WEBVTT - 2022-23 Sixers Schedule Breakdown 0:00:00.280 --> 0:00:02.960 This podcast is part of the seventy six Ers podcast 0:00:03.080 --> 0:00:06.640 network Search seventy Sixers Insiders wherever you get your podcasts. 0:00:09.760 --> 0:00:12.840 They own the b P on the podcast. Know What's Up? 0:00:12.960 --> 0:00:19.680 You know? We find a birthday? All right? That's the 0:00:19.880 --> 0:00:28.080 new introm frozen. So excited to be back on Twitter 0:00:28.160 --> 0:00:31.000 spaces with all of you. Thank you, Thank you to 0:00:31.040 --> 0:00:35.880 everybody that sent thoughts, questions, comments over this offseason. While 0:00:36.280 --> 0:00:38.440 Matt Murphy is with me, we are so excited to 0:00:38.520 --> 0:00:42.640 get back into it now. Seventy six Ers schedule came 0:00:42.800 --> 0:00:47.000 out yesterday for the twenty twenty two twenty three season. 0:00:47.320 --> 0:00:50.239 I'll go ahead and run through a couple of schedule highlights, 0:00:50.280 --> 0:00:53.080 but as I do that, please there are so many 0:00:53.080 --> 0:00:55.160 ways that you could do this. Send me a DM, 0:00:55.240 --> 0:00:58.080 you can comment on the space, you can use the chat, 0:00:58.400 --> 0:01:02.280 you can send a comment to the Sixers, tweet about 0:01:02.320 --> 0:01:03.760 this space. Matt and I are going to try to 0:01:03.800 --> 0:01:05.320 keep up with all of them, but what we really 0:01:05.319 --> 0:01:07.440 want to hear is what matchup you guys are most 0:01:07.480 --> 0:01:10.720 excited about. This, of course, is our core group of 0:01:11.000 --> 0:01:13.960 Sixers fans on Twitter spaces and let us know what 0:01:14.000 --> 0:01:16.480 you're most excited about and why if you have to 0:01:16.520 --> 0:01:18.480 dip early if you want to leave us a comment 0:01:18.520 --> 0:01:20.240 and want to hear what we have to say later. 0:01:20.480 --> 0:01:22.560 This is also going to be available on the seventy 0:01:22.600 --> 0:01:26.039 Sixers Insiders podcast feed, so make sure you're following the 0:01:26.080 --> 0:01:30.080 seventy Sixers Insiders podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Matt 0:01:30.080 --> 0:01:31.559 and I are going to be with you all season long. 0:01:31.680 --> 0:01:33.840 We're so excited to get back up and running here 0:01:33.840 --> 0:01:36.600 on spaces and over there on the podcast feed, so 0:01:36.640 --> 0:01:39.720 as always, if you join early, if you leave early 0:01:39.840 --> 0:01:43.480 or join late, this conversation in its entirety will be 0:01:43.560 --> 0:01:46.920 available over there. One more housekeeping note, we see your 0:01:46.920 --> 0:01:49.800 comments about about letting other people talk on the space. 0:01:49.840 --> 0:01:51.840 That is still something that we definitely want to do 0:01:51.920 --> 0:01:54.320 this season. For now, the best way to make your 0:01:54.400 --> 0:01:56.160 voice heard on the spaces to send us a comment, 0:01:56.200 --> 0:02:00.480 send us a DM, send us anything via text, and 0:02:00.520 --> 0:02:02.480 we can make sure that we read it aloud. We're 0:02:02.480 --> 0:02:05.880 still working technically on how we're going to incorporate your voices, 0:02:05.960 --> 0:02:08.280 your live voices into these later in the season, and 0:02:08.320 --> 0:02:10.200 that is coming. So we hear you, we see you, 0:02:10.440 --> 0:02:13.280 and we're excited to talk to you, not just via 0:02:13.560 --> 0:02:17.680 DM or text, but also on the airwaves, so enough 0:02:17.720 --> 0:02:21.079 for me. Good morning, Matt Murphy. I want to hear 0:02:21.160 --> 0:02:23.840 your voice before I run through the schedule highlights. How 0:02:23.880 --> 0:02:25.800 are you doing, how are you feeling? How do you 0:02:25.800 --> 0:02:29.560 feel about this schedule? Lauren? It's so good to be 0:02:29.639 --> 0:02:34.119 back with you. I hope that my audio is now resolved. 0:02:34.160 --> 0:02:38.320 I am doing this from Indianapolis for the MBA two 0:02:38.400 --> 0:02:42.680 K League playoffs seventy Sixers Gaming Club. Shout out to 0:02:42.760 --> 0:02:45.800 them their season about to head into the playoffs. So 0:02:45.840 --> 0:02:48.600 if you're not already following them, that's the Sixers two 0:02:48.680 --> 0:02:52.240 K League team at seventy Sixers GC. Quick plug there. 