Friday Deep Dive | Sifting Through a Challenging Week

come in round three. Here's Maxie in the name MAXI with the Night Poppa Gud, Tyrese, Maxie, Frida, Gavin Bucker and talk about some encouraging signs from a few guards off the bench, Tyrese, Maxie and George Hill. And speaking of George Hill, there's one of us here on the pod. Some people out there say he looks like all of that. On this week's Friday Deep Dive, Guys, I know what the reality is, but I have to ask, would it be too much for us to see some of these

recent matchups with both teams at full strength. I don't mean to gripe or complain, but I want to see it. I felt like I had a tolerance and a threshold for it. The first couple of times I was like, Okay, Brooklyn, all right, Clippers, all right, this Eastern Conference stuff. I want to see it. I want to see it. I think it's hard when you get to the end of the season and you want to see good basketball, because I wonder sometimes how mutually exclusive end of season and

good basketball are. I think obviously the Sixers took ownership over what's gone on these last three games, but I think you can't avoid the fact that games without Ben Simmons there's a huge hole. Games without Tobias Harris huge hole. Games on the second side of a back to back on the road against a rested team creates a hole. It just, yeah, it's been there's been a lot of build up for this period and then to not really get to see any of it at full strength on

either side a bummer. A bummer, And what's the focus from either side when it comes to getting gearing up for the postseason? Knowing that for a majority of this year you've had people in another lineup, whether it was COVID related or just a simple injury illness, whatever it might be, the approach might be a little bit different

for each game. And while as Lauren you just mentioned the second night of a back to back for your home team, and then the other team may be well rested, So there are a lot of different factors that play into it. I think I would have liked, YouTube would have liked to have seen them go up against someone in the Eastern Conference at full strengths so you can

get a better sense of who the teams are. But I guess we have to now wait until the postseason when they match up in the quarters, semis or Eastern Conference finals. I also want to make it totally clear. I get it. I tot it. If I were running a team, if I were a player and I saw some of the injuries as of late, it would be hard not to be a little bit spooked. Like it's crushing to see a Jamal Murray go down. Trey Young, thankfully for him, doesn't seem like it's a long term

injury thing for Donovan Mitchell, I totally get it. I think it's just an unfortunate reality and dynamic of this season. I'm glad there's basketball first and foremost. I love that. I think this is just a first world problem of me complaining. I feel like I don't complain a lot. It's just longing and yearning for what could be. But the games have been entertaining for the most part still, It's not like there's been a lack of quality competitive games.

I also think when it's your job to discuss what's going on and you don't get to discuss the storylines that are right there for you, you're more likely to have complaints. I think that's reasonable, But I do think we all agree sell to you alluded to it just now. The one seed doesn't mean a heck of a lot if you're not healthy. Neither does the two seed nor

the three seed. And I think that all the teams that are currently jockeying or allegedly jockeying for that one seed would agree that health has got to be so much more important. And as long as the Sixers continue to prioritize that, I mean, you can't knock them for it. We take a look at the Bucks, and to me, this is such an intriguing team. I feel like they've been flying under the radar this season. Do you guys agree with that? Before we even get into anything else,

they've kind of gone a little bit underdiscussed. Yeah, the storyline is not as exciting as the Brooklyn Nets, and they're three superstars that they have as symbol in Brooklyn and of course here in Philadelphia, with the fact that you have an MVP candidate and a team that surrounds him with an All NBA level player, all Star level player, and Ben Simmons and same for Tobias Harris, all Star caliber player and everyone else that's going around. New head coach.

The storyline is just simply better with those two teams, and they've simply flied, flying under the radar, getting healthy and Drew Holiday also a new addition to their team, was out because of the COVID COVID nineteen and health and safety protocols, and now they're starting around in the form. So they've just quietly gone about their business and stayed

within distance. As these last couple of weeks have become really really important with the seating well month really the last month that we have in front of US Milwaukee, you have to pay attention. They've had the best record in the East accomplish for the last two seasons. Seems like they've gotten better. Now how much better we'll find out.

I do think that's part of why they've flown under the radar though right finishing at the top of the East the last couple of years, having the MVP the last couple of years, and then underperforming in the playoffs. It's something that the Sixers aren't a little bit unfamiliar with when you look at what they've accomplished in the

regular season versus what they've accomplished in the postseason. I think maybe there's a little bit of regular season fatigue with the Bucks when it comes to national narrative and the way that people talk about different teams, and the Bucks probably like it that way. It's it's as Sixers

fans and people within Sixers culture. No, it's not always great to have such high expectations, and I do think that the Bucks have been part of that mold for the last couple of years, and where they stand on the radar, as you said, Celts might be a result of that. Grip has made a great point after the game on Thursday, the seventy Sixers lost that one one

twenty four, one seventeen. They've made it interesting down the stretch because of a lopsided fourth quarter after the Bucks blitz them right out of the gate, and Doc said that in a matchup against the Bucks, the absence of Ben Simmons defensively becomes even that much more glaring. And I would agree. So as far as how you interpret what the Sixers were able to do against the Bucks on Thursday, and who knows if Ben's going to play on Saturday, what to make of that, I don't know.

