WEBVTT - Who is the Sixers’ Playoff X-Factor? 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 Insider's 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 --> 0:01:41.739 They'll go ring the insurance company's bell. Welcome into this 0:01:41.819 --> 0:01:46.179 week's sixers and sixty, a live show from the Center 0:01:46.219 --> 0:01:52.219 in South Philadelphia. Prior to the seven hosting the Detroit Pistons. 0:01:52.539 --> 0:01:57.379 I'm Matt Murphy, our fanatic basketball insider. This week is 0:01:57.419 --> 0:02:00.459 none other than d Lineum, D how are you doing? 0:02:00.539 --> 0:02:00.819 Great? 0:02:00.859 --> 0:02:01.619 Beautiful day? 0:02:02.099 --> 0:02:03.979 Yeah, wrapping up the regular season. 0:02:03.979 --> 0:02:04.699 It's all good. 0:02:05.139 --> 0:02:08.299 Three home games for the Sixers to wrap up the 0:02:08.379 --> 0:02:12.179 regular season, and the rundown tonight includes a conversation towards 0:02:12.219 --> 0:02:14.899 the end of the show with Ricky Counsel, the fourth 0:02:14.939 --> 0:02:17.139 of player that you and I both know quite well 0:02:17.139 --> 0:02:19.499 as part of his two way contract between the Sixers 0:02:19.739 --> 0:02:22.819 and the Delaware Blue Coats this season. If anyone has 0:02:22.859 --> 0:02:25.459 missed our Sixers player and coach interviews throughout the season, 0:02:25.459 --> 0:02:28.699 you can search for the seventy six Ers Insiders podcast. 0:02:28.899 --> 0:02:32.019 There are a number of questionable players before this Pistons 0:02:32.059 --> 0:02:34.499 game on the Sixers side, but that is actually sort 0:02:34.499 --> 0:02:36.419 of good news in a way because some of them 0:02:36.459 --> 0:02:39.339 have been straight listed as out yeah for much of 0:02:39.379 --> 0:02:42.179 this season. So Anthony yeah, that we'll start there, because 0:02:42.179 --> 0:02:44.499 that was one of the updates a moment ago from 0:02:44.539 --> 0:02:48.579 coach Nick Nurse in his pregame media availability and de 0:02:48.659 --> 0:02:52.099 Anthony Melton, who he came back for a couple of 0:02:52.139 --> 0:02:54.539 games in February, but really he's been out for more 0:02:54.579 --> 0:02:57.379 than two months, like mid January. The Anthony Meltain he 0:02:57.419 --> 0:02:58.699 was a starter for this team. 0:02:58.819 --> 0:03:00.939 So it's good that. 0:03:00.939 --> 0:03:03.579 He was upgraded to questionable and as we speak right now, 0:03:03.619 --> 0:03:07.059 we don't know his status. Nick Nurse seemed pretty optimistic 0:03:07.099 --> 0:03:09.539 that if it's not tonight, it probably will be this week. 0:03:09.579 --> 0:03:11.779 I'm not speaking trying not to speak for him, but 0:03:12.179 --> 0:03:14.579 it's encouraging the way the tone that he was using. 0:03:14.619 --> 0:03:16.619 And what does that mean for the Sixers. 0:03:16.979 --> 0:03:21.619 Well, it's another perimeter defender for sure. I think though 0:03:21.659 --> 0:03:24.299 the last time he came back and correct me if 0:03:24.339 --> 0:03:27.259 I'm wrong, I think it only lasted two or three games. 0:03:27.339 --> 0:03:29.939 It was three three and in those games it was 0:03:30.099 --> 0:03:32.299 not more than about twenty minutes in any of them. 0:03:32.659 --> 0:03:35.339 And the back is, you know, it's a tough injury 0:03:35.499 --> 0:03:36.099 for people. 