Breaking Down the New Schedule with Tom McGinnis!

Schedule style on this episode of the broadcast, whether it's Tuesday, February of the eleventh against the LA Clippers, or perhaps a little bit later on on Tuesday in March thirty first versus the semi revamped Houston Rockets. Plenty of dates to circle on the calendar for the fall winner and spring ahead as the seventy six Ers two thousand, nineteen, two twenty slate is outs great to be on this

occasion chatting with you once again. Can't wait to connect with Tom McGinnis and just the moments and I will recap some of the many subplots and storylines the seventy Sixers upcoming slate for this year, something that makes the season feel that much more real and within reach as we bide time here in the summer off season. We're gonna get to that interview in a moment. First reminders that to subscribe to the podcast, all you gotta do

is go your favorite podcast listening platform. Maybe it's Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, tune in, Stitcher. We're there. Just type in Sixers podcast Network and that will take you to where you need to be, all right. The seventy Sixers highly anticipated season number seventy one schedule for the franchise came out on Monday, August the twelfth, and moments after the schedules made official, had the opportunity to speak with

Tom McGinnis. He and I look ahead forecast, if you will, what could be in store for the seventy Sixers starting October twenty third, when the regular season tips off at home against the Boston Celtics. It is great to catch up with the man who will be at every single seventy Sixers game this season, preseason, regular season, postseason knock on wood. It is, of course Tom again is Tom?

How are you? I'm doing great? Brian real excited with the schedule out to get ready for yet another sixer season. Where do we find Tom again? Us at this stage of the offseason, middle of August, kind of looking ahead, we're not too too far away, but still a few weeks to enjoy the summer life. Well, the summer life is for me. It's just a big time with the family, and we live at the Jersey Shore for the most part.

And we'll have the Shore Tour coming up a ninety seven five as a fan fest at Xfinity Live in a couple of weeks on a Saturday. But on a day like today, you know where the schedule comes out, you know, now you really start to go over that with a fine truth comb. But it's been a great time. My mom has been here throughout the course of the summer. She's ninety years old, and you know, we play tennis and golf and go to the beach in the Bay and just to hang out. It's just been a beautiful

summer and real quality time with our family. And I read all the time and watch the Phillies and whatnot, and do a lot of things that people do on vacation and feel very fortunate to be able to do it. But now I say, as you say, going forward, and you know the schedule, there's so much excitement about the Sixers with this roster in large part, and then so many of the great games at the center. And as far as like calling the games, it's never about me.

I'm just a conduit with the Sixers fans on the radio of voice of the basketball team. But the schedule kind of is personal because for those or seven months, it's my life, and especially the road where I'm away from my family, and just looking at it real quickly last night, I think the number is like st seven, you know, days and nights, not completely the whole day or whatnot, but some combination thereof being away and eight

day road trips. And as you know, the league is spaced out the schedule more and the interest of player health and safety and getting guy rest and so that's made for longer road trips. And then we interverse the fact that the Sixers are on television twenty four times some of those dates and some of those road trips. Those those trips get a little longer because they wanted to get to Thursday where TNT is going to air it, or Saturday in Oakland where the Sixers will play the Warriors.

So it's all exciting because the Sixers have marquee talent and they're expected to be a really good team and have been over the course last two three years. And to be in this position to play on Christmas and whatnot. Like I said, it's something to really upgraded to four. I don't know how it is for you, but for me, when the schedule comes out, this is when it really

starts become more of a reality. You know. You go to the press conference events where new guys are in like Al Horford and Josh Richardson and they bring back to Bias Harris and that's all well and good, and you start to see some of these new faces and new bodies. But when the schedule comes out and you're like, okay, Wednesday, October twenty three, Boston Celtics, the fanatic ESPN seven thirty center, All right, I can mark that. Get ready to go.

