Mailbag Monday | Memorable Moments, Playoff Forecast

round of the playoffs. I would love to see us play the Celtics in the first round. I think we have some unfinished business. Your DMS, mentions and voicemails. We do it each and every week right here on mail Bag Monday. It is a moving on to the playoffs edition of mail Bag Monday. Yes, I'm fired up, Lauren Rosen. I'm ready. I've been looking forward to this for a long time. I'm gonna be honest. I hate to sound like this because what we do, it's not digging ditches.

I've been ready for the playoffs for a long time, A long time, like maybe three weeks time. I know you have. I'm excited now you have, and I have kind of been savoring these last regular season moments. I think last night's game was a perfect example. I love this Sixer's bench and reserve unit and the vibes that they bring, and it was just nice to see them I'll get a chance to shine, and to have all of the starters who weren't playing on the bench just

cheering for them, just like everybody was happy. It was really nice, and I too, am very much looking forward to seeing that situation sort of reversed again in the playoffs. But for me, last night just felt like a nice like I don't know how to explain it, Like there's something nostalgic about about these last couple of games, and I really enjoyed it. So I'm with you, but I'm also in a different I don't know, I'm mostly with you.

It was a situation or five months ago, if you had looked at a game with those players starting, you might be like, you, well, what are we gonna get here? But with the benefit of five months time passing, you've gotten to see the maturation of my how Tyrese Maxie has grown up, my look at Paul Reid and how much he's developed Isaiah Joe the potential he has, so

it was great. It was an awesome way for some of the younger guys on this team, some of who might have roles of substance in the postseason, some of who might not get a chance Rayjon Tucker two way player, have a chance to get out there, show what they've got and head into a time of year where playing

time is going to be tighter on a really good note. So, for instance, if that's the last we see in extended minutes of Isaiah Joe for this season, he can go into the offseason on a great note because seventy six ers bench whooped up on the magic Anthony Tolliver three to four from three and ye sort of this not I don't want to say symbolic leader, but maybe just because we don't see them play together as much, it feels a little bit symbolic that he's the one it's

leading that low minute group in practice. Because they are so young and he's such a veteran on eleven different NBA teams, he's really taken those guys under his wing in a way that we don't get to see as fans and a viewers. And so it was cool to see him succeed, cool to see that whole group succeed together.

One nugget, And I'm sure that people that listen want to hear us talk about other things, but I want to do one nugget that I really appreciated from postgame last night, Doc Rivers explained that he went into the locker room and he explained to the guys that the starters were not going to be active absent Matis' thible as well, so there was a lot of opportunity for the guys in that low minute group. And he said, immediately they jumped to okay, like how can we win?

Like they wanted to win the game. And I'll remind everybody that they did not need to win that game. The Sixers had locked up the one seed. That's why a lot of players were likely inactive, But they wanted to win that game, and they paid attention and they were really engaged in the huddles, and it was just really cool to watch them get as excited as they were about what was ultimately a meaningless game. It was

so much fun. It was a very wholesome way to wrap up what has been a special season for the seventy six ers, forty nine, and twenty three, the eleventh best winning percentage for a season in franchise history. Number one seed obviously, a first since two thousand and one, first Atlantic Division title since two thousand and one. And I felt like once the game ended Lauren on Sunday night, in an unexpected way, I was kind of like, you know what, this was really cool. We got to see

something special, memorable. I wasn't expecting to, in my hardened, jaded ways, as someone who's been doing this for a while now, I wasn't expecting to feel an uplifting sense of closure at the end of the regular season, like we got to witness something neat and now I'm just looking full speed ahead to what waits in the playoffs. Was interesting. Intensity obviously ratchets up in the playoffs, and I don't know if we're going to be wistful for the days where the games didn't quite mean as much

