The BroadCast | Shake's Shot

my job a lot easier. After showing plenty of poison promise right before the break, the twenty three year old will try to pick up right where he left off. And just as important, what does this all mean for Ben Simmons? How has he responded to that like a star? I think he's been great accepting that and really killing it in practice. I'm more I'm Devon Givens and I'm Brian Seltzer And this is the broadcast on the seventy Sixers Podcast Network. Another edition of the broadcast, another step

closer to actual, real basketball. And yes, I am absolutely considering Friday afternoon scrimmage basketball inside the Orlando Disney World bubble as actual basketball. It counts. Gosh, darn it, am I wrong? You're not wrong, Felts. I think every video clip that we see of players playing five on five gets us a little closer to that moment where they're

going to play another team five on five. I think scrimmage absolutely counts as real basketball, and it's a heck of a lot more than we've had in the last four months. So I am stoked about it. Do you give me your excitement level? Is this normal preseason basketball excitement level or does this feel like something bigger, something grander.

This certainly does seem bigger because of the nature of how we've gotten here, because of the layoffs that we've had, seeing them last on March eleventh, seeing the NBA last on March eleventh, So this certainly does seem a little bit bigger. I think I'm also trying to temper my expectations until we actually see the dribbling count on the floor, knowing that we actually have basketball back, But the excitement

level is through the room temper a bit. I'm the kind of guy who, under normal circumstances, I always look forward to that first spring training game, that first preseason game, that first exhibition game of any kind, just because I haven't seen a team in such a long time. I want to get a taste to tease. Well, just multiply that by like four and a half months worth of time. And that's where I'm at. With the seventy Sixers getting

things going on Friday. There is so much to look forward to in this first weekend of action and as the Sixers work their way towards the seeding games which

start on August the first. But I gotta tell you, I was out of town the past week, tried to detach, unplug, went up to the mountains, gotten from of some water, and even up there where the cell phone reception might not be as great or the Wi Fi connection as strong, it was impossible to avoid hearing about one of the developments taking place inside the bubble for the seventy Sixers

and involved, of course, the Pride of Owasso, Oklahoma. And as we do our deep dive to begin this episode of the podcast, we got to start with the fact that at this point in time, Brett Brown has given what sounds like primary on ball responsibilities to Shake Milton. Yes, I love it because this is something that I thought was should have taken place once Ben Simmons finally returned whenever he did before the league shut down. The thing that I wanted to see really was how Shake Milton

and Ben Simmons would operate together on the floor. Now, while I did not necessarily think that it would come in this particular role where Brett Brown uses the word as primary four primarily at the four for Ben Simmons and Shake Milton running with the ones here, I'm intrigued by this whole setup that Brett Brown and his coaching had stat has decided to go along with to run

everyone back through the timeline. This started to come to the surface, this development on July thirteenth, Brett Brown met with the media and he gave them a little bit of nugget. The last few days I've played then, you know, exclusively as as a formia. Then after Brett spoke, Joel Embiid kind of pulled back the curtain that much more. The stint gone. And I think he has a huge apportion it into your help us. And you've been sitting

in on all the media availabilities so far. What was your impression when you heard some of these drips and drabs and Easter eggs being hidden and planted throughout July thirteenth media availabilities? Well, I think that when the hiatus began and Shake had been playing so well he sort of burst onto the radar, and obviously with Ben out, he was having some more opportunities in that primary ball

handling position. But I'm excited to hear that he's going to continue to have those opportunities now that Ben and Joel and everyone is back and healthy. It's cool to see that they're going to take I could work that Shake put in and the success that he had and continue to reward that. I'm excited about the idea of them all playing healthy together. I'm excited about the new partnerships that are going to emerge here between Shake and Ben,