0:03:36.379 --> 0:03:39.459 And you mentioned that he is a starter for this team. 0:03:39.699 --> 0:03:41.379 I do not think that will be the role that 0:03:41.419 --> 0:03:44.019 he has when he comes back. But I think any 0:03:44.259 --> 0:03:46.459 perimeter defender, and I think he puts a lot of 0:03:46.579 --> 0:03:50.379 energy into that side of the ball, is just added 0:03:50.459 --> 0:03:54.579 depth that you're grateful to have. So I think Deannthony 0:03:54.619 --> 0:03:57.819 knows that his role will be different at this juncture, 0:03:58.139 --> 0:04:01.619 but I think that he will be a willing participant 0:04:02.019 --> 0:04:02.859 in whatever role. 0:04:02.979 --> 0:04:04.619 Nick Nurse asks of him. 0:04:04.819 --> 0:04:05.979 We know that he'll take threes. 0:04:06.019 --> 0:04:08.979 He's thirty six percent and he's played less than forty 0:04:09.019 --> 0:04:11.379 games this season. He's also a big reason why this 0:04:11.459 --> 0:04:14.859 Sixers team started out so hot on steels and deflections, 0:04:14.899 --> 0:04:15.219 but they. 0:04:15.099 --> 0:04:17.379 Have maintained that ranking. 0:04:17.419 --> 0:04:21.139 Have you seen Nick Nurse's imprint on that stylistically with 0:04:21.179 --> 0:04:23.579 the defense, because the Sixers for much of this year, 0:04:23.619 --> 0:04:25.339 if not all of it, have been first in steels 0:04:25.379 --> 0:04:27.299 per game, still first at eight and a half. And 0:04:27.299 --> 0:04:31.699 then deflections is sixteen point two, tied with Memphis here 0:04:31.699 --> 0:04:34.739 on April ninth, for the most deflections per game in 0:04:34.779 --> 0:04:38.059 the NBA, which we know has become a stable coaches 0:04:38.219 --> 0:04:40.499 really care about and in the Blue Coats and the 0:04:40.499 --> 0:04:43.059 Sixers too, but coaches really care about that number in 0:04:43.139 --> 0:04:45.699 Melton is only going to help them stay at the top. 0:04:45.859 --> 0:04:48.139 I think so. I think what it says. 0:04:48.259 --> 0:04:50.859 You know that they want to get in passing lanes, 0:04:51.539 --> 0:04:54.979 they use their length, and they have some guys that 0:04:55.219 --> 0:04:57.859 can do that. And then because you have a rim 0:04:57.939 --> 0:05:01.339 protector in Embiid, you can take a few more chances 0:05:01.819 --> 0:05:04.419 because he makes up for a lot of mistakes. 0:05:03.939 --> 0:05:07.259 If you don't get that deflection or that steal. 0:05:07.819 --> 0:05:09.779 It's such a simple concept to have your arms out 0:05:09.859 --> 0:05:13.379 on defense and or arms up. But right when Nick 0:05:13.459 --> 0:05:16.219 Nurse got here, everyone started, we all started hearing this 0:05:16.299 --> 0:05:18.779 language or this phrase Eagles, and that's what they call 0:05:18.899 --> 0:05:21.739 just spreading your your wings on the defensive end. And 0:05:22.219 --> 0:05:24.299 it's simple because they're professional players. 0:05:24.299 --> 0:05:26.379 But you'll fire some Matt. Yeah. 0:05:26.459 --> 0:05:29.299 You'll often hear the bench and the and their teammates 0:05:29.379 --> 0:05:32.179 yelling out Eagles, Eagles, and it just means have your 0:05:32.259 --> 0:05:35.019 arms out on defense. And that is something that you 0:05:35.019 --> 0:05:37.939 know they're reminded of on a regular basis. They are 0:05:37.979 --> 0:05:40.779 forty four and thirty five. I want to talk embiid MAXI, 0:05:40.899 --> 0:05:42.819 the Spurs game, all of that, but before we go there, 0:05:42.859 --> 0:05:47.339 just these standings in general. I mean, there's seven after 0:05:47.379 --> 0:05:50.579 the win over the Spurs to ump Miami for the 0:05:50.659 --> 0:05:54.579 time being, and obviously one through six they're in the 0:05:54.579 --> 0:05:59.259 playoffs guaranteed. The play in tournament is seven through ten. 0:05:59.499 --> 0:06:02.339 Seven gets the home game and the right to win 0:06:02.379 --> 0:06:04.819 that at home to get the official seven seed. But 0:06:04.859 --> 0:06:08.019 I've heard you on the Fanatic diving into the Eastern 0:06:08.019 --> 0:06:10.619 Conference and really explaining it. Well, so where is your 0:06:10.659 --> 0:06:13.099 mind at right now when it comes to the Sixers 0:06:13.179 --> 0:06:15.099 place in the Eastern Conference. 