WEBVTT - Mailbag Monday | Career Highs and a Key Rematch 0:00:00.320 --> 0:00:03.640 This podcast is part of the seventy Sixers podcast network 0:00:04.000 --> 0:00:08.680 search seventy Sixers podcast wherever you get your pods. There 0:00:08.840 --> 0:00:11.720 was a lot of stuff going on this past week, 0:00:11.840 --> 0:00:16.759 from career games to noteworthy milestones. Simmons cool solo. He's 0:00:16.800 --> 0:00:20.720 got a career high forty two here. It is the 0:00:21.079 --> 0:00:26.840 first career fifty point game for the Dominie Joel mb 0:00:27.600 --> 0:00:30.600 We recap the latest from Ben Simmons and Joel Embip 0:00:30.680 --> 0:00:34.159 and look ahead to Round two against the Raptors. Your calls, 0:00:34.400 --> 0:00:37.720 your DM's, your chance to win some swag. We do 0:00:37.760 --> 0:00:45.000 it every week on mail Bag Monday. Yes, a lot 0:00:45.080 --> 0:00:48.640 to cover and discuss on this week's edition of the 0:00:48.720 --> 0:00:52.760 mail Bag. Lauren, it was a busy, active week when 0:00:52.760 --> 0:00:55.720 we spoke this time last week, seventy Sixers. We're getting 0:00:55.760 --> 0:00:59.360 ready to wrap up a four game Western Conference trip 0:00:59.400 --> 0:01:01.280 with the best team in the league, the Utah Jazz. 0:01:01.760 --> 0:01:04.280 Little did we know that Ben Simmons would go off 0:01:04.480 --> 0:01:07.000 for a career high forty two points. He would then 0:01:07.080 --> 0:01:09.520 miss the next two games, a span during which his 0:01:09.560 --> 0:01:12.760 fellow All Star teammate Joel Embiid would not only be 0:01:13.080 --> 0:01:15.760 named to another All Star Game as a starter, but 0:01:15.880 --> 0:01:18.280 explode for a career high fifty points of his own 0:01:18.400 --> 0:01:21.400 against the Chicago Bulls, and then the seventy Sixers come 0:01:21.440 --> 0:01:23.280 back for the start of a two game road trip 0:01:23.600 --> 0:01:27.399 against conference rival Toronto. A spirited, competitive game down in 0:01:27.480 --> 0:01:30.920 Tampa didn't go the seventy Sixers way. I feel like 0:01:30.920 --> 0:01:34.000 I'm forgetting something. Oh yes, Doc Rivers named for the 0:01:34.000 --> 0:01:36.640 third time in his career as the head coach in 0:01:36.680 --> 0:01:39.560 an All Star Game. So yes, a lot of stuff 0:01:39.600 --> 0:01:42.640 happening over the past week. Yeah, some good stuff, Like, 0:01:42.720 --> 0:01:44.759 let's not forget there was some good stuff that happened 0:01:44.800 --> 0:01:48.040 this week. Yeah, always tough to tape this podcast review 0:01:48.120 --> 0:01:51.720 the day after a more difficult evening, which certainly Sunday 0:01:51.720 --> 0:01:53.520 in Tampa was. But I do like the idea of 0:01:53.720 --> 0:01:56.400 the team getting a second swing at them tomorrow night, 0:01:56.520 --> 0:01:59.560 Tuesday night in Tampa. Once again, this is a team 0:01:59.560 --> 0:02:01.080 that has a press that they don't ever want to 0:02:01.080 --> 0:02:03.040 get in the habit of multiple losses in a row, 0:02:03.200 --> 0:02:05.920 and because that happened rather recently, you'd hope that they 0:02:06.000 --> 0:02:07.760 bring a little bit more fire, a little more fight 0:02:07.880 --> 0:02:09.960 on Tuesday night. That is a cool thing about this 0:02:09.960 --> 0:02:12.600 whole getting to play teams multiple times in a row, 0:02:12.680 --> 0:02:15.320 thing that honestly, I'd be cool with doing again next year. 0:02:15.320 --> 0:02:17.600 I think this should be a thing, no doubt. I 0:02:17.639 --> 0:02:20.320 think there's a lot of logic that you can apply 0:02:20.400 --> 0:02:22.280 to it. One, it makes things more efficient on the 0:02:22.320 --> 0:02:26.200 travel schedule. And then two, right, especially when you have 0:02:26.360 --> 0:02:30.600 these series against conference and division rivals, it adds that 0:02:30.720 --> 0:02:32.360 much more to it. I'm with you. I am so 0:02:32.520 --> 0:02:34.840 pumped for the fact the seventy sixers have an opportunity 0:02:35.080 --> 0:02:37.440 to get right back at it against Toronto on Tuesday. 