Mailbag Monday | Embiid Impressions, Reed Reviews

Embiad's return. We talk about his first game backs, plus another cloths out performance from Tobias Harris and the read if Paul Read dunked it for the Sixers, and we give some love to be Baul Paul right here on Mailbag Monday. Mailbag Monday returns as we begin on the bag, the post cf era Lauren Rosen, I'm scared. Should I know what the post cf era is? You know it without knowing it? It's gonna take y Yeah, the postcat

filter era. Ah, yes, no that's not where it. I wouldn't have got there, but yeah, at some point we might have to integrate filters just to keep things fresh. Cells. What a mailbag that was that was a fantastic mailbag last week with the president. It was really fun. So apologies to all those who was hope. We're hoping that he might become a third co host. Sadly you're stuck with us for the foreseeable future. Maybe we could peg him down to do an occasional guest spot, a recurring

role on mail Bag Monday. He did say at the end that he will come back. Yes, yeah, he said he would come back if he wasn't in too much trouble after the filters and the edits and all that. So he's down now that I'm think about it. I'm not sure if that made the final cut his comment about that, but he did say it. He said, if I'm allowed back, I'll be back. We got to have him back. Did my new title make the final cut? I don't remember either, because those were together. I think

that was scrapped. I think, oh, he wants to give me a new title. I'll put that on Twitter. Yeah for anyone. That's for anyone that's dying to know a poll, get some ideas. How does mail Bag Monday work? Well, last week it worked with Lauren and Darryl Morey. It was awesome. Going to our back catalog if you've not yet listened, it was the episode for last week. But it's really simple. Anytime of the day, week, month, or year.

Hit either Lauren or myself up if you have a question, if you want to DM us, if you want to get in our mentions, but the preferred method is call the pod line two on five four zero three seven six three seven two on five four zero three pods. Leave us a voicemail about anything at all, and you will be entered into the swag Bag weekly giveaway, which we love to do. We got some new merch as part of our weekly giveaways, some new hats, different color

ways with the caps. Festive love that. Indeed, I think we have a blue and red cap now, not just the ball and ben gray and blue. So that's part of our swag stash right now. I'm all about it. That's awesome. Before we open up the bag for this week, tough one for the seventy sixers on Sunday at the

Center one sixteen one hundred loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. Lauren, Just because I choose to view my world this way, I'm not going to focus in too much on that more of the bigger picture was that Joel Embiid returned on Saturday. It was great to see him out there, rusty in some areas, but all and all, he had a big impact on the game and a Sixers win over the Timberwolves. And then Sunday, right of course, the guy just came back the first time in over three weeks.

You gotta arrest him for sure, And it seemed like post game. As everybody that listens now must know, I'm always in on the postgame no longer scrums, will call them postgame zooms. And the general feeling last night on Sunday night after the loss was sort of look like the schedule is crazy. Every once in a while, you're going to just have a tough night. They all admitted

that they didn't bring the juice. They admitted that it felt really difficult early, and Memphis was, credit to Memphis, very strong, very ready for the Sixers to falter for an evening. But to take a page out of the great Ted Lasso's book, the general vibe was to be a goldfish, just to forget about it and move on, keep it moving. For those of you that haven't watched Ted Lasso, yet sels what a delight that show is.

It makes me. It's changed the way I watched sports, and I just want to make sure that i'm pop culture current. The SAG Award winning Jason Sadakis ted Lasso. I think he took home a SAG on Sunday from not on a golden globe for it too, didn't he? Yes, I believe you're right. Yeah, it's such a good show and for what it's worth circulating around the entire Sixers organization. I feel like everybody I talked to has been watching ted Lasso lately. Maybe that's the key to all the

success it could be. Yeah, My my consumption after the game on this is content consumption, not any other type of consumption. On Sunday was SAG slash versus an epic versus on Sunday night. I am not up to date on versus. I'm not up to date on award shows. I finished the game, I did the zooms, and I was rushing to bed last night, Selts, I was so tired.

I have no idea what happened beyond Sixers versus Chrislies on Sunday, Well, the verses, the real verses was Eisley Brothers Verse, Earthwind and Fire featuring Steve Harvey in a pastel purple suits. That's a lot. I'm happy that you got to experience that. It was great. All right, no one cares about this. Let's get to the mail bank. You have one new message. Joel Embiid was the main headline of the week. One thing we discussed on the Friday Deep Dive with the von Gibvens last week was

