Playoff Pod: Episode 6 - Game 3 Rewind

on the zone and we didn't handle that well. But short of that particular phase of the game, I thought Ben was exceptional. You know, they started trying to foul him. I think at that point he had not missed a free throw and he didn't miss the two after they intentionally fouled him, but then he made another two to follow it up. And so whether you look at you know, his confidence, his body language, just walk into a line, or the things that you're talking about, Mike with you know,

sort of just organic play. I give Ben a tremendous amount of credit. We needed it all tonight, especially without Joel. You heard Ben get booed every time he touched the ball. There was the comments made that his half court game was average and he's nine for eleven in the half court How much do you think those things fueled him? And how impressed were you with the way he came out.

I mean, it's sort of like I said to the group prior to the game, I think we forget he's twenty two years old, and you know, we see we started talking about the growth and his jump shot and all this stuff everybody talks about. Then you see him come out and make the free throws and you know, whether he's getting booed or there's something else going on as it relates to, you know, some level of scrutinizing Ben.

He's incredibly confident within himself. He has put in a tremendous amount of work, apart from being just pretty down good to earn that privilege. And I'm just so happy for him to play like he played tonight. And especially when you zoom into the free throw line to make free throws in the NBA playoffs and have what thirty one points and shoot the percentage that he did, I think he feeds off that. But it's not like he's

out beating his chest over. I think internally he's got tremendous in a confidence to get a six points from your top three guys after well, yeah, and you know what they gave you guys tonight. Tobias was a bell ringer. Ben easily could have been the bell ringer. You know. You start looking at Tobias's rebounds and what he did from the three point line, and I think, um, you know, Jimmy, the maturity that he had in JJ just coming out.

There was a stretch there where you know, JJ came out and hit a three, then Tobias came right back. We sort of had the same look, the same type of play with wrinkles out of it. And really the players talked about this on the bench and one of one of my timeouts, one of our timeouts, where I came back with a notion and they said, that's fine, but we think this. I said, let's do both back to back. And I think that you know, did to listen to JJ and Tobias and Jimmy, you know, carry

on a conversation on the bench. It was high level, like you know, pros talking to pros. And I thought that those three to you a point. You know, we've already discussed Ben. I thought that they were exceptional tonight. You had a chance to happen to have very often so that they because does that depth of scoring options separating this team and maybe even the six years team of last year, you didn't have these weapons at your disposal. Yeah,

that many points without Mbati employment. Yeah. Um, we had different types of scorers last year, and and they were reliant on the past. The team that we had last year was very reliant on being freed up. They were reliant on player and ball movement screening for Rosanna dario A Coved And like these guys that we have this year can can play by themselves. They really can create

by themselves. I still when we talk about our offense, I still am most excited that I think we're planning most times high level defense, and I feel like that we're completely biting on a game plan. We were starting to like understand what we're trying to achieve. And I give the guys credit, but I think more than that anything, Jack, I think this scoring is proportional to odd defense, right,

you guys were? That was Sixers head coach, the winning head coach of game number three for the Philadelphia seventy Sixers, Brett Brown once again, Welcome to the Sixers Postgame Show Playoff edition here on the Sixers Radio Network. I am Divine Gibbons with you as we break down this victory to take a two one series lead in Game number three in Brooklyn, led by Ben Simmons, JJ Reddick, Tobias Harris, and a cast of others as they helped contribute in this victory to take this two to one lead in

the first round of the Eastern Conference playoff series. No Joel Embiad obviously the story to start things off a game time decision, and it came down just a few minutes before the actual tip that he would miss this game. We know he's dealing with load management in the right knee injury right now where they're trying to monitor his knee and make sure everything is okay. We'll get the status of him, I'm sure maybe tomorrow. Between today and the game number four back in Brooklyn on Saturday, we

will find out about Joel Ebiad's availability. In his place tonight was Greg Munroe, but again the story being the other four starters in the starting lineup, led by Ben Simmons with a playoff career high thirty one points nine assists and four rebounds on the evening, three turnovers and thirty eight minutes, a team high thirty eight minutes and twenty seven seconds, actually a game high thirty eight minutes

and twenty seven seconds. And he was phenomenal coming out again, answering the bell, answering the call when once young star goes down, the other one steps up and gives you contributions across the board eleven to thirteen from the field, and as Brett Brown pointed out, once Kenny Atkinson and the Brooklyn Nets decided to hack of Ben, he had not missed a free throw at that point, missing the first two on that strategy by the Brooklyn Nets, but

then following up and connecting on the next four. Therefore Bacchi putting a nail into the strategy of Kenny Atkinson and the Brooklyn Nets, finishing the night nine of eleven from the free throw line. Just a phenomenal performance by Ben Simmons, stepping up. With all the conversation going on between the Brooklyn Nets and the seventy sixers, more so on the net side, about the disrespect therefore from Ben Simmons and the seventy sixers for some things that may

have happened in game number two. We'll get Jimmy Butler to Buys Harrison, JJ Reddick as well in their contributions. Boba Marianovitch solid once again off the bench, but we're gonna take a quick break. Come right back, connect with the man who called the game, called a great game at Barclay's Center for the seventy six Ers one thirty one, one fifteen win. That would be Tom Aguinnis once again.

