76ers: 2020-2021 thread

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
Terry, I really appreciate the (nearly) game-by-game updates on how the Sixers are coming along.

Philly fans have to be thrilled with Doc and all the work players must be putting in.
I try to avoid regular updates but when something interesting happens, I will speak up. This is a Celtics message board, after all. The big news for Philly is Simmons erasing his tentative start. But it’s pretty obvious this team needs another strong guard who can play defense. Philly media is pushing for a Kyle Lowry trade as Toronto has indicated it might let the Philly native go, if it falls out of contention. But in the mediocre East, Toronto is very much alive, if at full strength. Seems like every contender needs just one more player.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
76ers buried the Bulls in Chicago tonight without Embiid and Simmons. They put 7 players in double figures and Danny Green finished with 9. Dwight Howard owned this game. The second unit kicked ass. Howard keeps saying this team does not need anything more to win it all but Daryl Morey will do something significant. It is a risk because the players on this team really enjoy each other. Would a trade ruin the unity? But they can’t beat Brooklyn without another solid scorer/defender.

Embiid will be back for Friday night’s game in Washington. Simmons will sit out one more game. Doc Rivers has already said the most important thing he can do is keep this team healthy. So he doesn’t mind resting his two big guns. Brooklyn is the obvious favorite in the East now but what advantage does the 1 seed provide when home-court advantage is neutralized by COVID? Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Philly should be the top three seeds but Miami could probably beat any of them.
 
Last edited:

ManicCompression

Member
SoSH Member
May 14, 2015
1,352
I'm super impressed with what they're doing in the regular season, particularly Embiid's growth. Very curious how it will all translate in the playoffs. @terrynever where do you fall on the Kyle Lowry speculation? Would you sacrifice Maxey or Thybulle for him?
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,209
I'm super impressed with what they're doing in the regular season, particularly Embiid's growth. Very curious how it will all translate in the playoffs. @terrynever where do you fall on the Kyle Lowry speculation? Would you sacrifice Maxey or Thybulle for him?
If the 76ers can obtain Kyle Lowry for one of those guys+ they should do it. Lowry would be a great fit for a variety of reasons but you add him for the same reasons Boston should be adding top end talent. More top end talent means a great chance of winning a championship. The process is fully baked - they need to continue bringing in the finishing touches so they can maximize their window.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
I would let Massey go over Thybulle, who has become an excellent situational defensive option for Doc, especially late in games. Five steals last night, four in the first quarter when he started in place of Simmons. Made all five shots from the field, including three treys. Thybulle reminds me of a great Celtics defensive weapon, Don Cheney, who got lost when traded away. His skills suited a championship contender, not a team where he would have to supply offense.

I have always admired Lowry but worry about the fit, local boy coming home, trying to do too much. Danny Green is supposed to go in a Lowry swap for money purposes. So I guess Thybulle would still have a role.

Maxey looks like a player who could take over the point on a mediocre team and fill it up, sort of like Terry Rozier. Great handle, creates his own shot. Maxey and Shake are similar players so one has to go.

It’s Daryl Morey’s world. I like this team but no way they beat Brooklyn as currently constituted.
 

the moops

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 19, 2016
4,700
Saint Paul, MN
I would absolutely include Maxy or Thybulle for Lowry. The money is hard to make work though. PHI needs to send out Green + Scott + Maxey/Thybulle + another guy to match.

Is there a Tobias Harris centered deal to be had?
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
Tobias is not going anywhere. He’s a key guy in Doc’s system because he can create his own shot and seeks out mismatches. His contract is too large. His only good years have come playing for Doc.

The key for Morey is to add a significant piece without ruining what this team has done so far. Doc keeps talking about how everything fits right now. He said it again last night after they won without their two best players.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
Such a shame he was having a breakthrough season and finally seemed to be “getting it.” See ya in November 2022, Joel.
 

radsoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 9, 2009
13,622
Hyper extension injuries like this often just end up as bone bruises +/- a low grade ACL sprain.

ACL can also fully tear sometimes, he's not in the clear any means. But this isn't one of those videos that is near automatic ACL tear. He MIGHT end up OK.
 

