Mailbag Monday | Career Highs and a Key Rematch

it every week on mail Bag Monday. Yes, a lot to cover and discuss on this week's edition of the mail Bag. Lauren, it was a busy, active week when we spoke this time last week, seventy Sixers. We're getting ready to wrap up a four game Western Conference trip with the best team in the league, the Utah Jazz. Little did we know that Ben Simmons would go off

for a career high forty two points. He would then miss the next two games, a span during which his fellow All Star teammate Joel Embiid would not only be named to another All Star Game as a starter, but explode for a career high fifty points of his own against the Chicago Bulls, and then the seventy Sixers come back for the start of a two game road trip against conference rival Toronto. A spirited, competitive game down in Tampa didn't go the seventy Sixers way. I feel like

I'm forgetting something. Oh yes, Doc Rivers named for the third time in his career as the head coach in an All Star Game. So yes, a lot of stuff happening over the past week. Yeah, some good stuff, Like, let's not forget there was some good stuff that happened this week. Yeah, always tough to tape this podcast review the day after a more difficult evening, which certainly Sunday in Tampa was. But I do like the idea of the team getting a second swing at them tomorrow night,

Tuesday night in Tampa. Once again, this is a team that has a press that they don't ever want to get in the habit of multiple losses in a row, and because that happened rather recently, you'd hope that they bring a little bit more fire, a little more fight on Tuesday night. That is a cool thing about this whole getting to play teams multiple times in a row, thing that honestly, I'd be cool with doing again next year.

I think this should be a thing, no doubt. I think there's a lot of logic that you can apply to it. One, it makes things more efficient on the travel schedule. And then two, right, especially when you have these series against conference and division rivals, it adds that much more to it. I'm with you. I am so pumped for the fact the seventy sixers have an opportunity to get right back at it against Toronto on Tuesday.

See if there's so many adjustments in the span of three days that Doc and the coaching staff can make and help the seventy sixers get on the right side of things after that one ten one h three loss. Before we dip into the mailbag for this week, I'm going to go into the Brian Seltzer personal mailbag. And I'm not typically one to opine strongly or give takes or perhaps share my innermost deepest feelings, but i will say there was something about the game on Sunday night

that just kind of sat with me. And I think it's because the loss was to Toronto and psychologically for me and optically, it's like again with these guys, it's like for the last seven years, for the better part of the regular season, they've just had the Sixers number. And personally, I don't put any stock whatsoever in the

stat that everyone was throwing out after the games. Well, it's sixteen regular season road losses to Toronto, doesn't matter if it's in Canada or Florida, like, Okay, fine, the streak is the streak, But rosters change every year and sometimes from month to month within a season, so I don't really buy too much into the streak. But there was just something about the fact that it was the Raptors. It seemed like they made the Sixers a little bit

uncomfortable in that game on Sunday. And I'm also respectful of the fact of a they always seem to play with an edge and B they develop the heck out of their players. That's not to say the Sixers don't, but just look at some of the guys that Toronto has rolled through in recent years. It really helps them replenish.

Despite who comes and goes long winded, I'm done, and scene you've got to respect the way that that team plays in general, the way that they stay relevant, they stay good, They're always a competitor in the way that they play the seventy Sixers. What I'll say is listening to you talk about the Let's I mean, I think it's a rivalry at this point between two teams. Listening to you talk about it makes me happy to have Doc Rivers in the fold because Doc Rivers probably isn't

super keen on the whole. The Sixers don't get up for the Raptors. The Sixers can't beat the Raptors. That's not something that he's super familiar with, so he's not going to let that become a thing, even if some of the guys on the roster might feel it a little bit. So I like the idea that Doc Rivers is probably huddling up with them just coming up with a way to win the next game, as opposed to laboring on it the way that you or I might

because I totally hear you. I like though, the idea that the guy that's in charge probably doesn't feel what we feel right now. And I think one of those games, at least for me, where it's observations to be filed away for later, like is their panic is there even concern No. As I said, it was just something where I woke up Monday and I'm like, man, okay, there are a few things here there love to see clean up for round two, which could happen. But again, given