One thirty one, one fifteen is the final score. Sixers take a two one series lead in the Eastern Conference playoffs. We will come back and connect with Tom at Barclay's right here on the Sixers Radio network. As we watch the suburban garden nome carefully, carefully without disturbing it. He noticed that it moves like not at all. It's inanimate and utterly without brain function. But despite that, when a

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watch Garden Nomes two. Carefully, people might talk Sixers take a two one series league that due to a one thirty one, one fifteen victory over the Brooklyn that's in game number three in Brooklyn, New York at Barclay's Center, Divine Givens. This is the Sixers postgame show here on the Sixers Radio Network, and it's always great to connect reconnect with the man, the radio voice of the Philadelphia seventy Sixers, especially after he win a big one like

this one. And Tom mc ginnis joins us live from Barclay's Center. Time. We know the story right at the start of the game, the availability or not of Joel Ebid And as we looked at the other players, the guys, the other stars that are in a starting lineup with them to step up, you can point out the next four guys in that starting lineup, which certainly did just that well for sure. And I thought Harris getting after a good start and making those threes, and you know,

that's kind of the Tobias Harris. We got accustomed to the Sixers acquire me shooting forty percent from three, ended up shooting that for the year. And you know, those first two games weren't really indicative of that, and tonight he was perfect six of six in terms of attempts from beyond the arc. Sixers went to JJ, and again JJ's so effective. He went five of nine and really

running Joe Harris out of the play, sidestepping defenders. He just did an excellent job making some very difficult shots. In terms of JJ Reddick and I thought Jimmy was effective early on, didn't score that well, but getting people involved.

And then Ben Harris what you like to see early on with the exact same intensity and aggressiveness in driving that ball to the basket early in the game, and it set a tone and you know, as you watch that game ten times or multiple times devon, the Sixers had ten point leads and I thought that was again

they controlled the game. Now. I felt there were times in the first half what it seemed like the Sixers might have led by more and could have taken more advantage of ineffective play by Brooklyn, but it still was a six point halftime lead. They take that big lead in the third, let it slip back a little bit.

You gave them some momentum. But to me, it's it's so impressive when a team can re establish itself and re jump that lead into double figures and then put it away that that's exactly what the Sixers did here, particularly on the road in a playoff game, that is

most impressive and time. You're right, And of course we know how Ben Simmons responded in the last game in game number two back at the center with the triple double and the aggressive approach that he took to set the tone early, and he did the same thing similarly here tonight. But I like also how Brett Brown went to Jimmy Butler early to kind of start the offense for them to allow Ben Simmons to also get going.

He had eight responded with eight points in the first quarter. Well, Jimmy's a more than capable ball handler and play initiator, if you will, And you know that's often been the case when Ben goes out, where Jimmy kind of takes over the offense. And you know, obviously that's what Brett Brown was talking about when he said in the playoffs, the rotation gets shorter. Now in the regular season, that's probably TJ McConnell coming in there and spelling Ben but

that and I think the Sixers were effective. Even though James Ennis did not have a big game. He had four points. But Mike Scott and Ennis have really helped the Sixers in ways defensively. And again, you know Denwendy. I thought then when he had a bit of an off game fifteen points, I thought, and that might be

attributable to those guys that I'm talking about. I thought then when he made some actual poor decisions where he had some chots and then try to take it a dribble too many or make a pass when it was right there. And quite frankly, I think the same could be said for Jimmy Butler. He went six and thirteen in the game, which is not all that bad, just under fifty percent. But I thought early on he'd get

a pocket of an opening and not shoot him. So there are times that I think Jimmy Butler needs to be a little bit more, and it's not really selfish because it's for the benefit of the team, but call his own number. Because he's so capable, and you watched Von he was spinning, he was on fire, he was rearer to go. He played a good overall game, but I thought he might have been able to score the

ball a little bit. So all of those things combined added it up to a very impressive road victory for the Sixers, absolutely and only one turnover with all the contribution that he made with the ball in his hands. Time again his life from Barclays Center. After the Sixers win one thirty one, one fifteen, take a two one series lead, and of course time, as you pointed out, the defense on the perimeters, still trying to figure out Russell,

