WEBVTT - Friday Deep Dive | What Makes a Good Coaching Fit? 0:00:00.320 --> 0:00:03.640 This podcast is part of the seventy Sixers podcast network 0:00:04.000 --> 0:00:08.360 search seventy Sixers podcast wherever you get your pods. About 0:00:08.360 --> 0:00:10.319 a third of the way in the new NBA season, 0:00:10.360 --> 0:00:13.040 the seventy Sixers have established themselves as one of the 0:00:13.080 --> 0:00:16.360 best doc rivers, a big reason why we take a 0:00:16.400 --> 0:00:18.919 look at how the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month 0:00:18.960 --> 0:00:21.960 has contributed to the sixers strong start, as well as 0:00:21.960 --> 0:00:25.319 his impact on a few particular players and where he 0:00:25.400 --> 0:00:29.360 and the team go from here. I'm Lauren Rosen, I'm Givens, 0:00:29.400 --> 0:00:32.000 I'm Brian Seltzer, and with the seventy Sixers in Brooklyn, 0:00:32.000 --> 0:00:34.559 nets set the square off on Saturday, we take a 0:00:34.600 --> 0:00:37.559 look at what makes a good coaching fit on this 0:00:37.680 --> 0:00:44.560 week's Friday Deep Dive. It is Friday once again. That 0:00:44.640 --> 0:00:48.760 means we are chatting with Lauren Rosen and Devon Givens. 0:00:48.800 --> 0:00:52.279 My favorite day for content of the week. Guys, if 0:00:52.320 --> 0:00:55.880 I do say, I always look forward to the conversation. 0:00:56.560 --> 0:00:59.279 Great to be back. Always look forward to this. This 0:00:59.360 --> 0:01:02.400 is look forward to this because the team is playing 0:01:02.520 --> 0:01:06.080 very well. We always have great conversations and I cannot 0:01:06.080 --> 0:01:08.800 wait to get this one started. Hi too, I'm looking 0:01:08.800 --> 0:01:10.800 forward to this. I too look forward to this every week. 0:01:10.880 --> 0:01:12.840 And you know what I'm looking forward to now is 0:01:12.880 --> 0:01:15.840 one day, whenever it may be doing this roundtable in 0:01:15.920 --> 0:01:22.200 person around an actual table. Yes, Yes, I agreed, agreed. Yeah, 0:01:22.240 --> 0:01:24.920 I like you guys. Yeah, I can sit down with 0:01:24.959 --> 0:01:27.760 you guys. Yeah. Wow, what a wholesome way to start. 0:01:28.200 --> 0:01:31.840 It's true. Hey, when it's true what they say when 0:01:31.840 --> 0:01:36.319 you're winning, everybody is winning. Yes, from your mouth to 0:01:36.440 --> 0:01:41.559 the pandemic powers that be, Let's get this done podcast 0:01:41.600 --> 0:01:44.640 in person. Let's do it. So we got a big 0:01:44.680 --> 0:01:48.880 matchup coming up on Saturday night, seventy six Ers Brooklyn 0:01:48.960 --> 0:01:52.320 nets How it is not the main primetime showcase game. 0:01:53.040 --> 0:01:54.920 I don't know how. I know they made the TV 0:01:55.000 --> 0:01:57.920 schedule before James Harden got to Brooklyn. Still, this matchup 0:01:57.960 --> 0:02:00.840 at Star Power, I really want to floor the notion 0:02:00.920 --> 0:02:03.640 of what makes a good coaching fit. I think the 0:02:03.680 --> 0:02:06.200 seventy six Ers and Brooklyn were front at center with 0:02:06.280 --> 0:02:09.639 the two signature coaching hires arguably of the offseason, with 0:02:09.720 --> 0:02:13.040 Doc Rivers in Philly and Steve Nash surprising everyone and 0:02:13.160 --> 0:02:16.440 going to Brooklyn. We got to get some reaction. Another 0:02:16.440 --> 0:02:20.800 week goes by more great stuff Joel Embiid, and I 0:02:20.880 --> 0:02:23.760 need to hear from you guys what you thought, particularly 0:02:24.120 --> 0:02:28.080 of the first quarter that Joe had after being fresh 0:02:28.240 --> 0:02:31.040 couple days off his feet against Charlotte on Wednesday night. 0:02:31.040 --> 0:02:32.639 For me, it was one of the most enjoyable stretches 0:02:32.919 --> 0:02:35.600 of Joel embiad basketball, not only seen this season, but 0:02:35.720 --> 0:02:38.640 in his career. Your thoughts, Laaren, what do you think? 0:02:39.200 --> 0:02:40.960 I mean? We say it over and over again. When 0:02:41.040 --> 0:02:44.080 Joel is on and at his best, he is unstoppable. 