and everybody was relaxed and enjoying themselves. But there was a group of us that spoke at the arena last night about not necessarily missing the time. I definitely wouldn't say that anyone misses the early days of the season where there were no fans, but there was a different vibe to that phase of just staff and players and just making it work and trying to create a home court environment that didn't quite exist to the way that anyone was used to. And of course I don't want

to go back to that. I way prefer having fans and in the playoffs, I'm not going to want to go back to the regular season. But there have been some distinct phases of the season that have been uniquely delightful, and hopefully we're getting ready for another phase that could be uniquely delightful as well. We are going to jump into the mail bag in just a few moments some great voicemails for this week that I cannot wait to play, but thought long would be helpful to just set the

scene for what couldn't lie ahead. For the seventy six ers. We don't really know. We know that the number one seed, we know they're going to be playing in the playoffs. As for who they face when we know where, we

just don't know the who or the when. First round game opener for that series is either going to be Saturday or Sunday, and of course the first round opponent could be some combination of either the seven seed Boston Celtics, eight seed Washington Wizards, nine seed Indiana Pacers, or the ten seed Charlotte Hornets. The good news is the Sixers have gone to combined eleven and one against those four teams this year. And of course that one against the Pacers a couple weeks or how a couple days ago,

I don't know. They all run together, could be years at this point. Yes, was it was a somewhat strange situation with I don't know that one was just a weird a weirdo game, I would say, And so I do. I do think that the way that the team has performed against these teams all season long should be heartening. I know that I didn't submit to the mail bag,

and apparently I should have. Dare I ask, do you have a preference among those four teams of who you see in the playoffs, whether for matchup value or entertainment value. So that is a question we asked for the mail bag. Some people did chime in on that. I would say probably the Charlotte Hornets. If we're looking at most favorable matchup, I think, and I'm gonna be honest, I haven't done a full deep dive into all four teams yet. We recently saw the Pacers. I think that they can be

challenging at times. I think a player like carrousel verdis shown that he can be a tricky matchup. Obviously, Demanta Sabonis is awesome. Celtics won't have Jaylen Brown, but they will have Jason Tatum and Kemba Walker. Got to respect those guys. Not really concerned about Tristan Thompson and the way that he would go up against Joel Embiid. I just look at the Hornets. You know, there's oh and

then the Wizards. Obviously you have two veteran studs in the backcourt in Beale and Westbrook, and they're a team that I think could make things interesting and challenging and perhaps draw out a series. But Charlotte, I just think that's a team that Joe can dominate. And if Joe's dominating, look out. I'm with you, I think matchup wise, I agree.

I would love to see the Hornets come out of this thing, purely from a poetic perspective, not my preference as someone that would like for the Sixers to win. How cool would it be to get Boston and just knock them out in the first round. That's what I want from a from a plot perspective, not what I want from like a realism person whose checks are cut by the sixers perspective. I like we your heads at and it happens to be in a similar space as one of our callers. So without further ado, let us

get two the mailbag. You have one new message. How do you participate in mailbag Monday? A couple of ways. Our preferred method is you give us a call on the good old podline two five four zero three seven six three seven two on five four zero three pods. Leave us a message anytime day, night, weekday, weekend, in season, out a season with your seventy sixers thought, question or take. We respond and we send you swag. We're going to

begin and tip off with this call. Hi, my name's Kara, and I would love to see us play the Celtics in the first round. I think we have some unfinished business and my favorite wins are the ones where we just dominate them. Kara and Lauren m Rosen on the same postseason wavelength, just as a person that's covered this league for a few years now, and without the sixers,

it would be from a storytelling perspective, very strong. I will just clarify once again though, that it's not necessarily my preference if I was going to pick the matchup, which is a whole separate conversation Celts and again now I feel like I should have just been in the mailbag. But there's some chatter about potential changes to the postseason, as we continued beforeward, in the league continues to experiment,

which they're doing with the play and tournament. What do you think about the one seed choosing their opponent between the seven and the eighth that comes out, because that's in the chattermill. I'm gonna stay out of that mill. I think it chalks up the way it chalks up. Yeah, I don't know if I wouldn't, I don't know if I don't think so that's not for me. I think it's you travel the road that gets paved in front of you. I love the play in tournament. I love that.

