2020-21-22 Sixers Season

[bkeich]

I did. Every second.

First two games are certainly exciting and encouraging, I still hate giving up so much for him, I think we got fleeced, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t hope I am wrong. Harden has certainly had 2 good games to start with and has looked better than he has all season.

Two bad defensive teams to start, but that is just nit-picking.

[LegoDoom]

Knicks have been pretty good lately, and have a lot of offensive talent and rebounding.

I'm honestly not trying to pick a fight. The Knicks are 1-9 over the last ten and 8-17 since the new year?

[LegoDoom]

Harden has certainly had 2 good games to start with and has looked better than he has all season.

I'm pretty sure Harden's resume speaks for itself. Harden is a better fit on this team and Simmons was almost certainly never going to play for the team again. As long as Harden sticks around for a few years, then the deal is fine and increases the title equity enormously over the next few years.

Thinking the Sixers got fleeced is interesting being as I'm not sure Simmons would have played for the team again. I am still a Simmons fan.... I just wish he would have learned to shoot a free throw. His career would have been so much easier for him.

[phillychuck]

I know they have been losing, I just think that they have been playing better over this last 10 game stretch although they haven't been getting results. You're probably right that they are not; I get too focused on offensive patterns and play and ignore their obvious defensive problems....

[zambonir]

I assume by fleeced he's not talking about Simmons, but the other guys. But Drummond was still a back-up who wasn't coming back, Curry probably would have been included in an off-season trade if this hadn't happened, and this team wasn't going anywhere without a move. And the picks are worth less than Maxey or Thybulle (and keeping Maxey is looking especially good right now - small sample, but he, not Harris, may end up being the third star).

In a perfect world it would have been a one-for-one trade with Simmons' potential weighed against the older Harden's Hall of Fame resume but the the Simmons situation was what it was. Both teams could have sucked it up the rest of this season, and neither of them would have won anything. The Sixers has more to lose given Embiid's age, performance and (so far) health. The Nets already had the Kyrie situation and an injured Durant and could have written the year off if they had to.

None of it means anything until we see what they do in the second round or conference finals, but they've got a legit shot at the top seed now, and have almost certainly gone from a possible 4-5 to a 2-3.

[phillychuck]

It's too early to tell now; I'd like to see them play this kind of offense vs. a better defensive team (Boston, Miami, Toronto), and their D has been suspect in the last two games, they haven't solved the back-up big problem, and the bench hasn't figured out how to "fit" with the new rotations. I'm afraid our expectations are now actually a bit too high. I really want to see Harris and the bench contributing more, and the defense picking up a bit, before I'm comfortable predicting a 1/2/3 seed. And, Doc, play BBall Paul instead of Millsap, or WCS.

[bigegypt0417]

I really think it's a stretch to call that trade getting fleeced...like a significant stretch. You got a top NBA player for a guy who was never going to take the court for this city again.

Curry is a loss but I think watching Maxey play makes me think I'm going to be ok with the move. This team is really set up better for next year than this year although I still think they can go far this post-season as well.

[zambonir]

I'm not predicting a championship, mind you. But the current 5-1 stretch also included four games w/o Harden (including one stinker). They should be able to stay in the top 4, and that wasn't necessarily going to be the case before.

And can the expectations really be too high? Was it going to be okay if they just lost in the second round again had they not made a trade? Realistically, I'd say yes. But now not making at least the conference finals would be a failure.

In the end, yes, they will probably break our hearts because Doc got out-coached or mismanages the rotations and/or because another team is able to exploit the defense. But that would have happened w/o the trade too.

[xogfog]

I really think they are going to be the top seed in the East. Of the 22 games left, I really only expect them to lose 2-4 games.

[zambonir]

I think just playing .650 ball would do it.

[xogfog]

Sources: Sixers pursuing Jordan after Lakers exit

Jordan would be an upgrade over Cauley-Stein. Tomorrow is the deadline to waive players so there may be a flurry of moves, or it could be a fairly dry market. I'm hoping the Magic waive Gary Harris, he would fit great on the Sixers. If they get Jordan, then they could waive Cauley-Stein and maybe even Milsap if someone like Harris becomes available.

[bigegypt0417]

Harris and Jordan would be nice adds and definitely give us some help off the bench.

[zambonir]

Another impressive win especially given the slow start.

It's also pretty amazing that this isn't just about Ben and Harden. While nothing is set in stone they have actually changed 60% of last year's starting 5. Harden and Maxey for Ben and Curry and Thybulle for Green (who is probably best-suited as 6th Man even if Matisse isn't quite a lock). And Harris going from #2 scorer (since that was not often Ben) to potentially #4. That is depth, and strength, if they can keep it going against the better teams.

[bigegypt0417]

Sixers star James Harden told Tyrese Maxey to wake up in win over Knicks

[VoteForKalas]

Jordan has officially cleared waivers and has now signed with the 76ers.

DeAndre Jordan clears waivers, signs with 76ers

I'm not convinced that this solves the backup center issue. I'd still give Reed every chance to seize that opportunity if I was Doc.

Jordan can rebound at least which we desperately need.

[bkeich]

Given Doc’s stated intent to always have 2 starters on the floor I think a rebound and defense only backup center works. We don’t need scoring other than offensive rebound put backs from the position really, and that is what Jordan is. He has never tried to generate his own offense, as shown by his shooting percentage (consistently leading the league when he played more).

[phillychuck]

Jordan is among the worst defenders in the league at the center position. All other options are better. And he prevents exploring any other option since Doc will play him until he drops over from old age.

[xogfog]

No Harden tonight vs. Miami. Just a maintenance day, nothing to worry about.

[zambonir]

I wouldn't say it's nothing to worry, about inasmuch as the need for "maintenance" (as well as possible load management for Joel) could end up costing them a game or two in a tight conference race or even a long playoff series. But that doesn't mean it's wrong to be conservative with him.

Maybe tonight Tobias gets 30.

[VoteForKalas]

No Simmons vs the 76ers, but he will be on the bench. We'll see how the 76ers crowd reacts

Nets' Ben Simmons won't play against 76ers, but expected to make trip to...