Speaker 1: This podcast is part of the seventy Sixers podcast network
Speaker 1: search seventy Sixers podcast wherever you get your pods. About
Speaker 1: a third of the way in the new NBA season,
Speaker 1: the seventy Sixers have established themselves as one of the
Speaker 1: best doc rivers, a big reason why we take a
Speaker 1: look at how the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month
Speaker 1: has contributed to the sixers strong start, as well as
Speaker 1: his impact on a few particular players and where he
Speaker 1: and the team go from here. I'm Lauren Rosen, I'm Givens,
Speaker 1: I'm Brian Seltzer, and with the seventy Sixers in Brooklyn,
Speaker 1: nets set the square off on Saturday, we take a
Speaker 1: look at what makes a good coaching fit on this
Speaker 1: week's Friday Deep Dive. It is Friday once again. That
Speaker 1: means we are chatting with Lauren Rosen and Devon Givens.
Speaker 1: My favorite day for content of the week. Guys, if
Speaker 1: I do say, I always look forward to the conversation.
Speaker 1: Great to be back. Always look forward to this. This
Speaker 1: is look forward to this because the team is playing
Speaker 1: very well. We always have great conversations and I cannot
Speaker 1: wait to get this one started. Hi too, I'm looking
Speaker 1: forward to this. I too look forward to this every week.
Speaker 1: And you know what I'm looking forward to now is
Speaker 1: one day, whenever it may be doing this roundtable in
Speaker 1: person around an actual table. Yes, Yes, I agreed, agreed. Yeah,
Speaker 1: I like you guys. Yeah, I can sit down with
Speaker 1: you guys. Yeah. Wow, what a wholesome way to start.
Speaker 1: It's true. Hey, when it's true what they say when
Speaker 1: you're winning, everybody is winning. Yes, from your mouth to
Speaker 1: the pandemic powers that be, Let's get this done podcast
Speaker 1: in person. Let's do it. So we got a big
Speaker 1: matchup coming up on Saturday night, seventy six Ers Brooklyn
Speaker 1: nets How it is not the main primetime showcase game.
Speaker 1: I don't know how. I know they made the TV
Speaker 1: schedule before James Harden got to Brooklyn. Still, this matchup
Speaker 1: at Star Power, I really want to floor the notion
Speaker 1: of what makes a good coaching fit. I think the
Speaker 1: seventy six Ers and Brooklyn were front at center with
Speaker 1: the two signature coaching hires arguably of the offseason, with
Speaker 1: Doc Rivers in Philly and Steve Nash surprising everyone and
Speaker 1: going to Brooklyn. We got to get some reaction. Another
Speaker 1: week goes by more great stuff Joel Embiid, and I
Speaker 1: need to hear from you guys what you thought, particularly
Speaker 1: of the first quarter that Joe had after being fresh
Speaker 1: couple days off his feet against Charlotte on Wednesday night.
Speaker 1: For me, it was one of the most enjoyable stretches
Speaker 1: of Joel embiad basketball, not only seen this season, but
Speaker 1: in his career. Your thoughts, Laaren, what do you think?
Speaker 1: I mean? We say it over and over again. When
Speaker 1: Joel is on and at his best, he is unstoppable.
Speaker 1: He's the best player on the floor. He might be
Speaker 1: the best player in the league, and we certainly saw
Speaker 1: that against Charlotte in that thirty to thirteen first quarter.
Speaker 1: It was just a pleasure to watch, and at this
Speaker 1: point not that big of a surprise. He's been churning
Speaker 1: out performances like that night or night, and like you said,
Speaker 1: with a little bit of rest, it can go a
Speaker 1: long way. It was light work for him, very light
Speaker 1: work for him to post those types of numbers in
Speaker 1: that first quarter. The defense also on the other end,
Speaker 1: to hold Charlotte to such a low shooting percentage in
Speaker 1: the first quarter against the seventy six ers, it was great. So,
Speaker 1: like we always talk about defense leads to offense, and
Speaker 1: that defense that they played led to the offense and smartly.
Speaker 1: Whether the players or whether it was the game plan
Speaker 1: by the coaching staff to get Joel and bid the
Speaker 1: ball early and often against that team, then hey, that
Speaker 1: that was the right thing to do. It. Really enjoyed
Speaker 1: how he played, and we keep talking about our favorite
Speaker 1: performances from Joel Embiid, and he keeps tacking on, even
Speaker 1: with even in twelve minutes, he's now tacking on to
Speaker 1: those conversations that we have about these games that he's
Speaker 1: playing in What you said d about it being light work,
Speaker 1: I couldn't agree with you more. He just makes it.