0:02:44.120 --> 0:02:45.760 He's the best player on the floor. He might be 0:02:45.760 --> 0:02:48.480 the best player in the league, and we certainly saw 0:02:48.520 --> 0:02:52.480 that against Charlotte in that thirty to thirteen first quarter. 0:02:52.639 --> 0:02:54.480 It was just a pleasure to watch, and at this 0:02:54.560 --> 0:02:58.160 point not that big of a surprise. He's been churning 0:02:58.160 --> 0:03:01.360 out performances like that night or night, and like you said, 0:03:01.400 --> 0:03:03.080 with a little bit of rest, it can go a 0:03:03.080 --> 0:03:07.000 long way. It was light work for him, very light 0:03:07.040 --> 0:03:09.840 work for him to post those types of numbers in 0:03:09.840 --> 0:03:13.120 that first quarter. The defense also on the other end, 0:03:13.160 --> 0:03:17.680 to hold Charlotte to such a low shooting percentage in 0:03:17.720 --> 0:03:21.000 the first quarter against the seventy six ers, it was great. So, 0:03:21.320 --> 0:03:24.040 like we always talk about defense leads to offense, and 0:03:24.080 --> 0:03:27.600 that defense that they played led to the offense and smartly. 0:03:28.120 --> 0:03:30.920 Whether the players or whether it was the game plan 0:03:31.160 --> 0:03:33.400 by the coaching staff to get Joel and bid the 0:03:33.440 --> 0:03:38.000 ball early and often against that team, then hey, that 0:03:38.000 --> 0:03:42.040 that was the right thing to do. It. Really enjoyed 0:03:42.040 --> 0:03:44.680 how he played, and we keep talking about our favorite 0:03:44.680 --> 0:03:48.119 performances from Joel Embiid, and he keeps tacking on, even 0:03:48.240 --> 0:03:51.240 with even in twelve minutes, he's now tacking on to 0:03:51.400 --> 0:03:54.400 those conversations that we have about these games that he's 0:03:54.400 --> 0:03:57.320 playing in What you said d about it being light work, 0:03:57.560 --> 0:03:59.760 I couldn't agree with you more. He just makes it. 0:03:59.800 --> 0:04:03.360 On the offensive end in particular, looks so effortless, and 0:04:03.560 --> 0:04:06.880 everything incredible that he seems to do appears to be 0:04:06.960 --> 0:04:11.119 happening in slow motion, like everything is within his control. 0:04:11.560 --> 0:04:14.160 He is the one who's dictating the flow of the game, 0:04:14.640 --> 0:04:16.520 and I think that's what we're seeing. I mean that 0:04:16.640 --> 0:04:19.120 sequence where he did the length of the floor coast 0:04:19.120 --> 0:04:21.760 to coast drive euros step on Cody Zeller for the dunk, 0:04:22.080 --> 0:04:24.080 and then cut back down a couple of seconds later 0:04:24.120 --> 0:04:27.960 and just stroke a step in three who can. First 0:04:27.960 --> 0:04:30.240 of all, if anyone can do that, you're great and 0:04:30.240 --> 0:04:33.560 you're amazing. But at his size and what he's expected 0:04:33.600 --> 0:04:35.320 to do and then being able to do things like that, 0:04:35.839 --> 0:04:38.320 it's just remarkable to me. And I continue to tell myself, 0:04:39.080 --> 0:04:42.000 be appreciative of what you're seeing, especially at the start 0:04:42.040 --> 0:04:44.520 of the season with how Joel's playing right now. The 0:04:44.560 --> 0:04:47.600 other thing I appreciate, guys with that what you're saying 0:04:47.640 --> 0:04:50.640 so is the fact that he continues to do this 0:04:50.680 --> 0:04:54.479 stuff and he's so under control right it's at his pace, 0:04:54.640 --> 0:04:57.279 nothing is sped up. It's what he wants to do. 0:04:57.440 --> 0:05:00.839 It seems like the game has slowed down for him 0:05:01.320 --> 0:05:03.680 for him to have these types of successes that he 0:05:03.839 --> 0:05:06.320 is to the point of bringing the ball up the floor, 0:05:06.520 --> 0:05:09.920 things opened up, he recognized it, boom, took it and 0:05:10.080 --> 0:05:12.279 did what he did, comes back down, makes the three. 