WEBVTT - Inside the Return of Joel Embiid versus OKC 0:00:49.259 --> 0:00:51.779 I'm Tari's Mexi and you're listening to the seventy six 0:00:51.859 --> 0:00:53.419 Ers Insiders podcast. 0:00:53.699 --> 0:00:56.619 This podcast is part of the seventy six Ers podcast network, 0:00:56.659 --> 0:00:58.379 presented by Stern and Cohen Law. 0:00:58.299 --> 0:01:01.299 Search seventy six Ers Insiders wherever you get your podcasts. 0:01:01.659 --> 0:01:04.419 Suffering an injury at work can cause physical pain, but 0:01:04.499 --> 0:01:07.659 also great uncertainty about your rights. You need to retain 0:01:07.699 --> 0:01:10.419 a worker's compensation law firm that is a winner like 0:01:10.499 --> 0:01:13.379 our Sixers, a firm that gets some of the best settlements, 0:01:13.459 --> 0:01:15.539 but is also willing to go toe to toe with 0:01:15.659 --> 0:01:19.379 the insurance company. No settling on the cheap. This is Philly. 0:01:19.539 --> 0:01:21.939 We have grit and fight in us. Call the workers 0:01:22.019 --> 0:01:25.259 Compensation law firm of Stern and Cohen or visit their 0:01:25.299 --> 0:01:29.779 site Sterncohenlaw dot com. The consultation is free. Stern and 0:01:29.819 --> 0:01:32.539 Cohen are the official partners of the seventy six Ers. 0:01:32.819 --> 0:01:35.139 They'll go ring the insurance company's bell. 0:01:39.459 --> 0:01:40.619 Sixers and sixty. 0:01:40.779 --> 0:01:44.899 The seventy six Ers Insiders podcast live from the Center 0:01:45.379 --> 0:01:51.579 in Philadelphia. Matt Murphy joined now by Larn Rosen, speaking 0:01:51.619 --> 0:01:54.539 ahead of the Sixers thunder game and Lauren what is 0:01:54.619 --> 0:01:57.099 going on on the court right now as we speak. 0:01:57.179 --> 0:01:58.659 I was gonna say, Matt, I think we got to 0:01:58.699 --> 0:01:59.619 set the scene. 0:01:59.339 --> 0:02:01.499 A little bit visually. Play by play. 0:02:01.459 --> 0:02:05.859 Joel Embiid getting loose still at the time of this broadcast. 0:02:06.099 --> 0:02:09.619 Questionable tonight versus Oklahoma City, but it's his It would 0:02:09.659 --> 0:02:13.419 be his first game since January thirtieth, when he had 0:02:13.459 --> 0:02:18.819 that left niemniscus surgery shortly after rather January thirtieth, but 0:02:18.859 --> 0:02:20.739 a lot of people in this building and in and 0:02:20.779 --> 0:02:25.579 around Philadelphia hungry to see this return. Campaign this morning 0:02:25.659 --> 0:02:29.059 talking about how hungry the team is to see this return, Matt, 0:02:29.059 --> 0:02:31.299 I know you and I are excited to see this return. 0:02:31.419 --> 0:02:33.539 So whether or not that news drops in the next 0:02:33.619 --> 0:02:36.219 few minutes, he's well on his way to a return. 0:02:36.299 --> 0:02:38.859 And the site we're seeing right now is just such 0:02:38.859 --> 0:02:42.299 a welcome one to anyone that's loved Joelle, loved the Sixers, 0:02:42.339 --> 0:02:43.779 or loved the game of basketball. 0:02:45.099 --> 0:02:49.739 He was just taking some straightaway three pointers now, stretching 0:02:49.779 --> 0:02:52.779 out at mid court. When he came out, you might 0:02:52.779 --> 0:02:54.699 have still been back of house, but he was getting 0:02:54.739 --> 0:02:57.539 some MVP chants from the fans as they file in. 0:02:57.579 --> 0:03:00.099 At that point, it was still forty five fifty minutes 0:03:00.179 --> 0:03:04.339 fill up on the warm up clock here in Philly, 0:03:04.499 --> 0:03:07.739 but just a jolt of energy surrounding a team that 0:03:07.779 --> 0:03:12.099 has been without the MVP for two months now, two 0:03:12.179 --> 0:03:14.299 months and it's hard to believe that he was averaging 0:03:14.379 --> 0:03:18.299 thirty five point three points per game, eleven point three rebounds, 0:03:18.779 --> 0:03:23.339 five point seven assists, and that he hasn't played with 0:03:23.419 --> 0:03:27.539 a few of these new Sixers. It's a new ish group. 