I think that's a tremendous wrinkle. Tom again is set on the broadcast on Sunday. It adds a little spice, and I agree choosing your own opponent. I don't know. I like choose your own adventure books, not choose your own playoff opponents. So I'm gonna go I'm gonna come up against you here, and I'll do it quickly because I know this isn't one of the topics that we

planned to cover. But I think the fact that the Sixers have earned this one seed, but they have to wait out this week now of practice unaware of exactly who they're going to face, that almost feels like a like a like a weird disadvantage to having gotten the one seed. And I think that being able to choose your opponent once you get through the play and tournament and there are going to be two options be an

interesting cherry on top of getting the one seed. Thanks for waiting for us to figure this out, mister one seed. Now you get to choose your own destiny. I think that it's an interesting wrinkle. I don't think it's going to happen, but if I had to vote, I would be down. I think it would be interesting and it would help obviously, Like the Sixers will prepare for all four opponents all week long, and there will be really really smart people in charge of scouting all four opponents

who aren't me. But I like the idea of knowing that if we have to choose between A and B or B and C or C and D or DNA, this is who we would choose. And this is why like I just I don't know. I that's a wrinkle that I would be excited about. That's a little extra spice that I would put on my dish. I might have missed this. So are we still saying that the plane stipulation exists? You just get to choose the two teams that emerge, so they can between the two that emerge,

the one seed gets to pick which one they want. Right, That's what I thought you So still there's still a certain degree of having to wait, right, Like, you won't really have to You won't really start to get a defined sense of who could be until after the first round of playing games on Tuesday, Right, So there's still a little bit of great day you could know that there's that there's one that you won't pick, you know what I mean, Because if you get down with who

you there's one you don't have to prep for. No, it's a thought worthy it's a thought worthy point that you raise. I don't disagree with the with the line of thought on that, with a thinking behind it, I think, listen, you just I'm a I may plug the directions into Google, and I just I follow it. I follow what it spits out, and I trust her that she's going to give me the shortest and most efficient route. That the route that I take is the route that's meant to be.

So I think that's where I fall on this. You might not be surprised to learn, but sometimes I ignore Google and I want to do it my way, and I take pride in not using her and just figuring it out. So yeah, anyway, I like that for those wondering, I can drive in Philadelphia without a GPS. Now. It only took me three years, but I can do it. I like this thought. I'm glad that you brought this up.

This is a good postseason playing tournament format. Aside, I need to start calling into the mail bag apparently, Yeah, I want to. Can't. I can't just abuse my power like this just because I have the microphone. We can put a filter on your voice and then it'll sound like not host Lauren Rosen, but caller Lauren Roser. Okay, sorry, back to the more important callers. Continuing on with the podline, you have one new message. Hello, it's Alexia. I am

a huge seventy six six fan. Twelve year old me is just so excited that the Sixers are the number one seed in the East. I can't wait to see what they do in the playoffs. I don't have one special favorite moment from the season. I'll just give five quick things. So One, I was excited about Tobias and his almost complete turnaround from previous previous season. He was amazing this year. Two, mattis being an absolute test in a hound on defense. I always was excited to see

him on the floor. Three the addition of Maxie. I know he didn't get a lot of playing time just because of the starters that we have on the team, but I think he has been a great addition to the team. I'm excited to see what he does in the future. And then lastly, Ben just being Ben and being indeed, those two guys are amazing and proved why they can play together. Unlike when people say they can't

play together, there are main thames. I can't wait to see what they do this this time in the playoffs. I think they're going to be amazing, and I'm hoping that Unlike in two thousand and one when we didn't win the championship, I'm hoping that we win this season. I have faith and I believe a sixer. No one can see me, but I am standing and applauding that voicemail. We've had amazing voicemails this season that might get top honors.

