Game 29 Sixers @ Jazz 12/28 @ 9:30 pm ET

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

The only way we get back into the conversation of contender is to find an in season upgrade at the power forward position. It sucks that KJ went down because he was starting to round into form. I'm not saying he was our guy, but he crashed the boards, he was defending well, and he was starting to hit his threes. Nurse is trying the interchangeable wing lineup with Maxey and Embiid out there. Defensively it works pretty good, but we suffer on the boards. Like I said, Morey needs to find an upgrade with some size. Someone that can help Embiid as a second rim protector. Problem is that player has to be able to hit an open three when needed. There aren't too many guys available that fit that description. We can't get a Lauri Markannen or Jabari Smith. Santi Aldama has been mentioned, I personally like Jalen Smith. I've mentioned Isaiah Stewart, but we've kind of got that already with Yabu. I don't know...I think we're underestimating the value of KJ Martin.
Who's out there? Who's selling? Would Portland part with Avdija who they just acquired?
Not many of the teams selling have what we need. Brooklyn will trade Cam Johnson and he's another name I like, but at what cost? Chris Boucher? It's a tough spot to be in.

[Mik317]

going to need other contenders to get hurt and for an extended hot shooting streak if they have any hope of "contending" imo

[M2J]

The only way we get back into the conversation of contender is to find an in season upgrade at the power forward position. It sucks that KJ went down because he was starting to round into form. I'm not saying he was our guy, but he crashed the boards, he was defending well, and he was starting to hit his threes. Nurse is trying the interchangeable wing lineup with Maxey and Embiid out there. Defensively it works pretty good, but we suffer on the boards. Like I said, Morey needs to find an upgrade with some size. Someone that can help Embiid as a second rim protector. Problem is that player has to be able to hit an open three when needed. There aren't too many guys available that fit that description. We can't get a Lauri Markannen or Jabari Smith. Santi Aldama has been mentioned, I personally like Jalen Smith. I've mentioned Isaiah Stewart, but we've kind of got that already with Yabu. I don't know...I think we're underestimating the value of KJ Martin.
Who's out there? Who's selling? Would Portland part with Avdija who they just acquired?
Not many of the teams selling have what we need. Brooklyn will trade Cam Johnson and he's another name I like, but at what cost? Chris Boucher? It's a tough spot to be in.

Read on Twitter

?t=jl4Vgs5anNhz5VKWrF76Mg&s=19

He should be back....I didn't think they need a trade.... The wing lineup is good with smaller teams like Boston when Brown or Tatum are power forwards. Yabu can play there against bigger teams like jazz or bucks. KJ fits well in both situations

If they get a Jared replacement... That should only cost 2nd round picks or buyout market. Hell just use whatever that kid's name is (edit... Dowtin )that was playing unnecessarily over Jared earlier in the season.


Save the picks for Morey to use in draft or to trade away George

[ivysixer2000]

Every win will not be pretty, especially against a team that just came off a long road trip.

A win is a win during a road trip right now for us, wins for style points still show up as one win. This team still has a long way to go to mesh together, as long as we are winning does it even matter?

IMO it does matter how they look over the next month+, rather than just W-L record. You have to decide whether to spend future assets on a year where you're in a big hole because of injuries. If they don't start looking like a team that has a realistic shot beat the best teams in the league in a 7 game series, then is there any move available that can make them a real contender?

I don't believe a team as off-injured as this one should be in a rush for a deal. Giving up our depth for one push shouldn't be rushed into IMO, with future assets as Morey has actually shown an ability to draft well. Honestly, the deal would have to a great deal for us in order for me to be on board with it for this team.

Otherwise, I would rather keep this team together and let it gel. If you want to do a 2 for 1 deal with picks, you better be positive its the right deal.

[NearingZero]

Every win will not be pretty, especially against a team that just came off a long road trip.

A win is a win during a road trip right now for us, wins for style points still show up as one win. This team still has a long way to go to mesh together, as long as we are winning does it even matter?

