Mailbag Monday | The Furkan Ruling, Ben's Return

We take your calls on the All Stars return and recap a fun week for our man, Beeball Paul, the bo Rondo con will Hattie Jambet Beeball Paul in a big way, A block of one it a eurostep, then a slam at the other and the crowd loves it. Ass two of the Sixers and we make a final ruling on the naming of the furcon Court Mas fan group with a little help. That's coming up on Mail

Back Monday. It may be slightly overcast on this Monday morning in the Delaware Valley, but in the world of the Philadelphia seventy Sixers, it is sunshines, rainbows and a bunch of basketball unicorns. Lauren Rosen, what a difference a week makes in the context of the Sixers, Yeah, I think if we zoom out and look at the whole week, I'm all for it. Sunday's matchup in San Antonio might have caused a little bit of the overcast skies. A win is a win. I don't know that the Sixers

felt that way. When I interviewed them postgame on Sunday, the vibes were relieved, maybe a little frustrated, and ready to go play again on Monday. I like that, especially considering that Monday's game is only twelve hundred miles north of where the seventy Sixers were on Sunday when they eked out the two point win against the Spurs in overtime. I have a somewhat alternate take. I'm trying to be Zen. I try to be Zenn at all times. You know this.

People in the pod may know this, but we talk you and I on the air off the air, and you know that. I just try to take things as they come. I was entertained in some ways by the finish of Sunday's game. I know that my job is not dependent necessarily on wins or losses. I thought it was great to see the Sixers get off to a dominant start. Obviously didn't like the Spurs got back into the game. But once we were there, I was like, Okay,

this is entertaining to me. Kelton Johnson, some nice plays, Joel Embiid, some big plays, Ben Simmons love it in overtime outstanding. I was entertained. Yeah, it was certainly entertaining. It was fun, an unnecessary look into my life. My former roommate a Spurs employee, so we had a little bit of a back and forth. It was. It was entertaining. It was not what you wanted though, on the first night of a back to back, that the most spread

out back to back. That probably is even permitted because when we go east to west right, there's no such thing as a as a east to west back to back. But I guess the south to north back to back is permissible. Not great, not great, timing wise, not great to have to bring the starters back in, But a win is a win. The Sixers are back at the top of the East. Do the means justify the end?

Maybe for better or for worse. The seventy Sixers went through Sunday's game, they emerge with a victory on the same day, only hours after a big clash in Cream City, the Milwaukee Bucks hosting the Brooklyn Nets terrific game. I didn't get to see all of it. I saw the highlights later. I know that you were checking in doing some more advanced scouting, Lauren. But the Bucks beat the Brooklyn Nets. So the seventy Sixers are now in sole

control of their own destiny. We know that travel notwithstanding the caliber of opponent. For the Sixers right now, what the metrics say, they have the easiest schedule essentially remaining. So if you can rack up some wins, maybe get another game up on Brooklyn before the end of the season, Sixers should be in a good spot. Yes, indeed, the quality of schedule is in the sixers favor right now.

Of Course, you never know what's going to happen with health and with the schedule, but it's it's nice to know that the team controls their own fate. I think that's something that they wanted to be able to say. If at the end of the day it doesn't work out, they're able to take responsibility, and if it does work out, they're able to take responsibility. It is mail bag Monday. Hopefully at this point in time, you the great listeners

and followers of this podcast, know how it works. If this is the first time listening to mail Bag Monday for you, Here's how we do it. I'm at Brian Seltzer on Twitter at Seltzer six or snaps on Instagram lawns at Lauren m Rosen. Very conveniently on both platforms,

we take your DMS, your inquiries, your mentions. We also take your voicemails on the podline two on five four zero three seven six three seven two on five four zero three pods and every Monday we respond to all of your Sixers thoughts, needs, hopes, once wishes and dreams right here on the podcast. If we play your voicemail, you win some swag. We get in touch. We have a handful of themes to discuss this week. Ben Simmons.