November twenty third, Saturday Night, finishing up a back to back against Jimmy Butler in the Miami Heat. Like this is when you can really start to sink your teeth into how season landscape could look right well for sure, and you know, especially when you think of opening night. The Sixers have been on the road for the Openers in fact, opened at Boston last year National and TV, and you just know the building is going to have great energy in the Sixers once again have anticipation that

every game would be sold out. It's become really an incredible home court advantage for the basketball team to be

at the Center in Philadelphia. But I also look at it as a basketball guy in a basketball since, you know, like the schedule is different this year, I mean forever, the Sixers traveled out West in that trip after Christmas and into the calendar New Year, and this year the Sixers, for the first time since eighty eight, are playing a home game on Christmas, the third straight time they've played on Christmas. But to host Milwaukee at two thirty on six ABC is incredible that the boy you talk about

a marquee position. And then the other part about the schedule is now you look into that first week in November and that's the West Coast trip. And so if you look over the last couple of seasons, Brian and you know this, but Brett Brown's teams have gotten better as the season has gone along. Last year, there were a lot of changes during two parts of the season, and even in going back the year before where they had that eighteen game winning streak. So you can look

at it two ways. And I know people say it's, oh, it'll be good for the new group to be together on the road, and there's certainly there's credence in that. I'm not discounting that, but those are some difficult games. You know, you're going to Portland, you're playing so Denvers in that trip, You're playing some quality Western Conference teams, and you know that may not to be the best version of the Sixers just a week or two into

the regular season, and it is what it is. I mean, there's also the old school of thought that red hour back and I believe Larry Bird when he was the Pacers coach, and they would look at the schedule and they didn't interpret it on so many different levels and nuances. They were like, but forty one home and forty one road. And there's certainly something to that. But I think for people like I said that in my case, that this is their life. This is a tunnel that we're going

into for these next few weeks. And I know the basketball staff, the team, you know, Brett his job is to coach the team, but Elton Brand in the front office, they're gonna look at it. They're gonna look at home and home or excuse me, like you know, road and then home back to back. They get into it in depth and they get into the prison. L T also like with the different like Kemba Walker coming in on in that game with Boston and not Brooklyn with a

huge player with Kyrie on the team. So there are there's so many different levels that one can really get

down to a granular level and assess the schedule. One thing that I do like about a time is that, yeah, there is the early West Coast trip and a handful of road games in November and then stretches December, but after the second West Coast trip in the beginning of March, when they're at the Clippers, Lakers, Kings, and Warriors on the first week in March eleven out of the last eighteen or at the Center and in years past, it's

felt a little bit less balanced. So as I just look at the grid where you have the red and blue boxes for home and away games, it seems like there's a little bit more balanced this year, right and again, so taking that same paradigm that I just mentioned about getting better late. So eleven out of your last eighteen at home, that's a positive, and there is again there's

different ways to look at things. You can think about that West Coast trip, the first one in November and getting it out of the way, and then in years past, I mean years ago, like fifteen, eighteen, twenty years ago, that that March trip oftentimes came later in the month and sometimes again that was four games and five nights.

When you look at that game, that trip that you mentioned with the Clippers, that's Sunday afternoon on network television and then Saturday evening in the Warrior, I mean, how cool is that to play at Staples against Kawai and Paul George. I believe the Lakers are on that trip a Tuesday, and that's a nationally television televised game on TNT. I mean the marquee matchups. That's I don't think we

can that. That's still pretty cool. I mean, even if you get that for five or ten years in a row, which is the whole thing the sixties have talked about is sustained success, and this is part and parcel that you become a r key team for television purposes with these young stars and as you say, Tobias and Joel and Ben and Al Horford and Richardson and I like that.

But those are those games that that's pretty neat right there. Yeah, there's there's things that have shifted, and in that home schedule at the end of the year is hopefully advantageous in that twenty twenty Porsche of the campaign. Of course, you know, Tom, if you're a fan or a medium member, and i'd even think a player or a coach or an executive to a certain degree, you know you're you're looking at some of the headline teams like when we playing the Clippers at home? Or when are we going

to take on the Lakers? Because I got right a D right exactly, Pelican, Zion Williamson, all that stuff. But I feel like this offseason there were so many moves that could affect the parody in the league. I don't know if you saw it a similar way that you look across. I just feel like, more so than previous years, there've been move mads. Whether it's the big marquee guys like the Russell Westbrooks or the Kawhi Leonard, but another perhaps B level or maybe a minus to MIDB level

