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So the 76ers play both teams this week, are we excited ? Are these games where the 76ers go out and try to make a statement or are they just regular games. Games where they try to just keep Joel ahead in the MVP race. I mean the team is locked into the 3rd or 4th seed. To me these games mean a whole lot more to the Buck and the Celtics as they still could change seeding position. I think the 76ers play hard, hard enough to win, but not with a sense of urgency. But I see the Bucks and Celtics going balls to the wall for a win.

The pure competitiveness between these teams will insure that the Sixers play hard. I just hope that Glenn doesn't get ridiculous with the minutes trying to win two meaningless games.

It wouldn't bother me a single bit if one or both of Embiid and Harden sat during those games.

mjkvol wrote:The pure competitiveness between these teams will insure that the Sixers play hard. I just hope that Glenn doesn't get ridiculous with the minutes trying to win two meaningless games.

It wouldn't bother me a single bit if one or both of Embiid and Harden sat during those games.

Harden maybe Joel no way he wants that MVP award.

Eyeamok wrote:

mjkvol wrote:The pure competitiveness between these teams will insure that the Sixers play hard. I just hope that Glenn doesn't get ridiculous with the minutes trying to win two meaningless games.

It wouldn't bother me a single bit if one or both of Embiid and Harden sat during those games.

Harden maybe Joel no way he wants that MVP award.

Do you think he still has a shot after ducking Denver? I thought that sealed his fate, tbh.

FlyingArrow wrote:

Eyeamok wrote:

mjkvol wrote:The pure competitiveness between these teams will insure that the Sixers play hard. I just hope that Glenn doesn't get ridiculous with the minutes trying to win two meaningless games.

It wouldn't bother me a single bit if one or both of Embiid and Harden sat during those games.

Harden maybe Joel no way he wants that MVP award.

Do you think he still has a shot after ducking Denver? I thought that sealed his fate, tbh.

Nope I'd say he is still the hands on favorite...even if it's by a slim margin, to win it all.

If Embiid wants to be MVP, he will want to win again in Milwaukee, winning there both times would be a huge boost to his MVP campaign. Celtics not as much because it's a home game and Tatum is out of MVP contention.

Eyeamok wrote:

FlyingArrow wrote:

Eyeamok wrote:
Harden maybe Joel no way he wants that MVP award.

Do you think he still has a shot after ducking Denver? I thought that sealed his fate, tbh.

Nope I'd say he is still the hands on favorite...even if it's by a slim margin, to win it all.

You have a lot more faith in the cretinous national media than I do, that's for sure.

The games maybe close but i dont think these teams will play hard.

MVP is pretty much locked up for Embiid with Jokic sitting out the last two games with a calf strain. The odds have jumped back in his favor in Vegas as well. Plus I've seen videos with media members who were not included in the straw poll that said they were voting for Embiid so that's a few 1st place votes that weren't accounted for right there. I predict 2nd rd game 3 vs the Celtics in Philly is when he gets the award.

Well, whether he wins MVP or not, he's had an amazing season, he has definitely improved compared to past seasons, which is nuts.

It would be cool to see him get the MVP. He's been unstoppable this year, lets just keep it going I guess. It would be nice to beat the Bucks today. I think this all depends on how close we are to clinching the three seed. I definitely don't see either team coasting in tonights game. There's still a lot on the line in my opinion. Cleveland has Indy tonight so I think it really depends on the outcome of that game. If we win today and Indy beats Cleveland then I would expect both Embiid and Harden to rest tomorrow against Boston. If we lose today and Cleveland wins and pulls closer, then we'll probably play with a sense of urgency tomorrow night. Then again, maybe it doesn't matter who we face in the playoffs.

The Cavs also have Orlando tomorrow night and the Magic have made a late season push to get into the play in. I don't seem them being an easy win for the Cavs. In fact, quite the opposite. I think Orlando beats them. If it were me, I'd be fine playing as the three or the four seed so it really just depends on what the team prioritizes going into the postseason. How bad does Joel want the MVP? How healthy and fresh do we want to feel?

Oh and as for catching Boston for the 2 seed. I think that ship has sailed. They may not lose another game the rest of the regular season.

Tbh I'm more interested in us beating the Celtics than the Bucks. Play the athletic lineup of Reed, McDaniels and House and see what the can do with them. McDaniels has the length to guard Tatum and House has the size and athleticism to atleast stay with Brown. I want to see if these guys can offer some assistance in slowing these two juggernauts down.

Harden and Embiid should be staggered today and tomorrow with each getting a day off. The 3 seed is all but locked in and we have no shot at getting the 2, so rest and health should be the priorities.

Having said that, I fully expect Glenn to run both guys 36+ minutes both days barring a blowout.

Excited? Nah, don't give a **** until the playoffs at this stage. Who cares about meaningless basketball when you've got the start of baseball, final 4, NFL draft stuff, and frickin WrestleMania?

I will say they matter and we should try to win both. I don't think either of those teams fear us and an ass-whooping would maybe help with the psychological component. Can you imagine having to play Boston in a series after getting swept by them during the RS? That one is more important than the Milwaukee one IMO. If we win both with Embiid, he secures MVP IMO.

ProcessDoctor wrote:I will say they matter and we should try to win both. I don't think either of those teams fear us and an ass-whooping would maybe help with the psychological component. Can you imagine having to play Boston in a series after getting swept by them during the RS? That one is more important than the Milwaukee one IMO. If we win both with Embiid, he secures MVP IMO.

This is what I was thinking especially celtics have had our # for awhile now. It's meaningless in the standings but mindset wise it's different. It's nice that Harden had played well against them but the role guys have looked subpar to them in comparison to theirs coming through everytime against us.

No disrespect to Mikal and the Nets. But i dont want to face this guy in the playoffs.

76ciology wrote:No disrespect to Mikal and the Nets. But i dont want to face this guy in the playoffs.

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Probably the only benefit of being the 3 seed instead of the 2.

I don't get the fear of the Heat? Sure, Jimmy can carry them, whatever, they're one of the worst offensive teams on the league and you can double Jimmy everytime because their shooting sucks. Jimmy is having one of his best statistical seasons and the team still suck.

Teams that suck on the regular season, and are not dynasties, normally suck on the playoffs. Everyone feared the Heat two years ago after the bubble even when they sucked and the Bucks utterly destroyed them. They're gonna get destroyed this year too.

I agree that the Heat probably just aren’t very good. But they have a massive coaching advantage against us & Playoff Jimmy is capable of being the best player on the court for enough games to swing a series. Given our choking tendencies, I’d prefer to avoid that trap.