Sean Brace and Sean Barnard talk about the 2-12 #Sixers as they suffer yet another humiliating defeat at the hands of the depleted Memphis #Grizzlies, what lays ahead for the organization, and more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
A Fox Sports Radio and Gambler. Fox Sports Radio in
Philly is The Gambler. The Gambler, Philly's home for all
things sports, gambling, picks and Roll, handicapping the hardwood with
Sixers insider Sean Bernard and Sean Brace.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Any Good morning, Slash, good afternoon, everybody. Yes, I was
gonna say, is it is it? Yes, it's a beautiful
day in the neighborhood. We're live, We're breathing. The Eagles
are in first place.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Juan Soto is possibly being rumored flirting with the Phillies.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
You expected that, anyways, Let's do it picks and Roll,
Shan Bernard, I'm Sean Brace. No wasting any time here, Sean.
We got a lot to discuss. We got four games
in the Association, We got a lot to recap from
last night.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
You and I did not get to discuss.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Anything from the NBA Cup on Tuesday, so I want
to get your thoughts a little bit on that as
well in the way out. But of course we're going
to open up with the disaster that is the seventy
six Ers. At this point in time, two to twelve
tied for the fourth worst start in franchise history. Now
on a five game losing streak. Paul George re injures
his knee from last night or from earlier in the season.
(01:16):
Who knows what the laates is there confusion with Nick
Nurse and his rotations. Joelle Andbe gives you thirty five
And for the most part, you had no business being
in that game against a team in the Memphis Grizzlies
that were down some of their big pieces that essentially
I'm not gonna sit here and say it's a right
off game in the NBA, because those things don't exist.
(01:38):
These guys are pros. That was a home game, but
damn that was a game that was expected for you
to turn it around. And I didn't take anything positive
away from last night.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Zero Yeah, nor should you.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
I guess the loan thing that you would take is
you can squaint and see that Joel and Bee looked
like Joel and b.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
That's about it.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
Jad McCain continues to look excellent and everything else is
absolutely dreadful with this Sixers team. I think Nick Urse
deserves more heat than he's gotten thrown on his play.
Paul George obviously suffering another injury. We knew that came
with the reputation as far as that he does have
a lengthy injury history. He has been unable to suit
up on a regular basis for the more the larger
part of his career. Here kind of an outlier season
(02:15):
that he did play seventy five games last year and
we're seeing these issues pop up. It's the exact same knee,
the exact same issue, and frankly, other decisions frustrating as well.
Tyrese Maxy playing five minutes in the first half? Is
he healthy or is he not?
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Is?
Speaker 4 (02:27):
I get that you have to have a minutes lenit.
I get that you want to work this guy back,
but what is the point of bringing him out if
he can play five minutes and a half if that's
the level you have to keep him to at this point.
So this is a game that they had no business
remotely making it a game whatsoever that should have been
a blowout victory for the Sixers team. They didn't have
their foot on the gas for a good portion of
that game once again, and now they sit at two
(02:48):
and twelve with quite the hole they have.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
To dig themselves out. So not a lot of positivity
in the world the Sixers right now.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Yes, I agree with everything you just said.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
There's a couple things that we're going to hit on
to get I gotta get your thoughts because I'm kind.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Of lost art with the big man.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Joell Embiid came out, felt like there was a little
bit more enthusiasm at times. It's still like I'm not
I'm It's so funny because I want to believe that
this is just, you know, a snake laying in the weeds,
and then all of a sudden, Yo, it's Jojo. I
gave you thirty five on one leg last night, still
(03:23):
hobbling eighty five.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Percent, he's still lumped over.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
We're gonna keep this thing going and watch I'll be
bouncing back.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I don't think that that's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I just feel like, again, even if he takes a
step backwards from what he was last year and the
years before, we're still looking at a dominant big man
that can help you in so many ways. If healthy,
if healthy, that's the big key component. Of course, we
talk about Joell Embiid. If healthy, like if he gives
you twenty four and eleven, that's not good enough. We
(03:54):
talked about the defensive numbers yesterday on the Daily Take
with Sam Austri when joellenbi was on the four for
three games. You might not have saw with your eyes,
but the numbers tell a different story. On defense, Top
five defense, Rimp protector is still there.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
There's still plenty of the game from Joel embiid.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So big picture question for you, Sean right here, right now,
well off of last night, how did the Sixers lose
this game? If Joel e Andbie gives you thirty five
points and you know, was it the fact that Maxi
didn't get enough minutes would have been a different story.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
If Paul George plays that second half? How did the
Sixers lose this game?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
And on top of it, they were getting blown out
for the whole second half and then some and they
were able to get it going at the end of
the run.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
So like put that to the side, like they were
getting smoked. How what happened last night?
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Yeah, this is truly one of the situations where a
point in the finger should go down every one of
the line that each one of these guys has questions
to answer to as far as like the beginning of
this game, how is played out? I will say that
right now I'm feeling more frustrated with Nick Nurse than
I felt at any point during his tenure so far.
And the reason that I say that is looking at
last night's game, that you finally get the first look
at the three stars.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
This is our first time.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Seeing Paul George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxi sharing the
floor together. That lasted all of six minutes. And by
the way, that number will not be getting any higher
anytime soon. As Paul George is at the minimum, I
would guess miss the next couple weeks because this is
the same issue here. But back to last night's game,
we closed the first quarter without any of those three
players on the floor. That it was Jared McCain. Shout
out to him, who's been awesome being the only driving
(05:22):
force to that offense. What is the possible reason that
you're rotating? The whole point of having these all stars
is that you always kind of have that one guy
that you can always count on having that all star
caliber talent on the floor, and Nick Nurse just opted
not to do that in the first quarter of yesterday.
Speaker 5 (05:37):
Now, it did not burn them in that situation.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Again, shout out to Jared McCain, who continues to play
so far above what anyone else could have expected to
at this point, and he kept a minute there. But
that kind of decision making is incredibly frustrated to me.
And then it was exciting the first like two minutes
of that game, where you did see a little bit
of increase intensity that they were popping around, they were
flying around defensively, and then it just kind of faded
as the second quarter started and into the third quarter
(06:00):
I thought was a super dead quarter of last night's game,
and then there was that sparkle life at the end
of like, oh, we need to flip the switch, we
need to find a way here, but it was too late,
and it doesn't feel like there is this like just
focus from a night to night basis or this they're feeling.
They don't feel they're back against the wall as much
as it necessarily is right now. So it's really frustrating
stuff for this entire team. Again, I think you can
(06:20):
point fingers at every single one of these guys. Tyrese
Maxi was not good enough last night. Although I'm a
little sympathetic with the minutes limit and all that. Paul
George before he got hurt was not good enough he
left the game with two points. There, they're not We're
still seeing lineups where Eric Gordon is on the floor
and just like looks like a lost cause right now.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
So the team's a disaster. There's no way around it.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
And it was nice to see Joelle that is the
centerpiece of this complete puzzle fitting together, but we're not
seeing anything kind of connect right now.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Two and twelve to start the season.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
As we said, I put out in the caption one
reason one stat why the Sixers will miss the playoffs,
and I think you have to be realistic with this
number one from a gut field before I get into
the stat and we're a.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Long ways to go.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
I really that Tyrese Maxi could be all of a
sudden say you know what, get out of my way.
As he was before he got hurt. He was very
aggressive and taking all the shots. Now him and McCain,
you know, like if I do believe that they could
probably be a better path to success this year in
(07:20):
the short term with Paul George being hurt and in
a conversation about Joelle.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Embiid maybe just doing it a little bit less. I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
I'm kind of up in the air at this point
in time, guess whats so are they there?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Two and twelve to the one stat that.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Is really concerning and alarming, and in ninety six times,
ninety six times in NBA history a team has started
two and twelve, six times a team has gone on
to make the playoffs. That doesn't count the play and
playing is not the same as the playoffs. And I
don't want to hear a conversation about whether they make
the play.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
And they're gonna make the.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Butt No, stop that stop that to me right here,
right now, Sean, this has the feel of a snake
bitting team, just like the Jets. We can go year
after year, league by league and there's always a team
that has expectations that fail to me, and the Jets
are that first example to come to my mind.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
With the world of talent, look at the draft picks and.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Rogers at the quarterback and all that and good coach
and just you know, the expectations being there and they're atrocious.
It's the same thing with the Sixers right now, and
it's it's ugly and it's a comedy of injuries. You know,
if I'd meant to say errors, but I'm inserting injuries
because last night, like I.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Couldn't watch it. I had to turn it off.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
When Jojo bumps his knee in the fourth quarter, I go,
that's it, Like I can't do this.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
This isn't enjoyable.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
We're getting our ass kicked and our team has followed
up part at the seams right now.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
Yeah, no, you're absolutely right there.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
And I guess what's most frustrating to me about the
situation for starters. This team to straight up shouldn't be
this bad that even with the injuries all of it,
it's embarrassing that we're talking about two and twelve.
Speaker 5 (08:56):
Two and twelve is terrible.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
And to take like your step farther here, of those
six teams that did make the playoffs EFICER starting this
season with that record, not a single one has made
it past the first round. So it's not like they're
on the bad way. There would be some real, you know,
breaking records in NBA history if they have some sort
of turnaround here, but they have that be the conversation.
There is no Knight in Shining Armor flying into this
organization here that last night was the team to an extent,
(09:20):
and I get it's gonna take time for chemistry to
work itself out. That was already always kind of the
expectation here. But Paul George is on a four year contract,
Joel Ebewo was handing a three year extension this offseason,
Tyrese Max he got his max contract, Caleb Martin on
a four year deal, Jared mccainnon just a rookie. This
is the team, like, this is the squad that has
to figure it out here. So it's incredibly embarrassing that
(09:41):
this is how it looks. I truly didn't think there
was a world where it would be this bad, especially
this soon in the season here, but they got to
kind of look themselves in the mirror and try and
find a way to figure things out. Because there's not
even anyone on this team outside of McCain who we
obviously don't want traded that should be that is legally
allowed to be traded before November fifteenth. The real trade,
like trade talks being had is with kJ Martin's contract,
(10:03):
which that's until Julie I think ju or no. January
fifteenth is the date for kJ Martin. The point being,
we got some time here. This is the team they
got to figure things out because the season's going.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
On, but whether or not they're ready or not.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Caleb Martin's a four year deal.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Yeah, wow, I don't obviously I know it, knew it whatever,
but it don't really It didn't hit me till you
decide that.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
I'm like, wow, this is the team.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
And look from the standpoint of where we're at, there
is plenty of basketball to be played. I just like
last night was the night and I don't understand how
it was that ugly, and I don't know what will change.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I just don't. You don't, like if you could give
me a.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Glass half full from moving forward, You and I and
the group, the Gambler Gang. We text left and left
and right about Jared McCain and he is silky smooth.
