Game 63: Sixers @ Bucks 8:30 pm ET ABC Game Thread

[HotelVitale]

Well if James Harden is going to perform like that -- in the clutch and overall -- the sky is the limit for this team.

The question is, how replicable is that kind of performance.

It’s replicable for sure but it’s not going to happen every game. Every team needs their stars to step up in the PO but Harden as a scorer these days is super inconsistent and his go to’s are too unreliable for them to be solutions for us. Gonna need to have him play the facilitator and let someone else step up, hoping he doesn’t force himself into that hero role.

To be fair though MIL was legitimately awesome down the stretch too, felt like they made about 8-9 shots straight before finally missing a couple with a minute or so left. We’re not going to have to be that amazingly good in the 4th to win close games.

[HotelVitale]

Sixers played 6 playoff caliber games since the ASG and went 3-3. Lost a couple heartbreakers to Boston & Miami. Won a couple against Bucks & Grizz. Going 5-1 obviously would have been a great statement to make but not a bad outcome for such a tough stretch.

Also beat the Cavs on a tough game right before that, 4-3 in this stretch against legit good teams if you want to tack that on.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

I'm in no way overlooking our next six games, but the schedule does ease up a bit. IF...That's a big IF we can put together another streak and win the majority of these games, I think our position in the rankings may go up. Looking at Bostons schedule the next ten games, they have the Knicks, Cavs, Blazers, Hawks, Rockets, T'Wolves, Blazers, Jazz, Kings, Pacers. Their schedule is about on par with ours in terms of strength. Milwaukee has by far the easiest schedule these next ten games. It wouldn't surprise me if they win 8 of those 10. I don't think anyone is going to catch them in the seedings unless they falter or have some sort of freak injury go down. They are the biggest obstacle in the seedings in my opinion, while The Bostonians are the biggest threat to our title chances. In the end, it really doesn't matter who we play. Would Philadelphia have it any other way? I've accepted that we absolutely will have to go through Milwaukee and Boston to get to the Finals. That in itself is almost an insurmountable task, but if we're healthy, I at least like our chances.

[Negrodamus]

I tend to downplay the results of our games during the regular season (particularly losses), but this game had both teams playing at a playoff effort for most of the game and we won it in Milwaukee. This game is why I don’t get too worked up about a Heat loss where the team looks like they’re sleepwalking through a quarter or two. They aren’t good enough to sleepwalk through games like the Warriors were in the late 2010s, but they are good enough to beat anyone in a series, imo. Just need consistency and the bench/role players to show up.

[phillynative]

Well if James Harden is going to perform like that -- in the clutch and overall -- the sky is the limit for this team.

The question is, how replicable is that kind of performance.

It’s replicable for sure but it’s not going to happen every game. Every team needs their stars to step up in the PO but Harden as a scorer these days is super inconsistent and his go to’s are too unreliable for them to be solutions for us. Gonna need to have him play the facilitator and let someone else step up, hoping he doesn’t force himself into that hero role.

To be fair though MIL was legitimately awesome down the stretch too, felt like they made about 8-9 shots straight before finally missing a couple with a minute or so left. We’re not going to have to be that amazingly good in the 4th to win close games.

Why can't he be both? He's not going to be consistently as explosive as tonite but he has to be agressive as a scorer and playmaker. Embiid is Embiid he's going to get doubled. I dont have faith in Maxey being able to get his shot in tight end of game moments. Tobias is just a release valve.

[HotelVitale]

Well if James Harden is going to perform like that -- in the clutch and overall -- the sky is the limit for this team.

The question is, how replicable is that kind of performance.

It’s replicable for sure but it’s not going to happen every game. Every team needs their stars to step up in the PO but Harden as a scorer these days is super inconsistent and his go to’s are too unreliable for them to be solutions for us. Gonna need to have him play the facilitator and let someone else step up, hoping he doesn’t force himself into that hero role.

To be fair though MIL was legitimately awesome down the stretch too, felt like they made about 8-9 shots straight before finally missing a couple with a minute or so left. We’re not going to have to be that amazingly good in the 4th to win close games.

Why can't he be both? He's not going to be consistently as explosive as tonite but he has to be agressive as a scorer and playmaker. Embiid is Embiid he's going to get doubled. I dont have faith in Maxey being able to get his shot in tight end of game moments. Tobias is just a release valve.

I mean, ideally he can do that and make great judgments about when and when not to play the hero, but I feel like we've seen enough of clutch harden to know that he shouldn't force things. Him being 'aggressive' as a scorer when he's not getting easy separation is often him taking stepback 3s or him hunting for fouls (and getting stripped half the time); the former isn't horrible but is hard to rely on down the stretch of most games, and the latter is painful and was totally ineffective last year.

He was great last night in the clutch, just hoping there's a team strategy for when he's not. That's not just trading iso's and having Doc throw up his hands when it doesn't work.

[Eyeamok]

double

[Eyeamok]

A big shoutout to Bball Paul and McD for staying very active on 50/50 possessions. Even though we still suck overall on boxing out, the motor on both aforementioned guys really stood out in key moments (especially the putbacks).

Paul Reed believes he can defend Giannis. Can he ? Probably not as well as he thinks he can but it does not stop Paul from giving the effort needed to do so. And it's so nice to see a 76er grabbing rebounds on the offensive end too.

[FireMorey]

Imagine this team with actual depth, you know, if the free agent signings from this past summer by the washed up GM were actually able to contribute. This team would be a force to be reckoned with.

[76ciology]

Well if James Harden is going to perform like that -- in the clutch and overall -- the sky is the limit for this team.

The question is, how replicable is that kind of performance.

For the season Crunch time FG%
Harden 36%
Maxey 23%

If this two can step it up, it’s gonna be very very hard for teams to beat us in crunch time

[blargh]

To be fair though MIL was legitimately awesome down the stretch too, felt like they made about 8-9 shots straight before finally missing a couple with a minute or so left. We’re not going to have to be that amazingly good in the 4th to win close games.

Yeah, I would not bet on Giannis hitting free throws at that clip again at the end of the game.

[mjkvol]

Best win of the year, just a remarkable performance by Harden, with some much needed bench contributions. I wonder how much of the late game surge had to do with Harris and Tucker not being available, forcing Glenn to go with lineups that were more athletic and better defensively?

[Eyeamok]

Best win of the year, just a remarkable performance by Harden, with some much needed bench contributions. I wonder how much of the late game surge had to do with Harris and Tucker not being available, forcing Glenn to go with lineups that were more athletic and better defensively?

Glen is not a fast thinking acting coach. He needs mounds and mounds of data before he will make a switch. I would never wish injury on a player, especially while on this team. But Harris and Tucker being out of a little while, might provided Glen with the data he needs? I just read that back to myself...who am I kidding.

[Stanford]

Just checked out the Bucks thread for this game. They keep referencing some Christmas game I don't even remember. Bizarre fanbase.

[Iverson Armband]

Just checked out the Bucks thread for this game. They keep referencing some Christmas game I don't even remember. Bizarre fanbase.

They also love calling Jo a grifter… which is comical coming from them.