Shake and Joel, Joel and Ben. I think all around, there are a lot of exciting opportunities, especially on the offensive end, putting Shake into the position that he's in, and I'm excited to see his teammates embracing him and trusting him to do that. I guess when we look back over the last year and a half with the seventy sixers, maybe we shouldn't have been all that surprise

that this is something that ultimately came to fruition. Because if you go back to last spring and the playoffs, the Sixers started working Jimmy Butler on the ball more, having Ben Simmons playoff at more, and perhaps at that point in time you might have looked at it as a byproduct of how teams were defending the Sixers and Simmons, whereas now it looks like this is something the Sixers feel like could work to their advantage and they want more of a say and want to be able to

dictate it. Yes, I guess my only thing with this one, Selts, is just who that person is who was taken over not named Jimmy Butler. I would have never guessed there would have been Shake Milton, with all due respect the player that I've liked coming out of SMU, but looking at the path that he has going through with the injuries in the G League with the Blue Coats, going from Delaware to Philadelphia quite a bit during his rook to season, being rewarded with the two years with the contract.

Over the off season, we were talking more backup minutes for Shake Milton, then starter minutes alongside Ben Simmons, Josh Richardson, Tobias Harrison, and Dwell Embiid. And as we get ready for a playoff scenario, I didn't think that this would be the conversation that we would be having, so while we were already giving a taste of what this could look like with Jimmy Butler, I just I'm surprised that it has come to this with Shake Milton, but pleasantly

surprised because I liked the player. I liked the situation that if starting five is now in and it does for the overall team once they do step on the floor, lasting impressions aren't everything they do, however, count for something.

We're all aware of how well Shake played in relief at Ben Simmons and even at times Josh Richardson before the suspension of the NBA season, where last we left it with Shake, he was averaging right under ten points per game, shooting almost fifty percent from the field and

over forty five from three. He's a guy that has just seemed like he has been ready for opportunity after opportunity that has come his way when it's presented itself, just not getting too high or too low, just kind of staying level headed and just kind of thinking next play mentality, no matter if I make a shot or if I turn the ball a little or anything like that just playing confident, being confident in myself and confident

of my abilities, and playing with no fear. I've just been so impressed with the way that Shake looks at all these opportunities. We've talked about it a lot, but his ability to stay calm, cool and collected, come what may, it's so impressive to me just on a person a level. I don't have that level of consistency under pressure, and it's really cool to see someone who's so young really keep a cool head, embrace challenges, embrace opportunities the way

that he has. And I'm excited to see the fact that his teammates again have all expressed how much they trust him, even after only playing with him for a short amount of time. Alec Burke's Glenn Robinson the Third only had a few games to share the court with Shake, and they've already talked about how wonderful he's been and

how much they trust him. I think the fact that these older veterans with playoff experience, all stars are saying that they really trust Shake, someone who just got his first full time NBA contract and hasn't appeared in the playoffs before, the fact that he's already earned that level of trust from his teammates, I think speaks volumes about who he is off the court and the potential he

has in a high pressure situation on the court. That speaks volumes, as you just laid out, Lauren, because of the fact that we're all talking about proven starters in this league, from Joel embiid on down to Josh Richardson, proven guys who have done it in the playoffs, who have made All Star teams, and who have earned big contracts, and to rely on a young player like Shake Milton's second round pick in the second season, where he has never really given an opportunity, never really been given an

opportunity to play these types of meaningful minutes and these types of meaningful games, and for them to feel like as you just spoke of him being so poised under control on the floor, playing in Los Angeles on national television and hanging thirty nine on the Los Angeles Clippers with the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Patrick Beverley, and Paul George all take a turn and he's still doing his thing.