Speaker 1: On the offensive end in particular, looks so effortless, and
Speaker 1: everything incredible that he seems to do appears to be
Speaker 1: happening in slow motion, like everything is within his control.
Speaker 1: He is the one who's dictating the flow of the game,
Speaker 1: and I think that's what we're seeing. I mean that
Speaker 1: sequence where he did the length of the floor coast
Speaker 1: to coast drive euros step on Cody Zeller for the dunk,
Speaker 1: and then cut back down a couple of seconds later
Speaker 1: and just stroke a step in three who can. First
Speaker 1: of all, if anyone can do that, you're great and
Speaker 1: you're amazing. But at his size and what he's expected
Speaker 1: to do and then being able to do things like that,
Speaker 1: it's just remarkable to me. And I continue to tell myself,
Speaker 1: be appreciative of what you're seeing, especially at the start
Speaker 1: of the season with how Joel's playing right now. The
Speaker 1: other thing I appreciate, guys with that what you're saying
Speaker 1: so is the fact that he continues to do this
Speaker 1: stuff and he's so under control right it's at his pace,
Speaker 1: nothing is sped up. It's what he wants to do.
Speaker 1: It seems like the game has slowed down for him
Speaker 1: for him to have these types of successes that he
Speaker 1: is to the point of bringing the ball up the floor,
Speaker 1: things opened up, he recognized it, boom, took it and
Speaker 1: did what he did, comes back down, makes the three.
Speaker 1: And then there was another player that I highlight the
Speaker 1: double team started to come. All he did was stay
Speaker 1: under control, split it, get stepped through, lay up right
Speaker 1: there at the room. And that's the stuff that we're
Speaker 1: talking about. Those are the things that we're talking about
Speaker 1: when we speak of all the attributes that he has
Speaker 1: as part of his game that he starts to just
Speaker 1: display and it looks so as you said, effortless out
Speaker 1: there on the floor. I don't think we're even close
Speaker 1: to where I think we can be. So it's nice
Speaker 1: you know that while you're going through this, you're winning
Speaker 1: games because you have to. You know, in our league,
Speaker 1: you have to get playoff position, and you have to,
Speaker 1: you know, keep winning as you're learning and getting better.
Speaker 1: The fact we're doing that and literally on the fly
Speaker 1: and then just us everybody, it's a good time for
Speaker 1: our team guys. In some ways, I think some of
Speaker 1: what we're seeing with Joel Embiad and his success or
Speaker 1: reflection of the new set of eyes, the new set
Speaker 1: of minds surrounding the seventy sixers this season, and that
Speaker 1: ties back into the first major change the Sixers made
Speaker 1: hiring Doc Rivers as head coach, and as we look
Speaker 1: ahead to Saturday's matchup between the seventy sixers and Brooklyn,
Speaker 1: essentially a one two wish matchup right now in the
Speaker 1: Eastern Conference, Brooklyn neck and neck with Milwaukee, we're looking
Speaker 1: at two teams that had signature offseason coaching hires. So
Speaker 1: I want to get into what makes the right fit
Speaker 1: for a team in a particular moment in time. We'll
Speaker 1: start with Doc Rivers. I'd love to hear from each
Speaker 1: of you, starting with you, Lauren, what you think in
Speaker 1: your mind, if you could pick one thing that stands
Speaker 1: out about a positive effect Doc Rivers has had on
Speaker 1: the seventy sixers, Well, I think I have to go
Speaker 1: with the word that's been thrown around by the team
Speaker 1: quite a bit, and that's accountability. Tyree Maxie. I asked
Speaker 1: him to comment on Doc winning Eastern Conference Coach of
Speaker 1: the Month a couple of days ago at practice, and
Speaker 1: he said that Doc holds everybody accountable. And that's a
Speaker 1: word we've heard a lot of the players throw around,
Speaker 1: so it's no doubt a word that they're using when
Speaker 1: they interact with one another. And I believe that if
Speaker 1: Doc is really holding them as accountable as the players
Speaker 1: say that he is, the players say, he tells it
Speaker 1: like it is. He says whatever he thinks and whatever
Speaker 1: he sees, whether it's good that ugly, amazing Doc is
Speaker 1: honest with them. He's upfront, and I think that's something
Speaker 1: that this team has really welcomed, especially considering the newness
Speaker 1: in that starting lineup, the newness across the roster, to
Speaker 1: have everything laid out in front of you and just
Speaker 1: have a leader that's being straight up and honest with
Speaker 1: the experience to back the stuff he's saying. I really
Speaker 1: think that that honesty, that transparency that Doc is bringing
Speaker 1: to this locker room is making a difference. I totally agree.