Joel Embiid MVP. Can he get back into the running if he hits his statistical minimums? And Fred Abner on Twitter says, depends on how Denver fares the rest of the year. They of course have Nikola Yokich. If Inbiad dominates to the rest of the season and the Sixers maintain the one seed, it is all Joel's regardless, I would tend to agree. I think that that our caller

is spot on with one. I think if the Sixers can maintain a one seed, if Joel can get back to the stats that he was posting prior to the break, I don't think anybody else can win the award. To be honest, like you said, you can't miss too many more games because he hasn't played quite as many games as a Yokich has, for example, but he's also played dare I say a lot more defense than Yokich has, for example. So that's where I'll leave that. I would

agree his defensive impact is at a different level. Seventy Sixers could end up finishing with a better record. Even in that game, Lauren, on Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Sixers ended up winning by nine points, and Bid, you could tell he was rusting in certain areas, shot not falling quite as consistently as we're used to. He was, you know, only making six baskets in the game. He's a fifty two percent field goal shooter, and listen, I

think that that was to be expected. He made some turnovers late in the game, right, the guy hadn't played in nearly a month, almost. But there were other things he did. The and one on Towns on the baseline the block of Ant Edwards where he somehow contured his body to tip the ball away with the Sixers up eight in the final minutes. I mean, that is incredible stuff for anyone to do, let alone being on the shelf for three and a half weeks. Tidbit we talked

about in our pregame show last night selves. He told his teammates that he didn't plan to dunk on Saturday. He said he was going to take it slow, ease his way in, and then sure enough, we got a one hander, we got a two hander. He went all

the way a couple of times. And it's funny to hear from his teammates that that wasn't expected, but they kind of knew he would, And it was cool to see him show flashes of what he's been doing all season long, and then afterwards to be candid about the fact that he feels like there's a lot more there and that he was, in fact a little rusty, which I believe is understandable. More Joe content in the bag.

You have one new message RoboCop Jerry twenty five A. I never know, Lauren, whether to go with the true handle of someone or their nickname on Twitter. Well, how would you rule on that? Oh, that's a good question. I mean, handle is helpful for potential added followers, but name might be more related to what their actual name is. I don't know. I think you can bounce back and forth. All right, we're gonna go handle on the splay handle Jerry twenty five a within being returning the Sixers and

Kad to the Nets coming back. At some point, I can see Joel taking the lead for MVP because of something we just talked about his defense, while James Harden takes a back seat. Sixers may have a better team than the last two champions. So Jerry's talking about the Lakers and the Raptors, but the Nets may have the best team ever assembled once kd is back. That might be a bit of a stretch in my opinion, but

I hear what he's saying. I think that one of the things with Brooklyn is that they have so much talent, the wealth's got to be spread around. That's not to say the Sixers don't have talent, but we're talking about like all leagues superstar talent with Brooklyn. That, yeah, they're gonna have to figure out how to spread the ball, share it around. James won't have to do as much scoring you'd figure once Duran is back, and then Joel

when he's with the Sixers, he is the primary main option. Well, look, I think a lot of fans are looking for to hopefully seeing both of those teams face each other at full health, whether it's in the regular season or in the postseason. Because I think we know that the Sixers are going to have to find a way to contend on offense against a team with that many offensive weapons, but the Nets are going to have to find a way to contend on defense with a team that has

so many defensive weapons like the Sixers do. It's a really interesting matchup because I believe that the strengths don't necessarily align with the strengths between both teams, but they both have some very impressive strengths that make sense, made sense in my head. I think that is the point when it comes to looking at the Sixers in the Nets, not even so much how they end up the regular season, but in the playoffs. As we know, to fall back

on the cliche, it's all about matchups, right. So the Sixers, you think, maybe in the front court, might have a certain advantage at least at the five spot, but then around the rest of the roster, the strength for Brooklyn comes out of its backcourt. They added LaMarcus Aldridge, They've added everyone. They added Blake Griffin. I cannot wait Laren until Wednesday, April fourteenth at the center. Yeah, that'll be a big one. God will be a lot of fun.

Hopefully Again, both teams bring their best, bring their healthy players, because it could be a preview for what's to come down the stretch. So it's another thing they say about the playoffs. It's not that they say offense wins championships. They do say that defense wins championships. And if we want to go based on Cliche's only matchups and defense

winning championships, I don't know. I feel good, not good about this matchup or about the Sixers abilities in the matchup, but I feel excited to see what the matchup rings. Going to the pot line for the first time, let it roll. You have one new message? Hi, does is sane? I am officially turning in my bias paris apology letter. It's kind of like twelve pages long, so I may have to nail it to you, but here it is.

