WEBVTT - 2024-25 Sixers Schedule Breakdown 0:00:49.259 --> 0:00:51.539 I'm Tari's Mike Si and you're listening to the seventy 0:00:51.579 --> 0:00:53.419 six 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 --> 0:01:42.819 They'll go ring the insurance company's bell. Seventy six Ers 0:01:42.819 --> 0:01:47.459 Insiders Schedule Release Edition with Lauren Rosen. I'm Matt Murphy. 0:01:47.899 --> 0:01:50.859 Always a fun time of year when the schedule comes 0:01:50.859 --> 0:01:53.739 out and you can identify the matchups you might be 0:01:53.779 --> 0:01:57.699 looking for or you know everyone is looking for around 0:01:57.699 --> 0:01:59.059 the league. We're going to do a little bit of 0:01:59.059 --> 0:02:02.619 that in a short ish podcast today. We'll talk about 0:02:02.659 --> 0:02:05.579 the Emirates NBA Cup and of course all the key 0:02:05.659 --> 0:02:08.739 dates for the seventy six ers and the prominent league 0:02:08.779 --> 0:02:12.059 wide dates that they are playing on, such as Christmas Day, 0:02:12.059 --> 0:02:14.859 and break down some key opponents and the matchups that 0:02:14.899 --> 0:02:18.139 we are looking forward to. First, Lauren, what do you 0:02:18.259 --> 0:02:21.299 like about this time of year? 0:02:22.179 --> 0:02:25.779 Ooh, I love the ramp up phase. 0:02:25.859 --> 0:02:26.539 Matt Murphy. 0:02:26.579 --> 0:02:29.619 We know that these guys have been in the gym separately, 0:02:29.859 --> 0:02:32.499 right usually in August they start to meet up with 0:02:32.579 --> 0:02:36.459 one another. September they start to meet up in Philly 0:02:37.299 --> 0:02:42.059 training camp preseason, and then we're really off to the races. 0:02:42.059 --> 0:02:44.139 And as soon as the schedule comes out, it does 0:02:44.179 --> 0:02:47.139 all start to feel very real. This schedule feels a 0:02:47.139 --> 0:02:49.299 little different than some of the ones that we had 0:02:49.299 --> 0:02:52.499 in recent seasons, so looking forward to breaking it down with. 0:02:52.419 --> 0:02:56.579 You, notably the one of the West Coast trips that 0:02:56.619 --> 0:03:00.699 will talk about. But let's start with the opening game, 0:03:00.939 --> 0:03:04.099 which also happens to be the home opener for the 0:03:04.139 --> 0:03:06.659 seventy six Ers, which is not always the case. It's 0:03:06.779 --> 0:03:11.179 the inverse location of last season's opening game. It's the 0:03:11.339 --> 0:03:14.419 Milwaukee Bucks coming to Philadelphia for a seven to thirty 0:03:14.459 --> 0:03:19.659 Eastern game on Wednesday, October twenty third. How do you 0:03:19.859 --> 0:03:23.179 remember the opening night last year in Milwaukee with Damian 0:03:23.219 --> 0:03:25.939 Lillard against Tyrese Maxi, And how do you feel about 0:03:25.939 --> 0:03:27.019 it being in Philly this time? 0:03:27.579 --> 0:03:29.739 Well, that's exactly what I was going to say, Matt Murphy. 0:03:29.819 --> 0:03:33.979 Last season at Milwaukee, the Sixers struggled a bit to 0:03:34.099 --> 0:03:37.779 combat that first pairing that anyone had seen of Jannis 0:03:37.779 --> 0:03:41.139 Antetokumpo and Damian Lillard, and it ended up being just 0:03:41.219 --> 0:03:42.739 such an exciting game. 0:03:42.619 --> 0:03:43.339 Down the stretch. 0:03:43.419 --> 0:03:45.899 Loved every minute of that one, and love the opportunity 0:03:45.939 --> 0:03:48.179 for a rematch with the Milwaukee Bucks, who, of course 0:03:48.419 --> 0:03:51.099 may not be the favorite in the East this season, 0:03:51.139 --> 0:03:53.699 but when you think about the firepower on that team, 0:03:53.779 --> 0:03:56.539 let's not forget about Chris Middleton as a third weapon 0:03:56.819 --> 0:03:59.219 that they have in a very serious way, the Milwaukee 0:03:59.299 --> 0:04:01.219 Bucks are not a team that you can count out 0:04:01.259 --> 0:04:04.459 of any season in their current form right, So love 0:04:04.539 --> 0:04:07.579 the opportunity, of course to play on Opening Night against 0:04:07.579 --> 0:04:10.139 another marquee opponent, an opponent that are going to see 0:04:10.299 --> 0:04:12.539 they're going to see one another and duel throughout the season, 0:04:12.579 --> 0:04:14.419 perhaps again in the playoffs. So it's a great way 0:04:14.459 --> 0:04:17.019 to start a story, especially when two of the main 0:04:17.099 --> 0:04:19.259 character teams are going to start it together and might 0:04:19.339 --> 0:04:20.699 ultimately have to end it together. 