What thoroughness, what comprehensive points made by Alexia? I had to take notes. I loved it. Yeah, woman after my own heart. With that analysis, she covered some key plot points she has. She's watching this team and she's watching closely, so I appreciate it. I don't even have anything to add. That was just a wonderful voicemail, and I believe that

she's correct in all five of her assertions. Let's quickly hit upon the five points that Alexia brought up, because I think they're all topical, impertinent to the conversation surrounding this team. Do you take notes? I literally took notes. She led with Tobias his complete turnaround. Tobias had an

amazing season. There was no one in the league this season, according to stat Head and Basketball Reference that put up the splits that he did in terms of points per game, rebounds per game, and assist per game while combined with his overall field goal shooting percentage, three point shooting percentage, and free throw percentage. No one in the entire league hit his stat minimums and the only players in league history to have done what he has done Kevin Durant,

Dirk Navitsky, Larry Bird, Tobias Harris. Welcome to the club. Incredible Dare I say all star caliber levels of productivity and efficiency? Thank you? And then we have Natis Styble, absolute pest and hound. Yes, I think he's going to come up big in the playoffs. As far as a specialist role for the seventy six ers. Let's just hope that hand gets right and clearly need to get him back out on the court because he can't be sitting there covered in towels for any more games. That was

what was? That was? It was okay. I will say as someone that was in the arena last night, it was so cold in there, so normally I'm not one to really promote all the meme making, but it was really really cold in there, Like I wish I could have run up and down the court a couple of times, just to like warm myself up a little bit. Did anyone on six or Twitter? Because I'll admit it in game, I kind of go back and forth as far as how much I'm following the timeline. Did anyone do a

who wore it better? Tweet? Dario or Matisse? I saw like same energy, same vibes, But I don't know if anyone did like a poll. You could do it. It's not too late, Okay, I might do all We're done. Dario had an amazing one a few years back against the Indiana Pacers. What was the story there? He was cold as well? Or why? Yeah, he was playing in the game and he just he needed to stay warm. Okay, well, I think he has to win then because Matisse wasn't playing.

He's an interesting dude, that Matisse. I'm going to say, as is Dario. It takes an interesting guy to get under the mountain of towels on the bench. I will say, it is freezing in that arena. It's so cold. I

remember celts to just while we're feeling nostalgic. Back when JJ Reddick was on the team, he had a bone to pick with how cold it was in the arena, and after one of I believe it was a playoff game right in twenty nineteen, he explained that there was some study that said that the six Ers Arena was the coldest by like five degrees, and I kind of laughed at him, and I was like, yeah, it's not that bad. This season, it has been so cold in their selves. I don't know how to explain to you.

You don't need to, because I thought it was cold before. I can't imagine another level of coldness well, and I think, honestly, it's probably been heightened this season because there's just fewer bodies in there and like the fact that they I don't know if they changed the thermostat, but there's certainly less human heat. It was. It was cold. We can move on, all right. Couple more points that Alexia brought up in her call edition of Maxie thirty Point Game

is second thirty point games a pro on Sunday. Great note for him to go into the postseason on no doubt about it. He has seized every opportunity he's been given. And to be honest, there were a few times this season where you were surprised by how much he was able to deliver, how much lowed he could bear for

the offense and for the defense. I was not even a little bit surprised with his productivity last night, and I think that speaks to the growth that he's had this season and the level of trust that folks already have in him to be as productive as he was in that final game of the regular season. He is going to be an exciting player four years to come. His teammates love him, His teammates say he's going to be one of the better guards in this league for a long time, and I am glad that he's a sixer.

Final points, Alexia made Ben being Ben, Joe being Joe, and them playing together, two all stars really having fantastic seasons. Joe's season speaks for himself as far as the MVP race, and Ben obviously putting up his hand for Defensive Player of the Year honors. Facts on facts from Alexia loved it. Outstanding outstanding call. Continuing on in the good old mail bag two and five four zero three seven, six three seven, you have one new message case Seltz and Lore and them.

