With all eyes on the Sixers during the 2021 Draft, many were expecting fireworks. Instead, Daryl Morey and Elton stuck to their guns and didn’t trade Ben Simmons. Just like last year, talent fell to the 76ers late in the first round and the front office didn’t overthink it.

Jaden Springer

With the 28^th pick, the 76ers selected guard Jaden Springer from the University of Tennessee. Jaden Springer is a 6’4 combo guard who was a “one and done” for the Volunteers. He averaged 12.5 ppg, 2.9 apg, and 3.5 rpg. Coming into Tennessee, he was a highly touted recruit and was expected to be drafted in the top 10 in this year’s draft. Springer is a two-way guard who is savvy on offense and pesky defensively. He can defend both guard positions on-ball and be a disruptive off-ball defender. He plays the passing lanes well and anticipates some of those cross-court skip passes. Springer averaged 1.2 steals per game and had 5 games with 3 or more steals.

Offensively, he is a good finisher who can finish through contact and has a knack for finishing tough reverse layups. He shot 45% from beyond the arc, although he didn’t shoot the three at a high clip (1.8 attempts per game). He shot over 80% from the free throw line with good jump shot mechanics. When playing on-ball, he can distribute and off-ball he uses screens effectively to get open. Springer lacks elite explosiveness and turns the ball over a little too much. He will also need to develop a few more go to moves to improve his own shot creation.

Overall, this was a good pick by the Sixers at 28. They got a guy that was originally mocked in the top 10 and got him late in the first round. He can have a similar impact that Tyrese Maxey had if he earns the opportunity.

Filip Petrusev

The Sixers drafted 6’11 center Filip Petrusev with the 50^th pick overall. Petrusev spent two years at Gonzaga before going overseas last year and winning the Adriatic League MVP. He didn’t get much draft buzz while at Gonzaga but improved his stock while in Europe. He averaged 23.6 ppg and 7.6 rpg while playing for KK Mega Basket. He is a mobile big with good size, a NBA ready body and long arms. He is good in the post and a solid rebounder. He worked on his 3-point shooting last season and transformed to a legitimate stretch big.  Sources have reported that Petrusev will be a draft and stash player and may not see him for a couple of seasons. He recently signed an extension with KK Mega Basket in Europe.

Daryl Morey also confirmed Filip Petrusev will likely start overseas and come over to the Sixers later.

— Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) July 30, 2021

Charles Bassey

With the 53^rd pick in the second round, the 76ers selected big man Charles Bassey out of Western Kentucky. Bassey has a high motor and terrific shot blocker. Last season he averaged 17.6 ppg, 11.6 rpg, and 3.1 bpg. He is an outstanding rebounder and finishes at the rim aggressively. Although he isn’t the best shooter, he extended his range to the three-point line. His shot is something that needs to improve and when it does, it will make him much more valuable. His motor and shot blocking prowess remind me of former Sixer Norvelle Pelle. Bassey has a chance to become a solid back up center and will likely spend the majority of his time with the Delaware Blue Coats.

It was a solid night for the Sixers, and they picked up some talent that can help fill out the roster when the dust settles after free agency. We expected some major trades to happen, but it just didn’t materialize. Morey is being patient and waiting for the right deals to come along and we just have to trust the process.

We are almost a week away from the 2021 NBA Draft which will be taking place in Brooklyn, NY. The 76ers currently have the 28th pick in the draft and are looking for a rookie who could come in and help this team win right away. The Sixers have done well in the past two years, drafting both Matisse Thybulle and Tyrese Maxey late in the first round. The Sixers hope that they can continue that trend in this year’s draft. The Sixers could also end up trading the 28th pick in the many rumored deals centered around Ben Simmons. If the Sixers keep the pick and draft at 28, take a look at some prospects that could fit on this team if available:

Jared Butler (Baylor, PG/SG)

Jared Butler is a 6’4 combo guard out of Baylor who helped lead the Bears to a national championship this year. He averaged 16.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, and 4.8 apg and was one of the consistent offensive threats for the Baylor Bears all season. He’s an excellent shooter and has great movement off the ball. He has a knack for knowing when to relocate on drives to allow himself to get open for an uncontested long-range jumper. Last season Butler shot 42% from 3-point territory and overall, he shot 52% from the field. Butler has a good handle and can create his own shot as well but has the tendency to over dribble sometimes. Some scouts question his explosiveness and finishing and find those weaknesses as a hinderance to his impact in the NBA. I think Butler is crafty enough to improve his finishing to become a solid finisher in the NBA. He is diagnosed with a heart condition and that could make teams weary of drafting him. However, he was cleared to play at Baylor for the last three years.

