WEBVTT - Friday Deep Dive | Is It Too Soon...? 0:00:00.320 --> 0:00:03.640 This podcast is part of the seventy Sixers podcast network 0:00:04.000 --> 0:00:08.639 search seventy Sixers podcast wherever you get your pods. The 0:00:08.760 --> 0:00:12.560 seventy Sixers are back in the playoffs and that is 0:00:12.600 --> 0:00:16.279 something worth talking about, and the seventy Sixers secure a 0:00:16.440 --> 0:00:20.480 playoff berth for the fourth consecutive year. We ask is 0:00:20.520 --> 0:00:23.400 it too soon to look ahead and forecast some early 0:00:23.440 --> 0:00:28.240 postseason storylines and get excited about Ben Simmons return and 0:00:28.360 --> 0:00:31.080 the addition of George Hill. He'll tell them land in 0:00:31.160 --> 0:00:36.040 the chap who knew George Hill? Touch the ball? Thirty 0:00:36.040 --> 0:00:40.400 five and a right hand flush. I'm Lauren Rosen, I'm 0:00:40.479 --> 0:00:44.159 Devon Givens, and I'm Brian Seltzer. Plus we recafe a 0:00:44.440 --> 0:00:47.760 star crossed week on social media for one of our 0:00:47.800 --> 0:00:55.760 panelists coming up on the Friday Deep Dive. Seventy Sixers 0:00:56.240 --> 0:01:01.600 are rolling two dominant victories to aren't the week biggest 0:01:01.600 --> 0:01:05.080 two game points spread from margin of victory in franchise history? 0:01:05.840 --> 0:01:08.959 Lauren and Devon. There's also a playoff berth that has 0:01:08.959 --> 0:01:12.320 been secured. These are good times for the Sixers. Lo 0:01:12.480 --> 0:01:16.200 and behold less than a week after what many would say, 0:01:16.200 --> 0:01:18.400 at least in the context of this season was the 0:01:18.480 --> 0:01:21.759 darkest of times. Turned it around quickly, indeed, so it's 0:01:21.840 --> 0:01:24.160 good to see the team get back together. I mean, 0:01:24.480 --> 0:01:27.280 we can't go on without talking about the fact that 0:01:27.640 --> 0:01:30.120 nearly everyone, if not everyone, has been available in the 0:01:30.200 --> 0:01:33.759 last two games, and that certainly makes a large difference. 0:01:33.800 --> 0:01:36.600 When some of the folks unavailable were guys like Ben 0:01:36.640 --> 0:01:40.520 Simmons or Joel embat It tracks that the team would 0:01:40.520 --> 0:01:45.399 have a good experience against inferior opponents, fully loaded at home, 0:01:45.480 --> 0:01:47.920 and it was good to see them capitalize on all 0:01:47.960 --> 0:01:51.960 of those characteristics of the last couple of games. I agree, 0:01:51.960 --> 0:01:54.840 it always feels good when you lock in a playoff 0:01:54.880 --> 0:01:58.800 berth and especially with the expectations that come along with 0:01:58.840 --> 0:02:02.600 this season of how good they have been, how things 0:02:02.760 --> 0:02:04.880 seem to be more wide open, where there's a real 0:02:04.920 --> 0:02:08.560 opportunity to have a chance to stand up at the 0:02:08.680 --> 0:02:12.480 very end in July. So to see the team fully 0:02:12.520 --> 0:02:15.680 loaded as best as weekend, what is it, twenty five 0:02:15.760 --> 0:02:18.120 games for the starters, guys twenty one and four, the 0:02:18.160 --> 0:02:21.519 record that's encouraging, and now starting to implement some of 0:02:21.560 --> 0:02:25.760 the newer pieces and everyone's role starting to be established 0:02:26.040 --> 0:02:28.240 and maybe even not seeing a few other players that 0:02:28.480 --> 0:02:31.160 may be trying to push their way into a rotation. 0:02:31.200 --> 0:02:33.320 It just makes for great competition and at the end 0:02:33.320 --> 0:02:36.000 of the day, with the playoffs on the horizon, with 0:02:36.040 --> 0:02:39.359 ten games remaining, it's a good place to be right now, 0:02:39.480 --> 0:02:42.680 especially after a tough week. Those happened in the course 0:02:42.720 --> 0:02:45.440 of a long season, and they were able to bounce 0:02:45.440 --> 0:02:48.040 back so far earlier in the week and I'm sure 0:02:48.040 --> 0:02:50.640 they look to close things out even better as they 0:02:50.720 --> 0:02:54.919 keep things rolling Oklahoma City. The Atlanta