Serena Winters Evaluates the Preseason

coming up on this episode of the broadcasts. I am ready. I don't know about you, but I'm ready. I feel like I was saying the same thing three weeks ago when training camp the preseason. We're just about ready to start. But now after a scrimmage and four preseason games, you know, I am I'm going to even say I am beyond ready to get rolland with regular season basketball next week.

But for now, what do we have some very positive encouraging signs to reflect upon from the exhibition addings the seventy sixers have played to date and what that could mean for the regular season. What's going on? I'm Brian Seltzer. Apologies for a little bit more of a nasal delivery for this episode of the podcast, fighting an early fall cold, best to get it out of the system. Now are reminded that if you are not a subscriber to our podcast, you can become one instantly or just about by going

to any of your favorite podcast hosting platforms. We just got on Pandora this past week. On Spotify, Apple Pods, Google Pods, wherever, type in Sixers podcast network and then we'll take you to where you need to go. There has indeed been a whole lot to like about the seventy Sixers preseason so far. At the time of taping this episode of the podcast, the Sixers are four to

oz and they've compiled that record convincingly. Collectively the team with the top net rating in the NBA in the preseason, number one rebounds per one hundred possessions, number one in points scored per one hundred possessions, and inside the top three in points allowed points defense per one hundred possessions. These are all really good signed for a seventy Sixers team that rightfully and understandably has high aspirations. Ben Simmons

has looked strong to Bias Harris playing tough. Josh Richardson has been great. But as we try out something new for this episode of the podcast, I think I'm gonna keep it as a regular segment. Each week we'll do our opening tip, which will be like kind of an

audio essay commentary style segment. And to me right now, with the regular season about to start, in the preseason winding down, there has been one main breakout headline and player that we'd have to focus on for the seventy six ers, right, and it's this guy, Fatis Thibal, trap and get a steel. Here's a lot of Thible jams in about that. Here's a duck Pike Thiable. He breaks free of Quinn with a pass and Batie Stible with a one hand slam in the Fatis with another Steel

Simmons with a low lookdition. Mike Scott throws it down as Batie Stible with a block from behind and on the other end Mike Scott with a jail. If you've been following along even just a little bit the last two weeks, hearing him out these types of plays and highlights has become pretty commonplace. Yeah, Fatis Stival has been

a machine, a menace, a most exciting revelation. The twenty nineteen number twenty pick, whom these seventy six is acquired from the Boston Celtics in a draft Knight trade, has delivered as advertised. He's been a terror defensively, and that's putting it mildly. I think he's been getting up in guy's grills, provoking turnover, snatching up balls, generating deflections, and a whole lot more. Heading to the Sixers preseason finale on Friday versus the Washington Wizards, Thible had twelve steals

on the preseason. That's the most of any player in the entire NBA. He also boasted the second best plus minus rating in terms of total points for any rookie in the preseason. For a prospect the Sixers front office has long had their eyes on. Thible has burst onto the scene, most auspiciously against the Detroit Pistons earlier this week. He got a little bit of a promotion and finished with seven points, six rebounds, four steals, and two block shots.

He started your first NBA game tonight, how field your name called out there. It's pretty special. I mean, for me, it's been it's been amazing just to be able to get on the court of this level, but you know, to get a start this early, it was great. I was just glad to get out there and do my job. Well, I've got to ask you. You've told me before the game you hadn't talked to your family yet or your dad about starting. What do you think your family would

have to say tonight. I think there's gonna be a lot of texts in all caps, so I'm excited to see that to say, and for good reason. That was Thible's postgame interview with Serena Winners, who will join us shortly. By this point, you're probably familiar with Thible's background. Born in Arizona, moved to Australia when he was young, then relocated to Seattle, where he went to both high school

and college. He spent four years at the University of Washington, said the program's all time steel's record, and was named the twenty nineteen Naysmith National Defensive Player of the Year. Thibel held his own at Summer League. Here he goes with the steel still and that's what he does. The steel the runout in the jam, that's exactly what he does.