Tre Mann (Florida, PG/SG)

Tre Mann is a 6’5 guard from the University of Florida. In his sophomore season, he averaged 16 ppg, 5.6 rpg, and 3.5 apg. Mann took a big leap in terms of his scoring ability and physicality. He is a 3-level scorer with great handles and craftiness. He can play either guard spot and will only improve his pick and roll decision making as the reps come. He’s not known as a great defender and would need to work on his footwork. His game reminds me of Donovan Mitchell, who turned into one of the best players in the NBA. I’m not saying he is going to be the next Mitchell, but he has a better upside than what people think.

Brandon Boston Jr. (Kentucky, SG)

This may be considered a sleeper pick if BJ Boston falls this late in the first round. He could also go in the top 10. Boston was a highly recruited kid coming out of high school and committed to Kentucky. When he got to Kentucky, he couldn’t put it all together but still has tons of upside. Coach Calipari plays a lot of kids out of position at Kentucky, since he may get top recruits at the same positions. Boston is 6’7 shooting guard with tons of scoring/shooting potential. He averaged 11.7 ppg and only 1 asg during his lone season in Lexington. Some inconsistency with rotations and issues with COVID-19 contributed to a disappointing freshman year. I know with Sixers in “win now” mode, getting somebody with “upside” or “potential” may not fit in their current timeline but I think he could improve drastically in a short period of time. One thing we all know about the Kentucky guys is that they are always pro ready. A lot of Kentucky players are making noise in the NBA, and we already have one on our roster who has made an impact thus far.

Let’s hope the Sixers continue their success they have had in recent drafts, but with Daryl Morey at the helm, we must expect the unexpected.

“Where do we go from here?”. That’s the question many of us have after the Sixers lost game 7 at home to the Hawks. The home team lost 103-96 to a Hawks team who was truly an inferior opponent. After game 1, we thought things would return to normal. The Sixers won game 2 and 3 in convincing fashion and lead game 4 by 18 points in the 4^th quarter. Then the series flipped on its head. The Sixers blew a 4^th quarter lead and lost game 4. Instead of going back to Philly up 3-1, they were going back for game 5 with the series tied 2-2. Game 5 turned out to be even worse with the Sixers blowing a 26-point lead to lose game 5 and being down 3-2 in the series. The series shifted to Atlanta for game 6 and the Sixers showed some heart and won on the road to tie the series. The Sixers returned to Philadelphia for game 7 and boy did they disappoint. After leading in the first quarter, it appeared like the Sixers couldn’t get over the hump. It seemed like the Hawks just wanted it more. There are a bunch of reasons why the 76ers are now sitting at home with us instead of preparing for the Eastern Conference Finals but here are the ones that stood out.

• BEN SIMMONS. Simmons had a very good regular season. He was named to his 3^rd straight All-Star team and was arguably the Defensive Player of the Year. Once the playoffs started, his play plummeted. In the Wizards series, his deficiencies weren’t on display as much, but his free throw shooting was an issue. They went to the hack-a-Ben strategy, and it worked. Once we got into the Hawks series, it just seemed like his offensive confidence was the lowest it has ever been. Originally, we thought that his focus was primarily on the defensive end, but he didn’t show up on offense. He had 17 points in game 1, 18 points in game 3, and 11 in game 4. The other games were pretty underwhelming offensively, and his free throws were a mess. After game 3, Ben Simmons wasn’t aggressive in the second half at all and didn’t take any shots in the fourth quarter. The most egregious offense of them all came late in game 7 when Simmons passed up an open dunk for a pass to Matisse Thybulle. Embiid’s reaction and postgame comment says it all. That was the turning point in Game 7 and maybe in his career as a Sixer.
• DOC RIVERS. Doc Rivers was very good in the regular season for the most part except the all-bench lineups. He helped lead this team to the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but he was bad during the Hawks series. He went into the series with no real game plan and that allowed the Hawks to steal one. He made one adjustment putting Ben Simmons on Trae Young but that was about it. He still went with all bench lineups when he shouldn’t have. They have blown leads because he put in lineups with no scoring potential including lineups with Ben Simmons, Matisse Thybulle, and Dwight Howard.  If Simmons is the number one reason the 76ers didn’t reach the conference finals, Doc Rivers is 1B. He must do better.
• JOEL EMBIID- Embiid’s turnovers were high this series. When passing out of double teams, it seemed like he regressed to the Joel we saw in previous years. He had 8 turnovers in game 6 and game 7. That is inexcusable. He also had a late turnover in game 7 that seemed to put the game out of reach in the end. He was playing on a torn meniscus and while we appreciate that, he has to play better from a turnover standpoint.