Hawks has constituted 0:02:54.960 --> 0:02:57.480 on Wednesday night, they probably are not going to be 0:02:57.480 --> 0:02:59.959 competing for a championship this year, so the seventy six 0:03:00.080 --> 0:03:02.320 just took care business, which I thought was hardening to 0:03:02.360 --> 0:03:04.919 see given that it felt last week like the energy 0:03:05.000 --> 0:03:07.840 just wasn't there. Maybe the Sixers with guys in and 0:03:07.880 --> 0:03:10.120 out of the lineup, hit a wall. So I really 0:03:10.120 --> 0:03:12.919 love seeing the purpose and focus that the Sixers came 0:03:12.960 --> 0:03:16.119 back with to start this week. I also think when 0:03:16.120 --> 0:03:18.320 you step back and look at the big picture, there 0:03:18.400 --> 0:03:20.520 is so much and the Sixers are not alone. Every 0:03:20.520 --> 0:03:23.560 team in the league has had to navigate uncharted territory 0:03:23.600 --> 0:03:27.360 this season, but still putting that within the conversation of 0:03:27.400 --> 0:03:30.200 what the Sixers have accomplished this year. Doc Rivers was 0:03:30.280 --> 0:03:33.360 hired two months before training camp, Daryl Morey came in 0:03:33.440 --> 0:03:36.160 a few weeks before the draft, and the Sixers were 0:03:36.200 --> 0:03:38.880 able to build collectively a team that's been one of 0:03:38.920 --> 0:03:42.040 the best consistently night and nine out in the NBA 0:03:42.160 --> 0:03:45.840 this season. And I thought it was appropriate and the 0:03:45.960 --> 0:03:48.720 right way for the Sixers to talk about the playoff Berth. 0:03:48.840 --> 0:03:53.920 I was expected to clinch playoffs. You know, we would 0:03:53.920 --> 0:03:56.200 have loved to be the first in clinch the playoffs, 0:03:56.200 --> 0:03:58.840 you know, but it's kind of where we're at now. 0:03:58.920 --> 0:04:02.960 So we're not. Um, we're not we're not dwelling on that. 0:04:03.040 --> 0:04:09.600 But um, no, Philadelphia basketball greatness is you know, really, um, 0:04:10.200 --> 0:04:14.160 something that is expected from our fans, is expected from 0:04:14.200 --> 0:04:16.919 us as a group, and it's one of our goals 0:04:17.040 --> 0:04:20.279 day in and day out. So you know, we understand that. 0:04:21.640 --> 0:04:23.120 You know, we're not a team in the locker room 0:04:23.120 --> 0:04:26.280 celebrated for Clinton playoffs right now. We want to celebrate 0:04:26.720 --> 0:04:30.200 when we're able to win and win big in this postseason. 0:04:30.279 --> 0:04:33.280 That's our goal. Tobias Harris said, we're not celebrating anything. 0:04:33.680 --> 0:04:36.600 Joel Ebid talked about the long road ahead. That's exactly 0:04:36.600 --> 0:04:38.479 what they should be saying. They want to win a title. 0:04:38.520 --> 0:04:40.640 They're not trying to just get him the playoffs. But 0:04:40.680 --> 0:04:42.719 I think it is noteworthy it's still with two weeks 0:04:42.760 --> 0:04:44.640 two and a half weeks to go, six Ers have 0:04:44.720 --> 0:04:47.680 their spot all secured and wrapped up. Well, they're looking 0:04:47.720 --> 0:04:51.600 ahead too. I think the importance of the one seed. 0:04:51.839 --> 0:04:54.000 They wanted the one seed at the beginning of the season, 0:04:54.160 --> 0:04:55.479 but I don't know if at the beginning of the 0:04:55.520 --> 0:04:58.360 season everybody knew what a three horse race this would 0:04:58.400 --> 0:05:01.719 be in the Eastern comp prints and what that one 0:05:01.760 --> 0:05:04.520 seed would mean in terms of your path to the finals. 0:05:04.560 --> 0:05:06.360 I think they're all starting to understand that now. I 0:05:06.360 --> 0:05:10.080 think maybe playing Milwaukee a couple times made them realize, Okay, 0:05:10.080 --> 0:05:12.320 this is actually a pretty formidable opponent. And of course 0:05:12.320 --> 0:05:15.200 the Sixers didn't have their full punch available when they played, 0:05:15.279 --> 0:05:18.599 but maybe being there sort of was like an okay moment, 0:05:18.640 --> 0:05:21.320 we don't really want to have to play Brooklyn and Milwaukee, Like, 0:05:21.400 --> 0:05:23.560 let's go ahead and really pursue this one seed. And 0:05:23.600 --> 0:05:26.159 that's something that Doc and the players all discussed last night. 