Friday Deep Dive | Answer or Samesies, Round 2!

our best. I'm Lauren Rosen, I'm Divon Gibbons, and I'm Brian Seltzer from Joel Embiid's Return to George Hill Status. We play the latest edition of Answer or Samesy's You're on the Friday Deep Dive? Are we here? Guys? Have we officially reached the home stretch of the season? Queen annoint this the final stretch run of this crazy NBA season.

I'd say we're entering the home stretch of the regular season, but yeah, I heard it last night on the national broadcast saying that we had entered the home stretch of the season. I found it a little bit rattling because we were just in the bubble. But crazy, it's been I mean, I think part of that has to do with the condensed season, right guys, that the end sort of crept up on us a little bit. Oh absolutely, and it has cracked up one is very quickly. We

are already in a month of April. But when we look at it, with twenty one games remaining in the normal season, we would be talking about the quarter point, the final quarter of the season for the seventy six or so, absolutely final stretch, and this is when we start to say, Okay, this is the seeding time, this is the rotation time, this is where we are. Let's

get to it. If the home stretch is not here now, I think we'll definitely begin next Wednesday, when the Brooklyn Nets are in South Philadelphia, final matchup of the season between the two teams that are looking to clinch the Eastern Conference. Hopefully everyone's healthy for that. Can't wait for that. Three games on the road stand between now and then, crazily enough for the Sixers, but it's hard not to see that game shining on the horizon line right now.

I think everybody in the league has had that one on their calendars since perhaps before Brooklyn made the additions that they've made in the last couple of weeks. I think as soon as James Harden joined that team, you were trying to figure out when they were going to come head to head with the best in the East, which has been the Sixers for the majority of this season. I agree with you, So may we have everyone healthy for that matchup, because it'll sure be something we've been

waiting for this one. The last time we talked about this very thing in South Philadelphia, the only one that showed up. I believe it was James Harden, right, we wasn't it James Harden? Yeah, Kyrie Irving was out, Kevin Durant was already on the sideline. So yeah, I agree

with you. I think most of us as we look at the rest of this three game road trip for the Sixers, but most importantly, we kind of look ahead to the next matchup against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference and how you gage yourself against each other. So for us here of course, see what this team looks like against a fully staffed, if you will, Brooklyn

Nets team. But honestly, for me and I was just talking about this, I kind of get to a point where, even though you wanted to see them against the Brooklyn Nets or even the Milwaukee Bucks in the two games later on in a month, back to back on the road, and I was just mentioning this of how I am more worried about the Sixers than I am who the opponent is because of how I feel the Sixers are just as good as any team in the NBA. So

that's how I look at it. Also, there was no Blake, there was no LaMarcus the last time around for the Nets. They've been added to the fray. I think we already know what the subject of next week's Friday Deep dive is going to be able to be our chance to react to what happened in that game. But as far as for this week, I feel like they were a

handful of grab bag topics we could cover. We have the seventy Sixers and the Pelicans Joel Embiid Zion Williamson perhaps on the same court for the first time ever coming later on on this Friday night, Ben Simmons want to check in on him, and of course this past week, the big story for the seventy six Ers the return of Joel Embiid. So I feel like when we have these opportunities to go into the grab bag. There is no better setting in which to play our favorite game.

Here on the Friday Deep Dive, we're pulling it out round two of Answer or Samesy's. But the problem is, I think I was so overwhelmed by Answer or Samesy's the first time around. I don't think I remember how to play anyone else. Remember how did we do it? Did I say the topic and then you two responded and you could choose whether or not you wanted to answer or you had the Samesy's. That's correct, right, Lauren.

Wasn't how it went. I think the first persons to the first person has to have an answer, right, and then everybody else gets to decide if they agree or not. And what I like about this game is it doesn't force us to fight against each other, as as lots of programs Nest might prefer. On this program, we're okay with agree. We're collaborators, not quarrelers. Yes, right, lovers not fighters. No, you have nothing good good vibes here on the Friday