And if you talk about being on that shortlist with guys like Gary Payne and himself, But it was his insane effort the seventy six ers Blue and White scrimmage early this month that really opened eyes, at least for the public, for fans and media members too. Britt Brown estimated that the twenty two year old had sixteen deflections

during the scrimmage. Sixteen. That is crazy. So just for some context, the Oklahoma City thunder led the league in deflections last season and they averaged fifteen and a half per game. So sixteen deflections in any type of NBA setting, Yeah, in my opinion, that's outrageous. This was from right after the scrimmage at seventy six Ers field House in Wilmington, Delaware. And what was your impression in the tea scene, especially in the first half. He's so far, he's been amazing,

his length, just the way he plays the game. You can run the floor, makes the river. Who can play you know? The right way is no watching offices to league, is no tri ordained thought process that I had tried to coming into camp. I've said to them, I've said you the gym will speak, they will tell me, And so far he has spoken loudly for that reason, he's earned the right to play and play a little bit more. And you know, right now he's in a pretty good place as it relates to my praise for him and

where I think he can help this team. And as we know, when it Jim speaks, Brown listens attentively. As for what's aladmatistible to figuratively and literally jump right into the mix this fall. There's of course an aspect of this that is germane to the person skill set that he's developed before getting here, is God given abilities and talent, his intellect and his maturity. But there's also another factor

at playing this equation. Thible made a point of getting himself settled in Philadelphia towards the end of August, and he started working out at the training complex in Canada almost right away. The result what's so far has been a pretty smooth transition. Started um, like right before training, Like when I started were playing pick up and that guy's just and the guys all around I started playing with him, and I guy chance to be on the

court with them. I started to realize that they I kind of belong here, and like having that realization, it's pretty huge to me just even going into training camp. So then from then it just built up of that one as Matiss impressed you beyond what you would have expected. And I think what it is more than anything is when you get a vetter, when you get a four year college guy, it does stand out. There's an expedited

growth that is reflected in his birth certificate. Matiss does things instinctively defensively that that are unusual for a rookie. I have learned with him. He can make up for a mistake and like still get back to where he should have been, and he just is ahead of the sort of learning curve defense as it relates to most rookies that I have coached. When asked about that comment from Brown about being able to make up for a mistake,

Thible it is smooth, matter of fact, humorous. Way laughed it off and said, I make a lot of mistakes, but there's no mistaking this. If the preseason is any indication, moving up to get Thible in the draft has been nothing short of a well thought out, sound decision. We sit down with Serena Winners from NBC Sports Philadelphia. Next.

You know, at this stage of the game, when the start of the regular season is so close and you might not have ticket plans for this year down at the Center, I could totally get if you're like, how am I going to get in to a game? There aren't many options, but there is one partial plans with the seventy six ers, and they're on sale now. A limited number of partial plans have been reserved for the general public, and now is the chance to get yours.

Do not miss out. Enjoy a discounted ticket pricing and interest free monthly payment plan, playoff priority, and a whole lot more. For more information, go to Sixers dot com. Slash partials Email tickets at seventy six ers dot com are called two one five, three three nine seven six seven six. What happens when you pack a couple hundred elementary school kids in a room tell them they're about to receive new free winner coats from an NBA All Star.

You can only imagine what the vibe is like as students eagerly and boisterous ling awaited the arrival of Ben Simmons for a second annual Coats for Kids events at the famed Henry Lee Elementary School on forty seventh the Locust in West Philadelphia. There was plenty of excitements, cheering and yeah flossing. Inside the gym, there was a dance showcase of sorts as well, and that brings us to our guests. We got a lot to catch up on, but first and foremost, we can hear the audio. You

gotta set the scene for us. What was going on at Lee Elementary School in West Philadelphia earlier this week? Oh my goodness, Well, let me just say, you know, it was a sweatshirt morning. I thought I was just going to get to go out to the elementary school enjoy some kids, watch Ben Simmons handout coats for a great cause. And you know, Archie's up there doing his thing, making sure the kids are entertained, and I'm enjoying it, clapping along. Then he sees me, Archie make eye contact,

and I can see it in his eyes. He's about to ask me to get up on that stage and dance. There are certain interactions in life that you know what is about to come. Yes, And when you're put in the uncomfortable dancing situation, you can feel building, you can feel it coming. It's one of those things, and a