0:05:26.200 --> 0:05:27.720 It's nice to make the playoffs. But they don't want 0:05:27.720 --> 0:05:29.480 to just make the playoffs. They want to make the 0:05:29.480 --> 0:05:34.320 playoffs in a convenient, luxurious fashion, and that would be 0:05:34.320 --> 0:05:39.120 with the one seed. And maybe even looking at last 0:05:39.160 --> 0:05:42.280 week is something that did open their eyes a little 0:05:42.320 --> 0:05:44.640 bit and understanding that this is not going to be 0:05:44.680 --> 0:05:46.960 an easy path. Not that they had that mindset before, 0:05:47.080 --> 0:05:49.880 but certainly looking at how things are where you do 0:05:50.000 --> 0:05:51.480 lose the games that you did, you go in a 0:05:51.520 --> 0:05:54.599 four game skid, and you want that number one seed, 0:05:54.880 --> 0:05:57.200 It's not going to be easy. And knowing what the 0:05:57.240 --> 0:06:00.240 playoffs are in front of you, something like this could 0:06:00.360 --> 0:06:04.799 possibly boil well for them as they start to look ahead. 0:06:04.839 --> 0:06:07.200 So the approach I like it. I like the fact 0:06:07.200 --> 0:06:09.640 that they're saying what they're saying about they're not done 0:06:09.640 --> 0:06:12.600 the ultimate goals the championship. When you brought Danny Green 0:06:12.680 --> 0:06:16.160 and Dwight Howard in, who just won titles last season 0:06:16.200 --> 0:06:18.919 with Los Angeles, you brought them in here because again, 0:06:18.960 --> 0:06:22.040 your eyes, your eyes were set on the big prize 0:06:22.240 --> 0:06:25.400 and these two come in, They're not coming in, you know, 0:06:25.480 --> 0:06:28.359 not making you know, big money if you will. For 0:06:28.480 --> 0:06:30.800 Dwight Howard in his case, and while Danny Green is 0:06:30.839 --> 0:06:33.040 still on his same contract. He has one of the 0:06:33.120 --> 0:06:36.080 last two titles, and he'll tell you about them. And 0:06:36.680 --> 0:06:39.160 so that's the right mindset I believe for them to 0:06:39.520 --> 0:06:42.520 have fans. I think they also feel the same way. 0:06:42.839 --> 0:06:46.200 Fifty wins it's a it's a it's something that is 0:06:46.240 --> 0:06:49.000 a milestone of course each season, but it's no longer 0:06:49.040 --> 0:06:51.799 about that because we've seen that for the past few 0:06:52.000 --> 0:06:54.920 seasons with this basketball team where they've had fifty plus wins, 0:06:55.040 --> 0:06:58.000 and this year we'll see where they ultimately get, sitting 0:06:58.000 --> 0:06:59.640 at forty one and twenty one right now before the 0:06:59.680 --> 0:07:04.600 next game against Atlanta. But yes, it's it's about the playoffs. 0:07:04.640 --> 0:07:07.000 It's about all of that. Fifty wins is fantastic, but 0:07:07.040 --> 0:07:09.000 at the end of the day, you want those sixteen 0:07:09.480 --> 0:07:12.560 in the postseason to wrap the entire thing up. The 0:07:12.680 --> 0:07:15.120 team four. This week's Friday Deep Dive is going to 0:07:15.120 --> 0:07:17.880 be is it too soon? We're going to dive into 0:07:17.880 --> 0:07:20.800 that in a second. First of all, two housekeeping items. 0:07:20.920 --> 0:07:24.360 Number one, I always think you guys sound great and terrific. 0:07:25.160 --> 0:07:27.600 I am loving the way you are sounding on this 0:07:27.680 --> 0:07:31.000 particular episode of the Deep Dive. Big shout out to 0:07:31.080 --> 0:07:38.160 our friends at road Microphones, no doubt, road thank you. 0:07:38.880 --> 0:07:42.600 Thank you a quality sponsorship component that I'm not aware 0:07:42.600 --> 0:07:44.400 of here, there is not. We just have to shout 0:07:44.440 --> 0:07:47.280 them out because their product is so terrific and seamless 0:07:47.280 --> 0:07:52.320 and easy to use. Another great thing. I know my 0:07:52.400 --> 0:07:54.800 set was easy, Lauren. I'm sure yours was as well, 0:07:54.880 --> 0:07:58.520 So thank you, Rode one of several great things associated 0:07:58.520 --> 0:08:02.520 with the seventy six ers based in Australia or from Australia. 