Den Willie and Leverton Carris. Lavert in particular, really went off in that second quarter where he just went on his own personal scoring streak. Still some small little details, even though the Sixers have improved small little details to try to contain these guys so it doesn't hurt them

in the future in these games. Well, I agree, And if I'm Kenny Atkins said, maybe I put Lavert in there or not, Joe Harris, I mean, Lavert had twenty six points and you know he didn't score in the first quarter, he had nineteen in the second quarter, and you know, lucky for the Sixers only had seven. I don't know how much that kids. He's unbelievable. He is really good. And Russell had an up and down game. Look at Russell, twenty six attempts, he makes a dozen,

two of which come late. He had seven in a row, I mean, and then the guy I thought, like I said, didn't win a bit of an off game. So all three of those guys in double figures, I mean, Russell and Lavert combined for fifty two points, so that's a pretty big total. They had one hundred and fifteen that's more than they scored in the regular season on average.

So it wasn't really their offense, but it was the fact that they couldn't stop the Sixers, I mean, one hundred and thirty one points after giving up one hundred and forty five, and you think that's an anomaly, and you know they come right back and give up one hundred and thirty one. So again I say this with all due respect, but it's been written about, talked about.

The Sixers have more talent than Brooklyn. And look, they finished up with a lot better record, fifty one wins as opposed to forty two, and it's evident in this series, and they were able to beat them without the best player in the game for either team, and that is joelbin beat So for the Sixers. You know, hopefully you

get you well back. But boy, at any point you cannot relax because Brooklyn again they did not look nearly as competitive against the Sixers as they did in the first game in which they won here, or the two games and that they beat the Sixers, but you cannot count them out. There's no way. And until you win two more games, you cannot in any way relax. And

that's what I'm saying. You cannot let human nature come in and think, all right, now we got to beat it is going to be Battle Royal game four here Saturday, and you got to take care of business and see if you can't win the game here and then potentially

go home and win the series on Tuesday night. But you got to win this game on the because the Sixers have rested back home court advantage now and they did that too, you know when they when they split that game and they had the rest of the you know, the advantage at home. But now, like I say, you put yourself in a position to potentially, you know, win out if you can win here Saturday, tom final one.

As you speak about the game on Saturday, this is a familiar territory for the seventy six, the same situation last year in the first round, they tied the series, won one. Of course, back at home, go to Miami, win Game three, Game four. Again, they've been here. Maybe joelmbe will be available, maybe not, but they did take that commanding three one lead, closing it out in Game

five in Philadelphia. I'm sure Brett Brown will bring some of that back up as to what happened last year, and looking to this particular situation against the Brooklyn Nets, well, no doubt, and you certainly have some holdovers from that group, but it is a new dynamic. And one thing that's noteworthy regarding Joel he did address the media prior to the game and he said his knee is getting better

so to me. Now, so he misses tonight and he'll have not played from Monday to Saturday, and you know, as you're trying to rest that thing and hope that tend nitish flares down a little bit. If that's a medical phrase, which I'm pretty sure it's not it is, but you know, he it's a little bit more respite as he rehabs and gets ready. He did shoot around prior to the game, but absolutely in terms of the

series and the shape of it. Obviously, the Sixers lost a second game in that first round deal last year. But as you say, the opportunity is there and it certainly could take the shape of that. But you gotta everything's different, everything's you know, new, and and you're here in Brooklyn and they didn't play that well, you gotta expect them to play a little bit better. They didn't get much at all from Carol and Coup Roots. They're

starting forwards in this game. Jared Dudley brought them nothing. Ed Davis barely played. So the Sixers, you know, with Bomon playing the way, but how about Bobon You can't discount the fact that he was a real integral player in this game. And it was just an overall so they had a lot of really good performances for the Sixers and that's how they came away with this win

one fifty. Well, as you said, Town, we look forward to game number four on Saturday and listening to your call as we hopefully get a three one commanding lead in the series bringing it back to Philadelphia on Tuesday. All right, Davon, thank you and good night, Tom, have a good night time again his live from Barclays Center again Sixers victorious one thirty one, one fifteen over the Brooklyn Nets in Brooklyn, the first time Brooklyn has hosted a playoff game in quite some time, and it was

a good one. It was a good one as the seventy Sixers come away with the win one thirty one, one fifteen. On the other side, we will now hear from more of Tom again as that be, that being the variety of game calls, and there were a lot, a lot of good plays by the seventy sixers, and we hear are those calls on the other side. This is the Sixers post game show. They always told Will he was too short to play basketball, but Will never listened. We'll let his work ethic do the talking for him.