0:03:28.099 --> 0:03:30.739 Was that one of your takeaways from Coach Nurse pregame? 0:03:30.979 --> 0:03:31.179 Yeah? 0:03:31.179 --> 0:03:33.379 Absolutely, And just catching up with some of the guys 0:03:33.379 --> 0:03:35.979 in the locker room pregame, Buddy healed. One of those 0:03:36.019 --> 0:03:39.059 guys among Campaign and Kyle Lowry as well, who have 0:03:39.179 --> 0:03:43.499 not played with Joelle in competitive action thus far, again 0:03:43.579 --> 0:03:47.139 the trade deadline, Kyle Lowry coming in as a buyout guy. 0:03:47.619 --> 0:03:50.499 None of them were on the team when Joel played 0:03:50.499 --> 0:03:53.619 his last minutes in January. Buddy said, he's excited to 0:03:53.659 --> 0:03:56.419 get those reps. I think a lot of Sixers fans 0:03:56.459 --> 0:03:59.299 and seventy six Ers alike are sort of salivating at 0:03:59.339 --> 0:04:03.099 the idea of a Joel MB Buddy healed, pairing similarly 0:04:03.179 --> 0:04:05.939 with Kyle Lowry, Joel sort of has this illustrious history 0:04:05.979 --> 0:04:09.659 of building chemistry with guards. Of course, Kyle and Buddy 0:04:09.699 --> 0:04:12.379 have two totally separate games. When you think back to 0:04:12.499 --> 0:04:14.699 the players that Joel has played so well with in 0:04:14.739 --> 0:04:17.059 the past, Seth Curry, JJ Reddick, they have a lot 0:04:17.099 --> 0:04:19.299 of the characteristics that Buddy Heeld has in his game. 0:04:19.539 --> 0:04:21.659 Buddy might be the best shooter of the three, So 0:04:22.019 --> 0:04:25.339 really looking forward to seeing exactly how that pairing looks. 0:04:25.419 --> 0:04:28.059 Nick Nurse talked about it pregame a huge part of 0:04:28.059 --> 0:04:31.019 what's going to happen in Joel's first game back, whether 0:04:31.099 --> 0:04:35.019 it's against the Oklahoma City Thunder or later on in 0:04:35.099 --> 0:04:37.859 the games ahead. One of the biggest things this team 0:04:37.899 --> 0:04:39.739 needs to do is learn to play with him, because 0:04:39.739 --> 0:04:41.699 they've learned a lot over the last two months. Nick 0:04:41.779 --> 0:04:44.219 Nurse notably talked about the defense and all the improvements 0:04:44.219 --> 0:04:46.939 they've made on that end in the absence of Joel, 0:04:47.019 --> 0:04:49.659 but now learning to play with the MBA, learning to 0:04:49.699 --> 0:04:52.339 play with someone that contributes thirty five points a night. 0:04:52.379 --> 0:04:53.819 They've missed those thirty five points. 0:04:53.859 --> 0:04:55.379 You and I talk about how many points. 0:04:55.459 --> 0:04:56.779 It's so many points. 0:04:56.859 --> 0:04:59.619 Tyrese Maxey said it post game, where were we. 0:04:59.539 --> 0:05:02.219 Lay scoring duo and they've been without it for most 0:05:02.219 --> 0:05:03.739 of the season, and it's interesting. 0:05:03.779 --> 0:05:05.979 I know that this sounds like I'm oversimplifying the game, 0:05:06.019 --> 0:05:07.699 and some people aren't gonna love this take map, but 0:05:07.739 --> 0:05:10.259 the way that I've conceptualized it throughout this last couple 0:05:10.299 --> 0:05:12.819 of months without Joelle, thirty five points is a ton 0:05:12.859 --> 0:05:15.499 of points, and anytime they lost by fewer than thirty 0:05:15.499 --> 0:05:18.539 five points, they did a pretty good job at what 0:05:18.579 --> 0:05:19.419 they needed to do. 0:05:19.539 --> 0:05:19.739 Right. 0:05:19.779 --> 0:05:22.859 So, when you're losing games against good teams by two, 0:05:22.979 --> 0:05:25.459 by three, by four, as this Sixers team has done, 0:05:25.659 --> 0:05:28.659 they've covered for thirty or so of Joel's points. Now, 0:05:28.699 --> 0:05:31.819 to get even part of those back as Joel continues 0:05:31.859 --> 0:05:33.979 to ramp up is gonna be just massive for this 0:05:34.059 --> 0:05:37.259 team that has made a lot of progress in his absence. 