sweatshirt was a poor choice because I was sweating. Let me tell you, when I knew that I was not going to be get out, be able to get out, I was trying to tell Archie no, But then he's getting the kids to chant my name and he's bringing me in, and I just know there is no telling Archie no. And I had to get up there. I had to get up there and embarrass myself and do my thing, because you do it for the kids. The kids loved it, though, they responded, but yeah, yeah, I

don't think you embarrassed yourself. I thought it was very fluid and smooth. It seemed like you knew the scenario and the circumstances. It probably was not on your to do list to get out there and dance in front of the kids. Was not. By comparison, our guy Alex Subers, Yes, photographer to the Stars. See, you just got to embrace the moment. I think you clearly you embraced the moment comfortable, not you embraced it, And I think that showed Alex.

You could tell he wanted no part of it, and he was not willing to surrender to the flow, so to speak. Subs was not happy about it. Now. He did not want to get up there and dance. I was actually surprised that even though it was very short and fleeting, you know, maybe about a four second I don't know what you call what he was doing with his feet up there, a little dance movement, if you can call it that, I was. I was impressed that

he at least was up there for four seconds. It was some combination that looked like to me between a Fortnite dance move and a rocking horse. I don't know, but the kids responded to you, and you could tell the kids they were they were not entirely impressed with supers. Did you have a at any point in time, is there a go to serena Winter's dance move? Maybe it's at weddings these days or back in the day at

the barn bought Mitzvah circuit in southern California. Well, I think you saw the go to move today, baby, and it has put your hands up and it is just do your thing and vibe with the music as best as you can. I mean, back in the college days, there there are some dance moves that you know they're they're college dance moves. Sure you just leave them there. You see see a Barbara go Gauchos. My wife and I were at a wedding last weekend and we're our mid thirties now, and the crowd was maybe six or

seven years younger, and we're talking. We're like, we feel I don't know how it happened. We have devolved the point where we're like doing our parents dance moves like it's like the skin of a rinky dinky dink. The awkward clap, the snap the fingers, put the hands somehow, getting somehow. It usually goes back to get your hands in the air. I gotta tell you that because they caught me on video and I put it up because I put some video up of supers dancing, so I had,

you know, I had to embarrass myself as well. It's not fair to call somebody else out, so I put I put my video up there as well. And I will tell you my first thought, Oh my god, my mother, my mother does that dance move? We become our parents at some point we do sad thing or you just embrace it. I'm sure people would just love for us to continue bantering about that. I don't think so. I think they probably want to hear us talk about the Sixers.

They don't want to hear about the dance moves next track, But I gotta ask you first, how's your summer? What did you do any highlights? Summer was great, man. I went to Peru for ten days, and you know what, I can actually tell you a great story about Peru that is is so incredible and so Sixers. I was at a restaurant in Peru, very nice restaurant that somehow I'm forgetting the name, Oh Central, then the restaurants Central, one of the top restaurants. And the person that was

waiting on us a giant Ben Simmons fan. Really at a restaurant in Peru. I get to sit there and chat with a giant Sixers fan that serving me like knew everything about Ben, everything there is to know about Ben, knew his whole bio. I mean, just got into it. And it just goes to show what a brand he's built, the Sixers have built, and it's just pretty incredible. You try to go on vacation and you try to, you know, disconnect a little bit from what you do, but to

have that happened was was really neat. How did this conversation come about? Did you recognize you. How did the conversation come about? Yeah, yeah, I think that is exactly what happened. Well, that's crazy too, because like Ben in the day, you know, like if you're watching a broadcast on TV, like you have these regional sports networks, and even like ten or fifteen years ago, there was still a very localized scope that a local broadcast could reach.

But now it's like throw on your NBC Sports live stream app or a league pass and like the world knows and a waiter in South America knows all about the Sixers and Ben Simmons. Pretty incredible, that's awesome. Yeah, what did you tell him? Because Ben Simmons, of course, as we look ahead of this year and you think about the seventy six misfortunes, he as much as just about anyone, is going to be a part of that.