I totally agree with you that it does say something when these players feel so comfortable with that young player and Shake Milton handling the rock to start game, start the games off shots, which did the league basically got shut down, he was, so we're going into it. We're

keeping golf now. I do think it's worth noting that this is not a change that is set in stone, or at least that's how it stands, because when Brett Brown has been talking about his decision to put Shake Milton primarily on the ball and play Ben Simmons for a little bit more, it's been couched with. Well, listen, we only have a set number of practices before the scrimmages start. We have three scrimmages, then we have these eight seeding games, and then we get ready for the

postseason in the middle of August. To me, it sounds like this is something that the Sixers definitely obviously want to try and give some lease two to see where it pans out. But they're also not closing the door on anything that has been in the past or something else knew that could be in the future. Ben Simmons has had a lot of success at the point guard

position for the seventy Sixers. They're back to back fifty win teams in seventeen eighteen and eighteen nineteen, of course with this basketball team, so there's no way that the ball won't end up in his hands quite a bit. And also running the show for this team, so I do expect to still see that they've had success with it before, there's no reason why we wouldn't see it

again in a posseason. As for why the seventy sixers think this move is so important, in listening to Brett Brown over the last week, the one Xino concept that it seems like he continues to go back to and revisit and emphasize is call what you want screen and roll, pick and roll, having Shake be able to free up End Simmons to play more of a screening role, and then giving the seventy sixers more options off that we haven't had a ton of guards over my time, the

defenders a force to go over. You know, when you have a guard and you have a point guard, the defense is told and the players scouted, we prefer you chasing over pick and rolls more than shooting gaps and going under, because you know Shake can punish that with his skill shooting. Then the world makes, you know, even

more sense. It opens up Ben even more so on those honey spot half roles, especially that sort of gather step area ends up being so much more available and open if a defended chases from Brett Brown to Joel Embiid to other starters to guys on the bench. It seems like this is a move that is energizing and

exciting everyone. Yeah. Absolutely, So, Like we were talking about before, the fact that Ben and Joel have both sort of given their blessing to Shake is really exciting because we're going to see Ben and Joel obviously have their own relationship that's going to look a little different now with

Ben playing more. Brett Brown called it a big, big relationship, and then each of them are going to have independent relationships with Shake as a ball handler, and I'm excited to see the way that that will change the look of the offense because obviously it will quite a bit with Shake being more of a traditional ball handler type and a really good shooter, like you said, Sel, So I think it opens up a lot of opportunities. And I know I've said it already, but I like the

way that everyone seems to be embracing this change. He plays really well. You can shoot the ball. Here's a high i Q gets the red finish. He's just somebody you can play with and you can you can say something soon and they'll put it in a play and that's what you need. And then somebody like Shape or players like that. He's development still and he's come a long way since you know, the first day I see

to play. He's only getting better. And the relationship that you talk about with the bigs having their relationship and then both of them having a relationship with Shake Milton if they have success, is that role man dive into the basket and doing the things that they need to do, finishing in the paint. Just imagine it's seltilated out for

us law and forty five percent from behind three. While they may not main change throughout the season, he is already a threat from behind a three point line because he is shown that he can make that shot and make that shot in big spots against big defenders, not just big defenders in size, but big defenders in terms of name and stature in this league with what comes

along with the all NBA defensive squads. So I totally agree with the relationship that he can have with his bigs and how that will also benefit the team with his outside shooting. And then while we're talking about the starting five, we haven't mentioned Tobias Harris or Josh Richardson, who obviously are huge threats themselves. So the fact that there's almost no weak spot in the entire offense is really exciting because you know the bigs are going to

bring it. You know that Shake, based on what he's done, can bring it. And then Tobias and Josh are so versatile, Josh on both ends of the court, and we've talked about Tobias's defensive improvements all season. So to look at this starting unit on both ends of the floor and have them be so formidable, I think it's really exciting. And the person who sounds like he could be most pumped of all is Ban himself. Yeah, right to be things out to see if they work, because we're not

in the stage where we can be comfortable yet. You know, I'm still trying to figure it out myself to where, you know, what feels comfortable, what's right for this team, how we're gonna win. If it's this way that I'm all for it. Ben has had nothing but really encouraging things to say about what this move off the ball on most occasions might do. I think there's definitely going to be spots and situations where you see Simmons bring