0:05:37.219 --> 0:05:38.419 With some of the new players. 0:05:38.459 --> 0:05:41.259 What's the first thing that they've told you and me 0:05:41.579 --> 0:05:46.259 in recent weeks about Joel Embiid returning to the practice floor. 0:05:46.419 --> 0:05:47.619 It's about the double. 0:05:47.339 --> 0:05:50.539 Teams right on a space that a guy like Tyrese 0:05:50.579 --> 0:05:52.419 Maxy who has been ruled out he's dealing with a 0:05:52.459 --> 0:05:55.499 hip situation. Over these last couple of games, tyres will 0:05:55.539 --> 0:05:58.019 not play against the Oklahoma City Thunders. I know you 0:05:58.059 --> 0:06:01.099 already mentioned, but even thinking about the way that Tyrese 0:06:01.219 --> 0:06:03.419 is gonna be freed up, he's been dealing with doubles. 0:06:03.419 --> 0:06:06.219 He's been blitzed constantly over these last couple of weeks, 0:06:06.339 --> 0:06:08.939 watching the two of them together in the early practice 0:06:08.979 --> 0:06:12.179 reps that Joel has had, Tyres is so happy to 0:06:12.259 --> 0:06:15.139 just have some space. He's so used to seeing at 0:06:15.179 --> 0:06:17.899 least one, if not two, bodies, and now sometimes he's 0:06:17.899 --> 0:06:20.099 not gonna see any because they're all worried about Joel 0:06:20.139 --> 0:06:22.739 embiid Right, So Tyrese is gonna get a ton of space. 0:06:22.779 --> 0:06:25.019 Buddy Heeld's gonna get a ton of space. Kyle Lowry's 0:06:25.019 --> 0:06:27.099 gonna get a ton of space, Tobias Harris, anyone that 0:06:27.139 --> 0:06:29.179 shares the court with Joel that's been out there over 0:06:29.219 --> 0:06:32.539 these last couple of months, being defended hard by good defenses, 0:06:32.979 --> 0:06:36.699 They're gonna have simply fewer people on their bodies at 0:06:36.699 --> 0:06:38.699 all times when Joel is on the floor. It's just 0:06:38.739 --> 0:06:40.899 such a luxury to have. We can't understate it. I 0:06:40.899 --> 0:06:43.819 feel like I'm oversimplifying, But when someone is that good 0:06:43.859 --> 0:06:47.779 and calls that much attention to himself, it is pretty simple. 0:06:48.419 --> 0:06:52.299 Again, we are overlooking the home court watching Joel mb 0:06:52.539 --> 0:06:57.259 go through his pregame warm up against the Oklahoma City Thunder. 0:06:57.299 --> 0:06:59.499 He has played thirty four games this year. The first 0:06:59.539 --> 0:07:02.219 game the Sixers played without him was that Tyrese Maxi 0:07:02.299 --> 0:07:05.059 fifty one point game on February first, the first game 0:07:05.099 --> 0:07:07.979 they played without him because of the meniscus injury this season. 0:07:08.019 --> 0:07:10.619 He had missed a handful of games before that, but 0:07:10.699 --> 0:07:14.739 the team has been grinding ever since. Matt Murphy and 0:07:14.779 --> 0:07:18.979 Sixers team reporter Lauren Rosen with you here on Sixers 0:07:19.019 --> 0:07:21.659 in sixty. I think back to the Clippers road game, 0:07:21.699 --> 0:07:25.059 which was one of the impressive victories in Mbid's absence, 0:07:25.099 --> 0:07:28.299 and there was a question asked of Tyrese Maxi about 0:07:28.499 --> 0:07:32.379 consecutive three pointers during a winning time run and sequence, 0:07:32.419 --> 0:07:33.779 and he said, well, I had one guy on me, 0:07:33.899 --> 0:07:36.059 so when that happens without Mbid, I'm going to shoot it. 0:07:36.139 --> 0:07:39.659 And that has been rare without Joel Embiid, who just 0:07:39.739 --> 0:07:42.419 flung a shot over his head from mid court and 0:07:42.499 --> 0:07:44.979 sprinted into the locker room to an applause. 0:07:45.259 --> 0:07:45.979 He missed the shot. 0:07:45.979 --> 0:07:47.499 It hit the top of the backboard, but there was 0:07:47.539 --> 0:07:51.179 a high degree of difficulty on it from mid court. 0:07:51.259 --> 0:07:53.299 So the energy is building. 