All right, have a great one, good night. First of all, Lauren love hearing from zeneb one of the best, an absolute legend. I wish we were recording video right now because as soon as I heard her name, I just lit up. I smiled. So Ba z One of the best of six ers Twitter, a wonderful human and hey, I am here to accept that apology letter with open open arms. It takes a big person to admit when I don't know when, I don't want to say when

you were wrong. But I think as a society we should do a better job of normalizing changing your opinion when presented with new information, and she has clearly done that. So shout out to Z for that emotional intelligence, for that willingness to evolve. That letter will be accepted here with open arms. I concur do we think that Z chose the length of twelve pages because of the number that Tobias Harris waars. Was that just a coincidence or

was that purposeful? I'm willing to I'm willing to accept that whether or not it was on purpose. I think she. I think she nailed it, and I agree with you. Listen, society should be all about embracing changing perceptions and that sort of thing. But on the flip side, I would say Tobias himself has four the issue and has made people change their look and outlook and perception on what he's capable of doing. Listen, Tobias was in a great

spot before this season. I think everyone would agree about that. But he's taken his game to a new level this year, not just statistically, but what he's done in fourth quarters. The game against Minnesota was the latest example, eight straight points in the final three minutes of regulation to put Minnesota away. He finished with thirty two points, twelve points in the fourth quarter alone. He's a closer. He is a closer. He has been just so good late in games.

We cannot say it enough with Joel on the floor. Without Joel on the floor, he's expressed since he got here in twenty nineteen that he wants to be a closer. He truly is, and I think credit to no one except to Bias Harris for changing the way that the narrative has gone. I think the conversation surrounding Tobias over the last couple of years has been up and down.

It's probably been frustrating for him. You and I have always known him as just a wonderful human and I think that the world has seen that, and now they're also seeing him as a wonderful player. And that is only because of the hard work that he's put in and the determination that he's shown, and the improvement that he's shown. He's been wonderful and he deserves all the credit he's getting from around the league. And I praise

zaneb for calling in on the pod line. We know her voice on Sixer's Twitter, it is unmistakable, but to actually hear it like it is from any of you out there who have called in and hopefully called in the future, it's great to actually hear your voice and put it with the tweets or the posts. She's a legend. I love that. Moving right along, you have one new message, another great member of Sixers Twitter who we always appreciate engaging with both of us. Angie's Underscore Diary talking about

Tobias Harris after the game on Saturday. I think this is a topic, Lauren, that rightfully so will not go away the rest of this year. The scorn factor with Tobias. He deserved to be an All Star. Angie's Underscore a Diary said after the game on Saturday. Cannot dispute that statement pretty much under any circumstances, but especially after your guy closes out important dub selts. My girls are showing

up on the podcast today. I love hearing from Zanab hearing from Angie six or Twitter has a very impressive contingent of female women that I just love engaging with online and I love now that I get to engage with them on the pod. Angie is one of a kind and she's been awesome. She's been an awesome follow If you're not following her on Twitter, you should check

it out. She's part of the wholesome content for Gaide that I'm so proud of and great to hear from her, great to hear that she's hopped on the Tobias Harris bandwagon. There's space for everybody, and wagon happy to have you. I feel like, as long as you're not a coach who voted against him, Tobias is more than willing to let everyone on the bandwagon. That's what it seems like

to me. I do think Tobias would would request a vote passport before if he was the one that was welcoming people onto the bandwagon, he might have to see the receipts. Personally, I'm willing to forgive former choices as long as they are amended next season. Like I said before, if you change your opinion when presented on new information, I'm gonna I'm gonna have to accept you for who you are, But I like that Tobias isn't It's clearly

making him play excellent basketball. Gotta hit this step before we close down the conversation about Tobias Harris here on the mail bag, shooting splits going into Sunday's game against Memphis, fifty two and a half from the field, just under forty one percent from three, and a tick over ninety percent from the free throw line. Only eight players in NBA history have put together fifty forty ninety seasons. Here they are Larry Bird, Steve Nash, Mark Price, Reggie Miller,

Dirk Naviski, Kadi Steph and Malcolm Brogden. Tobias Harris would love to see him become number nine. I wish I had remembered everybody that you said, but most of the people on that list certainly all stars. And if Tobias ends up joining that list by the end of the season, you would hope that he could join that all star

list next year as well. Beginning to head into the home stretch of this week's mail bag, which has been quite joyful so far, back to the pod line, you have one new message, Lauren himself, love the pod, keep doing great stuff. As far as dball Paul goes, I'd love to see him get some good minutes in the regular season here with Ben. I don't think he's going to compete in the playoffs for us, but never know, he could be that Jonah Boldon that was promised one

day talk to you soon. I think there are a couple good points Lauren in that voicemail about bball Paul. First of all, props to him. He got his most minutes in an NBA game against the Grizzlies on Sunday, played thirteen minutes, ten points, six rebounds. But he is

becoming all the more intriguing. I mean, I remember, not too long ago before the G League bubble, Doc Rivers was asked in a media availability about his thoughts on Paul Read and he said he I'm trying to remember the exact words he's probably aren't them, so I'm not quoting Doc, but this is the general gist of what Doc said that he kind of felt like Paul was still raw, a little bit funky, needed some polishing, but