the opponent, I'm like those rafters. And I'll also say, what are the odds that, in my opinion, the three guys who you most rely on for their shooting, which would be Joel, Tobias, and Seth, are gonna go combine sixteen for forty nine and four for nineteen from deep Again, I just don't see that happening often. I hear you. I think that that was I mean, that was the consensus certainly in media. Last night. We heard from Doc, we heard from Ben, Joel, and Tobias, and they all

sort of came away with the same thought. They did like the looks that they got, which I'm willing to agree with. They they didn't fall, and sometimes that does happen, So as long as it doesn't happen again on Tuesday, I am willing to believe that they liked their looks. They just didn't fall. And this is a team who has gotten good looks all season long. They've done a good job of making their shots, finding each other, figuring

out what types of shots one another likes. And they still figured it out on Sunday, they just didn't fall. I'm willing to listen to that. I'm willing to sort of drink that kool aid if that's really how those guys are feeling. No, And I think some of the numbers if you look into the advanced box scores about contested and uncontested shots, I think that would support what players and doc rivers from the Sixers were saying after

the game. All right, let us officially move on from at least in terms of our thoughts and opinions Sunday's game, and we'll start to open up the mailbag in a moment. But if you are a first time listener to Mailbag Monday and you're wondering how does this all work, it's pretty simple. You can find Lauren and myself on Twitter or Instagram. For me, it's at Brian Seltzer on Twitter at Seltzer six or snaps on i G. Lauren is at Lauren m Rosen, making it one stop shopping for

both Instagram and Twitter. Hit us up with your thoughts opinions, takes with a D or a message or the preferred method. We'd love to hear from you on the pod line two five four zero three seven six three seven two on five four zero three pods. All right, let's get it going. You have one new message from the always thoughtful Vinnie Picaro measured thoughtful insights that he hits us up with On Twitter, he said about the game on Sunday,

difficult loss against a Surgeon Raptors team. Yes, Toronto playing very well over the last month and a half. Ben was sensational on both sides of the court. Joel was able to still score twenty five, but handed by Aaron Baines. This game certainly had a playoff atmosphere from the start. I don't think I disagree with any of those thoughts from Vinny larn I am with it as well. We should talk about how good Ben was, especially after missing two games with that non COVID illness. Over the two

game homestand last week. All the days are running together, but the two games prior to this one, Ben was not available and it was cool to see him come back. He did not miss a beat. He looked good, he looked aggressive, He looked confident. He did not look like someone who had to shake off any rust. So props to Ben for being able to get up and really get out there quickly, even after spending a little bit of time away. I thought that was certainly the biggest

positive takeaway from Sunday next game. I think one of the big questions after last week was, Okay, we saw Ben have his career high forty two against Utah without Joel Embiid. We then saw Joe have his career high

fifty on Friday against the Bulls without Ben Simmons. What's it gonna look like when the two of them now play together after those big games Sunday against the Raptors and if Joe knocks down some shots, which again, if I had shekels to wager, I would wager on him knocking down those shots next time around, the numbers for both of them would have been off the charts together. Ben twenty eight points against the Raptors over his last

four games. Lareen here's the breakdown, averaging nearly twenty eight points per game, shooting sixty nine percent from the field. His free throw numbers, He's thirty one for thirty nine over the last four games. That equates out to nearly eighty percent, almost nine rebounds, seven and a half assists, one and a half steals. And that's just on the superficial tangible stats and not even getting into some of the eye test stuff we've seen with all the tough

defensive assignments he's had to take on. Yeah, Doc Rivers challenged him to take ten free throws a game at the beginning of the season, and I think to a lot of people that felt like it was going to be a lot to see him regularly shooting ten, twelve, fourteen free throws, shooting them confidently ten for fourteen last night.