0:02:37.520 --> 0:02:40.040 See if there's so many adjustments in the span of 0:02:40.080 --> 0:02:42.320 three days that Doc and the coaching staff can make 0:02:42.560 --> 0:02:44.840 and help the seventy sixers get on the right side 0:02:44.840 --> 0:02:47.560 of things after that one ten one h three loss. 0:02:47.960 --> 0:02:50.160 Before we dip into the mailbag for this week, I'm 0:02:50.200 --> 0:02:52.640 going to go into the Brian Seltzer personal mailbag. And 0:02:52.680 --> 0:02:56.680 I'm not typically one to opine strongly or give takes 0:02:56.800 --> 0:03:00.440 or perhaps share my innermost deepest feelings, but i will 0:03:00.480 --> 0:03:03.600 say there was something about the game on Sunday night 0:03:03.639 --> 0:03:06.480 that just kind of sat with me. And I think 0:03:06.520 --> 0:03:11.080 it's because the loss was to Toronto and psychologically for 0:03:11.160 --> 0:03:15.160 me and optically, it's like again with these guys, it's 0:03:15.200 --> 0:03:18.359 like for the last seven years, for the better part 0:03:18.360 --> 0:03:21.360 of the regular season, they've just had the Sixers number. 0:03:21.440 --> 0:03:24.880 And personally, I don't put any stock whatsoever in the 0:03:24.960 --> 0:03:26.959 stat that everyone was throwing out after the games. Well, 0:03:27.000 --> 0:03:29.799 it's sixteen regular season road losses to Toronto, doesn't matter 0:03:29.840 --> 0:03:33.520 if it's in Canada or Florida, like, Okay, fine, the 0:03:33.560 --> 0:03:36.720 streak is the streak, But rosters change every year and 0:03:36.800 --> 0:03:39.720 sometimes from month to month within a season, so I 0:03:39.720 --> 0:03:42.560 don't really buy too much into the streak. But there 0:03:42.640 --> 0:03:45.000 was just something about the fact that it was the Raptors. 0:03:45.440 --> 0:03:47.960 It seemed like they made the Sixers a little bit 0:03:48.040 --> 0:03:54.920 uncomfortable in that game on Sunday. And I'm also respectful 0:03:54.960 --> 0:03:57.800 of the fact of a they always seem to play 0:03:57.840 --> 0:04:01.040 with an edge and B they develop the heck out 0:04:01.040 --> 0:04:03.040 of their players. That's not to say the Sixers don't, 0:04:03.400 --> 0:04:05.400 but just look at some of the guys that Toronto 0:04:05.440 --> 0:04:08.200 has rolled through in recent years. It really helps them replenish. 0:04:08.240 --> 0:04:11.640 Despite who comes and goes long winded, I'm done, and 0:04:11.840 --> 0:04:14.840 scene you've got to respect the way that that team 0:04:14.880 --> 0:04:16.760 plays in general, the way that they stay relevant, they 0:04:16.800 --> 0:04:18.640 stay good, They're always a competitor in the way that 0:04:18.680 --> 0:04:22.480 they play the seventy Sixers. What I'll say is listening 0:04:22.480 --> 0:04:24.720 to you talk about the Let's I mean, I think 0:04:24.720 --> 0:04:27.680 it's a rivalry at this point between two teams. Listening 0:04:27.680 --> 0:04:29.840 to you talk about it makes me happy to have 0:04:29.920 --> 0:04:32.760 Doc Rivers in the fold because Doc Rivers probably isn't 0:04:33.120 --> 0:04:35.919 super keen on the whole. The Sixers don't get up 0:04:35.920 --> 0:04:38.120 for the Raptors. The Sixers can't beat the Raptors. That's 0:04:38.160 --> 0:04:40.599 not something that he's super familiar with, so he's not 0:04:40.640 --> 0:04:43.000 going to let that become a thing, even if some 0:04:43.040 --> 0:04:44.600 of the guys on the roster might feel it a 0:04:44.640 --> 0:04:46.440 little bit. So I like the idea that Doc Rivers 0:04:46.520 --> 0:04:49.240 is probably huddling up with them just coming up with 0:04:49.240 --> 0:04:50.880 a way to win the next game, as opposed to 0:04:50.960 --> 0:04:52.760 laboring on it the way that you or I might 0:04:52.800 --> 0:04:55.760 because I totally hear you. I like though, the idea 0:04:55.800 --> 0:04:58.560 that the guy that's in charge probably doesn't feel what 0:04:58.600 --> 0:05:00.680 we feel right now. And I think one of those