Some Positive Tibits from the Hawks Series:

• Seth Curry stepped up big time this series. The Sixers ran the offense through him and Embiid the final three games of the series. Seth proved he could create his own shot, handle the ball, and find the big man in pick and pop situations. Seth still has two years remaining on a very team friendly contract. I think Seth will continue to improve offensively but he should also put in some work defensively as well.
• Tyrese Maxey saved the Sixers in game 6. With Ben in foul trouble, the rookie came in with a free spirit and helped lift the Sixers to a victory. Maxey has the potential to be our starting point guard of the future. We will see if his future is here in Philadelphia or somewhere else via a trade.
• When Joel Embiid was engaged, he was pretty awesome this series. He showed he could dominate on both ends of the floor. It’s a shame that it feels like we wasted a MVP-caliber year from the big fella.

Now let’s get to the obvious part, should the Sixers trade Ben Simmons? I was a big Ben Simmons fan and what many may call a Ben Simmons apologist. I saw the potential in Simmons and all the things he did on the court. After this series, I’m not sure how much longer I or the fans of Philadelphia can be patient with Ben Simmons. Here are some realistic trades I could see the Sixers making:

This would be a dream come true for the Sixers. Getting Dame Lillard would compliment Joel Embiid very well and you would also be getting a good defender and shooter back in Robert Covington. Listen if you have a chance to get Dame, you must do whatever it takes to get it done. You missed out on an opportunity with Harden and you can’t miss on this.

This may seem like a more realistic trade to some as CJ McCollum is more attainable. CJ McCollum would add the ball handling and shooting this team desperately needs but a back court of McCollum and Curry wouldn’t be the best defensively. Ben Simmons would bring much needed defense and secondary playmaking for Portland.

This trade is intriguing with some young talent coming back to the Sixers. Former Spur Bruce Bowen has been quoted as saying that the Spurs and coach Popovich would do anything to get their hands on Simmons. Murray would bring defense and playmaking to the Sixers but isn’t the greatest shooter. Vassell and Walker IV would bring athleticism and shooting to the squad. If you are trying to maximize Joel’s window, this may not be the trade the front office wants to make.

Bradley Beal would have to request a trade, but the Sixers have a very good package to offer the Wiz if he does. Trading Ben Simmons, Matisse Thybulle, and a boat load of picks should be able to get the deal done. The Wiz may even ask for Tyrese Maxey as well but if you aren’t giving up Maxey and Thybulle for Lillard then you won’t give up that much for Beal. Beal would bring the type of scoring that would allow things to open up for Embiid and Harris.

Zach Lavine would be a great scoring upgrade for the Sixers. In order for this trade to develop, Zach would have to confirm he isn’t resigning. Lavine isn’t known to be a playmaker, but he has improved his playmaking every year. With the talent that would be surrounding him on the Sixers, he would absolutely be a great fit with Embiid.

We shall see what happens this offseason with the Sixers and Ben Simmons. Ultimately, I think Daryl Morey and Elton Brand will make the right decision regarding Simmons’ value. A move is coming, and they can’t waste Joel’s prime any longer.