That's a really positive sign for Ben Simmons. He's not afraid to draw the contact and Doc Rivers said in the postgame that he loved it, that he loved that Ben was being aggressive, that he was getting to the line more often. That's something that could be so key for this team down the stretch, especially in the playoffs. You already have the league's leader in free throws attempted and free throws made in embeed. If Ben is getting to the line consistently as well, it is going to

annoy the heck out of some other teams. That's all I have to say. Vinnie Picaro is one of our regulars. Always love hearing him chime in on Twitter after games with thoughtful stuff. Thank you Vinnie. You have one new message, Hey, Bend Lauren just call him into the mail bag to kind of gets on the fixer's bench struggles and the idea of looking for a stretch four behind who we shoot the balls later on the postseason, or promoting Paul

Reid for a little bit before the trade dead. I'm who's killing it in the G League in to see if he could provide a lift to maybe to acquire somewhere else with the assets. So you have thanks, guys, have a good one our first voice mail Always love hearing from the podline and the people who chime in. There a couple different thoughts to respond to their Lauren.

The first about the bench and then also about this notion of a possible stretch four or five, and then bring up the name from the G League from the Bubble Bluecoats, Paul Reid, who is yes crushing it. Let's go to the bench. And I think Doc Rivers revealed an interesting nugget after the game on Sunday, suggesting that at least four the time being, he's opened the idea of playing Isaiah Joe Moore, which pay for a young, aunted rookie. I'm curious to see what Joe might be

able to do with those minutes. Yeah, good for him and why not. By all accounts, it seems like his head coach his teammates have been impressed with the way that Isaiah has stayed ready, stayed willing to make an impact wherever it is, whether it's in the final minutes of a win, whether it's when teammates are out due to health and safety protocols. This is a guy that stayed ready, stayed up for any opportunities, and so it's

cool to now see him get rewarded. I think as far as the rest of the bench goes, there have been some difficulties in that unit, but this is a unit that started out really strong Celts, and to be honest, I'm not willing to overreact about what's going on with them. I think a lot of guys are just a little bit cold right now. Shake is still shaking off the rust.

We know what for Concorkmas can do. He'll find his rhythm Matisse Thyble has shown glimpses of being a really good offensive player and looks like he's getting a little bit more comfortable. Of course, it would be great to see all those guys round into form at the same time. I didn't even mention Tyrese Maxie, who scored thirty nine points just a few weeks ago. These are guys that are going to find their rhythm. They're going to figure

it out. I'm not super concerned about this bench unit because the way that Doc Rivers has been talking about it is he's not going to use all of them in the playoffs. So as long as they can help this team through the regular season that they can help be a little bit more productive off dot bench. I just don't think they can all stay cold on the offensive end for much longer. I'm also believe a Lauren

that Mike Scott could help and contribute. Going back to the point about the stretch four or five, we know that when Scott was out for a big chunk of time, Doc Rivers was talking about how thin the Sixers' depth is at that spot, so I'm sure that's something that's on their mind. But yeah, Mike missed a lot of time. We know that he can win this team games. We've seen it their games when he can get really hot, and he's someone who can provide that presence at the

stretch spot. And I'd love to see Mike have an opportunity to get back into a groove of sorts and then see where he's at. But I do really appreciate that Paul Reid's name was even brought up. I think people are paying attention to the coach. There's seven to oh and beball Paul is out of control. Got to love beball Paul. Beball Paul has been called quirky by Doc Rivers. Daryl Morey told said that he was one

of the biggest steals in this draft. I do think this is a guy that has a ton of potential, and it's so clear in the bubble, in the gubble as we're calling it, that he is just doing a great job. He is absolutely eating down there. And you have to wonder if this wasn't a bubble situation, would Paul Reid have more opportunities in the next few games to maybe try to get his footing out there alongside the other guys. So as soon as as soon as those guys are back, Obviously, I don't know how it

works when exactly they'll be back. If Paul Reid could even be plucked out of that bubble situation where he's clearly thriving and learning a lot, I don't know. Is he going to factor it in the playoffs? Probably not? But do you want to see him continue to seize the opportunities that he gets, whether he's in the G League bubble with a Blue Coats or once he's back with the Sixers. Absolutely, what a pleasure, What a privilege

it's been to just watch Paul Reid thrive. Listen to this line helping the Blue Coats to a seven oh start in the bubble, averaging twenty two and a half points per game, shooting sixty percent from the field, thirty seven and a half percent from three, taking nearly three and a half triples per game, seventy five percent from the line, nearly twelve and a half rebounds, two and a half steals, one and a half blocks. Tremendous for B ball, Paul the eighth pick in the draft, tremendous.