games, 0:05:00.680 --> 0:05:04.320 at least for me, where it's observations to be filed 0:05:04.320 --> 0:05:07.760 away for later, like is their panic is there even 0:05:07.839 --> 0:05:10.440 concern No. As I said, it was just something where 0:05:10.440 --> 0:05:12.440 I woke up Monday and I'm like, man, okay, there 0:05:12.440 --> 0:05:14.800 are a few things here there love to see clean 0:05:14.880 --> 0:05:17.159 up for round two, which could happen. But again, given 0:05:17.200 --> 0:05:20.720 the opponent, I'm like those rafters. And I'll also say, 0:05:21.240 --> 0:05:23.760 what are the odds that, in my opinion, the three 0:05:23.800 --> 0:05:27.080 guys who you most rely on for their shooting, which 0:05:27.120 --> 0:05:31.360 would be Joel, Tobias, and Seth, are gonna go combine 0:05:31.560 --> 0:05:35.680 sixteen for forty nine and four for nineteen from deep Again, 0:05:35.920 --> 0:05:38.960 I just don't see that happening often. I hear you. 0:05:39.080 --> 0:05:40.800 I think that that was I mean, that was the 0:05:40.839 --> 0:05:43.400 consensus certainly in media. Last night. We heard from Doc, 0:05:43.480 --> 0:05:46.600 we heard from Ben, Joel, and Tobias, and they all 0:05:46.640 --> 0:05:48.680 sort of came away with the same thought. They did 0:05:48.760 --> 0:05:50.920 like the looks that they got, which I'm willing to 0:05:50.960 --> 0:05:54.440 agree with. They they didn't fall, and sometimes that does happen, 0:05:54.520 --> 0:05:56.400 So as long as it doesn't happen again on Tuesday, 0:05:56.720 --> 0:05:59.000 I am willing to believe that they liked their looks. 0:05:59.120 --> 0:06:00.680 They just didn't fall. And this is a team who 0:06:00.760 --> 0:06:03.200 has gotten good looks all season long. They've done a 0:06:03.200 --> 0:06:06.359 good job of making their shots, finding each other, figuring 0:06:06.360 --> 0:06:10.040 out what types of shots one another likes. And they 0:06:10.080 --> 0:06:12.400 still figured it out on Sunday, they just didn't fall. 0:06:12.520 --> 0:06:15.160 I'm willing to listen to that. I'm willing to sort 0:06:15.200 --> 0:06:16.960 of drink that kool aid if that's really how those 0:06:16.960 --> 0:06:18.800 guys are feeling. No, And I think some of the 0:06:18.880 --> 0:06:21.440 numbers if you look into the advanced box scores about 0:06:21.440 --> 0:06:25.080 contested and uncontested shots, I think that would support what 0:06:25.240 --> 0:06:28.679 players and doc rivers from the Sixers were saying after 0:06:28.720 --> 0:06:32.000 the game. All right, let us officially move on from 0:06:32.200 --> 0:06:36.239 at least in terms of our thoughts and opinions Sunday's game, 0:06:36.400 --> 0:06:38.760 and we'll start to open up the mailbag in a moment. 0:06:38.760 --> 0:06:41.039 But if you are a first time listener to Mailbag 0:06:41.080 --> 0:06:43.440 Monday and you're wondering how does this all work, it's 0:06:43.480 --> 0:06:46.680 pretty simple. You can find Lauren and myself on Twitter 0:06:46.760 --> 0:06:49.640 or Instagram. For me, it's at Brian Seltzer on Twitter 0:06:49.720 --> 0:06:52.480 at Seltzer six or snaps on i G. Lauren is 0:06:52.520 --> 0:06:55.520 at Lauren m Rosen, making it one stop shopping for 0:06:55.600 --> 0:06:59.080 both Instagram and Twitter. Hit us up with your thoughts opinions, 0:06:59.120 --> 0:07:02.800 takes with a D or a message or the preferred method. 0:07:02.880 --> 0:07:04.760 We'd love to hear from you on the pod line 0:07:05.120 --> 0:07:07.840 two five four zero three seven six three seven two 0:07:07.880 --> 0:07:10.760 on five four zero three pods. All right, let's get 0:07:10.760 --> 0:07:17.160 it going. You have one new message from the always 0:07:17.200 --> 0:07:21.080 thoughtful Vinnie Picaro measured thoughtful insights that he hits us 0:07:21.160 --> 0:07:23.840 up with On Twitter, he said about the game on Sunday, 0:07:23.880 --> 0:07:27.080 difficult loss against a Surgeon Raptors team. Yes, Toronto playing 0:07:27.160 --> 0:07:29.280 very well over the last month and a half. Ben 0:07:29.400 --> 0:07:32.480 was sensational on both sides of the court. Joel was 0:07:32.520 --> 0:07:35.240 able to still score twenty five, but handed by Aaron Baines. 