WEBVTT - Catching Up With Woj, James Ennis Talks About Transition

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<v Speaker 1>The seventy Sixers had been battling shorthanded since the All

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<v Speaker 1>Star break. When the current roster is at full strength,

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<v Speaker 1>the ceiling pretty darn high. At least that's what one

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<v Speaker 1>pre eminent basketball reporter thinks. The Sixers right now, at

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<v Speaker 1>least in the Eastern Conference, have best starting five out

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<v Speaker 1>there and probably the only other team that can really

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<v Speaker 1>compete with them as a Warriors. If you don't recognize

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<v Speaker 1>the voice, you certainly know the name. That is, of course,

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<v Speaker 1>Adrian Wodronasky, and he was in town recently worked on

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<v Speaker 1>a few projects. The ESPN Senior NBA Insider is one

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<v Speaker 1>of our guests. Plus we'll hear from one of the

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<v Speaker 1>newest members of the seventy Sixers Reserve Corps who's looking

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<v Speaker 1>to carve out a niche on this episode of the broadcast,

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<v Speaker 1>a short but hopefully pretty sweet quality over quantity edition

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<v Speaker 1>of the podcast, not going to be the longest episode

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<v Speaker 1>we've ever produced, but hopefully between a conversation with Adrian

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<v Speaker 1>Mojanaski and new seventy Sixer James Ennis, you'll get some

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<v Speaker 1>good knowledge, some good insights, some good perspective, and especially

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<v Speaker 1>in the case of wo some national perspective on things

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<v Speaker 1>surrounding the seventy six Ers, what the league thinks of

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<v Speaker 1>the team, it's chances to contend for a title this year,

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<v Speaker 1>and how well the Sixers are set up for the future,

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<v Speaker 1>looking forward to playing in those conversations in a moment.

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<v Speaker 1>But a reminder that to subscribe the podcast, you can

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<v Speaker 1>as a subscriber. All right, let us get to playing

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<v Speaker 1>you back some of these conversations. We'll get to James

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<v Speaker 1>Ennis in a moment, but first let's hear from WOJ.

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<v Speaker 1>Seventy Sixers going through a stretch right now. As I

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<v Speaker 1>mentioned at the top, they are not at full strength.

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<v Speaker 1>That of course means first and foremost Joel Embiid has

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<v Speaker 1>not been playing since the All Star Game break, but

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<v Speaker 1>also the Sixers trying to weather injuries recently to Boban Marnyanovitch.

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<v Speaker 1>For the past week, Jonah Bolden missed a game because

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<v Speaker 1>he wasn't feeling well. A mere Johnson hasn't been feeling

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<v Speaker 1>one so especially at the five spot. The Sixers just

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<v Speaker 1>trying to patch things together and make things work. Since

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<v Speaker 1>the All Star Game break, they've gone four and three.

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<v Speaker 1>The losses were to Portland, you know, no real shame

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<v Speaker 1>in that, to Golden State, no real shame in that,

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<v Speaker 1>And most recently on Wednesday, the Chicago Bulls. A tough one,

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<v Speaker 1>especially because the Sixers were set up to win, but

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<v Speaker 1>the second night of a back to back not an

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<v Speaker 1>easy circumstance. It's the Sixers they've been trying to get by.

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<v Speaker 1>But in speaking with Woad, who was at the Center

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<v Speaker 1>last Saturday for the Golden State game working on a

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<v Speaker 1>few things, the first thing I asked him was, let

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<v Speaker 1>us put on our bright, shiny, huge glasses, dream of

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<v Speaker 1>a world of unicorns and rainbows and idealistically think about life.

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<v Speaker 1>The seventy sixers are healthy, I asked Woach, just how

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<v Speaker 1>much of a threat can the seventy Sixers be. I

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<v Speaker 1>think the Sixers right now, at least in the Eastern Conference,

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<v Speaker 1>have best starting five out there, and probably the only

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<v Speaker 1>other team that can really compete with them is a

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<v Speaker 1>Warriors team that they play on Saturday Night. But this

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<v Speaker 1>is a team certainly top heavy with talent, you know, great,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, bringing in Tobias Harris, Jimmy Butler, two great

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<v Speaker 1>perimeter defenders, certainly terrific offensive players. And if this is

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<v Speaker 1>a team that can find the right chemistry, the right balance,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, this is they can certainly beat anybody in

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<v Speaker 1>the East. And we know these Eastern Conference playoffs are

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<v Speaker 1>going to be h something like we haven't seen in

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<v Speaker 1>this conference for I think a bunch of years. It's

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<v Speaker 1>like about two of the newcomers to the starting five

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<v Speaker 1>beginning first of the most recent guy in Tobias Harris.