0:04:21.619 --> 0:04:24.459 That was a one point loss for the Sixers, and 0:04:24.499 --> 0:04:27.379 then they won their next eight games to start the 0:04:27.419 --> 0:04:31.219 twenty twenty three twenty four season, which took them right 0:04:31.259 --> 0:04:33.219 about to the time. We can also talk about the 0:04:33.219 --> 0:04:35.899 preseason schedule as well, because that should be out at 0:04:35.939 --> 0:04:39.899 the time that the full regular season schedule comes out. 0:04:39.939 --> 0:04:44.339 But the Emirates NBA Cup was around the time that 0:04:44.379 --> 0:04:48.419 the Sixers finally lost again at the start of last season, 0:04:48.419 --> 0:04:51.339 and it was the first first year of that soccer 0:04:51.539 --> 0:04:56.499 style in season tournament now dubbed the Emirates NBA Cup, 0:04:56.539 --> 0:05:00.659 and the Sixers teams opponents during the group stage from 0:05:00.739 --> 0:05:04.579 November twelfth through December third will be the Knicks, their 0:05:04.659 --> 0:05:07.139 playoff opponent last year that everyone is looking forward to 0:05:07.179 --> 0:05:11.979 seeing that again, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, and Charlotte Hornets. 0:05:12.379 --> 0:05:14.859 Those games are on Tuesdays and Fridays, and now we've 0:05:14.859 --> 0:05:17.699 got year two of this NBA Cup. 0:05:18.339 --> 0:05:20.259 It's going to be fabulous, Matt, and listen, I know 0:05:20.339 --> 0:05:24.939 last season people sort of struggled to get fully on board, 0:05:25.179 --> 0:05:27.579 at least fans to get fully on board understanding what 0:05:27.619 --> 0:05:30.739 this event actually is. Of course, you recommend a soccer 0:05:30.819 --> 0:05:35.819 style comparison, looking over at European football, of course, who 0:05:35.979 --> 0:05:38.979 are accustomed to having these in season tournaments. But considering 0:05:38.979 --> 0:05:41.459 that this is only one year in, I think the 0:05:41.499 --> 0:05:44.819 product that they created last year, the playoff in Vegas, 0:05:45.139 --> 0:05:50.379 the separate courts, the alternate courts wearing addition jerseys, it 0:05:50.459 --> 0:05:52.459 was really cool to just watch the way that they 0:05:52.539 --> 0:05:55.579 made sure, even in its infancy, that this would be 0:05:55.579 --> 0:06:00.819 something that looks different from other regular. 0:06:00.419 --> 0:06:01.499 Season NBA games. 0:06:01.539 --> 0:06:03.739 And again, if the goal is to get some excitement 0:06:03.819 --> 0:06:07.379 into the regular season ahead of Christmas, it's the perfect 0:06:07.379 --> 0:06:08.859 way to do it, right when you look at the 0:06:08.859 --> 0:06:12.099 fact that the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals, semi finals and 0:06:12.179 --> 0:06:16.859 championship are gonna be played between December tenth and December seventeenth, 0:06:17.139 --> 0:06:19.739 ahead of of course, the Sixers sort of second or 0:06:19.819 --> 0:06:23.339 rather the NBA's second opening night on Christmas Day, which 0:06:23.419 --> 0:06:24.699 we'll talk about in a second. 0:06:25.299 --> 0:06:26.019 A week later. 