Imbricus

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 26, 2017
4,810
That's tough for the Sixers to lose him. The guy's an elite talent, though he's struggled a lot with injuries. It seemed like a good sign that he was walking on his own back to the locker room and didn't seem to be favoring his leg too much.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
Embiid’s injury is bad news, of course, but if it’s not season-ending, Philly can probably hold on to the third seed.
Dwight Howard and Tony Bradley are capable of holding the fort at center. Philly got Bradley from Detroit in November for former No. 1 pick Zhaire Smith. He has worked hard and lost weight, stands 6-10 and is down to 245 pounds. Doc started him Thursday night when Embiid was idled by COVID protocols, and Bradley made all 7 shots from the field.
Howard will still come off the bench, grab rebounds, block shots, punish foes, foul a lot and play with enthusiasm. He has turned into a great teammate in his veteran years, both in production and inspiration. Signing him was the smartest thing Philly did in the off-season. Embiid’s ongoing dance with injuries requires Philly to have a legit backup or two behind him.
The MRI results should come later today. It’s just another challenge for a team that has been getting better as the season progressed. Trade deadline is looming but Philly‘s needs remain the same. Just a bit more urgent now. Morey may not wait for the deadline now.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

posts way less than 18% useful shit
SoSH Member
Nov 17, 2010
14,426
I made a list of all the reasons I had the 76ers (and a lot of Philly teams), but erased it because the main point was:

Embiid is the poster boy for how this league moves forward. Maybe he never reaches his true potential. Maybe he never "gets it", or he gets buried in the graveyard with all the other amazing big men who's bodies just couldnt hold up. But this man is the perfect combination of skill, goofy, asshole, unique, relatable, UNrelateable, aloof, passionate...hes an enigma. Hes Shaq before the three titles.

I want Philly to lose every game they play. But I dont ever want a guy like this to have his career derailed by injuries. Unfortunately as last night highlighted, that may be a pipedream. Glad it wasnt super serious. Enjoy him while we can.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
Hyper extension injuries like this often just end up as bone bruises +/- a low grade ACL sprain.

ACL can also fully tear sometimes, he's not in the clear any means. But this isn't one of those videos that is near automatic ACL tear. He MIGHT end up OK.
Boom!! The value you provide to this board is second to none.
 

chilidawg

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 22, 2015
5,934
Cultural hub of the universe
I made a list of all the reasons I had the 76ers (and a lot of Philly teams), but erased it because the main point was:

Embiid is the poster boy for how this league moves forward. Maybe he never reaches his true potential. Maybe he never "gets it", or he gets buried in the graveyard with all the other amazing big men who's bodies just couldnt hold up. But this man is the perfect combination of skill, goofy, asshole, unique, relatable, UNrelateable, aloof, passionate...hes an enigma. Hes Shaq before the three titles.

I want Philly to lose every game they play. But I dont ever want a guy like this to have his career derailed by injuries. Unfortunately as last night highlighted, that may be a pipedream. Glad it wasnt super serious. Enjoy him while we can.
Great post.
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,406
around the way
Hyper extension injuries like this often just end up as bone bruises +/- a low grade ACL sprain.

ACL can also fully tear sometimes, he's not in the clear any means. But this isn't one of those videos that is near automatic ACL tear. He MIGHT end up OK.
Quoting to recognize genius.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
Hyper extension injuries like this often just end up as bone bruises +/- a low grade ACL sprain.