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<v Speaker 1>What type of player has he turned himself into over

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<v Speaker 1>the course of his career. Tobias Harris is a great

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<v Speaker 1>example of a player like that. You just in this

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<v Speaker 1>league to not make judgments too quickly on who players are,

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<v Speaker 1>to understand, especially when they've come out of college after

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<v Speaker 1>one year, that there's a lot of room to get better.

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<v Speaker 1>And you saw that. You know, for a player of

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<v Speaker 1>his talent to have been traded several times already in

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<v Speaker 1>his career, it's pretty remarkable. I think the fact that

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<v Speaker 1>Tobias Harris has the temperament, he has, the personality, the

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<v Speaker 1>kind of teammate he is. It was really the reason

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<v Speaker 1>Philly could make this trade and bring him in along

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<v Speaker 1>with Joe l Embiid and Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, great players, but also some big personalities that

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<v Speaker 1>a little bit like Clay Thompson with the Warriors. When

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<v Speaker 1>your third or fourth player has that kind of very

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<v Speaker 1>even keeled and easy disposition, it can make it work.

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<v Speaker 1>And I don't know if Philly could have done this

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<v Speaker 1>deal if Tobias Harris had any different kind of personality

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<v Speaker 1>than he has. When you look at Jimmy Butler, how

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<v Speaker 1>well rounded is he for a player at his position. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean Jimmy Butler is listen on the court and

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<v Speaker 1>what he does on certainly both ends of it. It's

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<v Speaker 1>it's remarkable. I mean, he's as much of a like

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<v Speaker 1>to buy his harrison a lot of ways, very much

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<v Speaker 1>a self made player, late first round pick, junior college

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<v Speaker 1>player to Marquette, and you saw who got better and

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<v Speaker 1>better each year in the NBA. And he brings a toughness,

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<v Speaker 1>a physicality to his position. He can defend bigger players,

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<v Speaker 1>you can put him on smaller players, and I think

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<v Speaker 1>for the city of Philadelphia, I think Butler, you knew

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<v Speaker 1>it from the moment Philly made the trade that Jimmy

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<v Speaker 1>Butler fits the city. He fits this fan base like

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<v Speaker 1>you could imagine Jimmy Butler playing in Philadelphia, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>for a very long time. And you know, certainly he

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<v Speaker 1>gave them. I think with this team the star power

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<v Speaker 1>power they needed, especially when they looked around the rest

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<v Speaker 1>of the conference and felt that they weren't good enough.

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<v Speaker 1>In Philadelphia, the team had to get more talented, and

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<v Speaker 1>you know, bringing Jimmy Butler and allowed them to put

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<v Speaker 1>a group on the floor that was as talented as

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<v Speaker 1>anybody in the East. I don't want to put words

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<v Speaker 1>in your mouth, but JJ Reddick it seems like he's

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<v Speaker 1>only gotten better as his age has increased. At this

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<v Speaker 1>stage of his career. What type of ingredients does he

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<v Speaker 1>add to this starting five? How important is he making

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<v Speaker 1>everything go? Yeah? I mean JJ Reddick is he is

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<v Speaker 1>a player who's gotten better in his thirties, keeps himself

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<v Speaker 1>in tremendous condition, and I think it's going to allow

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<v Speaker 1>him play. It's going to allow Reddick to play well

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<v Speaker 1>into his thirties, he's become a much better defender in

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<v Speaker 1>the league. He'll he'll talk about the impact stanbian Gundy

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<v Speaker 1>had on him very early in his career in Orlando.