That kid is so confident out there with the basketball.
Like one of the things I caught last night was
just obviously moving it and moving it and finding people,
like on the baseline in different spots Ubre you know,
(11:08):
airballed the shot that he found him on the outside.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
I'm like, he gotta be kidding me.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
But like, one of the things that I really dig
about Jared McCain that you know isn't gonna be on
the highlight reel is the dude is out there top
of the key, dribbling on the elbow and like, you know.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
He's getting pressed and he's not fallen to.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
The pressure, and he's just so confident and like putting
his ass out there. And he's six foot two whatever
he is, Like, I got serious confidence in this kid
being a point guard. I don't know, I don't care
whose position. I just want to win basketball games and
turn this thing around. So Jared McCain I would start with,
and of course I would go to Maxie. I just
(11:44):
feel like Maxi, we're gonna see more of what MAXI
was last year, especially now because it's going.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
To be needed more than ever.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Yeah, I did need to see Maxi unleashed, and obviously
first game back, pretty heavy minutes limit that he was
on last night, very clearly there that's gotta be. I
think the direction this team lead into is toss the
keys to Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxi, because at least
you know there's energy, there's effort there, and both those
guys are incredibly talented basketball players.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
McCain has been.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Everything we could have hoped for him more that was
a guy that I liked leading into the draft, and
I didn't think he could be remotely this good this soon,
and some of like the playmaking flashes that he's showing
he had won no look past to Gashan yabucell on
the fast break last night, that's advanced stuff, man, Like
you don't see that for a twenty year old rookie.
Really ever so incredibly impressive by him, but it's also
like really daunting when looking at how responsible he is
(12:31):
for the Sixers team. It's incredibly embarrassing that he is
having to be the guy keep this team afloat for
stretches that shouldn't wasn't remotely the expectation coming into the year,
and shouldn't be for a team that had legitimate, like
deep playoff aspirations coming into the season.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
So shout out to Jared McCain.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
He has been really the biggest bright spot and in
otherwise like depressing seasons so far.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
So I'm happy to see that.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
But I do think that's the direction they need to
lean is let McCain and Maxi run and hopefully some
good things happen from there.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
We are going to inch into some uncomfortable conversations, really
really soon, and if they don't turn it around, it's
just the reality of the situation. As we pointed out
with the stat that teams don't make the playoffs. I
think we just have to come to grips that this
could be a lost season and it might be everybody's
best interest to possibly sit you l embiid for a
(13:20):
pointless season, right, Like, these are things that are.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Gonna come up.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Paul George, maybe take the rest of the year off.
Hand the keys over to McCain, hand the keys over
to Tyres. Of course you don't have any other choice.
And then you know, on the flip side of that,
I still think that you know, the fans would get
behind a team like that, the effort would be there,
it would be fun to.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Go down there and watch them play.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
But at the same time, I think that they could
possibly come up short and lose basketball games, which let's
be realistic. I do like this upcoming NBA draft, it's
a reality November twenty.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
First, I'm not talking about overall number one pick.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
I do think there are players in this upcoming NBA
draft that, look, maybe you want to.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Increase that opportunity to get a lottery pick. That's all I'm.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Saying, well to poke like the exact clarity in here,
because I've seen a ton of people not understanding it
on Twitter. So the Sixers have traded their first round pick.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have possession of it. It's top
six protected, meaning if the pick falls within the first
six picks, it is the Sixers selection. If it does not,
it goes to the Thunder, who already have quite an
embarrassment of riches.
Speaker 5 (14:21):
So if you're going to.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
Go that direction, you really have to commit to going
that direction and being one of the worst teams in
the NBA to have a chance of that. I personally
feel my calculations, and what I really bet like Daryl
Moy's calculations are is when kind of gauging what the
window is, I think there's a lesser chance of them
actually falling or being that bad of a basketball team
that you have the odds of falling within the top
(14:43):
six seed than there is of them having a chance
at making it into the play. And so I don't
expect that to be the direction that this team goes.
I think that would have that conversation would change if
they had a full first round pick to an extent here,
But you really got to jump off a ledge and
like be this bad for the entire season. If that
is going to be the case, I don't know if
I see the Sixers being ready to commit to that.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
No, And I think guys like MAXI and McCain and
company on the squad they would win games.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
They would win games.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
I don't think it's gonna be top five, but you
know I do now that you put that out there
were top six protected. Now can okay see pass on
that if they wanted to? But why would they would exactly?
Speaker 4 (15:22):
Yeah, you know, I'm sure legally they probably could. I
don't see any reason why they would do that. If anything,
maybe they'd hold it hostage at a trade back. We
kind of saw that with the Brooklyn Nets, with them
trading for their picks back and deal with the thunder
with the Rockets there. They did that this summer, So
teams do do that kind of thing. But I do
think like Oklahoma City has all the leverage in the
world in this spot, so it's not like it's a
(15:42):
layup for the six to get that back.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
So in other words, lower your flags, people, lower your flags.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
I mean, it would be Cooper flag or bust, like
you got you gotta get a top six.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Top six protected. That's right.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
So yeah, the other way, I'm thinking about it like
an idiot, sorry, brain dead.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Yeah yeah, yeah, okay, that's it makes sense.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
So top six protected, so the sixers will get it
in the top six positions, and then the flip side,
of course it goes I got it now.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Yeah, I completely brain farted on that one.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Now I would say, okay, no, I then if that's
the case, Sean, I'm looking at it from the perspective
like Marey needs to be Again, this is an uncomfortable conversation. Yeah,
that's what it is, and we're going to be inching closer.
We don't need to have it today at November twenty first,
with twelve games into the season, but this is where
we're at right now.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
This is the territory. Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I'm
an idiot. All right, let's keep it moving, smooth segue there.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Let's go ahead and talk a little bit about what's
next for this team.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
What do you want to see in that next game?
Speaker 2 (16:41):
No, Paul George, is there a lineup that you could
take away from last night? I was Selly had his
moments of course, like who's a lock right now and
that's starting lineup next game?
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Yeah, Maxi and Embiid obviously, and that's pretty much it.
As far as the lock, I would say that I
probably think Kayln Martin sticks in that role there.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Paul George will be in to see how they replaced him.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
I personally would give Yabuceli the opportunity there play a
more traditional power forward and at least improve your rebounding, Like,
by the way, to acknowledge how bad it is, we're
talking about their twenty ninth in scoring on the season,
in dead last and field goal percentage across the entire
league offensively, so there needs to be more there. Ubre
is a guy that I need to see something out of.
I thought he had a couple flashes of energy last night,
(17:22):
more specifically on the defense eve Vent.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
That's like why he's here. You are the energy guy.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
You are the guy that get the crowd fired up,
be diving for loose balls, be scrapping on the defense end.
Have not seen nearly enough of that from him this year,
so absolutely need to see that from Ubre. I don't
know exactly what I'm hoping for with this roster, and
we're pretty much. I guess MAXI returning to form is
really the biggest thing. He didn't play well last night.
I do think the minutes limits messed with him a
little bit, and I thought he had stretches where he
(17:47):
looked like himself. So that's probably the biggest room I'm
looking for for a turnaround. Is we got to be
talking about twenty seven point per game Tyrese Maxie again
and we haven't fully seen him yet this year, No doubt.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
My eyes lit up because I looked over at draft Sportsbook.
Next game up for the seventy six ers NBA Cup.
Are you ready tomorrow night against the Brooklyn Nets at
home blue court, Sean Benard?
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Have you seen the spread yet on DraftKings?
Speaker 5 (18:12):
I have not.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
If you had to take a guest, what do you
think that number.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Is minus two in favor of the Sixers.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Seven and a half Sixers are favored.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Yeah, dude, dude, I that's that's pretty shocking to me,
to be perfectly honest, because like last night they were
three and a half, it went up to four and
a half against and that's a much worse grizzly squad
that was without John Morant, without uh Marcus Smart, zach.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Eed, you name it.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
That was the Hospital Grizzlies that we saw last night.
The Nets have been playing competent basketball, Cam Thomas, the
real deal. They have some guys on that team. So yeah,
minus seven and a half will not be something I'll
be banging on in favorite the Sixers by any.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Means Ben Simmons, like he's come here and had good
games before.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I think this is a Ben Simmons game.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
It can't be.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
I'm not a believer that Ben Simmons games exist anymore personally, So.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
I hear you.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
I think he comes in and he has a little
bit of a grass shit.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
I'm points our rebounds and assist rebound.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
I was gonna say he gives us a nice intimidating six,
six and six or something like that.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
There.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Yeah, maybe that might be.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Which will be over his twelve and a half.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
So I think Ben Simmons game tomorrow night, and I
want to punch myself in the head for saying it,
but I do believe it. Anyways, seven and a half.
The Sixers have no business giving anybody seven and a
half points. And you want to go ahead and tell.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Me, oh, well, it's the Sixers. Watch they're gonna roll.
Cool to put your money on the Sixers. God bless
you all.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Right, enough about that team again tomorrow night, NBA Cup.
Let's keep them moving or anything you could put the
ball in the six Ers conversation you want to move on?
Speaker 4 (19:52):
I guess, like when talking about the uncomfortable conversations, I
do think one needs to be had with Nick Nurse here,
I'm truly getting the feeling that I I get, like
in his mind, he feels like he's getting more than
he bargained for at this point that he was expected.
Like Nick Nurse, when looking at him, he's a guy
that deserves a ton of credit for the basketball mind
he is and has a really impressive resume when thinking
(20:12):
about all the levels he's won at, But he's not
a guy that's ever been one of this instill the
culture build up this team. When you look about whin
he won with the Raptors, it was in his first
season as head coach that they won the NBA Championship.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
This year, he's very much a finishing touches coach.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
It feels like this Sixers team needs a cultural coach,
a guy to establish things whole, guys accountable, do all that.
