WEBVTT - Friday Deep Dive | Answer or Samesies, Round 2! 0:00:00.320 --> 0:00:03.640 This podcast is part of the seventy Sixers Podcast network 0:00:04.000 --> 0:00:09.160 Search seventy Sixers podcast wherever you get your pods. There 0:00:09.320 --> 0:00:11.360 was a lot going on this past week for the 0:00:11.400 --> 0:00:14.960 seventy Sixers, so much we couldn't zero in on just 0:00:15.080 --> 0:00:18.640 one specific topic for this week's Deep Dive. Yep, we 0:00:18.680 --> 0:00:20.800 had to run it back, and by it we mean 0:00:20.960 --> 0:00:24.400 everybody's favorite game answer or same season. Don't remember what 0:00:24.440 --> 0:00:28.360 it is? No problem, neither do we, but we try 0:00:28.360 --> 0:00:32.560 our best. I'm Lauren Rosen, I'm Divon Gibbons, and I'm 0:00:32.560 --> 0:00:36.160 Brian Seltzer from Joel Embiid's Return to George Hill Status. 0:00:36.200 --> 0:00:40.040 We play the latest edition of Answer or Samesy's You're 0:00:40.080 --> 0:00:44.640 on the Friday Deep Dive? Are we here? Guys? Have 0:00:44.720 --> 0:00:48.400 we officially reached the home stretch of the season? Queen 0:00:48.400 --> 0:00:52.920 annoint this the final stretch run of this crazy NBA season. 0:00:53.240 --> 0:00:57.120 I'd say we're entering the home stretch of the regular season, 0:00:57.280 --> 0:00:59.360 but yeah, I heard it last night on the national 0:00:59.400 --> 0:01:02.920 broadcast saying that we had entered the home stretch of 0:01:02.920 --> 0:01:05.200 the season. I found it a little bit rattling because 0:01:05.520 --> 0:01:08.479 we were just in the bubble. But crazy, it's been 0:01:08.520 --> 0:01:09.760 I mean, I think part of that has to do 0:01:09.800 --> 0:01:12.520 with the condensed season, right guys, that the end sort 0:01:12.520 --> 0:01:15.600 of crept up on us a little bit. Oh absolutely, 0:01:15.880 --> 0:01:18.560 and it has cracked up one is very quickly. We 0:01:18.560 --> 0:01:20.800 are already in a month of April. But when we 0:01:20.840 --> 0:01:23.240 look at it, with twenty one games remaining in the 0:01:23.360 --> 0:01:26.119 normal season, we would be talking about the quarter point, 0:01:26.319 --> 0:01:29.320 the final quarter of the season for the seventy six 0:01:29.400 --> 0:01:32.360 or so, absolutely final stretch, and this is when we 0:01:32.440 --> 0:01:35.319 start to say, Okay, this is the seeding time, this 0:01:35.400 --> 0:01:39.440 is the rotation time, this is where we are. Let's 0:01:39.480 --> 0:01:42.000 get to it. If the home stretch is not here now, 0:01:42.360 --> 0:01:46.360 I think we'll definitely begin next Wednesday, when the Brooklyn 0:01:46.360 --> 0:01:49.800 Nets are in South Philadelphia, final matchup of the season 0:01:50.320 --> 0:01:52.600 between the two teams that are looking to clinch the 0:01:52.600 --> 0:01:57.000 Eastern Conference. Hopefully everyone's healthy for that. Can't wait for that. 0:01:57.760 --> 0:01:59.720 Three games on the road stand between now and then, 0:02:00.160 --> 0:02:03.480 crazily enough for the Sixers, but it's hard not to 0:02:03.520 --> 0:02:06.440 see that game shining on the horizon line right now. 0:02:07.080 --> 0:02:09.000 I think everybody in the league has had that one 0:02:09.200 --> 0:02:14.440 on their calendars since perhaps before Brooklyn made the additions 0:02:14.480 --> 0:02:16.760 that they've made in the last couple of weeks. I 0:02:16.760 --> 0:02:18.760 think as soon as James Harden joined that team, you 0:02:18.760 --> 0:02:20.280 were trying to figure out when they were going to 0:02:20.360 --> 0:02:22.919 come head to head with the best in the East, 0:02:23.000 --> 0:02:26.040 which has been the Sixers for the majority of this season. 