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<v Speaker 1>And you know, he played such an integral role on

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<v Speaker 1>those Clipper teams with a lot of star players around,

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<v Speaker 1>and his circumstances and a whole lot different in Philly

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<v Speaker 1>than it was with the Clippers. And he's a player who,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, he doesn't have to put it on the floor,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, catch and shoot, and when defenses start to

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<v Speaker 1>converge on the all stars on this roster, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, in a big spot, JJ Reddick, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>is going to be able to make a shot for you.

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<v Speaker 1>And I think for Philly, and I think this was

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<v Speaker 1>true in LA and it's true here. He's really one

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<v Speaker 1>of the underappreciated players in terms of role and impact

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<v Speaker 1>in the league. And you know, there are a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of teams in the league who would love a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of contenders who'd love to have JJ Reddick on their roster.

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<v Speaker 1>I know Philly feels pretty lucky that they've got them.

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<v Speaker 1>Two of the men at the leadership home for the

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<v Speaker 1>seventies Sixers, Brett Brown, and Elton Brand. Can you talk

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<v Speaker 1>about the type of reputation they've earned for themselves, Well,

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<v Speaker 1>Elton obviously in a very short period of time as

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<v Speaker 1>a GM, but Brett now the last six seasons here. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>I think Brett Brown, You know, I think what's a

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<v Speaker 1>pretty good mark for a coach in this league are

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<v Speaker 1>how what players say about them when they're gone and

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<v Speaker 1>they're not with him anymore. And you talk to players

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<v Speaker 1>who are with Brett Brown at all different stages of

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<v Speaker 1>the Sixers rebuild, and guys who played big roles, guys

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<v Speaker 1>who didn't play a whole lot, and what they'll always

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<v Speaker 1>tell you is I always thought he was honest with him.

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<v Speaker 1>He was fair, and he coached him hard. And one

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<v Speaker 1>thing about Brett Brown, and you taught, whether it's the

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<v Speaker 1>guys he competes against other coaches executives in the league,

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<v Speaker 1>they talk about his honesty. And I've talked to agents

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<v Speaker 1>and free agency who talk about or in the buyout

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<v Speaker 1>market who will talk to Brett Brown about what their

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<v Speaker 1>player's role might be with the Sixers, and they'll go

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<v Speaker 1>back and tell you what Brett Brown told us it

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<v Speaker 1>was going to be is exactly how it was a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of coaches will sell bigger roles than the players

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<v Speaker 1>actually going to see and that goes a long way

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<v Speaker 1>in this league. And I think there's an appreciation for

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<v Speaker 1>what he's been through in Philly, what he led the

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<v Speaker 1>organization through, and I think he gives hope to a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of coaches in the league who are in rebuilding

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<v Speaker 1>situations that they can see it through the way Brett

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<v Speaker 1>Brown was able to see it through in Philly. And

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<v Speaker 1>I do think it's changed the way executive look at

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<v Speaker 1>rebuilding processes that it isn't always just about having a

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<v Speaker 1>guy to get you through the rebuild and then we're

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<v Speaker 1>gonna bring another guy in when we want to be

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<v Speaker 1>a playoff team. That the coach can grow with the organization.

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<v Speaker 1>And I think Brett Brown has done a lot for

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<v Speaker 1>the coaching profession with how he's handled this job. And

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<v Speaker 1>Elton brand listen, I think from the very beginning here

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<v Speaker 1>he brought instant credibility. It is not easy to become

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<v Speaker 1>a gem in this league so quickly removed from your

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<v Speaker 1>playing career, as a few guys who've done it well,

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<v Speaker 1>Joe Dumars did it and Detroit built a championship team.

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<v Speaker 1>But you don't see it as much in the modern era.

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<v Speaker 1>And I think what Elton Brand has done a really

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<v Speaker 1>good job of is knowing where his strengths were initially,

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<v Speaker 1>his ability to lead, to oversee the locker room, the

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<v Speaker 1>coaching staff, interact with other executives in the league. But

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<v Speaker 1>you don't get a sense other gems think they can

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<v Speaker 1>get over on Elton Brand because he's new to it.

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<v Speaker 1>He went through some tough negotiations with some of the

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<v Speaker 1>trades they made, and he's certainly, I think, had the

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<v Speaker 1>respect to people around the league. I think it's he

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<v Speaker 1>gained even more so with how he's handled a job.