0:06:26.219 --> 0:06:29.059 Right now, we're really working through the entire season with 0:06:29.219 --> 0:06:33.619 exciting tent pole moments along the way, not starting at 0:06:33.699 --> 0:06:36.659 Christmas and not ending on opening night, right it sort 0:06:36.659 --> 0:06:39.139 of mixes up those first couple months of this season, 0:06:39.299 --> 0:06:40.739 and I love the way it went last year, so 0:06:40.779 --> 0:06:41.979 looking forward to watching it grow. 0:06:42.659 --> 0:06:46.539 Let's talk about Christmas next, but before that, one last 0:06:46.579 --> 0:06:50.819 thing on the Emirates NBA Cup is that no complaining, 0:06:50.859 --> 0:06:53.459 but the six Ers sometimes found themselves last year on 0:06:53.579 --> 0:06:55.259 the second night of a back to back for some 0:06:55.299 --> 0:06:58.459 of those key games and play the other four teams 0:06:58.899 --> 0:07:02.379 in your group one time each either home or away, 0:07:02.499 --> 0:07:05.619 and the Pacers ended up winning the Sixers group and 0:07:05.699 --> 0:07:08.219 going all the way to the championship game, where they 0:07:08.259 --> 0:07:10.339 lost to the Lakers, who were the first champions of 0:07:10.379 --> 0:07:13.339 this thing. But this Knixt game on November twelfth, this 0:07:13.459 --> 0:07:17.379 Magic Game on November fifteenth, Nets November twenty second, and 0:07:17.419 --> 0:07:20.779 the Charlotte Hornets December third. The two back to backs 0:07:20.819 --> 0:07:23.179 they have in the NBA Cup are both front end 0:07:23.579 --> 0:07:26.659 back to backs, so they can really go all out 0:07:26.699 --> 0:07:29.539 on winning these group stage games. Not that they weren't 0:07:29.699 --> 0:07:32.579 last year, but they were on the second night against 0:07:32.619 --> 0:07:35.259 the Pacers, and I believe it was before a big 0:07:35.299 --> 0:07:39.659 game against the Celtics too, or maybe it was that 0:07:39.659 --> 0:07:41.699 that they played the Pacers and then the Celtics. So 0:07:42.699 --> 0:07:46.859 basically it looks more favorable when it comes to setting 0:07:46.939 --> 0:07:50.939 up your lineup for these groups stage games. Now, the 0:07:51.059 --> 0:07:54.779 NBA on Christmas Day always a huge deal, and the 0:07:54.819 --> 0:07:57.579 Sixers are part of it. Again, with a five pm 0:07:57.579 --> 0:08:03.139 Eastern game on Wednesday Christmas at the Boston Celtics, the 0:08:03.259 --> 0:08:06.059 defending champions, it doesn't get much bigger than that. 0:08:06.779 --> 0:08:09.259 And again, as was the case pairing up with the 0:08:09.259 --> 0:08:12.739 Milwaukee Bucks on opening Night, the NBA giving the seventy 0:08:12.779 --> 0:08:14.819 six Ers a ton of respect when it comes to 0:08:14.899 --> 0:08:17.499 breaking down this schedule, right the opportunity to play against 0:08:17.499 --> 0:08:20.739 the defending champs, to play against arrival, to play on 0:08:20.859 --> 0:08:24.339 Christmas Day during one of these marquee slots on ABC 0:08:24.859 --> 0:08:28.139 in one of the more famous arenas in the country. 0:08:28.179 --> 0:08:30.459 Whether or not you like Boston, you have to respect 0:08:30.579 --> 0:08:32.699 the basketball environment up there, right. 0:08:32.739 --> 0:08:35.939 So to position the Sixers in this way on both 0:08:35.939 --> 0:08:38.179 of the early marquee days for. 0:08:38.259 --> 0:08:41.819 The league is flattering and it's an indication that the 0:08:41.899 --> 0:08:44.859 league is expecting big things from the seventy six Ers, 0:08:44.859 --> 0:08:47.459 who of course are expecting big things from themselves this season. 