Always in a gym, always running drills. Will knew where there was a will, there was a way, and he was Will. But then after a second child was born, he realized the pros were all way better than him. So Will gave up and buried his high times in a cheerful ceremony. But one day he heard that Geico could save him money on car insurance, so he switched and saved a bunch which was awesome. Game three goes to the Philadelphia seventy Sixers one thirty one one fifteen.

Sixers take a two one series lead in the Eastern Conference quarter Finals. Here, I'm divine givings, This says the Sixers postgame show right here on the Sixers radio network in his time for the game calls that would be of course, sound by Tom McGuinness as they start things off. Jimmy Butler with the baseline jumper to tie things up too to two. Jared Allen very active this evening against the seventy Sixers. He gets an offensive rebound in the

dunk to make it nine to four. Brooklyn Greg Munroe from Ben Simmons for layup to make it nine the eight. Ben Simmons again starting this game off aggressive driving to the basket. Simmons Night seventh on an angle around whu Wrot's typical to angle, but he gets it out of the run at Ben Simmons scores it. It's a fourteen to twelve game. Ben Simmons very good as contorting his body in certain ways and hitting these very difficult angles

for the basket. Again. Fourteen twelve is time again. It's just pointed out bobam Marianovitch getting in on the mix with an offensive rebound in the dunk. Nineteen seventeen Tobias Harris pull up jumper and follow that up with a pull up three pointer to make it twenty five. Nineteen Sixers. Greg Munroe, starting in place of an injured and resting Joel and bead for the hoop outside right ten wenty on a try, it gets free again off the glass

up and oh good. The row with the rebound and Row runs at four, goes in at the scores and Jared Dudley Sixers make it thirty two twenty four. Then roll making an impact at both ends of the four. Great patience by Ben Simmons as he pushed the break allowed Greg Munroe to fill that lane on the left side. The defense did not pay attention in transition, hitting Monroe for the layup on the left side of the floor again thirty two twenty four. That was the score after one.

Jimmy Butler starts off the quarter with a jumper to make it thirty four twenty four, just like he started off the scoring for the Sixers in the first. A floater by Karis Labert gave him six straight to make it thirty four thirty sixers, then a three pointer. A little later. Russell goes away from one man, fires for three and that's long off the back. Labert gets the rebound.

Labert first prayer. He's done it again. Paris Labert has tied the game at thirty eight a person to a streak where he was just on fire, scoring nineteen points in the second quarter, tied it up thirty eight thirty eight. Ben Simmons with a finished for two at the room to take the lead forty to thirty eight. JJ Reddick with a three to make it sixty three to fifty three. As the seventy sixers started to pull away, Ben Simmons

closes out the quarter in strong fashion. Six seconds to go in the first half, Butler the reddick, JJ turns fires Lebb no rebound slap Bet Simmons and he flexes first teammates along the bat seven slams. Great anticipation by Ben Simmons, finishing in quarter off strong with that dunk, sixty five fifty nine to score at the break. Greg Monroe with an offensive rebound and a layup to making sixty seven sixty one. At the beginning of the third quarter.

JJ Reddick, as we know, hot tonight from deep, five of nine from behind the three point line. Here's one of those three pointers. JJ sprints a little upside, catches, turns on arrows, gets free shot here by j. J. Cunt. Again, here's a master of getting free. JJ Reddick sidesteps Joe Harris and another triple. He made it seventy two to sixty four. That one right there, following a nets three pointer, So back to back threes for Reddick seventy five sixty seven.

After that one, Tobias Harris with a layup and a foul converting the free throw from Ben Simmons seventy eight to sixty seven. He did not stop there. He got in the mix, of course, very good perfect from behind three point line. Here are three of those right here. It's a twelve point game to Bias Harris for three and that's good. And de'angelo Russell went well underneath the street. You better stay connected because to Bias Harris it's perfect five for five from three, finishing the night six of

six from three, four to Buias Harris. I guess de'angelo Russell did not read the Scouttering Report eighty four sixty nine right there. At that point Carris Lavert again, Spencer did Wittie again, getting into the mix, allowing the brooklyn Nets, helping the Brooklyn Nets come back Vert with the steal in the layup towards the end of the third quarter. Simmons finally picks it up at mid court. In the