Since last we did a Mailbag has returned and had a terrific impact on the seventy six ers b Ball. Paul A hillacious EuroJam Dunk heard round the world that we have to recap and highlight, but first larn before we go any farther. On this week's edition of mail Bag Monday, admission on this end. We were grossly negligent last week in that we did not tie up loose ends larn on a very critical subplot that's emerged in recent weeks here on the podcast, a refresher for those

who might not have heard. After a series of great performances by the best man in the world, fur Concork Maise, we called for voicemails and social media shoutouts praising Firk and everything that he does, and led by our friends at Sixers Nation, that kind of led to a series of Firk fan group nicknames, the Firk stands that we started to get. So we got a couple of great

submissions that we loved. We've narrowed it down to about four and we thought, Laaren, why not have the person who has the most at stake in this come on to give us a verdict? Right? I just think, who are we to decide what furkans fans should be called? If Furkan can decide what Furkon's fans should be called. So with that, let us give a resounding mailbag Monday Welcome to the one and only Furkon Cork Maas, Welcome furk to Mailbag Monday what's up, guys? So this is something.

First of all, you are great for doing this. The fans want to nickname your fan group. How do you feel about that? First of all, thanks for having me. Second, I know a lot of people supporting us. They allow us. Sometimes they put different names. I'm hearing like a lot of things like goat Mos, like Khach, like all this

different stuff. But I really want to learn what you guys brought up, all right, because first of all, goat Mas was not a formal submission Lauren for this, But I don't know if we would have to put that in the running. Well, that's his nickname, but it doesn't necessarily apply to his fans. There's only one go yes, okay, cool, okay, all right, that's true. That's true. All right, So here we go. We're gonna run through the four finalists in

no particular order. The fur Coon Crazies pretty straightforward submitted by Corey Towns. The Furkheads from Tyler Karpinski, the Furkaholics from PS Veghetta, and last but not least, the Orchestra from Matt Ricci. What do we think for furkon Crazies? Furkheads Furkaholics Orchestra. General thoughts, do we think those are quality submissions? I will say the third most sounds good, but Corkstra is like it's heavy in the same time it's psych uh gives you a lot of means like

you can't take it better what we want. I feel like third and four is could have close. What do you guys think you are asking me, I'm asking you guys. The third one is Forkaholics. Yes, okay, so we're down to Furkaholics and Chorchestra, both excellent, totally different vibes. I will say Fucoholics looks like little alcoholic, you know, which we might not want to promote. You have a lot of young fans, a lot of wholesome fans. Okay, that's a really good point. Yeah. I think fourth pond is

I'm really close to fourth one Orchestra Orchestra. Hey, Furk. I'll be honest. On the last episode, I came out hot for the Chorchestra. I thought that was the best one. That was my pick before we even talked to you. I think we're in the same pitch I thought for Cleverness. Orchestra definitely took the top one. See furkaholics. For me, that could be something where it's like your fans in a metaphorical sense, are drunk on furkon energy. It doesn't

necessarily have to be a bad thing. They could just be loving, consuming and pumping themselves full of furkon energy. Actually they make sense. I mean, I don't know. I like I told you, like Tonal them fort really close. But that's a good point though, Like they didn't love with me, if you can call it. I mean, I

don't know, it's pretty close. I guess. I guess they could be like intoxicated by the magic of your game, but with the quorcus dr music is so powerful that I don't know, like seeing you play could invoke some sort of musical memory or vibe. They're both very meaningful. Actually, yeah, and everybody listen to music, so it's for everybody. You don't need to be in love with basketball over with me, you know. And you don't have to be twenty one

or older to enjoy music. Okay, well, firk on. I cannot even begin to imagine how many more important pressing things you have to do on a Monday than weigh in on a matter such as this. But it is heavy duty. We were going to ask you to make the final selection, Fkholic or the orchestra. I will take corchestra. The orchestra. We have a winner. Listen to that angelic sound of the orchestra in the background. Fur Coon hits at three an intense moment of the game. That's right.

You conduct, and that's the other thing you can not in perhaps a pied piper away, but you can conduct this fan group. You are the conductor of the orchestra. That's right. That's fine. I will try. I will try my best. Believe me, I will try my best. Ferk. I think next time that you have like a crazy good game, or if you hit a bunch of threes in a row, your celebration has to be what you just did the orchestra. Please, I would keep it in mind. Okay,

thank you, all right, Ferk, you are truly the best. One. Last thing, the person who submitted that name was Matt Richie m William Richie one on Twitter. We are going to give Matt a furkon corks jersey as a result of you selecting him as being the winner. Congratulations, tremendous. Last thing I'll ask you is this how good does it feel. I mean you, since you've gotten here, even before your arrival, I think the fan base has just really taken to your personality, what you're doing on the court.