Nick Nurse is an next to those guys, And frankly,
I've been underwhelmed by the X to O's Like when
you look at his offense, it's inherently simplistic, which isn't
necessarily a bad thing. There's like bright spots to that,
but it's clearly not translating to this Sixers team.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
There's no wheld which they should be two and twelve.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
And I do firmly believe that that sham shrania like
I think that came from Nick Nurse. I do truly
feel like that's the case that he's in cya mode
right now.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
So I do think there should be a Nurse conversation.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I'm glad you just brought that up last, but not
least on the Sixers. I will add this and we'll
get over to tonight's games and a little bit more
from the NBA action last night.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Joelle Embiid and his comments after the game saying immediately,
you know.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yeah, it's all my fault, blah blah blah, woe is me,
and that whoever leaked it as a pos? You know,
is it too much to ask as I have a
mirror of the guy over my shoulder. Is it too
much to ask for him to just say, you know what,
that the moment is now for me to be a leader.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
It's just he doesn't have it in him. He's not
a leader, right Like that, that.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Moment where you go to the podium and you say
things were said, meeting has had.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
You can have an issue. I'm not saying calling out
the leak. You want to call out the leak, that's fine,
I don't care.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
But at the same time, you step to that ponium,
you own what was said and especially the result that
you just had. But instead you get more of Joe immature,
woe is me? And again, I think it comes down
to he went out there and gave you thirty five
like he did his jo That's what he's saying in
the back is I went out give me thirty five
like I think. Oh no, Joel embiid most of the
(22:05):
time he is better than everybody on that floor in
his mind. That's probably how he reacts to the media
in those moments back against the wall.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
But am I like am I asking for too much?
For one time? Joe? You just got one hundred and
ninety three million dollar extension. Can you can you please?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
You're thirty years old, You're not thirty eight. You still
got time to turn around. You could be somebody different
if you want, like grab the microphone and say it's
got to stop.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
And it starts with me.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
Yeah, no, I agree with that.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
I will say to stick up with stick up from
a little I do think the full quote sounded a
little better, and to read those out as being from
Gina Mizel the Philadelphia Inquirre. Here this is from Joel
Embiid quote. We talked about a lot of things. I
don't want to get into detail, but that whole thing,
the part of that part of it meaning MAXI calling
him out. It took probably forty seconds. But it's Joelle Embiid,
So things will always get blown out of proportion. It's whatever, though,
(22:54):
I'll take it. I'm the reason for everything, so I
guess I'll take the blame for everything. There was nothing
malicious being said. I like when people are telling me
when I'm not doing good and when I need to
be better. That part about it, the tardiness probably happened
once or twice when I wasn't playing, So I need
to be better. I need to be perfect. I need
to be on point, which I'm going to do. It's
kind of annoying I have to deal with the same
things over and over and over. All I'm trying to
(23:16):
do is focus on basketball and be the best I
can be for my family on and off the court.
But for some reason, it just feels like negativity keeps
following me, which I don't understand why. It's a shame,
but it doesn't change the fact that we still have
to do better as a team. Right now, we don't
have a lot of margin for error.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
So I do think the whole.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Quote paints him in a little bit better light, But
I still agree with your overall point of I need
a little bit more as far as take ownership, be
the guy, be the leader. He always does his like
kind of attempt to do it and then like backsteps.
Is kind of the Joel and Bee that it's like,
I know that it's all me, I'm the biggest guy,
but it's kind of annoying that all this continued. Class
It's constantly those kind of answers that he kind of
says what you want him to, and then all of
(23:52):
a sudden he backtracks.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
Off it, so I would like less of that.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
I do think some of the nitpicked segments of the
quotes have done him a little bit justice, but he
hasn't really earned a lot of reason for why that
should be the case right now.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
So I agree, I totally agree with everything you just said.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
But like I said, at the same time, man, we
are in We are a desperate team right now and
need answers and can't look to the focal point. You
can't look to the franchise. You can't look to the
guy that you know, we talk about as one of
the greatest players of all time. He is on the floor.
But there needs to be more. And you know, like, dude,
your jersey's going to the rafters. They're going to build
(24:29):
you a statue like you are, or they could build
you a statue if you would get across the finish line,
like we're talking about legacy stuff right now, and you know,
like I just am frustrated beyond belief. I just am
am kind of sad. It's kind of sad watching that
last night and the way the things played out, knowing
that it's November.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Twenty first, for the third time here, all right.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Let's keep it moving, Let's talk about the other action
around the league, and of course I want to start
with the Golden State Warriors man Steph Curry again last
night was looking forward to this game. Warriors are the
real damn deal, Sean, and I don't think anybody should
be surprised, but I expected a good game last night.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
They laid the wood to the Atlanta Hawks.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Yeah, it is pretty surprising, and I will say specifically,
what I think they deserve a special credit for is
the way that they've kind of adjusted their identity that
they're a defensive minded team.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
At this point, they are going to bring it.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
They're going to make life hard for you to score
on every possession basis, and they still possess the talent
to take care of business on the offensive man with
Steph Curry and a number of their other pieces they
do have there. So the Atlanta Hawks are a team
that I think has played a little bit above their
head to start, So would not surprise me if they
go on a little bit of a cold spell here.
But the story is still the Warriors here. So shout
out to Steph Curry for still having his fastball. He
very clearly still does at this point that he can
(25:40):
take over a game the way very few players are
capable of, So shout out to him for that. And yeah,
the Warriors are a team that I have a little
bit more belief in from a playoff standpoint than I
think probably is the general consensus there. They look they're
gonna get whatever team they match up with a battle,
and I do think depending on matchup, that they could
win at least a round or to.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Cleveland bounce back after their first loss lane the Lumber
to the Normal Loans Pelicans. A lot of players were
out for both sides, but they won by twenty eight.
They essentially took over in a third quarter and never
look back. I give them credit. Donovan Mitchell didn't do much.
Georgia just Niyang had had a good game and the
Rome Ty Jerome out of Virginia. You had to look
(26:19):
that one up this morning. A nice game by him,
twenty I believe he had as well, if I'm not mistaken.
So they're getting it from everybody. The Cleveland Cavaliers, they're
a contender.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
This year to win it. And I know they're fifteen
and one or sixteen and one, so that's easy to say.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
But if the playoffs were to start right here, right
or you know how it's going to work out, right
the playoffs don't start. They're hot right now. If they
the playoffs started right now, they're absolutely contender. Will they
still be a contender come April?
Speaker 3 (26:45):
In your mind?
Speaker 4 (26:47):
I believe more than I ever have before that I
do see genuine leaps being taken from Evan Mobley Darius Garland.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
Although he was horrible against the Celtics.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
And that I wasn't great to see, I do think
he's been pretty great this year and return to form
here and they are getting helped from everyone across the port.
I think Ty Jerome's a real story. I think there's
pieces of this team that bring real things that they need.
So I give this Cavaliers team more respect than I
really have to that point. At the same time, though,
like when we kind of connect this to the Sixers conversations,
these are the teams that you're looking at that if
(27:16):
I just have to play myself in get a playing game, Am.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
I really that scared?
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Or do I think I don't have a chance if
it's a Sixers Cavs first round in to say, one
to eight seed type game there, So I do still
believe in them. I think they're going to be a
very big matchup dependent team, which is not a great
tign from playoffs. You want to be able to beat everybody.
So I don't think they'll ultimately win the East, but
I think they're a tougher team than a lot of
us have given them credit.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
All Right, So Ty Jerome, he played for the Suns
to open up, goes to Oka See averages ten point seven.
Following season he's with ok SE plays forty eight games,
seven point one. Next season goes to Golden State six
point nine. Last year two two points, only played in
two games, so he was hurt, and then this year
(28:01):
he's averaging eleven.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Point eight and seventeen games played. What the hell? Where
did he come from? What am I missing here? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (28:08):
And if I'm not misinformed here, I think last year
wasn't even a hurt situation that I think he just
didn't play a contract because I know I follow several
basketball trainers on Instagram that he's a Chris Brickley guy
who he trains with quite often. And there was constantly
like the post from Chris Brickley of him working out
of like an NBA team needs this guy and it
was impressive stuff, movement, shooting, being exactly who he is
(28:29):
as a player, guy that can knock down a ton
of shots there. So there's a lot of these guys
that are kind of on the fringe of the NBA
that are very good basketball players. I think we oftentimes
forget that the worst player in the NBA is miles
better at basketball than any one of us could ever
imagine to be.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Look at Brian Scalabrini. Man, those videos are great.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
Exactly exactly the case there. So, yeah, Ty Jerome can hoot.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Man.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
Shout out to him for jumping on this opportunity. He's
playing well and he's the guy that I like watching,
so shout out to him.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
All right.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Yeah, he got a shout out in the Gambler Gang
chat last night too as well.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
All right. Also the World of the NBA last night.
And I'm not gonna give him any.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Credit, but Sam Ostri on the Daily Ticket, he had
the Suns last night, the Knicks, they opened up hot,
they didn't stop, one thirty eight, one twenty two.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Anything for you there on that one.
Speaker 5 (29:13):
Yeah, Karl Anthony Towns looks awesome.
Speaker 4 (29:16):
Both Brunton and Towns with thirty and ten games last night,
Bruntson with thirty and ten assists, cat with thirty ten rebounds. There,
I do think like the hierarchy of their offense is
shifting in a way that I didn't expect to take
or to happen this quickly. That Karl Anthony Towns is
the dude man that's who the offense runs around, and
when you watch him, it's it's kind of becoming more
and more clear than that it is the case. I
don't think that's a mistake by any means. One of
my critiques for this next team in the Jalen Brunson
(29:38):
era is that I questioned, can he be the primary
focal point of an offense? Well, it seems like they've
come to the realization themselves that he cannot be, and
that Karl Anthony Towns is the guy they honestly, it
just might work for this team. So I hate to
kind of see them trending in the right direction. Still
a team that frustrates me a ton and that I
will actively root against when I haven't given the opportunity.
But you gotta give them their props when they earned it,
and that was the case last night. So the Sun
(30:00):
there still beat up. I'm not really hitting the panic
button for them. I still think they're gonna be a
pretty good team. Let's not forget that eight and one
start when they were fully healthy this year. Sounds like
Duran Booker are returning as soon as next game, so
that's gonna be a huge boost for him. So hopefully
better days ahead for the Suns. But give the Knicks
their props, Levigne.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
I want to end on this one from last night.
Give Sam as I took a shot at him there.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
He did have Levigne going over his point total, so
I want to give him some love on that one.
But bottom line is a great night in the NBA.
And now tonight we got four games in the association.
Shop Bernardo, let's fire up DraftKings, sportsbooks. See we can
find that people a few winners here. I want to
start with the nightcap. Let's talk about the Lakers and
how they are the real deal and if Dalton Connect
(30:42):
can continue to be Dalton Connect for the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
And I'm not saying thirty seven or whatever he scored
the other night.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I'm just talking about a guy that can continue to
hit shots that equals opening things up a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
For of course, the powers that be.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Like the Lakers win, and do we start talking about
them possibly be being a contender here And I know
literarily because to me, it always starts and ends with health.