0:08:48.059 --> 0:08:50.179 Sixers are one of the teams let's played the most 0:08:50.259 --> 0:08:55.859 on Christmas Day. They played the early game against the Knicks, 0:08:55.939 --> 0:08:59.579 but the Spurs will be in New York. Well, they 0:08:59.579 --> 0:09:01.779 played the Heat most recently on Christmas, but they've in 0:09:01.819 --> 0:09:04.619 the past played the early game against the Knicks. It's 0:09:04.659 --> 0:09:09.619 Spurs at Knicks, Timberwolves at Mavericks, seventy six Ers at Celtics, 0:09:10.019 --> 0:09:14.179 Lakers at Warriors, and Nuggets at Suns. And that is 0:09:14.219 --> 0:09:16.979 definitely one of the marquee games that I'm looking forward to. 0:09:17.059 --> 0:09:19.619 But we will wrap in a few moments with not 0:09:19.659 --> 0:09:23.019 only the marquee matchup that we're looking forward to the most, 0:09:23.059 --> 0:09:25.339 but also an under the radar game that each of 0:09:25.419 --> 0:09:29.739 us is looking forward to the most. So the Boston 0:09:29.819 --> 0:09:34.379 games don't start until Christmas, and the other three are 0:09:34.659 --> 0:09:37.619 February second in Philadelphia, the first home game against the 0:09:37.659 --> 0:09:43.019 defending champs, February twentieth, also in Philadelphia, and March sixth, 0:09:43.459 --> 0:09:47.139 So they don't play Boston until Christmas, which should give 0:09:47.179 --> 0:09:50.979 the time the team sometime to get going, and also 0:09:51.179 --> 0:09:53.619 around the All Star break is also another where they 0:09:53.619 --> 0:09:57.499 played half of that regular season series against the Celtics. 0:09:57.699 --> 0:10:00.819 What about the Knicks matchup this year with the first 0:10:00.899 --> 0:10:05.619 being the cup game, and then it's another season where 0:10:05.659 --> 0:10:08.499 they don't play at MSG until later in the season. 0:10:09.019 --> 0:10:13.579 So it's January fifteenth at home, February twenty sixth, and 0:10:13.899 --> 0:10:16.899 April first in New York. But how much are you 0:10:16.899 --> 0:10:20.019 looking forward to seeing the Knicks, which now feature macal 0:10:20.139 --> 0:10:22.739 Bridges against the Sixers, which of course now feature Paul 0:10:22.779 --> 0:10:24.859 George and a host of other new players. 0:10:25.699 --> 0:10:28.059 Not, of course I'm biased, but to me, looking back 0:10:28.139 --> 0:10:31.979 at this NBA Playoffs, the Sixers versus the Knicks, the 0:10:32.019 --> 0:10:35.299 first round of these NBA Playoffs, to me was the 0:10:35.299 --> 0:10:38.419 most exciting series throughout the course of the playoffs. And 0:10:38.459 --> 0:10:40.939 I think that there's an argument to be made that 0:10:40.939 --> 0:10:45.219 it's not even that close. Right, the margin of defeat, 0:10:45.299 --> 0:10:47.899 the margin of victory in each of those games, the 0:10:47.979 --> 0:10:52.339 late game, hero, the theatrics. This series had everything right, 0:10:53.099 --> 0:10:55.659 and everyone remembers how it started. 0:10:55.419 --> 0:10:57.139 How it middled, how it ended. 0:10:58.099 --> 0:11:01.059 I had circled one of the first dates I had circled, 0:11:01.179 --> 0:11:05.899 November twelfth versus the New York Knicks in Philadelphia to 0:11:05.979 --> 0:11:08.499 open the NBA Cups late. By the way, the Knicks 0:11:08.539 --> 0:11:10.779 probably the best of the teams that the Sixers are 0:11:10.819 --> 0:11:14.419 going to face throughout the NBA Cup, which again you 0:11:14.499 --> 0:11:17.019 mentioned it. The Knicks, the Orlando Magic, the Brooklyn Nets, 0:11:17.019 --> 0:11:19.459 and the Charlotte Hornets make up the group phase or 0:11:19.459 --> 0:11:21.419 the group stage that the Sixers are going to play 0:11:21.699 --> 0:11:24.819 in the NBA Cup. But anyway, remembering the taste that 0:11:24.939 --> 0:11:28.059 was left in Sixers fans mouths and in Knicks fans mouths, 0:11:28.099 --> 0:11:31.659 that series was testy to get to resume it early 0:11:31.699 --> 0:11:34.299 in the season, very exciting. Not unlike what we were 0:11:34.299 --> 0:11:36.539 talking about with the Milwaukee Bucks. These are teams that 0:11:36.579 --> 0:11:39.779 are going to be linked throughout the season, perhaps even beyond, 0:11:40.259 --> 0:11:42.499 really looking forward to seeing how they match up. Obviously, 0:11:42.499 --> 0:11:45.979 both teams have leveled up their front side of the 0:11:46.059 --> 0:11:49.739 roster and backsides of the roster in interest ways that 0:11:49.779 --> 0:11:51.819 will change the way that the teams match up with 0:11:51.859 --> 0:11:54.539 one another. But some of the key characters, of course, 0:11:54.579 --> 0:11:57.979 are the same. Continuing to watch Brunson versus Maxi for 0:11:58.179 --> 0:12:00.339 years to come is going to be a pleasure, and 0:12:00.379 --> 0:12:03.739 that pleasure definitely will resume on November twelfth, in Philadelphia. 