Love to see it back to the bag. You have one new message. Chris del Kond of saying Shake is the help, referring to the bench. He's out, it is what it is. Well, he was back on Sunday, so that's good. And I don't want to make it sound

too simplistic, but we've talked about this before, Lauren. I can't remember if it's been on a mail bag Monday, a Deep Dive Friday, a seven to six live count depresented by Tso we talk a lot, and we've talked about the fact that when Shakemilton was out, the seventy six ers obviously took a big hit in their per game scoring average for the bench. So now that Shakes back, I would expect to see things start to get a little bit more back in order with the bench, at

least from a scoring standpoint, no doubt about it. I would say the same thing I said for the last question. We got to just be patient with this group of bench guys, young guys that have all shown that they can be super productive in their roles. They're guys that know their roles. Let's give them a minute to find their stride. Especially Shake, who missed five games and dealt with that injury. That must have been difficult because he had he did have such a strong start the season.

He was being relied upon fifteen points a game. No, that's not nothing. So I would love to see Shake just have a little bit more of an opportunity to just heat up, warm up, get back to what he was doing at the beginning of the season, and I think it'll make a huge difference for that entire bench unit. Time for another voicemail, you have one new message. I think that people are starting to overreact to some losses, and I know they're important to build a stammera and

to help people pay attention to the sixtions. But I think that Darrel Lorie is a good person to have the hands as a team inner. I think that she'll make decisions when he needed to love on a mail bag Monday following a loss, a very measured and composed call on the podline. Yes, I tend to agree that perhaps some people overreact a bit to certain losses, depending on who the opponent is and how the games go down.

And listen a lot of faith in Daryl Morey, and I think, yes, in Daryl, we trust, no doubt about it. This is one of the guys with the most consistent track record as an executive in this league, maybe the most consistent track record as an executive in this league. He's someone you have to trust with the keys, with the launch codes, if you will. He's the type of guy you want to have in charge making these big

decisions when it's time for them to be made. And I like the fact that there haven't been too many yet. I like that Daryl made some big moves in the offseason brought in the type of shooting that Joel Embiid has consistently praised him for bringing in. I think that this is a group that looks good together. We forget pretty quickly that they're still leading the Eastern Conference. They are still the number one seed and have been for

a really long time now. I like, I'm very confident, like our callers like you, that Darryl Moorey is going to make good decisions for this team, and only when it's time to make good decisions for this team. It's good that we're not. We don't have someone who's gonna overreact,

and we don't have someone who's gonna underreact either. How many general managers out there in any sport can quote Sondheim in reference Cosette and Javert while also pulling the strings for a number one seed, absolute legend, absolute legend. We might have to do you know what sells. I've been thinking about it since he got here. At some point we're gonna have to do a deep dive pod with Daryl Morey, but about musical theater, not about basketball,

and I'm gonna make it happen. I think that that's definitely something to put on the list. And why not. I mean, listen, we need to showcase diversatile, diverse personalities of all these great people, no doubt about it. We have players with awesome off court interests that sometimes we have the privilege of highlighting. Let's do it for Darryl Morey too, love it, move it on. You have one new message? Gee John Jones Jonesy underscore Whales on Twitter.

He says, I know MUSSOFTI but I really like this team and staff as humans. They have a positive vibe and likable guys who do a ton of good I love it, love the seth doc dynamic dot coaching in the All Star Game. This is really good stuff. Thank you Jonesy Whales for that ray of sunshine on yet another snowy morning in the Philadelphia area after a tough loss to Toronto. That's the type can we get a vibe check Lauren Rosen, because that is your subbeat specialty.