0:07:54.059 --> 0:07:56.419 Before this game against the Thunder and Lauren, the Sixers 0:07:56.419 --> 0:08:00.219 were just on a well they've been away from home 0:08:00.299 --> 0:08:02.579 for a lot of March. How was it to have 0:08:02.979 --> 0:08:06.379 Joel Embiid join the group on the most recent road trip. 0:08:06.539 --> 0:08:09.179 Oh, I mean, it adds just, first of all, a 0:08:09.219 --> 0:08:11.899 ton of energy. It gives the guys hope that the 0:08:12.259 --> 0:08:14.419 light at the end of the tunnel has been turned on. 0:08:14.779 --> 0:08:19.139 Having Joel among them, having the MVP among you, It 0:08:19.179 --> 0:08:21.499 gives a gravity to any room that you're in, any 0:08:21.539 --> 0:08:23.619 busts that you're on, any playing that you're on. His 0:08:23.739 --> 0:08:27.499 presence is so notable, right and that's before he's even 0:08:27.539 --> 0:08:30.099 played a minute. So great to see him join the 0:08:30.139 --> 0:08:32.659 team again. For those that don't know, in Cleveland and Toronto, 0:08:32.739 --> 0:08:35.379 the most recent road trip that the Sixers had, he 0:08:35.419 --> 0:08:37.299 did not play, but he was able to practice. He 0:08:37.339 --> 0:08:38.979 was able to get in those much needed five on 0:08:39.059 --> 0:08:41.659 five reps that were a part of the progression back 0:08:41.739 --> 0:08:45.499 to playing in a competitive situation. So great to have 0:08:45.579 --> 0:08:47.939 him back, and the guys are energized by it. We've 0:08:47.979 --> 0:08:50.419 heard it all week long. It's just it's it's an 0:08:50.459 --> 0:08:54.419 anxious anticipation to use the words of campaign to get 0:08:54.459 --> 0:08:57.579 this all time great player back in the fold. 0:08:57.939 --> 0:09:00.779 You know who's back, Tom said, this is Sixers and 0:09:00.859 --> 0:09:03.739 sixty and this is great timing for the starting lineup 0:09:03.819 --> 0:09:06.819 for the Sixers to drop against the Oklahoma City Thunder. 0:09:06.939 --> 0:09:10.579 It's Cameron Payne, Kyle Lowry, Tobias Harris, Kelly ou Bray 0:09:10.659 --> 0:09:17.059 junior end Joel the process. Embiid is available and starting 0:09:17.099 --> 0:09:19.859 his first game in more than two months comes against 0:09:19.899 --> 0:09:22.339 the Oklahoma City Thunder. There it is the big news 0:09:22.339 --> 0:09:24.179 that everyone had been waiting for. 0:09:24.419 --> 0:09:28.139 Absolutely massive stuff. You'd just love to see it. Joel 0:09:28.179 --> 0:09:31.659 Embiid the leading scorer in the NBA over these last 0:09:31.739 --> 0:09:34.059 couple of years. He and Tyrese Maxie were the leading 0:09:34.099 --> 0:09:38.579 scoring duo this year as recently as January thirtieth, when 0:09:38.619 --> 0:09:40.619 Joel last played. And if you're just catching up, you 0:09:40.619 --> 0:09:43.299 heard Matt say it. Now Tyres Maxie out versus the 0:09:43.339 --> 0:09:46.619 Oklahoma City Thunder, but Joel Embiid back in. So you'll 0:09:46.619 --> 0:09:49.619 have to wait for the reunion of your your favorite 0:09:49.699 --> 0:09:52.819 duo if you're a Sixers fan, but Tyres and Joel 0:09:52.939 --> 0:09:55.099 chopping it up in the locker room before this one. 0:09:55.139 --> 0:09:58.219 They've been each other's biggest supporters really over these last 0:09:58.259 --> 0:10:00.099 few years. It's been such a pleasure to watch them 0:10:00.179 --> 0:10:02.979 grow together. But Matt, I mean listen, I know some 0:10:02.979 --> 0:10:04.539 people are going to listen to this tomorrow on the 0:10:04.579 --> 0:10:06.819 seventy six Ers Insiders podcast and they will know what 0:10:06.979 --> 0:10:09.939 happened tonight. But I at this point am just so 0:10:10.019 --> 0:10:12.299 excited to see Joel back, to see him healthy. This 0:10:12.339 --> 0:10:14.659 is someone Matt, we almost don't talk about it enough 0:10:14.659 --> 0:10:17.299 who's really been through so much throughout the course of 0:10:17.339 --> 0:10:21.259 his career, culminating of course in his first MVP this season, 0:10:21.299 --> 0:10:24.819 hopefully culminating in what could be his first healthy playoff 0:10:24.899 --> 0:10:27.899 run as well. So really looking forward to seeing what 0:10:27.939 --> 0:10:30.459 these next couple weeks and months have to offer for 0:10:30.659 --> 0:10:31.419 the process. 