0:12:04.339 --> 0:12:07.419 That first round matchup that certainly felt like a later 0:12:07.539 --> 0:12:10.819 round matchup up to high quality Eastern Conference teams last 0:12:10.859 --> 0:12:13.219 year ended with the Knicks scoring six hundred and fifty 0:12:13.259 --> 0:12:15.859 points to the six or six hundred and forty nine points, 0:12:15.899 --> 0:12:18.939 which is just remarkable to look back on. It was 0:12:19.179 --> 0:12:23.539 so closely contested, and then a reminder about the Cup. 0:12:23.619 --> 0:12:26.659 You can either win your group or be the other 0:12:26.779 --> 0:12:30.859 team the other top two teams from your conference that 0:12:31.699 --> 0:12:36.139 also advanced to the quarterfinals, which will be in mid December. 0:12:36.179 --> 0:12:40.739 But we'll have plenty more on that when we get closer. 0:12:41.339 --> 0:12:44.619 Some other things about the schedule. You talk about the Knicks, 0:12:44.939 --> 0:12:48.619 the first Knicks game being early season, so is a 0:12:48.659 --> 0:12:53.299 West Coast trip against Phoenix and both LA teams. Why 0:12:53.419 --> 0:12:56.979 is that unusual a little bit for recent Sixers history. 0:12:57.859 --> 0:13:00.539 Well, in recent history, the Sixers don't go all the 0:13:00.539 --> 0:13:02.939 way to Los Angeles until March, right, so to go 0:13:03.059 --> 0:13:06.419 early in the season feels not like a mistake, especially 0:13:06.419 --> 0:13:07.779 when you look at the fact that that's a three 0:13:07.819 --> 0:13:11.019 game trip with three national TV games at Phoenix at 0:13:11.139 --> 0:13:14.099 LA Clippers at LA Lakers. A reminder that the Clippers 0:13:14.139 --> 0:13:15.619 and the Lakers will not be in the same building 0:13:15.699 --> 0:13:18.899 this season. A reminder that just two weeks into his 0:13:19.179 --> 0:13:22.819 Sixers tenure, Paul George is going to return and have 0:13:23.059 --> 0:13:26.379 his first date with his former team in Los Angeles, 0:13:26.459 --> 0:13:28.859 his first date with his former team in a new 0:13:28.899 --> 0:13:32.419 arena in Los Angeles. So really looking forward to that 0:13:32.539 --> 0:13:34.979 November six again, two weeks to the day from the 0:13:35.019 --> 0:13:39.259 season opener October twenty third versus Milwaukee. We will see 0:13:39.259 --> 0:13:42.579 Paul George against his former team. We'll see Tyrese Maxi 0:13:42.659 --> 0:13:45.739 and Joel Embiid against some former teammates, talking of course 0:13:45.779 --> 0:13:49.539 about James Harden, PJ Tucker, Niko Btu Zom back with 0:13:49.579 --> 0:13:53.219 the Clippers, Mobamba signing with the Clippers. So there's tons 0:13:53.259 --> 0:13:56.379 of energy in those first couple weeks. That's without Matt 0:13:56.379 --> 0:13:59.539 even mentioning going back to Toronto early in the season again, 0:13:59.539 --> 0:14:02.579 which will be always a meaningful matchup for head coach 0:14:02.739 --> 0:14:05.059 Nick Nurse, who won a title there of course not 0:14:05.139 --> 0:14:07.779 that many years ago. So there's a ton in those 0:14:07.819 --> 0:14:10.699 first couple weeks. It's meaty, and I'm excited to watch 0:14:10.899 --> 0:14:14.339 the Sixers get such high quality opponents and such marquee 0:14:14.379 --> 0:14:17.419 matchups again as determined by the league so early in 0:14:17.419 --> 0:14:18.059 their schedule. 