0:06:15.019 --> 0:06:18.299 So you don't have the tiebreaker with Indiana. And I 0:06:18.339 --> 0:06:20.579 know some people were like, who should I pull for 0:06:20.779 --> 0:06:22.059 yesterday between. 0:06:21.699 --> 0:06:22.819 Miami and Indiana. 0:06:22.939 --> 0:06:26.419 I think the right thing happened with Miami losing that 0:06:26.499 --> 0:06:30.019 game because I don't think you can just focus on 0:06:30.219 --> 0:06:30.739 trying to. 0:06:30.659 --> 0:06:31.619 Get the sixth seed. 0:06:31.939 --> 0:06:35.139 I think hosting the play in game on your home 0:06:35.139 --> 0:06:40.899 floor is absolutely important as well. So for them to 0:06:42.219 --> 0:06:45.419 knock Indiana out, they're gonna have that forty seven wins, 0:06:45.659 --> 0:06:48.259 which they can if they run the table. They've had 0:06:48.379 --> 0:06:50.699 a five game winning streak with three to play, so 0:06:50.739 --> 0:06:53.699 it would be an eight game winning streak and more 0:06:53.739 --> 0:06:56.619 important than that, Matt, even if Indiana ends up with 0:06:56.619 --> 0:06:58.939 forty seven and you lose that battle, but you end 0:06:59.019 --> 0:07:02.099 up with the seventh, you're heading into the postseason playing. 0:07:01.819 --> 0:07:04.779 Great basketball, and that to me matters. 0:07:05.179 --> 0:07:09.099 You got your guy back, you're winning, and people are 0:07:09.139 --> 0:07:09.739 afraid of you. 0:07:10.379 --> 0:07:10.619 Yeah. 0:07:10.659 --> 0:07:15.939 So even above Indiana, things have the potential because Cleveland 0:07:15.979 --> 0:07:17.859 has dropped three in a row, down from three to 0:07:17.979 --> 0:07:21.019 five yep, and Orlando has shot up to three. That's 0:07:21.019 --> 0:07:23.859 who the Sixers will see on Friday night, but they 0:07:23.899 --> 0:07:26.179 have that tie breaker. So Orlando is one of the 0:07:26.179 --> 0:07:29.419 teams that technically the Sixers could still pass in the standings, 0:07:29.459 --> 0:07:31.699 even though they're up at number three right now. So 0:07:31.739 --> 0:07:34.379 maybe that is a young team that comes crashing down 0:07:34.419 --> 0:07:36.979 because they play the Bucks twice before the end. 0:07:37.179 --> 0:07:39.739 Well, right now, the Bucks are they're fulling on hard 0:07:39.779 --> 0:07:40.379 times there. 0:07:40.739 --> 0:07:42.059 They've lost four in a row. 0:07:42.099 --> 0:07:44.699 I don't know if you caught Doc Rivers pres conference 0:07:44.739 --> 0:07:47.899 the other day, man which one, Oh my goodness, right exactly, 0:07:48.139 --> 0:07:49.859 he's going through a tough time right now. 0:07:49.859 --> 0:07:51.139 And no one's going to catch Boston. 0:07:51.219 --> 0:07:55.099 And then obviously Sixers fans are hoping for probably the 0:07:55.179 --> 0:07:57.539 six for the extra week off, but the seven as 0:07:57.579 --> 0:08:01.259 well because you avoid the Boston side of the bracket. 0:08:01.299 --> 0:08:02.379 Seems like a pretty good thing. 0:08:02.579 --> 0:08:03.539 I think the root for. 0:08:03.779 --> 0:08:07.219 Yeah, But I mean you are correct, Like the Milwaukee 0:08:07.379 --> 0:08:09.619 I thought for the longest time was going to be 0:08:09.659 --> 0:08:13.939 the second seat. I mean that's not a given right now. 0:08:14.019 --> 0:08:17.659 So I mean you have Orlando a game back of them, 0:08:18.619 --> 0:08:21.299 and then the Knicks are tied with the Magic I 0:08:21.339 --> 0:08:25.499 didn't do a deep dive into that tiebreaker, and then 0:08:25.539 --> 0:08:27.819 you have the Calves only a half game out of 0:08:27.859 --> 0:08:31.979 those two who are sixteen. Thats so I think that 0:08:32.339 --> 0:08:38.099 on Sunday there could be movement that maybe a month 0:08:38.139 --> 0:08:40.019 ago you would not have anticipated. 