the ball up. Why wouldn't you have him tear down the floor off a miss or something like that and put pressure on the defense immediately. But he seems like he's totally on board, and that could be as much of a key to this whole thing working out as it is to the skill set of a player. I think you're right, Selts, that's something that has come up a lot. This isn't a binary change. Ben Simmons is still going to be handling the ball, Shake Milton is

still going to be sharing the ball. There's going to be a lot of collaboration between both of them, and they both have their own individual skill sets. Like you said, Ben on the break, there's almost no one as good as Ben in terms of getting out in transition. His speed is unparalleled, So we're still going to see plenty of that. It's not like Ben is no longer going to be on the ball. It's just an opportunity for him to showcase his versatility both places, and I think

it's really exciting. It's absolutely exciting to see that it shows the growth and maturity as a player too. Looking at where we are right now in this situation with the restart, this is about the eight seeding games and

certainly the playoffs egos are put aside right now. We hope for the seventy six is where they're just looking to go out there and when not that it never was the case because we know they take it on the chest when they lose and they don't like it like we've seen during the season, but in this particular scenario, when it's called upon for a different role but still have success in your new role, that again just shows team first for this basketball team, and we hope it

extends throughout the duration of the playoffs. This is something that I think at times now and I just feel like we focus on other things with Ben Simmons, but I feel like this sometimes gets lost in the conversation about Ben. He is a playmaker probably first and foremost, and he spoke about that at the end of day. If you know me, you know, if you put me on the floor, I'll make anything happen. I already look at it as like a title of position. That's raining

for you guys. With articles I think that he's a playmaker on the offensive end. We've certainly seen it on the defensive end. And the way he chalks it up is, listen, you put me out there. I'm confident enough in my basketball IQ that I'm going to find a way to make positive plays that affect the basketball team. So now we're just going to see the next phase in that evolution. Even if it's only for a couple scrimmages and or

seating games. Who knows how long it's gonna last, but it is a really important story for the Sixers as they're going to trying something new. And before we close the book on discussing this, I think we've hit upon

the two primary angles of this whole situation. It's Shake getting an opportunity in the starting lineup, and then what does it do for Ben Simon is freeing him up a little bit more, But then also the idea of how this can affect the seventy sixers bench, because right now, as it stands, the starting lineup is going to be

Shake Richardson, Tobias Ben and Joe Well. That leaves such an experienced and I think heavy player and Al Horford coming off the bench, which could then give the seventy sixers a different look with that second unit, which we saw work at various times, especially in the month three weeks or so before the regular season was put on pause. The epitome of leadership, the epitome of putting your ego aside and understanding what's at stake here and trying to

win for this basketball team. We're talking about a multiple time All Star and someone who has made deep runs in the postseason in the past. He knows what it takes, so you feel comfortable knowing that he's going to be

the guy who is backing up Joe Ellenbi. You don't lose anything in terms of running the floor and transitioning and having someone like Al Horford, someone who can play that pick and pop to when we talked about the relationship that Ben Simmons and Joel and b will have with Shake Milton, we've also seen that relationship with Ben Simmons and Al Horford as well. And when Shake Milton does come in and you know, give Ben Simmons a

breather and he is once again running the point guard position. Hey, again that pick and pop, that pick and roll for Al Horford. Defensively, Overall, we're talking about someone who knows how to play the game of basketball, and right now, this is where they need him, and that's somewhere that there. I think we'll see some success with the big man.

And just because Al Horford might not be with the first group to start a game, I'm not sold on that meaning that he's not going to be out there in certain situations to end games for sure, because we know the value of having someone who is a very smart, intuitive player out there, especially in crunchtime situations, especially in the postseason, and the versatility he brings the defense is something that is immensely valuable. I think, at least I

agree with you Salton. I thin there's an argument to be made that the Sixers achilles heel in the playoffs last season was what do they do when Joel Embiid is off the floor. They didn't have the best answer to those situations, and they were still able to take the Raptors, who would ultimately become the champions, to a Game seven that came down to the last second. I know it might be still sensitive to talk about, but

