Season against the Detroit Piston. His domination by the seventy Sixers one fourteen seventy eight to take care of their Eastern Conference rivals, the second largest margin of victory in the Brett Brown era for the Sixers man. This was quite the effort by the squad. Tonight they fell behind two nothing, ripped off fifteen in a row, and from there Ben Simmons and his teammates took over. Let's join
Brett Brown right now. I don't know. I think some of it needs to be associated with his confidence going to the line. I think that, you know, when people aren't confident shooting free throws, it can't help, but drip feed into, you know, your aggression on trying to get there. And I think like, the better he feels about his free throw, the more physical he's going to play. And I thought I thought that at the start he was
on a mission. He physically it was as impressed as I've seenium, you know, going into bodies and inviting contact and uh, he really came out and sort of set the set the tempo. Rough go there a while back and now you won five or the last six. It's this team hitting it stride or is this just flip here or what he feels if you're right where you have to be down. I think none of us can underestimate the importance with any team, I'm sure, but because this is our team, like we feel it more of health.
You know, you take Reddick out of this for a few games, or Covington out for three games, or t j Osarich or Joel we don't have the luxury of looking down the bench and looking at a bunch of senior players veteran players. It's not it's not the stage that we are at right now. And so when you have those types of injuries by the masses, you're vulnerable, and it's the NBA and you're kind of a five hundred team to begin with, and it's just it's it's
it's the world we live in right now. If we're all realistic, you know, you always got to do is just look at other teams. And I think that when we're healthy and we we can continue to stay healthy, then you can truly talk about getting into a rhythm me subbing at them playing it. You can feel it, and uh, you know, I think tonight was a good example to your point that we played pretty good bad
team basketball. We really did play good team basketball. How valuable it would be now, Gallows, a week off, I mean, how valuable is not going to be for that healthy
I think it is valuable. You know, yesterday we all wake up and h we we we gave them the day off, and that is rare in the NBA, and because of snow and obvious driving conditions, we gave them a day off and we sort of had mobile recovery sessions with people who go find Joel of his apartment and so on, and everybody still got their treatment and recovery, but nobody came in and we have been on a very aggressive pace. We do see daylight with some days off.
For me, it's an opportunity to like clean up, refine more than ad It's it's more shrink for me at this stage and try to be good at fewer things and look at that. UM, I feel like I got clear understanding what this team really needs to focus on to move forward. But I see the daylight and you know,
time off in that regard. Seventy six Ers head coach Brett Brown one fourteen to seventy eight, the final score second largest margin of victory and the Brett Brown era Sixers beat the Dallas Mavericks by forty two last March, you might remember, felt like a long time ago because the Sixers starters did not have to play the fourth quarter. Think of that dovetelling on Brett Brown's and marks about the amount of rest players can get. I mean that is huge with the next game not coming until next
Thursday in London. But yeah, Ben simmons amazingly dominant start feels like maybe last year, you know, a lifetime ago. He was phenomenal, hitting his first five shots in the night. He finished with nineteen points, and he in particular set the tone for the seventy sixers dominant downhill, relentless attack on the pistons. There was no resistance that Detroit showed defensively,
and the Sixers were out for blood. Nineteen points for Ben Simmons tonight, nine of thirteen from the field, four boards, nine assists. He accounted for thirty between his field goals and assists of the seventy sixers first sixty two points they scored by the half, twenty three for Joel emb to go along with nine rebounds, twenty one for JJ Reddick, Dario Sharks with eleven and Robert Covington with eleven of his points in the third quarter as well. Tom McGinnis
is still here. He is standing by and we'll get to him next. It's the postgame show on the Sixers Radio network, all seventy sixers on a Friday night in South Philadelphia in a major way one fourteen seventy eight. The final score. Brian Selt you with you from Sixer dot com. Tom McGinnis is rejoining us now. Not a bad way to get things done tonight. Tom. A lot to talk about, but let's begin with the man who
set the tone, Ben Simmons. We saw it late. We talked about this before the game in the fourth quarters at Phoenix and then again Wednesday versus San Antonio. But he was all revved up to start tonight's game. No right, It just shows you like how good he's been and the potential is scary good. He was awesome here tonight and I try to delve into that a little bit with him. A great opportunity for us. We had a
post game which we really appreciate. But Avery Bradley's a great perimeter defender and he closes out, he presses up on Ben defensively and not allow guys do that. Not a lot of teams strategize that way. They typically play off of him, and Bradley picks him up and pressures him, and Ben Simmons said, okay, I got it. And then one time he picked it up, which I thought was smart. You don't have to fight it or prove yourself. But
he went right at him. And then Bradley's six two, right, but Ben is six ten, especially when he extends with that arm, and he was aggressive. He got right to the rack. I mean, Brett Brown was stipulating pregame Brian with us as we heard in the medium availability that that four by four restricted area, that little oval in Lemaine. He calls that at the rim and when you're Simmons, that's about as close as you have to get with
that great reach. And he was all over the place at five for five to start the game, and that set a tone and both and then Joel was involved and Ben had four assists while racking up those double figures in points and just absolutely to me, I thought, you know, he's had triple doubles, but certainly that chunk was the best he's played since he's been pro He was responsible for thirty of the sixers sixty two points in the first half between his scoring and his assists.