0:08:40.019 --> 0:08:40.579 In the East. 0:08:40.979 --> 0:08:45.139 Sixers do have the lowest opponent winning percentage coming up 0:08:45.179 --> 0:08:47.859 for the remainder of their regular season, but some of 0:08:47.899 --> 0:08:50.899 it is a little out of their hands. Matt Murphy 0:08:50.899 --> 0:08:54.779 and d Line, I'm here on Sixers in sixty and 0:08:54.859 --> 0:08:58.019 we do have some news to report about this Pistons game. 0:08:58.139 --> 0:09:02.739 That both Kyle Lowry and Tyrese Maxey are out tonight. 0:09:02.859 --> 0:09:05.419 So Maxi had been on the injury report a couple 0:09:05.459 --> 0:09:07.779 of times, missed a couple games with the hip, but 0:09:07.939 --> 0:09:10.699 played through the hip a couple of times as well 0:09:10.699 --> 0:09:14.379 for fifty two points and he played fifty four minutes. 0:09:14.419 --> 0:09:16.379 So because of the left hip titan as he is 0:09:16.419 --> 0:09:19.899 out and Kyle Lowry left knee of fusion, they're just 0:09:19.939 --> 0:09:23.299 trying to get him right. And the two days coming 0:09:23.379 --> 0:09:26.099 up that are off before the Orlando game is something 0:09:26.139 --> 0:09:28.939 that Nick Nurse just referenced to us as well. 0:09:28.939 --> 0:09:31.419 But that puts a lot of pressure on the Sixers. 0:09:31.859 --> 0:09:32.779 Well, you might have your. 0:09:32.659 --> 0:09:35.419 Guy that you said as a starter, d Anthony Melton 0:09:35.819 --> 0:09:37.579 might go right back in there as a starter. 0:09:38.139 --> 0:09:41.619 Yeah, so no official ruling yet on Melton as out, 0:09:41.699 --> 0:09:45.579 but he was questionable sometimes guys you know, are questionable 0:09:45.579 --> 0:09:48.019 all the way up until the starting lineup a half 0:09:48.019 --> 0:09:50.619 an hour before. But we do have word about Lowry 0:09:50.899 --> 0:09:53.739 and Maxie being out a special game for Tyrese. 0:09:54.499 --> 0:09:57.379 I'm guessing that then that would go if we go 0:09:57.459 --> 0:10:00.699 a couple back when Tyresee did not play, campaign was 0:10:00.739 --> 0:10:03.499 in that starting lineup, that there's a good chance that 0:10:03.539 --> 0:10:05.179 would be the case here today. 0:10:04.939 --> 0:10:07.499 He's played really well as a starter as well, and 0:10:07.539 --> 0:10:10.579 someone with playoff experience, which I want to get your 0:10:10.859 --> 0:10:13.259 X factor for the playoffs. In a moment before that, 0:10:13.339 --> 0:10:16.899 the fun double overtime game on Sunday against San Antonio. 0:10:16.939 --> 0:10:18.179 What were some of your takeaways from that? 0:10:18.979 --> 0:10:22.659 My first takeaway was that Tyrese Maxi was not going 0:10:22.739 --> 0:10:25.819 to let them lose that game, just flat out. 0:10:26.179 --> 0:10:27.819 I mean, he put them on his back. 0:10:28.659 --> 0:10:31.699 My other takeaways would be I thought Ricky Counsel in 0:10:31.739 --> 0:10:35.579 the second overtime was outstanding. kJ Martin in the first 0:10:35.659 --> 0:10:38.739 overtime gives you a couple of buckets. So to have 0:10:38.899 --> 0:10:42.459 guys that you've developed and come through in a moment 0:10:42.579 --> 0:10:45.099 like that, because really we're not talking about the sixth 0:10:45.099 --> 0:10:48.739 seed being possible today if they don't pull that game 0:10:48.779 --> 0:10:51.739 out out. So those two things stood out to me 0:10:51.779 --> 0:10:55.379 in particular. But Tyrese's play. This guy he's just so 0:10:55.619 --> 0:10:59.619 fun that he's so humble, and he's super super talented. 