0:02:26.639 --> 0:02:29.040 I agree with you, So may we have everyone healthy 0:02:29.040 --> 0:02:31.600 for that matchup, because it'll sure be something we've been 0:02:31.639 --> 0:02:33.760 waiting for this one. The last time we talked about 0:02:33.760 --> 0:02:36.840 this very thing in South Philadelphia, the only one that 0:02:36.919 --> 0:02:39.919 showed up. I believe it was James Harden, right, we 0:02:40.000 --> 0:02:42.760 wasn't it James Harden? Yeah, Kyrie Irving was out, Kevin 0:02:42.800 --> 0:02:47.120 Durant was already on the sideline. So yeah, I agree 0:02:47.160 --> 0:02:49.560 with you. I think most of us as we look 0:02:49.560 --> 0:02:52.040 at the rest of this three game road trip for 0:02:52.080 --> 0:02:55.400 the Sixers, but most importantly, we kind of look ahead 0:02:55.840 --> 0:02:58.280 to the next matchup against the top two teams in 0:02:58.320 --> 0:03:02.119 the Eastern Conference and how you gage yourself against each other. 0:03:02.160 --> 0:03:04.679 So for us here of course, see what this team 0:03:04.720 --> 0:03:09.200 looks like against a fully staffed, if you will, Brooklyn 0:03:09.280 --> 0:03:12.840 Nets team. But honestly, for me and I was just 0:03:12.880 --> 0:03:15.200 talking about this, I kind of get to a point where, 0:03:15.200 --> 0:03:17.960 even though you wanted to see them against the Brooklyn 0:03:18.000 --> 0:03:21.079 Nets or even the Milwaukee Bucks in the two games 0:03:21.160 --> 0:03:23.720 later on in a month, back to back on the road, 0:03:24.200 --> 0:03:26.960 and I was just mentioning this of how I am 0:03:27.000 --> 0:03:30.160 more worried about the Sixers than I am who the 0:03:30.200 --> 0:03:33.359 opponent is because of how I feel the Sixers are 0:03:33.480 --> 0:03:36.160 just as good as any team in the NBA. So 0:03:36.560 --> 0:03:39.240 that's how I look at it. Also, there was no Blake, 0:03:39.480 --> 0:03:42.400 there was no LaMarcus the last time around for the Nets. 0:03:42.680 --> 0:03:45.120 They've been added to the fray. I think we already 0:03:45.160 --> 0:03:47.800 know what the subject of next week's Friday Deep dive 0:03:47.960 --> 0:03:49.200 is going to be able to be our chance to 0:03:49.240 --> 0:03:52.520 react to what happened in that game. But as far 0:03:52.560 --> 0:03:53.840 as for this week, I feel like they were a 0:03:53.880 --> 0:03:57.880 handful of grab bag topics we could cover. We have 0:03:58.240 --> 0:04:01.720 the seventy Sixers and the Pelicans Joel Embiid Zion Williamson 0:04:01.800 --> 0:04:04.640 perhaps on the same court for the first time ever 0:04:05.000 --> 0:04:08.640 coming later on on this Friday night, Ben Simmons want 0:04:08.640 --> 0:04:11.000 to check in on him, and of course this past week, 0:04:11.040 --> 0:04:13.280 the big story for the seventy six Ers the return 0:04:13.320 --> 0:04:15.000 of Joel Embiid. So I feel like when we have 0:04:15.120 --> 0:04:18.280 these opportunities to go into the grab bag. There is 0:04:18.320 --> 0:04:21.560 no better setting in which to play our favorite game. 0:04:21.600 --> 0:04:24.719 Here on the Friday Deep Dive, we're pulling it out 0:04:27.960 --> 0:04:33.920 round two of Answer or Samesy's. But the problem is, 0:04:33.960 --> 0:04:36.719 I think I was so overwhelmed by Answer or Samesy's 0:04:36.760 --> 0:04:38.600 the first time around. I don't think I remember how 0:04:38.640 --> 0:04:41.560 to play anyone else. Remember how did we do it? 0:04:42.120 --> 0:04:45.040 Did I say the topic and then you two responded 0:04:45.080 --> 0:04:46.440 and you could choose whether or not you wanted to 0:04:46.440 --> 0:04:50.040 answer or you had the Samesy's. That's correct, right, Lauren. 