This is cold link from Bethman, Pennsylvania calling and I just wanted to leave a message for your playoff episode. So my favorite moment from the season was when Joe Embid went down to that stretch. I want to say it was like ten games or so, and the Sixers went. If it was ten games, they went seven and three. That's what's coming to my mind, and that just showed that this team is ready to compete and that they

can step up when someone goes down. Kind of expecting them to falter a bit, but they, you know, went against what I thought was going to happen and had a great stretched while Embiid was out, and they because of that. I want to say, that's why they got the number one seed. If they don't get that stretched, they don't have the number one seed. And then I'm not really sure who I want to see in the playoffs. I don't want to see if the Nets at any point for sure, but I mean, I feel like that's

going to happen. Sorry, you can edit stuff out. I know you guys are professionally, so I don't know. I don't want to see Washington him with Westbrook. I feel like Westbrook's always given the Sixers trouble, so that's tough. I want to go. I'm gonna go with the Hornets, even though the Hornets that have been a little surprised

to see. I want to see the horns because I know the Pacers always given the Sixers trouble, and I mean, well, six Ers did sweep the Celtics, but I have bad memories of the Celtics and I don't really want to see them as much in the first round. All right, thank you, another amazing voicemail. I'm not editing anything out of that. I thought it was great. Listen. It was

off the cuff thinking through the matchups analysis. I thought the point about seventy six is going seven to three without Joel Embiid was an excellent point on the heels of that injury against Washington. This team, I think, regardless of whether or not it ended up with the one seed, it proved something to itself more than anyone else, the fans, the media. I think it proved something to itself by going through that stretch and knocking off some really good teams.

I'm with you, Celts. That was a scary stretch when we looked at it, thinking that the team would be fully healthy, so to have to do that stretch, that included a lot of time on the road against good opponents without Joel Embiid and then still come out seven and three. I think we would have taken seven and three with Joel Embiid during that stretch. Maybe you wouldn't wanted to lose three, but I don't know. I agree.

I think that's really really astute analysis. And it did come down to the wire there for the one seed, so I agree. I think another category that I would add to games that helped secure that one seed staying among the league leaders in clutch wins all season long. The Sixers won a lot of close games this season

and they all ended up mattering. And I think the fact that they brought that spirit and they brought that determination to so many close games throughout the season not only paid off when it came to seeding, but is going to continue to pay off in the playoffs because of those experiences. I will build on that two stats that I am bullish on and buying for the seventy sixers finding ways to win games late, like you talked about, with the clutch wins, leading the league in that category,

and then also their defense. They finished the season number two overall in defensive rating just two tenths of a point behind the Los Angeles Lakers. So two stats that I'm buying. Playing in the postseason and about Westbrook, I want to stay for the record. I think the Sixers should be able to handle whichever team emerges in the first round to be their opponent. I am fascinated to see Westbrook in the play in scenario. He and Steph I cannot wait. Cannot wait to see them in the

play in dynamic. And don't forget about Bradley Beale, who was jockey with Steph for that scoring title this season and dropped sixty in a game that I remember quite well. He is a force to be reckoned with the dynamic between he and Westbrook seems to be that could be scary moving forward, not just in the play in I am very very excited. I am very excited about these play in games. And I love that some of the league's brightest stars are finding themselves in the play in tournament,

like Lebron. There's that too. I think it's gonna be really exciting. Cannot Yeah, the West. The West play in might be a little bit more marquis than the East plan, but I as a Sixers fan. As a Sixers person, I am very excited to see how the East goes as well. I'm a huge playing tournament gal. I'm all in. I'm with you. I am with you. One more from the pod line two on five four zero three pods save it call us so we can send you some swag. You have one new message by why I listen? Listen?