0:10:59.939 --> 0:11:03.619 One turnover in the fifty four minutes. I know that was, 0:11:03.779 --> 0:11:06.139 of course because of the two overtimes, a career high 0:11:06.139 --> 0:11:08.219 for minutes. He edged out his career high, scoring a 0:11:08.259 --> 0:11:09.979 fifty one with the fifty two. 0:11:10.219 --> 0:11:12.699 And I said, and I felt bad saying it in 0:11:12.739 --> 0:11:15.459 a report ahead. The only thing he didn't do well 0:11:15.779 --> 0:11:17.459 he didn't shoot the three ball. Yeah, he was two 0:11:17.539 --> 0:11:20.819 for ten, but nineteen of forty one from the floor, 0:11:20.859 --> 0:11:23.579 seven assists only the one turn in fifty four minutes? 0:11:23.579 --> 0:11:24.299 Are you kidding me? 0:11:24.379 --> 0:11:26.019 But it's still good to see him take the ten 0:11:26.259 --> 0:11:28.979 and make all the other drives and off angle of 0:11:29.019 --> 0:11:29.619 shots and things. 0:11:29.819 --> 0:11:32.299 It keeps the defender honest. 0:11:32.779 --> 0:11:36.779 Now, outside of Maxi and Joel Embiid, when it comes 0:11:36.779 --> 0:11:39.819 to looking ahead, who is a player doesn't even have 0:11:39.859 --> 0:11:41.499 to be a player, could be the coach who. 0:11:42.179 --> 0:11:44.059 That's my X factor, Nick Nurse. 0:11:44.219 --> 0:11:46.659 Nick Nurse is my Can I tell you why? 0:11:46.779 --> 0:11:50.939 Yes, Because I love the way his brain works. I 0:11:51.019 --> 0:11:58.059 love his creativity, and I always say to people the 0:11:58.139 --> 0:12:00.539 rotation shrinks in the postseason. 0:12:01.779 --> 0:12:03.179 I don't think so for Nick Nurse. 0:12:03.939 --> 0:12:07.659 I think that he will use matchups that are to 0:12:07.779 --> 0:12:11.219 his advantage. And I think even in listening to him 0:12:11.299 --> 0:12:16.579 last week when the OKC game, that he's scheming differently 0:12:16.739 --> 0:12:20.339 or trying things because he has not had the opportunity 0:12:20.779 --> 0:12:24.139 to see embid with Lowry. He talked about Lowry and 0:12:24.219 --> 0:12:27.459 what a great screenery is. He talked about Colin Lowry 0:12:27.459 --> 0:12:30.579 into his office and say, you know, hey, e Bead's 0:12:31.019 --> 0:12:33.339 playing tonight, and Lowry said to her, I don't know 0:12:33.379 --> 0:12:34.339 what to do with that dude. 0:12:34.579 --> 0:12:36.979 And then He's like, he's gonna be in this space. 0:12:37.019 --> 0:12:40.539 He's gonna be He's like, oh, like surge and Nick's like, yeah, 0:12:40.739 --> 0:12:41.539 like surge. 0:12:42.659 --> 0:12:42.899 Yeah. 0:12:43.459 --> 0:12:47.819 So I just think Nick Nurse, I really enjoy watching 0:12:48.259 --> 0:12:50.699 the different things that he and his staff come up with, 0:12:50.739 --> 0:12:53.019 and I think we're gonna have We're gonna see some 0:12:53.099 --> 0:12:54.099 of that in the postseason. 0:12:54.139 --> 0:12:56.939 And a perfect example of going with maybe just a 0:12:56.979 --> 0:13:00.019 different option was Ricky Counsel the fourth not playing in 0:13:00.059 --> 0:13:02.219 the first three quarters against San Antonio and then not 0:13:02.339 --> 0:13:04.939 coming out from the fourth quarter through the overtime. So 0:13:04.979 --> 0:13:06.059 that's just another example. 0:13:06.179 --> 0:13:08.019 And I think Batoum is another one. 0:13:07.979 --> 0:13:09.139 Like you bound specialist. 