Playoff Pod: Episode 9 - Game 5 Rewind

the Eastern Conference Semifinals, starting this weekend up north in Canada. Wow, what a game, What a performance for the seventy Sixers, punctuating this series with a one twenty two, one hundred triumph. I'm Brian Seltered down here at the center standing by for Brett Brown post game. Sixers entered this series with

understandable question marks. They didn't play together a lot. Forget the regular season in general, but in particular the final two to three weeks of the year before beginning this first round series against the Brooklyn Nets. There was that tough Game one loss in which the Sixers didn't seem together.

They began to turn things around a couple days later and four straight wins to vault them into Round two, culminating with the most convincing of efforts tonight a game in which they led by as many is thirty nine points. This starting line for the Sixers when it was out there in the four out of the five games of this series, it had complete control over its counterparts from the Nets, and tonight was no different. The Sixers raced out to an eight nothing lead time out Kenny Atkinson

and the Nets. The margin grew to fourteen nothing before Brooklyn had its first basket with five minutes fifty two seconds gone by. In the first quarter, Sixers lead grew as big as twenty three to two, outrageous, and they led thirty two fifteen after a quarter, sixty to thirty one at the break, and it was just a testament to the way this team came together through at adversity in this series to end on such a high note

and knock off the Nets four games to one. And now the Sixers are onto the second round for the second time in as many years. That's a first since two thousand, two thousand and one, and back in two thousand and one, the Sixers in the second round played the Toronto Raptors an epic seven game series. This will be the second time the team's ever meet in playoff competition.

We're standing by for Brett Brown. After tonight's game, Joel and Bead played just twenty minutes, twenty three points, thirteen rebounds. He was plus twenty six. Ben Simmons plus thirty four thirteen points, five rebounds six times in the game. Jimmy Butler, you know, you just look at his stat sheet. You see nine points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals. We're like, okay, that's pretty good. He was plus thirty one along with

Tobias Harris. Harris had twelve points, eight boards, four assists, JJ Reddick with eleven points. The bench played really nice. Boban Marnyanovitch in the early going. He was such a big presence defensively for the Sixers, clogging up stuff in the lane and allowing Brooklyn no point for entry at all. Brooklyn tried to go inside, Sixers gave him nothing. Their defense held Brooklyn to twenty six percent, shooting just twelve field goals in the first half. Great display all around.

Seventy six Ers eliminate Brooklyn one twenty two, one hundred. Believe we have Brett Brown at the postgame podium. We're right about now. And you know when you lose game one that can be challenged that notion the is it right or is it wrong? We felt like we were on the right path, even not playing well and losing. We felt it was the correct defensive game plan to see through. To beat this team four times in a row is really hard and I think that to your point, Sarah,

we started the game well. I really was as happy with the first you know, two minutes of the third as I was the start of the game. I thought we came out and tried to continue sort of what we tried to achieve defensively, Bred Shawn kind of the Liberty Bawlers. The organization hasn't made it clear that you guys have lofty goals this year. How do you balance that against the accomplishment of reaching the second round of the playoffs? Say that one more time, please. You guys

have stated that you have lofty goals this year. How do you balance that against the accomplishment of reaching the second round for the second straight year? UM, I'm not sure how to answer that. Knowing that I can answer the stuff quickly. UM, you know, it's like I can answer like how I see the world, this is how I see it. We have we have a team that is slowly coming together, like they don't have the luxury of lots of games and lots of context to share upon.

And so you know, you have Joe, you don't. You have Jimmy Butler, you don't. These guys have been great on trying to form a team. And so when you say lofty goals versus reaching the second round, we have more to do. And so this is good. Beaton Brooklyn

advanced into the second round. This is good and it can't be discredited like, oh, you should on paper, we should, but you still play against the team that was a team they had a hell of ye I give Kenny Atkinson and Sean Mark's credit, and so I will answer it like that and and conclude with we still have more to do, a lot and more to do. I

Bret M. Martin, Frank Tellower, News Journal. I was wondering, like your thoughts on how kind of like the nets made you guys, you know, come together as a team, you know, especially after game one, you know, kind of playoff series and everything, after not having all that much time together with the guys. God, I mean I think that immediately it forced us into recognizing that we are vulnerable if we don't play defense like we got to

play defense. And I think if I were to go to one specific thing, the first game was a reminder that we we better guard the way that we said we wanted to defend them, or it's going to be a long series and one that we could lose. And so when you say it brought us together, I think that is true. But what it really brought us together

on specifically is a defense. I thought we came together defensively. Coach, Ky Carlin, sixers wire right in front of you, to your right, coach, after losing Game one, you're able to bounce back it as winforce free. What does that say about your team? I mean, I think it's a little bit like the the the answer that I just gave you, it's it's it says, it says really good things. We responded how I hope that we would and we should.