Speaker 5 (31:08):
Yeah, Like, if they're healthy, you know.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
They're going to compete.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
You know that they got some good players that are
gonna make you know, buckets and pressure pack spots in
a playoff series. We saw them have success last year
if they're healthy. But I think now number one JJ
adding a little bit urgency, his little spin. I think
he's doing well, of course, opening up offensively. I think
the numbers are reflecting that. You add Dalton connect good bench,
(31:34):
a couple other good pieces.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
Reeves is filling in nicely. The Warriors are contender. Are
the Lakers are contender? In your mind?
Speaker 4 (31:41):
They're in that next pack For me that I don't
think they're on the caliber of teams like the Oklahoma
City Thunder, who I still think are like the clear
cut favorites, even a team I'm Denver Nuggets. We'll see
where they fall in that mix. I'm having a little
bit more skepticism with the Jamal Murray stuff.
Speaker 5 (31:55):
I do think that the right matchup.
Speaker 4 (31:56):
The Lakers can win a couple of rounds in this series,
and Anthony Davis to me is that they story from
start to finish. He's been unbelievable, I think, playing the
best pass ball of his career so far this year.
It's clear to me that JJ Reddick has catered the
offense a little bit more to him than we've seen
in past years, been a little bit more lebron centric
when looking back at years past, has not been the
case this year that Anthony Davis is very clearly the
driving force of this team. Where my doubts come in
(32:17):
is really in that next group and when you're looking
at the role guys and the players around it, I
do think that I'm very much loving the d'andro Russell
kind of hype right now, which is very funny. He's
been one of those perennial all time trade guys throughout
his Raeli career and now they're floating out though, Like
you know, we love how he looks for the bench
units we might not move on. Sounds a lot to me,
(32:38):
like you know at the dinner table, where you're like, man,
these vegetables are awesome.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
Right now? I hope nobody else wants, and that's kind
of what it feels like to me.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
Way, Russell sprouts are good, asparagus is good.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
There's some good vegetables out there.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Hard disagree.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
I'm both there brace so yeah, not a vegetable guy
that you'll get me with those, and not a d'angela
Russell guy. I probably I like d'angela Russell far more
than I like vegetables. I'll put that on the table
right now.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
So interesting.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
I think this Lakers team has been better than expected
to this point. I do think Anthony Davis deserves his
flowers for how well he's played. But I need to
see a little bit more from the other guys, the
Rui Hachimoras of the world. But who is this actual
rotation when all things are settled. They've had some injuries
as well, So undecided for me, but lean towards a
little bit of skeptism.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
All right.
Speaker 2 (33:18):
Well to tonight's game against the or Well, First of all,
just so everybody knows MVP on DraftKings Sportsbook Jokers at
the top of the list of plus two ten SGA
plus two to seventy five, Tatum plus four twenty five.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
I just think he's the play. I was thinking about
that the other night, and.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Itways Luca ten to one, who's gonna miss a week
apparently with a sore risk, Anthony.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Edwards ten to one, ad at sixteen to one. Is
their value there in your mind?
Speaker 4 (33:42):
I think there's an argument to be made there. The
biggest thing is, as you mentioned, the injury concern. Now,
I think Anthony Davis, to his credit, has been far
more healthy than he kind of gets acknowledged in the
past couple of seasons, like to pull up exactly how
many games that he has played looking back that last
season he played seventy six games, and then like if
you can log anywhere in that neighborhood for this year,
(34:03):
I kind of have my my doubts that that is
something sustainable that it just feels. I mean, we've seen
right here in Philadelphia how quickly the injury piece can
fall apart. Here Davis's credit has held up his end
of the bargain for being available. I think if he
goes start to finish and the Lakers end up like
a top four seed, there is a real case for
Anthony Davis. I do lean towards Shay having a better case,
and I do agree with your Tatum take that there
(34:24):
should be a little bit more love there, So I
ultimately land on that he'll be in the mix, but
won't win it for Davis, which is still pretty impresive season.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
All right, to the game tonight once again DraftKings Sports.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
But we're a going our numbers from we got the
Orlando Magic, you got the Los Angeles Lakers four and
a half at home for the Lakers two sixteen and
a half is your total?
Speaker 4 (34:41):
There?
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Your thoughts.
Speaker 4 (34:43):
I like Orlando Magic to cover the plus four and
a half and I like the under of two sixteen
and a half in this game. That Orlando's the best
defense in the NBA right now. They've done an incredible
job slowing down the pace of play rank and the
bottom ten in pace as a team. They're very comfortable
making this a defensive matchup. We've seen stretches where the
Lakers have done the exact same thing. That Davis is
obviously a guy who's been mentioned in the air for
Defensive Player of the Year in years past, that he
(35:05):
is one of the premier shot blockers in the league.
They still got guys like Lebron James who can fly
around block shots. And play good perimeter defense as well.
So I think there's gonna be a little bit of
like a grinded out type game. I think an old
school maybe one oh two to one oh four type
finish or something like that that I'm kind of expecting tonight.
I'm more of a believer than in Orlando that I
think there's a lot of young talent there. Jalen Suggs
(35:25):
imposes himself on the perimeter the way that he defends there.
Franz Wagner has been very good and it's nice to
see him back trending in the right direction.
Speaker 5 (35:32):
So I think this stays a game.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
I think this stays low scoring, and that I'll still
go with the Lakers to win outright, But I think
it is down to the wire type matchup.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
All right, next game up, let's talk about the Spurs
and the Utah Jazz.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
I believe Wimby will be back.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Nice win by San Antonio against Okase the other night
last time out. Jazz has just been struggling here, no
surprise there. Two and a half points spread for San
Antonio two twenty four.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Maybe Wimby isn't back with that number?
Speaker 4 (35:57):
Your thoughts, Yeah, and it does look, he officially out
with the knee injury as well, so that there changes
the conversation here. By the way, did you catch that
Will Hardy quote about Dalton kinnect after that last game
against the Lakers. M I'm pretty well done by him
that he said it felt like everyone in this arena
knew that Dalton Kneck was gonna shoot the ball when
he got it. The only problem was the only guys
(36:18):
that seemed like they didn't were the guys on our team.
So I did like that little call out from him
to the media there. I this Jazz team, I'm even
like last year they were a fun bad team. This
year they're just a bad bad team. It's kind of
what I'm seeing when watching them there. So I stole
towards the Spurs getting the victory here, but it's obviously
a game change where you don't have Victor web Binyamba,
but with the other pieces that they do have, I
(36:40):
still think there's enough there. I do lean towards the
Spurs winning and covering the minus two.
Speaker 5 (36:43):
And a half.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
All right, next game up in a draft Kings Carlos
job about the Raptors and the t Wolves. T Wolves
eight point favorites on the road in a Toronto North
of the Border two twenty five seven forty tip.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
Yeah, I think I like the Raptors to cover the
plus eight here that I'm still not seeing the level
of killer instinct I need to from this Timberwolves team.
They're good, they're talented, they're figuring out how it all
fits together. We saw the Julius Randall game winner this week,
a little bit of a push off that he maybe
got away with or they officially called a travel by
the way three consecutive nights where a game winner. The
next day the pool report comes out and says that
(37:15):
shouldn't have been allowed for them to even get the
shot off there. So don't hate how that's or don't
like how that's going on whatsoever. But the bottom line
with this game, I think Toronto's got a nice a
lot of fun young talent.
Speaker 5 (37:25):
I think RJ.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
Barrett completely competent, Manual quickly has looked solid and flashes here.
There's enough there that I think this stays competitive start
to finish. I don't love this Timberwolves team to be
a cover the big numbered type of team. I think
they're kind of a gritty fighted out type roster on
a knight to night basis of the plus eight.
Speaker 5 (37:40):
It's just a little bit too big for me, all right.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Finally, first game up on the card Pistons and Hornets
going up at seven to ten PM. Game being played
in Charlotte, Detroit favored here on the road to twenty one.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Shaminar First off, shout out to both these teams for
being fun to watch again, because these have been some
bottom of the barrel NBA teams I've genuinely enjoyed every
time I've watched both the Pistons and Hornet to play
this year, So shout out to them for this. I
like Detroit to get the outright victory and cover the
number at minus two.
Speaker 5 (38:06):
Here.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
A storyline that I do want to bring the people's
attention is what is the outlook for LaMelo Ball that
he was kind of there's a little bit of tension
that it feels within this team. I've been complimentary that
he's been allowed to play with more freedom than I've
ever seen from him in his career at this point.
Now that comes with the territory with LaMelo Ball that
you're gonna get some bad shots, You're gonna get some
poor decision making, you're gonna get some heat checks and
all those things do seem like they're taking a little
(38:27):
bit of a toll here that Charles Smith or Charles
Lee pulled them off with a little bit over three
minutes on the court the last game, and you could
see LaMelo pout in a little bit about it. So
I think there's a little bit something to keep an
eye on there as far as like playing the right
way or how this all fits together. We know who
LaMelo is. The talent is off the charts. The decision
making not always there, so keep that in mind. But
ultimately in this game, I like Detroit to take care business,
(38:49):
get to win here.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Yeah, the only way you can get a player's attention
these days is with playing time, right, you know. And
LaMelo is no joke, but something obviously wasn't clicking. You
did see that video where he was powing off to
the side. He had to be coensold by Bridges, which
was just funny to me. I was cracking up about
it for another day. It's the another edition of Picks
and Roll. Sean Bernard great Stuff. Be sure to read
(39:11):
him at d knetwork dot com and find him on
Socials that Sean on your score, Bernard.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
One.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Just to let you know, little Birdie told me our
episodes of the takeover last week were on full display
for the powers.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
That be at DraftKings. How about that.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Catch us some national attention right there? Hey, look, giving
us some pub in the meetings with the decision makers
is all.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
We asked for. It's all we asked for. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (39:42):
Absolutely, let's keep on crushing it.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
NBA, although it is college basketball season now for us
here in Philadelphia faster than ever.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Great job, Sean, Bernard.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
As always, if you missed anything, give us a follow
on socials and catch all of our at Fox pH
O Gambler doc.
Speaker 1 (40:03):
The pix and Roll podcast can be found on FOXPHL
Gambler dot com.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
Spreads totals and all the prop that's in the tweens.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
It's the Gambler
A Fox Sports Radio and Gambler. Fox Sports Radio in
Philly is The Gambler. The Gambler, Philly's home for all
things sports, gambling, picks and Roll, handicapping the hardwood with
Sixers insider Sean Bernard and Sean Brace.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Any Good morning, Slash, good afternoon, everybody. Yes, I was
gonna say, is it is it? Yes, it's a beautiful
day in the neighborhood. We're live, We're breathing. The Eagles
are in first place.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Juan Soto is possibly being rumored flirting with the Phillies.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
You expected that, anyways, Let's do it picks and Roll,
Shan Bernard, I'm Sean Brace. No wasting any time here, Sean.