0:13:09.259 --> 0:13:11.859 Yeah right, And I also think that he will flip 0:13:12.219 --> 0:13:15.059 if he thinks Batoomb gives him size that he needs 0:13:15.059 --> 0:13:15.979 in his starting lineup. 0:13:16.139 --> 0:13:17.339 He'll bring Kelly off the bench. 0:13:17.379 --> 0:13:19.859 But either one of the batom came off the bench 0:13:19.899 --> 0:13:22.179 a couple of games ago and played thirty minutes, and 0:13:22.219 --> 0:13:24.499 then he's been in there when somebody's been out, like 0:13:24.539 --> 0:13:29.499 a Maxi or Tobias. So I think the one thing 0:13:29.739 --> 0:13:34.179 Nick keeps everybody all hands on deck at all times. 0:13:35.099 --> 0:13:37.979 Well, the Sixers coaches and the head coach, Nick Nurse, 0:13:38.259 --> 0:13:41.419 will have to get creative ahead of this Pistons game 0:13:41.499 --> 0:13:45.939 without Lowry and Maxie available, they have been ruled out. 0:13:45.979 --> 0:13:48.899 We will hear from Lauren Roseen, the Sixers team reporter, 0:13:49.099 --> 0:13:51.579 next and Ricky Counsel, the fourth later in the show. 0:13:51.619 --> 0:13:54.379 But d line Um, our fanatic basketball insidner, thank. 0:13:54.219 --> 0:13:54.739 You so much. 0:13:54.939 --> 0:13:56.539 Absolutely always a pleasure. 0:13:56.579 --> 0:13:59.299 Mat More Sixers and sixty coming up on ninety seven 0:13:59.299 --> 0:14:04.139 to five the Fanatic, and we are back with more 0:14:04.339 --> 0:14:10.699 Sixers in sixty from the Center before Sixers Pistons. Matt 0:14:10.819 --> 0:14:15.179 Murphy now joined by Sixers team reporter Lauren Rosen, and 0:14:15.259 --> 0:14:19.579 we'll soon be joined by our pal Nick Stauskas as well. 0:14:19.619 --> 0:14:23.539 But Lauren, Hello, welcome to tonight's show. 0:14:23.859 --> 0:14:26.339 Matt Murphy. What's going on? Thrilled to be here last 0:14:26.339 --> 0:14:27.499 week of the regular season. 0:14:27.859 --> 0:14:29.859 I know you brought a lunchbox to the game tonight. 0:14:29.939 --> 0:14:32.979 That was a big pregame update, so I sure did listen. 0:14:33.539 --> 0:14:35.619 You're never too old for a lunchbox. Let's get into it. 0:14:35.699 --> 0:14:37.659 For the record, I voted yes, I would carry a 0:14:37.739 --> 0:14:40.219 lunchbox instead of having warm food. 0:14:40.419 --> 0:14:41.459 So there we go. 0:14:41.659 --> 0:14:44.459 That's that's what people tune in for Sixers coverage. You 0:14:44.459 --> 0:14:47.459 get lunchbox talk to producer tonight thanks to Matt Manarik, 0:14:47.499 --> 0:14:51.259 thanks to our engineer Marty Dickerson. The Sixers prior to 0:14:51.299 --> 0:14:53.859 the Pistons game at forty four and thirty five seven 0:14:54.499 --> 0:14:57.819 in the Eastern Conference, and let's bring in Nick Stauskas 0:14:57.979 --> 0:15:04.099 on the Comcast Business Hotline. Sixers with three games left 0:15:04.699 --> 0:15:08.859 in the regular season, and Nick Stauskas, they're playing the Pistons. 0:15:08.899 --> 0:15:10.619 So my first question is, I know you've done a 0:15:10.619 --> 0:15:13.179 lot of college basketball talk, could you con beat the Pistons? No, 0:15:13.219 --> 0:15:15.499 I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding, but I am. I 0:15:15.539 --> 0:15:19.899 am curious your thoughts on just the Since you obviously 0:15:19.979 --> 0:15:23.579 excelled at Michigan and played in the NBA and had 0:15:23.579 --> 0:15:26.779 a great career, So the difference is between college and 0:15:26.939 --> 0:15:30.459 pro ball. What are some of the biggest adjustments for 0:15:30.659 --> 0:15:32.419 players and in your case as well. 0:15:33.499 --> 0:15:35.779 Well, you know, first of all, let's give a shout 0:15:35.779 --> 0:15:38.379 out to the to the Yukon huskys man. What an 0:15:38.419 --> 0:15:43.659 absolute domination