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Washington Wizards 129-112 on Wednesday night to move on to the second round of the playoffs. The 76ers battled Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook without Joel Embiid, who was out with a small meniscus tear in his right knee. The theme leading up to the game was whether the team could win a playoff game without the big fella and who would start in his absence. Coach Doc Rivers decided to start Matisse Thybulle and bump Ben Simmons to the “center” position. Throughout the first half, Doc tried many combinations that would help the Sixers remain steady on offense and defense. He played 11 players in the first half but there seemed to be one player who help keep this team afloat with his energy and fearlessness. That player was Tyrese Maxey.

Seth Curry and Tobias Harris led the scoring in the second half while Ben Simmons lead the way defensively. The team turned up the defense in the middle of the third and eventually pulled away from the Wizards. This was an all-around great team win for a team playing without its MVP candidate in a closeout situation. There were great performances from Tobias Harris, Seth Curry, Ben Simmons, Tyrese Maxey, Dwight Howard, and Furkan Korkmaz. Below are some observations from the entire series:

• Joel Embiid should never play a game in Washington again! The injury he suffered earlier in the year that caused him to miss about 2 and a half weeks occurred in Washington. Now, he has suffered another injury in Washington. If he does decide to play in DC again, he needs to take a page out of Kyrie Irving’s book and sage the court before play.
• Ben Simmons played relatively well this series, but the free throws have been a problem. He started out the series 0-10 but was 5-8 in game 5. Other teams may try the hack-a-Ben strategy and he has to be prepared. If he’s not going to shoot jumpers, he has to be AT LEAST 60 percent from the free throw line.
• Bradley Beal is an offensive monster and the Sixers’ defenders did as well they could. Ben Simmons definitely made every bucket by Beal tough. It would be interesting to see Bradley Beal on a contending team.
• Russell Westbrook is going to go down as one of the greatest point guards in history, but boy was he bad this series. His triple doubles seem like they don’t even affect the game and its results. I’m not sure Russ will even be in Washington next year. We will have to wait and see if the Wizards go into full rebuild mode.
• Shake Milton was TERRIBLE this series! His play gave way to Tyrese Maxey who seemed to have jumped him in the rotation. I think Doc will give Shake an opportunity this series against the Hawks. Shake has played well against the Hawks in the past. He scored double digits against the Hawks in both the games he played this season. I expect Doc to have Shake on a short leash.
• Please staple Mike Scott to the bench! Man listen, I’m a fan of Mike Scott in the past but now he just seems unplayable.
• Joel Embiid played so well before he got injured and it didn’t even seem like he was trying. We are going to need the big fella to try fight through the knee injury if he can. I’m not a doctor so I don’t know how bad it is but there seems to be some optimism around it.

Preview of Sixers v. Hawks

The Sixers tip-off against the Atlanta Hawks this Sunday afternoon. We still don’t know if Joel Embiid will be available for game 1 and if he will be available for any games in this series at all. What we do know is there are a lot of national pundits who are counting the Sixers out. The team went 11-11 without Embiid this year including the playoffs. They have to play differently without him in the lineup with Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons stepping their games up. The Hawks are a good offensive team and could give the Sixers problems if they have to outscore them. Here are some things I will be looking for during this second round series:

• Who and how will the Sixer guard Trae Young? He “torched” the New York Knicks in the first round. When you look at the numbers, he wasn’t too efficient. He does have a knack of drawling fouls, which will help him get to his scoring average. The Sixers have a few defenders they could throw at Young including Matisse Thybulle, Danny Green, Ben Simmons, and George Hill. Defending the pick and roll will be key. Will they play drop coverage giving Trae an open three or will they play up to discourage the three but be susceptible to lobs?
• If Joel Embiid doesn’t play, who will start in his place? I think Matisse will start in his place with the task of guarding Trae Young.
• How Will Doc game plan to get Tobias Harris easy shots? I think they will most likely run double pick and rolls, horns sets, and switch hunt to get him on a small defender.
• This team has to target Trae Young on offense! He can’t sit in the corner or someone. He has to be in actions so he has to work on the defensive end.
• I think the X-factors for this series for the Sixers will be Seth Curry and Dwight Howard. If Embiid can’t play, Howard is the only other traditional center on the team and he will be needed for rim protection and rebounds. For the Hawks the x-factors will be Deandre Hunter and how well he can defend Ben Simmons or Tobias Harris. Another x-factor will be Bogdan Bogdanovic and whether he will be able to contribute with shooting and scoring consistently.
• Prediction: The Hawks will be a tough test defensively for this team, but they have the number 1 seed for a reason. They also have learned to play without Joel Embiid if he can’t play in a few games this series. If Joel Embiid plays the entire series, I think the 76ers win 5 games. Without Embiid I think the 76ers win a hard fought 7 game series.