And I felt, like I've said to the group many times, it's land the plane and by time, just let's get to the playoffs and buy some time, retain our health, get Joel moving in the direction that he's really trending, I think in a positive way, and put it in tons of time trying to to to be with us,

like physically going overboard, trying to be with us. And I think that that, you know, buying time is still the answer that I give to keep what we want to do moving forward, and I believe that it is in us great on a follow up on you say we still have more to do, I mean, when you're going in Toronto, you know what your history has been like in a regular season, but this is a different team now, and what are you kind of looking forward to,

you know, in that series with this new group. I mean, we all understand what the mass says with our success in Toronto, and it's not flattering, but it's also not directed to the team that we have and so you can, you know, credit it or you can discredit it. I'm I'm discrediting it. I think that that we have a new group, we have a new opportunity. I got tremendous

respect for the Toronto team. The coaching staff has done great, but we're excited to go up there and try to fix someone with the mass says lack of success that we have had, and it's going to be an incredibly tough series. I think that you know, Toronto is as good as there is in the NBA, and we will be tested immediately when we get up into Jua, into Toronto. And when that is we will find out probably before the end of tonight or early in the am tomorrow

as or when that will be. The seventy six and the Raptors. We do know that is the second round matchup for the seventy six or second time ever in the playoffs going up against Toronto. The last time was the epic seven game series in the second round in two thousand and one. Sixers will be trying to brown alluded to change some recent history in their rivalry versus Toronto.

Toronto the number two seeds in the East, seventy Sixers enter the postseason number three, and man, they show themselves to be one of the top teams the way they wrapped up this series four consecutive wins over an opponent that gave them tough times during the regular season. Tonight one twenty two, one hundred Sixers first took Brooklyn's spirit immediately, then they took their heart, and lastly they ended their season tonight, four games to one, seventy Sixers knock off

the nets in the opening round. Toronto is up next. We'll talk about that some of the details of tonight's game, a dominant, most dominant win over Brooklyn. It's our post game coverage and we're just getting starting. As we watched 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 it

goden know me. Here is about how Geico not only saves people money but also gives them access to license to agents twenty four seven online and over the phone. It's clear to them you should switch, because yes, switching to Geico is a no brainer. But on second thoughts, maybe don't watch garden Homes two carefully. People might talk a route in a close at seventy six ers eliminate

the nets one twenty two. Brian Selzer here at the center, Joel beat at the podium right now, shing But no, no, you can't say I thought tonight my performance was was okay, but that was a great win. Everybody showed up, Joel, David Glenham and ESPN. Kenny Atkinson said right there ten fifteen minutes ago and said that the six or teen that just beat the Nets can contend for a championship. How are you guys in your locker room managing your

own expectations as you move through these playoffs. That's all we think. We think we can win it all. Obviously, he's gonna take a lot. You got some great teams in the league. We are about to play one of them. Man, I don't know he's gonna be. The next one is gonna easither gonna be Milwaukee or Boston. And then you got the West, which is pretty tough. So we just gotta take uh one game by the time. Um, but we understand how we got all the time, and we

need especially to win it all. More Joe to you left. Um, you guys are back in the second round. No, last year it was a humbling experience to go through that with Boston. But where would you compare where you are now going back into the second round. Just where your mentality is and just confidence going in. Um, Man, we felt pretty good about what we can do. Uh. There's definitely a difference from last year. Uh feel like this

team is better than last year's team. Uh. And then last year we had a great momentum going going into the playoffs, and um, Boston just smacked us. Uh, but going into this series is uh, you know it's kinda it's different because I've seen it. That's my second time being here. And last year, you know, we were kinda I would say over confidence on what we came. We could we could have done. But this year is just about uh, you know, respecting everything about the game of basketball.

And you know, just put in the walking Joe Joe. Last year in the in the back, last year in the second round, you guys struggle to stop the drible penetration. Um, they really gave you problems with the way Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons have been playing on the perimeter of this year, Um, how much more equipped do you think you guys are? Um Man, Um, not gonna say anything about last year's guys. Um, but uh, it doesn't make a difference. Uh. We gotta stick to the game plan.