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<v Speaker 1>But I think as much as anything, I think Elton's

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<v Speaker 1>willingness to lean on. You know, he has a really

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<v Speaker 1>good staff in Philadelphia front office of really experienced guys

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<v Speaker 1>who you know, some of whom he came up with

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<v Speaker 1>here the last couple of years. And I think he

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<v Speaker 1>allows everyone to do their jobs. And I think he's

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<v Speaker 1>learning from the people around him. And I think that's

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<v Speaker 1>a big part of this job, is figuring out as

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<v Speaker 1>you go along and leaning on the people who can

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<v Speaker 1>help you get smarter at it. And I think, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>he's done that and I think it speaks to, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>the success he's had a pretty short time here. Great

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<v Speaker 1>stuff from majoran Wojanavski, ESPN senior NBA insider, not that

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<v Speaker 1>you'd expect anything less. I did want to ask him

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<v Speaker 1>about Joel Embie and Ben Simmons. I realized it was

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<v Speaker 1>probably a little bit conspicuous that I didn't, but we

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<v Speaker 1>were limited on time. Wach obviously and extremely busy dude

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<v Speaker 1>didn't want to keep him too long, and honestly, I

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<v Speaker 1>feel and this is this really is more complimentary than

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<v Speaker 1>anything else. Ben and Joe get such deserving love. Get

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<v Speaker 1>talked about a lot that I really wanted to dive in,

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<v Speaker 1>specifically on the two new editions to the roster and

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<v Speaker 1>Jimmy Butler to Bias Harris, and then get some thoughts

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<v Speaker 1>from Rhojo on JJ Reddick, who I still feel and

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<v Speaker 1>I admit I've said this before, We're going to say

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<v Speaker 1>it again. I am as guilty as anyone. I just

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<v Speaker 1>feel like JJ Reddick, it's almost like we take for

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<v Speaker 1>granted what he does and is expected to do, even

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<v Speaker 1>though he does it at such a high level. So

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<v Speaker 1>I just wanted to check in and get Wog's thoughts

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<v Speaker 1>on JJ Reddick in the type of season JJ has

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<v Speaker 1>been having. Good to see him bounce back the last

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<v Speaker 1>two games for the Sixers in the win over Orlando

0:11:46.600 --> 0:11:48.959
<v Speaker 1>and the loss of the Chicago Bulls. The loss of

0:11:48.960 --> 0:11:50.959
<v Speaker 1>the Bulls was indeed a toughy and we're going to

0:11:51.040 --> 0:11:53.800
<v Speaker 1>talk about that a little bit more right after this.

0:11:54.040 --> 0:11:56.600
<v Speaker 1>And here from James Ennis, who was a bright spot

0:11:56.640 --> 0:11:58.760
<v Speaker 1>for the seventy Sixers in that game on Wednesday at

0:11:58.880 --> 0:12:04.120
<v Speaker 1>United seven. But first I have to I want to

0:12:04.760 --> 0:12:08.360
<v Speaker 1>I need to tell you about the fourth Annual Sixers

0:12:08.559 --> 0:12:11.560
<v Speaker 1>Youth Foundation Gallup, presented by vip Wireless. It is this

0:12:11.920 --> 0:12:16.839
<v Speaker 1>Monday at the Fillmore, Philadelphia, fantastic venue right off of

0:12:17.120 --> 0:12:21.199
<v Speaker 1>Columbus Boulevard and Frankfort Avenue as you get into Fishtown.

0:12:21.800 --> 0:12:23.600
<v Speaker 1>Going to be a great night, it always is, if

0:12:23.600 --> 0:12:25.640
<v Speaker 1>you've gone before, if you've heard about it, if you

0:12:25.679 --> 0:12:27.800
<v Speaker 1>know people who've gone, if you've seen some of the

0:12:27.840 --> 0:12:31.400
<v Speaker 1>stuff we've posted on social about it. There's gonna be players,

0:12:31.400 --> 0:12:34.199
<v Speaker 1>there's gonna be coaches, there's gonna be alums, members of

0:12:34.200 --> 0:12:37.080
<v Speaker 1>the front office, all of the Fillmore for a great