Speaker 1: This is something that we've talked about quite a bit.
Speaker 1: This is a word that is in ourful abulary as
Speaker 1: far as the team goes and seeing where it goes
Speaker 1: with the accountability and to hear Lauren you say that
Speaker 1: about the players saying that to you and us hearing
Speaker 1: Doc Rivers say it from time to time as well.
Speaker 1: It's great to see that and everyone is buying into
Speaker 1: what he is preaching. So if you're out there, Seltsan,
Speaker 1: you ask the question what makes a great coach? If
Speaker 1: you're preaching something and your team believes in what you're
Speaker 1: preaching and then you see it execute on the floor
Speaker 1: as well, that goes a long way. And I believe
Speaker 1: that the team really respects him number one for his
Speaker 1: not only his playing career, but also his coaching career
Speaker 1: and already winning a title and coming here with the
Speaker 1: reputation that he has of being that upfront guy, of
Speaker 1: being a respected head coach in this league and a
Speaker 1: respected man in this league for so many years. That
Speaker 1: goes a long way. And now that he is able
Speaker 1: to touch certain things, do different things and hold them
Speaker 1: ownable as well while praise them when they do the
Speaker 1: right things, I think that's I think that's a big
Speaker 1: tip of the cat to Doc Rivers with what he's
Speaker 1: done in this short time with the seventy sixers on
Speaker 1: board with what both of you guys said, and on
Speaker 1: top of that, something that stood out to me at
Speaker 1: least the way he's been articulating things to the media publicly,
Speaker 1: is that he's keeping things simple. I think he recognizes
Speaker 1: that he has tremendous talent on this team. I think
Speaker 1: he knows that he has a deep team mixed together
Speaker 1: with talent that's young and old. And I don't think
Speaker 1: he's trying to get the seventy six ers to be
Speaker 1: anything that they aren't. And I think in some ways
Speaker 1: the roster design this year helps play to that strength.
Speaker 1: Six Ers have more shooters this season, all right, Joel Embiid,
Speaker 1: We're going to run it through you. On offense, and
Speaker 1: everything should based on the design of the roster take
Speaker 1: care of itself defensively, that embid guy again, We'll plant
Speaker 1: you Dad at the anchor. You take care of the
Speaker 1: back end, and then we'll fire off someone like Simmons
Speaker 1: or Amatis Thible or a Danny Green upfront along the wings,
Speaker 1: and with their gifts, things get covered on that end.
Speaker 1: To me, it doesn't seem like he's trying to do
Speaker 1: too much with the Sixers reinvent the wheel. I think
Speaker 1: you can look to collectively the way the team has
Speaker 1: played is one exhibit of that. And to take the
Speaker 1: case of someone like Tobias Harris, where are the results
Speaker 1: dramatically different from Tobias so far this season? I think
Speaker 1: everyone would agree that he's looking like a totally different
Speaker 1: player who's taking his game to the next level. But
Speaker 1: I feel like it goes back to this whole notion
Speaker 1: that Doc has talked about a lot, and Tobias as well,
Speaker 1: is make a quick decision, be decisive. Doc streamlining things
Speaker 1: for the team as a whole. For some individual players,
Speaker 1: I don't think he's asking anyone to be someone who
Speaker 1: they're not on the individual level, and I do feel
Speaker 1: that in many ways that has been to pay off
Speaker 1: for the seventy Sixers so far, just coming in recognizing
Speaker 1: what he has and trying to play to those strengths.
Speaker 1: I do think also divine what you mentioned, this idea
Speaker 1: of success on the floor, the start the Sixers have
Speaker 1: gotten off to one of the best in the league.
