Sixers 2017-2018 Season

[rkeden]

Check out the Youtube highlights of both the Fultz and the Simmons game last night--- Very impressive and great fun to watch. They both have really special skills. Can't wait for next year for the improvements to their shots. in the meantime, they are a blessing!

[LegoDoom]

This win streak is nice and all and the team is fun to watch, but let's try to remember that they have been playing awful teams that aren't especially trying to win. They've played the Nets, Knicks, and Hornets twice. And also the Grizzlies and the Hawks.

On the plus side, no other teams look especially great in the East. I am a little worried that the Pacers would be a tough matchup in the 1st round. They've also lost to the Heat twice recently.

[bigegypt0417]

This win streak is nice and all and the team is fun to watch, but let's try to remember that they have been playing awful teams that aren't especially trying to win. They've played the Nets, Knicks, and Hornets twice. And also the Grizzlies and the Hawks.

On the plus side, no other teams look especially great in the East. I am a little worried that the Pacers would be a tough matchup in the 1st round. They've also lost to the Heat twice recently.

Even though these are bad team they are blowing them off the court. The margins of victory are actually pretty historic over consecutive games...I saw that somewhere last night but cant find it.

[rkeden]

Cleveland's 4th Q tonight is exactly why no one wants to face them in the playoffs. No one! I don't know who will win yet but the score was Wizards up 106-90 and now the James' are ahead 116-115. That is scary!

[phillychuck]

James just took the ball to the basket again and again. No one could stop him. He either layed it in, got fouled, or kicked it out for a 3. When they started cheating on the 3s, he hit guys for back door layups and dunks. Hope we can beat them Friday. Gonna be tough without JoJo.

[rkeden]

PC- The good news, as if playing against LBJ in a key game could have good news, is that Cleveland's last night victory from way behind in the last 6 minutes had to be a bit draining on the team. Then to fly to Philly and play this game on our court clearly helps too. CBS say the Sixers are a 3 point favorite. This is the biggest game our young team, without our best player, has played. Gonna be a fun night. Stadium will be going nuts!

[bigegypt0417]

Sixers win but by 2 after being up 30.

So much fun to watch!

[xogfog]

That was a crazy game, Sixers put up a 73 point first half. Were up 75 to 45, but Cavs came all the way back. LeBron got fouled on a three point attempt with 1.9 seconds left and had three free throws to to tie the game at 132. He missed the second free throw and intentionally missed the third and they actually got the rebound and got a shot off that trickled over and off the rim, Sixers win 132.130. They now are the third seed in the East and control their own destiny. Three games left (vs. Mavericks, @ Hawks, vs. Bucks). Can they end the season on a 16 game winning streak?

Saric was back but looked a little rusty. The only updates on Embiid are that the doctors are pleased with the results of the surgery and he still has to finish concussion protocol. No official timetable, but he is reported to be in good spirits.

[Austinfan]

James is still the King, almost willed the Cavs to victory.
Sixers are still learning to close out games, but the veterans came up short, Bell, Riddick missed some big shots down the stretch, and Saric was very rusty.

Fultz is showing why he was the #1, won't get his shot back until next year, but he has the quickness, length and body control to be an outstanding guard. I see Reddick signing a 3 year deal to play a Korver type role off the bench with Fultz starting - giving the Sixers a young, talented starting five and a veteran bench, with development projects at the end of the bench - a nice recipe for extended competitiveness, a la San Antonio.

[el-pietro]

I watched this game, crazy stuff. The last twelve seconds took about 10 minutes!

[LegoDoom]

Big win last night. If they get the 3 seed and win in the 1st round, then they get a Celtics team without Kyrie. A realistic chance to make the East finals.

I get the excitement for Fultz, but he's shown nothing except for the ability to get to the hoop (which he's very good at). Without an outside shot (I think he's made 2 outside of 15 feet), it seems unlikely he'll be able to play with Simmons. If he can fix the shot, then the Sixers are in very good shape.

[LegoDoom]

Fultz is showing why he was the #1, won't get his shot back until next year, but he has the quickness, length and body control to be an outstanding guard. I see Reddick signing a 3 year deal to play a Korver type role off the bench with Fultz starting - giving the Sixers a young, talented starting five and a veteran bench, with development projects at the end of the bench - a nice recipe for extended competitiveness, a la San Antonio.

The San Antonio comparison seems odd. They are probably closer to OKC in terms of young talent. Hopefully, they don't screw it up like OKC did with all of their young talent.

[DougLindsay]

I get the excitement for Fultz, but he's shown nothing except for the ability to get to the hoop (which he's very good at).

He's been a very good facilitator and has shown glimpses of what he can become on the defensive end with his absurd length.

[LegoDoom]

Except that he didn't even guard Russell the other night. I'm not saying he can't defend the 1, but the fact that he didn't is a bit concerning. His +/- isn't great on a team that has won 13 (?) in a row.

His PER isn't great either (and that's an offensive based stat). Aside from getting to the rim and finishing (which he has done well) what else has he done well?

And I am not bashing him. If he can regain his shot, then he can be a Kyrie type of player. If he can't and he doesn't guard the other teams PG, then I'm not sure where he fits on the team. If Simmons or Fultz can't develop a shot, then I'm not sure how they can coexist (and Fultz has subbed in for Ben almost exclusively).

[xogfog]

The Sxers draft picks update:

Looks like the Sixers will finish with either the 5th or 6th best record in the NBA, meaning their own draft pick will be 26th or 25th.

The Lakers currently have the 10th worst record. Based on the standings they can only finish 10th or 11th worst, so the Sixers will get either the 10th or 11th pick, pre-lottery. If that pick stays in that range, there should still be a good player available to them at that spot, possibly Trae Young, Mikal and Miles Bridges, etc...

With pick 26 figure a euro stash...

[LegoDoom]

possibly Trae Young, Mikal and Miles Bridges, etc...

Sounds good to me.

[bigegypt0417]

The Sxers draft picks update:

Looks like the Sixers will finish with either the 5th or 6th best record in the NBA, meaning their own draft pick will be 26th or 25th.

The Lakers currently have the 10th worst record. Based on the standings they can only finish 10th or 11th worst, so the Sixers will get either the 10th or 11th pick, pre-lottery. If that pick stays in that range, there should still be a good player available to them at that spot, possibly Trae Young, Mikal and Miles Bridges, etc...

With pick 26 figure a euro stash...

Jalen Brunson could be available in the 20-30 range so I'm not sure they will stash again. They also have 4 2nd round picks...

[kmc1019]

I don't have a specific player in mind, but given Sixers have plenty of roster depth already plus some stashed prospects, I would consider packaging Lakers pick (calling it #10), and either our own first round pick or a pair of 2nd rounders to move up from 10 to 5 or 6 if there's a player we really want or if there's a steep drop off in tier of talent.

[phillychuck]

I don't think the Sixers feel they have a need for Brunson. TJ and Fultz will take the PG minutes Simmons doesn't use.

[bigegypt0417]

I don't think the Sixers feel they have a need for Brunson. TJ and Fultz will take the PG minutes Simmons doesn't use.

If fultz is ready for camp next year you're going to have to find somewhere for both of them to play at the same time. As much as I like TJ I'm thinking he's going to want to move on to a team with minutes for him. There wont be many for him in philly.