That he seems to. I mean, people use a word Jim Ratt, like Tobias Harris has he used that word right, because he's worked down with Ben in the summer and he seems like such a guy that has just been ready to come out with a vengeance this year. Don't don't you look at him, Brian and just kind of see something different. I don't even know if you have

to look at him. I think you can listen to him and hear him, and you can tell there's a difference about his vibe and Azora, And to his credit, that was one of the lasting things right that he talked about in his exit interview press conference the day after the game seven lost in Toronto, like feeling that he grew a little bit as a leader but wants

to do more. And I know, I know guys say that, but it really does feel like there's something, there's some intangible thing happening where you can feel like this is something that is in the works and is maturing involving before our eyes. When we were at the Blue White scrimmage,

something else I noticed. You know, there's there's some guys that, Okay, it's a scrimmage or just practice, no big deal, And then there are some guys and Ben is one of these guys where I could tell he loved the scrimmage, like he truly just wanted to get out there and play. And I'm there is just something something to him this season that I can't I can't wait to see how he progresses and looks. He's so young, he's in a leadership role and there's just something exciting about it. This season.

All the guys too, Going back to that Blue and White scrimmage, I mean that was less than a week into the preseason or training camp or whatever you want to call it, and the vibes were all good with them too. They looked out of the bench getting along, real good smiles, body language upbeat. It seems like um And again it's it's really really early that from a

holistic makes sense. There's a fit personnel. I think a lot of people are even seeing through a handful of preseason games that there could be a fit provided everyone's full health. But the personalities seemed to be meshing together too, and it's so important. Look, don't you don't have to all be best friends. That's not what meshing on a

team means. I mean, I think back to all the teams I played on, and you weren't best friends with anybody, with everybody, But if everybody could respect each other and liked each other in some capacity, it just brings a bond that is so much deeper. And you can feel that from the start, and I think there's something to knowing that. Okay, this is a group that we're going to have this season. We can build it from the beginning, not build it two thirds the way through the season.

And I mean you hit it on the head there. I mean it is it's it genuinely seems like these guys cannot wait to get out there and play together.

Something else that's stood out to me, too, is that it seems like, and this is more talking about the starting five and some of the top guys who would think of off the bench, is everyone seems to know what their lanes are, what the roles are, right Whereas last year it was a really interesting dynamic because less than a month into the season, here comes a multiple time All Star in Jimmy Butler, and then a couple months later you throw in Tobias Harris, and you've got

all this talent that in the thick and heat of battle, they're trying to figure out their roles. You know, there was something the Sixers talked openly about last year, but this is an opportunity from the very beginning, having a clean canvast to work on defining roles early on, and it seems like everyone knows what their lanes supposed to be.

That's what Brett said heading into training camp was that his biggest goal for training camp was to make sure that everybody on this team knows what their role is. And I think when you talk to guys, be it a starter or being a guy like Kylo Quinn who will tell you that he knows what his role is and he's going to stay in that role. Yeah, I think that's that's huge to know. And it's not just

with basketball. I mean think about if you're listening out there, whatever job that you have, how much better you feel at that job when you are equipped and you know what your role is to that company or on that team. I mean, it really can can transgress to different different areas totally. What have been the other storylines that have statue from training camp. I'll let you lead the direction

on this one. I mean, come on, you know, it's matist table has to be right, it has to be has to be the number one story at a training camp. And I think it is as much his talent and his determination and watching him have a nose for the ball as it is for being around him, because he's such an easy guy to be around. He's you know, he's a good person, he's kind, he's all the things you want, and then you watch him out in the

floor and you can tell. I mean, I don't know if I've seen somebody love playing defense as much as this guy loves playing defense. He's just so fun to what I find myself when he is in the game just watching him because he's so active and he just has a nose for the ball. He just knows where it's going to go. It's amazing the hands that he

gets on these balls. And on top of that, like thinking back to that Blue White scrimmage that we talked about when he was defending Ben Simmons, and Ben after the scrimmage jokes around saying I hate him on defense. I hate him. You know that is a good thing, right that you have that type of camaraderie, and Brett keeps on saying it's a great point is how he can cover up mistakes on defense because he is so quick.