Speaker 1: How much do you guys think the team's ability to
Speaker 1: close out games more than once more than twice on
Speaker 1: a handful of occasions in the fourth quarter. How much
Speaker 1: do you think that facilit takes buying between a team
Speaker 1: and a new head coach. D I think it. I
Speaker 1: think it goes a long way because we've seen some
Speaker 1: things in a more recent past where players that are
Speaker 1: currently on the roster that we're here in the previous
Speaker 1: seasons where they also have seen it go the other way.
Speaker 1: So between the coach saying one thing and whatever they're
Speaker 1: preaching in practice and then seeing the results out there
Speaker 1: on the floor, seeing to Bias Harris with the game
Speaker 1: winner over the Los Angeles Lakers, where maybe that didn't
Speaker 1: happen before. You know, that's something that that's something that
Speaker 1: we are not accustomed to seeing, and sometimes it will
Speaker 1: go the other way. And now that you're starting to
Speaker 1: feel that and now you're starting to see it differently
Speaker 1: with this bad keyball team. It really it can really
Speaker 1: help out both the trusts in the players with the
Speaker 1: coach and the coach with the trust in his players
Speaker 1: to do the exact same thing if it presents itself
Speaker 1: in a different game. I agree with everything that you
Speaker 1: had to say, Devon. I think that the way that
Speaker 1: the team has learned to close out even while they're
Speaker 1: new together is so, so, so impressive. I also think
Speaker 1: that the way that they've come from behind, they've been
Speaker 1: able to put down come from behind from other teams,
Speaker 1: and they've been able to win decisively. They've shown that
Speaker 1: they can win in a lot of different ways, and
Speaker 1: I think that that's super valuable, especially when you move
Speaker 1: into the later part of the season and the playoffs
Speaker 1: when they're going to have to learn to win creatively. Stistically,
Speaker 1: no team better in fourth quarters this season than the
Speaker 1: seventy Sixers and the Sixers prevail. Sixers are sixteen and six.
Speaker 1: They've won four in a row and they've won nine
Speaker 1: of their last eleven. For the Sixers are over five
Speaker 1: hundred now on the road so far. I think there's
Speaker 1: also this notion of Doc Rivers having had success before
Speaker 1: and having won a title and having worked with some
Speaker 1: of the top names in the sport over the years,
Speaker 1: whether it was the Big Three in Boston, the New
Speaker 1: Age Three with the LA Clippers more recently last season.
Speaker 1: Paul George Kawhi Leonard that for guys who are still
Speaker 1: relatively early in their career, like Ben Simmons and Joel
Speaker 1: Emvied from the relative standpoint their stars but still young
Speaker 1: in their career, that it does carry some significance that
Speaker 1: someone with Doc's cache comes in and that's the one
Speaker 1: who you're hearing the message from now. I think that
Speaker 1: was a question that people had coming into this season,
Speaker 1: but so far we have no reason to believe that
Speaker 1: that has not been something that's been impactful so far
Speaker 1: based on what we've seen. Yeah, everything is playing out perfectly.
Speaker 1: I don't think there's really any one thing that we
Speaker 1: could point to so for this season when it comes
Speaker 1: to your star players, the new coach and the message
Speaker 1: that's being sent out there, and the success that was
Speaker 1: there with the Big Three in Boston, then you moved
Speaker 1: to Los Angeles. Don't forget the fourth guy that used
Speaker 1: to also were number seventeen in Philadelphia, being a part
Speaker 1: of that and the success that is there and how
Speaker 1: things work out all again, the reputation that he brings
Speaker 1: with him, as we knew when it happened in the
Speaker 1: offseason when he became available, and immediately he became the
Speaker 1: number one target for the organization, as he should have been,
Speaker 1: and it's paying off in the dividends right now. And
Speaker 1: with Joel Embie the player of the month, and I'm
Speaker 1: sure we'll talk about that, but even with someone like
Speaker 1: Ben Simmons, who while the majority or let's just say
Speaker 1: a good handful of folks sixer fans watch the games
Speaker 1: and maybe we don't see the seventeen points that we're
Speaker 1: accustomed to seeing from him on a nightly basis. With
Speaker 1: the statistics on obviously the rebounding, the assist was still
Speaker 1: seeing steals and everything. It's well, okay, I'm not worried
Speaker 1: about this about Ben because Ben is doing all of
Speaker 1: these other things that I can check off. This is
Speaker 1: doc Rivers, of course, check off of all of these
Speaker 1: things that he is doing out there on the floor
Speaker 1: that are helping us pick up ws right now, that
Speaker 1: win column they're in that nice number of double digits,
Speaker 1: and they're still in single digits on that right column
Speaker 1: with the Elves. And as long as Ben Simmons, here's
Speaker 1: his coach say publicly that I'm not worried about X,
Speaker 1: I'm worried about ABC, D, E, F and G that
Speaker 1: he is doing to help contribute to wins. Again, they
Speaker 1: go that goes a long way. That goes a long way,
Speaker 1: and I think we're seeing that not only from the
Speaker 1: way that we see it in these standings, but also
Speaker 1: their body language out there on the floor. And even
Speaker 1: when you see the coaches, not only Doc Rivers, Sam Couldsell,
Speaker 1: dan Burke was watching Joel inb talk to dan Burke
Speaker 1: and laugh against Charlotte. He's coming off the floor something
Speaker 1: that he did defensively that embiad was tremendous with, and
Speaker 1: I felt like dan Burke was talking to embeat about it.