0:04:50.200 --> 0:04:52.440 Wasn't how it went. I think the first persons to 0:04:52.680 --> 0:04:54.640 the first person has to have an answer, right, and 0:04:54.680 --> 0:04:57.120 then everybody else gets to decide if they agree or not. 0:04:57.440 --> 0:04:58.960 And what I like about this game is it doesn't 0:04:59.000 --> 0:05:02.279 force us to fight against each other, as as lots 0:05:02.279 --> 0:05:06.120 of programs Nest might prefer. On this program, we're okay 0:05:06.279 --> 0:05:13.240 with agree. We're collaborators, not quarrelers. Yes, right, lovers not fighters. No, 0:05:14.200 --> 0:05:16.239 you have nothing good good vibes here on the Friday 0:05:16.320 --> 0:05:21.000 Deep Dive. That's right the best. Let's let's do it. Okay, 0:05:21.120 --> 0:05:23.839 We're gonna start with the seventy Sixers and the Boston 0:05:23.960 --> 0:05:28.679 Celtics from Wednesday night. That'll do it. A twenty point 0:05:28.720 --> 0:05:31.880 win for the Sixers on the road in Boston at 0:05:31.880 --> 0:05:34.279 the Garden. It'll be a final of one oh six 0:05:34.680 --> 0:05:37.600 ninety six, and the Sixers sweep the season series with 0:05:37.640 --> 0:05:40.760 Boston they win by twenty Should these rivals meet again, 0:05:41.440 --> 0:05:45.040 are we concerned? Is there any reason to be concerned? 0:05:45.440 --> 0:05:49.000 I say, for the seventy Sixers, provided good health, I'm 0:05:49.000 --> 0:05:54.680 not quite concerned. Answer or Slash elaborate or Samsy's I'm 0:05:54.680 --> 0:05:57.960 with you, Celts, not super concerned. As long as Joel 0:05:58.040 --> 0:06:01.880 Embiid is available a potential series down the road, they 0:06:01.920 --> 0:06:04.440 just have no answer for him. And as for the 0:06:04.520 --> 0:06:06.680 guards that do such a good job, the wings that 0:06:06.720 --> 0:06:08.680 do such a good job in Tatum and Brown and 0:06:08.760 --> 0:06:12.159 Walker on the Celtics, the Sixers have three strong wing 0:06:12.240 --> 0:06:14.919 defenders that can match up with each of them when 0:06:14.960 --> 0:06:17.719 they're all healthy. Right, So, as long as Joel Embiid 0:06:17.760 --> 0:06:20.839 is available to cause problems down low, there's just no 0:06:21.680 --> 0:06:24.240 There's no matchup this year, and it feels nice. I 0:06:24.279 --> 0:06:26.920 agree with you both when you I think the X factor, 0:06:26.960 --> 0:06:30.200 of course, is Joel Embid in any potential series with 0:06:30.240 --> 0:06:33.000 the Boston Celtics and no Tristan Thompson in the game. 0:06:33.040 --> 0:06:35.680 But even when Thompson did play earlier in the season, 0:06:36.360 --> 0:06:39.719 Joel Embi was still Joel mb So, yes, it's another 0:06:39.760 --> 0:06:43.440 body for another six fouls in this particular case because 0:06:43.760 --> 0:06:47.200 he did fill out. Robert Williams and others just wore 0:06:47.279 --> 0:06:49.960 no match with Luke Cornette, tackle fall, getting a few 0:06:50.000 --> 0:06:54.040 minutes and throwing semi ojul and Grant Williams throw them 0:06:54.080 --> 0:06:57.559 all at him. It didn't matter and it won't matter. 0:06:57.640 --> 0:06:59.800 I don't think in a series. Again, as Lauren mentioned, 0:07:00.120 --> 0:07:02.720 as long as he's healthy and able to play in 0:07:02.880 --> 0:07:06.400 every game, then I don't think that there's an issue there. 0:07:06.400 --> 0:07:09.200 I always have respect for them because of what they've 0:07:09.240 --> 0:07:12.160 done in the past against the Sixers in the postseason, 0:07:12.200 --> 0:07:16.600 but this season it just seems different. SAME's he's But 0:07:16.640 --> 0:07:18.040 I am still going to add on top of that, 0:07:18.600 --> 0:07:21.000 I think both of you are totally on point. This 0:07:21.120 --> 0:07:23.240 is not to throw shape. This is not the Sixers 0:07:23.280 --> 0:07:26.600 podcasting guy throwing shade at the rival of the Sixers, 0:07:26.600 --> 0:07:29.160 the Boston Celtics. I think they have a great team. 0:07:29.320 --> 0:07:33.520 We know how well coached they are Tatum Brown. Don't 0:07:33.520 --> 0:07:35.600 like him on another team, you would love him on 0:07:35.640 --> 0:07:38.560 your team. They are terrific talents. I just think to 0:07:38.560 --> 0:07:41.679 build on your point in this specific season as currently 0:07:41.680 --> 0:07:46.000 constructed in twenty twenty twenty one, the Boston Celtics not 0:07:46.120 --> 0:07:48.440 cut out for the seventy sixers. That was the one 0:07:48.480 --> 0:07:51.120 thing that my biggest reaction to their movement at the 0:07:51.160 --> 0:07:53.760 