Rewind vs. Minnesota Timberwolves - 10/30/19

balanced physical performance from top to bottom. They imposed their will even before the incident between Joel Embiad and Karl Anthony Towns with five minutes gone by in the third quarter. They were balanced, they were tenacious, physical, They set the tone and they saw it through to the finish. Eighteen points, nine rebounds for Tobias Harris, twelve points, sixteen boards for

Al Horford to go with four assists. He was great, sixteen and seven for Ben Simmons, Josh Richardson with twelve points behind two three pointers, seventeen for fur Con Cork Miles off the bench also some good bench performances from AATI stable. He had nine points and again four steals for the second straight game. Eight points and eleven rebounds

for James. And it's the third Did I not mentioned? I? Yes, that man, that very big man, Joel Embiid nineteen points, five rebounds, seven to fourteen and just twenty minutes of activity. He was ejected along with Towns my third quarter. Brett brownis at the podium right now. It's just first glance, my my, my most immediate memory. That's how I remembered it right now. It's not how do you want it

to happen? But is this the type of moment, type of really yellow team together seeing Ben and the other teammates kind of come back a mouth. Listen they they hear me. If you went into our practice facility, we talk about it's a creed, it's a Philly hard, it's Philly edge, and is an authenticity. It's real and somewhere every time we can, we like to point to example, Yep, like this is Philly hard. Yep, that thing had an edge. This is real. There is a spirit amongst that team

that's authentic. And I think that you could pick a few buckets to put that incident in and the team responding as they did. It is Philadelphia, and uh life moves on. It's part of it. Coach, I asked you before the game about assessing the defense and offense with the big lineups early on tonight, you said, you great the offense to see before the game he has come out of excuse me, you came out and dropped I think one hundred seventeen points. How do you feel now?

I feel better because I think that the ball moved. You know, I didn't really purposefully call a bunch of plays until the end. I wanted them to figure it out. The the the turnover abundance still is haunting. You're not going to do anything that matters unless you fix that. That's the bottom line. Now, that's the bad news. The good news was a transition defense after the turnovers was exceptional.

I mean, I think they had twelve points on you know, twenty two turner, which is a very tiny relative number for that volume. And so it starts with, you know, trying to help out two all stars Ben and Joel. With this mission to try to reduce turnovers, you're going to see that there are many other participants in this ugly category that we need to fix. And if you remove that. I give our offensive thumbs up about thirty second chance points over sixteen offensive. See that to me,

there's two areas that is the game. If you look at up points after we turn them over, you know which I think is is twenty nine And then to your point, the thirty points on second chance points. When you talk about how do you utilize height, how do you exploit size? You know, it's part of the sort of smashmall bullyball thing we're trying to get better at. And that thirty point crashing the boards and twenty nine points, I think it was on you know, taking advantage of

how we turned them over. You'd have a hard time going someplace else when you talk about significant stats that helped us win. As Brett Brown said at his very first media availability of the fall Back in September more than a month ago, he wants the seventy sixers to play a smash mouth style on offense and bullieball on defense.

Even before the incident in the third quarter with Immedan Towns, the seventy sixers were competing with that Philly hard, Philly edge, Philly real mindset for the night they commanded the glass.

They were plus twenty two on the boards. They outscored Minnesota sixty to forty two in the paint, thirty to four on second chances, and, as Brand was alluding to, despite both teams turning the ball over twenty two times, not the most comfortable amounts, the Sixers were the more opportunistic of the two groups, outscoring the Timberwolves on turnovers twenty nine to twelve the Sixers. They were balanced from

top to bottom, six players finishing in double figures. Thought fur Concorkmaz had a really nice effort off the bench, James Ennis the third as well. Al Horford was great as the seventy Sixers hold the Timberwolves to under forty

percent shooting and under thirty percent from outside the ark. Meanwhile, the Sixers got off to a really good start with their perimeter offense, and that helped them build up a twenty five point lead in tonight's first half on the way to a one seventeen ninety five win and the end result. As I mentioned at the top, the Sixers are the first team to four wins in the entire NBA. They're also one of two unbeaten teams left with San

Antonio being the other. They played the La Clippers tomorrow night. The Sixers first to four wins, first four and ohs start to a season since two thousand and two thousand and one. They knock off the Wolves one seventeen ninety five seventy Sixers in a wild night down here at the Center. Nineteen points five rebounds for Joel Embiid before he and Karl Anthony Towns, the two All Stars were rejected early on in the third quarter. But I thought

a lot of other guys had no worthy performances. Al Horford terrific throughout the evening doing a lot of different things. He was plus twenty six and Ferd con Corkmas had seventeen points off the bench. We'll go to Tom McGinnis right now, who had the call this one tonight, And hey Tom, that was there was something in the third quarter. And listen, I mean Joel Embiid. There there are three atrics to him. You know. I guess showman his way

that you could describe him. But I think the SoundBite for me that I'll take away was simply that I'm built for this city. And you know what he has got the town rapped around his fingers. He has the pulse of the town. He knows the heartbeat of the city, and that moment when he walked off the floor, regardless of what you thought or what still might be to come after the since in tonight, I mean it was theater. Well, he was shadow boxing and he was playing to the crowd.