That's the type of energy we need. I think I feel that one percent. It really has been a pleasure to watch the way that these guys have started to get along and developed chemistry encourt off court. They've been on their feet cheering for each other as a bench since the preseason. It's just clear that this is a group of guys that really enjoys one another. They got back from a difficult road trip on the West Coast, they did lose three straight, and they came into the

Wells Fargo Center. They came into their first warm up on their home court with great vibes, and I really appreciated that. That's the kind of thing that I look out for. You don't want to see a group of downtrodden people getting ready to play a game, getting ready to try to win, and this is a group that knows how to keep the vibes up. I would shout out Vibe Captain's Danny Green Tobias Harris that those two

might be the Vibe Captains. They do a really good job of bringing everybody else into the vibes and then the other guys are willing to accept the vibes and be a part of it. I'm just watching these guys interact pregame, watching them interact on the bench. I completely agree with our caller here. I think that this is a group that does a really, really good job keeping the vibes high. I forgot about how long Danny Green has had a track record for bringing the said good

positive vibes. I was working on a project for one of our Black History Month inspiration pieces. Check it out, Nick McCain behind the sticks on the video edit. We also have a bonus episode here on the seventy six ers podcast network Feed, a narrative pot about Danny Green

and his journey. I totally forgot about Danny being like the insane jump around hype man for UNC when he was at Carolina for those four seasons, like the pregame jump around crazy dance that he did, And I saw some old footage of that, and I had totally forgotten about that whole thing. And it's cool now to see adult grown Danny Green still bringing that energy, still being the guy that helps hype up a Tyrese Maxie, who's the young guy that Danny green Ones was at UNC.

I just love his presence with this group. I love the way that he's clearly making an effort to make sure that everybody feels welcome, feels encouraged, feels happy, feels the vibes, and shout out to Tobias Harris, who's also been doing the same since he got here. Now over, has it been over two years for Tobias with the Sixers? Yes, we have crossed the two year mark earlier this month.

It's crazy. I'll say this about the vibes. I know that some people might say, well, what does that do as far as long term will it get you wins? And that sort of thing. I will say, Listen, the Sixers have hit a couple bumps in the road the past few weeks compared to how it went for the first six weeks the season, and I like hearing the poise, reassurance, confidence coming from some of the players after the Sixers run into a roadblock, like after the game against Toronto.

Didn't sound like there was any worry or true concern. It was just like, hey, we understand what some of the issues were. Some of it was self inflicted. Let's diagnose the problem, let's get right back at it. And I think that's where if you're trying to apply some significant meaning to some of the Kumbayas stuff that we like to talk about, I think that's where you can look. Yeah,

there's no shade, there's no blame after losses. And I think that while there should never be probably in the NBA shade or blame after losses, the six or team is certainly not doing that. They are very supportive of one another, and that stretches across the entire roster. I mean, look no further than what Joel Embiad has said about his teammates after wins after losses. He's always willing to give props, whether it's your number two or three guy like a Ben Simmons or a Tobias Harris, or it's

the rookies. Joel Embiad has been really really engaged with the way that his teammates have been doing and he's been very supportive, very complimentary all along. I really appreciate the way that they talk to one another and the way that they talk about one another. I think that that is something that can't be undervalued, especially when you're going to go to battle together in the playoffs, which this is something that this team is already looking ahead

at all. Right, let's wrap it up with some rapid fire. You have one new message. We will scroll through some of our Twitter mentions. Two of the seventy six ers All Stars, Joel Embiad and Ben Simmons, had some of their best performances ever since we last did a mail bag Monday. Joel embeat of course the fifty McNugget piece on Friday versus the Bulls. Tony's Pep says, other than MVP, there's nothing else to say at this stage of the season.

I would say perhaps maybe an Eastern Conference title, and who knows more than that? Maybe if I'm getting greedy, But yeah, I totally agree, Like, what else can you say about Joe at this point? I asked him a tease bible, what it's like to be Joel Embiad's teammate when he's going out there scoring fifty, scoring forty, with these crazy, crazy double doubles, nearing triple double. Mattie said that he is not surprised in any way that Joel Embid is an All Star starter. And that the group

is just waiting for him to be named MVP. They feel that at this point it should be a foregone conclusion. So I feel that Jim Russo, who shot Jr. Fourteen, as I've said in the past, Joel the most dominant player in the league right now. I love watching him play. I've heard a couple of people say this. I know that ala Abelnaby mentioned it on the NBC Sports Philly

broadcast on Sunday. Tom McGinnis has talked about it, and I think that Lauren, you and I have spoken about it as well, like this is one of those times, given the way and level at which Joe is playing, where you really got to step back. I'm sure you can get caught up in the minutia of games and results, but just to appreciate what we're seeing and knowing that for a very special player, this is clearly a special time in what is hopefully a long, great, successful career.