0:07:35.480 --> 0:07:38.680 This game certainly had a playoff atmosphere from the start. 0:07:38.960 --> 0:07:41.559 I don't think I disagree with any of those thoughts 0:07:41.560 --> 0:07:44.440 from Vinny larn I am with it as well. We 0:07:44.840 --> 0:07:47.880 should talk about how good Ben was, especially after missing 0:07:47.920 --> 0:07:51.240 two games with that non COVID illness. Over the two 0:07:51.280 --> 0:07:54.400 game homestand last week. All the days are running together, 0:07:54.480 --> 0:07:56.560 but the two games prior to this one, Ben was 0:07:56.560 --> 0:07:58.240 not available and it was cool to see him come back. 0:07:58.280 --> 0:07:59.720 He did not miss a beat. He looked good, he 0:07:59.760 --> 0:08:02.080 looked aggressive, He looked confident. He did not look like 0:08:02.080 --> 0:08:04.200 someone who had to shake off any rust. So props 0:08:04.200 --> 0:08:06.920 to Ben for being able to get up and really 0:08:06.920 --> 0:08:09.160 get out there quickly, even after spending a little bit 0:08:09.200 --> 0:08:12.360 of time away. I thought that was certainly the biggest 0:08:12.760 --> 0:08:15.680 positive takeaway from Sunday next game. I think one of 0:08:15.720 --> 0:08:18.320 the big questions after last week was, Okay, we saw 0:08:18.440 --> 0:08:20.920 Ben have his career high forty two against Utah without 0:08:21.000 --> 0:08:23.680 Joel Embiid. We then saw Joe have his career high 0:08:23.720 --> 0:08:26.720 fifty on Friday against the Bulls without Ben Simmons. What's 0:08:26.720 --> 0:08:28.400 it gonna look like when the two of them now 0:08:28.440 --> 0:08:31.720 play together after those big games Sunday against the Raptors 0:08:32.040 --> 0:08:35.480 and if Joe knocks down some shots, which again, if 0:08:35.520 --> 0:08:38.400 I had shekels to wager, I would wager on him 0:08:38.480 --> 0:08:41.439 knocking down those shots next time around, the numbers for 0:08:41.559 --> 0:08:43.480 both of them would have been off the charts together. 0:08:44.000 --> 0:08:47.800 Ben twenty eight points against the Raptors over his last 0:08:47.800 --> 0:08:51.080 four games. Lareen here's the breakdown, averaging nearly twenty eight 0:08:51.120 --> 0:08:54.000 points per game, shooting sixty nine percent from the field. 0:08:54.280 --> 0:08:57.640 His free throw numbers, He's thirty one for thirty nine 0:08:57.679 --> 0:09:00.520 over the last four games. That equates out to nearly 0:09:00.600 --> 0:09:04.320 eighty percent, almost nine rebounds, seven and a half assists, 0:09:04.559 --> 0:09:07.040 one and a half steals. And that's just on the 0:09:07.040 --> 0:09:09.559 superficial tangible stats and not even getting into some of 0:09:09.600 --> 0:09:11.960 the eye test stuff we've seen with all the tough 0:09:12.000 --> 0:09:14.680 defensive assignments he's had to take on. Yeah, Doc Rivers 0:09:14.760 --> 0:09:16.480 challenged him to take ten free throws a game at 0:09:16.480 --> 0:09:17.640 the beginning of the season, and I think to a 0:09:17.679 --> 0:09:19.079 lot of people that felt like it was going to 0:09:19.160 --> 0:09:22.200 be a lot to see him regularly shooting ten, twelve, 0:09:22.280 --> 0:09:25.920 fourteen free throws, shooting them confidently ten for fourteen last night. 0:09:26.080 --> 0:09:29.080 That's a really positive sign for Ben Simmons. He's not 0:09:29.160 --> 0:09:32.000 afraid to draw the contact and Doc Rivers said in 0:09:32.040 --> 0:09:34.160 the postgame that he loved it, that he loved that 0:09:34.200 --> 0:09:36.000 Ben was being aggressive, that he was getting to the 0:09:36.000 --> 0:09:39.040 line more often. That's something that could be so key 0:09:39.080 --> 0:09:41.760 for this team down the stretch, especially in the playoffs. 