0:05:12.600 --> 0:05:14.479 And then there was another player that I highlight the 0:05:14.480 --> 0:05:17.360 double team started to come. All he did was stay 0:05:17.440 --> 0:05:22.240 under control, split it, get stepped through, lay up right 0:05:22.279 --> 0:05:25.360 there at the room. And that's the stuff that we're 0:05:25.400 --> 0:05:27.880 talking about. Those are the things that we're talking about 0:05:27.920 --> 0:05:30.360 when we speak of all the attributes that he has 0:05:30.400 --> 0:05:33.160 as part of his game that he starts to just 0:05:33.279 --> 0:05:36.360 display and it looks so as you said, effortless out 0:05:36.400 --> 0:05:39.760 there on the floor. I don't think we're even close 0:05:40.320 --> 0:05:43.799 to where I think we can be. So it's nice 0:05:43.960 --> 0:05:48.080 you know that while you're going through this, you're winning 0:05:48.120 --> 0:05:50.279 games because you have to. You know, in our league, 0:05:50.360 --> 0:05:52.760 you have to get playoff position, and you have to, 0:05:53.000 --> 0:05:55.480 you know, keep winning as you're learning and getting better. 0:05:56.000 --> 0:05:59.120 The fact we're doing that and literally on the fly 0:05:59.240 --> 0:06:01.960 and then just us everybody, it's a good time for 0:06:02.000 --> 0:06:04.880 our team guys. In some ways, I think some of 0:06:04.920 --> 0:06:07.800 what we're seeing with Joel Embiad and his success or 0:06:07.839 --> 0:06:11.880 reflection of the new set of eyes, the new set 0:06:11.880 --> 0:06:15.440 of minds surrounding the seventy sixers this season, and that 0:06:15.560 --> 0:06:18.559 ties back into the first major change the Sixers made 0:06:19.000 --> 0:06:22.160 hiring Doc Rivers as head coach, and as we look 0:06:22.160 --> 0:06:25.280 ahead to Saturday's matchup between the seventy sixers and Brooklyn, 0:06:25.480 --> 0:06:29.159 essentially a one two wish matchup right now in the 0:06:29.160 --> 0:06:32.479 Eastern Conference, Brooklyn neck and neck with Milwaukee, we're looking 0:06:32.480 --> 0:06:36.000 at two teams that had signature offseason coaching hires. So 0:06:36.320 --> 0:06:39.200 I want to get into what makes the right fit 0:06:39.440 --> 0:06:42.479 for a team in a particular moment in time. We'll 0:06:42.520 --> 0:06:44.240 start with Doc Rivers. I'd love to hear from each 0:06:44.240 --> 0:06:46.880 of you, starting with you, Lauren, what you think in 0:06:46.880 --> 0:06:49.040 your mind, if you could pick one thing that stands 0:06:49.080 --> 0:06:52.200 out about a positive effect Doc Rivers has had on 0:06:52.279 --> 0:06:54.880 the seventy sixers, Well, I think I have to go 0:06:54.960 --> 0:06:57.320 with the word that's been thrown around by the team 0:06:57.440 --> 0:07:01.239 quite a bit, and that's accountability. Tyree Maxie. I asked 0:07:01.320 --> 0:07:04.200 him to comment on Doc winning Eastern Conference Coach of 0:07:04.200 --> 0:07:06.000 the Month a couple of days ago at practice, and 0:07:06.000 --> 0:07:08.320 he said that Doc holds everybody accountable. And that's a 0:07:08.360 --> 0:07:10.239 word we've heard a lot of the players throw around, 0:07:10.280 --> 0:07:12.640 so it's no doubt a word that they're using when 0:07:12.680 --> 0:07:16.280 they interact with one another. And I believe that if 0:07:16.400 --> 0:07:19.280 Doc is really holding them as accountable as the players 0:07:19.320 --> 0:07:21.720 say that he is, the players say, he tells it 0:07:21.760 --> 0:07:24.520 like it is. He says whatever he thinks and whatever 0:07:24.560 --> 0:07:28.840 he sees, whether it's good that ugly, amazing Doc is 0:07:28.880 --> 0:07:31.880 honest with them. He's upfront, and I think that's something 0:07:31.920 --> 0:07:35.600 that this team has really welcomed, especially considering the newness 0:07:35.600 --> 0:07:39.080 in that starting lineup, the newness across the roster, to 0:07:39.200 --> 0:07:41.320 have everything laid out in front of you and just 0:07:41.400 --> 0:07:43.960 have a leader that's being straight up and honest with 0:07:44.080 --> 0:07:47.600 the experience to back the stuff he's saying. I really 0:07:47.640 --> 0:07:50.160 think that that honesty, that transparency that Doc is bringing 0:07:50.160 --> 0:07:53.920 to this locker room is making a difference. I totally agree. 