We got a lot to discuss. We got four games
in the Association, We got a lot to recap from
last night.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
You and I did not get to discuss.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Anything from the NBA Cup on Tuesday, so I want
to get your thoughts a little bit on that as
well in the way out. But of course we're going
to open up with the disaster that is the seventy
six Ers. At this point in time, two to twelve
tied for the fourth worst start in franchise history. Now
on a five game losing streak. Paul George re injures
his knee from last night or from earlier in the season.
(01:16):
Who knows what the laates is there confusion with Nick
Nurse and his rotations. Joelle Andbe gives you thirty five
And for the most part, you had no business being
in that game against a team in the Memphis Grizzlies
that were down some of their big pieces that essentially
I'm not gonna sit here and say it's a right
off game in the NBA, because those things don't exist.
(01:38):
These guys are pros. That was a home game, but
damn that was a game that was expected for you
to turn it around. And I didn't take anything positive
away from last night.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Zero Yeah, nor should you.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
I guess the loan thing that you would take is
you can squaint and see that Joel and Bee looked
like Joel and b.
Speaker 5 (01:54):
That's about it.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
Jad McCain continues to look excellent and everything else is
absolutely dreadful with this Sixers team. I think Nick Urse
deserves more heat than he's gotten thrown on his play.
Paul George obviously suffering another injury. We knew that came
with the reputation as far as that he does have
a lengthy injury history. He has been unable to suit
up on a regular basis for the more the larger
part of his career. Here kind of an outlier season
(02:15):
that he did play seventy five games last year and
we're seeing these issues pop up. It's the exact same knee,
the exact same issue, and frankly, other decisions frustrating as well.
Tyrese Maxy playing five minutes in the first half? Is
he healthy or is he not?
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Is?
Speaker 4 (02:27):
I get that you have to have a minutes lenit.
I get that you want to work this guy back,
but what is the point of bringing him out if
he can play five minutes and a half if that's
the level you have to keep him to at this point.
So this is a game that they had no business
remotely making it a game whatsoever that should have been
a blowout victory for the Sixers team. They didn't have
their foot on the gas for a good portion of
that game once again, and now they sit at two
(02:48):
and twelve with quite the hole they have.
Speaker 5 (02:49):
To dig themselves out. So not a lot of positivity
in the world the Sixers right now.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Yes, I agree with everything you just said.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
There's a couple things that we're going to hit on
to get I gotta get your thoughts because I'm kind.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Of lost art with the big man.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Joell Embiid came out, felt like there was a little
bit more enthusiasm at times. It's still like I'm not
I'm It's so funny because I want to believe that
this is just, you know, a snake laying in the weeds,
and then all of a sudden, Yo, it's Jojo. I
gave you thirty five on one leg last night, still
(03:23):
hobbling eighty five.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
Percent, he's still lumped over.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
We're gonna keep this thing going and watch I'll be
bouncing back.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
I don't think that that's going to happen.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I just feel like, again, even if he takes a
step backwards from what he was last year and the
years before, we're still looking at a dominant big man
that can help you in so many ways. If healthy,
if healthy, that's the big key component. Of course, we
talk about Joell Embiid. If healthy, like if he gives
you twenty four and eleven, that's not good enough. We
(03:54):
talked about the defensive numbers yesterday on the Daily Take
with Sam Austri when joellenbi was on the four for
three games. You might not have saw with your eyes,
but the numbers tell a different story. On defense, Top
five defense, Rimp protector is still there.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
There's still plenty of the game from Joel embiid.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So big picture question for you, Sean right here, right now,
well off of last night, how did the Sixers lose
this game? If Joel e Andbie gives you thirty five
points and you know, was it the fact that Maxi
didn't get enough minutes would have been a different story.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
If Paul George plays that second half? How did the
Sixers lose this game?
Speaker 2 (04:26):
And on top of it, they were getting blown out
for the whole second half and then some and they
were able to get it going at the end of
the run.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
So like put that to the side, like they were
getting smoked. How what happened last night?
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Yeah, this is truly one of the situations where a
point in the finger should go down every one of
the line that each one of these guys has questions
to answer to as far as like the beginning of
this game, how is played out? I will say that
right now I'm feeling more frustrated with Nick Nurse than
I felt at any point during his tenure so far.
And the reason that I say that is looking at
last night's game, that you finally get the first look
at the three stars.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
This is our first time.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Seeing Paul George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxi sharing the
floor together. That lasted all of six minutes. And by
the way, that number will not be getting any higher
anytime soon. As Paul George is at the minimum, I
would guess miss the next couple weeks because this is
the same issue here. But back to last night's game,
we closed the first quarter without any of those three
players on the floor. That it was Jared McCain. Shout
out to him, who's been awesome being the only driving
(05:22):
force to that offense. What is the possible reason that
you're rotating? The whole point of having these all stars
is that you always kind of have that one guy
that you can always count on having that all star
caliber talent on the floor, and Nick Nurse just opted
not to do that in the first quarter of yesterday.
Speaker 5 (05:37):
Now, it did not burn them in that situation.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Again, shout out to Jared McCain, who continues to play
so far above what anyone else could have expected to
at this point, and he kept a minute there. But
that kind of decision making is incredibly frustrated to me.
And then it was exciting the first like two minutes
of that game, where you did see a little bit
of increase intensity that they were popping around, they were
flying around defensively, and then it just kind of faded
as the second quarter started and into the third quarter
(06:00):
I thought was a super dead quarter of last night's game,
and then there was that sparkle life at the end
of like, oh, we need to flip the switch, we
need to find a way here, but it was too late,
and it doesn't feel like there is this like just
focus from a night to night basis or this they're feeling.
They don't feel they're back against the wall as much
as it necessarily is right now. So it's really frustrating
stuff for this entire team. Again, I think you can
(06:20):
point fingers at every single one of these guys. Tyrese
Maxi was not good enough last night. Although I'm a
little sympathetic with the minutes limit and all that. Paul
George before he got hurt was not good enough he
left the game with two points. There, they're not We're
still seeing lineups where Eric Gordon is on the floor
and just like looks like a lost cause right now.
Speaker 5 (06:36):
So the team's a disaster. There's no way around it.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
And it was nice to see Joelle that is the
centerpiece of this complete puzzle fitting together, but we're not
seeing anything kind of connect right now.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Two and twelve to start the season.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
As we said, I put out in the caption one
reason one stat why the Sixers will miss the playoffs,
and I think you have to be realistic with this
number one from a gut field before I get into
the stat and we're a.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Long ways to go.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
I really that Tyrese Maxi could be all of a
sudden say you know what, get out of my way.
As he was before he got hurt. He was very
aggressive and taking all the shots. Now him and McCain,
you know, like if I do believe that they could
probably be a better path to success this year in
(07:20):
the short term with Paul George being hurt and in
a conversation about Joelle.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Embiid maybe just doing it a little bit less. I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
I'm kind of up in the air at this point
in time, guess whats so are they there?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
Two and twelve to the one stat that.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Is really concerning and alarming, and in ninety six times,
ninety six times in NBA history a team has started
two and twelve, six times a team has gone on
to make the playoffs. That doesn't count the play and
playing is not the same as the playoffs. And I
don't want to hear a conversation about whether they make
the play.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
And they're gonna make the.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Butt No, stop that stop that to me right here,
right now, Sean, this has the feel of a snake
bitting team, just like the Jets. We can go year
after year, league by league and there's always a team
that has expectations that fail to me, and the Jets
are that first example to come to my mind.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
With the world of talent, look at the draft picks and.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Rogers at the quarterback and all that and good coach
and just you know, the expectations being there and they're atrocious.
It's the same thing with the Sixers right now, and
it's it's ugly and it's a comedy of injuries. You know,
if I'd meant to say errors, but I'm inserting injuries
because last night, like I.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Couldn't watch it. I had to turn it off.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
When Jojo bumps his knee in the fourth quarter, I go,
that's it, Like I can't do this.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
This isn't enjoyable.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
We're getting our ass kicked and our team has followed
up part at the seams right now.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
Yeah, no, you're absolutely right there.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
And I guess what's most frustrating to me about the
situation for starters. This team to straight up shouldn't be
this bad that even with the injuries all of it,
it's embarrassing that we're talking about two and twelve.
Speaker 5 (08:56):
Two and twelve is terrible.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
And to take like your step farther here, of those
six teams that did make the playoffs EFICER starting this
season with that record, not a single one has made
it past the first round. So it's not like they're
on the bad way. There would be some real, you know,
breaking records in NBA history if they have some sort
of turnaround here, but they have that be the conversation.
There is no Knight in Shining Armor flying into this
organization here that last night was the team to an extent,
(09:20):
and I get it's gonna take time for chemistry to
work itself out. That was already always kind of the
expectation here. But Paul George is on a four year contract,
Joel Ebewo was handing a three year extension this offseason,
Tyrese Max he got his max contract, Caleb Martin on
a four year deal, Jared mccainnon just a rookie. This
is the team, like, this is the squad that has
to figure it out here. So it's incredibly embarrassing that
(09:41):
this is how it looks. I truly didn't think there
was a world where it would be this bad, especially
this soon in the season here, but they got to
kind of look themselves in the mirror and try and
find a way to figure things out. Because there's not
even anyone on this team outside of McCain who we
obviously don't want traded that should be that is legally
allowed to be traded before November fifteenth. The real trade,
like trade talks being had is with kJ Martin's contract,
(10:03):
which that's until Julie I think ju or no. January
fifteenth is the date for kJ Martin. The point being,
we got some time here. This is the team they
got to figure things out because the season's going.
Speaker 5 (10:13):
On, but whether or not they're ready or not.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Caleb Martin's a four year deal.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Yeah, wow, I don't obviously I know it, knew it whatever,
but it don't really It didn't hit me till you
decide that.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
I'm like, wow, this is the team.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
And look from the standpoint of where we're at, there
is plenty of basketball to be played. I just like
last night was the night and I don't understand how
it was that ugly, and I don't know what will change.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I just don't. You don't, like if you could give
me a.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Glass half full from moving forward, You and I and
the group, the Gambler Gang. We text left and left
and right about Jared McCain and he is silky smooth.
That kid is so confident out there with the basketball.
Like one of the things I caught last night was
just obviously moving it and moving it and finding people,
like on the baseline in different spots Ubre you know,
(11:08):
airballed the shot that he found him on the outside.