This is Wabby leeve Water. How kind about mister NBA mister Dwight Howard now watching the gamester who does happening? He was a breath he attacked mister Howard. I am so disappointed. But Howard is not going to be in the game on tonight. This souprofuding night How in the world could thank youive? Mister Howard? A tech? This was mister o'donna's hostland being the aggressor. Dwight children took out running,

took out running dude. I don't know if they're gonna put a set on him, but night how I'm so disappointed. I got my gear. I'm ready to put my cap on and watch the game. Well, you know what, mister Dwight Howard, he is a trooper, he has true character, true ability, He's a team leader. He will write from this. They guys j thissters who Robbie Lee called once earlier this season about Dwight Howard the best, the best. This

is the best group of callers. We've had some really good group We've had really good callers all season long, but this group together, how should we have five or four? I think we have four whatever I was going to say, I'd take this group of callers in a game of five on five. There's a lot of enthusiasm here. There's a lot of energy. Udatis Haslm was the aggressor. She is correct. We've heard from Doc Rivers, We've heard from

Dwight Howard, We've heard from his teammates. Sometimes you get calls based on reputation or based on years and years of gathering a resume that suggests that you play really hard, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I do. I totally understand the frustration there. He got really close to making it out of the regular season and getting that technical foul clock to I guess reset to zero for the postseason. Luckily the Sixers were able to pull it

off in fact on Friday without him. But I love that enthusiasm Dwight Howard fans are awesome and I am among them, unquestionable and Robbie Lee, she brings it, brings it on the Dwight Howard calls. We might have to set up a specific Superman hotline something like that because the calls are that good, amazing job by everyone who called in left voice mails. The other way to get in touch with us is on social Leave us a DM or a mention at Brian Seltzer and at Lauren

m Rosen on Twitter. That's Lawren's handle on Instagram, mine is at Seltzer six or snaps. We got one there and we'll go Lauren. This will be our final submission for this end of the regular season, looking ahead of the playoffs edition of the mail Bag doc Mellow two six seven at Melo MD ninety win or lose. I'm going to miss this team when the season ends. We haven't been a one seed in twenty years, so let's hope we're not missing this team until the end of July.

But I think that speaks to the sentiment we talked about at the start of the show. Special things happen this season, special group. You know, no season is perfect without its bumps and its lumps, but on balance, a sixty eight winning percentage is outstanding. To do it while you're getting tested at eight o'clock every morning for five months and having players go in and out of the lineup unpredictably something we said for that agreed, So it's they went through a lot this year and came out

of it on top. It's been really impressive to watch and such a pleasure to have. We forget where things were in the world when this all started, where things still are in the world now that the regular season has come to a close. I mean, I'm just very grateful that we were able to have this distraction and this opportunity to celebrate something, especially at this moment in time. We always give you some programming notes at the end of every episode, dropping soon if it's not at already.

We have a bonus episode here on the seventy six ers podcast network, Inside the Process, narrated by the one and only Julius Irving, taking you inside dwell Embiid's mind, reflecting on an MVP caliber season. So check that out and then start later this week. I'm not smelling the means you out on what we're doing. I don't want to build it up too much, but we're gonna do

something different. We'll still have Mailbag, Mondays and Friday deep dives during the postseason, but we're also going to fill the gaps in between with some other stuff as well, So we should pretty much have some new content coming away the morning of or the day of and the day after every game, so we will not leave you hanging during the playoffs at all. And then one last reminder, the Scoop, which we have put on this feed and its own feed throughout the regular season, that is now

on its own feed only. If you want your Sixers news daily in five minutes, we get it. You're busy, folks, That's how I would want my Sixers news if I weren't doing this. Just search seventy Sixers Scoop wherever you get your pods, follow and you'll be hooked up with all the information, sound bites, and headlines and reports you need. All right, Lauren, great episode, great mail Bag. Yes, indeed, can't wait to keep doing this through the playoffs. Well put,

thanks everyone for calling in. We will talk to you later in the week. Six h