And then his press conference comments where those similar of Muhammad Ali and so he definitely was doing it. Where in the other hand, we understand that Carl Anthony Towns. All he would say, and he repeated it like five times in a row. It was competitive. He was channeling his inner emotions. So again, big picture, you don't like to see this kind of thing between two star players. Let's say Towns connects on that punch, then it's a it's a much it's not as jovial. Then it's a

real mean, that was a serious situation. Let's not kid ourselves. And if that punch lands, it's even more serious. It's really you know, it's something that's talked about with in a whole different lights. So the game I thought, got a little ratty after that. They did not have a rhythm.

The Sixers had built up a big enough lead, but then you know, the Sixers played at the end, and that's how they've won these four games, and that is they've played right down to the stretch with Harris and Horford and Simmons and Richardson still making plays, and obviously Monday Duell with the file shots in the big production

points wise in the win over Atlanta. But do you mention four oh, it's the first time since two thousand and two thousand and one, if memory serves, ten straight wins for the Sixers to begin that season, and it obviously it led to an Eastern Conference championship at a birth in the finals and a long way to go, but a great start for the Sixers. And I thought was sixty two points in the first half. This was the best they'd played offense. Will be heard coach moments earlier,

seeing the offense has been a C minus so far. Tonight, I thought they did a much better job in that and they got again big contributions from multiple players, including Cork Mois, who had his best game of the year. Sixers over the Minnesota Timberwolves one seventeen to ninety five. Al Horford, Tom was forced into an even larger role tonight after Joel Embiid's ejection. Al's been great. I think, I don't know how you've seen it so far, but

just little things. I mean, one player that stands out to me was how he set up for a con corkmis for a dunk, just a terrific pass after collecting an offensive rebound. It's a possession like that where he's able to help space the floor, create an extra opportunity and then make a beautiful paths that results in a really nice finish. But he did a little bit of everything tonight. No, he really did, and I mean he

knows the game. He thinks the game, and like you said, that's beautiful basketball when you get a backside cut and a dunk by fur Con and all set up by Horford. Harris had a hand in that play, but mostly all Ill. And there were times in the game where he was, you know, not really scoring the ball, but he rebounded consistently throughout the game. And then you know, for a big guy, he's sometimes when you look in there he's listening at six nine, he seems undersized, but he's so

accustomed to being in the pain. He's got tremendous footwork, and when he gets into the lane off that left block and turns over the left shoulder with that right hand jump hook. He's money, and he knows where he wants to get those shots from, and he's done it consistently throughout his career, and he makes plays. And you know, he's a heavy ball player with veteran poise, and you're right,

he has been terrific throughout. And I thought more than anything Saturday in Detroit and now we've seen a three games in a row, Sixers top of the tea Wolves one seventeen ninety five, the first NBA team to four wins, and as Tom said, first four and starts since two thousand, two thousand and one, we've been going back to the idea of the offense being behind the defense and needing to catch up. You certainly would have every reason to believe that it will. But I think even in this

first week time, it's now been a full week. We were here last Wednesday when the Sixers beat the Celtics. I mean, we're seeing things that, given the overall talent the Sixers have that are going to help them win basketball games, that might be enough to help them win basketball games. Listen, they had eleven extra shots then the Minnesota Timberwolves, they outrebounded them by ten and they were

thirty to four on second chance points. I mean, these are things that with the way they played defense and their size and their length, I mean, that's a winning attribute in combination for this team. Right, if you were to ask any coach off the bat, you know what would you like to build on, they would say defense and rebounding. Now, obviously you have to score the ball, but there's gonna be nights that certain guys have off

nights offensively. But if you can hang your hat on those two elements that you know you're gonna grind it out defensively and continue to hit the glass. And with that size advantage, you figure the Sixers are going to be one of, if not the top rebounding team in the entire league this year. That's huge. And then going back to the offense, Brian I thought it was telling what coach Brown said there, and it may not have gotten a whole lot of notice, but he said where

he didn't call out of place. He let the Sixers kind of play and free flow. And look, they produced sixty two points at the half, their best half of

the year. So that's interesting to see that the team kind of just went out there and use their intuitive basketball knowledge to create for one another, and they went to Joel a lot obviously, So nice victory here tonight, a big You know, we came into the game talking about undefeated for the second consecutive game, and the Sixers really made this no contest with the way they blew out Minnesota. Seventy Sixers defeat Minnesota one, seventeen ninety five,

now four straight games against the Western Conference. Portland had a terrific run last year. Phoenix appears to be improved with a guy like Devin Booker, who knows what typing game you can get, especially on the road. And then you've got the Utah Jazz with Mike Conley in the mix and Denver and you could Sammy provided full health the matchup of the two guys people leave were the top big men in the game in Yokich and Joel