0:10:31.899 --> 0:10:34.379 I'm just thinking about the five point seven assists per 0:10:34.419 --> 0:10:36.739 game and the fact that he did that without the 0:10:37.139 --> 0:10:40.939 three new players in Pain, Healed, and Lowry, who were 0:10:40.979 --> 0:10:43.779 all big parts of the team, making a franchise record 0:10:43.859 --> 0:10:47.619 twenty four three pointers, without the attention that Joel Embiid 0:10:47.659 --> 0:10:50.619 commands in the most re in game as we currently 0:10:50.699 --> 0:10:56.619 give our instant reaction to the Joe l Embiid return. 0:10:57.219 --> 0:11:01.099 One oh one ninety nine, Lowry across mid court, hands 0:11:01.099 --> 0:11:03.059 off to Ubre. They're gonna play middle pick and roll 0:11:03.099 --> 0:11:05.939 with a bad Ubre bounces to Joel Duell from fourteenth 0:11:05.979 --> 0:11:06.539 straight away. 0:11:06.779 --> 0:11:10.499 Fucking it's good tie game one on one, one on one. 0:11:10.699 --> 0:11:13.619 Josh getting guarded by him be head beat stole the ball, 0:11:13.819 --> 0:11:17.459 he drives Pulpgrin's back there and be goes up collision 0:11:17.619 --> 0:11:22.299 foul blocking call. Joel Ebiid stole the ball and drove 0:11:22.419 --> 0:11:25.539 three corners a length of the court and then collides 0:11:25.579 --> 0:11:29.219 with Check Holmgren and a blocking call on Holmgren. 0:11:29.619 --> 0:11:31.619 And we're joined by Cameron Payne. Cam. 0:11:31.619 --> 0:11:33.659 We're not as close as we were the other game, 0:11:33.699 --> 0:11:38.539 but wow, what a game. Uh unbelievable. Cali, Ubra and 0:11:38.659 --> 0:11:41.779 Joel help you guys to victory lane. But just your 0:11:41.859 --> 0:11:44.979 your experience playing for the first time with Joel and 0:11:45.099 --> 0:11:47.419 watching his presence and how he helped your team with 0:11:47.459 --> 0:11:49.299 everybody else, get you in the win. 0:11:49.379 --> 0:11:53.619 Com up and man MVP, that's what they call him. 0:11:53.979 --> 0:11:56.259 He makes the game easy for us. We can throw 0:11:56.259 --> 0:12:00.419 it into him. They gonna double. He generates open shots 0:12:00.419 --> 0:12:02.539 for us. What do you have eight assists. 0:12:02.619 --> 0:12:03.339 Seven assists. 0:12:03.619 --> 0:12:06.579 Man, that's another point guard on the floor. That's that's 0:12:06.579 --> 0:12:08.779 a big time help. He does an amazing job getting 0:12:08.779 --> 0:12:11.139 everybody involved. But he also does this thing too. That's 0:12:11.179 --> 0:12:13.339 a big time first game back for us. 0:12:13.059 --> 0:12:13.579 For sure. 0:12:13.859 --> 0:12:16.219 It's almost it was amazing really to watch how well 0:12:16.259 --> 0:12:18.939 he played. And he played almost thirty minutes. And you've 0:12:18.939 --> 0:12:21.699 been out there with a player like Joel or Joel 0:12:21.779 --> 0:12:24.299 and that is when you're driving. All of a sudden 0:12:24.339 --> 0:12:26.539 what might be you know, like a six foot runner 0:12:26.579 --> 0:12:28.299 and you're like, well, wait a minute, big guy lurking. 0:12:29.099 --> 0:12:31.499 That happened a lot. Yeah, you see where they during 0:12:31.539 --> 0:12:34.139 the corner, Like, huh, tell us a little bit about that. 0:12:34.179 --> 0:12:36.979 When you see a player liking beat defending in the middle. 0:12:37.099 --> 0:12:41.419 No, it's huge for us. We get beat off the drive. 0:12:41.739 --> 0:12:45.259 That's something that I mean, Mobamba been there. But man, people, 0:12:45.299 --> 0:12:48.259 when people see him be, they might not take their 0:12:48.339 --> 0:12:52.099 lay up. He may keep dribbling, mashing it. It definitely 0:12:52.139 --> 0:12:55.579 helps our defense out where his presence down there. 