Deep Dive. That's right the best. Let's let's do it. Okay, We're gonna start with the seventy Sixers and the Boston Celtics from Wednesday night. That'll do it. A twenty point win for the Sixers on the road in Boston at the Garden. It'll be a final of one oh six ninety six, and the Sixers sweep the season series with Boston they win by twenty Should these rivals meet again, are we concerned? Is there any reason to be concerned? I say, for the seventy Sixers, provided good health, I'm

not quite concerned. Answer or Slash elaborate or Samsy's I'm with you, Celts, not super concerned. As long as Joel Embiid is available a potential series down the road, they just have no answer for him. And as for the guards that do such a good job, the wings that do such a good job in Tatum and Brown and Walker on the Celtics, the Sixers have three strong wing defenders that can match up with each of them when

they're all healthy. Right, So, as long as Joel Embiid is available to cause problems down low, there's just no There's no matchup this year, and it feels nice. I agree with you both when you I think the X factor, of course, is Joel Embid in any potential series with the Boston Celtics and no Tristan Thompson in the game. But even when Thompson did play earlier in the season, Joel Embi was still Joel mb So, yes, it's another body for another six fouls in this particular case because

he did fill out. Robert Williams and others just wore no match with Luke Cornette, tackle fall, getting a few minutes and throwing semi ojul and Grant Williams throw them all at him. It didn't matter and it won't matter. I don't think in a series. Again, as Lauren mentioned, as long as he's healthy and able to play in every game, then I don't think that there's an issue there. I always have respect for them because of what they've done in the past against the Sixers in the postseason,

but this season it just seems different. SAME's he's But I am still going to add on top of that, I think both of you are totally on point. This is not to throw shape. This is not the Sixers podcasting guy throwing shade at the rival of the Sixers, the Boston Celtics. I think they have a great team. We know how well coached they are Tatum Brown. Don't like him on another team, you would love him on

your team. They are terrific talents. I just think to build on your point in this specific season as currently constructed in twenty twenty twenty one, the Boston Celtics not cut out for the seventy sixers. That was the one thing that my biggest reaction to their movement at the trade deadline wasn't even so much Fortier and they didn't have him. We should note that for the game the other night. But Daniel Tys, I don't want to build him up to be the second coming of the greatest

defensive five men of all time. But I thought he actually had success against Joel emb in the past. I thought he was someone who was effective, whether it was in the bubble or when they rolled him out earlier in the season. I agree, And I had the opportunity when the deal went down on a deadline day trade deadline to speak to a couple of Celtic fans that I'm close with, that you know, know the team very well, and it was the opposite Self's learned that they couldn't

wait to get rid of Daniel Tyson. I'm like, well, whoa was I'm missing every time I watched it seems, and of course watched them when they're on nationally televised games or certainly against the seventy sixers, But in the matchups that I have seen, I was I come away and looking at him saying, okay, you know, I worry a little bit about him, but hey, if they're they felt like it was time for him to move on, and so be it, because that's just one less front

court piece that they have to again throw successfully in a little bit at Joel and b Sixers go to Curry to Great into Joe and it beat turns at Champton an exclamation point, Bye bye Boston. What a play by Joeko a slam on Jalen Brown. It was not peak Joel Embiid against the Celtics this week, but it was still pretty damn good. Thirty five points, sixteen for twenty from the line, six boards, one hundred and fifteen

total points against the Boston Celtics and three matchups. Doc Rivers told the story that Joel and he were walking with each other after the game on Tuesday and Joel told him he was back. Doc said, I noticed, do we think Joel Embiad is back answer or SAME's e's am I going first again? There, I guess has to be a first answer. Yes, I think Joel Embiad is indeed back. If Joel says he's back, he's back. Right after that first return against the timber Wolves, he said

he felt usty, he didn't feel great. He wasn't super comfortable. Still good, but he didn't feel super comfortable. It didn't feel super competent. If Joel says he's back, I'm gonna go ahead and believe him. Funny though that a thirty five point performance actually brought his average against the Celtics for the season down right, correct, Yeah, And of course it was about the Yeah, thirty five you know, as you said that just great performances against the Celtics all season.

They have been unable to do anything against them. And I agree he's back if he says he's back, because even when you look at his line for the game and it says one for five from behind a three point line, can you take those other four misses from behind the three point line away and he's still shooting very efficient and the sixteen of twenty from the free throw line that you just spoke of, and as he pointed out, missing four free throws not acceptable for him.

So yeah, I would say he is back, and Lauren, to your point, four more points at the free throw line and he has at thirty nine, just right on his average. I feel like we're typically all three of us very agreeable and on the same page. I'm taking the other stance on this, not back dominant back, but still not quite bad to peek ultra embiid pre injury, because I think you're right. I think four free through misses in a game he knows he's better than that.