0:02:52.280 --> 0:02:58.120 But so good to be back on Sixers spaces with everyone. 0:02:58.760 --> 0:03:02.000 Yesterday was an exciting day around the NBA, whatever team 0:03:02.000 --> 0:03:03.960 you're a fan of, but especially the Sixers. When the 0:03:03.960 --> 0:03:08.040 schedules drop, just pouring over it. And I know some 0:03:08.160 --> 0:03:12.320 people take the approach of oh, eighty two games will 0:03:12.360 --> 0:03:14.560 be played. Well, a few years ago that wasn't even 0:03:14.639 --> 0:03:18.000 the case. But we returned to that normal schedule last year, 0:03:18.680 --> 0:03:22.600 eighty two games. There's no problem in my opinion, with 0:03:22.720 --> 0:03:25.760 getting excited about it. And I liked doing this last 0:03:25.840 --> 0:03:29.880 year with you talking about which matchups we're looking forward to, 0:03:30.040 --> 0:03:32.680 because it's something throughout the season on spaces that we 0:03:32.760 --> 0:03:35.119 touched on last year when the games happen, because we're 0:03:35.120 --> 0:03:38.040 on here after Sixers wins and we would say, oh, 0:03:38.080 --> 0:03:40.720 what was your favorite game so far this season, and 0:03:40.800 --> 0:03:43.720 we get to do that in advance, and just thinking 0:03:43.720 --> 0:03:47.080 about what could be in the twenty twenty two twenty 0:03:47.120 --> 0:03:49.840 three season, and the Sixers are going to be on 0:03:49.960 --> 0:03:52.640 national TV a lot. They're right up there with some 0:03:52.680 --> 0:03:55.240 of the best teams in the league, obviously with the 0:03:55.320 --> 0:03:57.960 roster moves that they've made and how they look heading 0:03:57.960 --> 0:04:00.840 into the year. It's an exciting time and I'm excited 0:04:00.880 --> 0:04:04.200 to talk about the schedule for sure. For more on 0:04:04.320 --> 0:04:06.960 that exciting time, head back to that seventy six Ers 0:04:07.040 --> 0:04:09.800 Insiders feed that I just mentioned. A couple weeks ago, 0:04:09.840 --> 0:04:13.240 I had the opportunity to speak to assistant coach Dave Yeager, 0:04:13.480 --> 0:04:17.640 not only about his crazy, sort of mind boggling season 0:04:17.720 --> 0:04:19.839 that he had last year, of course, missing some time 0:04:20.440 --> 0:04:22.840 due to head and neck cancer and then rejoining the 0:04:22.880 --> 0:04:26.360 team for the final stretch and the playoffs on the bench. 0:04:27.040 --> 0:04:29.400 If anyone deserved, I know I've said it a few times, 0:04:29.440 --> 0:04:32.880 but if anyone deserved a super relaxing off season, it 0:04:32.960 --> 0:04:35.359 was Dave Yeager. And instead he's spending a lot of 0:04:35.400 --> 0:04:38.359 time giving back to the different communities that are important 0:04:38.400 --> 0:04:40.040 to him. So go over to the seventy six Ers 0:04:40.080 --> 0:04:44.520 Insiders Feed listen to that conversation between Dave Yeager and me. 0:04:44.880 --> 0:04:47.880 Plus hear what he has to say about some of 0:04:47.920 --> 0:04:50.720 those new roster editions and what he's most looking forward 0:04:50.720 --> 0:04:53.520 to in the twenty twenty two twenty three season. So 0:04:53.720 --> 0:04:55.760 if you don't trust my takes, I get it, but 0:04:55.800 --> 0:04:59.000 you should definitely trust a veteran coach like Dave Yeager 0:04:59.240 --> 0:05:02.200 and listen to what he's excited about. His excitement certainly 0:05:02.360 --> 0:05:05.320 got me excited. And now let's go ahead and finally 0:05:05.400 --> 0:05:08.480 dive into the schedule. There are many key matchups. I'm 0:05:08.480 --> 0:05:11.240 gonna try to tell you guys what I had highlighted, 0:05:11.279 --> 0:05:14.159 what I had circled on my calendar. But then we'll 0:05:14.200 --> 0:05:16.279 go through some of the comments that you guys are sending. 0:05:16.279 --> 0:05:19.520 There are a lot of themes here. You guys are 0:05:19.560 --> 0:05:22.760 excited about what I'm excited about, So let's get into it. First. 