trade deadline wasn't even so much Fortier and they didn't 0:07:53.760 --> 0:07:55.680 have him. We should note that for the game the 0:07:55.720 --> 0:07:58.800 other night. But Daniel Tys, I don't want to build 0:07:58.840 --> 0:08:02.280 him up to be the second coming of the greatest 0:08:02.360 --> 0:08:04.760 defensive five men of all time. But I thought he 0:08:04.800 --> 0:08:07.360 actually had success against Joel emb in the past. I 0:08:07.400 --> 0:08:10.040 thought he was someone who was effective, whether it was 0:08:10.040 --> 0:08:12.440 in the bubble or when they rolled him out earlier 0:08:12.440 --> 0:08:16.240 in the season. I agree, And I had the opportunity 0:08:16.280 --> 0:08:18.640 when the deal went down on a deadline day trade 0:08:18.640 --> 0:08:21.680 deadline to speak to a couple of Celtic fans that 0:08:21.760 --> 0:08:24.640 I'm close with, that you know, know the team very well, 0:08:25.040 --> 0:08:29.000 and it was the opposite Self's learned that they couldn't 0:08:29.000 --> 0:08:30.720 wait to get rid of Daniel Tyson. I'm like, well, 0:08:30.760 --> 0:08:33.679 whoa was I'm missing every time I watched it seems, 0:08:33.720 --> 0:08:36.080 and of course watched them when they're on nationally televised 0:08:36.080 --> 0:08:39.240 games or certainly against the seventy sixers, But in the 0:08:39.280 --> 0:08:42.080 matchups that I have seen, I was I come away 0:08:42.240 --> 0:08:44.640 and looking at him saying, okay, you know, I worry 0:08:44.679 --> 0:08:47.839 a little bit about him, but hey, if they're they 0:08:47.960 --> 0:08:49.520 felt like it was time for him to move on, 0:08:49.640 --> 0:08:52.800 and so be it, because that's just one less front 0:08:52.840 --> 0:08:57.360 court piece that they have to again throw successfully in 0:08:57.600 --> 0:09:01.040 a little bit at Joel and b Sixers go to 0:09:01.080 --> 0:09:04.120 Curry to Great into Joe and it beat turns at 0:09:04.240 --> 0:09:08.720 Champton an exclamation point, Bye bye Boston. What a play 0:09:08.760 --> 0:09:12.080 by Joeko a slam on Jalen Brown. It was not 0:09:12.280 --> 0:09:16.280 peak Joel Embiid against the Celtics this week, but it 0:09:16.360 --> 0:09:19.520 was still pretty damn good. Thirty five points, sixteen for 0:09:19.679 --> 0:09:23.040 twenty from the line, six boards, one hundred and fifteen 0:09:23.080 --> 0:09:26.440 total points against the Boston Celtics and three matchups. Doc 0:09:26.520 --> 0:09:29.520 Rivers told the story that Joel and he were walking 0:09:29.520 --> 0:09:32.920 with each other after the game on Tuesday and Joel 0:09:33.000 --> 0:09:36.200 told him he was back. Doc said, I noticed, do 0:09:36.320 --> 0:09:39.840 we think Joel Embiad is back answer or SAME's e's 0:09:40.880 --> 0:09:42.680 am I going first again? There, I guess has to 0:09:42.679 --> 0:09:46.360 be a first answer. Yes, I think Joel Embiad is 0:09:46.400 --> 0:09:48.680 indeed back. If Joel says he's back, he's back. Right 0:09:48.760 --> 0:09:51.480 after that first return against the timber Wolves, he said 0:09:51.480 --> 0:09:53.840 he felt usty, he didn't feel great. He wasn't super comfortable. 0:09:54.160 --> 0:09:56.360 Still good, but he didn't feel super comfortable. It didn't 0:09:56.360 --> 0:09:59.080 feel super competent. If Joel says he's back, I'm gonna 0:09:59.080 --> 0:10:00.959 go ahead and believe him. Funny though that a thirty 0:10:00.960 --> 0:10:03.760 five point performance actually brought his average against the Celtics 0:10:03.800 --> 0:10:08.520 for the season down right, correct, Yeah, And of course 0:10:08.559 --> 0:10:11.240 it was about the Yeah, thirty five you know, as 0:10:11.240 --> 0:10:13.960 you said that just great performances against the Celtics all season. 