I think for me, very surface level, my takeaway from this two game series isn't even necessarily going to be who wins or who loses. It's going to be that the Bucks are a really good team. I think they're designed really well. I think they could present some matchup problems. They can really stretch the floor on offense. We saw that with what Brook Lopez did in the game on Thursday.

And they've added some really really good pieces, and like Drew Holliday, he showed that even if he's not scoring a bunch, there's a lot of other stuff that you can do to impact the game. Absolutely, and I do think that they create some at least some intriguing matchup situations as far as the defensive assignments go. How much will the Sixers switch off and pass players to the next if Simmons is out there? How much of a difference does he make. I think he does make a

huge difference. And we saw that Thursday night where maybe you would have liked to have seen him be on Jannis and instead sliding Ben Simmons over to brook Lopez, where you can close out a little harder. He's a little more under control, He's able to figure out different ways because brook Lopez is simply not going to put the ball on the floor. Ben Simmons is closing out

on him. He's gonna now have to make a decision on where the ball is now going to be passed two or if he's gonna fire that shout up at all. So it is intriguing. I'm looking forward to now the adjustments that are made in Saturday's matchup Saturday afternoon. It's always tough to play a team the second time around

the way that they shot the basketball. Can that be implicated because at the end of the day to six to shot the ball pretty well, it was the three point discrepancy that really hurt them in the long run. So how much of a difference to Simmons mate. Hopefully we found out on Saturday the offensive efficiency that the Bucks had in that game. Really it was insane. I mean they made the first shots. It was out of control,

and I think that in the early going. Listen, when Jannis is out there, he's affecting a game because you have to pay attention to him. But it was some of the other guys for the Bucks that really stepped up and made an impact. Chris Middleton first quarter ten points, four for four from the field, Yanni scored eight. Brook Lopez made his impact and presence felt in the second quarter, and then you had Bobby Portis off the bench. Yeah,

I mean Bobby Portis five or five from deep. Not exactly what you necessarily prepare for going into Milwaukee, and probably not sustainable Knockwood, of course with the team playing the team's playing again on Saturday. But the efficiency was through the roof. They were well rested. The Sixers were not. Of course, some of those things you can't sustain. But if the Sixers are without Ben Simmons again, they're going to be challenged again when it comes to stopping Jeannie.

I look forward to another matchup between the two teams. I think it'll probably be a little bit closer than the first one was. But the Sixers still didn't really get a ton of rest before this one. Given the fact that it's going to be a day game, they can't really catch a break with the schedule this week. Doc Rivers alluded to it following Thursday's game. No coaches ever want to admit. I don't think to schedule losses.

But I do think that that Doc has some ground to stand on when he talks about how difficult the schedule this week has been. And I know that it's a team that's going to look forward to coming right back home to Philadelphia, regardless of the outcome of Saturday's matchup. Sure, a tough one. They're in Milwaukee, and you're right, the turnaround is rather quick. And if you are now going to implement Simmons, if he's available to Saturday game two for Tobias Harrists, good to see him him back out

here on the floor. So maybe his legs underneath him. He's a lot fresher, he said, he doesn't feel much pain. So that's great to hear right now as we get ready to gear up for this matchup one Saturday afternoon. So you're right, schedules, it's how it goes, right, it is how it goes. Thirteen games remaining after this one. I'm not gonna say it's easy, but you can look at situations where they're winnable games for the team with the number one seeds still in sight in the Eastern Conference,

no doubt about it. I think it was great to see Tobias, especially in the third quarter. Seemed like he really found his stride. Scored twelve points during the third. It's also been talking about a tough back to back given how the team's played him for Joel Ebid. Going up against Phoenix and then the Bucks, two teams that were so aggressive on him really didn't let up much at all, played him physical, played him tough. I think he still managed to hold his own in both those games.