And it's funny because when he talked to Matisse about that, because he was asked the other night about kind of what that means him covering up mistakes, He's like, yeah, I make mistakes all the time, and so that's why I have to come back and have a steel or a block or whatever it is. But he's just been so much fun to watch. He's got this whole wholesome thing about him where it's like it's taking everything in stride,

very grounded with his perspective on things, and it's refreshing. Yeah, it's it's like he talks about a matter of factly. It's like, you know, like, yeah, I'm nowhere where I know that I could eventually get to at some point, but yeah, I feel like I belong. Like he doesn't say it in like in a bragging type way or inflated confident way, but yeah, it's just very matter of fact, And I think I don't know how it is for you, but I like, especially in the preseason and even in

the regular season. Sometimes now as we've had the last few years, the benefit of seeing how basketball changes in the playoffs, you temper some of the things that you see. You try to put a filter on it and project out like how would this look at a more intense

and significant time of year. But I You're like, we've seen enough good things consistently from atisse, or at least for me, it's like, all right, there's there's something there, and clearly there's something that the Sixer's front office saw on him to make the aggressive push to trade up for him in the draft this past year. Right, thank you,

Elton Brand. Yeah, is that what you say right about here? Well, it's just like you know what it's I mean, it was clear then that the Sixers had a guy, and so far the reasons they said that Matisse was their guy, those reasons are proving to be pretty legitimate as to why he was their guy. And I think that even if I think expectations for him coming in, they weren't

necessarily high. So I think that because we can see him out there and it's clear already that he has a fit and that he can get minutes as a rookie, that it makes a little bit different because you go, oh, you know, it's not going to be I mean, yes, it's a year of growth. Everything's a year of growth, but it's not just a year of growth. This seems

like somebody that can really contribute. And I think that Brett Brown is treating it as such because when he's talking to us and when he's got guys sitting, he's putting motise in the starting lineup. He always has this phrase of the gym will speak to me right when deciding, you know, whatever's coaching decisions are, and the gym speaking where did you say the other night? And not just

speaking loudly loudly, yes, speaking loudly. He ain't line. It's just been great stuff from a TIS so far, and I'm sure for you this is the case too. Like I love this time of year because you really get to start to get a sense of what some of the new members the roster are all about their personalities obviously what they do on the court, but away from the game as well. And Josh Richardson another guy who just seems like great human being and more important for

the Sixers championship aspirations. He's got a fit like he was clearly very good in Miami, but in the situation he's in with the seventy Sixers right now looks like a match. He really does. And I mean defensively. People know who he is, and because this team's defense or identity is clearly defense, not only does he fit right in, but then you see him and what he can do offensively.

Because a lot of people talk about the Sixers losing some offense right and some shooting and obviously without JJ, but Josh, Josh is going to be good. He's gonna be really good on this team. And going back to just the human component of it and the being around him and making everybody better and he is just a good human. Philly is gonna love him. One of my favorite things that he said the other day was something like he's not going to be the guy that's cute

or cool on the floor. He's just going to play nasty. I mean, that's Philly, it is, and it's he's backed that up. I mean we've seen like, I mean the Orlando well, really all the preseason games come to mind.

There was the dunke he had the other night against the Pistons, but like, he's not afraid to get in there and make something happen, whether he's taken it in the basket for a score or in the situations where he's got the ball in his hands, drawn the defense dish it out like he I think he brings that attitude to both sides of the court. And Brett talked about from the beginning that backup point guard spot, especially as the Sixers will move closer to the end of

the season and the playoffs. Obviously we're just in preseason now, but seeing him in preseason running the point with Ben Simmons out and getting him kind of in that flow early, I think is great because why wait till you know it comes playoff time to get him adjusted and acquainted to that if that's what Brett decides to do, and that position he's very comfortable with. And as everybody knows, the playoffs you shrink your rotation and you just kind of figure out ways to play your best guys. And

he's so versatile. So yeah, I mean, I he's great. I love Josh. I've been trying to think of what the preseason slug or headline is for Joel Embiid, and I feel like he's just been really business like, kind of under the radar, right, yeah, like, and I think that's almost like an extension of what it felt like his offseason was, like he was doing stuff, but wasn't posting a lot on social or anything like that. And so far in the three preseason games he's played and