He took care of the attempts. We should note that, but also a lot of jumpers on the wing. Can we see more of that dunk that he delivered on Jalen Brown late in the games? See more of that post play on the interior. Moving forward, as he continues to get more and more comfortable, does he iron out some of the turnovers that weren't as much of an issue before the injury. I mean, he's phenomenal right now. I'm just totally splitting hairs. But I think I think

that you guys would say this too. I feel like he's back, but maybe not all the way back. He is back enough to make a huge difference for the seventy six ers. But I think all of us would say, starting with Joel himself, that there's still a couple a couple more layers he can get to, still room for improvement. Absolutely yep, and that's what we want to see. We want to see him ramp it up even more in the final games of the regular season as we get

up forward and start of the postseason. I remember more how the rhythm of this game. Answer the same He's goes. I think the topic is introduced, someone responds, and then the next person says if they're going to answer, or if it's Sames, he's okay. I don't think we need to say answer a Sames He's right off the bat. This is really clearly eating at me an intricate game we have here. It is thought something with such a basic, simple,

unappealing name could really be all that complex. I thought Ben Simmons gave the Sixers a nice shot in the arm in the third quarter against the Celtics, had six of his twelve points in that period. This time Simmons does take fall and he has his way. Ben Simmons to the open floor where he can get his He was able to get out on the break. What does Ben need to be doing right now? Guys, what do we think I do want to see more? So I'll

say answer more so than Sames. He's here because although we saw the sixth and that they're quartered for his total of twelve and his defense was phenomenal on both wings. When he was out there, I saw a couple of things that I didn't like. I felt he could have

been more aggressive looking for his as well. They shot seventy three field goals in the game against Boston, and I felt there were a few more that he left out there with just the overpassing that could have been his versus teammates and he's passed first and we're about his scoring secondary and I know what doctor Rivers had

to say, we worry about it more than he does. Yeah, I mean we've seen him for four years, so we know the style of play, and yes, he's watched him over the years, and of course with his film study coaching against him, I don't think he's where he needs

to be at this point of the season. So if we're looking at and be being better I think Simmons can also be better going forward as we get up for the playoffs, not only for locking in the first seed and being in a good spot, but also for kind of looking at redem a little of the past performances in the postseason. Still a young player, of course, but no longer are you young when you're in the

postseason for three years and you have experienced. So I say answer, not the same season, because there's more that I believe that's in there to contribute to the team.

I'll answer to on that. I think it's important to keep in mind, and I'm not sure exactly what order this takes with Ben as far as the most important aspects of his role, whether he needs to be All League Defensive Player of the Year candidate first then second to that facilitator or if it goes facilitator first then all World defender, they're probably right up around the same line. But I think those are the two things that Doc Rivers is asking Ben Simmons to be the most of it.

So I feel like some of the things we're seeing with Ben could be a reflection of the marching orders he's getting from Doc Rivers and the coaching staff. I really do believe, and Doc has said this a handful of times. He views Ben as a straw st for the offense, someone who gets things going, and then an elite All World defensive player, and I think he is

still doing that from what we've seen so far. I do believe the one thing that Doc would say about stuff that immediately on the scoring side, he would want to see from Ben just making sure he gets some of those free throws back up. Made his final four free throws in the game against the Celtics, missed his

first four. But that's why I think Ben is at But obviously in a perfect world, it's that all aggressive in every facet of his game that we saw going into the All Star break, and anytime Simmons mentioned laing real fast is that he says to himself that he has to get his stuff together. So I'll take his word for it. Quality Parental Advisory Radio edit version of that paraphrasing that comment by you, Divona, Thank you. I'm gonna jump in. I think I agree more with Celts

than I agree with you Devon on this one. I think that people are really quick to look at Ben's scoring numbers and to talk about whether or not they've gone up or down or where they stack up compared to previous seasons. And for me, if Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid are going to score at a higher rate, that's fewer points to go around when you're a guy

on this team. When you add a Seth Curry, you added Danny Green, both of whom have had really big scoring nights, that's fewer points for Ben Simmons to go out and get. And because there's more scoring surrounding him now, he's decided to go and improve his game elsewhere on the defensive end, where he has been, in my opinion, the defensive player of the year. So I have nothing but respect. Can he get better? Certainly? He said it. I think every player on this team would agree that

they all have places where they can improve. But I'm going to go ahead and be a Ben Simmons defender on this one and make sure that we talk about the fact that while the scoring maybe has gone down a tiny bit, other players scoring has gone up. The team's not losing, the team is still succeeding at a really high rate. And he found an area where he could get better without taking away from any of his teammates, maybe in fact raising the bar for his teammates, and

that's on the defensive end. So I have a lot of respect for what Ben has done with his game this season, and I refuse to jump on the I don't know the critical bandwagon when it comes to Ben at this point in the season is answer or Sam's. He's tearing us apart. This might not be able to live beyond round two. This might have to be it round two and done well. Our relationships to be able to survive this. I think we can do it. I think this is productive. Yeah, right, it is productive well.