0:07:53.960 --> 0:07:57.440 This is something that we've talked about quite a bit. 0:07:57.680 --> 0:08:01.200 This is a word that is in ourful abulary as 0:08:01.200 --> 0:08:04.440 far as the team goes and seeing where it goes 0:08:04.560 --> 0:08:07.880 with the accountability and to hear Lauren you say that 0:08:07.960 --> 0:08:12.560 about the players saying that to you and us hearing 0:08:12.600 --> 0:08:14.840 Doc Rivers say it from time to time as well. 0:08:15.240 --> 0:08:17.920 It's great to see that and everyone is buying into 0:08:18.040 --> 0:08:20.440 what he is preaching. So if you're out there, Seltsan, 0:08:20.480 --> 0:08:23.160 you ask the question what makes a great coach? If 0:08:23.200 --> 0:08:26.600 you're preaching something and your team believes in what you're 0:08:26.600 --> 0:08:29.280 preaching and then you see it execute on the floor 0:08:29.520 --> 0:08:33.240 as well, that goes a long way. And I believe 0:08:33.440 --> 0:08:37.520 that the team really respects him number one for his 0:08:37.640 --> 0:08:40.640 not only his playing career, but also his coaching career 0:08:40.960 --> 0:08:43.680 and already winning a title and coming here with the 0:08:43.720 --> 0:08:46.720 reputation that he has of being that upfront guy, of 0:08:46.800 --> 0:08:50.040 being a respected head coach in this league and a 0:08:50.120 --> 0:08:53.880 respected man in this league for so many years. That 0:08:53.920 --> 0:08:56.160 goes a long way. And now that he is able 0:08:56.240 --> 0:08:59.719 to touch certain things, do different things and hold them 0:09:00.040 --> 0:09:02.840 ownable as well while praise them when they do the 0:09:02.920 --> 0:09:07.360 right things, I think that's I think that's a big 0:09:07.520 --> 0:09:09.840 tip of the cat to Doc Rivers with what he's 0:09:09.840 --> 0:09:14.520 done in this short time with the seventy sixers on 0:09:14.600 --> 0:09:16.680 board with what both of you guys said, and on 0:09:16.760 --> 0:09:19.040 top of that, something that stood out to me at 0:09:19.120 --> 0:09:21.840 least the way he's been articulating things to the media publicly, 0:09:22.320 --> 0:09:25.640 is that he's keeping things simple. I think he recognizes 0:09:25.679 --> 0:09:27.920 that he has tremendous talent on this team. I think 0:09:27.920 --> 0:09:30.440 he knows that he has a deep team mixed together 0:09:30.480 --> 0:09:33.000 with talent that's young and old. And I don't think 0:09:33.040 --> 0:09:35.640 he's trying to get the seventy six ers to be 0:09:35.720 --> 0:09:38.679 anything that they aren't. And I think in some ways 0:09:38.720 --> 0:09:41.880 the roster design this year helps play to that strength. 0:09:42.080 --> 0:09:44.920 Six Ers have more shooters this season, all right, Joel Embiid, 0:09:45.080 --> 0:09:46.880 We're going to run it through you. On offense, and 0:09:47.000 --> 0:09:49.760 everything should based on the design of the roster take 0:09:49.800 --> 0:09:54.160 care of itself defensively, that embid guy again, We'll plant 0:09:54.160 --> 0:09:56.200 you Dad at the anchor. You take care of the 0:09:56.200 --> 0:10:00.600 back end, and then we'll fire off someone like Simmons 0:10:00.880 --> 0:10:06.080 or Amatis Thible or a Danny Green upfront along the wings, 0:10:06.280 --> 0:10:09.600 and with their gifts, things get covered on that end. 0:10:09.880 --> 0:10:11.720 To me, it doesn't seem like he's trying to do 0:10:11.800 --> 0:10:14.839 too much with the Sixers reinvent the wheel. I think 0:10:14.880 --> 0:10:17.320 you can look to collectively the way the team has 0:10:17.360 --> 0:10:19.960 played is one exhibit of that. And to take the 0:10:19.960 --> 0:10:23.440 case of someone like Tobias Harris, where are the results 0:10:23.520 --> 0:10:26.120 dramatically different from Tobias so far this season? I think 0:10:26.160 --> 0:10:28.160 everyone would agree that he's looking like a totally different 0:10:28.160 --> 0:10:30.120 player who's