Speaker 3 (11:10):
I'm like, he gotta be kidding me.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
But like, one of the things that I really dig
about Jared McCain that you know isn't gonna be on
the highlight reel is the dude is out there top
of the key, dribbling on the elbow and like, you know.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
He's getting pressed and he's not fallen to.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
The pressure, and he's just so confident and like putting
his ass out there. And he's six foot two whatever
he is, Like, I got serious confidence in this kid
being a point guard. I don't know, I don't care
whose position. I just want to win basketball games and
turn this thing around. So Jared McCain I would start with,
and of course I would go to Maxie. I just
(11:44):
feel like Maxi, we're gonna see more of what MAXI
was last year, especially now because it's going.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
To be needed more than ever.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
Yeah, I did need to see Maxi unleashed, and obviously
first game back, pretty heavy minutes limit that he was
on last night, very clearly there that's gotta be. I
think the direction this team lead into is toss the
keys to Jared McCain and Tyrese Maxi, because at least
you know there's energy, there's effort there, and both those
guys are incredibly talented basketball players.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
McCain has been.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Everything we could have hoped for him more that was
a guy that I liked leading into the draft, and
I didn't think he could be remotely this good this soon,
and some of like the playmaking flashes that he's showing
he had won no look past to Gashan yabucell on
the fast break last night, that's advanced stuff, man, Like
you don't see that for a twenty year old rookie.
Really ever so incredibly impressive by him, but it's also
like really daunting when looking at how responsible he is
(12:31):
for the Sixers team. It's incredibly embarrassing that he is
having to be the guy keep this team afloat for
stretches that shouldn't wasn't remotely the expectation coming into the year,
and shouldn't be for a team that had legitimate, like
deep playoff aspirations coming into the season.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
So shout out to Jared McCain.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
He has been really the biggest bright spot and in
otherwise like depressing seasons so far.
Speaker 5 (12:51):
So I'm happy to see that.
Speaker 4 (12:52):
But I do think that's the direction they need to
lean is let McCain and Maxi run and hopefully some
good things happen from there.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
We are going to inch into some uncomfortable conversations, really
really soon, and if they don't turn it around, it's
just the reality of the situation. As we pointed out
with the stat that teams don't make the playoffs. I
think we just have to come to grips that this
could be a lost season and it might be everybody's
best interest to possibly sit you l embiid for a
(13:20):
pointless season, right, Like, these are things that are.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Gonna come up.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Paul George, maybe take the rest of the year off.
Hand the keys over to McCain, hand the keys over
to Tyres. Of course you don't have any other choice.
And then you know, on the flip side of that,
I still think that you know, the fans would get
behind a team like that, the effort would be there,
it would be fun to.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Go down there and watch them play.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
But at the same time, I think that they could
possibly come up short and lose basketball games, which let's
be realistic. I do like this upcoming NBA draft, it's
a reality November twenty.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
First, I'm not talking about overall number one pick.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
I do think there are players in this upcoming NBA
draft that, look, maybe you want to.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Increase that opportunity to get a lottery pick. That's all I'm.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Saying, well to poke like the exact clarity in here,
because I've seen a ton of people not understanding it
on Twitter. So the Sixers have traded their first round pick.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have possession of it. It's top
six protected, meaning if the pick falls within the first
six picks, it is the Sixers selection. If it does not,
it goes to the Thunder, who already have quite an
embarrassment of riches.
Speaker 5 (14:21):
So if you're going to.
Speaker 4 (14:23):
Go that direction, you really have to commit to going
that direction and being one of the worst teams in
the NBA to have a chance of that. I personally
feel my calculations, and what I really bet like Daryl
Moy's calculations are is when kind of gauging what the
window is, I think there's a lesser chance of them
actually falling or being that bad of a basketball team
that you have the odds of falling within the top
(14:43):
six seed than there is of them having a chance
at making it into the play. And so I don't
expect that to be the direction that this team goes.
I think that would have that conversation would change if
they had a full first round pick to an extent here,
But you really got to jump off a ledge and
like be this bad for the entire season. If that
is going to be the case, I don't know if
I see the Sixers being ready to commit to that.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
No, And I think guys like MAXI and McCain and
company on the squad they would win games.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
They would win games.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
I don't think it's gonna be top five, but you
know I do now that you put that out there
were top six protected. Now can okay see pass on
that if they wanted to? But why would they would exactly?
Speaker 4 (15:22):
Yeah, you know, I'm sure legally they probably could. I
don't see any reason why they would do that. If anything,
maybe they'd hold it hostage at a trade back. We
kind of saw that with the Brooklyn Nets, with them
trading for their picks back and deal with the thunder
with the Rockets there. They did that this summer, So
teams do do that kind of thing. But I do
think like Oklahoma City has all the leverage in the
world in this spot, so it's not like it's a
(15:42):
layup for the six to get that back.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
So in other words, lower your flags, people, lower your flags.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
I mean, it would be Cooper flag or bust, like
you got you gotta get a top six.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Top six protected. That's right.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
So yeah, the other way, I'm thinking about it like
an idiot, sorry, brain dead.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Yeah yeah, yeah, okay, that's it makes sense.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
So top six protected, so the sixers will get it
in the top six positions, and then the flip side,
of course it goes I got it now.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Yeah, I completely brain farted on that one.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Now I would say, okay, no, I then if that's
the case, Sean, I'm looking at it from the perspective
like Marey needs to be Again, this is an uncomfortable conversation. Yeah,
that's what it is, and we're going to be inching closer.
We don't need to have it today at November twenty first,
with twelve games into the season, but this is where
we're at right now.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
This is the territory. Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I'm
an idiot. All right, let's keep it moving, smooth segue there.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Let's go ahead and talk a little bit about what's
next for this team.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
What do you want to see in that next game?
Speaker 2 (16:41):
No, Paul George, is there a lineup that you could
take away from last night? I was Selly had his
moments of course, like who's a lock right now and
that's starting lineup next game?
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Yeah, Maxi and Embiid obviously, and that's pretty much it.
As far as the lock, I would say that I
probably think Kayln Martin sticks in that role there.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Paul George will be in to see how they replaced him.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
I personally would give Yabuceli the opportunity there play a
more traditional power forward and at least improve your rebounding, Like,
by the way, to acknowledge how bad it is, we're
talking about their twenty ninth in scoring on the season,
in dead last and field goal percentage across the entire
league offensively, so there needs to be more there. Ubre
is a guy that I need to see something out of.
I thought he had a couple flashes of energy last night,
(17:22):
more specifically on the defense eve Vent.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
That's like why he's here. You are the energy guy.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
You are the guy that get the crowd fired up,
be diving for loose balls, be scrapping on the defense end.
Have not seen nearly enough of that from him this year,
so absolutely need to see that from Ubre. I don't
know exactly what I'm hoping for with this roster, and
we're pretty much. I guess MAXI returning to form is
really the biggest thing. He didn't play well last night.
I do think the minutes limits messed with him a
little bit, and I thought he had stretches where he
(17:47):
looked like himself. So that's probably the biggest room I'm
looking for for a turnaround. Is we got to be
talking about twenty seven point per game Tyrese Maxie again
and we haven't fully seen him yet this year, No doubt.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
My eyes lit up because I looked over at draft Sportsbook.
Next game up for the seventy six ers NBA Cup.
Are you ready tomorrow night against the Brooklyn Nets at
home blue court, Sean Benard?
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Have you seen the spread yet on DraftKings?
Speaker 5 (18:12):
I have not.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
If you had to take a guest, what do you
think that number.
Speaker 5 (18:15):
Is minus two in favor of the Sixers.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Seven and a half Sixers are favored.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Yeah, dude, dude, I that's that's pretty shocking to me,
to be perfectly honest, because like last night they were
three and a half, it went up to four and
a half against and that's a much worse grizzly squad
that was without John Morant, without uh Marcus Smart, zach.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Eed, you name it.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
That was the Hospital Grizzlies that we saw last night.
The Nets have been playing competent basketball, Cam Thomas, the
real deal. They have some guys on that team. So yeah,
minus seven and a half will not be something I'll
be banging on in favorite the Sixers by any.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Means Ben Simmons, like he's come here and had good
games before.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
I think this is a Ben Simmons game.
Speaker 5 (19:00):
It can't be.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
I'm not a believer that Ben Simmons games exist anymore personally, So.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
I hear you.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
I think he comes in and he has a little
bit of a grass shit.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
I'm points our rebounds and assist rebound.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
I was gonna say he gives us a nice intimidating six,
six and six or something like that.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
There.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
Yeah, maybe that might be.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Which will be over his twelve and a half.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
So I think Ben Simmons game tomorrow night, and I
want to punch myself in the head for saying it,
but I do believe it. Anyways, seven and a half.
The Sixers have no business giving anybody seven and a
half points. And you want to go ahead and tell.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Me, oh, well, it's the Sixers. Watch they're gonna roll.
Cool to put your money on the Sixers. God bless
you all.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Right, enough about that team again tomorrow night, NBA Cup.
Let's keep them moving or anything you could put the
ball in the six Ers conversation you want to move on?
Speaker 4 (19:52):
I guess, like when talking about the uncomfortable conversations, I
do think one needs to be had with Nick Nurse here,
I'm truly getting the feeling that I I get, like
in his mind, he feels like he's getting more than
he bargained for at this point that he was expected.
Like Nick Nurse, when looking at him, he's a guy
that deserves a ton of credit for the basketball mind
he is and has a really impressive resume when thinking
(20:12):
about all the levels he's won at, But he's not
a guy that's ever been one of this instill the
culture build up this team. When you look about whin
he won with the Raptors, it was in his first
season as head coach that they won the NBA Championship.
Speaker 5 (20:22):
This year, he's very much a finishing touches coach.
Speaker 4 (20:25):
It feels like this Sixers team needs a cultural coach,
a guy to establish things whole, guys accountable, do all that.
Nick Nurse is an next to those guys, And frankly,
I've been underwhelmed by the X to O's Like when
you look at his offense, it's inherently simplistic, which isn't
necessarily a bad thing. There's like bright spots to that,
but it's clearly not translating to this Sixers team.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
There's no wheld which they should be two and twelve.
Speaker 4 (20:45):
And I do firmly believe that that sham shrania like
I think that came from Nick Nurse. I do truly
feel like that's the case that he's in cya mode
right now.