IMO it does matter how they look over the next month+, rather than just W-L record. You have to decide whether to spend future assets on a year where you're in a big hole because of injuries. If they don't start looking like a team that has a realistic shot beat the best teams in the league in a 7 game series, then is there any move available that can make them a real contender?

I don't believe a team as off-injured as this one should be in a rush for a deal. Giving up our depth for one push shouldn't be rushed into IMO, with future assets as Morey has actually shown an ability to draft well. Honestly, the deal would have to a great deal for us in order for me to be on board with it for this team.

Otherwise, I would rather keep this team together and let it gel. If you want to do a 2 for 1 deal with picks, you better be positive its the right deal.

I meant it the other way - the only way I would be OK with any significant deal that doesn't look heavily to the future is if they are GREAT this next month+. If PG consistently hits his open looks AND Embiid gets back to 90% of who he was before the knee injury AND Maxey is more efficient, then I might be willing to roll the dice and go all in on the next 2-3 years. Any 1-year rental that costs more than 2nd round picks/marginal players should be off the table entirely though.

[HardenToSixers]

Every win will not be pretty, especially against a team that just came off a long road trip.

A win is a win during a road trip right now for us, wins for style points still show up as one win. This team still has a long way to go to mesh together, as long as we are winning does it even matter?

IMO it does matter how they look over the next month+, rather than just W-L record. You have to decide whether to spend future assets on a year where you're in a big hole because of injuries. If they don't start looking like a team that has a realistic shot beat the best teams in the league in a 7 game series, then is there any move available that can make them a real contender?

in theory your argument is correct. in practice, Embiid is on his last legs, Morey is known to push the chips in on miniscule championship odds and seems pretty delusional about evaluating his own teams, and we're already in too deep.

[Kova]

A win against Celtics wouldn't have meant nothing if we didn't confirm it last night. Great job, let's get this winning streak rolling.

[Iscull]

We need to find a way to flip Gordon and Drummond for a competent big who isn’t injured all the time

[mjkvol]

PG being a willing shooter and not taking up space on the nail and a capable passer and rebounder makes him better than Tobias

\BUT like Tobias...his contract means he has to be more than that and the team's roster needs him to be more than that.

Same exact issue. Tobias for all of his issues was a fine player despite it all...however we paid him the max and needed him to be a consistant 23pt scorer who could occasionally scale up AND rebound AND space the floor AND defend...and built the roster around that need. Thus his flaws were magnified.

That has been the issue for this franchise my whole life lol. Pay a guy to be more than he can and then just assume that he will and can be even more. That was the issue with all of Iverson's side kicks. It was the fanbase issue with Iggy. Then Ben and Tobias. Just always expect guys to just carry no matter what and pay dudes like it regardless

NOW i will say does feel like its just that the knee isn't fully right and he lacks consistant lift on the shot AND is trying to fit in and with the constant shifting lineups isn't in a set role either. I will give him a year before being too down on him.

I don't disagree with any of that, really, but my problem is that the George signing was an 'unforced error' of sorts. the Tobias signing was awful, even at the time, but he was 26 and allegedly a 20-10 type player who was seen as hopefully the "3rd star" after Butler was traded.

With George, we had a clean slate after years of having no flexibility because of Tobias, and he is 34 yrs. old and not exactly noted for being a money player. But here we are in relatively the same mess, once again with our hands tied due to a bad contract.

I don't see George as being another Tobias, and do believe he will find his shooting stroke and his place in the group as long as everyone remains healthy. His all around game is on a completely different level than Tobias. At least that's what had better happen if this is to have a prayer of working.

[sodmoraes]

Im not worried about PG. He will return to his averages %, but will score a little less than hes used to. He had 2 knee injurys, is kinda old and is playing in a New team , that doesnt have a real point guard. Maxey will learn some spots He likes to shoot, until the end of the year, to pass to him so he can catch and shoot more. He will probably end the year with 18 ppg, shooting 37% from 3. Im really liking his defense, thought he was more of a 3 than a D nowadays lol.