So, it’s settled! After the inaugural play-in tournament, the Washington Wizards have secured the 8^th seed and a first-round date with the 76ers. The Wizards initially played in the first play-in game vs. the Boston Celtics to determine who the 7^th seed would be. They lost that game 118-100 with Jayson Tatum going off for 50 points. They then had to play the Indiana Pacers, who won their match up with the Charlotte Hornets, for the rights to the 8^th seed. The game between the Wiz and the Pacers was competitive in the early stages but, became a blow out in Washington’s favor.

Both teams come into this series relatively hot. The Sixers have won 8 of their last 10, while the Wiz have won 8 of their last 12. The Sixers won the season series 3-0 dominating the most recent matchup in Washington in the game Joel Embiid hyperextended his left knee. Some of the earlier season matchups were closer and there was even a game where the Sixers had to overcome a 60-point performance from Bradley Beal. In this series I would expect to see Doc stick with some of the same matchups that he went with in the regular season on the defensive end. Although Beal scored 60 when Green was the primary defender, I believe there will be a combination of Green and Thybulle guarding him. I believe Simmons will be tasked to guard Russell Westbrook. When matched up with Westbrook this season, Simmons caused him to shoot 7-18, with 10 assist and 5 turnovers. I think we will see him start out on Westbrook and switch to Beal when needed. I don’t think Doc wants to show his hand early in the series when guarding Beal.

Offensively, the Sixers shouldn’t have any problems with the Wizards. They are ranked in the bottom half of the league in point allowed and defensive efficiency. Joel Embiid should be able to dominate his match up of either Alex Len or Daniel Gafford. Tobias Harris should be able to score against his match ups as well. I think the X-Factors on how quickly the Sixers dispatch of the Wizards depend on two things. The first x-factor is how well Seth Curry shoots. Joel Embiid will see double teams and the ball will get swung to the perimeter. If Seth hits his shots consistently, it will open up the floor for Joel to work. The second x-factor will be the play of Davis Bertans. He has torched the Sixers historically but this year, not so much. If Tobias Harris can defend him relatively well and take away his spacing for Westbrook and Beal, they can dispatch of this group particularly fast.

Ultimately, I believe the Sixers will win this series in 5 games and move on to the second round. I think there will be a few close games, but the talent level and defensive intensity of the Sixers should be enough to end this series early. Game 1 is this Sunday at 1PM, see you guys at the Center!

With the playoffs right around the corner, the Sixers have just about locked up the top spot in the Eastern Conference. With the new play-in format to secure the 7^th and 8^th seeds, the Sixers don’t know who they will face first. With teams still shuffling between 4^th and 8^th in the Eastern conference and the results of the play-in tournament not determined, the Sixers will have to wait to do their homework on it’s first-round opponent. With that being said, we have ranked the teams the Sixers may face in the first round from “cake walk” to “I’m nervous”.

6. Charlotte Hornets

The Sixers have dominated the Charlotte Hornets for the last few years, no matter who has been on the Hornets’ roster. The Sixers have won 13 straight games against this team, and I don’t think the Hornets would give this team any problem. They still don’t have anyone who can stop Joel from dominating every game against this team. Embiid would probably average 30 plus points per game and would lead the Sixers to a series sweep. Charlotte has a really promising future with their back court, especially Lamelo Ball and Terry Rozier, but Kemba Walker isn’t walking through that door.