0:05:22.800 --> 0:05:26.960 Of course, the Sixers playing in the NBA's opening Night 0:05:27.080 --> 0:05:29.960 October eighteenth at Boston. That one is going to be 0:05:30.000 --> 0:05:34.320 at seven thirty pm Eastern on TNT. That the first 0:05:34.520 --> 0:05:37.960 game of the NBA season, the first national TV game 0:05:38.040 --> 0:05:40.160 of the NBA season. The Lakers and the Warriors will 0:05:40.200 --> 0:05:42.560 play on TNT after that, but an honor to be 0:05:42.680 --> 0:05:46.839 chosen for opening Night on this twenty twenty two twenty 0:05:46.880 --> 0:05:50.320 three season. And then of course the home opener and 0:05:50.600 --> 0:05:55.320 equally or almost equally exciting matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks 0:05:55.320 --> 0:05:57.480 and janis onto to kumpo. That one will also be 0:05:57.800 --> 0:06:00.480 at seven thirty pm Eastern on t n T on 0:06:00.520 --> 0:06:04.320 October twentieth. So in those first three days of this 0:06:04.400 --> 0:06:09.359 season alone, the Sixers matching up with top rivals in 0:06:09.440 --> 0:06:13.960 the Eastern Conference, the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics 0:06:14.000 --> 0:06:18.120 the former lead, defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks. That is 0:06:18.160 --> 0:06:22.240 Milwaukee's opener, it is the Sixers home opener, back to back, 0:06:22.279 --> 0:06:25.440 the Sixers being featured right away this season, and that 0:06:25.600 --> 0:06:27.240 is a theme that we that we should talk about. 0:06:27.240 --> 0:06:32.040 Two matt thirty four nationally televised contests. That's almost double 0:06:32.680 --> 0:06:35.120 the amount of national TV games that the Sixers had 0:06:35.200 --> 0:06:38.279 at the beginning of the season last year, so the 0:06:38.400 --> 0:06:41.880 NBA shedding some well earned light on MVP runner up 0:06:41.920 --> 0:06:45.880 Joe Ellenbeid, James Harden and the crew. Very much looking 0:06:45.880 --> 0:06:48.039 forward to that first week, Matt, Any thoughts from you 0:06:48.160 --> 0:06:49.880 on that first week. I'm seeing a lot of comments 0:06:49.880 --> 0:06:53.240 about about opening night. What are you most looking forward 0:06:53.279 --> 0:06:54.760 to in the first week and then and then we'll 0:06:54.760 --> 0:06:58.240 dive into some more key matchups. I think it's really 0:06:58.240 --> 0:07:01.960 cool that it's the first game to tip off the 0:07:02.160 --> 0:07:05.880 entire slate of the NBA regular season schedule. And I 0:07:05.880 --> 0:07:08.520 know the Warriors are the defending champs and because of 0:07:08.600 --> 0:07:11.000 time zones and all that, they will play on that night, 0:07:11.080 --> 0:07:15.400 But to tip off the entire NBA regular season on Tuesday, 0:07:15.480 --> 0:07:19.040 October eighteenth against Boston, that's really cool for the Sixers 0:07:19.080 --> 0:07:21.600 the home opener against the Honest and the Bucks the 0:07:21.640 --> 0:07:25.040 Sixers home opener two days later. Though, you can't start 0:07:25.040 --> 0:07:28.640 with a better pair of games, especially with how most 0:07:28.760 --> 0:07:32.200 people are looking at the top of the Eastern Conference, 0:07:32.200 --> 0:07:36.120 while you're getting all of those teams right away. I 0:07:36.160 --> 0:07:39.120 also think this is not first week related, but I 0:07:39.160 --> 0:07:41.040 also think it's cool that the Sixers will have the 0:07:41.080 --> 0:07:45.640 first game of the five on Christmas Day at noon 0:07:45.680 --> 0:07:48.480 against the Knicks. But I might be jumping ahead a 0:07:48.520 --> 0:07:53.120 little bit there. You mentioned NBA TV that thirty four 0:07:53.200 --> 0:07:57.440 does include eleven on NBA TV, So thirty four national 0:07:57.440 --> 0:08:01.440 TV games including the eleven NBA TV games, And I 0:08:01.680 --> 0:08:07.920 pulled up a tweet from Krishna who shared yesterday the 0:08:08.280 --> 0:08:11.400 full list for each team, So just for some context, 0:08:12.160 --> 0:08:16.160 excluding NBA TV, the Warriors have thirty national TV games, 0:08:16.520 --> 0:08:20.440 then the Lakers, then the Celtics, Bucks Sixers. Sixers and 0:08:20.480 --> 0:08:23.880 Bucks both have twenty three, which is the fourth most 0:08:23.920 --> 0:08:28.200 on ESPN, ABC and TNT, so right up there with 0:08:28.760 --> 0:08:32.920 some of the top teams. But Lauren, because the opening 0:08:32.960 --> 0:08:36.360 week is so exciting, you might think that our picks 0:08:37.120 --> 0:08:41.520 for the matchup we're looking forward to most are obvious. 