You're having an awesome season. What's it been like to generate this following among the fans here? First of all, we have a really good fun base. I think they really support you. They really when they really likes you, when they love you. They really got your back. You know, you can definitely say that you can't rely on them. I'm really appreciate them for their support, for they all love I'm really feeling every second on the court, off the court, they really show it. And then I hope

we will keep playing better. I will keep playing better and at my best, and I want to give as much as I can give to this organization and to these good, beautiful fans. You've played your whole career in Philly now, So if you had to pick something your favorite thing about Philadelphia, maybe beside from the food, because I know you're deep in the food scene, what's your favorite thing about Philadelphia as a city, what makes it special to you? I will say Philly is so big city.

In the same time, for me, it's a small city. I think that's what I like about Philly because you can find like a different type of population, different type of people in Philly, but at the end of the day, they are supporting each other. When something happened bad in the city, everybody comes together. I think that's where the city of Broadly Loves come come from. You know. For me, that's really important thing to huddle up when something happened,

even when there's nothing to happen. Then there's a game and something, everybody comes together and then just onehart. You know. This is kind of makes me remind me Turkey because whenever, like via national games or like something, Turky people do something good, all the country comes together. Everybody collapsed together, you know, support each other more. I feel like Philly is like that too. We are, after all, just one big nation swimming in this thing called earth and life.

That's deep. It's mail bag Monday, we go shallow, we go deep, all that stuff. Furkon, seriously, you are the man. Thank you for doing this. Congratulations to Matt Richie dubbing the stand group for Furkon the orchestra. Firk you are the best. Thanks so much. Thanks guys, truly a gentleman and one of the most ardent supporters of the content in the seventy six ers stratosphere. Furkan Korkmas, how about that Lauren weighing in giving his thoughts connecting with the

masses out there. He's a man of the people, and I particularly loved what he had to say at the end there about the city of Philadelphia. Furkon has been just a delight all throughout my years here. I know you share that opinion. He's so much fun to work with. His teammates love him. It's been great to see him succeed and thrive, especially lately and always get to catch up.

I have to give a shout out, of course to our man Chris Una in seventy sixers Business Services for hooking us up with the Furkon Jersey to send out to Matt. Matt, we will be in touch. Thanks again to everyone who just kind of rolled with that whole thing organically on the old social media sphere. Help him to find a nickname for Furkon cork Mas fans, we love it all right. Time now to formally open up

this week's mail bag. You have one new message. It was a big week Lauren Rosen for the seventy sixers. Last week, they lost all four of their games. This past week, they won all four of their games, spearheaded by in my opinion, very much so all star Ben Simmons making his return. It was great to see our weekly Sunday sticker question on Instagram stories on at Sixers. Ben Simmons was back, had a big week. What were your impressions, Elle Tickle Junior says Ben Simmons mentality, It

isn't about scoring twenty plus a game. It's about d n up passing, making sure we get the dub i concur i also concur. We talked about this a lot Felts, but he's the straw that stirs the drink on both ends of the floor. The stat line almost never tells the whole story. And that's even on nights when he's in triple double territory. He's still doing so much that

doesn't show up there. And I think the fact that he missed a week and the team didn't win, and then he was back for a week and the team didn't lose is extremely telling of just how impactful he is for this six Ers team. This was something that was brought up with Ben after the Hawks game on Friday, another convincing seventy six Ers win on that perfect homestand he was asked what's the difference for him since he returned.

He said, he feels like it's more as mentality than anything, that the four games he missed gave him a chance to reset mentally. I do think he's looked really spry physically, especially in the first three games back, where he's just been looking good and refreshed, No doubt about it. He has just looked like the Ben Simmons that this team needs, that this team has seen all season, and that this team will rely on in the playoffs. Great of course to have him back. Jay Peace six on Instagram says,

what impression the most about Ben Simmons week? This past week? Ben stuffs the stat sheet, He'll get a little bit of everything, and I think the numbers from last week Lauren certainly bear that out going into Sunday's game against