0:14:18.779 --> 0:14:22.539 The other Sixers Clippers regular season game is also in November, 0:14:22.659 --> 0:14:27.259 November twenty fourth in Philadelphia against Paul George, his most 0:14:27.299 --> 0:14:30.699 recent team before joining up with the seventy six Ers. 0:14:30.739 --> 0:14:34.259 The Denver Nuggets matchups Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, which 0:14:34.259 --> 0:14:38.739 we saw on the game's biggest international stage. Those will 0:14:38.739 --> 0:14:41.979 be in January first, the twenty first of January in 0:14:42.059 --> 0:14:45.939 Denver and the thirty first of January in South Philadelphia. 0:14:46.259 --> 0:14:49.379 There are fourteen back to backs on the s Sixers 0:14:49.379 --> 0:14:52.339 schedule this year, four in the span of two weeks 0:14:52.339 --> 0:14:55.619 in January, two more that pop up in early February, 0:14:55.699 --> 0:14:59.459 so that period of time will be busy for the team. 0:14:59.499 --> 0:15:02.459 But before we wrap up with the matchups that you 0:15:02.499 --> 0:15:06.939 and I are looking forward to personally, is there anything 0:15:06.979 --> 0:15:11.819 in regards to month by month long home stand long 0:15:11.939 --> 0:15:14.099 road trips that jump off the page. 0:15:14.379 --> 0:15:15.059 Well, you mentioned the. 0:15:15.059 --> 0:15:16.579 Back to backs and a lot of road back to 0:15:16.659 --> 0:15:19.459 backs road road rather back to backs for the six 0:15:19.539 --> 0:15:21.419 Ers in the second half of the season. I'm looking 0:15:21.699 --> 0:15:24.459 in January at SAC at Golden State back to back 0:15:24.499 --> 0:15:27.819 not that uncommon to see those two teams on consecutive nights. 0:15:27.859 --> 0:15:29.579 The six Ers have done it before a few times 0:15:29.579 --> 0:15:32.379 in the last couple of years, but at Indiana and 0:15:32.579 --> 0:15:36.099 at Milwaukee on January eighteenth and nineteenth. Then you go 0:15:36.139 --> 0:15:39.339 ahead to March at Dallas at Houston, not as close 0:15:39.379 --> 0:15:41.899 together as people that aren't from Texas like myself might think. 0:15:41.939 --> 0:15:44.099 That is a little bit of a journey. At Dallas at. 0:15:43.979 --> 0:15:46.299 Houston back to back on the sixteenth and the seventeenth 0:15:46.339 --> 0:15:48.699 of March, and then at Atlanta at New Orleans back 0:15:48.699 --> 0:15:51.939 to back on the twenty third and twenty fourth of March. 0:15:51.939 --> 0:15:55.179 So those road road back to backs really in terms 0:15:55.179 --> 0:15:58.379 of sort of a shock to your system, right playing 0:15:58.619 --> 0:16:02.179 high intensity, getting on a plane, getting in changing time zones, 0:16:02.219 --> 0:16:04.539 those are things that I think fans when you turn 0:16:04.579 --> 0:16:08.299 on the game don't really realize exactly how much traveling 0:16:08.339 --> 0:16:11.419 circus through the night is happening every night for every. 0:16:11.099 --> 0:16:12.059 Team in the NBA. 0:16:12.179 --> 0:16:14.379 But those road road back to back is always something 0:16:14.379 --> 0:16:15.819 to look at, and then of course to look at 0:16:15.819 --> 0:16:18.219 what the other team is coming off of. But when 0:16:18.219 --> 0:16:20.139 it's a road road back to back, you know, at 0:16:20.219 --> 0:16:22.619 least the opponent is playing at home and the Sixers 0:16:22.619 --> 0:16:24.779 do not have that privilege. This year, there are a 0:16:24.819 --> 0:16:27.059 few home home back to backs. A couple road home 0:16:27.139 --> 0:16:29.099 back to backs are home road back to backs rather, 0:16:29.499 --> 0:16:31.739 but those road road ones are always ones to look at, 0:16:31.779 --> 0:16:33.819 because if you can steal both games in a road 0:16:33.899 --> 0:16:35.939 road back to back, you've done something pretty impressive. 0:16:43.099 --> 0:16:46.499 I'm going to quickly list the big game that I'm 0:16:46.539 --> 0:16:51.419 looking forward to the most, maybe among the more notable opponents. 