0:12:37.160 --> 0:12:39.960
<v Speaker 1>night of fun as everyone works together to create brighter

0:12:40.000 --> 0:12:43.240
<v Speaker 1>futures for the leaders of tomorrow from right here in

0:12:43.320 --> 0:12:47.480
<v Speaker 1>the Delaware Valley. If you're interested about finding out more

0:12:47.520 --> 0:12:48.880
<v Speaker 1>or how you might be able to attend or to

0:12:48.920 --> 0:12:51.920
<v Speaker 1>purchase tickets, you can go to Sixers Youth Foundation dot org,

0:12:51.960 --> 0:12:55.640
<v Speaker 1>slash gallup Strong Youth, Strong Communities, promising futures. That is

0:12:55.679 --> 0:12:58.440
<v Speaker 1>what six or Strong is all about. And I'm telling you,

0:12:58.480 --> 0:13:01.600
<v Speaker 1>I know that you've probably been to charity events and

0:13:01.720 --> 0:13:06.240
<v Speaker 1>fundraisers before. The gala is an entirely different deal, just

0:13:06.280 --> 0:13:09.880
<v Speaker 1>an awesome night. Fourth annual Sixers Youth Foundation Gala presented

0:13:09.880 --> 0:13:13.199
<v Speaker 1>by VIP Wireless this coming Monday, Fillmore, Philadelphia, once again

0:13:13.360 --> 0:13:17.080
<v Speaker 1>the site for tickets Sixers Youth Foundation dot org slash

0:13:17.120 --> 0:13:19.959
<v Speaker 1>Gala and on the website right now the live auction

0:13:20.120 --> 0:13:25.160
<v Speaker 1>is underway. Great items for you to bid on, classic things,

0:13:25.440 --> 0:13:29.080
<v Speaker 1>things you can't get anywhere else, things like being a

0:13:29.080 --> 0:13:33.600
<v Speaker 1>guest on the broadcast. All right, we'd love to have you,

0:13:34.160 --> 0:13:36.800
<v Speaker 1>so yeah, please do. That's item number one twenty eight

0:13:36.800 --> 0:13:40.600
<v Speaker 1>if I'm not mistaken, But yeah, please support the cause

0:13:40.640 --> 0:13:46.400
<v Speaker 1>if you can. It certainly goes to a worthwhile, valid purpose. Sixers.

0:13:46.440 --> 0:13:49.280
<v Speaker 1>We're right now recording this podcast middle of the road trip.

0:13:49.600 --> 0:13:51.760
<v Speaker 1>Now they're going to play the Houston Rockets on Friday.

0:13:51.760 --> 0:13:54.559
<v Speaker 1>They lost at Chicago on Wednesday by point one eight

0:13:54.559 --> 0:13:57.040
<v Speaker 1>one o seven. That was a tough one, no doubt

0:13:57.040 --> 0:14:01.800
<v Speaker 1>about it. Bizarre, quirky ending with half a second to go, once,

0:14:02.120 --> 0:14:05.000
<v Speaker 1>half a second to go twice. Sixers not able to

0:14:05.000 --> 0:14:07.160
<v Speaker 1>get the job done. But a guy who did get

0:14:07.200 --> 0:14:09.360
<v Speaker 1>the job done, who played really well, I thought off

0:14:09.400 --> 0:14:13.640
<v Speaker 1>the bench in seventeen minutes. James Ennis, relative newcomer to

0:14:13.679 --> 0:14:16.360
<v Speaker 1>the Sixers, picked up the day of the deadline about

0:14:16.400 --> 0:14:18.760
<v Speaker 1>a month ago from the Houston Rockets. The Sixers and

0:14:18.880 --> 0:14:23.600
<v Speaker 1>Rockets exchanged the rights to swat picks in twenty twenty one.