players like a Malcolm Brogden going to India. Of course, t J McConnell's there now, you know Porzingis with Dallas teaming up with Luca don Chis. You know, you look all around and it seems like to me there's more parody this year than in previous season. That's just the way I see it. Well, parody is one way to put it, and you're probably right, but there's been a big players shift this offseason. I don't think there's been

anything like this in years before. You know, before you had the decision with Lebron years ago, but that was one player, and of course Bosh went there. And when Shock moved so many you know, over two decades ago from Orlando to to the Lakers, but even when Shaquille shifted seasons. So just for the listeners of your podcast, and I think that a stute NBA fan is aware

of this. But like we all know, the Christmas schedule has been out for over a week week ago and they make a splash in a punk relations in a marketing sense, the league does with those games, but that

means the whole schedule has kind of been built. But it really that's the top of the pyramid, the way the schedule is built, and it's built just what I was talking about with the Sixers being one of those teams that are going to be on ABC's six times, like the Lakers with Lebron and these marquee attractions and

namely the top players. That's what drives the deal, you know, and then the schedule kind of fills out after that, and you know Brian's you know that the schedule is now made with like an algorithm years ago, like Matt Winnick, and again going back, you know, ten plus fifteen twenty thirty years ago, it was done by hand. Can you imagine in pencil? I would think I was sorry, I

canna cut you off real quick. So I was at Summer League a few years ago and someone pointed out this guy, Matt Winnick, who was at the league office forever, who literally, like you just said, wrote out the schedule by hand. And I'm looking at him, and I like, to me, that's like a deified figure. I'm like, this is the guy who somehow figured out how to do all this by hand, right, and now Tom Correlli, who was the longtime VP of Broadcasting in the NBA. That's

his job. And we've known Tom for years because obviously we're in the area of broadcasting, and that's he got, and he'll tell you he got like a new role within the same company. It's almost like his career shifted because the marketing dollars and the revenue that that pours into the NBA is from in large part these television partners, and obviously they deserve to get the marquee Action, the primetime Action Christmas Day, Saturday night, Sunday afternoon, Thursday night

on TANTI, ESPN, and so. And the NBA does an incredible job of marketing the stars in our league and it's really, i think, unsurpassed in that regarding professional sports. So it's pretty cool and it is a daunting task.

And Correlli would mind me sharing, but a few years ago when he first got when he was one of the first couple of years that he'd done this, this might be the fifth or six year and that he's done it, and he said he woke up and oh my god, he almost had the cold sweats, and I was thinking, I thought he was gonna say that he forgot a team or forgot a game, and know the realization was that I got to do it again next year.

So I'm sure it's getting a little bit easier. But yeah, it's it's a huge thing, and obviously the NBA is it's a year round thing, but this this regular season is really obviously a huge primary focus setting everything up to the NBA postseason. Whether it's some of the headlining opponents, tom or some other teams that have made some under the radar more subtle moves, any particular opponents or games

in particular that you are most intrigued by. Well, the road schedule starts We mentioned Boston at home, and the road schedule starts Detroit. That's where the six Or got their first win a couple of years ago. They had success last year there, uh, you know, and a lot of these teams are going to be so much improved, you know, I mean, and the Pistons are one of them.

Then you go to Atlanta right after that, and you know, there's to me, there's certain they circles some sites like they went down there the Sixers and lost twice to the upstart Hawks, and they're going to be better. I mean, that group under Lloyd Pierce is going to be on the rise. I think there's a lot of teams that are so I think Chicago is going to be a

much improved team. I think people are counting Boston out just because their rosters changed, but they're still going to be really good and so and the Knicks I think are going to be better. And you know, like again dropping back into a bit of a from a basketball mindset, you got to be able to take care and handle the teams that you should beat. So, yes, a lot of these young teams are going to be better and on the rise. But you know, the Sixers, they've got

to handle this team. You gotta win three out of four against these young teams and take care of business against teams quote unquote you should beat. And again there are missteps like the Hawks. You know, coach Pierce came to the playoffs last year at the center with Kevin Herder. I'm like, geez, I'll bet you wish you could play the six Ers fifty times three out of four times. He had like a little knowing glance too. You took

that in stride. But again, and another part of the formula is in order to win fifty plus victories a year games like the Sixers have done over the last two years, you gotta win, you know, at least half your road games and then be a dominant team at home, and the Sixers have done that. I thought last year that home a dominant for the Sixers was just enormous and really put them in a position to be as good as they were in the regular season and obviously

into the playoffs. So there's no doubt about the marquee matchups to your point, but you gotta be, you know, on the rise, steadily consistent, dominate when you can, and put yourselves in a position to win as clichek as it is on the road and do a good job against a lot of these teams out on the road.