And uh usually the game plan is, uh to drive all these guys to me and let me do my job as the best defensive player in the league. But if that's the game plan, you know those guys they gotta do that best. As far as content in the ball Land. I got that back, thanks Joe. Seventy six Ers big man Joel and Beat, exuding understandable confidence after a blowout one of the Brooklyn nets tonight one twenty two to one hundred and Beat, finishing with twenty three

points thirteen rebounds in just twenty minutes. He was plus twenty six. I bring on Tom McGinnis right now, and I'm gonna hit you, Tom, Tom, I'm gonna lower some I don't know how advanced this is, but some semi advanced stats for you right here. Seventy six Ers starting five put a total of sixty six minutes together the entire series, essentially, not essentially, that was four out of the five games. They outscored Brooklyn starters by one hundred

four points in sixty six minutes. Outrageous. And to follow up on what Kenny Atkinson apparently said, Sixers tonight played like a championship contender. You would be hard pressed to find fault in a remark like that. Well, for sure, and that's high praise coming from an opposing coach. And they were dominant here, particularly early, and obviously that's the strength of this Sixers team, the starting five. So that is a commanding performance obviously in the last four games

of the series. And again you have options, but I think as as important as anything, and the bid was just touching on this as the defense. You know, you're doing better on the perimeter. The Sixers made tactical changes in this series. They stopped switching everything, they started fighting through screens and that allows Jimmy Butler and Ben were really good. They were really good on the perimeter in

this game. I thought JJ played really solid defense, and then Tobias and you got the anchor back there in and b So really kudos to the Sixers in that. Regardless, we watched Ben Simmons coming out of the locker room out out onto the accord here and he was really good. His father David following in his footsteps. But a tremendous performance by the Sixers and again Brian coming in. I I didn't see this. I mean, I just coming into this game, you know, you felt like it was going

to be a lot closer. But with the way the Sixers dominated early, they really took the nets out of it it. And you know, Coach Brown told me as we were interviewing here, I talked to him on the court. You know, right when shoot around was wrapping up and he was talking about breaking their spirit, and I thought the Sixers were successful in doing that, And especially when you look down at their bench and you saw Russell and did with Ee and Lavert and Jared Allen and Dudley and

Demarrow Carroll some of their top players. Those are their top players, and they really they watched as the Sixers dismantled them and really solid for the Sixers to win four straight to close them out and panic start convincent finished one twenty two to one hundred and seventy Sixers over the Brooklyn Nets to take this one in five games. Would you say the Sixers there is a different are around them right now right than we saw at the

start of the series. And as Brett Brown said, much like he did at this point last year, that more to do slogan and the notion of the Sixers though coming together. It seemed like they did find some things

going through this series. And no doubt, and you know it sounds like, you know, after the first game and then a sixty five sixty four first quarter of Game two, that that speech by Brett Brown kind of got the Sixers going to look and then another you know, little pivotal point in this series was well too, really the fact that they won Game two, I'm sorry, Game three without Embid with really great performances by Marianovitch and Greg Monroe filling in for Joel, and they were able to

hold down the fort and win convincingly in that second game. And then I really think the third quarter of Saturday's Game four and the ejections and the freakas the fact that Dudley tried to stir it up, I think that backfired big time on Brooklyn, with Joel and Ben really taking off and just dominating down the stretch in that game. And then tonight, obviously the first six or so minutes when the Sixers were up twenty three to two, for

all intensive purposes, the game was over. So to your point about the stars, Brian as I talked to JJ Reddick postgame and he kind of concurred, And that is one of the sentiments coming in was can you get the chemistry and that grouped together playing in the playoffs? And I think it happens because of the intensity and

the stage. You know, it happens quicker, I mean, because it's so intense and they were able to play to your point about that lopsided edge in terms of when the starters were out there and they're jelling together, and now comes a huge test against a Toronto team that the Sixers have really struggled with over the years. All right, Tom, and we'll leave it on that note about the Toronto Raptors, I'll get one from you. Now. We're gonna be talking about it ad nauseum over the next couple of days.

First of all, these are the type of matchups that you just ralished from an outsider's perspective as a spectator. This is awesome theater number two, number three, a team that's had your number talking about the seventy Sixers so many of these recent years. But we did not see matchup between the seventy Sixers and the Raptors following the final pieces that the Sis added at the trade Devilo well,

and same thing with Toronto. They didn't have Gasol in any of these games that the Sixers have played, and when the Sixers won here, the Raptors did not play Ibaka or Kawhi Leonard. So Leonard again missed like what twenty twenty two games and now here Siakam turns into an incredible player. It's amazing the leaps that he's made over the last three months. And uh no, you're right, and overall you're talking about what the fans look for

and the regular season matters. It's proven and that the first four seeds in the East are playing still and playing each other, with Milwaukee against Boston and obviously the Sixers against Toronto. And you know, at some point the Sixers have got to get through We've talked to for years. Getting through Boston will remains to be seen whether that will concur in the conference finals, but first Toronto, and it's one of these teams that you've got to get through.