just clinic they put on over the last 0:15:43.699 --> 0:15:46.619 two seasons. We've never really seen anything like that, So, 0:15:47.779 --> 0:15:50.819 you know, hatch off to them. Well, to the same token, 0:15:51.259 --> 0:15:53.899 there's just no chance that a college team could beat 0:15:53.939 --> 0:15:56.499 an NBA team. And you just have to remember that 0:15:56.939 --> 0:16:00.939 every single player that is on an NBA roster was 0:16:00.979 --> 0:16:03.459 at one point, you know, the best player on their 0:16:03.499 --> 0:16:05.659 college team or one of the best players on their 0:16:05.659 --> 0:16:08.419 college team. So you know, to throw out that statement 0:16:08.619 --> 0:16:09.539 is a little. 0:16:10.139 --> 0:16:13.739 A little premature, but say that they would. 0:16:14.139 --> 0:16:16.619 No, no, well it's not you. I know, people in 0:16:16.659 --> 0:16:19.019 general have been talking about that, which is you know, 0:16:19.179 --> 0:16:21.739 I think it's a little, uh, it's a little premature, 0:16:21.779 --> 0:16:24.499 but hey, if stirs the stirs the pot, you get 0:16:24.499 --> 0:16:27.699 the conversation going. But I think for the Sixers right now, 0:16:28.299 --> 0:16:31.459 switching gears, you got three games less than the season. 0:16:31.459 --> 0:16:33.779 You got the Pistons tonight, and we talked about it 0:16:33.819 --> 0:16:36.219 all year, but it's just one of those time periods where, 0:16:37.139 --> 0:16:40.899 especially in seventh place, trying to get out of seventh 0:16:41.019 --> 0:16:42.939 and not have to play in the playing games, you 0:16:42.979 --> 0:16:45.619 got to win the easy ones. And not that any 0:16:45.659 --> 0:16:48.419 game in the NBA is easy, but you know, the 0:16:48.459 --> 0:16:51.299 Pistons are one of the more beatable teams, So it's 0:16:51.299 --> 0:16:52.539 one of those games that you've got to come in 0:16:52.579 --> 0:16:55.539 with a professional mindset and just handle your business. 0:16:56.219 --> 0:16:58.459 It's interesting, Nick Dawskis, and I wonder if you can 0:16:58.499 --> 0:17:02.699 relate to this, But speaking of college teams versus NBA teams, 0:17:02.739 --> 0:17:05.259 et cetera, the popular debate that I agree with you 0:17:05.419 --> 0:17:08.459 should be pretty null and void anytime you bring the 0:17:08.539 --> 0:17:10.939 NBA into it. But I sat down with Tyrese Maxey 0:17:11.019 --> 0:17:14.339 this weekend in Memphis for a long form interview that's 0:17:14.339 --> 0:17:17.179 available on the Sixers YouTube Channel course at Comparisons presented 0:17:17.179 --> 0:17:19.619 by Nerd Whallet, and Tyree's had an interesting nugget that 0:17:19.619 --> 0:17:22.219 he shared. I asked him what the peaks and valleys 0:17:22.259 --> 0:17:24.699 were of each season in his NBA career, and we 0:17:24.739 --> 0:17:26.059 talked about his rookie season. 0:17:26.179 --> 0:17:27.499 The valley he chose for. 0:17:27.499 --> 0:17:29.579 His rookie season was the first time that he was 0:17:29.699 --> 0:17:31.939 dressed for a basketball game that he did not play in. 0:17:31.979 --> 0:17:33.899 And Nick, the story that he told that I'm wondering 0:17:33.899 --> 0:17:35.939 if you can relate to, was the idea that on 0:17:35.979 --> 0:17:37.699 every team he had ever been on, he was the 0:17:37.699 --> 0:17:40.579 best player on the team, even at Kentucky when he 0:17:40.659 --> 0:17:43.299 might not have been the consensus best player on his 0:17:43.379 --> 0:17:45.619 team in that season, at any given time, there was 0:17:45.659 --> 0:17:47.779 never a time where he dressed and didn't play, And 0:17:47.819 --> 0:17:50.539 he talked about how hard that hit