it's just been a gradual progression. I thought, I don't know if you felt this way. Detroit was probably his best preseason game. Granted he wasn't going up against Andre Drummond, but yeah, he just seems to kind of gradually be working his way towards the point that he needs to be at. I would say that's accurate. Yeah, I mean he's he's also slimmed down. Yeah, And I think Brett said the other night he did think that he was tired a little bit towards the end of the game

with Joel. But business like is how i'd describe him this, at least for training camp in preseason. Is we've been talking about all the other guys, right, whether it's the new guys or Ben's leadership or but Joe's kind of just sit under the radar and I'm okay with that. And he's talked a lot about maturing after last year. Maybe it's a new side to his demeanor. Yeah, I'm

all about maturity, right. It's also the preseason. I could totally see a situation first game of the year against the Celtics where something happens and he's like going crazy over stuff. But there's like with him now, he's shown if there's no reason expect that when the lights turn on,

he's not gonna be there or anything like that. I just can't wait to see him an Al more because I think it's only been two games in the preseason that they've played together out of the four, right guan Zoe and Orlando didn't happen against Detroit, But that's something I'm really excited to see this year, the two of them as teammates. I think everybody is. Yeah, everybody is.

And what's neat is when he talked to Al about him, he sounds so genuinely excited to be able to play alongside him, and Al said that he thinks that Joel is the best big man in the NBA right now. I think figuring out the spacing could take some time, so I would, you know, just caution fans and viewers to be patient with that. But man, it's going to be That's gonna be fun to watch. It's gonna be so weird on Opening night seeing Al Horford and Joel

be in the same uniform playing Boston. I know it's so stale, but the Spider Man meme comes to mind. Did you see the video the other day of Marcus Smart practicing his Al Horford jumper a Celtics practice. I did not see that. It was kind of like, Yeah, he had a really wide gate and he just kind of like sprung up in one motion and shot a jumper like Al Horford. That's a great question. I was so focused on the form I must have gone in. It probably would have made it social if you missed

the shot. But yeah, Al like just having him also as the backup per se to Joel is huge. He can play the four or the five. He can when Joel needs rest in time, and they've also got to figure out Al Horford's gonna need. Just like you get to manage Joel, you got to manage Al as well, right, because he's for an NBA guy, you know, third in your vet. He's up there in some years. But then they've got Kyle O'Quinn to have some of those minutes

as well. But that's gonna be fun. And I think that what this, at least in the front court circles back to is something that the team has been talking about since the start of the preseason and training camp is to get to where they want to go. Defense is going to be such a huge part of it, and I think that from a collective standpoint, the one thing that we've seen and We've obviously like danced around this talking about Maatise and Joel and what Ben brings

to the table. But this defense seems like it can be for real, Like it's I just have had so much fun watching it. They can be the best defensive team in the league, have all the tools, The length is ridiculous. I mean, I really think they can't be the best defensive team in the league. Offense is probably going to be a little bit different at times this year because of obviously who's not here and then some

of the personnel they've brought in. But you know what if if it's maybe a couple less made three pointers in a game, and how that translates like the defense should be able to make up for it. I mean, think about you've got and I love that that Ben said he wants to be defensive player of the Year and he hopes that everybody on his team. Here's that because he hopes that everybody on the team wants to

be defensive player of the year. But you've got Ben, who is so gifted athletically, I don't think he's even remotely been even near the ceiling of what he can be defensively, and he can already guard one through five. Yeah, and he's not even I don't think close to being there in terms of his potential defensively, and he's already that good. You have Joel Embiid, Who's I mean, do

I need to say anything about him? On defense? Josh Richardson is such a good defender and he's so scrappy and he cares, he's got the heart fort Do I need to say anything about Al Horford? I think all Sixers fans are very acquainted with him defensively, and then he've got to bias who he has a ways to grow, But from what I hear in terms of a commitment to that and what he's done over the summer, that's been his number one goal, and so much of defense

is just the effort and wanting to do it. I mean, obviously there is an athletic side to it, but he's been working on those things. That's incredible. It almost seems like, you know, he came in, got his feet wet last year, got a sense of what Brett Brown's point of emphasis was all about. Knew this year defense was going to

be the point of emphasis. And it's like, you know what they say about your work in the summer, like obviously being the stepping stone guiding your path to your regular season, and if that's what he worked on all summer long, terrific And I just think that, Look, we've been saying, the defense really excites me, and we were

