Sixers a 1^st round pick and/or young player like Matisse Thybulle or Tyrese Maxey. At this point, we need to keep Matisse. His defense is amazing and he seems to be coming back around from a shooting perspective. Would they want to rock the boat for a marginally increased chance at a title?
• Some other names that have been floating around regarding the Sixers include:
  • JJ Redick
  • George Hill
  • Delon Wright
  • Wayne Ellington
  • Lonzo Ball
  • Nemanja Bjelica
  • Terrance Ross
  • Will Barton
• Not sure what Daryl Morey and Elton Brand will do at the deadline, but they need to upgrade the bench for sure. I believe they need a ball handler/shooter and a stretch big for Simmons lineups with the bench.  
• Dwight Howard is really becoming a fan favorite although he has some really frustrating moments. He is the best backup we have had for Embiid in years.
• Furkan Korkmaz went from being benched for Isaiah Joe, to firmly entrenched in the rotation as a confident shooter. Furk has really improved on offense out of the pick and roll and creating his own shot.
• Sixers continue their season long road trip with games against the Warriors, Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets and Cavs. Let’s hope the Sixers can finish their 6 game road trip at least 4-2 to try to hold down the fort for when Joel Embiid returns.

The 76ers played their way to the top seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the All-Star Break. The Sixers are 24-12 going into the break and have a half-game lead over the Brooklyn Nets for the first seed in the East. The Sixers ended the first half of the season with wins over the Pacers and West-leading Jazz. They had a stinker against the Cavs sandwiched in between the dominant Mavs and Pacers wins. Here are some thoughts/observations going into the All-Star break:

• There was an earlier season narrative about LeBron James and Nikola Jokic being the front runners for MVP, but that narrative should be long gone. JOEL HANS EMBIID IS THE NBA MVP. There should not be any rebuttals about that. It’s plain and simple. Look at what he did against the Jazz including his unbelievable three to push the game to OT.

🔔 JOJO TAKES OVER 🔔@JoelEmbiid: 40 PTS, 19 REB, overtime-forcing triple in the @sixers win pic.twitter.com/fWsv7s4Zjv

— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2021

• The Sixers laid an egg against the Cleveland Cavs last Saturday night. Although it was a disappointing lost, it showed me three things. 1. The Sixers still have a mentality to play down to competition which can lead to games like that. 2. It exposed that the Sixers need more shot creation on the team. When the bench stinks and there is no Tobias Harris, it leaves Embiid and Simmons out to dry. 3. If there was some type of crowd, I think it would have given the Sixers some juice to win that game.
• Speaking of crowds, the Wells Fargo Center will allow 3,100 fans back for Sixers games beginning March 14^th against the San Antonio Spurs. I know COVID-19 is a real thing and safety should continue to be priority, but this will help the team tremendously. The best fans and home court will be back. The players who haven’t experienced having the home crowd behind them are in for an experience.
• Although our two All-Stars are heading to Atlanta and the rest of the squad will be getting a much-needed break, the front office and coaching staff will be hard at work trying to make tweaks to this roster. I believe Daryl Morey will make a move or combination of moves to put this team in a place where they can have a legitimate chance at beating the Brooklyn Nets.
• The bench has been an issue for this team all season, but in the last two games they have showed up when it was needed. The bench scored 67 points in the win vs. Indiana and turned the game around in the late third/early fourth against the Jazz. Dwight Howard had a great sequence that helped get some momentum and juice on the team’s side.

• Danny Green, if you are reading this, please just shoot the ball. Don’t pump fake, don’t dribble, don’t even pass. Seems like every time he doesn’t shoot, he ends up doing something dumb like turning the ball over or dribbling into three defenders.
• Ben Simmons is ranked #1 in the DPOY ranking by NBA.com and it should stay that way.
• The Sixers’ second half schedule includes games against the Nets (1), Bucks (3), Clippers (2), and Lakers (1). They have some brutal stretches of 5 games in 7 nights so I believe there will be some load management.
• I would like to see the Sixers wear their Black City uniforms more, they grew on me! I’m also tired of them wearing the Red Statement uniforms.
• Seth Curry, please shoot more 3 pointers please!
• Mike Scott might be back from the dead!
• If Embiid gets All-Star game MVP, its going to feel a lot like 2001!

The Sixers will pick up with back-to-back action next Thursday and Friday against the Bulls and Wiz on the road. We will see you then.