0:14:24.200 --> 0:14:27.440
<v Speaker 1>But against Chicago on Wednesday, Ennis went for eleven points,

0:14:27.600 --> 0:14:31.480
<v Speaker 1>five of seven, seven rebounds. The eleven points seven rebounds

0:14:31.480 --> 0:14:34.560
<v Speaker 1>both highs with the Sixers two block shots as well,

0:14:35.000 --> 0:14:38.080
<v Speaker 1>showed up big in the fourth quarter and gave some

0:14:38.240 --> 0:14:41.960
<v Speaker 1>nice lift off the bench. So after the game, inside

0:14:42.000 --> 0:14:46.080
<v Speaker 1>a Sixers locker room that was understandably disappointed with the defeat,

0:14:46.160 --> 0:14:48.760
<v Speaker 1>had the chance to grab a few minutes with James Ennis,

0:14:48.880 --> 0:14:52.800
<v Speaker 1>and here's how the conversation went. Tough LOSSIRA veteran member

0:14:52.880 --> 0:14:54.480
<v Speaker 1>of this team. What do you try to do to

0:14:54.520 --> 0:14:57.440
<v Speaker 1>regroup after a game like this? Let's just go back

0:14:57.480 --> 0:14:59.400
<v Speaker 1>and watch the phone and watch the mistakes. You know,

0:14:59.480 --> 0:15:02.520
<v Speaker 1>it's a back to back. I feel like our energy

0:15:02.600 --> 0:15:04.560
<v Speaker 1>was a little down today, but you know we just

0:15:04.600 --> 0:15:06.640
<v Speaker 1>go back, go back and watch film and you know,

0:15:06.840 --> 0:15:09.520
<v Speaker 1>learn from that. You did supply some good energy in

0:15:09.520 --> 0:15:12.840
<v Speaker 1>your minutes. What did you make your performance? Statistically speaking?

0:15:12.840 --> 0:15:14.600
<v Speaker 1>It was your highest and pact game with the team

0:15:14.600 --> 0:15:17.760
<v Speaker 1>since the trade. We lost today. You know, Um, it

0:15:17.880 --> 0:15:19.720
<v Speaker 1>sucks to lose, but you know, I'll just try to

0:15:19.800 --> 0:15:22.280
<v Speaker 1>do so as much as i can want the opportunity

0:15:22.280 --> 0:15:24.520
<v Speaker 1>I get, you know, because I never know if I'm

0:15:24.560 --> 0:15:27.160
<v Speaker 1>a player or not. But you know I'm always ready

0:15:27.160 --> 0:15:29.600
<v Speaker 1>when my numbers called. Have you gone about just trying

0:15:29.600 --> 0:15:32.920
<v Speaker 1>to find your comfort here? Establish a rhythm with a

0:15:32.960 --> 0:15:37.480
<v Speaker 1>new team? Um, you know, put an extra work after

0:15:37.560 --> 0:15:41.120
<v Speaker 1>practice at night. You know, that's what keeps you, keeps

0:15:41.120 --> 0:15:43.000
<v Speaker 1>your mind into the game and keep you and keeps

0:15:43.000 --> 0:15:45.960
<v Speaker 1>you ready. And that's what I've been doing. And tonight,

0:15:46.160 --> 0:15:48.200
<v Speaker 1>you know, it's it's good to see the ball going

0:15:48.360 --> 0:15:51.040
<v Speaker 1>finally since I've been there. So I've been working really hard.

0:15:51.120 --> 0:15:53.480
<v Speaker 1>You know, it's funny you have a locker at least

0:15:53.480 --> 0:15:55.760
<v Speaker 1>here in Chicago next to John Simmons and Brett Brown's

0:15:55.760 --> 0:15:58.240
<v Speaker 1>talked about this mini tournament among some of the reserve guys,

0:15:58.280 --> 0:15:59.880
<v Speaker 1>but it seems like there's a good camaraderie with some

0:16:00.040 --> 0:16:02.560
<v Speaker 1>the bench and thereserve players too. Yeah, you know whatever,

0:16:02.760 --> 0:16:04.640
<v Speaker 1>you know, get along, run here. You know, it's just

0:16:04.760 --> 0:16:07.080
<v Speaker 1>a good environment and that's what that's what you want,

0:16:07.160 --> 0:16:10.760
<v Speaker 1>you know. I'm really happy to be along with this team.