taking his game to the next level. But 0:10:30.400 --> 0:10:32.320 I feel like it goes back to this whole notion 0:10:32.360 --> 0:10:34.520 that Doc has talked about a lot, and Tobias as well, 0:10:35.000 --> 0:10:40.040 is make a quick decision, be decisive. Doc streamlining things 0:10:40.240 --> 0:10:42.720 for the team as a whole. For some individual players, 0:10:43.160 --> 0:10:45.600 I don't think he's asking anyone to be someone who 0:10:45.640 --> 0:10:49.040 they're not on the individual level, and I do feel 0:10:49.080 --> 0:10:50.600 that in many ways that has been to pay off 0:10:50.600 --> 0:10:53.880 for the seventy Sixers so far, just coming in recognizing 0:10:53.920 --> 0:10:56.320 what he has and trying to play to those strengths. 0:10:56.960 --> 0:10:59.480 I do think also divine what you mentioned, this idea 0:10:59.559 --> 0:11:03.000 of success on the floor, the start the Sixers have 0:11:03.040 --> 0:11:05.320 gotten off to one of the best in the league. 0:11:05.720 --> 0:11:08.800 How much do you guys think the team's ability to 0:11:09.679 --> 0:11:12.800 close out games more than once more than twice on 0:11:12.840 --> 0:11:15.640 a handful of occasions in the fourth quarter. How much 0:11:15.679 --> 0:11:18.240 do you think that facilit takes buying between a team 0:11:18.840 --> 0:11:21.600 and a new head coach. D I think it. I 0:11:21.640 --> 0:11:24.760 think it goes a long way because we've seen some 0:11:24.840 --> 0:11:28.120 things in a more recent past where players that are 0:11:28.240 --> 0:11:31.840 currently on the roster that we're here in the previous 0:11:31.840 --> 0:11:34.880 seasons where they also have seen it go the other way. 0:11:34.960 --> 0:11:38.840 So between the coach saying one thing and whatever they're 0:11:38.840 --> 0:11:42.400 preaching in practice and then seeing the results out there 0:11:42.520 --> 0:11:44.640 on the floor, seeing to Bias Harris with the game 0:11:44.640 --> 0:11:47.559 winner over the Los Angeles Lakers, where maybe that didn't 0:11:47.559 --> 0:11:51.240 happen before. You know, that's something that that's something that 0:11:51.520 --> 0:11:54.800 we are not accustomed to seeing, and sometimes it will 0:11:54.840 --> 0:11:56.760 go the other way. And now that you're starting to 0:11:56.800 --> 0:11:58.920 feel that and now you're starting to see it differently 0:11:59.360 --> 0:12:02.480 with this bad keyball team. It really it can really 0:12:02.520 --> 0:12:05.440 help out both the trusts in the players with the 0:12:05.440 --> 0:12:07.640 coach and the coach with the trust in his players 0:12:07.880 --> 0:12:10.400 to do the exact same thing if it presents itself 0:12:10.600 --> 0:12:13.640 in a different game. I agree with everything that you 0:12:13.720 --> 0:12:16.160 had to say, Devon. I think that the way that 0:12:16.200 --> 0:12:18.600 the team has learned to close out even while they're 0:12:18.720 --> 0:12:22.640 new together is so, so, so impressive. I also think 0:12:22.640 --> 0:12:25.560 that the way that they've come from behind, they've been 0:12:25.600 --> 0:12:30.600 able to put down come from behind from other teams, 0:12:30.600 --> 0:12:33.000 and they've been able to win decisively. They've shown that 0:12:33.040 --> 0:12:35.240 they can win in a lot of different ways, and 0:12:35.360 --> 0:12:38.160 I think that that's super valuable, especially when you move 0:12:38.160 --> 0:12:40.640 into the later part of the season and the playoffs 0:12:40.679 --> 0:12:44.480 when they're going to have to learn to win creatively. Stistically, 0:12:44.720 --> 0:12:48.600 no team better in fourth quarters this season than the 0:12:48.720 --> 0:12:53.920 seventy Sixers and the Sixers prevail. Sixers are sixteen and six. 0:12:54.320 --> 0:12:56.120 They've won four in a row and they've won nine 0:12:56.160 --> 0:12:59.000 of their last eleven. For the Sixers are over five 0:12:59.080 --> 0:13:01.600 hundred now on the road so far. I think there's 0:13:01.640 --> 0:13:05.720 also this notion of Doc Rivers having had success before 0:13:06.040 --> 0:13:09.040 and having won a title and having worked with some 0:13:09.120 --> 0:13:11.760 of the top names in the sport over the years, 0:13:11.800 --> 0:13:15.600 whether it was the Big Three in Boston, the New 0:13:15.640 --> 0:13:19.079 Age Three with the LA Clippers more recently last season. 