And you know, some fans may wonder, well, why don't we see that from Simmons more often? Just the aggressiveness of seriveness, and that might be part of his evolution. But one thing's for sure. I think through three months you can tell when he feels like he has a matchup that he can win, there he goes for it.
And guess what, you might see more of it more often because it's worked, as you said, over the last two fourth quarters and both in Phoenix and against the Spurs here on Wednesday tonight, right out of the gate. And the thing about it is when you're a ball handler and you're a facilitator, you know, you don't always have to get to the rim. You just get in there. They have to come over and give help and boom, there you go. There's an opening on the past. Somebody's
got to be open. And when you've got options in terms of Covington on the perimeter and JJ again, oftentimes it's the space they create because they are beyond the arc. Both those two guys, Covington and Reddick. You have to honor that. By the way, there's embat so uh yeah, no, Ben, And again just to back up and kind of reiterate what coach was saying, it's all also, you'd think you'd have to discern based on his comfortable he's getting more
and more comfortable and confident at the line. He went ten for fifteen, So he's going to invite that contact and he's gonna get fouls, and he's he's not afraid to play through contact. That's what he did here tonight. There was one time where you're it didn't seem there, and he just blew through everybody. His strength in the athleticism, he's just an incredible athlete, just amazing, and he just dominated. It's it's like you know that phrase, I'd pay money
to see him. Well, they're coming out and droves to see Simmons and beat in this sixers. He's that kind of talent. Sixers over the Pistons one fourteen to seventy eight. Sixers. Defense was great in tonight's game, and they did this against one of the better defensive units in the entire league. And this gives you some momentum. And you're talking about what type of spot do you want to be in?
Playing the Boston Celtics next Thursday, which could go to thirty two and ten already into the second half of their season tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves. All right, so here you go and fully healthy. I mean, you look back at what happened in December. You can't discount that factor now. And the Sixers have played well against Boston, they just haven't finished the game. I thought here in the first matchup between the two teams, it was the
home opener, and the Sixers were hyped. They had too many turnovers, they fouled too much. Boston ended up winning that game, but that that game was there for the taking. And then up there the Sixers played solid, they just didn't finish it out. To me, Boston with Kyrie is fantastic, but it's their defense that really stands out. And you know, the two young players. Jalen Brown is coming to his own tatum as I think, been better than anybody could
have expected. The fact that he's right there. He has been leading the league in three point shooting. I don't know if he still holds that spot, but you know, they're they're really good and but as you say, the Sixers are probably playing I would say maybe even though they were at one point four games over five hundred, I would certainly this is one of their best. Maybe they're because they've developed even more over the course of
these weeks and months. This is probably easily arguable that their best basketball the way they've played, and they're gonna have some time leading up to kind of get ready. They're confident. It's a close group. They're getting closer to full health, certainly as soon as Markel gets back. So it should be a good matchup. And at some point you have to start beating the Boston Celtics and Toronto, who they'll play here a week from Monday, because those
are the top two teams in the division. They did it last year with ten wins in January, and hopefully this will be that kind of month that can catapult the Sixers forward in the final months of the season. Excited to go overseas. Yeah, it should be fun, and as Brett Brown said, you know, it's not just a basketball game. It is a trip with the Sixers team and the Sixers organization. Their families are going to be
with them, There's some sponsors going on the trip. It's NBA London and the NBA does a terrific job with every single special event. It ought to be fun. We'll be there, Brian with Sixers dot Com. There'll be some special functions. I know there's going to be a community service event with Crystal Palace and a number of different things. I think there's a trip to Kensington Palace. So it's cool.
And London is certainly unique. There's so much history and having been to Europe multiple times, you know, we and this is great to with the length. But over there something's nine hundred years old. Here it's two hundred's good, but the history in Europe is just astounding. So it'll be a great trip and we look forward to being on it with you and doing the best we can in covering it for our fans back here in Philadelphia. We will be on the air three o'clock Eastern time.
Now wait, yeah, and his figures crossed. I love it. You're doing a great job. Thank you. Brian's day. All right, stay warm one fourteen seventy eight six Ers over the Detroit Pistons will here about it with Thomas Calls coming up on the other side. It's the postgame show on the Sixers Rate A Network seventy Sixers and the Detroit Pistons at the center. Third matchup at a four on the season, Sixers won the first two, trying to make it three in a row tonight and fourth in a
row on their currents a winning streak. Detroit score the first basket of the night, Tobias Harris, and you're thinking, oh, could their best player, or at least one of them get going well. Any concerns were quickly quickly puts the rest as the Sixers are ripped off fifteen straight layup touched by a bead. Here comes Darry on the run to Simmons. Simmons has got numbers, turns on the Jets, puts them behind the back and now on the back down.
Here's Darry with the cut and a layup, and now Detroit Yes, Dan no, and they're gonna call time out. He should have heated the advice of earlier thirteen to two Sixers, putting it out the best stench. I want to make it freeze up against this ball club from the Motor City, and it would grow to a fifteen to two lead before Harris and the Pistons would score again, but there was no stopping the seventy Sixers and Ben Simmons in particular. Amir Johnson there he's in for Joel.