I mean neither of those teams made it easy on him. Again shorthanded without both Harris and Simmon against Phoenix and then coming back without Simmons, but Harris returning, having a good third quarter, but again getting his legs back underneath him after missing so much time MB was phenomenal. Of course, the thirty eight point performance was the twenty four on Thursday night against Milwaukee, So sure he's still gonna be himself. You need others to help out shake Milton with the

twenty off the bench. In that game, Danny Green performed well against Phoenix and Matis style with Tyrese Maxie, but again just simply not enough when you are missing some key contributors to the team to take down these top teams. These are not just push over teams. These are teams that are still fighting four things. Phoenix is fighting for a top spot in the Western Conference overall in Milwaukee, as we talked about, they're creeping up in the standing

still at number three. But as we stand here today, two and a half games from first place with the seventy six or so, everyone's fighting for something, whether they want to admit it or not. When you're out there, you're going to compete, and they're competing. I know people snickered at the comment that Jannis made post game on tant while people being people who follow the seventy sixers, when Yanna City treating it like a playoff game, I buy it. I kind of buy it. They have to.

It's a big series win for them and now they have a chance. Just gained another game. I was cool with coming into it like a playoff game. My confusion came with it felt like a playoff game, because so as long as as long as it felt like it on the outset, I mean, the Sixers were way less rest, that doesn't happen in the playoffs. The Sixers were without Ben Simmons in all likelihood, that doesn't happen in the playoffs. So I'm not sure I was buying that the in

game competition was very playoff like. But I do understand why the stakes felt high for the Bucks and Edits an achievement. Anytime you beat the top team in your conference, it's an achievement. Yeah, for them, maybe it was because, as you just pointed out, that that was their approach. Their approaches now get the home court advantage. If they could number one overall seed. Sure, you still have the leat Brook to get the Philadelphia and Philadelphia has to

cooperate to lose that spot. But yeah, they have to and to take the season series, is Brian alluded to, that's important for them. I mean, hey, we wanted to see the Sixers split it last night to make sure that you set up Saturday's game for you to win that season series matchup as well. So I get it. I buy it, because let's not forget about the little little rivalry that is there between Jannis and either in Bed or Simmons with how he approaches things with those

two teams. So so I buyed it a little bit because they are trailing and they're playing against the top dog. Looking back at a theme from this past week, something I did want to get into was the bench backcourts. Let's start with Tyrese Maxie. There are a couple of themes and storylines from the reserve backcourt. We'll get into George Hill in a little bit. Tyrese Maxie had some stuff to say this past week in terms of how he played on the court, very encouraging. I thought, yeah,

no doubt. And Tyres is a guy that ask anyone and they'll say how he really has been putting in the work since the day he got to Philadelphia, since well before he got to Philadelphia. He works out on every off day, whether or not he played the day before. And to say that he's working out every off day this season is no small feat. With the incredible lack of rest time these guys have. He loves to hoo.

He's in the gym early, he's in the gym late, and he's stayed ready for opportunities like the ones he had this week, and then he capitalized on them. And that's really all you can ask for from a rookie that's playing on a really, really good team. I was gonna say, does it look like he's put on weight to you a little bit in his upper body? Yeah, it looks like. It looks like he has added a little bit of muscle up there, and you know they're

constantly working out. Sometimes you really can't see it throughout the season because of playing and then losing things. But the muscle mass it looks like there seems a little bit stronger. Obviously needs to get a lot more stronger as a young player coming out of Kyle and stepping into the NBA, but yeah, he does. I've noticed that the exact same thing, and for him to be ready when his number is called, knowing that he's been sitting for so long out of the rotation and to come

in and now starting to again. As we talked about what Harris get his feet underneath him, now, Maxie is starting to get his feet underneath him. And the way I approach this is, while I don't know, I'm not sure how you to feel about this, or the listeners and the viewers. But there are times when coaches decide to go deep into their bench for spot minutes, and if the rotation is eight or nine, and of course you have that nine and ten that can still contribute.

Maybe Maxie is showing Rivers and the coaching staff something where if he needs to call his number at some point in the first round and he performs well, then maybe the confidence is there for him to again call his number in the semifinals against a team that we would expect to be a little bit better. So for him to go out there and continue to be affectional, continue work when he's not playing, and now producing when

he is out there on the floor, it's encouraging. The biggest thing for him right now is showing that he can be reliable, dependable, and I think for him, he's one of the guys who has the most at stake right now on this roster or the final three and a half to four weeks of the season. I feel like some other things are starting to fall into place. You can see who might be called upon and what

spots in the postseason. But it seems like there could be an opportunity for Tairis because he's got a skill set that amongst the other guys playing that position they don't have. For the Sixers, no doubt, and he knows it, and he's not afraid of any matchup. And we said that from the beginning his first couple of games, it was clear that it didn't matter who the opponent was. He was ready to just go for it, drive through traffic,

drive up against bigger guys. He's so unafraid. He's so willing to do whatever it takes, whatever the team needs, and his attitude is just excellent. It's been really cool to watch him grow a little bit and find his footing as the year has gone on. I'm not afraid he went right at Janis and made him up. Bobby Porters will be a Bobby Porters they get the block.