ACL can also fully tear sometimes, he's not in the clear any means. But this isn't one of those videos that is near automatic ACL tear. He MIGHT end up OK.
Just to pile on, but you are right about this stuff a lot.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
There was also a smidgen of overreaction last night on sports media. People feeling bad for Embiid. it was pretty clear we were waiting for MRI results. Doc said as much after the game. So now we get to see what depth the Sixers have. Hate to quote Doc again but he said after Thursday’s game that playing without his two best players gives his bench guys a chance to gain confidence in themselves. Of course, they were playing against the Bulls and Wizards. Where are the elite teams in this pandemic season? They seem scarce.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
There was also a smidgen of overreaction last night on sports media. People feeling bad for Embiid. it was pretty clear we were waiting for MRI results. Doc said as much after the game. So now we get to see what depth the Sixers have. Hate to quote Doc again but he said after Thursday’s game that playing without his two best players gives his bench guys a chance to gain confidence in themselves. Of course, they were playing against the Bulls and Wizards. Where are the elite teams in this pandemic season? They seem scarce.
The 6ers are one of them. There seem to be a lot, depending on how you view Utah and Phoenix. There are the 2 LA teams, the Nets and the Bucks.

It's a weird season. The Cavs have the 5th worst record but are also only 4 games back of the 8 spot and only 5 games behind the 5th seeded Celtics.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
Plus the Sixers don’t really need a 64 year old placekicker. :)
I got it right in the main trade thread. So I’m batting 50 percent. And the Sixers were smart not to take on Nick’s salary demands of $50M over the next two years. Plus, it looks like they are keeping Danny Green and Matisse Thybulle. Green has been playing well of late. Thybulle’s defense is a valuable asset.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
Danny Green saved the Sixers tonight with 28 points against his old team, including eight 3s. Philly now 3-0 on road trip but visits Clips Saturday night and then Denver on Tuesday. Road trip ends in Cleveland.
Dwight Howard got ejected at end of first quarter. With Tony Bradley traded earlier in the day, Philly was out of big men. But they found a way.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
76ers are 3-1 on this road trip with games left in Denver on Tuesday and Cleveland on Thursday. There is speculation among beat writers that Embiid will return for Cleveland. Philly has 26 games left, including a 4-game road trip that begins April 6 in Boston. They have two games in Milwaukee in late April.

They are still one game up on Brooklyn and two on Milwaukee. All three teams have been dealing with injuries. Each coach is just trying to get his roster ready for the playoffs. Doc has to nurse Embiid. Poor Steve Nash is dealing with Irving and Durant. Even Giannis missed a game on Saturday night with a sore knee.

Philly will assuredly finish among the top three seeds in the conference. The roster is short a third big man right now. Morey and Brand are hoping for a big man buyout, a guy who can provide insurance behind Embiid and Howard. But who would want to sign with Philly with playing time at a minimum?
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
11,997
76ers are 3-1 on this road trip with games left in Denver on Tuesday and Cleveland on Thursday. There is speculation among beat writers that Embiid will return for Cleveland. Philly has 26 games left, including a 4-game road trip that begins April 6 in Boston. They have two games in Milwaukee in late April.

They are still one game up on Brooklyn and two on Milwaukee. All three teams have been dealing with injuries. Each coach is just trying to get his roster ready for the playoffs. Doc has to nurse Embiid. Poor Steve Nash is dealing with Irving and Durant. Even Giannis missed a game on Saturday night with a sore knee.

Philly will assuredly finish among the top three seeds in the conference. The roster is short a third big man right now. Morey and Brand are hoping for a big man buyout, a guy who can provide insurance behind Embiid and Howard. But who would want to sign with Philly with playing time at a minimum?
Probably no one will sign with them, and they’ll roll with Embiid+Howard, which is totally fine?
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
Last edited:

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
Sixers update, just so you don’t think I’m dead. Fun game last night. Doc emphasized defending the 3-point line because Boston can kill you from there. The great luxury of Embiid is he defends the rim and covers the back door.

If Boston somehow met Philly in the playoffs, the series could be competitive, assuming TT is healthy and can lean on Joel for 25 minutes. Toronto has had success guarding Embiid. It can be done. Just keep him out front, shooting jumpers and 3s.

Philly has role players all over the roster now. Doc has made it work. Most importantly, the players are invested in each other. You can see this even when things are not going well. Howard, Green and Curry have provided veteran stability that had been missing. Howard is also an enforcer. You don’t want to run blindly into one of his screens.