even talking about this before we started recording. It's you almost see again it's early, but this like infectious, contagious element to the way the team has played defense from the starting group to the reserves even when they come in, and you need that because that's what holds guys accountable defensively when maybe you're a guy that doesn't love to play defense, right, but you feel bad because you missed a coverage because you've got other guys that are holding

you accountable that want to be playing defense. I mean, that's that's huge. Any storylines among the reserves that have caught your eye or your ear, I would say James Ennis. I don't know about you, Brian, but being around him last season to this season, there's something. There's something or a wise that's different, and I don't know if it's a you know, a consistency thing, which is huge because he knows he's here, he knows the Sixers want him here, he wants to be here, he gets to start fresh.

But there's something different about him that just makes me so so excited to see what he's going to do. And I think he was the one who coined the phrase with bulldogs or something like that for the bench internet as well. It was him. Yeah, I don't know. I think he's just I think he's a I think he's gonna have a good year. So he has stood out and he probably had other opportunities elsewhere in the off season, and being here, I think that that speaks

to his mindset that he's bringing in this year. Yeah, I just like I like the whole feel all the way around because it's it's crazy, it's gonna be interesting. Decent number of road games start the season. Yeah, that'll be interesting stretch it is. But I think all around, um so far signs appointed to a reason for promise. Like you can talk about that as much as you want, but I think we're we're seeing the evidence for it. I'm interested interested to see how or where fur Con

winds up rotation wise. Yeah, because Bret Brett has talked a lot about this, you know, wing tournament for the reserves and puts fur Con in there and Matise and Shake. Um, I'm curiously where he winds up and Shakes looks pretty good too. He has, he has. Yeah. I talked to him after the game the other night and and he just says he's becoming more comfortable out there. Game slowing down still a bit for him, and um, he's like, I'm just trying to to not mess up on defense.

And I think if Brett had mentioned something today at practice about that's how he's going to find minutes is if Shake plays defense, that's the short answer. And Shake knows that. So he's working his tail off on that end. Goes back to what we're talking about players understanding what the roles are. Whereas it might be for Shake coming in providing defense, for Con might be a guy where before defense means you to come in and make some shots.

Some shots he knocks them down against Detroit, he did. Yeah. Yeah, I think I think it'll be neat for him and his now third year with the team where he falls in. I still for me personally, and by no means I'm a talent evaluator. I still felt like going into this year like there's more than I wanted to see from him. You know, you see flashes every now and then you see what he does the international competition. I think he's

excited to be back too. He is, Yeah, I've talked to him about that, and he feels like he's got a little bit more opportunity to show what he can do this season and excited to show it. I can't believe it's taking me nearly twenty eight minutes to ask you about this. What was it calling Ben Simmons my first career three pointer of any kind? I think I blacked out, Brian like during the call. I don't think

you were the only one. I think there were other people, maybe fifteen to twenty thousand people who are in the building. Oh man, it's incredible. I mean, you know I I honestly, I guess I didn't think it was going to be

as big of a deal as it was. And in terms of a lot of people have asked me about how it was to call it, but I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity, and honestly, it was just great to feel all the energy and the arena, and I remember when the fans are all on their feet and cheering for him, to shoot it, and I remember just thinking to myself, is he gonna do it? Is

he gonna do it? And when the ball left his fingertips, I just kept I know we're supposed to I know we're supposed to be unbiased, but I have to admit I was saying in my head, please go in, Please go in, Please go in. And then it went in and he just feed off the crowd and then the thing I remember most is Joel's reaction like sprinting off the floor and grabbing Ben, an all time moment in seventy six Ers preseason history. Serena, thanks so much. Always enjoyable,

always great stuff with Serena Winners. One of the things I most enjoy about the season starting up again you get to catch up with people you haven't seen in a while. Serena is one of those peeps always like being able to pick her brain about what she's observed reported on insights she's gathered about the Sixers, especially now with the regular season so close. Thanks so much for

checking out this episode of the podcast. We'll have an official regular season opener preview early next week, so be on the lookout in your feeds. Talking next time, here on the broadcast