Speaker 1: And then it takes me back to dan Burke a
Speaker 1: season ago with Indiana and how he felt some calls
Speaker 1: would go the other way with embat So everything just
Speaker 1: seems to be clicking with the coaching staff led by Rivers,
Speaker 1: with the players, the star players in particular also, and
Speaker 1: it's just a good thing. To see right now. Feels
Speaker 1: good to see them at this place as they get
Speaker 1: ready for a big, big matchup as you mentioned, with
Speaker 1: the next team in the Eastern Conference right behind them
Speaker 1: with the Brooklyn Nets, So it's great to watch. I
Speaker 1: do think that the early indication of the answer to
Speaker 1: that question might be yes, just because the team has
Speaker 1: expressed that they know they have such a long way
Speaker 1: to go, and that's something I know that we've just
Speaker 1: talked about. But the fact that they're anticipating growing more,
Speaker 1: anticipating learning more, they're probably anticipating a few games here
Speaker 1: and there, and how they respond, I cannot agree with
Speaker 1: you more. How they respond is going to be so
Speaker 1: key for how this identity that's still growing for this
Speaker 1: new team ends up shaping up when it comes to
Speaker 1: the playoffs. You alluded d to the monthly award, the
Speaker 1: Conference Player of the Month award that Joel Embid won
Speaker 1: Doc Rivers, as Lauren said, the Eastern Conference Coach of
Speaker 1: the Month. That's something the seventy six ers haven't done,
Speaker 1: sweeping those two since nineteen eighty two eighty three, And
Speaker 1: I thought it was interesting to hear what Doc had
Speaker 1: to say, both about himself being nominated and selected for
Speaker 1: that award, and then also Joel Embiid being chosen as
Speaker 1: Eastern Conference Player of the Month. It's really nice Joel
Speaker 1: winning Player of the month. But I don't think that's
Speaker 1: why we started the season or what he wanted. I mean,
Speaker 1: he wants more. That shouldn't be a reason not to
Speaker 1: keep wanting to improve. You know, as a group, none
Speaker 1: of us have made it. You know, we're trying to
Speaker 1: make it, and we're trying to get better. So that's
Speaker 1: what we need from him and everyone. And the message
Speaker 1: was essentially, we got more to do, Like this is nice,
Speaker 1: this is good. It helps us reach some sort of
Speaker 1: level of recognition for what people individually have been doing
Speaker 1: and the team's success. But ultimately, Doc, I think has
Speaker 1: said repeatedly that this team can be better. Where do
Speaker 1: you think they still have to go? What can Doc
Speaker 1: do more to get more out of this team? What
Speaker 1: do you think is the next step in their revolution?
Speaker 1: The next step is let's just say, for instance, as
Speaker 1: we look ahead, not jumping too far ahead, but seeing
Speaker 1: how they respond and handle a four game road trip
Speaker 1: that they have up coming on the West coast. Sure
Speaker 1: they have Brooklyn tough, matchup. We didn't see Kevin Durant
Speaker 1: Kyrie Irving in the first one where unfortunately the six
Speaker 1: is lost in Brooklyn, but it's like James Harden adding there,
Speaker 1: so we didn't see him. Now we get to see
Speaker 1: those guys. That's another barometer we spoke about it before,
Speaker 1: the barometer of looking back at the Minnesota game, not
Speaker 1: dropping that one, beating the Lakers, but not overlooking Minnesota.