0:08:41.600 --> 0:08:47.520 So I'm wondering if you're going chalk with that, Honestly, 0:08:47.559 --> 0:08:49.880 I might be. I really like though that a lot 0:08:49.880 --> 0:08:52.360 of people have the Golden State Warriors, and rightfully so, 0:08:52.640 --> 0:08:56.000 circled on their calendars. The first time that one is 0:08:56.320 --> 0:08:58.640 coming for the seventy six ers is right before that 0:08:58.720 --> 0:09:03.680 Christmas Day game December sixteenth, versus Golden State. That's one 0:09:03.840 --> 0:09:06.520 that I'm very much looking forward to. The Sixers last 0:09:06.520 --> 0:09:10.040 season hosted the Golden State Warriors earlier in the season, 0:09:10.120 --> 0:09:14.640 then played them in Golden State, but severely shorthanded. They 0:09:14.640 --> 0:09:17.160 won the first at home. They dropped the second to 0:09:17.200 --> 0:09:20.640 the eventual Old Champions. But Matt, I'm really looking forward 0:09:20.800 --> 0:09:23.199 to that one. It's always a show when Steph Curry 0:09:23.240 --> 0:09:26.360 played Thompson Draymond Green and company come to town, and 0:09:26.440 --> 0:09:29.000 I'm very much looking forward to seeing how this iteration 0:09:29.040 --> 0:09:33.120 of the Sixers matches up with that iteration of the Warriors. 0:09:33.160 --> 0:09:35.960 Of course, when the Sixers beat the Warriors last year, 0:09:36.080 --> 0:09:39.080 they did not have James Harden on the team. Tyrese 0:09:39.200 --> 0:09:42.840 Maxie had some growing left to be done. Joel Embiid 0:09:43.040 --> 0:09:46.080 was rounding into that MVP form, but he continued to 0:09:46.080 --> 0:09:48.360 get better as the season went along. I think that's 0:09:48.360 --> 0:09:51.480 going to be a really interesting test, not only because, 0:09:51.520 --> 0:09:54.080 of course, anytime you match up with a team as 0:09:54.120 --> 0:09:57.280 illustrious as that one, it's a really good barometer to 0:09:57.400 --> 0:10:00.360 test yourself by. It's a good time in this season 0:10:00.440 --> 0:10:02.720 to do it as well. If you play those great 0:10:02.720 --> 0:10:06.040 teams early. I mean, look even having this conversation about 0:10:06.080 --> 0:10:09.280 the schedule is probably putting too much weight on things 0:10:09.320 --> 0:10:11.880 too early. But I always worry about how much weight 0:10:11.920 --> 0:10:15.199 gets put on those first two games, when neither team 0:10:15.240 --> 0:10:18.280 has really gotten in any reps together their first truly 0:10:18.440 --> 0:10:22.560 competitive run on October eighteenth and October twentieth, A lot 0:10:22.600 --> 0:10:24.040 of people are going to put a lot of stock 0:10:24.080 --> 0:10:27.040 into those games. But two months later, as the team 0:10:27.080 --> 0:10:30.079 hosts Golden State, I'm willing to take a little bit 0:10:30.080 --> 0:10:32.160 more of a temperature and a pulse on how this 0:10:32.200 --> 0:10:34.840 team looks a third or so of the way through 0:10:34.880 --> 0:10:37.120 the season. So to me, that's one that I've got 0:10:37.120 --> 0:10:39.920 circled on my calendar. I'm not sure if that's a 0:10:40.000 --> 0:10:42.559 chalk pick or not, but Matt, maybe as you look 0:10:42.559 --> 0:10:45.160 at that first half of the season, I'm curious what 0:10:45.360 --> 0:10:48.160 you have circled that isn't an opening night or a 0:10:48.240 --> 0:10:52.400 Christmas Day matchup. I think it's kind of chalky the 0:10:52.400 --> 0:10:54.920 Golden State pick, but it's not too bad. I actually 0:10:54.920 --> 0:10:58.520 thought that the Milwaukee home opener was a given for 0:10:58.679 --> 0:11:02.400 the Marquee matchup that we could say we're looking forward 0:11:02.440 --> 0:11:06.160 to most. I had Golden State right there at the 0:11:06.160 --> 0:11:09.560 top of my list that Friday, December sixteenth game, and 0:11:09.679 --> 0:11:11.600 I want to elaborate on that in a second. I 0:11:11.640 --> 0:11:14.240 also want to just read a couple tweets from people 0:11:14.280 --> 0:11:18.240 who joined the space in real time at the top. Again, 0:11:18.280 --> 0:11:20.640 you can get these after the fact on the podcast network. 