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Who: Philadelphia 76ers @ Phoenix Suns

When: Saturday, February 13th @ 1:00pm (3:00ET), NBATV, FSNAZ

Where: Phoenix Arena, Phoenix, AZ












Philadelphia 76ers starting lineup:

C- Embiid

F- Harris

Wanna get away? Grab a Snickers!
F- Green

G- Curry

G- Simmons



Reserves: Korkmaz/Thybulle/Milton/Dwight




Phoenix Suns starting lineup:

C- Ayton

F- Kaminsky

F- Bridges

G- Booker

G- CP3


Reserves: Crowder/Cam/Carter/Moore/Galloway


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Interesting stat: The Suns in their last 4 wins have allowed 92 total (22,23,23,24) points in the final quarter. That comes out to 23 ppg in the 4th q of our winning streak.

If we start Kaminsky for this game, who would he guard? Harris and Curry are too quick for him. Green’s an entirely perimeter player. Simmons? Can’t shoot but is also very quick and athletic.

I can see Monty perhaps going back to starting Crowder for this one due to the matchups.

Revived wrote:If we start Kaminsky for this game, who would he guard? Harris and Curry are too quick for him. Green’s an entirely perimeter player. Simmons? Can’t shoot but is also very quick and athletic.

I can see Monty perhaps going back to starting Crowder for this one due to the matchups.

Yeah, gotta go with Crowder. Frank is a nice offensive player with his chemistry, passing and shooting (when he's hot on the team) but Crowder is the higher volume shooter and is respected by the D from 3, and he has far more heart and defense. I think you put him on Simmons, Bridges on Harris, and obviously Ayton on Embiid. Then you can put Paul on Curry and Book on Green...Book just has to pay attention to his movement...often Book will see him at the 3 pt line, cheat too far off and then not watch him and a guy like Green can move around the perimeter and get open fast.

Our guards and especially Book HAVE to stick to these guys to shut down teams getting hot from 3 and not allow them to penetrate the paint when Ayton gets pulled out...and Embiid can hit the 3, so he will pull him out.

Monty is loyal to production so Frank will start, but crowder will see the game early. We moved to frank because teams were going big on us but they're playing simmons at center sometimes... We don't need to worry about their size.

I expect Cam Johnson to have a very big game.

I would go with Crowder on this one too but does anyone know if he's alright? He was limping a little after that loose ball scuffle at the end of the Bucks game. It would also be nice to get Saric and Payne back soon. We have yet to see what this team looks like with a fully healthy roster.

Is Embiid still not playing back to backs, or is that no longer a thing?

spanishninja wrote:Is Embiid still not playing back to backs, or is that no longer a thing?

They will not play a back-to-back.

They rest today and they will play against us on Saturday's morning.

It looks like Milton (doubtful) and Mike Scott will be out for the Sixers.

Ah **** I thought the game was tonight! No more friday night plans booo

Saberestar wrote:

spanishninja wrote:Is Embiid still not playing back to backs, or is that no longer a thing?

They will not play a back-to-back.

They rest today and they will play against us on Saturday's morning.

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This is obviously a tough matchup. Very curious how Ayton plays against Embiid. Joel has talked **** to Ayton and backed it up in the past but Ayton is playing more like a grown up now so would be good to see him put up a fight. I say put up a fight because with how Embiid is playing right now you're probably not stopping him, not letting him wreck the game is a more realistic goal.

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Jarlaxle0204 wrote:I would go with Crowder on this one too but does anyone know if he's alright? He was limping a little after that loose ball scuffle at the end of the Bucks game. It would also be nice to get Saric and Payne back soon. We have yet to see what this team looks like with a fully healthy roster.

With two days off he will likely be alright.

Simmons will probably take Booker will be a super interesting matchup, hope he gets aggressive and drives past him, not someone who you want to take 10 contested jumpers over.

WeekapaugGroove wrote:This is obviously a tough matchup. Very curious how Ayton plays against Embiid. Joel has talked **** to Ayton and backed it up in the past but Ayton is playing more like a grown up now so would be good to see him put up a fight. I say put up a fight because with how Embiid is playing right now you're probably not stopping him, not letting him wreck the game is a more realistic goal.

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Just needs to give him some resistance inside which he's been good at doing...keep an arm on him in the paint when they are on offense and he doesn't have the ball and guard him on the perimeter....the bad thing about that is it lets Simmons go to the rim.

We need Bridges on Simmons but I wonder if Ayton cheating way off Embiid when he gets to the 3 pt line and trying to help on Simmons drives would work. I guess not, just checking his 3pt%..he's at 38%...I thought he was a lot lower this year...if he was earlier that means he's even been better than 38% since..probably over 40% as of late..I thought I had seen like 29% before, though he had dipped the last 3 years after a good first half year.

bwgood77 wrote:

WeekapaugGroove wrote:This is obviously a tough matchup. Very curious how Ayton plays against Embiid. Joel has talked **** to Ayton and backed it up in the past but Ayton is playing more like a grown up now so would be good to see him put up a fight. I say put up a fight because with how Embiid is playing right now you're probably not stopping him, not letting him wreck the game is a more realistic goal.

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Just needs to give him some resistance inside which he's been good at doing...keep an arm on him in the paint when they are on offense and he doesn't have the ball and guard him on the perimeter....the bad thing about that is it lets Simmons go to the rim.