0:12:55.619 --> 0:12:56.899 It's big Tom and the. 0:12:56.939 --> 0:12:59.659 End of the game, crowd on its feet, one possession 0:12:59.699 --> 0:13:02.259 game and it was what you compete for, right. 0:13:02.299 --> 0:13:04.419 It was like a playoff game out here tonight, Wasn't it? 0:13:04.819 --> 0:13:06.939 Absolutely? Man definitely had playoff vibs. 0:13:07.579 --> 0:13:09.139 But hey, I feel like it's gonna be like that 0:13:09.219 --> 0:13:11.339 every time you see twenty one out there. So man, 0:13:11.619 --> 0:13:13.219 hope that he stays healthy and hope that we can 0:13:13.219 --> 0:13:13.979 came out there. 0:13:13.819 --> 0:13:14.259 On the floor. 0:13:14.459 --> 0:13:14.739 Camp. 0:13:14.779 --> 0:13:16.819 Thanks, congrats, Thank you, man, appreciate it. 0:13:16.899 --> 0:13:17.619 Cameron Paine. 0:13:17.659 --> 0:13:21.539 He had ten points and ten assists, No, ten rebounds 0:13:21.579 --> 0:13:22.779 and five assuits. 0:13:23.179 --> 0:13:26.779 Matt Murphy with Tom McGuinness the Sixers win. In em 0:13:26.819 --> 0:13:33.419 Beid's return, he gets twenty four points, six rebounds, seven assists, 0:13:33.459 --> 0:13:36.099 made all twelve of his free throws and some clutch 0:13:36.139 --> 0:13:40.419 ones down the stretch in the four point victory and 0:13:40.499 --> 0:13:44.339 Tom win aside and Beads return. 0:13:44.419 --> 0:13:45.219 How do you think it went? 0:13:45.539 --> 0:13:48.539 It went great. He was amazing, you know. I think 0:13:48.579 --> 0:13:50.779 there was maybe a couple of rusty spots as you 0:13:50.779 --> 0:13:54.139 could imagine, No doubt he was, you know, kind of 0:13:54.179 --> 0:13:56.979 at times gasping for breath. But there's no way to 0:13:57.059 --> 0:14:00.299 mimic the intensity of playing twenty nine minutes in an 0:14:00.379 --> 0:14:03.739 NBA game with a physicality, how much he gets pressured 0:14:03.779 --> 0:14:07.419 and doubled, you know, no matter how much he worked 0:14:07.419 --> 0:14:10.579 over the last few weeks to get here, right. I mean, 0:14:10.739 --> 0:14:13.259 he was just amazing and to make all the foul 0:14:13.259 --> 0:14:16.179 shots with the game on the line, to go twelve 0:14:16.179 --> 0:14:19.579 for twelve, just incredible, like in that sense. And guess 0:14:19.619 --> 0:14:22.819 what he's going to be ramping up during these games 0:14:22.819 --> 0:14:24.939 and getting better. Now, who knows what the plan is, 0:14:25.739 --> 0:14:28.219 you know, like would he play back to back? Probably 0:14:28.219 --> 0:14:30.179 not over the weekend, but when he play in the 0:14:30.179 --> 0:14:33.659 next game, it's it's Thursday. I don't know that they 0:14:34.139 --> 0:14:36.859 haven't made that known understandably so, but the point is 0:14:37.339 --> 0:14:39.299 he's going to get, you know, some of these games 0:14:39.379 --> 0:14:41.379 under his belt before the end of the regular season, 0:14:41.419 --> 0:14:44.659 and obviously you get Maxi back and you know it's 0:14:44.659 --> 0:14:45.699 going to take some time. 0:14:45.859 --> 0:14:48.179 But it's a whole new ballgame. 0:14:48.299 --> 0:14:51.339 I mean, like the coach, like coach said, we're not 0:14:51.379 --> 0:14:53.219 going from zero to one hundred in terms of he 0:14:53.299 --> 0:14:56.459 was asking how much Joell was gonna play, And like 0:14:56.619 --> 0:15:00.379 the Sixers, chances don't go from zero to one hundred, 0:15:00.779 --> 0:15:04.339 but they go from you know, zero to fifty. It 0:15:04.459 --> 0:15:07.259 looked like zero to sixty tonight, you know, just kind 0:15:07.259 --> 0:15:09.579 of making it up as we go along. But oh 0:15:09.659 --> 0:15:11.979 my gosh, like it just you look at how it 0:15:12.019 --> 0:15:16.099 went and you know the defense and just you know obviously, 0:15:16.179 --> 0:15:18.459 so it's going to be a work in progress here. 0:15:18.459 --> 0:15:21.939 But yeah, I mean, like you know, we've seen teams 0:15:22.299 --> 0:15:26.059 I e. Miami last year go from eight to you know, 0:15:26.259 --> 0:15:29.979 the conference championship, So we'll see. But it definitely changed 0:15:30.059 --> 0:15:32.659 it the dynamic. And Hope is alive, right. 