The Raptors have been right there at the top of the division and they've ruled the roost of if you will up there one thirteen in a row and what is it, twenty three out of twenty four, something to that effect, and you've got to be able to go up there, and now without home court advantage, you know, you go up there with the idea of gaining a split and then coming back home and holding serves. So

matchups abound. There's some of the best players in basketball are pitted against one another in this series, so as you say, it is one to savor, it's going to be intense. That crowd up there is as good as any in sports. The Sixers have not played there since two thousand and one in that playoff series with Carter and iverson the Sixers and the Raptors, and this shapes up to be really a very exciting matchup in round two.

Tom cannot wait to speak with you in advance of that opening game and the second round versus the Raptors. Have a great rest of the night. Thank you. Seventy six Ers rolling into the second round behind four straight wins and a convincing one twenty two one hundred victory over the Brooklyn Nets in an elimination game tonight. Some highlights coming up next. Then we have divine givens in the post. This is our postgame coverage. Your home is important.

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is to switch and save on homeowner's insurance. If it was all seventy six ers you were hoping for and a subsequent reassuring performance in a close out game five of the first round, that is what you got tonight. We're just going to play a hand full of highlights because it was that type of evening for the seventy sixers. And boy did it get started quickly. Jimmy Butler racing the seventy sixers out to a quick start, Harris playing in for Brooklyn out top and just steer by Butler.

Jimmy Butler jam time out Brooklyn. Teddy Atkins said, points at the officials, give me a teo, baby. He did that and more did the Brooklyn nets. The lead would only increase seventy sixers. Wow, it was just a dramatic margin did way through the first quarner. Here's to bias off the screen. In the lane stops, page fifteen, voter got the front but no good rebounded by Jimmy back out the Harris Open. Three shot in here bang a dagger at early dagger. It's good. By Tobias and Paris.

It's twenty three to two. He really did as crazy as a Santa Dad felt like it was a dagger. And the first quarter wasn't even done yet. Ben Simmons with a punctuation to add a little bit more to the seventy sixers total. At the end of a quarter number one Simmons of the ball bid to shoot Ben on a drive bab bright hast slap break out broad Street,

deep hammers and then nine seconds to go. Sixers lead by nineteen thirty two fifteen seventy sixers all sixers after twelve minute and Joel and Bead kept pointing on after the first Brooklyn turns it over. JJ stopped to the line, back to a trailing it beat. He'll try for three. It's good. Joelle Bead knocks down another three. It's forty one to seventeen. Man n it beat stops at poses at center court on nine oh run. Phenomenal moment. Seventy

sixers in complete control. By the end of the first half, they would set a new franchise record for marginal victory at intermission in a playoff game, and also matched the fewest points aloud in the first half of a postseason game. Here's jj Reddick for three. He doesn't miss, he scores the ball. It's sixty to thirty one. Jay Jay Reddick gives us sixers on eleven to two run and it

was sixty thirty one. Seventy sixers at the break. You feel bad saying something like it felt like it would be gravy from there, but that's kind of what it was. Ben Simmons quarter number three, Paul run a tribble drive into the sto Ben Simmons with a two hand jam, and Kenny Atkins said, takes yet another timeout. It's sixty eight to thirty one, a fourteen old run. Back to the second quarter, Simmons with a slam and Joel bead he did not play in the fourth quarter. He did

get this in the third. Here's Simmons, but Joel to beat with a jam up top and a two hands stuff. Well, that was really easy. Seventy sixers making it look easy all night long. In the fourth quarter, things got turned over to the reserves. Fur Con Corkbs getting what he Can played all twelve minutes the final period for the Gila. Here's corkbos a long shot and good fur Cod makes it one fourteen seventy ninety fourteenth made three by the Sixers, and the Sixers would go on to win it by

twenty two. Led by as many as thirty nine. They shot fifty one percent for the game, held nets to under thirty nine, only twenty six percent for the nets in the first half, and it was still a game. Fourteen threes for the Sixers nets had nine. Sixers crushed the nets on the glass by fifteen. They outscored the nets in the paint sixty eight to forty four. Sixers got away with twenty turnovers. They forced fifteen on the nets. Each member of the seventy sixers starting five plus twenty

six or better. Joel embiid game highs for the Sixers with twenty three points thirteen rebounds, Ben Simmons with thirteen five and six eleven points for JJ Reddick behind three three pointers, twelve eight, four and three talking about three steals for Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler nine points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals. James entis the third with eleven off the bench Boban Marnanovich with seven points, seven rebounds

in just under fourteen minutes. Seventy Sixers wire to wire into the second round, winning the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Brooklyn Nets four games to one. We don't know yet when, but we do know the opponent in the next round, the Toronto Raptors. Similar arc to their first round series compared to the seventy Sixers. Toronto lost the first game at home to the Orlando Magic in the

final seconds. They one on to win the next four, including a dominant one fifteen ninety six victory at Scotia Bank Arena tonight over the Magic. That's where the six will be either Saturday or Sunday. We cannot wait to bring you more playoff action. 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.