The real race for Philly remains with Brooklyn and Milwaukee. Doc is motivated to get the No. 1 seed but he will rest Embiid and Harris whenever possible down the stretch, as will just about every playoff team, including Boston.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,209
Sixers update, just so you don’t think I’m dead. Fun game last night. Doc emphasized defending the 3-point line because Boston can kill you from there. The great luxury of Embiid is he defends the rim and covers the back door.

If Boston somehow met Philly in the playoffs, the series could be competitive, assuming TT is healthy and can lean on Joel for 25 minutes. Toronto has had success guarding Embiid. It can be done. Just keep him out front, shooting jumpers and 3s.

Philly has role players all over the roster now. Doc has made it work. Most importantly, the players are invested in each other. You can see this even when things are not going well. Howard, Green and Curry have provided veteran stability that had been missing. Howard is also an enforcer. You don’t want to run blindly into one of his screens.

The real race for Philly remains with Brooklyn and Milwaukee. Doc is motivated to get the No. 1 seed but he will rest Embiid and Harris whenever possible down the stretch, as will just about every playoff team, including Boston.
Everyone is citing Doc or Embiid as the main factors for the 76ers success this year but its that plus their defense which was on full display against Boston.

Its worth tempering what we saw by acknowledging that this current Celtics squad is kind of the perfect opponent for Philadelphia at present given their limited offense (Fournier would help in this regard) but the Sixers are second in D-rating and they are third in deflections overall with two players (Simmons and Thybulle) in the top ten in that stat.

In short, they can clamp down which bodes well for the playoffs. I am not sure they will fare as well against teams like the Nets but their overall length/wingspan will certainly help when we head into ISO season.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
Everyone is citing Doc or Embiid as the main factors for the 76ers success this year but its that plus their defense which was on full display against Boston.

Its worth tempering what we saw by acknowledging that this current Celtics squad is kind of the perfect opponent for Philadelphia at present given their limited offense (Fournier would help in this regard) but the Sixers are second in D-rating and they are third in deflections overall with two players (Simmons and Thybulle) in the top ten in that stat.

In short, they can clamp down which bodes well for the playoffs. I am not sure they will fare as well against teams like the Nets but their overall length/wingspan will certainly help when we head into ISO season.
It’s fun to watch a team this disruptive on defense. They are forever reaching behind a dribbler and poking the ball loose. Green, Thybulle and Simmons especially.
The other thing they do well is constantly seek out mismatches on offense for Harris, Simmons and Embiid. Harris has been torching smaller defenders all season, backing them down and spinning for a 10-foot jumper.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
76ers have won eight straight in this bizarre season where nobody plays at full strength. They are going to be the No. 1 seed but went 0-3 against Milwaukee while playing twice without Embiid and once without Simmons. Nobody knows if Brooklyn can hold up with its Big Three finally playing together in the playoffs. These will be the strangest playoffs ever. It’s like we never had a real regular season. Nothing to feel good about.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
Pennsylvania allowing 50 percent capacity at sporting events so 76ers can have 10,000 fans for first round of playoffs. All capacity limits will be lifted on June 11.
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
1. A GM that knows what they are doing
2. a respected coach with Championship pedigree
3. added a top 5 3pt shooter
4. added a crafty, veteran shooter
5. unloaded Al's contract
6. added an efficient bench BIG in Dwight

All great moves by the 76ers this off-season. Simmons is even draining 3s.

BUT I look forward to seeing how it gets all screwed up.
We didn’t guess on wins and losses with Philly. Good chance nobody had 48 and above. But both Ben and I are alive with our conclusion that somehow the 76ers will screw this up, even with Doc at the helm.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,113
Santa Monica
We didn’t guess on wins and losses with Philly. Good chance nobody had 48 and above. But both Ben and I are alive with our conclusion that somehow the 76ers will screw this up, even with Doc at the helm.
Ha, great season. Congrats

It probably comes down to injury luck between 76ers/Nets.

Since the 76ers will get either NYK/ATL they are probably the favorites to come out of the EAST. What says Vegas?