late Spencer turns it over. Here's a drive Lavert lay up good and brook Letters back going in seventh bad turn over by Simmons at that point, spinning into a zone where Carris Lavert was simply waiting for him to spend anticipated it right, went up the floor for the layup ninety seven ninety that again the score after three. Ben Simmons, though, makes up for that with an immediate steel in the fourth at the start of the fourth quarter for a basket. Didn't what they dribbles up almost

lost that out of the house. Has to jump he throws it back Heather six or steal the ball head the Betty head, Oh yeah, bet Simmons sores had a two half stuff din what he saves it? Jj Reddick has it, pushes it up to Ben Simmons. That's the dunk right there. Butler with a fade away to make it one oh five ninety six. D'Angelo Russell inserted into the game, scores seven straight with a three point right here, Russell weaving, stopping shooting three ball, got it, D'Angelo Russell

forcing a time out. He's got five in a row. It's a six point game. So smooth with how he did that just there, one oh five ninety nine to buy his Harris with a three point shortly after to make it one ten, one on one. Ben Simmons gets passed, gets a pass off the dive to the basket, plus the foul makes the free throw one seventeen, one oh five. But he really puts an exclamation point on the game. Here, here's Bet Simmons. They blue by and Simmons with a

jam that might do it right there. They thought the Sixers were gonna hand off the JJ Reddick. That was like a quarterback faking that they're keeping it. They do so many dribble handoffs that they anticipated. Brooklyn did the handoff to JJ Reddick Ben Simmons. The lane opened up like the part of Like the Red Sea. He went right down for the dunk. One twenty one, one oh six a Ben Simmons Steele and a two Jimmy Butler for the dunk one twenty seven one ten at that point,

Sixers win one, thirty one one fifteen. Fantastic game by the seventy Sixers on the road in Game number three, winning this one in a big margin by sixteen, up by as much as eighteen and the third quarter allowing the Brooklyn Netts to come back and make this an interesting one. But the Sixers do. As Tom again has pointed it out, so much talent on this basketball team. They played together and they made sure that they separated themselves from this tough, tough Brooklyn Nets team to come

away with the sixteen point victory tonight. One of the things that we spoke about on the pregame coverage of course with Brian Seltzer and then Tom again the three pointers tonight the seventy six Ers a plus three and makes for the three pointers tonight versus the Brooklyn Nets eleven of twenty seven for the Sixers, eight of thirty

nine for the Philadelphi for the Brooklyn Nets. And that's just a great sign for this basketball team as they only made nine in game number two three in game number one, so you got those from Tobias Harris six for six, JJ Reddick five of nine. No one else made one, but that was enough because those two guys were dialed in from distance for the seventy sixers. This evening, again Greg Monroe in place of Joe ellenbiad four of thirteen from the floor, So we got a lot of

shots up. But you can kind of understand being in this situation just really getting himself with this team, having the opportunity to try to get some buckets and just some missed opportunities there for him. But he did contribute in another way with thirteen rebounds. But on the night, as we talked about to Buias Harris and his locking in from distance and eleven of nineteen from the floor overall for his twenty nine points, we cannot ignore a

game high sixteen rebounds. So when you have your leading rebounder out in Joe Ellen bad, you need someone else to pick that slack up. Tonight it was Harris with sixteen, Monroe in the place, Ovenbat with thirteen, and Boba Marianovic contributing eight rebounds on the evening plus the fourteen points that you got from the backup center. This evening, So an overall team performance collectively together getting this win on the road in a tough environment with the Brooklyn Nets.

Fans were really into things early on and all the conversation before the game, but when it all came down to it, the teams allowed their play to do the talking and the Sixers came away with the victory. One thirty one one fifteen. Game number four will be Saturday afternoon at three o'clock, same venue, that would be the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and Tom mcguinnis will

be on the game called Brian Sell. So of course with the pregame coverage you can hear all of that action on the Flagship Station ninety seven five the Fanatic and we will just get ready for Game number four. Hopefully the Philadelphia seventy Sixers can take a commanding the three to one lead in this series. Come back next Tuesday at the Center, looking to close out the pesky Brooklynette So four called Namoli back here at the Flagship

Station ninety seven five the Fanatic engineering the game. Thanks so much as always, Brian McLaughlin on those great audio highlights that you just heard, Brian Selta and Tom McGinnis at Barclays I am Divine Gibbons. Once again, Sixers take a two to one series lead, winning Game number three, one thirty one, one fifteen. We will check back in

with you on Saturday at three o'clock. Well, pregame cover starts to write around two fifty, so we will check in with you then live from Barclays Center for Game number four. You've been listening to a playoff edition of seventy six Ers Rewind presented by Geico. Be sure not to miss new episodes following each game of the postseason