0:11:20.679 --> 0:11:23.840 I know some people also sent in their their matchups 0:11:23.840 --> 0:11:27.760 they were looking forward to in advance yesterday. But some 0:11:27.840 --> 0:11:34.600 people who today have replied sw Sports said Christmas Day 0:11:34.600 --> 0:11:38.600 game is their most excited game. A Meal mentions the 0:11:38.640 --> 0:11:41.640 seventy six ers versus the Warriors, saying they can't wait 0:11:41.679 --> 0:11:46.440 for that. Nolan can't wait for the Celtics opener, which 0:11:46.440 --> 0:11:50.240 we said we'll tip off the NBA season, And there's 0:11:50.240 --> 0:11:52.800 a bunch more that we can read throughout. But I 0:11:52.840 --> 0:11:56.679 think some added context for the Golden State matchup on 0:11:56.760 --> 0:12:01.160 December sixteenth, which will be an ESPN game at seven thirty, 0:12:01.720 --> 0:12:04.320 is that it's in the middle of a really long 0:12:04.880 --> 0:12:08.360 in fact, the longest homestand of the six or twenty 0:12:08.360 --> 0:12:12.160 two twenty three schedules seven games over fifteen days from 0:12:12.160 --> 0:12:16.560 December ninth through the twenty third, And how about this 0:12:17.040 --> 0:12:22.400 three consecutive fridays you'll get in Philadelphia the Lakers, the Warriors, 0:12:22.440 --> 0:12:27.240 and the Clippers, so that homestand the holiday season will 0:12:27.280 --> 0:12:29.640 be in full swing. I think that adds to why 0:12:29.720 --> 0:12:33.560 Golden State is a really strong pick for your the 0:12:33.600 --> 0:12:37.000 one you're you have circled the other one that I 0:12:37.040 --> 0:12:39.520 think was one of my backup picks. Let me know 0:12:39.520 --> 0:12:42.040 how you feel about this, Lauren. The Denver game on 0:12:42.440 --> 0:12:46.040 January twenty eighth. It's a Saturday afternoon and it's part 0:12:46.080 --> 0:12:50.120 of what they're calling MBA Rivals Week. So towards the 0:12:50.200 --> 0:12:54.280 end of January, they'll have embiid Yokich on a Saturday 0:12:54.320 --> 0:12:59.280 afternoon in South Philadelphia. So that was probably slightly under 0:12:59.320 --> 0:13:04.480 the Golden State game for me. I also am excited 0:13:04.520 --> 0:13:06.640 about that. Look, the NBA sort of test drives different 0:13:06.640 --> 0:13:09.360 things every year. I'm I'm all about any reason to 0:13:09.400 --> 0:13:12.679 get folks excited about the NBA a little bit in 0:13:12.679 --> 0:13:15.960 that sort of mid midseason lull. I want to go 0:13:15.960 --> 0:13:18.079 through a couple more, I'll just list them off that 0:13:18.640 --> 0:13:21.080 excited me right off the bat, and these of course 0:13:21.120 --> 0:13:23.559 all before All Star breaks, so sort of looking at 0:13:23.559 --> 0:13:26.880 what is soonest to come for the seventy sixers. We 0:13:26.920 --> 0:13:29.000 talked about the opening two then the Sixers will play 0:13:29.000 --> 0:13:32.040 their first of many Matt back to backs. Not back 0:13:32.040 --> 0:13:35.320 to backs, but back to back games against the same team. 0:13:35.400 --> 0:13:37.080 A lot more of those this year, most of them 0:13:37.120 --> 0:13:39.680 actually are split home and home, but playing the same 0:13:39.720 --> 0:13:42.520 team twice in a row. The series option, of course, 0:13:42.880 --> 0:13:47.320 new to the NBA, started during the pandemic seasons October 0:13:47.360 --> 0:13:51.680 twenty sixth and October twenty eighth, both at Toronto. Those 0:13:51.800 --> 0:13:55.680 always good games, competitive games. That's a team that has 0:13:55.679 --> 0:13:58.400 always given the Sixers trouble. The Sixers, of course, got 0:13:58.400 --> 0:14:01.920 over the hump in the playoffs against the Raptors this season, 0:14:02.040 --> 0:14:04.600 but those are teams that have a lot of I 0:14:04.600 --> 0:14:06.800 don't want to say that there's any bad blood there. 