the Spurs. Been in the first three games back when the seventy Sixers outscored the opposition by what ninety seven during that homestand you average a little bit more than twelve and a half points per game shot eighteen for twenty three from the field, fifteen assists, three turnovers, outstanding ratio obviously, and a whole lot of aggressive play that you cannot quantify the impact of an aggressive play on the defensive end, which I think we don't talk about enough,

even though we do talk about the fact that this is someone who could win the Defensive Player of the Year award. Look no further than the overtime period on Sunday. Those two charges Doc Rivers called the biggest plays of the game. Impressive gutsy, well executed defense from Ben Simmons as he has been showing all season. Two charges won't show up on that final line of the box score. They were huge, massive, and then of course the tip in at the end. Again, I think that Ben in

that overtime period. Joel of course had four of the team six points. He was wonderful as well, but Ben in the overtime period really sealed the game for the team. Maybe somebody else could have it Ben, had it been available to you, but I think he deserves a lot of credit for what was a up and down evening.

He got it done when it mattered most, and that sequence a scramble late in the game for the tippin at the buzzer for Ben in overtime, to me kind of indicates one of the great luxuries the Sixers have. There's so much talent on the court. When you're in a late game, last second scramble like that. You can see with what happened with the Spurs, it's like, all right, where do you go? You got to focus on Joel Embie.

Do you throw the house at him to try and make the opportunity had for a makeable shot that much more difficult? And if you do, then what are you giving up? In terms of where your attention is? There was Ben Simmons sneaking in on the week side right at that dunker spot, and there he was for the tippin to put it in. So where do you kind of fall on your sword? What do you assign your most attention to in a situation like that. I thought it was interesting to see how that played out. Well facts,

that's a great point, Selton. I think you look at Seth Curry, who was perfect six or six from three. I don't know if the team would have drawn up a play for Seth Curry in that situation. But you certainly can't leave him open if he hasn't missed all night. Danny Green Tobias Harris both had more difficult evenings but then had some pretty important shots late. Can't leave either

of them open. It makes sense, Joel Embide takes more than one person that it was exactly why this team was assembled the way that it was, And of course again they didn't want to find themselves in that situation, but the group, that group specifically was able to get out of the situation. Okay, Lauren, we're gonna go to the podline right now for the first time. You have one new message. You know what we say here on the mail bag, Lauren. That's all voicemails are good voicemails.

All voicemails we play. But this one goes in a couple different places. We got it not too long after this. Seventy six Ers finished off the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, So, without further ado, one of the more interesting calls you've gotten this season. I'm not sure if I'm doing this correctly, because but I need a you know, a new Sixers, because I tried to buy this old one, but then for some reason it costs like twenty dollars. But anyway, here's my thought in the game, A little bit close

for my liking. I'll tell you that, I mean, you know, two points of the spurs. I mean you know, but I will say this, he's got to do better offensively. I feel a little hopeful. I'm not sure if we're gonna make it to the final through the nets, but I'll tell you this, I'm hoping that the Sixers win. And why don't you send a guy hoodie? You know, come on, I don't know how you're gonna get me the merch just on the Twitter that I looked at it.

I don't know how you're gonna get it to me, but I hope you play it on the bod gast. I'm hopeful about the Sixers, but Hohodell knows? Okay, howdius? So, like we said moments ago, a new policy on voicemails being implemented here today on mail Bag Monday, we will play all voicemails as long as they're copasetic, kosher friendly PG for this family podcast programming. However, we just might not agree with what it is you have to say,

and certainly a lot to unpack from that call. However, doing a state for the record, Lauren, A very important point raised by the caller. If I call in and you play my voicemail, how do I get my stuff? Great question? So we see your phone number come through on the caller ID big brother in the sky when the voicemails are left, and then we'll just circle back with you, get in touch, ask if your address all that good stuff, so hopefully we can get you some gear.

Might not be a twenty dollar hoodie or anything like that, but something that's worth your time for calling in and leaving a voicemail. Okay, so I don't agree with a lot in that call. We can start to unpack it now. I agree. If you listen to this program or any of our programming, you know how I feel about folks that think that Bad needs to be doing more offensively. Ben can be doing more offensively. Ben's doing what he needs to do on a nightly basis. That's his mindset.