0:13:19.559 --> 0:13:22.960 Paul George Kawhi Leonard that for guys who are still 0:13:23.000 --> 0:13:27.320 relatively early in their career, like Ben Simmons and Joel 0:13:27.320 --> 0:13:32.160 Emvied from the relative standpoint their stars but still young 0:13:32.200 --> 0:13:35.760 in their career, that it does carry some significance that 0:13:35.920 --> 0:13:40.199 someone with Doc's cache comes in and that's the one 0:13:40.240 --> 0:13:42.160 who you're hearing the message from now. I think that 0:13:42.280 --> 0:13:45.800 was a question that people had coming into this season, 0:13:45.920 --> 0:13:48.080 but so far we have no reason to believe that 0:13:48.080 --> 0:13:51.360 that has not been something that's been impactful so far 0:13:51.400 --> 0:13:55.079 based on what we've seen. Yeah, everything is playing out perfectly. 0:13:55.400 --> 0:13:57.320 I don't think there's really any one thing that we 0:13:57.360 --> 0:14:00.440 could point to so for this season when it comes 0:14:00.440 --> 0:14:03.040 to your star players, the new coach and the message 0:14:03.040 --> 0:14:05.280 that's being sent out there, and the success that was 0:14:05.360 --> 0:14:07.760 there with the Big Three in Boston, then you moved 0:14:07.800 --> 0:14:10.920 to Los Angeles. Don't forget the fourth guy that used 0:14:10.960 --> 0:14:15.080 to also were number seventeen in Philadelphia, being a part 0:14:15.120 --> 0:14:18.040 of that and the success that is there and how 0:14:18.120 --> 0:14:21.880 things work out all again, the reputation that he brings 0:14:21.920 --> 0:14:24.080 with him, as we knew when it happened in the 0:14:24.120 --> 0:14:28.160 offseason when he became available, and immediately he became the 0:14:28.400 --> 0:14:32.240 number one target for the organization, as he should have been, 0:14:32.560 --> 0:14:35.040 and it's paying off in the dividends right now. And 0:14:35.080 --> 0:14:38.000 with Joel Embie the player of the month, and I'm 0:14:38.000 --> 0:14:40.880 sure we'll talk about that, but even with someone like 0:14:41.200 --> 0:14:45.840 Ben Simmons, who while the majority or let's just say 0:14:45.880 --> 0:14:49.560 a good handful of folks sixer fans watch the games 0:14:49.680 --> 0:14:51.920 and maybe we don't see the seventeen points that we're 0:14:51.920 --> 0:14:55.160 accustomed to seeing from him on a nightly basis. With 0:14:55.240 --> 0:14:59.720 the statistics on obviously the rebounding, the assist was still 0:14:59.720 --> 0:15:05.560 seeing steals and everything. It's well, okay, I'm not worried 0:15:05.600 --> 0:15:07.840 about this about Ben because Ben is doing all of 0:15:07.880 --> 0:15:10.600 these other things that I can check off. This is 0:15:10.680 --> 0:15:13.280 doc Rivers, of course, check off of all of these 0:15:13.280 --> 0:15:15.160 things that he is doing out there on the floor 0:15:15.480 --> 0:15:19.000 that are helping us pick up ws right now, that 0:15:19.120 --> 0:15:22.320 win column they're in that nice number of double digits, 0:15:22.880 --> 0:15:25.720 and they're still in single digits on that right column 0:15:26.000 --> 0:15:29.160 with the Elves. And as long as Ben Simmons, here's 0:15:29.200 --> 0:15:33.080 his coach say publicly that I'm not worried about X, 0:15:33.440 --> 0:15:36.680 I'm worried about ABC, D, E, F and G that 0:15:36.720 --> 0:15:39.640 he is doing to help contribute to wins. Again, they 0:15:39.680 --> 0:15:41.960 go that goes a long way. That goes a long way, 0:15:42.000 --> 0:15:44.160 and I think we're seeing that not only from the 0:15:44.640 --> 0:15:47.840 way that we see it in these standings, but also 0:15:47.960 --> 0:15:50.480 their body language out there on the floor. And even 