Here's Ben with a spin move. Simmons with a bank h got and he was fouled. Simmons is putting on a show. He's five for five whirling scoring and now go into the line for what could be the three point play. Simmons outside right spins on Bradley, the secondary defender came over and is Smith and Ben able to get the role. He's got ten points. It would be eleven by the time he's subbed out moments later, and it would only be a thirty two to fifteen Sixers
lead after twelve minutes of action. They scored the final three points in the first quarter and that was eight three cursor to a thirteen nothing run and to begin at the second. So think about that, a fifteen zipspurt pretty much to begin the game, and then thirteen in a row between the end of the first and started
the second. It was capped off by this Joel out top against drumming, drumming with that one foul too well turns the corner shows it come back on the right hand hook up and good Joella beat This is how he doesn't and he's got nine. The Sixers are leading forty two to fifteen. Oh my, a twenty seven point lead. I think you could safely say that Joel Embad has gone three for three against Andre Drummond and the Pistons
this season. He was spectacular. Ben Simmons in company. Whether Ben was scoring directly or spreading the wealth around, they just could not be knocked off their rhythm. In the first half. A brutal drive a mere Johnson of the rebound, he crashes into the lower part of the stanchion and here's Simmons. The Paylers three ball from the corner. Bang, it's good. Payless puts it in. Simmons another dish, his sixth, and the Sixers are leading fifty two to twenty one. Timeout, Detroit.
They can't get enough timeouts, the Sixers out of the routing. Indeed they were. Simmons had a ton of highlights tonight, but this was arguably one of the highlights of the highlights. Then the first half, Avery Brownlee the left side, Harris that passes behind him, Simmons goes for this deal. Simmons knocks it away, Simmons has the ball. Simmons is the play. Oh yeah, two hand. Brown down Ben Simmons and he flexes for the crown. Wow. What quickness and anticipation and
the ability to keep the ball in play. And once he gathered in it on the fire sideline by the Sixers bench, he comes in and jams it with two hands. He's got fifteen sixty two thirty two. Sixers at the break, their first time leading by thirty or more at a half since January twenty third, two thousand and twelve against Washington by the very same score. Third quarter, Sixers continued to rack it up. There was a brief spurt about three minutes into the third where Brett Brown needed a
time out. Of the Sixers committed turnovers on three straight possessions, but flurries from Robert Covington and JJ Reddick and Joel Embiid made sure the Sixers would be well in command going in the fourth rebound coming down Sixers by thirty four, McConnell with the right hand dribble goes to Reddick four ten to go. In the third quarter, the Sixers with their biggest lead of the year. Here's a long shot by coming. Then he's done it again. He did all
eleven of his points in the third. Seventy Sixers led ninety seven sixty one going into the fourth. Reserve time in the fourth, and the Sixers coasted to a thirty six point margin of victory. Yes, the scoring numbers were spectacular collectively and individually, but why don't we start with this. The Sixers held Detroit to thirty eight percent from the field, one of the better three point shooting teams in the league, just seven of twenty two from outside the arc. The
Sixers with seventeen points scored off of Detroit turnovers. The Sixers out rebounded the Pistons by a total of twenty one fifty five to thirty four. For the seventy Sixers just under forty nine percent from the field, fourteen of thirty from outside the arc, twelve and thirteen from the
free throw line. And they've been doing a better job. Certainly, this is not an issue that has been fully resolved, but as of late, trend wise a little bit better, at least in the number of turnovers going down They had fourteen tonight. Joel Embid with twenty three points to lead all players in tonight's game, so did his nine rebounds. His counterpart Andre Drummond ten points, four of nine from
the field, eight rebounds minus thirty in the game. So yes, again, Ebid, you can make the case three for three against Drummond this season JJ Reddick with twenty one, nine of them came in the third quarter. He was six of eleven overall, three of eights from outside the ark, and a perfect six for six from the free throw line. Ben Simmons nineteen points, nine of thirteen from the field, hit his first five shots of the night. All of his baskets
came in the paint. He had four boards and nine assists to go along with two steals and two blocks. Thirteen points for Timotey Lewile Cabreu off the bench, eleven apiece for scharch and Covington, And on one side of the coin, you could say great that the top rotation guys had the chance to rest at the end of tonight's game. But for guy like timoth Day Leile Cabret, having him be a little bit more consistent would not
hurt the seventy sixers. The hope could be you get minutes tonight in extended action and maybe this is something in terms of thirteen points three or four from outside the arc that TLC can build upon. There was only one lead change in tonight's game. It went from to ZIP to a four to two in favor of the
Sixers two hours even on the game clock. A sellout crowd of twenty thousand, five hundred ninety two always impressive when the building is at full capacity, especially so on the heels of some heavy snow over the last twenty four hours. So everyone that came out tonight, big thanks
to you for that. Seventy six Ers back at five hundred nineteen to nineteen with their fourth straight win in fifth and four games, fifth in six games, and the Detroit Pistons now dropped to twenty and seventeen on the year.