I'm not trying to speak for anybody, but I'm willing to buy into the plan that he has that works regularly for this team. He's doing it where it matters, He's filling in where it matters. He can do almost anything on the court for this team, and he's showed it over and over again. So to those that think that he's not doing enough offensively, look at the games where he's been required to do more offensively and he has. He plays on a team with Joel embid to buyas,

Harris Seth Curry, Danny Green and others. He's not always going to be needed to do more offensively. So that's that on that And this goes back to the point that we've talked about since his return. We discussed it on the Deep Dive last Friday. Just look at how things change when he is out there. His presence makes a difference, not too unlike Joel Embiid, the other All

Star in this team. So I think that stats looking at his box line on a game to game basis is only one way and perhaps the way that I would go about trying to evaluate the effectiveness of Ben Simmons. And as far as the nets go, yeah they're scary, I think rightfully, so they're scary. But I think that for the seventy sixers, if they're fortunate enough to get the number one seed, if their defense is as great as we know that it can be tops in the

league essentially since the All Star break. I will take the chances of the seventy Sixers defense in the playoffs going up against Brooklyn. I mean, listen, you're probably gonna have to face them at some point, and I would rather ride with a defense that is superb and one of the best in the league then not a defense that is not superb and not the best in the league. I do think that if anybody is going to figure it out, it's probably going to be your seventy Sixers.

Of Course, we still are unclear about what Brooklyn's health situation is going to be when they get into the playoffs, and that's not something that you want to rely on following in your favor. Of course, teams want to beat each other at their best. But I'm with you, Seltz. I think a strong defense is the best antidote to a strong offense, and the Sixers are figuring out a lot of interesting things offensively as well. I'm intrigued, I'm excited. I'm hoping that we get the clash that we've all

been waiting for. Moving on, you have one new message back on Instagram and two R sticker question from Sunday, Big week for Ben Simmons won press you the most Aliyah underscore MBM says the show against Atlanta. I knew it was about to go down, but wow, the most entertaining game this season, assuming that she's talking about Ben

Simmons and how he played, definitely think Lauren. Out of the four games been his played since he's been back, that was the one that caught everyone's attention the most eighteen points, six rebounds, five assists, a steel and a block, and it was Simmons that helped spark the seventy six ers after the Hawks went on that early thirteen nothing run in the first quarter, and all that in twenty

seven minutes or less. None of the sixers, at least during the homestand had to play more than twenty seven minutes in three very decisive victories. So worth noting that, once again, maybe the stat line not telling the entire story. Had he been playing heavier minutes, maybe that stat line would have looked a little bit heavier. I just urge everyone that has anything to say about Ben to make sure you're looking into what the whole story is, because

on a night like Friday, he was phenomenal. He made sure that the team was going to get the victory on both ends of the floor, and it was a delight to watch. That game was fun selves, no doubt about It's one more from the Instagram story mail bag, Rapid Fire Madison and Narin says Ben Simmons aggressive and consistent dpoy for Defensive Player of the Year. What do you think thinks stand right now, Lauren in your astute

opinion for sizing up that Defensive Player of the Year race. Well, I think it's important to consider who I follow on mostly Twitter and where I'm consuming my content, because the folks that I am most closely aligned with probably feel the way I feel, and that's that Ben Simmons should be this year's defensive Player of the Year. I do think it's tricky when you look into statistics. I think it's really hard for a non big man to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. Rudy Gobert's stats

are phenomenal. Head to head matchup, though, might say that Ben should get the edge. So I believe that Ben should get the edge. Will he get it? Do not know? It's tricky, You don't know how voters are going to lean, but I certainly think that he deserves to be a finalist for the award and to get some heavy consideration to win it. Yes, on the NBA dot Com weekly Defensive Player of the Year Ladder last week, defensive Player of the Year favorite at that point in time it

was Ben Simmons. They also interviewed for that column. Try to check it every week. Dikembe Mutombo, former obviously Defensive Player of the Year winner in the NBA who played for the seventy six Ers, won one of his defensive Player of the Year awards with the Sixers, and he was asked who stands out among today's top defenders. Ben Simmons was mentioned, along with Joel Embiid and Rudy Gobert and Clint Cappella, So two out of the four names that Kenby dropped seventy Sixers and three out of the

four big man. It is a challenge for a non big man to win the defensive player award the Player of the Year award these days, but if anyone's going to do it, I think it could be a guy like Ben in a season like this one. Well, puts back to the podline, we go you have one new message. Lest we forget, it was a big week for our guy, the mud man, Beball Paul. Time to celebrate. Hey, Lauren and Brian, just gotta get the sat out to my man beat Ball Paul. I mean this last week has