0:15:50.520 --> 0:15:53.440 when you see the coaches, not only Doc Rivers, Sam Couldsell, 0:15:53.880 --> 0:15:57.800 dan Burke was watching Joel inb talk to dan Burke 0:15:58.000 --> 0:16:01.880 and laugh against Charlotte. He's coming off the floor something 0:16:01.920 --> 0:16:05.480 that he did defensively that embiad was tremendous with, and 0:16:05.640 --> 0:16:09.680 I felt like dan Burke was talking to embeat about it. 0:16:09.840 --> 0:16:11.840 And then it takes me back to dan Burke a 0:16:11.960 --> 0:16:16.920 season ago with Indiana and how he felt some calls 0:16:16.920 --> 0:16:20.600 would go the other way with embat So everything just 0:16:20.640 --> 0:16:23.640 seems to be clicking with the coaching staff led by Rivers, 0:16:23.680 --> 0:16:27.240 with the players, the star players in particular also, and 0:16:27.280 --> 0:16:29.560 it's just a good thing. To see right now. Feels 0:16:29.600 --> 0:16:32.120 good to see them at this place as they get 0:16:32.120 --> 0:16:35.600 ready for a big, big matchup as you mentioned, with 0:16:35.760 --> 0:16:39.160 the next team in the Eastern Conference right behind them 0:16:39.600 --> 0:16:42.480 with the Brooklyn Nets, So it's great to watch. I 0:16:42.560 --> 0:16:45.120 do think that the early indication of the answer to 0:16:45.160 --> 0:16:48.520 that question might be yes, just because the team has 0:16:48.560 --> 0:16:50.840 expressed that they know they have such a long way 0:16:50.880 --> 0:16:53.160 to go, and that's something I know that we've just 0:16:53.240 --> 0:16:56.840 talked about. But the fact that they're anticipating growing more, 0:16:56.880 --> 0:17:00.920 anticipating learning more, they're probably anticipating a few games here 0:17:00.920 --> 0:17:03.520 and there, and how they respond, I cannot agree with 0:17:03.560 --> 0:17:06.679 you more. How they respond is going to be so 0:17:06.800 --> 0:17:09.560 key for how this identity that's still growing for this 0:17:09.640 --> 0:17:12.159 new team ends up shaping up when it comes to 0:17:12.160 --> 0:17:16.000 the playoffs. You alluded d to the monthly award, the 0:17:16.040 --> 0:17:18.040 Conference Player of the Month award that Joel Embid won 0:17:18.560 --> 0:17:21.440 Doc Rivers, as Lauren said, the Eastern Conference Coach of 0:17:21.480 --> 0:17:23.720 the Month. That's something the seventy six ers haven't done, 0:17:23.720 --> 0:17:27.879 sweeping those two since nineteen eighty two eighty three, And 0:17:27.920 --> 0:17:30.360 I thought it was interesting to hear what Doc had 0:17:30.400 --> 0:17:33.520 to say, both about himself being nominated and selected for 0:17:33.560 --> 0:17:36.960 that award, and then also Joel Embiid being chosen as 0:17:37.040 --> 0:17:39.960 Eastern Conference Player of the Month. It's really nice Joel 0:17:40.080 --> 0:17:42.720 winning Player of the month. But I don't think that's 0:17:42.720 --> 0:17:45.200 why we started the season or what he wanted. I mean, 0:17:45.200 --> 0:17:47.960 he wants more. That shouldn't be a reason not to 0:17:48.080 --> 0:17:50.560 keep wanting to improve. You know, as a group, none 0:17:50.600 --> 0:17:52.520 of us have made it. You know, we're trying to 0:17:52.560 --> 0:17:54.760 make it, and we're trying to get better. So that's 0:17:54.800 --> 0:17:57.760 what we need from him and everyone. And the message 0:17:57.800 --> 0:18:01.680 was essentially, we got more to do, Like this is nice, 0:18:02.000 --> 0:18:06.040 this is good. It helps us reach some sort of 0:18:06.119 --> 0:18:09.760 level of recognition for what people individually have been doing 0:18:09.960 --> 0:18:13.000 and the team's success. But ultimately, Doc, I think has 0:18:13.040 --> 0:18:16.800 said repeatedly that this team can be better. Where do 0:18:16.800 --> 0:18:18.880 you think they still have to go? What can Doc 0:18:19.000 --> 0:18:21.760 do more to get more out of this team? What 0:18:21.800 --> 0:18:23.480 do you think is the next step in their revolution? 