Speaker 1: Then going to Indiana being down without dwell indeed, and
Speaker 1: then coming right back and doing what they are doing
Speaker 1: out there on the floor. That is something that I
Speaker 1: think Doc Rivers has to just continue to preach. Everything
Speaker 1: that he's doing is working right now. How is he
Speaker 1: going to handle those games where they are on that
Speaker 1: road trip if something doesn't go right? How do they
Speaker 1: respond now to a bump in the road, if you
Speaker 1: will for them? If it goes that way now, I
Speaker 1: expect them to win a few because they are the
Speaker 1: best team in the Eastern Conference at this time, so
Speaker 1: I think that they will go out there and handle
Speaker 1: themselves the right way. So for me Celts and Lauren,
Speaker 1: it's more of ken Doc Rivers, his message and what
Speaker 1: he's preaching right now. Can it still reach them when
Speaker 1: they go on a road take a little chin check
Speaker 1: and get right back up off the mat and do
Speaker 1: it all over again, and this time walk away with
Speaker 1: the win again. Doc Rivers so far a great fit
Speaker 1: for the seventy six ers. His hiring proceeded one month
Speaker 1: earlier by Steve Nash to the Brooklyn Nets. It's a
Speaker 1: unique opportunity, you know, as an incredible roster, and you know,
Speaker 1: it's something that I put on the back burner but
Speaker 1: always been listening, taking notes, building it in my mind
Speaker 1: to get this opportunity to be able to join, you
Speaker 1: know that that lifetime of practice thing and seeking it
Speaker 1: within the sport and life a couple with this opportunity.
Speaker 1: It wasn't a perfect match. I was shocked, stunned, and
Speaker 1: I feel like even when Wojbob's happened, I'm not entirely
Speaker 1: caught off guard. I feel like, you know, I hate
Speaker 1: to sound like this type of person that I've been
Speaker 1: around long enough, but it takes something major for me
Speaker 1: at least to really surprise me. I was blown away
Speaker 1: that this is what happened with Brooklyn. I don't know
Speaker 1: how you guys felt about I too, I too was
Speaker 1: blown away and hearing Steve Nash talk about other things
Speaker 1: that he's doing, I didn't expect that one. I really didn't,
Speaker 1: but I was pleasantly Prize always appreciated his game as
Speaker 1: a point guard in this league, as a Hall of Famer,
Speaker 1: and the way that he played and the style that
Speaker 1: he played. We often speak about the style of playing
Speaker 1: today's NBA and say he and that Phoenix Suns team
Speaker 1: were maybe ahead of its time and missing out on
Speaker 1: an era of basketball because he would be phenomenal like
Speaker 1: he was to make the Hall of Fame, he would
Speaker 1: be phenomenal right now. So for him and for him
Speaker 1: to bring his expertise in this and added now as
Speaker 1: a head coach to the floor and see what they
Speaker 1: are doing now, mixing all these pieces together and adding
Speaker 1: Mike D'Antoni to the coaching staff, helping out with a
Speaker 1: veteran mind to go with him as he goes along
Speaker 1: here as a first time head coach. I'm pleasantly surprised.
Speaker 1: I'm pleasantly surprised. And a team is interesting to watch.
Speaker 1: It's fascinating too because as a first time head coach,
Speaker 1: he already knew he was coming in to work with
Speaker 1: two big stars and two big personalities, and then of
Speaker 1: course Kyrie Irving took some time away and by the
Speaker 1: time he came back, Steve Nash was dealing with three
Speaker 1: big characters, big personalities, three all stars. It is interesting
Speaker 1: to see how he's been able to hit the ground
Speaker 1: running and take it in stride, because that has got
Speaker 1: to be a lot for anybody. And I do think
Speaker 1: his experience as a former player with different teammates, with
Speaker 1: different types of teammates is probably paying off quite a
Speaker 1: bit as he tries to get this new look Brooklyn
Speaker 1: Nets team now times two new look Brooklyn Nets team together.
Speaker 1: One thing, guys that I thought was very transparent and
Speaker 1: candid from Steve Nash was acknowledging the situation surroundings hiring.
Speaker 1: He said during his introductory press conference, I did skip
Speaker 1: the line frankly talking about how rapidly he went from
Speaker 1: nothing in the NBA coaching ranks to the head coach
Speaker 1: of one of the highest profile teams in the entire league.