He's not afraid. Again. He trusts what his skill set is and when he's able to get that that layoff package going high off the glass, or the one where he has a little bit of spin on it to you know, to bank it off the glass and end that that stuff works out. Now guys would be much quicker and more physical in the postseason. But if he

can get that step on him. He may have the advantage if he's able to put his body into theirs and draw the contact in the foul because we know how tight things get in the half court in the postseason. A guy who I know that we've all talked about separately, who seemed like he could have been a weapon in breaking defenses down, just didn't happen last year because the series and the matchup didn't allow. But anything the type of presence someone like an Alec Burks could give you.

And I'm not saying that Tyrease and Alec Burks are the same player, but there's no question that Tyrese in the half court can throw a defense off. He can find a way to hit a hole, get to a basket, makes something happen. I'd like to see him shoot it the way he did the game against the Box. He went two for four from three. He's now in double figures three straight games going to Saturday. That's his second longest double figure streak the season. He looks confident shooting

that three two, which is cool. He was a little bit more reluctant to shoot him at the beginning of the season. Maybe he wasn't sure if that's what really

he was going to be relied upon for. But whether or not he's shooting them at a higher volume, to me, it looks like he's shooting them with a lot more confidence, understanding that when he has the shot, he can take the shot and he can make the shot, and that's going to be huge for this team, whether it's now in a couple of months or in a couple of years.

And even with the catch and shoot not creating for himself, but if someone is driving to the basket, whether it be Hill or Milton Simmons, and kicking a ball out, catching and shoot, catch ready, shot up, The shot is not flat, looks like a good amount of arc on it, and it's starting to go in. So that happens, as you know, you start to just regain that confidence, and

that's good to see from a young player. In addition to the reemergence of Tyres Maxie this past week, we also saw the first emergence at least is seventy six er of George Hill. Great subplot. I liked it. I liked what I saw. Obviously, he seems to be knocking off more and more rust physically with each passing game. After missing more than about two months. But it looked really good in the game against the Suns on Wednesday night in the front of the back back. Yeah, no doubt.

I thought the quickness with which he got ready to perform as well as he did against Phoenix on Wednesday was really impressive that night. Of course, two for two from three, ended up with eleven points and two assists. But he looked really comfortable for a guy that had taken he calls it three months off, somewhere between two and three months off, and he looked very comfortable. It was very clear why he was added to this team

on both ends of the floor. And I think people, of course were nervous about about how quickly he'd be able to come back from injury, and I think he's sort of put those stouts at bay rather quickly in these in these first three games. He just he's a consistent veteran. He's everything people said that he would be.

You know what I mean. Comfortable is key for me when you say that, Lauren, because not just comfortable for him, but comfortable for me when I'm watching, I feel like he's when he's out there on the floor, knowing that he's you know, he's under the controls of the offense, having the ball in his hands, and even comfortable defensively. So we have questions about anybody else defensively at the guard position, he's not one of them. And he's experienced.

We've talked about all of this before, knows what it's like to play on a big stage. He's been in the title title games and he has performed well. So I cannot I can wait because I gradually want to see how it progresses. But it's good to see that they've added this type of veteran. This is what we've been talking about. This is what we wanted to see. And while we're not making them out for me, you know,

the superstar player. We're talking about a team ball, and he fits into the team concept and with what they need. And his performance against Phoenix and even Milwaukee, albeit you know, some struggles and it kind of got out of hand quickly as we talked about, you can see it. I feel comfortable with him on the floor to Meet's intriguing offensively, because let's say you had him out there with another

reserve guard, whether it's Tyrese Maxie or Shake Milton. I think with those guys, you know, if it's either George and Shake or George and Tyrese, either one could initiate if you wanted. Either one could play off the ball if you wanted. But going back to something that you

referenced Divan, I think it's defensively. That's when you're like, Okay, I need a guy who's been through it to go up against Steph Curry for a little bit like what we saw in the game on Monday, Or I need him to take on a Drew Holliday or a Chris Middleton or a Devin Book or how Chris Paul, however you want to scheme it up wherever you think you

need to put a more seasoned defendering exactly. Yes, I mean that's where it seems like defensively, where the Sixers can maybe try and neutralize what could have been potential matchup issues a little bit. And I'd just add, as I often do, clearly another great veteran leadership presence in the locker room. We heard guys talking about his vocal leadership or advice that he was giving on the bench