0:09:41.800 --> 0:09:45.040 You already have the league's leader in free throws attempted 0:09:45.080 --> 0:09:47.040 and free throws made in embeed. If Ben is getting 0:09:47.040 --> 0:09:49.080 to the line consistently as well, it is going to 0:09:49.120 --> 0:09:51.040 annoy the heck out of some other teams. That's all 0:09:51.080 --> 0:09:53.760 I have to say. Vinnie Picaro is one of our regulars. 0:09:54.040 --> 0:09:56.480 Always love hearing him chime in on Twitter after games 0:09:56.480 --> 0:10:00.560 with thoughtful stuff. Thank you Vinnie. You have one new message, Hey, 0:10:00.640 --> 0:10:03.200 Bend Lauren just call him into the mail bag to 0:10:03.240 --> 0:10:08.000 kind of gets on the fixer's bench struggles and the 0:10:08.080 --> 0:10:11.120 idea of looking for a stretch four behind who we 0:10:11.160 --> 0:10:15.440 shoot the balls later on the postseason, or promoting Paul 0:10:15.520 --> 0:10:17.880 Reid for a little bit before the trade dead. I'm 0:10:17.920 --> 0:10:20.240 who's killing it in the G League in to see 0:10:20.240 --> 0:10:23.760 if he could provide a lift to maybe to acquire 0:10:23.880 --> 0:10:26.920 somewhere else with the assets. So you have thanks, guys, 0:10:27.040 --> 0:10:30.040 have a good one our first voice mail Always love 0:10:30.120 --> 0:10:33.200 hearing from the podline and the people who chime in. 0:10:33.240 --> 0:10:36.199 There a couple different thoughts to respond to their Lauren. 0:10:36.559 --> 0:10:39.520 The first about the bench and then also about this 0:10:39.600 --> 0:10:43.000 notion of a possible stretch four or five, and then 0:10:43.280 --> 0:10:45.160 bring up the name from the G League from the 0:10:45.160 --> 0:10:49.400 Bubble Bluecoats, Paul Reid, who is yes crushing it. Let's 0:10:49.440 --> 0:10:51.400 go to the bench. And I think Doc Rivers revealed 0:10:51.400 --> 0:10:54.400 an interesting nugget after the game on Sunday, suggesting that 0:10:54.440 --> 0:10:57.200 at least four the time being, he's opened the idea 0:10:57.240 --> 0:10:59.720 of playing Isaiah Joe Moore, which pay for a young, 0:11:00.000 --> 0:11:02.319 aunted rookie. I'm curious to see what Joe might be 0:11:02.360 --> 0:11:04.520 able to do with those minutes. Yeah, good for him 0:11:04.559 --> 0:11:06.760 and why not. By all accounts, it seems like his 0:11:06.800 --> 0:11:08.560 head coach his teammates have been impressed with the way 0:11:08.600 --> 0:11:10.640 that Isaiah has stayed ready, stayed willing to make an 0:11:10.640 --> 0:11:12.800 impact wherever it is, whether it's in the final minutes 0:11:12.840 --> 0:11:15.240 of a win, whether it's when teammates are out due 0:11:15.280 --> 0:11:17.000 to health and safety protocols. This is a guy that 0:11:17.080 --> 0:11:19.960 stayed ready, stayed up for any opportunities, and so it's 0:11:20.000 --> 0:11:21.640 cool to now see him get rewarded. I think as 0:11:21.679 --> 0:11:23.280 far as the rest of the bench goes, there have 0:11:23.400 --> 0:11:26.080 been some difficulties in that unit, but this is a 0:11:26.160 --> 0:11:28.600 unit that started out really strong Celts, and to be honest, 0:11:28.679 --> 0:11:31.560 I'm not willing to overreact about what's going on with them. 0:11:31.640 --> 0:11:33.520 I think a lot of guys are just a little 0:11:33.559 --> 0:11:36.320 bit cold right now. Shake is still shaking off the rust. 0:11:37.080 --> 0:11:39.720 We know what for Concorkmas can do. He'll find his 0:11:39.840 --> 0:11:43.000 rhythm Matisse Thyble has shown glimpses of being a really 0:11:43.040 --> 0:11:45.080 good offensive player and looks like he's getting a little 0:11:45.120 --> 0:11:47.840 bit more comfortable. Of course, it would be great to 0:11:47.840 --> 0:11:50.079 see all those guys round into form at the same time. 0:11:50.080 --> 0:11:52.679 I didn't even mention Tyrese Maxie, who scored thirty nine 0:11:52.720 --> 0:11:54.920 points just a few weeks ago. These are guys that 0:11:54.960 --> 0:11:56.640 are going to find their rhythm. They're going to figure 0:11:56.640 --> 0:11:59.480 it out. I'm not super concerned about this bench unit 0:11:59.520 --> 0:12:01.800 