0:16:51.459 --> 0:16:55.979 It is that Christmas game in Boston. The five o'clock start. 0:16:56.699 --> 0:16:59.459 I just think that is that's like seems like the 0:16:59.499 --> 0:17:04.659 perfect time on Christmas for a six Ers Celtics game. Really, 0:17:04.699 --> 0:17:06.739 I could go with any of the Boston games as 0:17:06.739 --> 0:17:08.859 the ones I'm looking forward to the most. I think 0:17:08.939 --> 0:17:11.379 the ones post All Star Break, the two that are 0:17:12.499 --> 0:17:15.099 after the All Star Break, which is February twentieth and 0:17:15.179 --> 0:17:17.899 March sixth, could tell us a lot about where both 0:17:17.939 --> 0:17:20.539 of these teams are in the Eastern Conference and how 0:17:20.579 --> 0:17:22.779 they stack up against each other. Because to be the best, 0:17:22.779 --> 0:17:25.819 you have to beat the best, and this Celtics starting 0:17:25.859 --> 0:17:30.259 lineup at least was so so good last season to 0:17:30.299 --> 0:17:34.779 go all the way. Which Marquee game are you looking at? 0:17:35.019 --> 0:17:37.579 I mean, listen, can't argue with the argument that you 0:17:37.779 --> 0:17:40.459 just laid out. I love playing at Denver. I know 0:17:40.539 --> 0:17:43.339 that that's an opponent that the Sixers have had circled 0:17:43.339 --> 0:17:46.339 on their calendar year after year. We haven't seen Yokic 0:17:46.379 --> 0:17:48.899 embid as many times as we've wanted to over the years. 0:17:49.059 --> 0:17:52.219 So I am looking at January twenty first at Denver, 0:17:52.339 --> 0:17:55.019 that coming off of well ending. 0:17:54.739 --> 0:17:57.099 A road trip that features a road road back to back. 0:17:57.099 --> 0:18:00.139 We just mentioned at Indiana at Milwaukee, then taking a 0:18:00.219 --> 0:18:02.539 day off to get to Denver. But at Milwaukee is 0:18:02.539 --> 0:18:05.619 another one that I love, love We talked about it, 0:18:05.779 --> 0:18:08.699 love the first game against the Clippers. Love anytime the 0:18:08.779 --> 0:18:11.419 Sixers face the Dallas Mavericks. There are more connections there 0:18:11.659 --> 0:18:13.859 than we seem to remember. And Tyrese Maxi takes his 0:18:13.939 --> 0:18:17.259 hometown team really seriously. So looking forward to those I 0:18:17.259 --> 0:18:19.579 don't want to steal you're under the radar game. Why 0:18:19.579 --> 0:18:21.539 don't you take it off my plate so that I 0:18:21.539 --> 0:18:22.939 don't steal it from you, because that's what I was 0:18:22.979 --> 0:18:23.379 going to say. 0:18:23.379 --> 0:18:28.219 Next December twenty third, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio 0:18:28.339 --> 0:18:33.219 Spurs seven Eastern in South Philadelphia. So right before that, 0:18:33.299 --> 0:18:39.259 Sixer Celtics game. It's the up and coming Spurs coming 0:18:39.299 --> 0:18:43.859 to Philadelphia on Monday night, the twenty third, and then 0:18:43.899 --> 0:18:46.499 you've got Christmas Eve and then the game in Boston 0:18:46.539 --> 0:18:50.099 at five on Wednesday. So that is my under the 0:18:50.219 --> 0:18:53.659 radar game, and I was given under the Radar honorable mention. 0:18:53.779 --> 0:18:56.179 I know Milwaukee, I don't know if they could qualify 0:18:56.219 --> 0:18:58.939 as under the radar, but it's more so about just 0:18:59.019 --> 0:19:02.419 the day that this game falls on. Another Bucks matchup 0:19:02.499 --> 0:19:07.059 is is February ninth in Milwaukee. It's Super Bowl Sunday, 0:19:07.539 --> 0:19:12.299 so that will be a an afternoon start leading into 0:19:12.339 --> 0:19:15.859 the Super Bowl for the Sixers and the Bucks. 0:19:16.299 --> 0:19:17.379 I love that big day. 0:19:17.379 --> 0:19:19.619 If you're a sports fan, circle it on your calendar 0:19:19.659 --> 0:19:22.579 right now, February ninth, your appetizer is six Ers at. 0:19:22.459 --> 0:19:25.099 Bucks and then the Egles Gaga in the Super Bowl. 0:19:25.619 --> 0:19:27.739 Exactly. You took it right out of my mouth. 