The Bucks have a really tough path: Heat, Nets, 76ers

Good luck, although I'll be rooting against them (still have Andrew Toney scars)
 

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
Ha, great season. Congrats

It probably comes down to injury luck between 76ers/Nets.

Since the 76ers will get either NYK/ATL they are probably the favorites to come out of the EAST. What says Vegas?

The Bucks have a really tough path: Heat, Nets, 76ers

Good luck, although I'll be rooting against them (still have Andrew Toney scars)
The greatest 76ers tease of them all. Andrew Toney. Bernard King in the backcourt. He even scared Larry Bird. And then the bad feet, like Bill Walton.

The draw worked out really well for Philly, especially when Miami fell to 6. Bucks-Heat is a great first-round matchup. I might watch that over Philly-No. 8.

See this is how it begins for Philly fans. You start to feel too good.
 

ifmanis5

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 29, 2007
63,743
Rotten Apple
The Philadelphia sports talk radio tomorrow will be a mood. Lots of 'The Process has failed' takes anticipated.

Going to be a tough sell for keeping Embiid and Simmons together long term.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2002
21,588
The Philadelphia sports talk radio tomorrow will be a mood. Lots of 'The Process has failed' takes anticipated.

Going to be a tough sell for keeping Embiid and Simmons together long term.
If they go on to lose the series, yeah. Winning vs Atlanta and losing in game 6 or 7 of the ECF might get people to buy in for another year.
 

radsoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 9, 2009
13,622
Ben Simmons contract next 4 years: 33M/36M/38M/40M

We are rapidly approaching negative asset territory. Zero improvement in 4 years, somehow the shooting has gotten even worse. His defense is good but overall he's not a top 25 player and making huge money. If he is one of your 2 best players, you are in trouble. If he is one of your 3 best players, you might be in trouble.

This version of Simmons needs to be on a very specific type of team to be a significant asset. I would never have guessed this situation 4 years ago, we're talking a 5th percentile outcome considering his rookie season.
 
Last edited:

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
11,997
Ben Simmons contract next 4 years: 33M/36M/38M/40M

We are rapidly approaching negative asset territory. Zero improvement in 4 years, somehow the shooting has gotten even worse. His defense is good but overall he's not a top 25 player and making huge money. If he is one of your 2 best players, you are in trouble. If he is one of your 3 best players, you might be in trouble.

This version of Simmons needs to be on a very specific type of team to be a significant asset. I would never have guessed this situation 4 years ago, we're talking a 5th percentile outcome considering his rookie season.
Yeah, I've been super-high on him and didn't see this coming. If he's actually a negative asset (still a bit hard to see, but it's looming), do any Kemba-based deals work? Have to imagine Philly would move for CJ before doing that.
 

Bernie Carbohydrate

writes the Semi-Fin
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 2, 2001
4,047
South Carolina via Dorchestah
I try to avoid regular updates but when something interesting happens, I will speak up.
I went to bed with the Sixers standing over the grave of the Hawks and woke up to Twitter calling for the head of Doc Rivers. Figures this thread would get some action.

I dismissed the Clips choke because the bubble was a weird place and we were also in the middle of BLM, factors that were completely unprecedented.

But is there something about Doc that contributes to these collapses? I still think he’s an excellent coach, but last night….
 
Last edited:

terrynever

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 25, 2005
21,717
pawtucket
I went to bed with the Sixers standing over the grave of the Hawks and woke up to Twitter calling for the head of Doc Rivers. Figures this thread would get some action.
I dismissed the Clips choke because the bubble was a weird place and we were also in the middle of BLM, factors that were completely unprecedented.

But is there something about Doc that contributes to these collapses? I still think he’s and excellent coach, but last night….
Doc was trying to limit minutes for his starters, especially Embiid, as the fourth quarter began. He thought the game was a rout. But the second unit shit the bed and Doc is being blamed for leaving them in too long. He took responsibility after the game. I think what really looks bad for Doc is that’s two blown leads of 18 and 26 in the last two games. But is that Doc or players like Simmons and Harris who disappeared on offense and passed up shots? It’s a players’ league. I blame the players for playing scared while the Hawks played loose and free of pressure.