0:16:10.880 --> 0:16:13.160
<v Speaker 1>Your next game is Houston. What was that experience like

0:16:13.280 --> 0:16:15.640
<v Speaker 1>playing with them? And hows it feel knowing that you're

0:16:15.640 --> 0:16:17.520
<v Speaker 1>going back there now with another squad. I had a

0:16:17.560 --> 0:16:20.040
<v Speaker 1>good experience, you know, playing with UM, playing with James,

0:16:20.160 --> 0:16:24.160
<v Speaker 1>Chris Ball, you know, UM, growing against them, I can't wait.

0:16:24.240 --> 0:16:26.720
<v Speaker 1>You know, just you know, get actor, you know, compete,

0:16:26.760 --> 0:16:29.240
<v Speaker 1>and that's that's what always want. Funny games. I mean,

0:16:29.280 --> 0:16:31.400
<v Speaker 1>I'm sure you had plenty of reps and opportunities in practice,

0:16:31.400 --> 0:16:33.080
<v Speaker 1>but what what's the key to trying to slow down

0:16:33.120 --> 0:16:36.160
<v Speaker 1>players of that high caliber like that? Trying to get

0:16:36.160 --> 0:16:38.160
<v Speaker 1>the bat at James James's hand and just make it

0:16:38.240 --> 0:16:40.440
<v Speaker 1>tough rum last thing. I mean, you've been around in

0:16:40.440 --> 0:16:42.120
<v Speaker 1>the league for a while. You've seen good teams. What

0:16:42.120 --> 0:16:43.880
<v Speaker 1>do you think you have with this core here when

0:16:43.880 --> 0:16:47.320
<v Speaker 1>you guys are fully healthy. You know, we had like

0:16:47.320 --> 0:16:51.400
<v Speaker 1>five alsos on this team, you know, and U just all.

0:16:51.680 --> 0:16:54.000
<v Speaker 1>We have role players also too that can play also,

0:16:54.240 --> 0:16:58.480
<v Speaker 1>so the whole the whole fifteen. So the first player,

0:16:58.800 --> 0:17:00.440
<v Speaker 1>we all we're all good enough to to help this

0:17:00.560 --> 0:17:02.960
<v Speaker 1>down one. You know. I always think that's nice for

0:17:03.000 --> 0:17:05.359
<v Speaker 1>a player, especially for one who's going back against an

0:17:05.359 --> 0:17:09.399
<v Speaker 1>old team after a trade, specifically when that deal is

0:17:09.400 --> 0:17:11.960
<v Speaker 1>still fresh, when you can come in with a little

0:17:11.960 --> 0:17:14.359
<v Speaker 1>shot in the arm, a little boost, pep in the step,

0:17:14.920 --> 0:17:17.880
<v Speaker 1>and that'll be the situation for James Ennis the third

0:17:17.920 --> 0:17:19.960
<v Speaker 1>on Friday, when the seventy six Ers visit the Houston

0:17:20.040 --> 0:17:23.360
<v Speaker 1>Rockets at Toyota Center for an eight o'clock Eastern game.

0:17:23.359 --> 0:17:26.120
<v Speaker 1>That's on NBC Sports Philadelphia, on ESPN if you're out

0:17:26.119 --> 0:17:29.560
<v Speaker 1>of markets, and of course, in the Sixers radio network.

0:17:29.560 --> 0:17:32.560
<v Speaker 1>The Sixers handled the Houston Rockets the first time around

0:17:32.640 --> 0:17:36.560
<v Speaker 1>pretty convincingly. Chris Paul did not play in that game

0:17:36.760 --> 0:17:39.160
<v Speaker 1>at the Center about a month and a half ago,

0:17:39.200 --> 0:17:42.480
<v Speaker 1>but Chris Paul is playing now on the season, averaging

0:17:42.560 --> 0:17:46.440
<v Speaker 1>sixteen points eight and a half assists, two steals per game.