But just going into every game and being like, hey, this is one of the best players on the planet and having that excitement to see what he gives you feel that, and it's clear that the other Sixers feel that it's been cool to watch the way that they've all embraced the fact that they are playing with someone who's doing some pretty historic stuff right now. A couple more rapid fire from Twitter. Raphael and Ralph twenty three says Ben is a consistent jumper away from dominating the

league many MVPs if he ever works on it. I think Ben is showing exceptional work on the floor of the last couple of games. I love that the consistent thing has Ben Laaren his aggressive, go to the rack mindset, and I think when that happens, other good things happen. And he's showing that while playing the strengths of his game. Right now, you can do a lot of good from self and the Sixers, no doubt about it. I think

he said it all with that one. But it has been a pleasure to watch the way that we now have a few players that are capable of taking over and making sure that this team gets wins when those guys are super dialed in and firing. Love it. One more on Ben Simmons book. This photographer Trev the Owner says on Twitter, this is the Ben Simmons been telling

you all about. He has arrived. I think I'd be willing to say that Ben Simmons planted his flag about his landing on the Sixers planet before this past week, But no, I think that. You know, some people might say, well, what's the Sixers record the last four games the band has played and all that. I understand those numbers. They are what they are. But the point is is this is an encouraging trend that you hope is something that

Ben can continue to move forward. I think that part of this year has been a feeling out process for him, most notably on the offensive end, and within that his scoring. I think every other part of his game has not dipped at all. You can make the argument that it's been elevated this year. He continues to rebound, he continues to facilitate and pass, push the pace, and obviously on the defensive end do what he does. But I think it's just been him trying to find his spot in

terms of scoring and that whole thing. And listen, can you fault a guy for trying to involve too other? I say too, but there's a lot of other guys on this team who could use the ball and get their touches to score. Well. Look, Ben, we've talked a lot about his confidence all season long, and his confidence on the defensive end is clearly there when he says that he thinks he's the best defensive player in the league, and then he's able to back it up defending quality opponents,

and then on the offensive end. I appreciate the way that all season long he's kind of said, Look, it doesn't matter how many buckets I score, as long as the team is winning. It doesn't matter what my scoring total is, as long as I'm creating opportunities for other people. But in the absence of Joel Embiad against Utah, we saw him sort of back that up and say, but if you need me to score, here's forty two points. And I appreciated that because I think that'll also be

good for his confidence. I feel like he is very much at peace with how this season has gone for himself, he said after that Utah game, Right, I don't necessarily need to drop a high volume point total to know that I've affected and dominated a game. So I think

that his mindset is in a healthy place. And I think that when people might ask, well, we still need Joe to score this amount and get this many shots, what does that mean for Ben and how is he still going to get his I think the key is kind of what we saw in that game on Sunday getting to the free throw line. And you said, Lauren, the magic number is ten what Doc Rivers wants to see in terms of attempts per game from the stripe.

So I feel like the more that Bank can get to the line and continue to build on what is hopefully something that can be sustained in this improved free throw shooting, that's going to make him that much more dangerous. Feel that, no doubt, hope he continues to be as aggressive as he's been in getting to the line because it can be such a weapon for this group. All Right. As we said at the start, there was a lot of material and noteworthy developments to cover on this week's

Mailbag Monday. Thanks to everyone for chiming in, Lauren, thank you, thank you. So here's what to look for the rest of this week. On the seventy Sixers podcast network, we will have a new episode of co Check with Matt Murphy reporting from the Bubble in Orlando, giving us the latest on the at least at this point in time, still undefeated at Delaware Bluecoats, A couple new installments in our Black History Month inspiration series, so look out for that.

And there's always five minute updates on the seventy six Ers the morning of and after every game. That's on a separate speed for the Scoop to search seventy six Ers Scoop wherever you get your pods. We'll talk to you next time see it.