5. The Boston Celtics

The Celtics have had the Sixers’ number since the run to the playoffs in 2018 and swept the Sixers out of the playoffs last season in the bubble. How poetic would it be for the Sixers to do the same to this year’s Celtics squad. Jaylen Brown is out due to season ending surgery. There is no big on the roster that could guard Embiid as he has dominated every matchup this season. Tatum would have to go off every game for this to be a competitive series, but it just wouldn’t be enough. Out of respect for the Celtics, I would give them the ability to get one game in the series and lose the series 4-1. The Celtics and their fans (Hello Bill Simmons 😊) want to be put out of their miseries from this underachieving season.

4. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are pesky and could cause some slight problems for the Sixers. The Pacers stopped the squad from clinching the top seed on Tuesday night. The Pacers have some major injuries in their front court and would have trouble stopping the Big Fella. This team hustles and launches a ton of 3-pointers, which would keep them in games. They would be more annoying than scary. With a few close games, I see this series possibly being a gentleman’s sweep.

3. Washinton Wizards

The Wizards have hit their stride at the right time this season, pushing for the 10^th or 9^th spot in the play-in tournament. This team fought from the 12^th spot in the East to get to where they are now. A team with Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook can cause headaches for this team on the defensive end. But the good thing is the Wizards don’t believe in defense at all, so the Sixers could have their fair share of points they would score. With the recent history of the Sixers not winning too often in D.C., I could see the Wizards maybe winning a game. With two superstars like Westbrook and Beal, they could make things tough to solidify a complete sweep.

2. New York Knicks

Who thought we would be talking about the Knicks as a potential playoff opponent AND being a team that could bring the Sixers some trouble? The Knicks’ defense is great and Juluis Randle has been playing like a star all season. I think this team could get a win at home against the Sixers but that is about it. They do not score enough offensively and would not be able to contain Embiid or Harris. The reason they are high on this list because their physicality. The Sixers would win this series but be left a little beat down after, which could affect how they play in the next round.

1. Miami Heat

They have come back from the dead for Jimmy Butler to try to haunt the Sixers. This team is a good defensive team and could cause problems schematically for the Sixers. Erik Spolestra is a great coach, but I think a little overrated. Everyone in Philly wants to avoid playing the Heat in the playoffs, but we will face them at some point. Yes, it would be a challenging and competitive series, but the Sixers would pull out a win in 6 games. I am confident about that. All I have to say to everyone about being scared of the Heat, IF YOU SCARED GET A DOG!!!

This past Saturday night, the 76ers defeated the Detroit Pistons 118-104 to win their 8^th straight game and inch closer to clinching the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The “magic” number is down to 2 for the Sixers to clinch first place. That means the Sixers need to win 2 more games to secure the best record in the East, something they have been striving for since the season began.

During this 8- game winning streak, the Sixers handled business and beat the lesser teams, as they should have. They won their first 3 games by a combined 97 points with the starters mostly resting the entire 4^th quarter. They had a few hiccups on the streak as well, having to gut out victories against the San Antionio Spurs and an undermanned New Orleans Pelicans squad.

With the Sixers trying to pull away from the Bucks and Nets for the top spot in the East, Ben Simmons returned from injury to help push the pace and get this team back on track while Joel Embiid continued to dominate like an MVP front runner. If this team can get 2 more wins or a combination of losses from the Bucks and Nets, the Sixers can begin to rest their starters during the remaining 4 games. I do know that the Sixers will not rest any starter until first place is locked up.

Here are some quick thoughts from the last few games and what I expect from this team going forward:

• Ben Simmons has an official game winner on his resume. His tip in with no time remaining against the Spurs helped the Sixers pull out a victory.
• It looks like Ben Simmons may have pulled in front of Rudy Gobert for Defensive Player of the Year officially. The NBA released its DPOY ladder and Simmons was ranked first with a week to go.
• Speaking of defense, Matisse Thybulle should be first team All-Defense. He wreaks havoc on defense while he is on the floor. He is really a difference maker and will be a major key for the Sixers moving forward in the playoffs.
• The Sixer’s bench has had its ups and downs this season and the last 8 games have been a microcosm of this. All season, Doc has the tendency to play all bench lineups and I don’t think that is something he can stick to in the playoffs. There needs to be 1-2 starters in with members of the bench. Doc may be able to get away with this in the first round, but not so much as the opponents get better.
• The Sixers’ remaining schedule includes games at the Pacers and Heat and at home against the Magic (twice). I think the Sixers can win out, but it depends on what else is happening around the league and if the starters can rest.
• With the play-in tournament, the Sixers still have no idea who they will face in the first round of the playoffs. They can realistically play the Hawks, Heat, Celtics, Hornets, Wizards, or Pacers. Stay tuned this week on my rankings on who the Sixers would least like to face in the first round.
• Tyrese Maxey has been playing really well and I can see Doc using him in the playoffs if the second unit needs a spark.