0:08:02.600 --> 0:08:06.240 But yes, Lauren's sounding great on your new road pod 0:08:06.320 --> 0:08:10.520 mic divin sounding terrific on your road mini USB microphone, 0:08:10.880 --> 0:08:13.360 and we use the Roadcaster. Again, they're not paying for this, 0:08:13.840 --> 0:08:17.560 but I have to recognize innovation and ease of access 0:08:17.680 --> 0:08:19.800 when it's out there, so that's why I'm doing it. 0:08:20.240 --> 0:08:24.239 So that's housekeeping item number one. Housekeeping item number two. 0:08:25.160 --> 0:08:29.280 We have a development and for this developments, we need 0:08:29.280 --> 0:08:35.240 to check in in our nation's capital. We have to 0:08:35.280 --> 0:08:39.400 go to the social media desk in Washington, DC, and 0:08:39.559 --> 0:08:43.280 for that, I'm going to turn it over to Divine Givens. Divine, 0:08:43.280 --> 0:08:47.080 what's the latest news bolting out of the nation's capital. Oh, 0:08:47.120 --> 0:08:50.040 the latest out of the nation's capital is that Lauren 0:08:50.120 --> 0:08:54.440 is super famous, you don't say, really really famous. We 0:08:54.480 --> 0:08:56.720 had to take some time, We had to change our 0:08:56.760 --> 0:08:58.920 schedules a bit because we had to speak to her 0:08:59.040 --> 0:09:01.800 people and the speak to you know, the other people, 0:09:02.320 --> 0:09:04.400 and just checking with all the people because when you 0:09:04.400 --> 0:09:06.880 were as famous as Lauren as you have people. So 0:09:07.000 --> 0:09:10.040 Lauren has people now because she is super famous now 0:09:10.080 --> 0:09:14.880 that Jake Tapper, wow, yes you heard me, correct Jake 0:09:15.080 --> 0:09:23.240 Tapper now quote tweeting Lauren Rosen about basketball. And we 0:09:23.320 --> 0:09:26.320 saw that itself. All right, this is a new level 0:09:26.320 --> 0:09:29.679 of fame for Lauren now. And I don't know that 0:09:29.720 --> 0:09:32.160 we can keep up. I didn't first of all, I 0:09:32.280 --> 0:09:34.400 never thought we were famous. I always thought Lauren had 0:09:34.440 --> 0:09:37.000 this fame because she'll tweet out this is for Sixers 0:09:37.000 --> 0:09:40.400 fans and sixty fans only after every win every morning, 0:09:40.720 --> 0:09:42.920 and look at the standings. They're still in first place, 0:09:43.320 --> 0:09:46.480 and all of these people just like and retweet everything. 0:09:46.559 --> 0:09:48.559 Lauren dess. I'm like, you know, so she's really famous. 0:09:48.600 --> 0:09:50.160 I don't know how long is this is gonna last? 0:09:50.280 --> 0:09:56.200 And then boom Jake Tapper CNN. I don't know, so Celts, 0:09:56.280 --> 0:09:58.079 I think we have it for the remainder of the season, 0:09:58.080 --> 0:09:59.960 and then we're gonna have to talk to her people again. 0:10:01.040 --> 0:10:04.480 This is quite the accomplishment, Lauren. Jake Tapper engaging with 0:10:04.520 --> 0:10:07.960 one of your tweets. Well, what's crazy is that Jake 0:10:08.040 --> 0:10:11.240 Tapper has three point three million followers, and I'm one 0:10:11.280 --> 0:10:13.920 of them. But I didn't realize his audience was quite 0:10:13.920 --> 0:10:16.400 that wide. I've had so many people from different like 0:10:16.520 --> 0:10:20.000 walks of my life that definitely followed Jake Tapper and 0:10:20.040 --> 0:10:23.199 definitely don't follow the Sixers or listen to what Joe 0:10:23.240 --> 0:10:26.400 ell Embiid has to say, get really excited about this. 0:10:26.440 --> 0:10:28.200 I'll be honest. I've had some I've had some cool 0:10:28.240 --> 0:10:31.200 folks engage with me, especially this season. I'm very lucky. 0:10:31.640 --> 0:10:33.920 The engagement has only come because I'm covering a team 0:10:33.960 --> 0:10:36.520 that's been so successful and that does such lovable things, 0:10:36.640 --> 0:10:39.200 and I'm I'm lucky. The content is easy. All I'm 0:10:39.200 --> 0:10:42.960 doing is putting it out there. Cool people have engaged. 