absolutely and Portland's out in Oklahoma. They're up one late in that game, but no doubt, tough trip and you know think, oh, okay, well Phoenix, well, like you say, not necessarily, Monnie Williams has really got them playing well and they've responded to the absence of Eton with that twenty five game suspension here at the beginning of the year. And obviously Portland has been a difficult place for the Sixers over the years, and you know they're hurting with

their bigs. Nurkicch is still out now, Zach Collins is hurt, but they still have Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. So hey, if the Sixers come back eight, no, will really have something to talk about. Because Utah another very difficult place to play, and as you say, Conley in their quarterback, in their offense, and Denver's one of the best teams

in the NBA. So so far, so good, but a great opportunity, a great test early road trip for the Sixers out west, and it should be interesting as we tip off at ten o'clock on Saturday night from the Rose Guard. All righty Tom, talked to you at that point in time. Good night, Thanks. Seventy Sixers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves by the final score of one seventeen to ninety five. Will hit some highlights coming up. Seventy Sixers a brief stop in South Philadelphia before setting back out

on the road. This weekend to open up a four game a Western Conference road trip. The task tonight hosting another unbeaten team and trying to stay perfect on Brian Seltzer let us get to the highlights. Seventy sixers game for the season, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves. Early on it was clear Joel Embiid was a sizeable advantage for the Sixers. Beat against Kyle's Jeb step by Joe upbaked by a beat on Tiles, powers spits, get to run and plays it up. He pulled out everything that get just say

him to score on t Towns. It was interesting because it was Towns who guarded Embiid for most of the time the two shared the floor, but on the opposite end of the court, the Sixers went with the likes of Horford, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris even a bit and let Joel and bad drift outside the pain and playmate defensively.

It was a strategy that for the most part work that bucket made it six to three to seventy six Ers would calf off the first quarter courtesy of Jay Rinch, a defensive laps at Minnesota knocks down to three five seconds to go, on the opening quarter Richardson with a pull up eighteen quarter bucket. Towns was there thirty two twenty four, seventy six ers after one fur con. Corkmas played an important role in tonight's game, Covington from well

beyond the yard way off to the right. He shot it from Delaware County and he missed it the Bucks County. Here's karkball. That's how you do it. Show up Burk God three ball, Krkbas Corkmas making it forty six to thirty one. Joel Embiad showing his touch to wrap up the first hand if b to Sivens Simmons on a running start with the couples in the corner of batis five to go on the half. If bat for three from out of front, it's gone. He nailed the triple.

Joel mb with two seconds to go, sixers in front at the break, sixty two to forty three. Third quarter. Five minutes in behind the play, Joel Embiid and Karl Anthony Towns tied up. There was an altercation, an incident, a lengthy to lay and review, after which it was determined that both Joel Embiid and Karl Anthony Towns would be leaving the game, but the seventy Sixers played physical and tough long before that incident happened, and Ben Simmons

made sure that style of play continued. Al Horford with a hoop that appeared to be blocked after it hit the glass. You're Simmons on a jam, dumps in the crowd loves that Ben has to hang on the iron because Teague was underneath them. That made it seventy nine to fifty eight. The Sixers well in control going into the fourth quarter. We will leave the final highlight for Turk or he goes down to Corkmoths and a duck by fur Conk big. Al bakes the pass and cork

mos bakes the Wolves pain. It was a terrific pass from al Horford set up by his own offensive rebound. Seventy Sixers coast. They win this one tonight one seventeen ninety five. They shot over forty six and a half percent from the field, held the Timberwolves under forty percent. Six Ers nine to twenty five from three, Minnesota ten of thirty five, six Ers twenty two to twenty eighth in the line, Minnesota twenty one of twenty eight. The Sixers were plus twenty two on the glass each team

with twenty two turnovers. Sixers outscored the Wolves twenty nine to twelve off turnovers, outscored the Wolves sixty to forty two in the paint and thirty to four on second chance opportunities. Individually, dwell Embiid with a team high nineteen. He also had five rebounds in just twenty minutes before the ejection. Right behind him to Bias Harris with eighteen points, nine rebounds and two assists sixteen for Ben Simmons to go with three boards, seven dimes, two steals, and a

couple block shots. Al Horford with a game high twenty six plus twenty six rating, twelve points, sixteen rebounds. Al was five or twelve from the field, but such a huge part leading the seventy six ers commanding efforts on the glass. James and It's the third great off the bench with eight points eleven rebounds in just eighteen minutes. Batistiable with nine points and four steals, his second straight

four steal game. According to the Great Website Basketball Reference, he has the most steals to start a career in four games in seventy six ers franchise history. Now with twelve pretty awesome stuff fer Con Corkmas seventeen points, one off his career high. He was five to ten overall, three for eight from three seventy six was led by as much as twenty five an hour four and Ozero.

First team in the league to four wins, last team in the East unbeaten and one of two unbeaten's left overall, along with the San Antonio Spurs, four no starts since two thousand, two thousand and one. Now they head out west. They visit Moda Center and the Portland Trailblazers on Saturday night at ten o'clock one final time. The final score was the seventy six Ers one seventeen Minnesota Timberwolves ninety five.

You've been listening to rewind, look out for fresh episodes the day after every seventy six Ers game this season