0:18:23.760 --> 0:18:26.239 The next step is let's just say, for instance, as 0:18:26.320 --> 0:18:29.760 we look ahead, not jumping too far ahead, but seeing 0:18:29.840 --> 0:18:33.200 how they respond and handle a four game road trip 0:18:33.240 --> 0:18:35.080 that they have up coming on the West coast. Sure 0:18:35.119 --> 0:18:38.280 they have Brooklyn tough, matchup. We didn't see Kevin Durant 0:18:38.400 --> 0:18:41.320 Kyrie Irving in the first one where unfortunately the six 0:18:41.440 --> 0:18:46.760 is lost in Brooklyn, but it's like James Harden adding there, 0:18:46.800 --> 0:18:48.760 so we didn't see him. Now we get to see 0:18:48.760 --> 0:18:51.639 those guys. That's another barometer we spoke about it before, 0:18:51.800 --> 0:18:55.600 the barometer of looking back at the Minnesota game, not 0:18:56.359 --> 0:19:01.760 dropping that one, beating the Lakers, but not overlooking Minnesota. 0:19:01.840 --> 0:19:05.639 Then going to Indiana being down without dwell indeed, and 0:19:05.640 --> 0:19:08.560 then coming right back and doing what they are doing 0:19:08.680 --> 0:19:11.000 out there on the floor. That is something that I 0:19:11.000 --> 0:19:13.720 think Doc Rivers has to just continue to preach. Everything 0:19:13.760 --> 0:19:16.320 that he's doing is working right now. How is he 0:19:16.359 --> 0:19:19.439 going to handle those games where they are on that 0:19:19.560 --> 0:19:23.080 road trip if something doesn't go right? How do they 0:19:23.119 --> 0:19:26.520 respond now to a bump in the road, if you 0:19:26.560 --> 0:19:29.040 will for them? If it goes that way now, I 0:19:29.119 --> 0:19:30.720 expect them to win a few because they are the 0:19:30.760 --> 0:19:33.240 best team in the Eastern Conference at this time, so 0:19:33.280 --> 0:19:34.760 I think that they will go out there and handle 0:19:34.840 --> 0:19:40.240 themselves the right way. So for me Celts and Lauren, 0:19:40.320 --> 0:19:44.399 it's more of ken Doc Rivers, his message and what 0:19:44.480 --> 0:19:47.959 he's preaching right now. Can it still reach them when 0:19:48.000 --> 0:19:51.160 they go on a road take a little chin check 0:19:51.680 --> 0:19:54.080 and get right back up off the mat and do 0:19:54.119 --> 0:19:56.879 it all over again, and this time walk away with 0:19:56.880 --> 0:20:00.760 the win again. Doc Rivers so far a great fit 0:20:00.920 --> 0:20:04.240 for the seventy six ers. His hiring proceeded one month 0:20:04.320 --> 0:20:09.320 earlier by Steve Nash to the Brooklyn Nets. It's a 0:20:09.400 --> 0:20:12.679 unique opportunity, you know, as an incredible roster, and you know, 0:20:12.680 --> 0:20:14.439 it's something that I put on the back burner but 0:20:14.560 --> 0:20:19.000 always been listening, taking notes, building it in my mind 0:20:19.080 --> 0:20:21.320 to get this opportunity to be able to join, you 0:20:21.359 --> 0:20:24.879 know that that lifetime of practice thing and seeking it 0:20:25.000 --> 0:20:27.720 within the sport and life a couple with this opportunity. 0:20:27.920 --> 0:20:31.159 It wasn't a perfect match. I was shocked, stunned, and 0:20:31.200 --> 0:20:34.719 I feel like even when Wojbob's happened, I'm not entirely 0:20:34.760 --> 0:20:36.720 caught off guard. I feel like, you know, I hate 0:20:36.720 --> 0:20:38.560 to sound like this type of person that I've been 0:20:38.600 --> 0:20:42.520 around long enough, but it takes something major for me 0:20:42.560 --> 0:20:47.200 at least to really surprise me. I was blown away 0:20:47.000 --> 0:20:49.080 that this is what happened with Brooklyn. I don't know 0:20:49.080 --> 0:20:51.800 how you guys felt about I too, I too was 0:20:51.840 --> 0:20:55.560 blown away and hearing Steve Nash talk about other things 0:20:55.600 --> 0:20:59.119 that he's doing, I didn't expect that one. I really didn't, 0:20:59.119 --> 0:21:02.640 but I was pleasantly Prize always appreciated his game as 0:21:02.680 --> 0:21:04.760 a point guard in this league, as a Hall of Famer, 0:21:05.680 --> 0:21:08.040 and the way that he played and the style that 0:21:08.119 --> 0:21:10.400