0:19:27.779 --> 0:19:29.179 I was going to say, you're gonna see the Sixers 0:19:29.179 --> 0:19:31.019 and the Eagles on the same day, February ninth. 0:19:31.019 --> 0:19:32.499 Matt, It's a great schedule. Listen. 0:19:33.099 --> 0:19:35.139 There will be matchups that we did not talk about 0:19:35.179 --> 0:19:36.939 today that we're going to look back on. I'm thinking 0:19:36.939 --> 0:19:39.659 about these past two matchups with the San Antonio Spurs. 0:19:39.739 --> 0:19:43.419 Last season, we didn't mention those on the well we 0:19:43.539 --> 0:19:46.059 mentioned in the run up to last season. We did 0:19:46.099 --> 0:19:48.779 mention being excited to watch Victor Weembanyama, but we didn't 0:19:48.779 --> 0:19:51.059 realize that those two games were going to be such 0:19:51.139 --> 0:19:54.259 memorable ones last season. I'm talking, of course, of Joel 0:19:54.259 --> 0:19:57.219 Embiid's career high game and then Tyrese Maxi doing the 0:19:57.259 --> 0:20:00.499 same in San Antonio weeks later. So both of those 0:20:00.539 --> 0:20:02.899 games were awesome last season. I'm very excited to see 0:20:03.019 --> 0:20:06.059 which under the radar games we didn't choose, making them 0:20:06.139 --> 0:20:08.379 under the under the radar games are going to stick 0:20:08.419 --> 0:20:10.459 out to us when we look back at twenty four 0:20:10.499 --> 0:20:11.139 to twenty five? 0:20:11.459 --> 0:20:13.219 Did I miss your under the radar pick? 0:20:13.859 --> 0:20:15.099 I mean I listed so many. 0:20:15.179 --> 0:20:18.539 I think my under the radar pick where. 0:20:17.579 --> 0:20:22.659 The back to backs were? I think I didn't pick. 0:20:22.499 --> 0:20:24.539 One, and I think that was intentional because I don't 0:20:24.539 --> 0:20:27.219 want to be proven wrong when my under the radar 0:20:27.379 --> 0:20:29.979 pick ends up not being a great game. But listen 0:20:30.019 --> 0:20:32.779 for me, the Golden State Warriors, do you always stand 0:20:32.819 --> 0:20:34.379 out on a schedule. I don't know if it's just 0:20:34.379 --> 0:20:37.619 because I became a massive NBA fan during their dynasty, 0:20:37.659 --> 0:20:40.099 but the fact that Steph Curry Draymond Green are still 0:20:40.139 --> 0:20:42.779 going to be a part of that team every single year, 0:20:42.859 --> 0:20:46.419 I'll look forward to watching how our Sixers match up 0:20:46.419 --> 0:20:48.499 with the Golden State Warriors. And of course, now adding 0:20:48.539 --> 0:20:51.459 an extra level right Steph Curry and Joel Andbi Team 0:20:51.579 --> 0:20:54.539 USA teammates this summer going to be really cool to 0:20:54.539 --> 0:20:56.899 watch him go into these buildings with some new friends 0:20:56.939 --> 0:21:01.299 with some tight bonds. Looking at at Lakers on November eighth, 0:21:01.379 --> 0:21:04.499 Joelle reuniting with Team USA teammate Lebron James. 0:21:04.579 --> 0:21:05.699 That's going to be fun to say. 0:21:05.499 --> 0:21:08.179 All season long as he continues to visit his now 0:21:08.219 --> 0:21:09.539 teammates as opponents. 0:21:09.739 --> 0:21:11.659 Those are all well and good, but I'm assigning you 0:21:11.779 --> 0:21:15.579 January fourteenth at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who 0:21:15.579 --> 0:21:17.299 could be one of the lost that too, the best 0:21:17.299 --> 0:21:19.499 teams in the West, if not the best team in 0:21:19.539 --> 0:21:22.219 the West again in the regular season. That's a back 0:21:22.259 --> 0:21:25.099 to back mid January against the Thunder at home and 0:21:25.139 --> 0:21:28.899 then the Knicks at home the fourteenth and fifteenth. The 0:21:29.419 --> 0:21:34.979 preseason schedule is a game on October seventh. October eleventh 0:21:35.019 --> 0:21:39.419