because the way that Doc Rivers has been talking about 0:12:01.800 --> 0:12:03.400 it is he's not going to use all of them 0:12:03.400 --> 0:12:05.079 in the playoffs. So as long as they can help 0:12:05.200 --> 0:12:07.840 this team through the regular season that they can help 0:12:07.920 --> 0:12:10.360 be a little bit more productive off dot bench. I 0:12:10.400 --> 0:12:12.160 just don't think they can all stay cold on the 0:12:12.200 --> 0:12:15.000 offensive end for much longer. I'm also believe a Lauren 0:12:15.040 --> 0:12:18.400 that Mike Scott could help and contribute. Going back to 0:12:18.440 --> 0:12:20.800 the point about the stretch four or five, we know 0:12:20.840 --> 0:12:23.080 that when Scott was out for a big chunk of time, 0:12:23.160 --> 0:12:26.000 Doc Rivers was talking about how thin the Sixers' depth 0:12:26.080 --> 0:12:28.720 is at that spot, so I'm sure that's something that's 0:12:28.760 --> 0:12:31.600 on their mind. But yeah, Mike missed a lot of time. 0:12:32.000 --> 0:12:34.240 We know that he can win this team games. We've 0:12:34.280 --> 0:12:36.640 seen it their games when he can get really hot, 0:12:36.679 --> 0:12:39.600 and he's someone who can provide that presence at the 0:12:39.640 --> 0:12:42.000 stretch spot. And I'd love to see Mike have an 0:12:42.000 --> 0:12:45.360 opportunity to get back into a groove of sorts and 0:12:45.400 --> 0:12:48.760 then see where he's at. But I do really appreciate 0:12:49.080 --> 0:12:51.520 that Paul Reid's name was even brought up. I think 0:12:51.559 --> 0:12:53.480 people are paying attention to the coach. There's seven to 0:12:53.559 --> 0:12:57.920 oh and beball Paul is out of control. Got to 0:12:58.040 --> 0:13:01.960 love beball Paul. Beball Paul has been called quirky by 0:13:02.040 --> 0:13:04.880 Doc Rivers. Daryl Morey told said that he was one 0:13:04.920 --> 0:13:08.040 of the biggest steals in this draft. I do think 0:13:08.040 --> 0:13:10.200 this is a guy that has a ton of potential, 0:13:10.200 --> 0:13:12.920 and it's so clear in the bubble, in the gubble 0:13:13.040 --> 0:13:15.000 as we're calling it, that he is just doing a 0:13:15.040 --> 0:13:17.400 great job. He is absolutely eating down there. And you 0:13:17.400 --> 0:13:20.240 have to wonder if this wasn't a bubble situation, would 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:22.560 Paul Reid have more opportunities in the next few games 0:13:22.600 --> 0:13:25.520 to maybe try to get his footing out there alongside 0:13:25.559 --> 0:13:27.040 the other guys. So as soon as as soon as 0:13:27.080 --> 0:13:28.840 those guys are back, Obviously, I don't know how it 0:13:28.880 --> 0:13:31.719 works when exactly they'll be back. If Paul Reid could 0:13:31.760 --> 0:13:34.520 even be plucked out of that bubble situation where he's 0:13:34.520 --> 0:13:37.280 clearly thriving and learning a lot, I don't know. Is 0:13:37.320 --> 0:13:40.240 he going to factor it in the playoffs? Probably not? 0:13:40.480 --> 0:13:42.319 But do you want to see him continue to seize 0:13:42.360 --> 0:13:44.800 the opportunities that he gets, whether he's in the G 0:13:44.960 --> 0:13:47.120 League bubble with a Blue Coats or once he's back 0:13:47.160 --> 0:13:49.920 with the Sixers. Absolutely, what a pleasure, What a privilege 0:13:49.960 --> 0:13:52.920 it's been to just watch Paul Reid thrive. Listen to 0:13:53.000 --> 0:13:55.000 this line helping the Blue Coats to a seven oh 0:13:55.080 --> 0:13:57.480 start in the bubble, averaging twenty two and a half 0:13:57.559 --> 0:14:00.480 points per game, shooting sixty percent from the field, thirty 0:14:00.480 --> 0:14:03.160 seven and a half percent from three, taking nearly three 0:14:03.200 --> 0:14:05.720 and a half triples per game, seventy five percent from 0:14:05.720 --> 0:14:10.199 the line, nearly twelve and a half rebounds, two and 0:14:10.200 --> 0:14:13.760 a half steals, one and a half blocks. Tremendous for 0:14:14.360 --> 0:14:20.120 B ball, Paul the eighth pick in the draft, tremendous. 