Speaker 5 (20:53):
So I do think there should be a Nurse conversation.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
I'm glad you just brought that up last, but not
least on the Sixers. I will add this and we'll
get over to tonight's games and a little bit more
from the NBA action last night.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Joelle Embiid and his comments after the game saying immediately,
you know.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yeah, it's all my fault, blah blah blah, woe is me,
and that whoever leaked it as a pos? You know,
is it too much to ask as I have a
mirror of the guy over my shoulder. Is it too
much to ask for him to just say, you know what,
that the moment is now for me to be a leader.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
It's just he doesn't have it in him. He's not
a leader, right Like that, that.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Moment where you go to the podium and you say
things were said, meeting has had.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
You can have an issue. I'm not saying calling out
the leak. You want to call out the leak, that's fine,
I don't care.
Speaker 2 (21:43):
But at the same time, you step to that ponium,
you own what was said and especially the result that
you just had. But instead you get more of Joe immature,
woe is me? And again, I think it comes down
to he went out there and gave you thirty five
like he did his jo That's what he's saying in
the back is I went out give me thirty five
like I think. Oh no, Joel embiid most of the
(22:05):
time he is better than everybody on that floor in
his mind. That's probably how he reacts to the media
in those moments back against the wall.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
But am I like am I asking for too much?
For one time? Joe? You just got one hundred and
ninety three million dollar extension. Can you can you please?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
You're thirty years old, You're not thirty eight. You still
got time to turn around. You could be somebody different
if you want, like grab the microphone and say it's
got to stop.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
And it starts with me.
Speaker 5 (22:31):
Yeah, no, I agree with that.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
I will say to stick up with stick up from
a little I do think the full quote sounded a
little better, and to read those out as being from
Gina Mizel the Philadelphia Inquirre. Here this is from Joel
Embiid quote. We talked about a lot of things. I
don't want to get into detail, but that whole thing,
the part of that part of it meaning MAXI calling
him out. It took probably forty seconds. But it's Joelle Embiid,
So things will always get blown out of proportion. It's whatever, though,
(22:54):
I'll take it. I'm the reason for everything, so I
guess I'll take the blame for everything. There was nothing
malicious being said. I like when people are telling me
when I'm not doing good and when I need to
be better. That part about it, the tardiness probably happened
once or twice when I wasn't playing, So I need
to be better. I need to be perfect. I need
to be on point, which I'm going to do. It's
kind of annoying I have to deal with the same
things over and over and over. All I'm trying to
(23:16):
do is focus on basketball and be the best I
can be for my family on and off the court.
But for some reason, it just feels like negativity keeps
following me, which I don't understand why. It's a shame,
but it doesn't change the fact that we still have
to do better as a team. Right now, we don't
have a lot of margin for error.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
So I do think the whole.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Quote paints him in a little bit better light, But
I still agree with your overall point of I need
a little bit more as far as take ownership, be
the guy, be the leader. He always does his like
kind of attempt to do it and then like backsteps.
Is kind of the Joel and Bee that it's like,
I know that it's all me, I'm the biggest guy,
but it's kind of annoying that all this continued. Class
It's constantly those kind of answers that he kind of
says what you want him to, and then all of
(23:52):
a sudden he backtracks.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
Off it, so I would like less of that.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
I do think some of the nitpicked segments of the
quotes have done him a little bit justice, but he
hasn't really earned a lot of reason for why that
should be the case right now.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
So I agree, I totally agree with everything you just said.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
But like I said, at the same time, man, we
are in We are a desperate team right now and
need answers and can't look to the focal point. You
can't look to the franchise. You can't look to the
guy that you know, we talk about as one of
the greatest players of all time. He is on the floor.
But there needs to be more. And you know, like, dude,
your jersey's going to the rafters. They're going to build
(24:29):
you a statue like you are, or they could build
you a statue if you would get across the finish line,
like we're talking about legacy stuff right now, and you know,
like I just am frustrated beyond belief. I just am
am kind of sad. It's kind of sad watching that
last night and the way the things played out, knowing
that it's November.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Twenty first, for the third time here, all right.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Let's keep it moving, Let's talk about the other action
around the league, and of course I want to start
with the Golden State Warriors man Steph Curry again last
night was looking forward to this game. Warriors are the
real damn deal, Sean, and I don't think anybody should
be surprised, but I expected a good game last night.
Speaker 3 (25:06):
They laid the wood to the Atlanta Hawks.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Yeah, it is pretty surprising, and I will say specifically,
what I think they deserve a special credit for is
the way that they've kind of adjusted their identity that
they're a defensive minded team.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
At this point, they are going to bring it.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
They're going to make life hard for you to score
on every possession basis, and they still possess the talent
to take care of business on the offensive man with
Steph Curry and a number of their other pieces they
do have there. So the Atlanta Hawks are a team
that I think has played a little bit above their
head to start, So would not surprise me if they
go on a little bit of a cold spell here.
But the story is still the Warriors here. So shout
out to Steph Curry for still having his fastball. He
very clearly still does at this point that he can
(25:40):
take over a game the way very few players are
capable of, So shout out to him for that. And yeah,
the Warriors are a team that I have a little
bit more belief in from a playoff standpoint than I
think probably is the general consensus there. They look they're
gonna get whatever team they match up with a battle,
and I do think depending on matchup, that they could
win at least a round or to.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Cleveland bounce back after their first loss lane the Lumber
to the Normal Loans Pelicans. A lot of players were
out for both sides, but they won by twenty eight.
They essentially took over in a third quarter and never
look back. I give them credit. Donovan Mitchell didn't do much.
Georgia just Niyang had had a good game and the
Rome Ty Jerome out of Virginia. You had to look
(26:19):
that one up this morning. A nice game by him,
twenty I believe he had as well, if I'm not mistaken.
So they're getting it from everybody. The Cleveland Cavaliers, they're
a contender.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
This year to win it. And I know they're fifteen
and one or sixteen and one, so that's easy to say.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
But if the playoffs were to start right here, right
or you know how it's going to work out, right
the playoffs don't start. They're hot right now. If they
the playoffs started right now, they're absolutely contender. Will they
still be a contender come April?
Speaker 3 (26:45):
In your mind?
Speaker 4 (26:47):
I believe more than I ever have before that I
do see genuine leaps being taken from Evan Mobley Darius Garland.
Speaker 5 (26:53):
Although he was horrible against the Celtics.
Speaker 4 (26:55):
And that I wasn't great to see, I do think
he's been pretty great this year and return to form
here and they are getting helped from everyone across the port.
I think Ty Jerome's a real story. I think there's
pieces of this team that bring real things that they need.
So I give this Cavaliers team more respect than I
really have to that point. At the same time, though,
like when we kind of connect this to the Sixers conversations,
these are the teams that you're looking at that if
(27:16):
I just have to play myself in get a playing game, Am.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
I really that scared?
Speaker 4 (27:20):
Or do I think I don't have a chance if
it's a Sixers Cavs first round in to say, one
to eight seed type game there, So I do still
believe in them. I think they're going to be a
very big matchup dependent team, which is not a great
tign from playoffs. You want to be able to beat everybody.
So I don't think they'll ultimately win the East, but
I think they're a tougher team than a lot of
us have given them credit.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
All Right, So Ty Jerome, he played for the Suns
to open up, goes to Oka See averages ten point seven.
Following season he's with ok SE plays forty eight games,
seven point one. Next season goes to Golden State six
point nine. Last year two two points, only played in
two games, so he was hurt, and then this year
(28:01):
he's averaging eleven.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Point eight and seventeen games played. What the hell? Where
did he come from? What am I missing here? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (28:08):
And if I'm not misinformed here, I think last year
wasn't even a hurt situation that I think he just
didn't play a contract because I know I follow several
basketball trainers on Instagram that he's a Chris Brickley guy
who he trains with quite often. And there was constantly
like the post from Chris Brickley of him working out
of like an NBA team needs this guy and it
was impressive stuff, movement, shooting, being exactly who he is
(28:29):
as a player, guy that can knock down a ton
of shots there. So there's a lot of these guys
that are kind of on the fringe of the NBA
that are very good basketball players. I think we oftentimes
forget that the worst player in the NBA is miles
better at basketball than any one of us could ever
imagine to be.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
Look at Brian Scalabrini. Man, those videos are great.
Speaker 5 (28:45):
Exactly exactly the case there. So, yeah, Ty Jerome can hoot.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Man.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
Shout out to him for jumping on this opportunity. He's
playing well and he's the guy that I like watching,
so shout out to him.
Speaker 3 (28:53):
All right.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
Yeah, he got a shout out in the Gambler Gang
chat last night too as well.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
All right. Also the World of the NBA last night.
And I'm not gonna give him any.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Credit, but Sam Ostri on the Daily Ticket, he had
the Suns last night, the Knicks, they opened up hot,
they didn't stop, one thirty eight, one twenty two.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
Anything for you there on that one.
Speaker 5 (29:13):
Yeah, Karl Anthony Towns looks awesome.
Speaker 4 (29:16):
Both Brunton and Towns with thirty and ten games last night,
Bruntson with thirty and ten assists, cat with thirty ten rebounds. There,
I do think like the hierarchy of their offense is
shifting in a way that I didn't expect to take
or to happen this quickly. That Karl Anthony Towns is
the dude man that's who the offense runs around, and
when you watch him, it's it's kind of becoming more
and more clear than that it is the case. I
don't think that's a mistake by any means. One of
my critiques for this next team in the Jalen Brunson
(29:38):
era is that I questioned, can he be the primary
focal point of an offense? Well, it seems like they've
come to the realization themselves that he cannot be, and
that Karl Anthony Towns is the guy they honestly, it
just might work for this team. So I hate to
kind of see them trending in the right direction. Still
a team that frustrates me a ton and that I
will actively root against when I haven't given the opportunity.
But you gotta give them their props when they earned it,
and that was the case last night. So the Sun
(30:00):
there still beat up. I'm not really hitting the panic
button for them. I still think they're gonna be a
pretty good team. Let's not forget that eight and one
start when they were fully healthy this year. Sounds like
Duran Booker are returning as soon as next game, so
that's gonna be a huge boost for him. So hopefully
better days ahead for the Suns. But give the Knicks
their props, Levigne.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
I want to end on this one from last night.
Give Sam as I took a shot at him there.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
He did have Levigne going over his point total, so
I want to give him some love on that one.
But bottom line is a great night in the NBA.
And now tonight we got four games in the association.
Shop Bernardo, let's fire up DraftKings, sportsbooks. See we can
find that people a few winners here. I want to
start with the nightcap. Let's talk about the Lakers and
how they are the real deal and if Dalton Connect
(30:42):
can continue to be Dalton Connect for the Lakers.
Speaker 3 (30:44):
And I'm not saying thirty seven or whatever he scored
the other night.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
I'm just talking about a guy that can continue to
hit shots that equals opening things up a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
For of course, the powers that be.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Like the Lakers win, and do we start talking about
them possibly be being a contender here And I know
literarily because to me, it always starts and ends with health.