0:10:13.960 --> 0:10:16.600 They have been unable to do anything against them. And 0:10:16.960 --> 0:10:20.960 I agree he's back if he says he's back, because 0:10:20.960 --> 0:10:24.160 even when you look at his line for the game 0:10:24.280 --> 0:10:26.160 and it says one for five from behind a three 0:10:26.160 --> 0:10:29.200 point line, can you take those other four misses from 0:10:29.200 --> 0:10:31.720 behind the three point line away and he's still shooting 0:10:32.120 --> 0:10:34.640 very efficient and the sixteen of twenty from the free 0:10:34.679 --> 0:10:37.240 throw line that you just spoke of, and as he 0:10:37.320 --> 0:10:41.360 pointed out, missing four free throws not acceptable for him. 0:10:41.440 --> 0:10:44.920 So yeah, I would say he is back, and Lauren, 0:10:45.000 --> 0:10:46.920 to your point, four more points at the free throw 0:10:46.960 --> 0:10:48.800 line and he has at thirty nine, just right on 0:10:48.880 --> 0:10:51.800 his average. I feel like we're typically all three of 0:10:51.880 --> 0:10:54.720 us very agreeable and on the same page. I'm taking 0:10:54.760 --> 0:10:58.520 the other stance on this, not back dominant back, but 0:10:58.679 --> 0:11:03.000 still not quite bad to peek ultra embiid pre injury, 0:11:03.080 --> 0:11:05.240 because I think you're right. I think four free through 0:11:05.280 --> 0:11:07.320 misses in a game he knows he's better than that. 0:11:07.760 --> 0:11:09.400 He took care of the attempts. We should note that, 0:11:09.760 --> 0:11:11.839 but also a lot of jumpers on the wing. Can 0:11:11.880 --> 0:11:14.319 we see more of that dunk that he delivered on 0:11:14.400 --> 0:11:16.360 Jalen Brown late in the games? See more of that 0:11:16.520 --> 0:11:19.440 post play on the interior. Moving forward, as he continues 0:11:19.480 --> 0:11:22.120 to get more and more comfortable, does he iron out 0:11:22.160 --> 0:11:23.880 some of the turnovers that weren't as much of an 0:11:23.880 --> 0:11:27.199 issue before the injury. I mean, he's phenomenal right now. 0:11:27.200 --> 0:11:30.280 I'm just totally splitting hairs. But I think I think 0:11:30.280 --> 0:11:32.520 that you guys would say this too. I feel like 0:11:32.559 --> 0:11:35.880 he's back, but maybe not all the way back. He 0:11:36.520 --> 0:11:38.680 is back enough to make a huge difference for the 0:11:38.720 --> 0:11:41.319 seventy six ers. But I think all of us would say, 0:11:41.559 --> 0:11:44.240 starting with Joel himself, that there's still a couple a 0:11:44.280 --> 0:11:47.200 couple more layers he can get to, still room for improvement. 0:11:47.240 --> 0:11:49.240 Absolutely yep, and that's what we want to see. We 0:11:49.240 --> 0:11:51.280 want to see him ramp it up even more in 0:11:51.360 --> 0:11:54.080 the final games of the regular season as we get 0:11:54.160 --> 0:11:56.920 up forward and start of the postseason. I remember more 0:11:57.160 --> 0:12:00.640 how the rhythm of this game. Answer the same He's goes. 0:12:01.280 --> 0:12:04.760 I think the topic is introduced, someone responds, and then 0:12:04.840 --> 0:12:07.800 the next person says if they're going to answer, or 0:12:07.840 --> 0:12:10.360 if it's Sames, he's okay. I don't think we need 0:12:10.360 --> 0:12:12.120 to say answer a Sames He's right off the bat. 0:12:12.400 --> 0:12:18.360 This is really clearly eating at me an intricate game 0:12:18.400 --> 0:12:21.800 we have here. It is thought something with such a basic, simple, 0:12:22.240 --> 0:12:26.040 unappealing name could really be all that complex. I thought 0:12:26.080 --> 0:12:28.280 Ben Simmons gave the Sixers a nice shot in the 0:12:28.320 --> 0:12:30.640 arm in the third quarter against the Celtics, had six 0:12:30.679 --> 0:12:33.520 of his twelve points in that period. This time Simmons 0:12:33.600 --> 0:12:37.480 does take fall and he has his way. Ben Simmons 0:12:37.480 --> 0:12:39.679 to the open floor where he can get his He 0:12:39.800 --> 0:12:42.240 was able to get out on the break. What does 0:12:42.240 --> 0:12:43.880 Ben need to be doing right now? Guys, what do 0:12:43.880 --> 0:12:48.440 we think I do want to see more? So I'll 0:12:48.480 --> 0:12:52.840 say answer more so than Sames. He's here because although 0:12:52.880 --> 0:12:55.120 we saw the sixth and that they're quartered for his 0:12:55.480 --> 0:12:59.240 total of twelve and his defense was phenomenal on both wings. 