that's what happened. And to now have a great option when Joel is off the floor, I think can't be understated. And for that option to be Al Horford, a bona fide All star, we know he's a stud in the playoffs. I think that's something that the team will rely on and that fans can have more confidence in seeing someone with that resume be the backup is quite the luxury

to have and someone that the head coach trusts. Right, just laid all that stuff out, Lauren, and when it all really comes down to it, the head coach trust. Head coach trust that player to go in and spell Joel Embiid for whatever amount of minutes there are and to your points out as well to close out a game. Our deep dive on Shake Milton, the shot he's getting and how it affects the seventy sixers really pumped to

see the initial phases of that. When the seventy sixers hit the floor at Disney World for the start of their three scrimmage schedule this Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies. In about twenty seconds, Devon larn and I will recap some other headlines that made news of the seventy Sixers over the last couple of days, but first got to tell you about Novocare. In this time of social distancing, Novocare Rehabilitation is offering physical therapy from the comfort and

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more information, visit novocare dot com. I feel like just about every seventy six ers fan to hear the talk about Shake Milton and Ben Simmons and all that stuff last week, But there were some other important, tasty nuggets that we feel here on the broadcast are worthy of highlighting as well, and we'll do that right now in our did you hear that segment? Divine? Let us begin this week with you, Ma Man. Yes, I actually got this one from Lauren Rosen's Twitter account. How about that? Uh?

Pretty good? That's right. Kyle lot Quinn the veteran big Man quote that really stood out to me in a situation like this inside the bubble. Here's the quote. Whether it's eating together or going golfing, I always opened it up for those guys to ask all the questions they need. When those guys meet me, I've got to answer the call. It's definitely, you know, a role that has to be had, you know, just to keep guys together, engage. You don't have that family aspect, you know, just the duty is

bigger than the title. So I think that you know, when those guys need me, I got to answer the call in a situation like this. Why he has not been here because this has been a unique one. He has been to the postseason. He understands what this is all about. So when someone liked for a con quorkma shake Milton the tea sty wars. Young players step into this new world which will be called the playoffs. It doesn't hurt to lean on the veterans that you have

within your locker room. And while there are many one who seems like he really takes, you know, the young guys and leads them the right way, even in his reserve role, knowing what he would be doing once he signed with this team in the offseason. I really really like to see and hear that quote from Kylo Quinn. During the week, I would try every possible way to support a fellow twin Dad Kylo Quinn, it's easy on

point with that remark. Totally agree with you. I think he has been an absolute great presence inside the seventy six ers locker room and now inside the Bubble. Lauren, what else did you hear this past week? I mean, I think we can't let this week's podcast go without drawing a little attention to our matisse Thyble, who started his now nationally recognized Welcome to the Bubble vlog series, and for anyone that hasn't seen it, go watch it. For anyone who has seen it, it's very clear that

he's so talented off the court. We already knew he was a big photographer, but it's awesome to see him flex his video skills and his editing skills. He's editing all of them himself. He's been very clear about that. He wants everyone to know that this is something that he is able to take full ownership over, which is

really impressive. I mean, a lot of people get paid a lot of money to make stuff like that, and he's getting paid a lot of money to do something entirely different where he's also excelling and coach Brown was very complimentary of Matisse on the court this week, so were his teammates. It seems like he's been pretty dominant defensively the way we would expect him to be, and it's just cool to see him have this creative outlet off the court that's really going to create some special memories.

The thing that he said about it that I like most was that he felt like it would be a fun way to look back on this experience and have really cool memories. I've wanted to do things like this before, whether it was when I was in college or while I was going through the draft process, but never really had the confidence to do it, or it just never

really felt right. And for me coming into this situation knowing how many eyes are going to be on it and finally feeling like enough pressure so to kind of go through and get over my discomforts of whether it's being in front of camera, just like putting myself out there like that, I felt like this is a good opportunity to see what had happened. Just go for it. He's talked a little bit about the fact that he

