As the third quarter of Game 6 flipped to Philadelphia’s favor, it felt different. Finally, they’d make it past the second round. Sports are silly. You spend time and money. You exhaust energy. For something you literally cannot control no matter how much you think you can. It’s not my fault I grew up where [...]
I’ve written about his debut before. After back-to-back season-ending surgeries. His first bucket. A midrange turnaround fadeaway. Place erupts. Then he blocks the eventual MVP. Even louder. Looking back on every game I’ve seen in person, at least basketball ones, it’s hard to pick a better one. You saw it almost instantly. This dude. He’ll [...]
It’s been a while since you could feel this confident. Sure, a lot of what “could be” surrounded the past three seasons that portrayed the role of optimist. Oh, on paper this defense might be the league’s best. Yes, perimeter shooting will unlock he who shall not be named. Finally, a legitimate perennial All-NBA guy [...]
Joel Embiid has been the constant. Through it all. It’s been Embiid. Maybe it means a bit more because of where he’s been. Not one, but two full seasons away from the game because of foot surgeries. Where seemingly every other headline spelled out disbelief. Oft-injured big men typically don’t last long. It’s why Philadelphia [...]
Expectations should be tampered. The East is better. Even if Ben Simmons plays this entire year, Brooklyn and Milwaukee remain superior. That’s OK. Boston will be healthier. Atlanta will only improve given how many games Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter missed a season ago. It’s tough to know what the real expectations for Philadelphia should [...]
Like every other 76ers fan, I had hoped this situation resolved itself. Long before training camp and the preseason began. Wishful thinking, sure, since every report this summer was more of the same: the reality a trade wasn’t ever close. We’re a weekend away from media day where questions will only be about Ben Simmons, [...]
One of these days, Ben Simmons will be traded. As the rumors swirl. As tolerance wears thin. It’ll happen. Daryl Morey isn’t trading Simmons for nothing. He’ll be patient. With free agency beginning this week, the opportunity will come. You hope, with Russell Westbrook on the Los Angeles Lakers, that Bradley Beal will be available. [...]
I didn’t want to write about it. I swore it off, almost like it didn’t happen. Who wants to relive that? Who wants to go back to 12 hours ago? And see Lou Williams make bucket after bucket. And see a promising season drift away. Atlanta practically begged the 76ers to win Game 5. The [...]
Philadelphia broke out at the tail end of last season, ending the year with 16 straight wins. It seemed too good to be true. Things faded in the playoffs, of course. Boston exposed Ben Simmons. Joel Embiid appeared out of shape. Markelle Fultz didn’t play a minute in the second round near sweep. The optimism [...]
It’s always been two summers. Philadelphia had a chance to add a max guy this year, but failed to sign LeBron James, or trade for Kawhi Leonard. Next summer will be Philadelphia’s last opportunity to sign or trade for a marquee player with cap space. Ben Simmons and Dario Saric will have to be paid. [...]
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