0:12:59.240 --> 0:13:01.160 When he was out there, I saw a couple of 0:13:01.200 --> 0:13:02.760 things that I didn't like. I felt he could have 0:13:02.760 --> 0:13:07.320 been more aggressive looking for his as well. They shot 0:13:07.559 --> 0:13:11.040 seventy three field goals in the game against Boston, and 0:13:11.120 --> 0:13:13.600 I felt there were a few more that he left 0:13:13.679 --> 0:13:17.480 out there with just the overpassing that could have been 0:13:17.559 --> 0:13:21.240 his versus teammates and he's passed first and we're about 0:13:21.240 --> 0:13:23.640 his scoring secondary and I know what doctor Rivers had 0:13:23.679 --> 0:13:26.880 to say, we worry about it more than he does. Yeah, 0:13:26.960 --> 0:13:29.000 I mean we've seen him for four years, so we 0:13:29.160 --> 0:13:31.480 know the style of play, and yes, he's watched him 0:13:31.480 --> 0:13:33.880 over the years, and of course with his film study 0:13:34.120 --> 0:13:38.840 coaching against him, I don't think he's where he needs 0:13:38.840 --> 0:13:41.199 to be at this point of the season. So if 0:13:41.240 --> 0:13:44.160 we're looking at and be being better I think Simmons 0:13:44.160 --> 0:13:47.560 can also be better going forward as we get up 0:13:47.600 --> 0:13:50.280 for the playoffs, not only for locking in the first 0:13:50.280 --> 0:13:54.040 seed and being in a good spot, but also for 0:13:56.760 --> 0:14:02.000 kind of looking at redem a little of the past 0:14:02.160 --> 0:14:05.439 performances in the postseason. Still a young player, of course, 0:14:05.480 --> 0:14:08.080 but no longer are you young when you're in the 0:14:08.120 --> 0:14:11.599 postseason for three years and you have experienced. So I 0:14:11.760 --> 0:14:14.800 say answer, not the same season, because there's more that 0:14:15.200 --> 0:14:18.319 I believe that's in there to contribute to the team. 0:14:18.600 --> 0:14:20.800 I'll answer to on that. I think it's important to 0:14:20.880 --> 0:14:24.680 keep in mind, and I'm not sure exactly what order 0:14:24.720 --> 0:14:27.040 this takes with Ben as far as the most important 0:14:27.040 --> 0:14:31.720 aspects of his role, whether he needs to be All 0:14:31.800 --> 0:14:34.960 League Defensive Player of the Year candidate first then second 0:14:34.960 --> 0:14:39.120 to that facilitator or if it goes facilitator first then 0:14:39.200 --> 0:14:41.880 all World defender, they're probably right up around the same line. 0:14:42.120 --> 0:14:44.040 But I think those are the two things that Doc 0:14:44.120 --> 0:14:47.160 Rivers is asking Ben Simmons to be the most of it. 0:14:47.240 --> 0:14:48.800 So I feel like some of the things we're seeing 0:14:48.800 --> 0:14:52.000 with Ben could be a reflection of the marching orders 0:14:52.080 --> 0:14:54.200 he's getting from Doc Rivers and the coaching staff. I 0:14:54.240 --> 0:14:56.760 really do believe, and Doc has said this a handful 0:14:56.760 --> 0:15:00.560 of times. He views Ben as a straw st for 0:15:00.600 --> 0:15:03.720 the offense, someone who gets things going, and then an 0:15:03.720 --> 0:15:06.440 elite All World defensive player, and I think he is 0:15:06.480 --> 0:15:08.800 still doing that from what we've seen so far. I 0:15:08.840 --> 0:15:11.120 do believe the one thing that Doc would say about 0:15:11.440 --> 0:15:14.000 stuff that immediately on the scoring side, he would want 0:15:14.000 --> 0:15:15.920 to see from Ben just making sure he gets some 0:15:15.960 --> 0:15:19.080 of those free throws back up. Made his final four 0:15:19.160 --> 0:15:21.320 free throws in the game against the Celtics, missed his 0:15:21.400 --> 0:15:24.560 first four. But that's why I think Ben is at 0:15:24.560 --> 0:15:27.800 But obviously in a perfect world, it's that all aggressive 0:15:28.400 --> 0:15:31.040 in every facet of his game that we saw going 0:15:31.040 --> 0:15:34.320 into the All Star break, and anytime Simmons mentioned laing 0:15:34.400 --> 0:15:38.320 real fast is that he says to himself that he 0:15:38.960 --> 0:15:43.440 has to get his stuff together. So I'll take his 0:15:43.480 --> 0:15:47.960 word for it. Quality Parental Advisory Radio edit version of 0:15:48.040 --> 0:15:52.880 that paraphrasing that comment by you, Divona, Thank you. I'm 0:15:52.920 --> 0:15:56.240 gonna jump in. I think I agree more with Celts 0:15:56.280 --> 0:15:58.480 than I agree with you Devon on this one. I 0:15:58.520 --> 0:16:00.920 think that people are really quick to look at Ben's 0:16:00.920 --> 0:16:02.920 scoring numbers and to talk about whether or not they've 0:16:02.920 --> 0:16:05.240 gone up or down or where they stack up compared 0:16:05.280 --> 0:16:08.280 to previous seasons. And for me, if Tobias Harris and 0:16:08.360 --> 0:16:10.440 Joel Embiid are going to score at a higher rate, 0:16:10.800 --> 0:16:14.320 that's fewer points to go around when you're a guy 0:16:14.360 --> 0:16:16.280 on this team. When you add a Seth Curry, you 0:16:16.280 --> 0:16:18.400 added Danny Green, both of whom have had really big 0:16:18.440 --> 0:16:21.840 scoring nights, that's fewer points for Ben Simmons to go 0:16:21.880 --> 0:16:25.600 out and get. And because there's more scoring surrounding him now, 0:16:25.960 --> 0:16:28.680 he's decided to go and improve his game elsewhere on 0:16:28.720 --> 0:16:31.200 the defensive end, where he has been, in my opinion, 0:16:31.240 --> 0:16:34.080 the defensive player of the year. So I have nothing 0:16:34.320 --> 0:16:36.760 but respect. Can he get better? Certainly? He said it. 0:16:37.040 --> 0:16:39.000 I think every player on this team would agree that 0:16:39.040 --> 0:16:41.920 they all have places where they can improve. But I'm 0:16:41.920 --> 0:16:44.120 going to go ahead and be a Ben Simmons defender 0:16:44.120 --> 0:16:46.240 on this one and make sure that we talk about 0:16:46.280 --> 0:16:48.600 the fact that while the scoring maybe has gone down 0:16:48.640 --> 0:16:50.720 a tiny bit, other players scoring has gone up. The 0:16:50.720 --> 0:16:52.840 team's not losing, the team is still succeeding at a 0:16:52.880 --> 0:16:55.480 really high rate. And he found an area where he 0:16:55.520 --> 0:16:58.400 could get better without taking away from any of his teammates, 0:16:58.440 --> 0:17:00.880 maybe in fact raising the bar for his teammates, and 0:17:00.960 --> 0:17:02.520 that's on the defensive end. So I have a lot 0:17:02.520 --> 0:17:04.320 of respect for what Ben has done with his game 0:17:04.359 --> 0:17:08.520 this season, and I refuse to jump on the I 0:17:08.560 --> 0:17:11.920 don't know the critical bandwagon when it comes to Ben 0:17:11.960 --> 0:17:15.119 at this point in the season is answer or Sam's. 0:17:15.160 --> 0:17:17.560 He's tearing us apart. This might not be able to 0:17:17.600 --> 0:17:20.040 live beyond round two. This might have to be it 0:17:20.240 --> 0:17:24.480 round two and done well. Our relationships to be able 0:17:24.520 --> 0:17:27.119 to survive this. I think we can do it. I 0:17:27.119 --> 0:17:31.400 think this is productive. Yeah, right, it is productive well. 0:17:31.440 --> 0:17:38.520 Being diplomatic about Ben's defense, No, no, And again I 0:17:38.600 --> 0:17:41.359 didn't say. I said he played well defensively against Tatum 0:17:41.720 --> 0:17:45.240 in Brown twenty and seventeen points for each of those 0:17:45.280 --> 0:17:48.080 two guys. So he did his part along with Danny Green, 0:17:48.160 --> 0:17:51.439 Tobias Harrison to help defense and Tistible as well. My 0:17:51.520 --> 0:17:54.200 only thing was when we saw what we saw, yes 0:17:54.359 --> 0:17:56.720 in February, when he put up those numbers twenty three 0:17:56.760 --> 0:17:59.040 and sure, I don't expect that every night. I don't 0:17:59.040 --> 0:18:00.800 