does get nervous in front of the camera. He doesn't love having to speak on camera, which I can completely empathize with. But he does a great job, and it's cool to see him putting himself out of his comfort zone and embracing it and making something really cool that The La Times, the New York Times, national news outlets have honed in on and appreciated him for doing it. So I think it's awesome and I look forward to

future episodes. Listen, a lot of people can say that, hey, I just want to do this to have some fun, make some memories, and then go take a photo on their iPhone. Not everyone can pull off a professional level production by themselves. It's ridiculous. He is such a next level thinker. I mean, you can see now how it really translates on the court. I think some guys to be a professional, elite professional basketball player, you have to

think at a next level. But I think just the depth of his vision when he's taking still photos, producing these videos, it's incredible. I'm so impressed. It is awesome stuff. It's a great watch, it really is. And he's not using like low level software. He's using Premiere. He's editing on a high level. I had to go to grad school to learn to do that. And here's someone who is not doing this professionally. He's doing something else professionally at a high level, able to do something that I

had to really really study to learn to do. So props to Matise for making this happen. It is tremendous. Welcome to the vlog, Welcome to the international media powerhouse that is content King Matisse thyble as for me what I heard this past week. It's also something that Kyle Quinn talked about. But I'm going to use a bite from Brett Brown speaking about Joel and Bead and the vibes that Joe has been giving off inside the bubble so far. Yeah, and I talked a lot about that.

He was the one that brought it to me. Joel. We all understand. You know, he comes in and you know, he brings it, he practices it, has a game, and then he goes home. And there are a lot of players that are liked that. I'm kind of like that, and so this environment here, I just think is surreal in the fact that you've got no choice. Here you are, You're with each other, and I love it. And I think our guys have most importantly appreciated each other's company.

I really don't feel like this is an insignificant story, and it shouldn't be interpreted as Joel being a standoffish aloof kind of guy, not someone who's there to support his teammates and that sort of thing. But he does kind of and has in the past, operate and inside his own world. I think that's been well documented, and he's even admitted it himself as recently as the past

couple of days. But I thought it was so encouraging to hear that he's been proactive and sitting down with Brett Brown, taking more of an initiative to be part of team functions that sort of thing, because I think, listen, it's something that's important for all players to do, but when it's one of your franchise pillars, it becomes that much more important. I agree. I loved hearing it. It

was something that was refreshing to hear. Not knowing as in depth about him not really being around the teammates as much. I know that he does things with them from time to time. It's good to hear that, and hopefully with what they've gone into this bubble to do this helps in a big way with those guys together in their chemistry on the flu as well. I do think that this bubble environment has created some unique silver linings,

maybe when it comes to team chemistry. A guy like Joel, who obviously is the ultimate person to play with, but to take that initiative and want to grow as a teammate off the court and want to grow alongside his teammates, And then moving past Joel and just looking at the team as a whole, how often do they have the chance to golf together, to fish together, to do all

these activities. And obviously I'm sure they would love to be with their inner circles and their loved ones, but it is cool to see them embracing each other off the court. I think that could go a long way as this playoff run begins. They all they got, hopefully they all they need as they work their way through getting ready for the season inside the bubble. All right,

did you hear this? That's what we heard this past week, And as we begin to finish things up by going around the rest of the league, I just love checking in on what's happening with the other twenty one teams inside the bubble, whether it's a number one seed or bottom contending team to get into that eighth spot, whether it's in the East of the West. I just love tracking it because it's total, totally different. It's something we haven't seen before. So, Lauren, what stood out to you

from around the rest of the league. The biggest thing for me this week has to be the league's announcement that zero players tested positive for COVID nineteen inside the bubble this week. That is a huge accomplishment and it shows that the resources they've put towards this bubble, towards this atmosphere are the correct resources and they are effective resources. So I think that's a huge relief to players, family members of players, fans, people everywhere that we're wondering if

this was going to work. It's a huge sign. It's a great thing, and I'm really thrilled for the league. And then the second thing that I would want to call attention to around the league this week is the way that players, coaches, teams paid tribute to the late John Lewis, who passed away earlier this week. Lebron James had a really special, powerful moment in his media availability where he talked about how important Lewis is to him and the causes that he fought for are the causes

that Lebron has vocally been fighting for lately. We saw Brett Brown also give a moment at the beginning of practice to talk about John Lewis with his team. Tobias Harris talked about it on Twitter. A lot of players were posting about what Lewis meant to them, and it was important, I think, for them to have that opportunity to pay tribute to someone who's so important, even though they're in this bubble environment and focused primarily on basketball.