0:14:20.480 --> 0:14:23.880 Love to see it back to the bag. You have 0:14:24.000 --> 0:14:27.920 one new message. Chris del Kond of saying Shake is 0:14:27.920 --> 0:14:30.440 the help, referring to the bench. He's out, it is 0:14:30.440 --> 0:14:32.520 what it is. Well, he was back on Sunday, so 0:14:32.560 --> 0:14:34.520 that's good. And I don't want to make it sound 0:14:34.520 --> 0:14:37.320 too simplistic, but we've talked about this before, Lauren. I 0:14:37.320 --> 0:14:39.520 can't remember if it's been on a mail bag Monday, 0:14:39.640 --> 0:14:42.280 a Deep Dive Friday, a seven to six live count 0:14:42.280 --> 0:14:45.240 depresented by Tso we talk a lot, and we've talked 0:14:45.280 --> 0:14:48.360 about the fact that when Shakemilton was out, the seventy 0:14:48.360 --> 0:14:50.800 six ers obviously took a big hit in their per 0:14:50.880 --> 0:14:53.920 game scoring average for the bench. So now that Shakes back, 0:14:53.960 --> 0:14:57.240 I would expect to see things start to get a 0:14:57.280 --> 0:14:59.440 little bit more back in order with the bench, at 0:14:59.520 --> 0:15:02.280 least from a scoring standpoint, no doubt about it. I 0:15:02.280 --> 0:15:04.320 would say the same thing I said for the last question. 0:15:04.360 --> 0:15:06.240 We got to just be patient with this group of 0:15:06.240 --> 0:15:08.680 bench guys, young guys that have all shown that they 0:15:08.680 --> 0:15:11.320 can be super productive in their roles. They're guys that 0:15:11.440 --> 0:15:13.400 know their roles. Let's give them a minute to find 0:15:13.440 --> 0:15:17.120 their stride. Especially Shake, who missed five games and dealt 0:15:17.160 --> 0:15:19.840 with that injury. That must have been difficult because he 0:15:19.920 --> 0:15:21.840 had he did have such a strong start the season. 0:15:21.880 --> 0:15:24.720 He was being relied upon fifteen points a game. No, 0:15:25.040 --> 0:15:28.120 that's not nothing. So I would love to see Shake 0:15:28.240 --> 0:15:30.400 just have a little bit more of an opportunity to 0:15:30.400 --> 0:15:32.080 just heat up, warm up, get back to what he 0:15:32.120 --> 0:15:33.520 was doing at the beginning of the season, and I 0:15:33.560 --> 0:15:36.120 think it'll make a huge difference for that entire bench unit. 0:15:36.880 --> 0:15:41.120 Time for another voicemail, you have one new message. I 0:15:41.200 --> 0:15:45.800 think that people are starting to overreact to some losses, 0:15:45.800 --> 0:15:48.600 and I know they're important to build a stammera and 0:15:48.680 --> 0:15:51.680 to help people pay attention to the sixtions. But I 0:15:51.720 --> 0:15:54.840 think that Darrel Lorie is a good person to have 0:15:54.880 --> 0:15:56.840 the hands as a team inner. I think that she'll 0:15:56.880 --> 0:16:00.320 make decisions when he needed to love on a mail 0:16:00.320 --> 0:16:06.080 bag Monday following a loss, a very measured and composed 0:16:06.160 --> 0:16:10.080 call on the podline. Yes, I tend to agree that 0:16:10.120 --> 0:16:13.240 perhaps some people overreact a bit to certain losses, depending 0:16:13.240 --> 0:16:16.040 on who the opponent is and how the games go down. 0:16:16.720 --> 0:16:19.760 And listen a lot of faith in Daryl Morey, and 0:16:19.840 --> 0:16:23.920 I think, yes, in Daryl, we trust, no doubt about it. 0:16:24.320 --> 0:16:26.200 This is one of the guys with the most consistent 0:16:26.240 --> 0:16:29.240 track record as an executive in this league, maybe the 0:16:29.360 --> 0:16:32.240 most consistent track record as an executive in this league. 