0:15:32.939 --> 0:15:36.379 One oh nine, one oh five, Sixers beat the Thunder. 0:15:36.419 --> 0:15:41.979 Hope is absolutely alive and Beid comes back for the Sixers. 0:15:42.099 --> 0:15:44.579 Shake Gilders, Alexander and Jalen Williams did not play for them, 0:15:44.579 --> 0:15:47.379 but Tyreese Maxi did not play for the Sixers, and 0:15:47.579 --> 0:15:50.099 Bid did. It is a April second. He had did 0:15:50.099 --> 0:15:54.379 not play a game in February or March, which is 0:15:54.659 --> 0:15:57.859 a remarkable way to return tonight. The crowd was into 0:15:57.939 --> 0:16:01.299 it from the jump, and then Kelly Ubray Junior really 0:16:01.419 --> 0:16:05.019 energized them in the fourth quarter. I mentioned, no, Maxie, 0:16:05.259 --> 0:16:08.739 how have you seen just the adaptability of Kelly Ubra 0:16:08.859 --> 0:16:11.099 Junior to take on different roles this year? He scored 0:16:11.139 --> 0:16:13.299 seventeen of his game high twenty five in the fourth quarter. 0:16:13.699 --> 0:16:15.859 Yeah, for sure, And you know you heard what coach said, 0:16:15.899 --> 0:16:18.259 like they this is what I love about Nick Nurse too, 0:16:18.659 --> 0:16:21.819 Like he all of a sudden he started having Ubreak 0:16:21.859 --> 0:16:24.859 come off the DHO with Joelle. They were playing the 0:16:24.939 --> 0:16:27.419 pick and roll in the middle because, as he said, 0:16:27.539 --> 0:16:31.739 you know, Uber can turn the corner. And the more 0:16:32.099 --> 0:16:35.059 actions you have, the more playmakers you have. And with Embied, 0:16:35.139 --> 0:16:37.219 you've you've got a guy who can do it. Like 0:16:37.259 --> 0:16:40.419 they were asking about Buddy Healed and obviously you're gonna 0:16:40.459 --> 0:16:44.099 watch Kyle and he Maxie and he like that. You know, 0:16:44.339 --> 0:16:47.779 it's especially with Maxie and tonight, Ubra is an opposing 0:16:47.779 --> 0:16:51.139 team defensively, who you gonna guard, Well, you're gonna come. 0:16:51.179 --> 0:16:54.259 You're gonna get the guy coming off and leaving beat 0:16:54.299 --> 0:16:56.499 a little bit, you know. So that's that's where you 0:16:56.579 --> 0:16:59.379 put the pressure on the defense. And Ubra, like coach said, 0:16:59.379 --> 0:17:03.019 he kind of just rose up and started banging in threes. 0:17:03.299 --> 0:17:06.179 And you know some of them were well guarded. The 0:17:06.219 --> 0:17:09.739 one was for sure really contested. And you know he 0:17:09.859 --> 0:17:14.339 is he's been again, great start, almost like he had 0:17:14.339 --> 0:17:16.939 a chip on his shoulder in that he was signed 0:17:16.979 --> 0:17:19.779 just two weeks before the season, and then he gets 0:17:19.859 --> 0:17:21.619 hurt and he has a little bit of a dip 0:17:21.739 --> 0:17:24.419 and then you know, maybe not the best in the 0:17:24.419 --> 0:17:27.299 weeks thereafter, but boy, he's come back and he's been 0:17:27.299 --> 0:17:30.739 a pivotal player. And guess what if the Sixers postseason 0:17:30.819 --> 0:17:33.819 hopes are as we say, you know, Hope is a live, 0:17:33.899 --> 0:17:36.459 exciting whatever, He's gonna play a big part because he's 0:17:36.459 --> 0:17:41.459 been a terrific player for the Sixers, and not just offensively, 0:17:41.499 --> 0:17:43.699 but you know it's been a better rebounder than you 0:17:43.699 --> 0:17:47.339 would have expected. He's been tonight he was if Shay 0:17:47.379 --> 0:17:50.619 would have played, I think Kelly Uber was he was 0:17:50.659 --> 0:17:53.779 going to be assigned that matchup. So, uh yeah, the 0:17:53.779 --> 0:17:55.819 game lost a little bit of luster with those two 0:17:55.859 --> 0:17:59.939 guys not playing with the Tyres out, but obviously Joelle 0:17:59.979 --> 0:18:02.539 coming in, and I mean you felt it, Matt. It 0:18:02.659 --> 0:18:04.779 was an atmosphere here prior to the game when he 0:18:04.859 --> 0:18:07.339 came out. I don't know I gave you that little note. 0:18:07.379 --> 0:18:09.099 It was Willis Reid esque. 