0:10:43.440 --> 0:10:46.000 Jake Tapper is up there. I gotta be honest. I 0:10:46.120 --> 0:10:49.320 felt pretty I mean, that was my guy during the election, 0:10:49.400 --> 0:10:52.679 Like Jake Tapper was like in my ear for like 0:10:52.720 --> 0:10:55.640 a week, just really cool to you know, be able 0:10:55.640 --> 0:10:57.520 to pay him back, you know, for all that that 0:10:57.840 --> 0:11:00.280 he did for me. Who else is on this list 0:11:00.679 --> 0:11:03.559 of dignitaries who've engaged with your content? Oh, now you're 0:11:03.559 --> 0:11:06.280 gonna put me on the spot. I wouldn't say dignitaries. 0:11:06.400 --> 0:11:09.400 Jake Tapper is the first, probably like non Sixer, non 0:11:10.160 --> 0:11:14.679 Philadelphia area influencer vibe, like the folks that engage with 0:11:15.000 --> 0:11:18.440 are folks that engage with the Sixers. This was this 0:11:18.520 --> 0:11:22.120 was different, okay, but we are aware that Jake Tapper, 0:11:22.160 --> 0:11:25.760 he does have a connection to the area, a big 0:11:25.880 --> 0:11:30.240 local product, grew up in and around the area. M 0:11:31.000 --> 0:11:33.920 And now he's on Lauren's list or part of you. 0:11:34.200 --> 0:11:38.320 Lauren's on his list? Now? Yes? So she one day 0:11:38.440 --> 0:11:42.000 is Darryl Moorey, right, president of basketball operations for the team. 0:11:42.080 --> 0:11:44.480 I don't know Daryl Morey. I'm one of his team's 0:11:44.520 --> 0:11:47.560 podcast but I don't know. And Laurens is you know, 0:11:47.840 --> 0:11:50.480 Lauren's all plugged in with these people. So so I 0:11:50.480 --> 0:11:52.600 think we're rubbing elbows with the right person. So we'll 0:11:52.600 --> 0:11:54.440 see where it all ends up. All right, this has 0:11:54.480 --> 0:11:56.719 got to stop. My face is so rad right now. 0:11:56.720 --> 0:12:01.480 We need to move on. Well, he'd be on the 0:12:01.480 --> 0:12:04.360 float with us when they win a championship. Jake Tapper 0:12:04.440 --> 0:12:06.959 does he on our float? All right? I would invite him. 0:12:07.200 --> 0:12:12.320 Let's send him a DM over with the glasses. Let's 0:12:12.320 --> 0:12:16.600 do it there. Space for everybody, tremendous. Thank you, Vin 0:12:16.679 --> 0:12:21.200 for checking in from our Washington d C Social media desk. 0:12:21.360 --> 0:12:23.600 No problem, thank you. I'm dead that you had the 0:12:23.720 --> 0:12:26.040 music celts like that was evil. The fact that you 0:12:26.720 --> 0:12:31.480 surprised me with the with the patriotic music roadcaster. What 0:12:31.559 --> 0:12:33.400 can I say? If we didn't have the roadcaster, we 0:12:33.440 --> 0:12:37.679 couldn't get some John Phillips SUSA pumping in here. All right, 0:12:37.720 --> 0:12:40.400 we gotta move on. I'm gonna get I'm just gonna 0:12:40.400 --> 0:12:44.720 forget how to speak. So let's Is it too soon 0:12:45.040 --> 0:12:48.000 to move on to actual basketball talk here on the 0:12:48.000 --> 0:12:50.679 Friday Deep Dive? Is it too soon? That's going to 0:12:50.720 --> 0:12:52.600 be the theme for the show. We are heading into 0:12:52.600 --> 0:12:54.520 the home stretch, the true home stretch. I feel like 0:12:54.559 --> 0:12:56.440 we've been talking about the home stretch for weeks upon 0:12:56.480 --> 0:12:58.680 weeks now, but we are down to about two and 0:12:58.679 --> 0:13:02.240 a half weeks left. Seventy sixers. As we mentioned, they 0:13:02.280 --> 0:13:05.040 are the second team in the East to clinch playoff spot, 0:13:05.440 --> 0:13:09.280 fourth straight season for the Sixers in the postseason. Something 0:13:09.320 --> 0:13:12.320 to be said about that. So my first is it 0:13:12.400 --> 0:13:15.680 too soon? Question? Is is it too soon? And I 0:13:15.760 --> 0:13:18.080 usually don't like to play games like this, but because 0:13:18.080 --> 0:13:19.880 there are somehow two weeks we have to get through, 0:13:19.920 --> 0:13:23.199 I'm going to is it too soon to look ahead 0:13:23.840 --> 0:13:27.680 at a potential playoff opponent? Devon Givens, What do you 0:13:27.720 --> 0:13:30.200 say