The Greek Geek Vs. The Turkish Terror, Bucks @ Sixers 3/29 7:00pm EST

[shlo]

Harden is going to be an Albatros contract next year

Yep. And for a few years to come. This team is perpetual 2nd round fodder unless Morey pulls off a miracle this offseason.

[mjkvol]

The last time Joel distributed a "the game changed when" at the podium, the person on the receiving end never returned to the organization. We're another second round exit away from huge changes.

I'd recommend promoting from within. Cassell is one of the brightest young(er) minds in the sport. We've already let go of Monty Williams and Ime Udoka who are in charge of much more positive programs than here.

Or Joerger or Burke. All three would be massive improvements.

[phillynative]

Milsap and whoever at PF at that stretch wasn’t a wall.
It was a curtain.

[mjkvol]

The game got close because of the lack of defense with Milsap at C that leads to easy drives to the rim, and our shooters rimming in and out on their threes. Tobi played well but he missed some good looks on 3s down the stretch that could have prevented it from being a close game.

It is maddening that we have the kind of athleticism this team is crying out for sitting on the bench and blockhead Glenn just won't utilize it, instead trotting the cooked Jordan and Millsap out there night after night. That run with Millsap getting eaten alive by Giannis is as clear cut a case of coaching incompetence as we've seen from Rivers, and there have been too many to count.

Tobias did miss some key open looks, as is his wont, but at least he has cut out the back to the basket dribbling garbage for the most part and rebounded pretty well.

[mjkvol]

I'm just afraid that most of the blame will be put on the roster, and not on Rivers. And this means next season, when we get the right pieces, we will be in for a true meltdown. I hope that this does not happen, but I'd say there is a solid chance it will happen with how everything is going.

I'm thinking the same thing. I don't believe we can win with Rivers coaching regardless of roster moves, and unless noise is made by Embiid or Harden nothing will change there.

[mjkvol]

Very winnable game. We need a backup center and a better defensive wing. Nothing new here. Niang is simply a shooter. We need one that plays better defense and has handles. He would be fine as a bench scorer. The lack of a backup center kills us though.

And a legit backup PG to free up Maxey to do what he does best, even with Harden off the floor.

[phillynative]

In terms of needs what would be the most to least important

Backup Big
Starting Wing
Backup PG


IMO
Starting Wing( A legit 3&D wing that can knock down open 3s and guard the best wings in the league would take alot of pressure off the starting 5 on both ends of the floor)

Backup PG ( A playmaker that can hit open shots and be a coach on the floor could help get guys easy shots when the team is struggling, preferably a big PG that can play next to Maxey.)

BackUp center ( A not washed Vet min. guy , hopefully , Bassey should also be implemented into the team by next season).

[76ciology]

Last 5 mins. Sixers down 6
- Harden step back 3 made (bucks +3)
-Jrue bankshot missed
-Harden 3 missed
-Jrue drives over embiid (bucks +5)
-Harris missed 3
-Brolo missed open 3 (giannis posted niang, biid helps)
-Niang made corner 3 (bucks trapped biid, biid rotated to niang; bucks +2)
-Bucks timeout



3 mins left
-Middleton missed 3
-Biid TO pass to harden (posted Jrue, middleton trapped)

Watch on YouTube

-Bucks 3 man game oop to giannis made (screen the screener)
-Harden drives niang 3 at corner (bucks +1)
-Giannis jumper over niang (bucks +3)
-Biid baseline jumper miss tobi put back (bucks+1)
-Bucks 3 man game, jrue made 3 (bucks +4)
-Harden drives no call, missed
-Jrue drives, wide open 3 missed brolo
1 minute left
-Embiid made 3 off harden drives top of key (Bucks +1)
-Bucks 3 man game backdoor brolo = TO
30 seconds remaining
-Harden-Biid 2 man game. Biid turnaround jumper missed after jrue switched on him.
13 secs left
-Fouled Giannis made 1 FT (bucks +2)
-Harden-Biid 2 man game. Harden stepback 3 after Brolo switched on him missed. Giannis block Embiid

Game over

1.) Lack of Harden or Maxey made baskets. These two are leaders on the team on 4th quarter points
2.) Biid needing to help protect the rim and leave brolo wide open is problematic
3.) Bucks 3 man game is their go to play down the stretch
4.) Giannis made big shots while both Harden and Embiid failed to made it down the stretch

Down the stretch. If teams switch the Harden-Biid PnR.