As the playoffs draw closer, we get closer to what this team has worked for all year. I have one thing to say to all the fans out there. The playoffs will not be easy, but this team believes they have what it takes to win it all. We have to ride with them until the wheels fall off. “If you scared, get a dog”.

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.

The 76ers started their west coast road trip last Tuesday which consisted of matchups with the Sacramento Kings, Portland Trailblazers, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz. Going into the trip, many thought this trip would tell us where this team stands as a true contender. After going 1-3 on the trip, I honestly don’t think this trip changed contender status in either a good or bad way. Here are some quick observations about the road trip:

• Matisse Thybulle is really a game changer on defense. He was out of the rotation earlier in the season, but his defense has allowed him to work his way back in. Ben Simmons did a solid job guarding D’Aaron Fox during last Tuesday’s game against the Kings. His change of pace really kept Simmons on his toes and Fox got everywhere we wanted on the court. Doc subbed in Matisse in the 4^th quarter to guard Fox and completely took him out the game. It helped give the Sixers the spark they needed to comeback and win that game. If Matisse can become an above average shooter, I’m sure he could supplant Danny Green in the starting lineup.
• Speaking of Danny Green, he looked like toast on defense this entire trip. He couldn’t guard Fox, Trent Jr., or Booker this trip. I think it actually changed the game when Doc put him on Devin Booker in the loss against Phoenix on Saturday. Simmons had him locked up in the first, working hard for every bucket. Once Doc made the switch it seemed like Booker got going and it was no way to stop him.
• Ben Simmons had a VERY GOOD road trip. Defensively he showed why he is the most versatile defender in the league. He locked up Dame Lillard after the 1^st quarter. Dame was 6-22 from the floor and got most of his 30 points in the first quarter. Ben Simmons also was dominate on the offensive end as well. He scored a career high 42 points in a hard-fought loss to the Utah Jazz. Ben was quoted in saying that he is changing his mentality on the offensive end, which should allow him to continue his aggressiveness.
• Tobias Harris played like an All-Star the entire trip. He has been the most consistent Sixer this year and deserves to represent the East as a reserve. I would like to see Tobi shoot more threes.
• Speaking of threes, the team needs to shoot more of them. As we saw all road trip, they were outshot from three the entire trip. The Sixers shot 87 threes during the trip combined, while their opponents shot 150 threes. Against Utah, they were trading twos for threes and simple math shows you how difficult it would be to keep up with their scoring.
• The bench was TERRIBLE this trip. Shake Milton was playing well in the Kings game before he twisted an ankle. The bench can’t seem to hold on to leads and it’s a trend that needs to change ASAP. I think some bench pieces need to be added and we will get to that in just a bit.
• Why does it seem like every night there is one player from the opposing team that goes for a career high or ends a shooting slump? I know you guys are tired of it just as much as I am.
• I think Daryl Morey has to upgrade the roster for more shooting or shot creation. We could use another starter to replace Green or some solid bench pieces. As we get closer to the deadline, I can do a more in-depth breakdown but below are some quick thoughts on some targets I would like:
  • Home Run, Swing for The Fences Trade Targets:
    • Bradley Beal
    • Zach Lavine
  • Players Who Could Raise the Ceiling of the Team:
    • Kyle Lowry
    • Buddy Hield
  • More Realistic Trade for Bench Pieces or Possible Starters:
    • Lonzo Ball
    • JJ Reddick
    • Delon Wright
    • George Hill
    • Nemanja Bjelica
  • Random Targets, But We Have Daryl Morey, So Anything Can Happen:
    • Evan Fournier
    • Terry Rozier
    • Victor Oladipo

The Sixers pick back up at home against some favorable opponents. Hopefully, they can take care of business and get back to their winning ways.