and what do you think about a potential first 0:13:30.280 --> 0:13:34.400 round matchup for the seventy sixers. Wow, well, first, of course, 0:13:34.480 --> 0:13:37.200 we have to get through the play in tournament. That 0:13:37.920 --> 0:13:41.920 will be fun. The new wrinkle that the league has 0:13:41.960 --> 0:13:44.120 implemented with the play in tournament in both the East 0:13:44.120 --> 0:13:47.640 and the West, It's gonna be fun, man, because a 0:13:47.640 --> 0:13:51.000 lot of times you see teams just kind of take 0:13:51.000 --> 0:13:54.000 it easy the final weeks of the season. But there's 0:13:54.040 --> 0:13:57.320 so many teams that are now in play for a 0:13:57.400 --> 0:14:01.200 playoff berth for the seventh or eighth seed that right 0:14:01.200 --> 0:14:05.200 now I'm looking at is it too soon? No, it's 0:14:05.240 --> 0:14:12.120 not to look at Miami Charlotte around there seeing where 0:14:12.679 --> 0:14:15.200 and how the seventy sixers will match up with those teams. 0:14:15.200 --> 0:14:19.000 Because playing against the Miami Heat with their reinforcements that 0:14:19.080 --> 0:14:23.000 they have back. Now everyone's return has returned, adding Trevor 0:14:23.160 --> 0:14:27.840 Ariza and Victor Oladipo to the squad, and the returning 0:14:27.840 --> 0:14:30.120 players of course, led by Jimmy Butler, Bam out of 0:14:30.160 --> 0:14:32.840 Bayo and so on. It's a really good basketball team. 0:14:32.880 --> 0:14:35.080 And that's not a team that I expected to face 0:14:35.120 --> 0:14:36.720 in the first round if you're at the top of 0:14:36.760 --> 0:14:39.920 the conference, So that will be interesting. And Charlotte just 0:14:39.960 --> 0:14:42.880 the way that James Barrego has that team playing, and 0:14:42.920 --> 0:14:45.480 even with LaMelo Ball going down, many felt like they 0:14:45.480 --> 0:14:48.000 would take a step back, but they still play some 0:14:48.200 --> 0:14:51.720 really good basketball. Gordon Hayward also went down. They're playing 0:14:51.840 --> 0:14:56.840 really good basketball Defensively, they're playing you know, inspired basketball 0:14:56.840 --> 0:14:59.000 on that end as well, and they have so many 0:14:59.040 --> 0:15:02.040 pieces that are very in The Sixers won the season series, 0:15:02.040 --> 0:15:04.120 and it looked really good against the Charlotte Hornets. But 0:15:04.480 --> 0:15:06.600 is it too soon, No, especially when you're trying to 0:15:06.640 --> 0:15:09.440 look at a pathway in order for you to get 0:15:09.480 --> 0:15:12.760 to the Eastern Conference finals and ultimately the NBA Finals. 0:15:13.000 --> 0:15:15.360 So I don't think it's too soon to look at 0:15:15.400 --> 0:15:20.240 those teams specifically. Anything can happen. Washington is playing much better. 0:15:20.720 --> 0:15:23.640 They just had their eight game winning streaks snapped. New 0:15:23.720 --> 0:15:26.320 York is playing really good basketball. They've moved up in 0:15:26.360 --> 0:15:29.720 the standings. It's going to be it's gonna be fun 0:15:29.800 --> 0:15:31.400 these the last two and a half weeks that you 0:15:31.440 --> 0:15:34.720 speak of, where we get a chance to really start 0:15:34.760 --> 0:15:38.040 to pay attention to who the opponent could be. Who 0:15:38.080 --> 0:15:40.160 do you want to face less, right, who do you 0:15:40.160 --> 0:15:42.600 want to face more? What's the easier way to get 0:15:42.640 --> 0:15:45.200 to the NBA Finals. So I don't think it's too soon. 0:15:45.600 --> 0:15:47.800 It's really all about the path. And that's why I 0:15:47.800 --> 0:15:49.680 think for the seventy six ers the focus on the 0:15:49.680 --> 0:15:52.280 one seed is so important right now, or for anyone 0:15:52.320 --> 0:15:54.560 who can get the one seed, especially in the East. 0:15:55.320 --> 0:15:58.800 But it seems like after incredibly the Knicks right now, 0:15:58.840 --> 0:16:02.400 certainly after the Bucks, but probably after the Knicks anywhere 0:16:02.440 --> 0:16:06.800 after four that could be in play between Atlanta, Boston, 0:16:06.880 --> 0:16:12.880 Miami and Charlotte, maybe Indie, possibly the Wizards could shuffle 0:16:12.880 --> 0:16:15.160 in and around there. Because Boston and Miami right now 0:16:15.160 --> 0:16:17.800 are essentially neck and neck. Boston Lauren could be in 0:16:17.800 --> 0:16:21.080 a play in situation, which, of course, as Sixers fans, 0:16:21.160 --> 0:16:23.680 there's a little I don't want to butcher the pronunciation, 0:16:23.680 --> 0:16:27.120 but a little bit of schaden freud in that situation, right, Okay. 0:16:28.720 --> 0:16:30.640 I mean, look, first of all, I have two takes. 