expect forty two point. It's like we saw him in 0:18:01.000 --> 0:18:02.800 the Utah Jazz game. I don't expect that, just like 0:18:02.840 --> 0:18:05.160 I don't expect thirty six from Tobuyas Harris all the time. 0:18:05.880 --> 0:18:09.600 I just I know when I see him Simmons and 0:18:09.680 --> 0:18:13.439 I he sees it as well, he knows what he 0:18:13.680 --> 0:18:17.520 may have left on the floor in that regard. And 0:18:17.560 --> 0:18:19.640 then to the other point is when I do see 0:18:19.640 --> 0:18:22.560 the seven turnovers, that might you know, say, well, this 0:18:22.640 --> 0:18:24.679 was one where he could have instead of trying to 0:18:24.680 --> 0:18:27.200 pass it and force it and be that pass first 0:18:27.320 --> 0:18:30.119 mentality type of guy, go ahead and take that shot. 0:18:30.160 --> 0:18:33.679 Because I still think watching him for me, not on 0:18:33.720 --> 0:18:36.040 the floor, that it was still a good shot for him. 0:18:36.320 --> 0:18:38.320 Maybe a better shot for his teammate, but still a 0:18:38.359 --> 0:18:42.159 good shot for him. Not tearing us apart. Not tearing 0:18:42.200 --> 0:18:47.399 us apart. Our bonds are stronger than a silly we 0:18:47.840 --> 0:18:51.879 want to we want to win guys. I thought it 0:18:51.880 --> 0:18:54.399 was pretty cool. Thursday, before the seventy sixers got on 0:18:54.400 --> 0:18:56.280 a plane to head down to New Orleans, we heard 0:18:56.280 --> 0:18:58.400 from George Hill for the first time as a seventy 0:18:58.400 --> 0:19:00.480 six er. I was very excited to be able to 0:19:00.480 --> 0:19:03.560 come here to an organization that's competing for a championship, 0:19:03.720 --> 0:19:05.760 you know, meet up with some of my old foes 0:19:05.800 --> 0:19:08.320 that kind of started this thing with and this journey with, 0:19:08.400 --> 0:19:13.560 and like Danny Green and Popeye, van Berg Yeager coach rivers, 0:19:13.600 --> 0:19:15.800 it's fun to be here to meet all the new 0:19:15.840 --> 0:19:18.320 guys and get out and try to help them win games, said, 0:19:18.359 --> 0:19:20.040 he feels like he's going to be back sooner rather 0:19:20.080 --> 0:19:24.080 than later. Seventy six ers are not rushing George Hill along. 0:19:24.280 --> 0:19:28.360 I am okay with that. He's reached the playoffs eleven 0:19:28.480 --> 0:19:31.199 of his last twelve seasons in the league. I do 0:19:31.280 --> 0:19:34.560 believe you go back at some point before the playoffs 0:19:34.600 --> 0:19:37.440 to get enough run in him and rhythm to find 0:19:37.480 --> 0:19:40.680 his spot with this team. So I'm not particularly concerned 0:19:41.040 --> 0:19:43.879 about his timeline at this point. I think he has 0:19:43.920 --> 0:19:46.399 such a defined skill set, and he's such a veteran 0:19:46.440 --> 0:19:48.160 in this league, and he's been put in so many 0:19:48.200 --> 0:19:52.199 situations in his career. But obviously it's not great to 0:19:52.280 --> 0:19:55.160 have someone joined the team only in the home stretch 0:19:55.240 --> 0:19:57.280 of the season. But if someone's gonna be able to 0:19:57.320 --> 0:19:59.560 do it at a high level, it's a guy like 0:19:59.600 --> 0:20:03.240 George Hill. And my understanding, based on listening to the coaches, 0:20:03.280 --> 0:20:05.440 to the executives, and to George himself, is that they 0:20:05.440 --> 0:20:07.119 feel that way, that they feel like they're gonna be 0:20:07.119 --> 0:20:11.480 able to integrate him quickly and easily, especially as it 0:20:11.520 --> 0:20:13.720 compares to maybe other other guys that you could add 0:20:13.720 --> 0:20:15.720 to a team late in the season. I would agree 0:20:15.760 --> 0:20:17.479 with that. I think he sat and Lauren like he 0:20:17.520 --> 0:20:20.719 was in a really good place, willing to embrace whatever 0:20:20.800 --> 0:20:23.440 role the seventy sixers and Doc Rivers are going to 0:20:23.520 --> 0:20:25.720 throw at him. Yeah, and if because it's later in 0:20:25.760 --> 0:20:27.919