Sent from my SM-G780G using RealGM mobile app

[Murray_17]

I mean, the next seven games are all winnable ones. Even if you assume we lose against the Warriors and the Suns, we'll still be one game below .500 at that point.

The real test starts there because, after the Pelicans, the next seven games are: Magic, Thunder, Knicks, Pacers, Bucks, Nuggets, and Cavs.

[TYO23]

Ugly win but it’s a win.

Really encouraging game from Jo defensively. He was jumping to contest lobs. But we gotta figure out the rebounding issue. Caleb guarded well too. Rough game for Oubre defensively especially with screen navigation.

[Jailblazers7]

That was a classic trap game but our stars were able to dig it out, which is why they get paid max money.

PG has been getting a ton of rim outs so I’ve gotta imagine his shooting turns a corner at some point.

[Murray_17]

The worrying thing about George is not his shot, at some point it has to fall.

It looks like he cannot get to the rim, all his shots are 3s or long 2s

[Jailblazers7]

The worrying thing about George is not his shot, at some point it has to fall.

It looks like he cannot get to the rim, all his shots are 3s or long 2s

I think his days as an iso scorer and PnR ball handler are likely done. He’s unable to generate any real separation against even mediocre defenders.

I think the best we can hope for is that he’s a hyper efficient off ball player who can mismatch hunt shorter defenders in the post occasionally.

[mjkvol]

The worrying thing about George is not his shot, at some point it has to fall.

It looks like he cannot get to the rim, all his shots are 3s or long 2s

I think his days as an iso scorer and PnR ball handler are likely done. He’s unable to generate any real separation against even mediocre defenders.

I think the best we can hope for is that he’s a hyper efficient off ball player who can mismatch hunt shorter defenders in the post occasionally.

I know it's way past moot at this point and the questions are rhetorical, but that's what we paid $50 million a year to get?

Who couldn't see this coming a mile away?

[76ciology]

The worrying thing about George is not his shot, at some point it has to fall.

It looks like he cannot get to the rim, all his shots are 3s or long 2s

He plays like one of those professional players in a pickup game who’s overly cautious to avoid getting hurt, and it’s been the same even in those Rico Hines runs.

On a related note, both he and Embiid have shown a significant drop in their shot diet at the rim (0-3 feet). My guess is that it’s part of our strategy to prioritize staying healthy and avoiding injuries ahead of the playoffs.

[Sixerscan]

George has basically never been a 3rd option in his career, it takes a bit to figure out for guys like that. Or he's old and stinks. We'll see. Defense, ball handling, rebounding have been more or less as expected so hopefully it's the former.

[76ciology]

George has basically never been a 3rd option in his career, it takes a bit to figure out for guys like that. Or he's old and stinks. We'll see. Defense, ball handling, rebounding have been more or less as expected so hopefully it's the former.

Seems like he’s in Iguodala Warriors days phase right now.

[M2J]

George has basically never been a 3rd option in his career, it takes a bit to figure out for guys like that. Or he's old and stinks. We'll see. Defense, ball handling, rebounding have been more or less as expected so hopefully it's the former.

Seems like he’s in Iguodala Warriors days phase right now.

Off-season I said go after Klay (who is playing well) with additional depth like kcp, Trent Jr. and Derrick Jones or bright back Buddy. All could've been the true 3 and D guys they would like to have (not Buddy).


I'm not disparaging George because I know he's got the biggest adjustment to make. I know his shooting efficiency will increase with the big guy and Maxey. I just always figured all you could ask of him was 18ppg efficiently, 5 and 3 without being a defensive liability. He's basically going to give you that and Klay does too... Neither are nor should be asked to be your primary wing defender.

I still feel he's fulfilling his obligation, as long as he can step up as we've seen sometimes (not all)when Joel or Maxey aren't there. That's the reason he should be given the max, and of course step up some in a struggle big 2 game or kill mismatches. I just never thought a big 3 in Max deals was the move. They ask Klay to do the same thing for under 20 million