0:16:32.320 --> 0:16:34.360 He's someone you have to trust with the keys, with 0:16:34.400 --> 0:16:36.840 the launch codes, if you will. He's the type of 0:16:36.960 --> 0:16:39.040 guy you want to have in charge making these big 0:16:39.040 --> 0:16:41.040 decisions when it's time for them to be made. And 0:16:41.120 --> 0:16:43.720 I like the fact that there haven't been too many yet. 0:16:43.800 --> 0:16:45.840 I like that Daryl made some big moves in the 0:16:45.880 --> 0:16:48.640 offseason brought in the type of shooting that Joel Embiid 0:16:48.680 --> 0:16:52.760 has consistently praised him for bringing in. I think that 0:16:52.840 --> 0:16:55.160 this is a group that looks good together. We forget 0:16:55.240 --> 0:16:57.960 pretty quickly that they're still leading the Eastern Conference. They 0:16:57.960 --> 0:17:00.160 are still the number one seed and have been for 0:17:00.160 --> 0:17:03.480 a really long time now. I like, I'm very confident, 0:17:03.840 --> 0:17:06.760 like our callers like you, that Darryl Moorey is going 0:17:06.800 --> 0:17:09.200 to make good decisions for this team, and only when 0:17:09.240 --> 0:17:11.480 it's time to make good decisions for this team. It's 0:17:11.520 --> 0:17:14.080 good that we're not. We don't have someone who's gonna overreact, 0:17:14.080 --> 0:17:16.239 and we don't have someone who's gonna underreact either. How 0:17:16.280 --> 0:17:19.080 many general managers out there in any sport can quote 0:17:19.119 --> 0:17:22.960 Sondheim in reference Cosette and Javert while also pulling the 0:17:23.000 --> 0:17:26.960 strings for a number one seed, absolute legend, absolute legend. 0:17:27.000 --> 0:17:28.479 We might have to do you know what sells. I've 0:17:28.480 --> 0:17:29.960 been thinking about it since he got here. At some 0:17:29.960 --> 0:17:31.879 point we're gonna have to do a deep dive pod 0:17:32.240 --> 0:17:35.919 with Daryl Morey, but about musical theater, not about basketball, 0:17:36.200 --> 0:17:38.560 and I'm gonna make it happen. I think that that's 0:17:38.560 --> 0:17:41.359 definitely something to put on the list. And why not. 0:17:41.760 --> 0:17:47.960 I mean, listen, we need to showcase diversatile, diverse personalities 0:17:48.119 --> 0:17:50.359 of all these great people, no doubt about it. We 0:17:50.400 --> 0:17:53.159 have players with awesome off court interests that sometimes we 0:17:53.200 --> 0:17:55.320 have the privilege of highlighting. Let's do it for Darryl 0:17:55.359 --> 0:18:00.200 Morey too, love it, move it on. You have one 0:18:00.280 --> 0:18:05.040 new message? Gee John Jones Jonesy underscore Whales on Twitter. 0:18:05.560 --> 0:18:08.200 He says, I know MUSSOFTI but I really like this 0:18:08.240 --> 0:18:11.840 team and staff as humans. They have a positive vibe 0:18:11.920 --> 0:18:14.240 and likable guys who do a ton of good I 0:18:14.320 --> 0:18:17.800 love it, love the seth doc dynamic dot coaching in 0:18:17.800 --> 0:18:21.000 the All Star Game. This is really good stuff. Thank 0:18:21.040 --> 0:18:24.280 you Jonesy Whales for that ray of sunshine on yet 0:18:24.280 --> 0:18:28.000 another snowy morning in the Philadelphia area after a tough 0:18:28.080 --> 0:18:30.760 loss to Toronto. That's the type can we get a 0:18:30.840 --> 0:18:33.440 vibe check Lauren Rosen, because that is your subbeat specialty. 0:18:33.920 --> 0:18:36.200 That's the type of energy we need. I think I 0:18:36.240 --> 0:18:38.960 feel that one percent. It really has been a pleasure 0:18:39.000 --> 0:18:41.240 to watch the way that these guys have started to 0:18:41.280 --> 0:18:44.360 get along and developed chemistry encourt off court. They've been 0:18:44.400 --> 0:18:46.399 on their feet cheering for each other as a bench 0:18:46.560 --> 0:18:48.960 since the preseason. It's just clear that this is a 0:18:48.960 --> 0:18:51.439 group of guys that really enjoys one another. They got 0:18:51.480 --> 0:18:54.080 back from a difficult road trip on the West Coast, 0:18:54.160 --> 0:18:56.600 they did lose three straight, and they came into the 0:18:56.600 --> 0:18:59.359 Wells Fargo Center. They came into their first warm up 0:18:59.440 --> 0:19:02.360 on their home court with great vibes, and I really 0:19:02.440 --> 0:19:04.480 appreciated that. That's the kind of thing that I look 0:19:04.520 --> 0:19:06.199 out for. You don't want to see a group of 0:19:06.240 --> 0:19:09.720 downtrodden people getting ready to play a game, getting ready 0:19:09.760 --> 0:19:11.000