0:18:09.139 --> 0:18:11.819 Now, granted that was a championship game where a championship 0:18:11.979 --> 0:18:14.579 was won, but he literally came down the hallway. They 0:18:14.619 --> 0:18:17.219 showed him on the jumbo drown and it was like 0:18:17.259 --> 0:18:20.779 a cockering hero returning to the field of battle and 0:18:20.899 --> 0:18:23.219 he came out here and the crowd really loved it. 0:18:23.219 --> 0:18:24.499 It was it was a cool moment. 0:18:24.699 --> 0:18:27.059 And Embiid's record is good with the Sixers this year, 0:18:27.099 --> 0:18:28.899 so a lot of his teammates have good records when 0:18:28.939 --> 0:18:31.099 they're in the lineup with him, But Ubray and Embiid 0:18:31.179 --> 0:18:34.019 had some overlapping time out, so them together, they're twenty 0:18:34.019 --> 0:18:37.539 two and five Withubray and Embiid in the lineup together 0:18:37.939 --> 0:18:42.059 this season. And the Sixers beat the thunder tonight. What 0:18:42.139 --> 0:18:45.579 a game seventy six it was for the seventy six 0:18:45.699 --> 0:18:49.219 ers to beat Oklahoma City one oh nine, one oh five. 0:18:49.219 --> 0:18:51.339 There are six games left in the regular season for 0:18:51.379 --> 0:18:53.899 this group to gel together with Joel Embiid, and it 0:18:53.939 --> 0:18:55.939 starts again Thursday night against Miami. 0:18:56.019 --> 0:18:57.739 Well, and the other thing, I'll say, you know, like 0:18:58.019 --> 0:19:01.139 to me in a way, you wanted to get to 0:19:01.219 --> 0:19:04.819 that Miami game where and it could look yes, it's 0:19:04.899 --> 0:19:07.219 just it's a game. It's the potential of even in 0:19:07.219 --> 0:19:10.819 the series. And there's still going to be what five 0:19:10.899 --> 0:19:14.739 or six games after that, five more after that, yeah, 0:19:14.779 --> 0:19:18.179 five more after so it still could change. But again 0:19:18.259 --> 0:19:22.979 it's and then Indiana's slipping a little bit, but standing's 0:19:23.499 --> 0:19:26.979 you know, not you know, the absolute focal play. You 0:19:27.019 --> 0:19:28.899 want to prove that you can beat Miami. You want 0:19:28.899 --> 0:19:30.379 to go down there and prove you could beat them 0:19:30.379 --> 0:19:33.379 in their arena, which has always been tough, right. 0:19:33.259 --> 0:19:35.259 And if you did that, you would be the seventh seed. 0:19:35.259 --> 0:19:37.459 If it was the play in situation and the Milwaukee Bucks, 0:19:37.499 --> 0:19:39.419 the two seed just lost to the Wizards tonight, just 0:19:39.419 --> 0:19:40.259 throwing that out there. 0:19:40.299 --> 0:19:42.019 Anything can happen in one game. 0:19:41.939 --> 0:19:44.219 Right, But you wouldn't be the seventh seed now because 0:19:44.219 --> 0:19:45.579 we're down in a game and a half. 0:19:45.819 --> 0:19:48.059 Well, if you played the seven seed Miami and beat 0:19:48.059 --> 0:19:50.379 them at their place, you'd be the seven in the playoffs. 0:19:50.459 --> 0:19:52.459 You just have to beat them once for the seventh seed, 0:19:53.419 --> 0:19:55.459 so they would enter the playoffs as the seven if 0:19:55.459 --> 0:19:56.859 they beat them in the play in tournament. 0:19:57.059 --> 0:19:59.059 Oh right game, yes, yep, yeah, yeah, I was talking 0:19:59.099 --> 0:20:00.339 about that. I got way ahead of myself. 0:20:00.339 --> 0:20:01.259 We got we got sure. 0:20:01.339 --> 0:20:02.939