0:17:47.080 --> 0:17:50.879
<v Speaker 1>Back out there with James Harden. Harden is just you know,

0:17:50.920 --> 0:17:53.480
<v Speaker 1>he's had so many runs over the course of his career,

0:17:53.520 --> 0:17:56.840
<v Speaker 1>but right now averaging forty and a half points his

0:17:57.000 --> 0:18:02.240
<v Speaker 1>last thirty eight games. Might see that type of output

0:18:02.240 --> 0:18:04.960
<v Speaker 1>over a five game stretch, a ten game stretch, I

0:18:04.960 --> 0:18:08.080
<v Speaker 1>would say a fifteen game stretch would be pretty heady

0:18:08.119 --> 0:18:11.280
<v Speaker 1>to put up that type of scoring average. But thirty

0:18:11.320 --> 0:18:18.399
<v Speaker 1>eight games, that's more than half the Rockets season. Insane.

0:18:18.440 --> 0:18:21.040
<v Speaker 1>Houston's twenty seven and eleven in those games. By the way,

0:18:21.840 --> 0:18:24.440
<v Speaker 1>Harden is shooting ninety one percent from the line over

0:18:24.480 --> 0:18:27.240
<v Speaker 1>his past twenty four games, and he's one of four

0:18:27.240 --> 0:18:32.639
<v Speaker 1>players with over six thousand free throw at tens in

0:18:32.680 --> 0:18:36.080
<v Speaker 1>his career who shoots eighty five percent or better from

0:18:36.119 --> 0:18:40.440
<v Speaker 1>the free throw line. Just insanity. You know another guy

0:18:40.480 --> 0:18:42.560
<v Speaker 1>who the Sixers did not have to face the first

0:18:42.560 --> 0:18:45.640
<v Speaker 1>time around when they defeated the Houston Rockets one twenty

0:18:45.680 --> 0:18:49.679
<v Speaker 1>one ninety three on January twenty first, the center was

0:18:49.800 --> 0:18:52.600
<v Speaker 1>Clinton Capella. But he's back and as a result, the

0:18:52.640 --> 0:18:56.000
<v Speaker 1>Houston Rockets are late in the season rising up the

0:18:56.320 --> 0:18:59.800
<v Speaker 1>rungs of the Western Conference standings. So much was put

0:18:59.840 --> 0:19:01.919
<v Speaker 1>on and pinned on the Rockets at the start of

0:19:01.960 --> 0:19:05.320
<v Speaker 1>this year. Could they get back to the Western Conference finals?

0:19:05.400 --> 0:19:08.639
<v Speaker 1>Could they maybe make the push into the finals? And

0:19:08.680 --> 0:19:11.240
<v Speaker 1>they got off to a bumpy start. But Houston right now,

0:19:11.640 --> 0:19:15.080
<v Speaker 1>they have ripped and surged and vaulted their way up

0:19:15.119 --> 0:19:17.720
<v Speaker 1>to the third seed right now in the Western Conference.

0:19:18.040 --> 0:19:20.360
<v Speaker 1>They've won six games in row going in a Friday's game.

0:19:20.400 --> 0:19:23.159
<v Speaker 1>That's the longest active winning streak in the NBA. And

0:19:23.160 --> 0:19:25.240
<v Speaker 1>they've been really good at home twenty two and nine.

0:19:25.280 --> 0:19:27.600
<v Speaker 1>So the Sixers going to be tough, you would figure,

0:19:27.720 --> 0:19:30.879
<v Speaker 1>especially since you know Houston is not going to forget

0:19:31.000 --> 0:19:34.600
<v Speaker 1>the Sixers had a pretty easy time with them, regardless

0:19:34.600 --> 0:19:36.920
<v Speaker 1>of whether or not they were without a few key

0:19:36.960 --> 0:19:40.000
<v Speaker 1>starters back in January. All Right, that'll do it for

0:19:40.040 --> 0:19:43.440
<v Speaker 1>this episode of the podcast. Really appreciate Adrian Wodanowski carving

0:19:43.440 --> 0:19:46.160
<v Speaker 1>out some time when he's at the Center last weekend

0:19:46.200 --> 0:19:49.880
<v Speaker 1>to speak also James Ennis inside the locker room at

0:19:49.920 --> 0:19:52.560
<v Speaker 1>the United Center the other nights. Thank you as always

0:19:52.560 --> 0:19:55.600
<v Speaker 1>for listening. We love having you on board with the podcast,

0:19:55.680 --> 0:20:05.600
<v Speaker 1>and we'll talk to you next time. Here onto the broadcast.