0:14:06.840 --> 0:14:09.600 That's certainly not the right term to use, but there's 0:14:09.679 --> 0:14:13.280 contentiousness between those teams. They always bring their best punch 0:14:13.320 --> 0:14:15.360 for one another. So very much looking forward to those 0:14:15.840 --> 0:14:20.040 Phoenix on November seventh, Milwaukee again on November eighteenth. The 0:14:20.400 --> 0:14:22.880 Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia seventy six Ers meet up 0:14:22.880 --> 0:14:25.280 for the first time. On November twenty second, then visiting 0:14:25.320 --> 0:14:27.480 at Memphis. That's another one that I don't think is 0:14:27.560 --> 0:14:31.120 chalk Matt. I don't think that that's chalk. December second 0:14:31.200 --> 0:14:33.880 at Memphis is one that I'm looking forward to. The Grizzlies, 0:14:33.920 --> 0:14:36.760 of course, a young, exciting team led by a young 0:14:36.840 --> 0:14:39.800 exciting player in John Morant. John Morant and Joel Embi 0:14:39.960 --> 0:14:42.400 two of the most exciting, if not best players in 0:14:42.440 --> 0:14:44.520 the NBA right now. I think you can actually safely 0:14:44.520 --> 0:14:47.320 say that they are both two of the most exciting 0:14:47.320 --> 0:14:50.240 and best players in the NBA right now and sort 0:14:50.240 --> 0:14:52.680 of welcoming in a new generation of best guys in 0:14:52.720 --> 0:14:56.200 the league. When you think about players like that. Then 0:14:56.240 --> 0:14:58.800 the Lakers for the first time. On December ninth, we 0:14:58.840 --> 0:15:02.080 talked about Golden State. On sixteenth, we talked about Christmas Day, 0:15:02.160 --> 0:15:05.400 you talked about rivalry week, Matt and then as you 0:15:05.440 --> 0:15:07.360 get into the end of this season, a lot of 0:15:07.360 --> 0:15:10.400 people on Twitter talking about the last few games, that 0:15:10.520 --> 0:15:13.040 difficult stretch towards the end of the season. And of 0:15:13.040 --> 0:15:15.400 course you can look at that in one of two ways. 0:15:15.640 --> 0:15:18.440 Right Either it is a really interesting test and a 0:15:18.560 --> 0:15:21.200 challenging time for the Sixers. You never know who's going 0:15:21.280 --> 0:15:24.840 to be jockeying for position or seating as the playoffs 0:15:24.880 --> 0:15:26.440 come along. So that of course could either be a 0:15:26.440 --> 0:15:29.280 really difficult and exciting stretch or and this is one 0:15:29.360 --> 0:15:31.440 that I sort of lean a little bit towards when 0:15:31.440 --> 0:15:33.520 I see all the commentary about how difficult that final 0:15:33.600 --> 0:15:36.520 stretch is. A lot of times in the end of 0:15:36.560 --> 0:15:40.560 March in April in the NBA, players are resting, preparing 0:15:40.560 --> 0:15:44.920 for the playoffs. Some teams have different priorities during that phase. 0:15:45.280 --> 0:15:48.360 Teams are sort of winding their season down. Playoffs seating 0:15:48.400 --> 0:15:52.160 has already been figured out, so I wouldn't worry too much. 0:15:52.480 --> 0:15:55.560 I would caution anyone against worrying too much about that 0:15:55.600 --> 0:15:58.040 final stretch. But of course, should things be a little 0:15:58.080 --> 0:16:01.200 bit closer, it's going to be really exciting to see 0:16:01.200 --> 0:16:03.600 how things shake out down the stretch. That of course, 0:16:03.640 --> 0:16:07.160 from March twenty seventh onward, the Sixers we'll see, let's say, 0:16:07.200 --> 0:16:13.200 actually March twenty fourth onwards, the Sixers will see Golden State, Phoenix, Denver, Milwaukee, Boston, Miami, 0:16:13.280 --> 0:16:16.080 and Brooklyn for the regular season finale. So that end 0:16:16.120 --> 0:16:18.800 of season, it's way too soon to talk about. But 0:16:18.880 --> 0:16:20.440 to those of you in the comments I see you 0:16:20.520 --> 0:16:23.520 that are concerned about it, remember that maybe not quite 0:16:23.520 --> 0:16:25.680 as concerning as seeing that slate of teams at the 0:16:25.720 --> 0:16:27.080 beginning of the season or in the middle of the 0:16:27.080 --> 0:16:30.120 season when there's still a lot to be determined. Matt, 0:16:30.200 --> 0:16:32.280 that was a lot anything you want to draw attention 0:16:32.320 --> 0:16:36.400 to before we start to wind this one down. Yeah, 0:16:36.440 --> 0:16:40.320 I mean, at face value, March is crazy to start 0:16:40.360 --> 0:16:43.960 the month five road games in the first seven days, 0:16:44.000 --> 0:16:46.840 so that first week and it starts with a back 0:16:46.880 --> 0:16:49.480 to back on the road. That first week ends with 0:16:49.560 --> 0:16:51.440 a back to back on the road. So two back 0:16:51.480 --> 0:16:54.880 to backs in the first week of March in the 0:16:54.920 --> 0:16:58.520 midst of five road games in seven days. They this 0:16:58.680 --> 0:17:02.920 comes courtesy of seventy six Ers pr The Sixers will 0:17:02.960 --> 0:17:07.960 conclude the regular season with twelve consecutive matchups against playoff 0:17:08.040 --> 0:17:10.520 teams from the previous year. But I do agree with 0:17:10.560 --> 0:17:13.280 your thinking that that's towards the end of the year 0:17:13.359 --> 0:17:15.640 and teams are gearing up for the playoffs, and that's 0:17:15.640 --> 0:17:18.320 a long way off. So it was something that a 0:17:18.320 --> 0:17:22.720 lot of people were tweeting about. Certainly notable, but I 0:17:22.760 --> 0:17:26.600 think for me, the excitement reigns supreme about many of 0:17:26.600 --> 0:17:29.840 the games that come before that, including Christmas Day at 0:17:29.840 --> 0:17:32.800 the Garden, which is going to be an amazing game 0:17:32.920 --> 0:17:36.159 to kick off the five Christmas Day games Sixers Nicks 0:17:36.640 --> 0:17:40.920 noon Eastern. That's going to be so much fun. I'm 0:17:40.920 --> 0:17:44.320 really looking forward to that one. Any thoughts about the 0:17:44.440 --> 0:17:47.680 Christmas Game, Lauren, Oh? I mean, what's not to love? 0:17:47.840 --> 0:17:50.440 Start your day with Sixers basketball. I saw a tweet 0:17:50.480 --> 0:17:51.679 that I'm not gonna be able to pull up in 0:17:51.720 --> 0:17:54.280 real time right now, but breaking down all of the 0:17:54.640 --> 0:17:58.160 all of the national TV's lineups for both sports football 0:17:58.200 --> 0:18:00.680 and basketball that will be played on day. What a 0:18:00.760 --> 0:18:03.000 delight that day is going to be, and really cool 0:18:03.000 --> 0:18:05.080 for the Sixers to start early, hopefully get the win, 0:18:05.200 --> 0:18:07.400 and then enjoy the rest of the day at their 0:18:07.480 --> 0:18:10.439 leisure watching those games. I want to go into my 0:18:10.520 --> 0:18:14.720 DMS Matt before we wrap it up, Cardinal Flame wants 0:18:14.720 --> 0:18:16.920 to talk about one matchup that we have not discussed yet, 0:18:16.920 --> 0:18:19.280 and I think it's certainly worth a shout out Cardinal 0:18:19.280 --> 0:18:21.760 Flames as I'm really excited for the November nineteenth matchup 0:18:21.800 --> 0:18:24.440 with the Timberwolves. The new look t Wolves, especially now 0:18:24.680 --> 0:18:27.400 with how heated the matchup between Kat and Jojo can 0:18:27.440 --> 0:18:29.240 get now excited to see what it's going to be 0:18:29.320 --> 0:18:31.720 like with Rudy in the mix. The Timberwolves are one 0:18:31.720 --> 0:18:34.119 of those sort of big question marks for the NBA 0:18:34.320 --> 0:18:36.840 this season. They could be great. A lot of people 0:18:36.920 --> 0:18:40.080 wondering if the new addition is going to make a 0:18:40.160 --> 0:18:44.320 positive difference in Rudy Gobert, matching him with Carl Anthony Towns. 0:18:44.359 --> 0:18:47.399 Carl Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid have of course shown 0:18:47.880 --> 0:18:51.760 much entertainment to NBA fans across the country in recent years. 