They've talked about how important social initiatives are, and this is someone who's been a social hero for a really long time. So I think it was special to see so many people call attention to him. Well put by you, Lauren, and I thought it was great seeing on Lloyd Pierce's social media, former seventy six assistant coach now head coach the Atlanta Hawks some pictures that he took within the last couple of years with the Nellie US representative John Lewis,

who passed away in Atlanta. That's obviously where Lloyd Pierce currently coaches these days with the Hawks. So good stuff. Lauren. Appreciate that do what about you? Well? First, I would also like the second that it was great to see everything everyone paying their attributes to the late great John Lewis with all that he has meant to so many people within this country. It was great to see that. Sad to year of course about the passing great that people sit up and remember him the way that he

should have been remembered. I will look at something in the league and I will go with a report on July thirteenth that would be from schum Surania where there was to his tweet. There's growing belief Pacer star Victor Oladipo will attempt to play in the NBA's restarted season after multiple strong team practices in Orlando, sources inside the

Bubble tells Chumps. So when we last spoke, we were looking at this as a possible only there to practice to be around a team situation for Victor Oladippo along with Indiana. Now there is the belief that not only has he been practicing, but he might even play in the exhibition games as they get underway starting this week. So encouraging, of course, you never want to see anybody down due to injury. They are tied with the seventy sixers in terms of their record, sitting in a number

five spot in the Eastern Conference. If he is going to be able to play, I'm sure these three exhibition games are big, and he and the team figuring out what's next for him in his recovery overall, and then stepping back out there on the floor. So big development in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Speaking of all stars making impending returns. The Houston Rockets the number six seed in the Western Conference, and this is what I had my

eyes on, getting Russell Westbrook back. And this kind of dovetails off of what Lauren talked about with their now being no reported positive tests out of the three hundred forty six players being tested for COVID inside the NBA campus. Now, to me, the next part of that story, and the next layer in that story is is how do teams go about integrating and working back in players who had

been away for a bit. Now, I think in Westbrook's case, obviously he's extremely talented, and it's not like this has been a month long or even three week thing yet where the teams have been quarantined inside the bubble in Orlando. But still, if there are players who are returning to campus, coming to campus for the first time in Orlando or at some point down the road, if they have to leave and then come back, how they work themselves back

into the mix with their respective teams. That's something that I think is going to be really compelling to keep an eye on. And Russell Westbrook, it looks like is most importantly doing fine after testing positive a few weeks ago and is set to rejoin the Houston Rockets that takes care of around the league before we bid Ado. I think we have to say happy birthday to Ben Simmons right turn twenty four on Monday, twenty four years

old for number twenty five. It is amazing for how much we talk about Ben Simmons and the expectations that he has. I don't think he'd it any other way, that he is still just freshly minted in terms of being a twenty four year old. And shout out to Alec Burks and Mike Scott and Tobias Harris who have also had birthdays inside the bubble. I don't know if anyone's tracking this, but it really does feel like we

might be leading the bubble in bubble birthdays. I don't know if that'll translate to anything on the court, but at least the Sixers have things to celebrate, So happy birthday to all those guys. Absolutely all right, another week in the books, another episode of the broadcast that I enjoyed. Hope everyone else listening out there did as well. Lauren Rosen, thank you very much, Thank you so Von Gibbons, thank

you very much. Always a pleasure. Guys. Next week we'll be talking about some basketball, two basketball games in fact. Thanks so much for listening. Talk to you next time. See it.