Speaker 1: But then after that, Nash went on to say that
Speaker 1: perhaps it's not quite as unprecedented as we might think
Speaker 1: that someone like Steve Kerr made a semi similar leap
Speaker 1: even though he was involved in front office work before that,
Speaker 1: And Nash also point of the fact that he was
Speaker 1: a point guard in the NBA for roughly two decades.
Speaker 1: Do you think that's a fair way for him to
Speaker 1: put his situation into context? What did you guys think
Speaker 1: of how he responded the question of him perhaps jumping
Speaker 1: in line, so to speak. I appreciate his honesty upfront,
Speaker 1: understanding that there are other people who are just as much,
Speaker 1: if not more qualified than he, But he most likely
Speaker 1: got the position because his name was Steve Nash and
Speaker 1: he had a different mindset, plus the relationship with the
Speaker 1: general manager and Sean Marks where those things relationships, as
Speaker 1: we know, go a long way. So I do appreciate
Speaker 1: the candor and being honest and understanding that's always who
Speaker 1: he has been. So I'm really not surprised that he
Speaker 1: did say that, but again, just appreciate that he did
Speaker 1: mention it. He's got a lot of support. Lloyd Pierce,
Speaker 1: former six assistant head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, former
Speaker 1: college teammate, and many others have said, look, yeah, you
Speaker 1: jumped the line, but you know he's qualified and think
Speaker 1: you will work out, and others have done it. Yeah,
Speaker 1: I hear you as well. I think that that's accurate.
Speaker 1: I do appreciate his honesty for sure, and he did
Speaker 1: certainly cut the line, especially when it comes to the
Speaker 1: black coaches that are available that have not been given
Speaker 1: head coaching jobs at this point and have more qualifications
Speaker 1: period than Steve Nash did. But like you said, the name, recognition,
Speaker 1: the respect among the league. I totally understand how it happened.
Speaker 1: It's great to see a good guy like Steve Nash
Speaker 1: having the success, but you would also hope that some
Speaker 1: of the more diverse candidates will be put in similar
Speaker 1: positions as the years go on. So I guess that's
Speaker 1: the only other thing that I would add there. I
Speaker 1: think all valid points, and really the success of this
Speaker 1: hire will be gauged on what I think. It's certainly
Speaker 1: something that always has to be viewed hand in hand
Speaker 1: with the star power that Brooklyn was able to bring
Speaker 1: in since the season started. They added obviously another in
Speaker 1: James Harden. So is this you gotta get out of
Speaker 1: the East, you got to win it all? What's success
Speaker 1: look like for the Brooklyn Nets? How would we define
Speaker 1: that this year? I think it's hard to say. I
Speaker 1: think there are more than a few teams in the
Speaker 1: Eastern Conference that are defining success as winning the East,
Speaker 1: and there are more than a few teams that could
Speaker 1: in fact win the East. So personally, I've set the
Speaker 1: expectations similar to where the Sixers expectations are. If they
Speaker 1: don't make an Eastern Conference finals, that's probably a bit
Speaker 1: of a disappointment. But I'd be more concerned if they
Speaker 1: don't make it over the next couple of years while
Speaker 1: they do have those stars under contract, which I believe
Speaker 1: is how I feel about a couple other teams as well,
Speaker 1: I would look at it very similar. I guess I'm
Speaker 1: more Yeah, you have to get it done. You know,
Speaker 1: you come in the anticipation from last season with Durant
Speaker 1: being out due to the injury. They still give them
Speaker 1: a big contract. Kyrie Irving plays within is injured, and
Speaker 1: then you go make a big power move and you
Speaker 1: get James Harden. You make a power move and cut
Speaker 1: the line and bring it in Steve Nash. That says
Speaker 1: win now, and if they don't it will be a
Speaker 1: disappointment for them now. Obviously for me and you insults,
Speaker 1: we want to see this one succeed with the new
Speaker 1: regime here with Doc Rivers and company. But yes, if
Speaker 1: they don't, I think it would be a disappointment. Now,
Speaker 1: I'm also big on how did it happen. Does it
Speaker 1: go to Game seven and better team wins, then so
Speaker 1: be it. You shake your hand and you walk off,
Speaker 1: and you prepare for the next season. But something less
Speaker 1: than that. If they knocked out a little bit earlier