Is Biid shooting over the smaller defender and Harden dancing and shooting over the bigger defender good shots?

[elchengue20]

I sayed last game against the Bucks that we won.

Giannis is on another level, hes already made a leap Embiid hasn't.

He has already won the MVP's, received the hype as the best in the world and failed to deliver. It all made him grow. Most ATG have to walk through this path. Giannis has already showed he belongs and now hes unsotpable, hes the best player in the league, you just see it.

Biid still has some growth to do and has to prove he belongs. Hope he can do it, but he doesnt have much time left. Also, we need Harden to help him, he can be a big help, but unfornatenuly he keeps proving he fails at the biggest moments.

[76ciology]

Watch on YouTube

1.) milsap gave ZERO resistance
2.) whenever biid helps its open 3 for Brolo and Portis

[elchengue20]

In terms of needs what would be the most to least important

Backup Big
Starting Wing
Backup PG


IMO
Starting Wing( A legit 3&D wing that can knock down open 3s and guard the best wings in the league would take alot of pressure off the starting 5 on both ends of the floor)

Backup PG ( A playmaker that can hit open shots and be a coach on the floor could help get guys easy shots when the team is struggling, preferably a big PG that can play next to Maxey.)

BackUp center ( A not washed Vet min. guy , hopefully , Bassey should also be implemented into the team by next season).

Talking from a team strucutre standpoint, its clear we still lack at least an athletic 3+D wing, i really think we need two.Niang gives you what you need on offense, but is a defensive liability. Mathisse gives you what you need on defense, but is a offensive liabilty.

We need someone who can give you both things. Thats our biggest need right now. Tobias is talented, but is a bad fit and tends to have terrible games. Also hes a below average defender.

Takling about the bench, yeah we need a C who can be a replacement level player in the 10 minutes Embiid is resting. A good backup PG would be the cherry on top, but i think we can survive if we get what we really really need.

[the_process]

I'm just afraid that most of the blame will be put on the roster, and not on Rivers. And this means next season, when we get the right pieces, we will be in for a true meltdown. I hope that this does not happen, but I'd say there is a solid chance it will happen with how everything is going.

Of course that is what is going to happen.

Glenn will blame everyone but himself as always.

Ownership sees a 3 year 24M remaining contract and likely would prefer not to eat it.

Morey is going to have to hand Doc the '08 Celtics next season or we will be right back here again next summer.

[Negrodamus]

i was at a concert, but just got home and watched the highlights. seems like your typical sixers experience of late. big lead early, joel sits, team bleeds points and chokes away lead, joel comes back in and the sixers and their opponent go shot for shot in a close game until the end that concludes in a narrow loss.

from the highlight package it just seemed like the bucks answered every time we scored. you need competent defenders around joel and harden. that has to be plan a.

You would have greatly enjoyed Glenn's two play calls with the game on the line.

Sounds like a clear call out of incompetence by Joel Embiid in the post game presser (final sentence).

Maybe Doc Rivers will sit out the next year with mental issues because of the call out.

[Ferry Avenue]

I sayed last game against the Bucks that we won.

Giannis is on another level, hes already made a leap Embiid hasn't.

He has already won the MVP's, received the hype as the best in the world and failed to deliver. It all made him grow. Most ATG have to walk through this path. Giannis has already showed he belongs and now hes unsotpable, hes the best player in the league, you just see it.

Biid still has some growth to do and has to prove he belongs. Hope he can do it, but he doesnt have much time left. Also, we need Harden to help him, he can be a big help, but unfornatenuly he keeps proving he fails at the biggest moments.