been exciting. If you watching the see not only that reversal dunk has the whole bench going on, and then the Joe and Let's throw down. I mean good more. I was up off my seat just sharing for this kid. I'm telling you right now, this man needs to get in touch with someone and get some out the mud merch going. I need a T shirt. I don't care what, just needs some merch. I know the playoffs are coming, but this boy and Maxie got me excited for the next season. I want to see what these young kids

can do because they played without really toughness. Feeling good about the playoffs. Let's go Sixist love that that was tremendous. Yes, some enterprising person out there, maybe it could be us Larn has to get and create some out of the mud merch. I'm actually surprised the president of basketball operations for the Sixers has not been the one to spearhead the merch movement for him. I believe that Paul wore an out the mud sweatshirt to one of the games

during that homestand so he's finding it somewhere. Is it beball Paul specific merch, I do not know, but maybe we can get in touch with his team try to figure out a way to make that happen. I think it's probably inevitable at this point, with the quickness with which he is gathering a fan base and how well he has been playing. I agree that play that had

the bench going wild. I don't know if it was on the broadcast Angle Celts, but Joel Embiad was rolling around on the floor about it in glee and that was beautiful to see. His teammates are also big beeball Paul fans, and I think that that's worth noting. He is one guy that you absolutely can root for. He is great. So the week started for him with the ten point game against Okay. See ten points, nine rebounds in a couple blocks in ten minute. It's tremendous, And

then we saw that great Euroslam. He continues to make the most of his opportunities when they surface, no doubt about it, and he has been putting in work. I don't know if anyone out here follows Dwight Howard on Instagram, but the two of them love a late night work out together. I know they had one on Saturday night in San Antonio rather Sunday night in San Antonio. No, Saturday night in San Antonio. I should have stuck with my guns. Sorry. The two of them have been working

out late at night together. We know that Beball Paul actually went to Dwight Howard's basketball camp in Orlando as a kid, which is adorable and wholesome. And now they have one on one camps together late at night in cities across the cross America. How can you not root for this guy? How can you not root for that duo? It's been a pleasure to watch beball Paul this year. One more Beeball Paul centric message from the podline. You

have one new message. Hey, I know Doc is a Hall of Fame coach, but why not turn the offense over to Beeball Paul. We already got a six ten point guard. It works great. What if we have Beeball Paul lead the unit? Go sixers? Yes, we always love voicemails of the tongue in cheek variety here on the mail bag. Hey, given the way beball Paul's been rolling when he's been out, there are there things that he could not do? There is no limit for beball Paul's potential? Right? Well? Sure,

you know what? Why not? I love the enthusiasm, I love the innovation. Do I think we're going to see much of that in the coming eight games and the playoffs? No? But maybe someday. It's a nice dream to have. Everybody should have dreams. I think the if I just had to guess, it seemed like the caller was riding the high of the crest of the bee ball Paul wave.

How could you not? Darryl Morey told us when we when the Sixers signed beball Paul that he's a quirky, interesting, different player, and we have seen that and some all season long. It's been a pleasure. Maybe he will unlock another level. Maybe he will become a ball handler, a dribble or someone that can that can cross guys up.

I don't know who. Am I to say that he won't And on that note, we will shut down what I would dub Hey, curious interesting mailbag for this Monday all right, Lauren, it was a great week for the seventy sixers, all wins. Hopefully they can keep it going and create further separation between themselves and the Brooklyn Nets. We want to give a huge shout out once again and one final random applause for the man furkon Courtms for joining us as our special guest this week. Lauren,

Thank you. We will be in touch next on the Friday Deep Dive with the Von Thanks. Coming up this week on the seventy Sixers podcast networking new episode of Tom's Talks with Tom McGinnis that should be out on Thursday, and again our Friday Deep Dive with the Von Givens. Follow the Scoop if you are not doing so already, search seventy six Ers Scoop wherever you get your pods and oh yeah, one last thing if you do not listen to the mailbag last week, we have a new

intro and outro song. It is Scrong by our guy seventy six Ers in Arena host Extraordinary Christian Crosby. Search for his tracks wherever you stream your tune and strong Zeep