The Brooklyn Nets are a team within the seventy sixers very own ultra now competitive division that added some huge hooge talent obviously this off season between Durant Irving, DeAndre, Jordan, Wilson, Chandler a really fine role player go to the Nets as well. But it's interesting note Tom looking at when the seventy Sixers play Brooklyn, three out of the four matchups come between January and into February, and you know, you're thinking, like, hey, Katie, people will estimated maybe around

a nine month recovery time. That could be just outside the window the Sixers have to play the Nets. That's going to be a fascinating storyline regardless of when the Sixers play Brooklyn is just when is Katie coming back? And then what will he do to Brooklyn and what will Brooklyn even be at that stage of the season

when he does return. Yeah, I guess what. Kevin Durant might miss the whole year though, you know, I mean, I think Clay Thompson is a little bit more at with that injury for February or March, but with the Achilles, I'd be surprised, you know, I don't think really there's a realistic expectation that Durant is going to play in January and that that's just me and you know that's getting into player of health. But you talk about Brooklyn

many good. So they still have di In Witty, they still have Karris Lebert, Joe Harris had a great year and now you add Kyrie Um and Jordan is certainly going to help in terms of with Jared Allen in that five position and Kenny Atkinson, those guys they really jumped further ahead than I think, by their own admission, h than where they expected to be in their whole rebuild. And Shawn Mark has done a terrific job. And you know, I talked about some of these young teams and you know,

we forget about Toronto the NBA champions. And again, I know Kawhi left, but you know Siakam had a breakout year. Kyle's not going away. They're gonna be good. You know, they're they're that there's still the team that's that's won the division and they're going to be really competitive. So yeah, I mean, it's it's it's difficult in New York as still, I don't know, maybe got the players that they were looking for, but they got an unbelievable young, talented player

in r J. Barrett. Knox is going to be good. Like I said, they're one of those teams that I don't know if you can say don't count them out, but I think they're going to be better than maybe people think. T mac last question before I wrap up, let's just remove the idea of the caliber of opponent players. What's the top three Tom McGinnis travel Loog destination list in the NBA. Say that again, travel Loog? What's that? What are the top three cities for Tom McGinnis to visit,

regardless of opponent or team in the end? Right? Right? Okay, So still Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena, is the most fun plays to go. Even when they're not five hundred, our games seem to be close with them all the time. It's very exciting. The electricity in the garden is as far as roads city is the best. And then Chicago is where what kind of like I started while I grew up in Illinois and started going

to NBA games as a as a young guy. And it's still, like I said in years past, like a little serum trickles down into my heart. It's just a really great feeling to go back and and love being in that city. Has still have so much family and friends in that area. And uh, and I love to going to Los Angeles, There's no doubt about it. You know.

The thing with LA and going out west is our games out there other than that Clippers game is going to be you know, in the afternoon, but you know, our games you're you're in a Pacific time zone, so it's ten ten thirty. That Warriors game will be at eight, which will be great, and that's another great venue that'll be interesting to go to the Chase Center, but going to Los Angeles is always excited. And obviously the Clippers anily Akers. Now those would be my top three things

I think t Mac. Always great to hear the sound of your voice, particularly as we get to talk about some material, concrete, tangible details of the next season coming up in twenty nine twenty. Thanks so much, man, appreciate it, Brian, look forward to it whenever the Accase schedule release. Maybe

I'm just seeing him around the office in Camden. Always excellent to speak with Tom McGinnis, gets you that much more excited for the games ahead, which for the seventy six ers begin in Earnest with the regular season opener at home on October the twenty third verse of the Boston Celtics. Last time on the pot a Teas Day chat with Trey Burke. Unless something crazy happens that will come to you the next time we talk, which should be either I don't know, maybe later this week or

first thing next week. So I'll be on the lookout for that. Thanks so much, see you