him to experience 0:17:50.579 --> 0:17:52.939 something like that for the first time as an NBA player, 0:17:52.939 --> 0:17:54.219 And then, of course you have to look at how 0:17:54.299 --> 0:17:55.979 much he's grown in the time, since I don't think 0:17:55.979 --> 0:17:57.739 there will ever be a time in the rest of 0:17:57.779 --> 0:18:00.659 Tyrese Maxie's career where he dresses and does not play, 0:18:00.739 --> 0:18:02.899 but it was interesting to hear him talk about the 0:18:02.899 --> 0:18:05.339 way that on every team growing up AAU middle school, 0:18:05.419 --> 0:18:09.699 high school, through college. To join a team where you're 0:18:09.739 --> 0:18:12.419 accustomed to playing every single time you put your uniform on, 0:18:12.659 --> 0:18:16.259 and then experience not playing for the first time. Stauskis, 0:18:16.299 --> 0:18:18.259 do you have similar memories? 0:18:18.979 --> 0:18:22.259 Oh, my goodness, very very similar memories. I had a 0:18:22.339 --> 0:18:24.419 coach my rookie year. He goes by the name of 0:18:24.499 --> 0:18:27.579 George Carl and he just did not like to play 0:18:27.619 --> 0:18:31.819 rookies very much. And you know, Kobe Carl is now 0:18:32.739 --> 0:18:35.779 his son, part of the Sixers organization, and Kobe was 0:18:35.819 --> 0:18:38.419 around us a lot kind of as like almost a 0:18:38.459 --> 0:18:40.619 practice player at that time, and I have a great 0:18:40.659 --> 0:18:43.659 relationship with him. But man, I just did not play 0:18:43.939 --> 0:18:45.939 at all. You know. I think the first five or 0:18:45.979 --> 0:18:48.659 six games that George Callet took over, I just DNP 0:18:50.099 --> 0:18:52.739 And that was a tough pod to swallow, and you know, 0:18:52.859 --> 0:18:54.499 just goes to show you that you could be great 0:18:54.499 --> 0:18:56.619 at the college level. But there is an adjustment period. 0:18:56.659 --> 0:18:59.219 And I'll go as far to say that as dominant 0:18:59.219 --> 0:19:02.059 as this Yukon team is, the guys that leave and 0:19:02.099 --> 0:19:04.339 go on and get drafted this year, you know, I 0:19:04.379 --> 0:19:06.659 would venture to say that none of them will go 0:19:06.779 --> 0:19:09.859 on and be starters their first year on what you know, 0:19:09.899 --> 0:19:13.059 whichever team they're on. It's just how the NBA is. 0:19:13.099 --> 0:19:16.739 There's so many good players worldwide. There's so much talent, 0:19:17.179 --> 0:19:21.019 and obviously when you're eighteen, nineteen, twenty years old competing 0:19:21.059 --> 0:19:24.339 against guys that have been doing this professionally for ten 0:19:24.459 --> 0:19:27.939 fifteen years, there's there's a little bit of a learning 0:19:28.019 --> 0:19:31.059 curve and you know, the physical jump as well that 0:19:31.139 --> 0:19:34.659 comes along with it. So they're all good experiences though, 0:19:34.739 --> 0:19:37.419 like you know, getting humbled early on in your career, 0:19:37.499 --> 0:19:40.459 like you know, I'm sure that moment for Tyrese was 0:19:40.499 --> 0:19:42.259 a moment where he's like, man, I got to get 0:19:42.299 --> 0:19:44.859 in the gym and work harder. And the guys that 0:19:44.979 --> 0:19:47.539 can use that as fuel to get better are the 0:19:47.539 --> 0:19:49.859 guys that tend to succeed in this league. 0:19:50.699 --> 0:19:55.979 Nick Dauskis, you talk about the Sixers potentially avoiding the 0:19:56.019 --> 0:20:00.619 play in tournament all together, and at face value, that 0:20:01.459 --> 0:20:05.459 means a top more time off before the playoffs. So 0:20:05.739 --> 0:20:09.099 if things break their way other teams lose, they win 0:20:09.579 --> 0:20:12.779