Speaker 5 (31:08):
Yeah, Like, if they're healthy, you know.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
They're going to compete.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
You know that they got some good players that are
gonna make you know, buckets and pressure pack spots in
a playoff series. We saw them have success last year
if they're healthy. But I think now number one JJ
adding a little bit urgency, his little spin. I think
he's doing well, of course, opening up offensively. I think
the numbers are reflecting that. You add Dalton connect good bench,
(31:34):
a couple other good pieces.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
Reeves is filling in nicely. The Warriors are contender. Are
the Lakers are contender? In your mind?
Speaker 4 (31:41):
They're in that next pack For me that I don't
think they're on the caliber of teams like the Oklahoma
City Thunder, who I still think are like the clear
cut favorites, even a team I'm Denver Nuggets. We'll see
where they fall in that mix. I'm having a little
bit more skepticism with the Jamal Murray stuff.
Speaker 5 (31:55):
I do think that the right matchup.
Speaker 4 (31:56):
The Lakers can win a couple of rounds in this series,
and Anthony Davis to me is that they story from
start to finish. He's been unbelievable, I think, playing the
best pass ball of his career so far this year.
It's clear to me that JJ Reddick has catered the
offense a little bit more to him than we've seen
in past years, been a little bit more lebron centric
when looking back at years past, has not been the
case this year that Anthony Davis is very clearly the
driving force of this team. Where my doubts come in
(32:17):
is really in that next group and when you're looking
at the role guys and the players around it, I
do think that I'm very much loving the d'andro Russell
kind of hype right now, which is very funny. He's
been one of those perennial all time trade guys throughout
his Raeli career and now they're floating out though, Like
you know, we love how he looks for the bench
units we might not move on. Sounds a lot to me,
(32:38):
like you know at the dinner table, where you're like, man,
these vegetables are awesome.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
Right now? I hope nobody else wants, and that's kind
of what it feels like to me.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
Way, Russell sprouts are good, asparagus is good.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
There's some good vegetables out there.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Hard disagree.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
I'm both there brace so yeah, not a vegetable guy
that you'll get me with those, and not a d'angela
Russell guy. I probably I like d'angela Russell far more
than I like vegetables. I'll put that on the table
right now.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
So interesting.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
I think this Lakers team has been better than expected
to this point. I do think Anthony Davis deserves his
flowers for how well he's played. But I need to
see a little bit more from the other guys, the
Rui Hachimoras of the world. But who is this actual
rotation when all things are settled. They've had some injuries
as well, So undecided for me, but lean towards a
little bit of skeptism.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
All right.
Speaker 2 (33:18):
Well to tonight's game against the or Well, First of all,
just so everybody knows MVP on DraftKings Sportsbook Jokers at
the top of the list of plus two ten SGA
plus two to seventy five, Tatum plus four twenty five.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
I just think he's the play. I was thinking about
that the other night, and.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Itways Luca ten to one, who's gonna miss a week
apparently with a sore risk, Anthony.
Speaker 3 (33:37):
Edwards ten to one, ad at sixteen to one. Is
their value there in your mind?
Speaker 4 (33:42):
I think there's an argument to be made there. The
biggest thing is, as you mentioned, the injury concern. Now,
I think Anthony Davis, to his credit, has been far
more healthy than he kind of gets acknowledged in the
past couple of seasons, like to pull up exactly how
many games that he has played looking back that last
season he played seventy six games, and then like if
you can log anywhere in that neighborhood for this year,
(34:03):
I kind of have my my doubts that that is
something sustainable that it just feels. I mean, we've seen
right here in Philadelphia how quickly the injury piece can
fall apart. Here Davis's credit has held up his end
of the bargain for being available. I think if he
goes start to finish and the Lakers end up like
a top four seed, there is a real case for
Anthony Davis. I do lean towards Shay having a better case,
and I do agree with your Tatum take that there
(34:24):
should be a little bit more love there, So I
ultimately land on that he'll be in the mix, but
won't win it for Davis, which is still pretty impresive season.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
All right, to the game tonight once again DraftKings Sports.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
But we're a going our numbers from we got the
Orlando Magic, you got the Los Angeles Lakers four and
a half at home for the Lakers two sixteen and
a half is your total?
Speaker 4 (34:41):
There?
Speaker 3 (34:42):
Your thoughts.
Speaker 4 (34:43):
I like Orlando Magic to cover the plus four and
a half and I like the under of two sixteen
and a half in this game. That Orlando's the best
defense in the NBA right now. They've done an incredible
job slowing down the pace of play rank and the
bottom ten in pace as a team. They're very comfortable
making this a defensive matchup. We've seen stretches where the
Lakers have done the exact same thing. That Davis is
obviously a guy who's been mentioned in the air for
Defensive Player of the Year in years past, that he
(35:05):
is one of the premier shot blockers in the league.
They still got guys like Lebron James who can fly
around block shots. And play good perimeter defense as well.
So I think there's gonna be a little bit of
like a grinded out type game. I think an old
school maybe one oh two to one oh four type
finish or something like that that I'm kind of expecting tonight.
I'm more of a believer than in Orlando that I
think there's a lot of young talent there. Jalen Suggs
(35:25):
imposes himself on the perimeter the way that he defends there.
Franz Wagner has been very good and it's nice to
see him back trending in the right direction.
Speaker 5 (35:32):
So I think this stays a game.
Speaker 4 (35:33):
I think this stays low scoring, and that I'll still
go with the Lakers to win outright, But I think
it is down to the wire type matchup.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
All right, next game up, let's talk about the Spurs
and the Utah Jazz.
Speaker 3 (35:44):
I believe Wimby will be back.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Nice win by San Antonio against Okase the other night
last time out. Jazz has just been struggling here, no
surprise there. Two and a half points spread for San
Antonio two twenty four.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
Maybe Wimby isn't back with that number?
Speaker 4 (35:57):
Your thoughts, Yeah, and it does look, he officially out
with the knee injury as well, so that there changes
the conversation here. By the way, did you catch that
Will Hardy quote about Dalton kinnect after that last game
against the Lakers. M I'm pretty well done by him
that he said it felt like everyone in this arena
knew that Dalton Kneck was gonna shoot the ball when
he got it. The only problem was the only guys
(36:18):
that seemed like they didn't were the guys on our team.
So I did like that little call out from him
to the media there. I this Jazz team, I'm even
like last year they were a fun bad team. This
year they're just a bad bad team. It's kind of
what I'm seeing when watching them there. So I stole
towards the Spurs getting the victory here, but it's obviously
a game change where you don't have Victor web Binyamba,
but with the other pieces that they do have, I
(36:40):
still think there's enough there. I do lean towards the
Spurs winning and covering the minus two.
Speaker 5 (36:43):
And a half.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
All right, next game up in a draft Kings Carlos
job about the Raptors and the t Wolves. T Wolves
eight point favorites on the road in a Toronto North
of the Border two twenty five seven forty tip.
Speaker 4 (36:54):
Yeah, I think I like the Raptors to cover the
plus eight here that I'm still not seeing the level
of killer instinct I need to from this Timberwolves team.
They're good, they're talented, they're figuring out how it all
fits together. We saw the Julius Randall game winner this week,
a little bit of a push off that he maybe
got away with or they officially called a travel by
the way three consecutive nights where a game winner. The
next day the pool report comes out and says that
(37:15):
shouldn't have been allowed for them to even get the
shot off there. So don't hate how that's or don't
like how that's going on whatsoever. But the bottom line
with this game, I think Toronto's got a nice a
lot of fun young talent.
Speaker 5 (37:25):
I think RJ.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
Barrett completely competent, Manual quickly has looked solid and flashes here.
There's enough there that I think this stays competitive start
to finish. I don't love this Timberwolves team to be
a cover the big numbered type of team. I think
they're kind of a gritty fighted out type roster on
a knight to night basis of the plus eight.
Speaker 5 (37:40):
It's just a little bit too big for me, all right.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Finally, first game up on the card Pistons and Hornets
going up at seven to ten PM. Game being played
in Charlotte, Detroit favored here on the road to twenty one.
Speaker 4 (37:51):
Shaminar First off, shout out to both these teams for
being fun to watch again, because these have been some
bottom of the barrel NBA teams I've genuinely enjoyed every
time I've watched both the Pistons and Hornet to play
this year, So shout out to them for this. I
like Detroit to get the outright victory and cover the
number at minus two.
Speaker 5 (38:06):
Here.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
A storyline that I do want to bring the people's
attention is what is the outlook for LaMelo Ball that
he was kind of there's a little bit of tension
that it feels within this team. I've been complimentary that
he's been allowed to play with more freedom than I've
ever seen from him in his career at this point.
Now that comes with the territory with LaMelo Ball that
you're gonna get some bad shots, You're gonna get some
poor decision making, you're gonna get some heat checks and
all those things do seem like they're taking a little
(38:27):
bit of a toll here that Charles Smith or Charles
Lee pulled them off with a little bit over three
minutes on the court the last game, and you could
see LaMelo pout in a little bit about it. So
I think there's a little bit something to keep an
eye on there as far as like playing the right
way or how this all fits together. We know who
LaMelo is. The talent is off the charts. The decision
making not always there, so keep that in mind. But
ultimately in this game, I like Detroit to take care business,
(38:49):
get to win here.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Yeah, the only way you can get a player's attention
these days is with playing time, right, you know. And
LaMelo is no joke, but something obviously wasn't clicking. You
did see that video where he was powing off to
the side. He had to be coensold by Bridges, which
was just funny to me. I was cracking up about
it for another day. It's the another edition of Picks
and Roll. Sean Bernard great Stuff. Be sure to read
(39:11):
him at d knetwork dot com and find him on
Socials that Sean on your score, Bernard.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
One.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
Just to let you know, little Birdie told me our
episodes of the takeover last week were on full display
for the powers.
Speaker 3 (39:29):
That be at DraftKings. How about that.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Catch us some national attention right there? Hey, look, giving
us some pub in the meetings with the decision makers
is all.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
We asked for. It's all we asked for. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (39:42):
Absolutely, let's keep on crushing it.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
NBA, although it is college basketball season now for us
here in Philadelphia faster than ever.
Speaker 3 (39:52):
Great job, Sean, Bernard.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
As always, if you missed anything, give us a follow
on socials and catch all of our at Fox pH
O Gambler doc.
Speaker 1 (40:03):
The pix and Roll podcast can be found on FOXPHL
Gambler dot com.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
Spreads totals and all the prop that's in the tweens.
Speaker 1 (40:11):
It's the Gambler
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