he continues to be more and more intriguing. Certainly, if you win both the MVP and Rookie of the Year at any level. You turn some heads anyone out there, and did some good things when the Sixers needed some punch in the game against the Grizzlies. I like the words that you chose. I think Doc said something similar. Yes, a little raw, a little funky, but you can see he's starting to fine tune some things. Doc mentioned that he doesn't quite know the offense yet, he's not exactly

sure where his spots are, which makes sense. He just got back from his time in the Gubble, and prior to the Gubble was not really in the rotation, so he's learning. He's learning quickly. He's obviously eager his teammates have embraced him. I am all in on the Beeball Paul experience. It's entertaining, it's fun. I think his disposition is terrific. I like his personality, just kind of business like, but also you can tell that he's enjoying this initial

part of his ride. After the game on Sundays said something the effect where you know he's working on a lot. He's working on a couple of things, communicating, but also getting in the weight room because he's playing with the big guys now and he doesn't want to. I forget what the exact quote was. I thought he said like he didn't want to be like too sweet down there

on the block. I can't remember exactly what it was, but he made a tongue in cheek remark about, you know, needing to bulk up a bit to bang with some of the bigger NBA, more veteran bodies down low. Well, he doesn't want to be messed with. And credit to him because when he went into the G League bubble and started playing really well, he said, this is exactly what I'm supposed to do. He has decided that he's going to carve out a spot for himself in this league.

He told us Selts the day after the draft that he was gonna be a good NBA player. He has decided, and now he's taking all the steps he needs to take to do that. Congrats of course, too, Paul for signing his standard NBA deal last weeks. He's said he's going to do something. He's set out towards the goal, and he is, one by one picking off, picking off all of the mile markers necessary to accomplish that goal. Credit to him. One more from the podline before he

shut it down for the week. I chuckled larn when I first heard this one. You have one new message when Tony Bradley's jurity retirement Parlonia. Thank you, short, sweet, simple, But I love the sentiment. Hey, we we have to. I don't think we've had an opportunity to appropriately send off Tony Bradley with an appreciative remark or two, commanding him for his service with the seventy sixers. What a way to go out with the double double against the

Golden State Warriors. He was part of the George Hill tray that also brought in Iggy Brusdakis and always played a couple of games, though Casey had a double figure game at Portland the other night. Tony Bradley, great guy and listen, he made the most of the opportunity he had here, no doubt about it. Speaking of guys that have that have manifested really good seasons for themselves, we

just talked about Beeball Paul and his growth. But but Tony Bradley during his time as a Sixer, like you said, just a great guy, nothing but a delight to work with and then to see his growth on the court to see the way that he worked himself into shape throughout this season and then worked himself into a really important or what figures to be a really important trade for the Sixers based on his play. Really impressed by

Tony Bradley, of course, wish him all the best. I think Sixers fans will always have the true Sixers fans, the non casuals will always have a sweet spot for Tony Bradley. That's a guy that I can't imagine ever getting booed at the Center. I believe he's going to get a pretty warm welcome on his first return. The Tony Bradley experience another thing that I was all in

on and wish him nothing but the best. And who knows, maybe when you yes you out there, go to the Center for a game before the season is out, you'll look up. Maybe they'll do it before the Nets game in a few weeks. You'll look up in the rafters and there will be the number eleven flying and hanging high, commemorating Tony Bradley's service to the seventy Sixers. Worked out for everyone. Sixers got a great deal and now Tony's

got a bigger full time opportunity, so everybody wins, no doubt. Listen, I know that we've done this before, a mailbag coming off a Sunday loss. This is a good mail bag. Appreciate everyone chiming in. We heard from some great peeps. We always from great peeps, but this this one was good this week. I agree, especially love hearing from my sixers ladies. That was really fun for me. It was a nice Monday morning surprise. So keep it up, gals. I'm with you. Love it. Lauren, thank you very much,

Thank you Seltz. If you heard your name or handle on the mailbag this week, be on the lookout and your DMS. We will notify you if you are the winner of this week's swag bag. And as long as nothing changes on our schedule, here's what to come this week on the seventy six Ers podcast Network. Tuesday, are

a Man with the Bluecoats. Matt Murphy checks in with a season recap round table with the great d Lineum and Jason crafton Coming up on Thursday, a new edition of Tom's Talks with the one and only Tom McInnis, and then on Friday, it's Lauren, myself and ninety seven five to the fanatics, divon gibbons, and of course, the morning of and morning after every single Sixers game. It's

The Scoop, your five minute daily Sixers update. Search seventy six Ers podcast wherever you get your pods for both feeds, find us and give us a following. See it