way before he even joined the team. This week, Tyrese, Maxie Matisse, Thybel both gave him a lot of credit for being in their ear, helping them gain advantages in the games he wasn't playing in, and then how excited they were to add him to the rotation on the floor. So cool that he could come in at this point in the season, make a positive impression on the young guys and the veterans alike, and then make that positive

impression on the court as well. I guess the big question that we cannot let go and answer, at least in this form is does George Hill look like Devon Givens? Is there some doppelganger activity happening? So typically, right when you when you're someone says you look like anyone you're You're like, nah, it don't look like me. Look I understand features, long face maybe, and facial hair and the light skin maybe, But I don't know. And I've heard this for over a year and a half now at

the station, and now that he's actually here. So I sent you the when he first suited up for the team. I sent you the all the Twitter notifications that I received asking if it was me that was actually playing. So yeah, I guess, I guess we have to speak to Georgia. He and I gonna have to do it a little sit down side by side. Yeah, and just yeah, it's my new brother. I'm not sure if I could have seen it before. I might a little bit of it. I don't know. I sent it to my kids. They

were like, I don't know that. I don't think so. So that's that's that's my that's my barometer right there, Lauren, Lauren, you're quiet on this. Yeah, I was gonna say, we're just ducking here. I think it's because I don't really see it good good, Not that I don't. I mean you you enumerated the features that you could draw comparison too. Sure,

but I don't think I really see it. Maybe just because I was watching a lot of George Hill film over the last few days that I feel like I've now seen both of you enough times in close proximity that I don't see it. I mean, I don't hate it. I don't know. I just don't. I don't see it either. Yeah, you look bad looking guy or anything. So I'm flattered. But you know he should come one. That's right. I'm the oldest anyway, so you know he's he's the younger brother.

I'll say this I think that if if the facial hair weren't there, and I'm not suggesting that you did your facial hair, I'm not sure if people would draw the connection as close of a connection. I think that's I would agree. I feel like that's kind of what's strong people in. Yeah, well, hey, six as folks, our family set this up. We can talk Georgia and I all right, Rob get on it. That's right, paging Rob King. We have to do it, Rob King. Yeah, all of

you guys. Guys, we could spend I think forever talking about who doppelgangers are. My last question before we wrap it up for this week, Ben Simmons, Let's bring it back to him. Would we expect things to be different? How much? If so? Should he play in Round three between the Sixers and Bucks on Saturday. Well, Ben's been excellent against Yannis lately and that was the biggest hole to me. Seltie and I talked about it pregame last

night or on Thursday night. Who was going to guard Jannis and who could do it an extended period of time and given the options, docer Verse didn't want to put Tobias on him right away, and his first game back Joel Embiid had playing in it back to back. There's plenty of bigs that he had to worry about.

Ben's ability to slow Jannis down is the thing that I think the team missed most in that first game, and of course wouldn't miss should should Ben be available, But I think people can't forget that he was not available in that one, and if he is available and these teams do come together in the playoffs, it's going to be a totally different story. And keep in mind the first matchup, Joel Embiad didn't play, so we really haven't seen anything even close to what Sixers Bucks should

look like. And maybe we'll get treated to it down the road. And not just that, of course, with Jannis being the key, also, as I mentioned earlier, a switchability with brook Lopez and also Chris Mills when certain matchups are out there, if if, if brook Lopez is off the floor, and maybe I'll go a little smaller, de Vincenzo come into the game apartment de vincenz has already

gave Pat Corninson comes into the game, Brent Forbes. However, they decide to go Bobby Portness, even that Simmons can still maybe switch over and slow Middleton down as well, since he's such an important part. So around three Saturday, I hope we do see him. He's never on a minute's restriction, and I hope he has all of his fluids,

you know, the illness that he has. Make sure he's good to go because it's going to be a matchup out there, and quite frankly, it would be nice to see them pick up a w against the Milwaukee Bucks because this will be the last time that we would see those these two teams face off until the postseason. Well, put per usual on all fronts, whether we're talking about matchups, doppelgangers,

other things. Guys, thank you very much, Thank you all right this week for our self promotional send off coming up on Monday, per Usual Mailbag Monday with myself and Lauren Rosen. Believe will have a new episode of Coach Check with Matt Murphy next week as well, And if you didn't have a chance to listen to the latest edition of Tom's Talks with Tom McGuinness, be sure to

check it out. He catch us up with Mike Green and Lisa Saulters of ESPN and has always be sure to follow us on the scoop our feed, your daily five, and an update on the seventy six ers. Just search seventy six ers scoop wherever you get your pods. Talked to you next week. See you