We need Bridges on Simmons but I wonder if Ayton cheating way off Embiid when he gets to the 3 pt line and trying to help on Simmons drives would work. I guess not, just checking his 3pt%..he's at 38%...I thought he was a lot lower this year...if he was earlier that means he's even been better than 38% since..probably over 40% as of late..I thought I had seen like 29% before, though he had dipped the last 3 years after a good first half year.

Even though he's hitting 3s this year I wouldn't have a problem letting him shoot from there, it's better than him murdering you down low. If Embiid hits a bunch of 3s you tip your cap and move on to the next game.

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WeekapaugGroove wrote:

bwgood77 wrote:

WeekapaugGroove wrote:This is obviously a tough matchup. Very curious how Ayton plays against Embiid. Joel has talked **** to Ayton and backed it up in the past but Ayton is playing more like a grown up now so would be good to see him put up a fight. I say put up a fight because with how Embiid is playing right now you're probably not stopping him, not letting him wreck the game is a more realistic goal.

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Just needs to give him some resistance inside which he's been good at doing...keep an arm on him in the paint when they are on offense and he doesn't have the ball and guard him on the perimeter....the bad thing about that is it lets Simmons go to the rim.

We need Bridges on Simmons but I wonder if Ayton cheating way off Embiid when he gets to the 3 pt line and trying to help on Simmons drives would work. I guess not, just checking his 3pt%..he's at 38%...I thought he was a lot lower this year...if he was earlier that means he's even been better than 38% since..probably over 40% as of late..I thought I had seen like 29% before, though he had dipped the last 3 years after a good first half year.

Even though he's hitting 3s this year I wouldn't have a problem letting him shoot from there, it's better than him murdering you down low. If Embiid hits a bunch of 3s you tip your cap and move on to the next game.

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I just mean would you rather have Ayton guard Embiid and let Mikal defend Simmons driving, or put a double on Simmons and leave Embiid open. If Embiid is working down low, Ayton should be there unless we are forced to switch.

bwgood77 wrote:

WeekapaugGroove wrote:

bwgood77 wrote:
Just needs to give him some resistance inside which he's been good at doing...keep an arm on him in the paint when they are on offense and he doesn't have the ball and guard him on the perimeter....the bad thing about that is it lets Simmons go to the rim.

We need Bridges on Simmons but I wonder if Ayton cheating way off Embiid when he gets to the 3 pt line and trying to help on Simmons drives would work. I guess not, just checking his 3pt%..he's at 38%...I thought he was a lot lower this year...if he was earlier that means he's even been better than 38% since..probably over 40% as of late..I thought I had seen like 29% before, though he had dipped the last 3 years after a good first half year.

Even though he's hitting 3s this year I wouldn't have a problem letting him shoot from there, it's better than him murdering you down low. If Embiid hits a bunch of 3s you tip your cap and move on to the next game.

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I just mean would you rather have Ayton guard Embiid and let Mikal defend Simmons driving, or put a double on Simmons and leave Embiid open. If Embiid is working down low, Ayton should be there unless we are forced to switch.

I'd double and let Embiid shoot it. Hell I'd hope he hits the 1st one so decides to chuck them the rest of the game and take my chances with that.



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WeekapaugGroove wrote:

bwgood77 wrote:

WeekapaugGroove wrote:Even though he's hitting 3s this year I wouldn't have a problem letting him shoot from there, it's better than him murdering you down low. If Embiid hits a bunch of 3s you tip your cap and move on to the next game.

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I just mean would you rather have Ayton guard Embiid and let Mikal defend Simmons driving, or put a double on Simmons and leave Embiid open. If Embiid is working down low, Ayton should be there unless we are forced to switch.

I'd double and let Embiid shoot it. Hell I'd hope he hits the 1st one so decides to chuck them the rest of the game and take my chances with that.

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As crazy as it sounds, that would be as risky (or more risky based on numbers this season) to leave Cam Johnson to double Ayton, though I guess that often happens.

Because Embiid shoots 38% and Cam 36% from 3 so far and Ayton is 72.4% at the rim while Simmons is 65.9%. Ayton is better from 3-10 ft too and oddly enough, Simmons has a higher % of shots from 3-10 ft vs rim than Ayton does.

bwgood77 wrote:

WeekapaugGroove wrote:This is obviously a tough matchup. Very curious how Ayton plays against Embiid. Joel has talked **** to Ayton and backed it up in the past but Ayton is playing more like a grown up now so would be good to see him put up a fight. I say put up a fight because with how Embiid is playing right now you're probably not stopping him, not letting him wreck the game is a more realistic goal.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

Just needs to give him some resistance inside which he's been good at doing...keep an arm on him in the paint when they are on offense and he doesn't have the ball and guard him on the perimeter....the bad thing about that is it lets Simmons go to the rim.

We need Bridges on Simmons but I wonder if Ayton cheating way off Embiid when he gets to the 3 pt line and trying to help on Simmons drives would work. I guess not, just checking his 3pt%..he's at 38%...I thought he was a lot lower this year...if he was earlier that means he's even been better than 38% since..probably over 40% as of late..I thought I had seen like 29% before, though he had dipped the last 3 years after a good first half year.

Simmons is not a problem on the halfcourt, you just need to give him space and cover his passing lanes.

I would put Kaminsky (or Crowder) on him and Bridges on Tobias who is really dangerous trying to get free on the perimeter and in the post.

Booker on Green and CP3 on Seth Curry who is shooting a ridiculous percentage from three.

Ayton obviously on Embiid. Hopefully he stays out of foul trouble.