Speaker 1: in a different fashion, then I think we'll have a
Speaker 1: new conversation at that time. Can I have you, guys
Speaker 1: a question, who of these two teams, the Sixers who
Speaker 1: we talk about every day and the Brooklyn Nets, who
Speaker 1: has more at stake when it comes to what you
Speaker 1: think might happen down the line. I got a quick
Speaker 1: response on that one, Divon, I don't know if you
Speaker 1: have equally as quick response. I'll just say Brooklyn I
Speaker 1: think has way more at stake. I think that they
Speaker 1: have pushed the chips in immediately. They have totally mortgaged
Speaker 1: all of the future, and then the lifetime beyond that
Speaker 1: and the lifetime beyond that. Whereas for the Sixers, I
Speaker 1: think that you certainly could still if you're looking at
Speaker 1: this reasonably and I'm trying to remove the company that
Speaker 1: cuts my paycheck from this listen. I think that everyone
Speaker 1: wants to see this team take the next step. But
Speaker 1: I also feel that there might be two more steps
Speaker 1: to go in the Sixers evolution, maybe three, but probably
Speaker 1: I think the way most people are looking at it,
Speaker 1: some of the people in the Sixers building two steps,
Speaker 1: whereas Brooklyn you've got bona fide, legit, established stars. There's
Speaker 1: only one place where you really, I think, and this
Speaker 1: is fair, I think that they have to go one
Speaker 1: place where it's considered not successful. This year, Lawrence Selts,
Speaker 1: they had two of those stars that you're talking about.
Speaker 1: They have won. They come in with that reputation as winners.
Speaker 1: That's also why you bring them in because they've done
Speaker 1: with Irving. Yes, he was with Lebron James, but he
Speaker 1: hit the big shot in Game seven. Lebron James trusted
Speaker 1: him to do that. And then on the other side,
Speaker 1: Kevin Duran is the one who helped put Golden State
Speaker 1: over the top when he was there and took down
Speaker 1: Lebron James with those big shots twice in the NBA Finals.
Speaker 1: So I agree with you, it's the Brooklyn Nets. There's
Speaker 1: still some room, especially with the new coaching staff here
Speaker 1: with the Sixers as well with Doc Rivers, but Brooklyn, definitely, Lauren,
Speaker 1: that's the team for me. And I think ultimately, perhaps
Speaker 1: at least for a final word, is that we've talked
Speaker 1: about coaching fits and comparing Doc river a situation to
Speaker 1: Steve Nash. This, ultimately, with Brooklyn is not really about
Speaker 1: Steve Nash in my opinion. This is about the three
Speaker 1: star players they have, where I think, and maybe that's
Speaker 1: not going to be fair to Steve Nash. Behind the scenes,
Speaker 1: maybe he's doing more than anyone knows. And if Brooklyn
Speaker 1: gets out of the East and wins it, all people say, well,
Speaker 1: that's because they have Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden.
Speaker 1: But I think that with Doc with the seventy Sixers,
Speaker 1: he will be viewed hand in hand with the evolution
Speaker 1: of this team along with some of their star players,
Speaker 1: which I think is a neat thing to look at.
Speaker 1: As far as how Doc handles this type of situation
Speaker 1: with the Sixers, I agree fair enough. Thanks guys. I
Speaker 1: always wonder, when we're so close to one specific team,
Speaker 1: how the barometers that we use to evaluate the Sixers
Speaker 1: would compare to the way we'd evaluate another team. It's
Speaker 1: always fun to sort of just test the water with
Speaker 1: what you guys think about what's going on around the leak.
Speaker 1: We'd like to be balanced and fair here, that's right.
Speaker 1: I don't know about fair and balanced, but we want
Speaker 1: to be balanced and fair. All right, guys, Thank you
Speaker 1: very much. We'll do it again next week. Always good
Speaker 1: to be with you guys. Yeah. A couple programming reminders
Speaker 1: for you related to the seventy six Ers podcast network.
Speaker 1: Subscribe to The Scoop on its brand new own feed
Speaker 1: to serve seventy six Ers Scoop wherever you get your pods.
Speaker 1: Next week, Horn and I will have Mailbag Monday on
Speaker 1: Yes You Guessed It Monday. A new episode of Tom's
Speaker 1: Talk with Tom McGuinness come your way on Thursday and
Speaker 1: also in the days ahead, and look out for a
Speaker 1: special releases in a new mini series called Black History
Speaker 1: Month Inspirations, the first episode of profile none other than
Speaker 1: Doc rovers. I'm Bryan Seltzer. Thanks listening, Seeyeh I