0:18:51.760 --> 0:18:53.560 So that is a great one actually to look at. 0:18:53.640 --> 0:18:55.359 That's sort of an X factor of a game that 0:18:55.520 --> 0:19:02.240 November nineteenth against the Timberwolves. I specifically says Annie. Annie 0:19:02.280 --> 0:19:04.359 wants you to know that the Nets home game is 0:19:04.359 --> 0:19:08.320 circled because it's on their birthday. So very much looking 0:19:08.320 --> 0:19:10.680 forward to celebrating many birthdays with the Sixers. I don't 0:19:10.680 --> 0:19:12.080 have a birthday game this year. I was a little 0:19:12.080 --> 0:19:14.080 bit bummed about that. I have had one in the 0:19:14.119 --> 0:19:17.280 past couple of years, but that's okay. Looking forward to 0:19:17.640 --> 0:19:20.480 celebrating all sorts of things as we go along. Matt, 0:19:20.520 --> 0:19:22.919 any other under the radar picks for you or dms 0:19:22.920 --> 0:19:25.520 you want to highlight. I love that you said under 0:19:25.560 --> 0:19:28.960 the radar because if anyone caught our schedule release podcast 0:19:29.080 --> 0:19:31.520 last season. That was something that I was really pumped 0:19:31.560 --> 0:19:34.359 up to talk about, Like which game is kind of 0:19:34.359 --> 0:19:38.320 a sleeper game that not everyone is circling right away, 0:19:38.320 --> 0:19:41.080 but it's still something that you're paying close attention to. 0:19:41.800 --> 0:19:46.919 And you picked Houston last year as you're under the 0:19:47.000 --> 0:19:49.560 radar matchup that you were looking forward to, the Houston 0:19:49.640 --> 0:19:51.560 on the road. I think it was a San Antonio 0:19:51.640 --> 0:19:54.840 Houston back to two games and a couple of days 0:19:54.840 --> 0:19:58.320 on the road, but it was and then those ended 0:19:58.359 --> 0:20:01.080 up getting rescheduled due to some help and safety protocols 0:20:01.080 --> 0:20:04.159 shuffling around. Um, but yeah, not my best under the 0:20:04.320 --> 0:20:07.600 radar pick. I'm gonna, I'm gonna. I'm gonna do a 0:20:07.640 --> 0:20:10.600 better one this year, Matt, Do you have one I do? 0:20:10.960 --> 0:20:15.919 And notably absent from your string of tweets was the 0:20:15.960 --> 0:20:22.159 home Memphis game, and you mentioned Memphis again, but you 0:20:22.200 --> 0:20:26.160 mentioned the road game at the Grizzlies. So my under 0:20:26.200 --> 0:20:28.200 the radar matchup that I'm looking forward to the most 0:20:28.400 --> 0:20:32.720 is the Sixers hosting the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, February 0:20:32.760 --> 0:20:35.080 twenty third, because it's the first game after the All 0:20:35.119 --> 0:20:39.720 Star break as well, not to mention the fact that 0:20:39.920 --> 0:20:46.719 it being February twenty third, it is part of hold on, 0:20:46.760 --> 0:20:50.160 I lost it that part of the schedule. We got 0:20:50.160 --> 0:20:54.040 a tweet from Hassan who said two twenty four through 0:20:54.320 --> 0:20:59.840 three four is a tough stretch Memphis, Boston, Miami twice, 0:21:00.320 --> 0:21:05.720 Dallas and Milwaukee. So I'm highlighting the start of that 0:21:06.040 --> 0:21:11.640 tough stretch in Hassan's opinion, with the Grizzlies game right 0:21:11.680 --> 0:21:14.400 after the All Star break, so it's good to have 0:21:14.640 --> 0:21:18.159 a few home games right around that time. Also notable 0:21:18.200 --> 0:21:20.679 in that stretches the Heat because that will be the 0:21:20.720 --> 0:21:24.440 first time that the Sixers and Heat play. If I 0:21:24.480 --> 0:21:28.680 didn't miscount, it's a home and home and the Sixers 0:21:28.680 --> 0:21:31.800 and Heat won't play until February twenty seventh, so quite 0:21:31.840 --> 0:21:35.320 a long time to see that rematch. But I'm going 0:21:35.359 --> 0:21:38.280 with the Memphis Grizzlies game for my pick here, what 0:21:38.359 --> 0:21:41.280 about you? I like your pick, and right you are 0:21:41.320 --> 0:21:44.400 about the Miami Heat. All three of those matchups will 0:21:44.400 --> 0:21:46.600 be following at the All Star Break this year, so 0:21:46.960 --> 0:21:49.840 fans that we're watching the playoffs this season on bated 0:21:49.880 --> 0:21:51.480