Being diplomatic about Ben's defense, No, no, And again I didn't say. I said he played well defensively against Tatum in Brown twenty and seventeen points for each of those two guys. So he did his part along with Danny Green, Tobias Harrison to help defense and Tistible as well. My only thing was when we saw what we saw, yes in February, when he put up those numbers twenty three and sure, I don't expect that every night. I don't expect forty two point. It's like we saw him in

the Utah Jazz game. I don't expect that, just like I don't expect thirty six from Tobuyas Harris all the time. I just I know when I see him Simmons and I he sees it as well, he knows what he may have left on the floor in that regard. And then to the other point is when I do see the seven turnovers, that might you know, say, well, this was one where he could have instead of trying to pass it and force it and be that pass first mentality type of guy, go ahead and take that shot.

Because I still think watching him for me, not on the floor, that it was still a good shot for him. Maybe a better shot for his teammate, but still a good shot for him. Not tearing us apart. Not tearing us apart. Our bonds are stronger than a silly we want to we want to win guys. I thought it was pretty cool. Thursday, before the seventy sixers got on a plane to head down to New Orleans, we heard from George Hill for the first time as a seventy

six er. I was very excited to be able to come here to an organization that's competing for a championship, you know, meet up with some of my old foes that kind of started this thing with and this journey with, and like Danny Green and Popeye, van Berg Yeager coach rivers, it's fun to be here to meet all the new guys and get out and try to help them win games, said, he feels like he's going to be back sooner rather than later. Seventy six ers are not rushing George Hill along.

I am okay with that. He's reached the playoffs eleven of his last twelve seasons in the league. I do believe you go back at some point before the playoffs to get enough run in him and rhythm to find his spot with this team. So I'm not particularly concerned about his timeline at this point. I think he has such a defined skill set, and he's such a veteran in this league, and he's been put in so many

situations in his career. But obviously it's not great to have someone joined the team only in the home stretch of the season. But if someone's gonna be able to do it at a high level, it's a guy like George Hill. And my understanding, based on listening to the coaches, to the executives, and to George himself, is that they feel that way, that they feel like they're gonna be able to integrate him quickly and easily, especially as it compares to maybe other other guys that you could add

to a team late in the season. I would agree with that. I think he sat and Lauren like he was in a really good place, willing to embrace whatever role the seventy sixers and Doc Rivers are going to throw at him. Yeah, and if because it's later in the game, that ends up being a smaller role, it sounds like he's okay with that, and I think if he does a great job, that role of course will grow, like as it's the case with any guy in the rotation.

As we head down the stretch, George Hill, it was great to hear from finally saw some workout videos before the Boston game. So looks and the encouraging part was sim saying that he'll be back sooner rather than later. So that's encouraging. My thinking is, as Norman was alluding to, veteran has seen it all, has done it all, understands what he has, knows that he's gonna come in and

handle the ball, play all the ball as well. I think it's more about them getting used to him and then him getting used to them, you know, coming in and being a part of the rotation. He's been to the finals, made deep runs in the playoffs. He understands what it takes. I'm not worried about his inclusion into the rotation overall, so I'm excited. I can't wait to

see him. Plenty of time left and hopefully we see him, as he said, before the end of the regular season, and then of course for the first round in many I say, SAME's, he's to that, SAME's he's across the board for both of your comments. For me, there we go. We can end on that note. I'm also going to make an executive decision. We are sun setting and retiring answer or same season. I feel like it just doesn't work.

I think going forward, we're going to call an episode like this when we touch upon multiple subjects, the seventy six ers grab bag or something like that. We're in no hurry. We have a mail bag, so maybe we can't have another type of bag. All right, Maybe we won't make any hard, fast, emotional in the moment decisions In the lab, someone tell us we have a long season. We expect to be here. Why I would agree with that's a long season exactly. Guys, enjoy the game later

on in this Friday, Thank you so very much. As always, we made it. I think we're gonna be a good shape for next week, regardless of how heated relatively speaking at God this week with answer, I think the fact that this was what we would consider a heated episode says a lot about the general camaraderie and positive, peaceful vibes that we bring to the show every week. Amen,

Looking Ahead, coming up on Monday. The next mail Bag Monday, as always, and if you have not yet done so, already find us and follow the Scoop wherever you get your podcasts. It's the daily five minute update on the seventy six ers the morning Oven morning after every game. Have a great rest of your weekend and enjoy the games. Talk to you next time. See it.