Pacers @ Sixers 7pm ET

[phillynative]

All these OTs we've played are really going to take their toll especially on Harden. This is the 5th we've been in since his return.

Maybe close out games better

[phillynative]

Trezz was huge. Great to see he got his legs back. This is exactly why he was brought for. Energy, hustle, character and 16-18 points when Jo is out.
Melton, said it so many times before but again, this guy was a STEAL.

Maxey slowly getting in rhythm again, will need e few more games. On to the next one. Go Sixers!

Wait, what? Trezz is a pretty notoriously awful person.

???

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Solid stat-stuffing game from Shake Milton off the bench. I love that he's still good even though Maxey, Harden, and Melton are all playing ahead of him. That was always his issue in the past. He couldn't be good unless he was featured more prominently. Now he's finding ways to contribute in any time he's on the floor.

He’s been the most pleasant surprise for me this season. (Melton’s good, but this is basically how he played in Memphis). Shake seems way more confident out there, he controls the pace, and has a varied set of ways to score, depending on who’s out there. I think he’s picking up stuff from having Harden around.

Shake is going to eventually move on and have an expanded role on another team where he has a nice 3-4 year run as a good scoring guard. I want it to be here, but he will eventually move on. Shake is one of my favorite players on this team and I would hate to see him go, but I think we need to trade him to retain some value before he just leaves. I'm glad he's having a good year though. It wasn't looking good under Doc these last two seasons. He's a very talented scorer. Just needs to be featured like Kobble said.

[Bum Adebayo]

Why would we move Shake though? he is playing better than Maxey these days, he is very useful coming off the bench.

[rocketsfan100]

Solid stat-stuffing game from Shake Milton off the bench. I love that he's still good even though Maxey, Harden, and Melton are all playing ahead of him. That was always his issue in the past. He couldn't be good unless he was featured more prominently. Now he's finding ways to contribute in any time he's on the floor.

He’s been the most pleasant surprise for me this season. (Melton’s good, but this is basically how he played in Memphis). Shake seems way more confident out there, he controls the pace, and has a varied set of ways to score, depending on who’s out there. I think he’s picking up stuff from having Harden around.

Shake is going to eventually move on and have an expanded role on another team where he has a nice 3-4 year run as a good scoring guard. I want it to be here, but he will eventually move on. Shake is one of my favorite players on this team and I would hate to see him go, but I think we need to trade him to retain some value before he just leaves. I'm glad he's having a good year though. It wasn't looking good under Doc these last two seasons. He's a very talented scorer. Just needs to be featured like Kobble said.

Phoenix is looking for guard depth off the bench . Especially scoring. Crowder would be an amazing get . Morey needs to work his magic

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Why would we move Shake though? he is playing better than Maxey these days, he is very useful coming off the bench.

Nobody said we would or should move him. I said that he's going to move on and show his worth elsewhere eventually. I simply do not want us to lose him for nothing. If we can find a way to use all four of our guards effectively (which is what I want), then I'm all for keeping him. We really need to see how things end this year with Harden. If he stays, opts out, etc. I honestly do not trust Harden any further than I can throw him. I love him on this team, we're starting to do good things with him, but you also never know what he has in mind. As for Shake, he may very well be in our long term plans. Him and Maxey are tied for my second favorite players on this team. I never said we should trade him. I think if worst comes to worst with him, you sell high on his value and get at least something in return for him. Nobody said we should trade him. Nobody.

[Murray_17]

Shake, Thybulle and Niang are expiring.

All of them are gonna be hard to resign. Is preferable to move one/some/all of them if you can get a good/great piece than losing one/all of them for nothing.

If you can add Kork/Harrell/Springer/whatever to move salary, you can actually get something.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Shake, Thybulle and Niang are expiring.

All of them are gonna be hard to resign. Is preferable to move one/some/all of them if you can get a good/great piece than losing one/all of them for nothing.

If you can add Kork/Harrell/Springer/whatever to move salary, you can actually get something.

I know this belongs on the trade thread, but man! How awesome would it be to get Bogdonavich from Detroit?

[76ciology]

All these OTs we've played are really going to take their toll especially on Harden. This is the 5th we've been in since his return.

Maybe close out games better

I tend to believe that its all programmed so we can get used to winning tight games in the playoffs.

Without these “tight games down” all of reg season is just garbage basketball.

Thats just my personal belief. So i dont expect us to play tight games more than blow out games

[youngcrev]

There's nothing that unique about 10 point leads evaporating quickly in the NBA, even if it feels that way.

Basketball is a game of runs, and when offenses are as effective as they are right now and teams shoot 3s at this clip, scores can shift dramatically very quickly.

I don't imagine any of us have been all that impressed with our defense, and yet statistically, we've been in the top-5 there most of the year.

[Kobblehead]

Our current 110 defensive rating would have had us in the 8-13 range last year. Defensive compete level across the league has been non-existent this season. Where we rank among league defenses says we're great, but the eye test and metrics tells us this defense is just above-average to good in the larger context.

[youngcrev]

Our current 110 defensive rating would have had us in the 8-13 range last year. Defensive compete level across the league has been non-existent this season. Where we rank among league defenses says we're great, but the eye test and metrics tells us this defense is just above-average to good in the larger context.

As I said, I don't think any of us have been impressed with them defensively. Additionally, part of their league rank has been their 3 point luck.

But it's also just really tough to play good defense right now with the rules and how effective NBA offenses have become.

[blargh]

Our current 110 defensive rating would have had us in the 8-13 range last year. Defensive compete level across the league has been non-existent this season. Where we rank among league defenses says we're great, but the eye test and metrics tells us this defense is just above-average to good in the larger context.

I think our struggles to start the year were because of new guys getting to know each other and the scheme: guys just weren’t on the same page yet on pick and roll coverage and transition D. Since then, I think that’s largely been cleared up, and we’re a solid defensive team because we have an elite rim protector. The question now is how high is our defensive ceiling with this roster, particularly as Maxey gets more minutes. I don’t know if we have a lot of improvement left.