0:16:30.640 --> 0:16:33.200 My first take is that I am so excited about 0:16:33.240 --> 0:16:35.600 the play in tournament. I think this has completely changed 0:16:35.760 --> 0:16:38.800 the way that the league functions, and I hope that 0:16:38.840 --> 0:16:41.240 they continue to do it. I mean, the amount of 0:16:41.240 --> 0:16:44.040 teams that are still in play at this point versus 0:16:44.480 --> 0:16:47.760 last year, it's so much fun on both sides of 0:16:47.800 --> 0:16:50.480 the bracket. I'm really looking forward to those few days 0:16:50.480 --> 0:16:52.480 and just like sitting back and watching it's going to 0:16:52.520 --> 0:16:55.440 be like watching college basketball, but it's the NBA, and 0:16:55.480 --> 0:16:57.880 it's teams you've played all season, and it's guys like 0:16:57.920 --> 0:17:00.520 Steph Curry like they are superstars that are going to 0:17:00.600 --> 0:17:03.440 play in these play in games. Jimmy Butler could be 0:17:03.440 --> 0:17:06.920 in a play in game, Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beale. 0:17:06.960 --> 0:17:08.840 That leads me to my second take. You got to 0:17:08.880 --> 0:17:11.080 give a quick shout out to the Washington Wizards. I 0:17:11.119 --> 0:17:14.159 don't think anybody thought that the Wizards would win nine 0:17:14.280 --> 0:17:17.280 in a row at the end of the season. I mean, 0:17:17.760 --> 0:17:20.040 good for them. They are playing their way into the 0:17:20.080 --> 0:17:25.560 conversation potentially into that tournament. Tenth sorry, the tenth game 0:17:25.560 --> 0:17:28.080 that they ended up losing was in overtime. So they 0:17:28.160 --> 0:17:29.480 won nine in a row, and then they went to 0:17:29.560 --> 0:17:35.600 overtime against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. I mean, oh, 0:17:35.760 --> 0:17:39.760 pretty solid, right, I'll be honest. Washington is for me. 0:17:40.119 --> 0:17:42.879 If I were involved with the team that was in 0:17:42.880 --> 0:17:45.080 a play in situation, that would be a team that 0:17:45.240 --> 0:17:48.000 scares the you know what, Adaman, I'd say that regardless 0:17:48.160 --> 0:17:49.880 of whether or not they had won nine in a row, 0:17:49.960 --> 0:17:53.359 because you have two guys on that roster in Bale 0:17:53.400 --> 0:17:56.560 and Westbrook, who in a one game situation could go 0:17:56.680 --> 0:17:58.960 absolutely crazy. They might not be able to sustain it 0:17:59.000 --> 0:18:01.320 for a seven game series, but could go nuts in 0:18:01.320 --> 0:18:03.760 a game and win you a game. If you just 0:18:03.840 --> 0:18:07.320 need to get one, I'm sorry to cut you off. Sets. 0:18:07.520 --> 0:18:09.680 They won eight in a row, then they lost to 0:18:09.720 --> 0:18:13.359 the Spurs. Then they beat the Lakers, so they won 0:18:13.440 --> 0:18:15.119 nine out of their last ten. I'm sorry that I 0:18:15.160 --> 0:18:19.320 counted them wrong, but they beat the Lakers. They beat 0:18:19.840 --> 0:18:22.320 a couple good teams in this run. I mean they 0:18:22.320 --> 0:18:25.040 played the Thunder twice in that run, but I mean 0:18:25.200 --> 0:18:27.400 they beat the Warriors, they beat the Pelicans, they beat 0:18:27.400 --> 0:18:32.480 the Jazz. Pretty impressive stuff from the Washington Wizards. And 0:18:32.520 --> 0:18:34.720 that's why I'm so excited about this play in tournament though, 0:18:34.720 --> 0:18:37.000 because you put a guy like Russell Westbrook in a winner, 0:18:37.040 --> 0:18:39.560 