That's the difference here.

In the NFL teams win with QBs. In the NBA they win with closers -- players who can score reliably in the clutch.

The Sixers have Embiid, who is the equivalent of the best running back in the NFL, but he plays the wrong position. The offense can't be run through him in the clutch, and so the team has no reliable scorer in him in that regard.

The team went out and traded for Harden, which is the equivalent of trading for an aging quarterback in the NFL. He may still have some juice left, but not enough to beat the Patrick Mahomeses of the league.

Lots of the posts here nowadays are talking about who the team needs to acquire -- 3&D wings, backup centers, backup point guards. Those are your equivalents of wide receivers, offensive linemen, edge rushers, and corners. They contribute to winning, but in the absence of the stud QB, they're unlikely to get a team over the hump to a championship.

This team still needs a shot creator and reliable scorer in the clutch. This is its best shot at that at present:

Watch on YouTube

Everything you need in a reliable clutch scorer is present in that video. The team needs to make the transition to featuring Maxey in the clutch. Yesterday he took not a single shot in the fourth quarter. Ridiculous when you consider what he's capable of, as in that video.

[Kash22]

Doc NEEDS to play Matisse! He’s your best defender and most athletic wing, Matisse can hit a wide open three and is a great cutter, if you are not going to play him you should have just kept Seth in the trade

[Iverson Armband]

Doc NEEDS to play Matisse! He’s your best defender and most athletic wing, Matisse can hit a wide open three and is a great cutter, if you are not going to play him you should have just kept Seth in the trade

Yup, that’s how it works!

[Kash22]

Doc NEEDS to play Matisse! He’s your best defender and most athletic wing, Matisse can hit a wide open three and is a great cutter, if you are not going to play him you should have just kept Seth in the trade

Yup, that’s how it works!

It was either trade Matisse or Seth and they chose to keep Matisse, he needs to play at least 30MPG, harden does a good job keeping Matisse as a offensive threat and they need him out there for defense

[Iverson Armband]

Doc NEEDS to play Matisse! He’s your best defender and most athletic wing, Matisse can hit a wide open three and is a great cutter, if you are not going to play him you should have just kept Seth in the trade

Yup, that’s how it works!

It was either trade Matisse or Seth and they chose to keep Matisse, he needs to play at least 30MPG, harden does a good job keeping Matisse as a offensive threat and they need him out there for defense

No, it wasn’t. It was Matisse or a FRP. Seth had to be in that trade for salary purposes and because BK wanted him.

[Jailblazers7]

In terms of needs what would be the most to least important

Backup Big
Starting Wing
Backup PG


IMO
Starting Wing( A legit 3&D wing that can knock down open 3s and guard the best wings in the league would take alot of pressure off the starting 5 on both ends of the floor)

Backup PG ( A playmaker that can hit open shots and be a coach on the floor could help get guys easy shots when the team is struggling, preferably a big PG that can play next to Maxey.)

BackUp center ( A not washed Vet min. guy , hopefully , Bassey should also be implemented into the team by next season).

I think given the cap situation and draft capital available we’re gonna need to rely on player development to fill some of those gaps. We’ve actually seen good player development since Doc’s staff got here so I’m more hopeful than I would be in the past.

Ideally, Matisse’s jumper comes along which we’ve seen good results from him since Hardens arrival & he’s become a solid FT shooter. Bassey/Reed could be the answer at backup C & Springer can potentially develop into a serviceable backup G. It’s asking a lot for all those things to happen but it might be more likely than solving all of our problems through transactions.

[Bum Adebayo]

Harden is going to be an Albatros contract next year

Yep. And for a few years to come. This team is perpetual 2nd round fodder unless Morey pulls off a miracle this offseason.

It's not easy, we need to get a better coach and get out of albatross contracts James Soften and Tobias Sorrys. That being said, Morey is definitely one of the best out there when it comes to building a team, if not him, then nobody can help us TBH.