go home situation, you don't know what he's going to do, 0:18:39.920 --> 0:18:41.800 even if the team he's playing against is a team 0:18:41.800 --> 0:18:44.439 that's better, and then all of a sudden, the Wizards 0:18:44.440 --> 0:18:46.000 get to have a playoff run. I mean, I'm just 0:18:46.040 --> 0:18:48.120 really excited. I think it's hopefully going to be something 0:18:48.119 --> 0:18:49.879 that stays in the league for years to come, and 0:18:49.960 --> 0:18:53.639 there will be cool Cinderella type stories about the teams 0:18:53.640 --> 0:18:55.840 that get in via the play in Tournament. And I'm 0:18:55.840 --> 0:18:58.520 glad the Sixers don't have to participate, or likely don't 0:18:58.520 --> 0:19:01.520 have to participate, but I'm looking forward to seeing who does. 0:19:01.840 --> 0:19:03.919 I don't think to your point, Lauren, I don't even 0:19:03.960 --> 0:19:06.840 know if Russell Westbrook knows what he would do in 0:19:06.880 --> 0:19:12.840 a one game win or go home play in situation. Scary. 0:19:12.960 --> 0:19:15.440 I don't want to be the other team. No, even 0:19:15.480 --> 0:19:17.639 if I'm Lebron James, and of course Lebron James and 0:19:17.720 --> 0:19:20.800 Russell Westbrook, they're not going to play each other. But 0:19:20.880 --> 0:19:22.199 I don't want to be I don't want to be 0:19:22.200 --> 0:19:26.320 on the opposite end of that. No, thank you, No, 0:19:26.480 --> 0:19:29.000 not at all. Thirty twenty and twenty he's putting he's 0:19:29.040 --> 0:19:32.200 gonna hang that on someone in a one game series, 0:19:32.280 --> 0:19:37.199 I mean one game elimination game. Absolutely, yep. I am 0:19:37.240 --> 0:19:41.360 not particularly concerned about whomever the seventy six ers match 0:19:41.440 --> 0:19:43.960 up with in the first round, any of those teams 0:19:44.040 --> 0:19:47.600 that we mentioned, whether it's the Hawks, the Celtics, Heat, 0:19:47.880 --> 0:19:50.520 Hornet's Pacers, Wizards, those are the guys in the conversation 0:19:50.600 --> 0:19:54.399 right now. Maybe outside shot for the Bulls. I just 0:19:54.480 --> 0:19:56.960 think for me, what I look at in those situations 0:19:57.040 --> 0:19:59.400 is right. You don't want to get too worn out 0:19:59.440 --> 0:20:02.199 your first as you obviously want the easiest path, the 0:20:02.240 --> 0:20:06.840 easiest road, and Miami I think could be a battle. 0:20:07.560 --> 0:20:12.199 We know why Boston Celtics. Part of me thinks for 0:20:12.240 --> 0:20:14.880 them they might be able to find another gear once 0:20:14.920 --> 0:20:16.800 they just get there. This has been a really bad 0:20:16.800 --> 0:20:22.359 season for them obviously, just in terms of consistency. I 0:20:22.359 --> 0:20:24.280 don't know, But to go back to the original question, 0:20:24.320 --> 0:20:27.080 definitely not too soon for me at all to start 0:20:27.280 --> 0:20:29.399 playing the game of who you could go up against 0:20:29.440 --> 0:20:31.280 and had with the matchup work and all that. I'll 0:20:31.320 --> 0:20:33.840 be honest, I am so grateful and happy that NBA 0:20:33.880 --> 0:20:37.119 basketball is back, with the exception of the Miami game 0:20:37.320 --> 0:20:41.080 in the final week of the season, keep checking the 0:20:41.080 --> 0:20:44.560 games off, let's keep going, stay healthy when let's keep 0:20:44.560 --> 0:20:48.960 it moving. Absolutely yep, and including that game, because in 0:20:49.600 --> 0:20:52.119 the event that you do have to face them, you 0:20:52.480 --> 0:20:56.640 want to let them know, not that they don't know. 0:20:56.880 --> 0:20:59.720 They know how good the seventy sixers are. One player 0:21:00.000 --> 0:21:04.680 particular knows for sure how tough they are. You want 0:21:04.720 --> 0:21:06.960 to make a statement against them as well. So even 0:21:06.960 --> 0:21:09.200 if you are doing your part and keeping them out, 0:21:09.680 --> 0:21:12.159 then you do your part in keeping them out. So 0:21:12.480 --> 0:21:15.240 with the amount of games remaining and looking at where 0:21:15.240 --> 0:21:17.720