The seventy Sixers have made a statement to start the second half of the season, and they've done it shorthanded. One thing we can say for sure, right here, right now in this podcast, Ben Simmons is not overrated. I think it's see volumes when you look at the All Star Game voting returns when the fans didn't vote him in, but it was a coach just steaks volumes. For the people that actually have to plan for heads, they don't have to spend too much time talking about this pretty
civil why he's not overrated. Also, this past week, fans returned to the Center and the atmosphere was fantastic as the Sixers continue to show why they're one of the best home teams in the NBA. I missed most about whom being It's so loud and it's just beautiful, Like I can't wait to see the fans bank. I'm going
to be so heavy. Your calls, your dms. Lauren Rose and I run through them every week right here on a mail bag Monday, Lauren Rosen, we are back from the All Star break, and not only are we back from the break, the streak is over. This is a merry mailbag Monday, we are doing a mail bag following a win for the first time in a while, at least two. I think, what an impressive set of games. I have so enjoyed watching these three games, winning each
by twenty two points or more. I believe, two without Ben, two without Joel, two on the road, three massive wins. I love it. I love what I've seen. I really really do talk about not skipping a beat the seventy six ers. I was looking this up earlier. In their three games since the break, they're averaging well. First of all, like you said, they haven't had both of their all stars available in the same game, not once, and they
won't for a little bit. But they're averaging nearly one hundred and thirty points on offense, shooting fifty four and a half percent from the field, forty three and a half percent from three, over eighty one percent from the line, while at scoring their first three opponents by eighty three points combined for a net rating of roughly twenty six and a half by far and away the best since
the break. It's amazing, and again without their two anchors. Yes, they're doing all of this behind really solid stuff from Tobias Harris exactly what we're used to seeing in what we need from him as a city. When I say we, I mean the city of Philadelphia and the reserves, I mean what a stretch for fur con cork mause, for Matisse, thyble. My goodness, they've been so good, Tony Bradley stepping up.
It's been really fun to watch these last few games, and it leads me to believe that this team really might have what it takes. If they're able to put stuff together like this against adversity, a very good sign amen to that. It is a mail bag Monday. What do we do? How do we do it? We respond to your voicemails and your DMS or mentions. Getting in
touch with us is simple. The pod line It's always open twenty four seven three sixty five two on five four zero three seven sixty three seven two on five four zero three pods put in your phone, save it. Whenever you have a seventy six or thought, take question or comment, call us. We will get to it. The voicemail is the preferred way for you to reach us. We love hearing from you. In addition to reading from you,
you can also get us on Twitter. I'm at Brian Seltzer and then on Instagram I'm at Seltzer six or snaps Lauren is very easy and efficient Lauren Mrosen on both platforms hit us up with whatever thought inquiry you may have. So the two themes Lauren I wanted to set for this week's mail bag is number one, your thoughts about fans being back in the arena. Maybe you went, maybe you're going, you have a ticket lined up for this homestand great, what have you missed the most about
not being at a game in over a year. And then the other question was tell us why you think Ben Simmons is not an overrated basketball player? Is that a fair two questions for the week? No doubt, No doubt. So I don't usually do this. I think you know me well enough by now you out there the listener probably knows me well enough. I'm not usually want to get on a soapbox. I don't give many takes, I don't rant or ramble. I'm just gonna say this, hopefully
I can do it in just a few minutes. And I'm sorry, Laren, I'm just I'm gonna hog some mic time here, do it. I'm ready, So justin Kutcher. I actually met him about ten years ago when I was doing games on the radio for pant I worked for the University of Pennsylvania before the Sixers. I called games for basketball and football, and Justin was working for some TV outlet and he called a couple of penn games and I had the chance to meet him, talk with him.
Super helpful, really nice. Just seemed like a genuine good dude. So fast forward ten years later here we are. Didn't stay in touch with him, kind of followed his career. Clearly has done some great stuff. But I think this is a situation and the reason why it frustrated me and it still frustrates me so much, is that it's a presumption of power or authority with a position of stature. So if I unpack that just a little bit, there's only thirty NBA TV announcing jobs calling games in the
entire league. Justin's got one awesome, great resume, credentials to back it up. But just because you are in a position like that does not necessarily mean you have the authority to speak about things and make bold, reckless claims. And I think, listen, you've been in the NBA and AP for three years. I've been doing this for almost ten years now, and I think we would never either of us say we're X and O experts or anything
like that. But we talk to enough people, we hear enough things to be able to inform our opinions, to try and give responsible, fact based statements and opinions when we're pushing content out there. I just can't imagine, quite frankly, that anyone in the league talking about players, coaches, executives, would go on record or even off record and suggest that Ben Simmons is one of the most overrated players
in the league. I mean, look at how some of the players Ben's peers responded on social media when they saw that clip of Justin saying what he said during the game. Thinking back to what Doc Rivers told the media about how when he went to make phone calls on behalf of Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris for All Star reserve spots. The coaches around the rest of the league they laughed Doc off the phone because they were like, what are you calling us about Ben? For? Of course
he's an All Star. He's that good. So that brings me back to this, what could that statement that Justin made have been based on other than just reckless, baseless opinions or views, something that he wanted to throw out there and that I think is irresponsible, and that is perhaps abusing a bit of the influence and reach that his platform has, and that for me was the point
of frustration. I'm with you, Selt. When I listened to the clip, I was confused and immediately thought that this is just someone who hasn't been watching Ben over the last couple of years, who hasn't looked at the stats. I could be wrong. I don't want to assume that someone isn't doing their research, but I just don't think that that's a claim you can make having done your research and having watched the tape. If anything, I believe
Ben Simmons to be underrated. The only maybe maybe redeemable part of what he said was that Ben takes attention away from Tobias. But even that I'm not sold on because I hate the narrative of disparaging someone to put someone else up. Ben and Tobias have both been All Stars this year. It is not mutually, it is not exclusive to to one or the other. The fact that the thesis or his closing point was that it takes
away too much attention from Tobias Harris. Okay, maybe he's saying something nice about Tobias in there, but I don't like the way that he got there. I believe them both to be All stars, and to be honest, I believe I'm both to be underrated, period. That's how I feel. I like that taking the opposite rate, you're going under instead of over, which I would agree with. Look, and this isn't meant to be some ran about whether or not play by play announcers are qualified to make statements
evaluating the talents and abilities and skills of players. Not in the least. I mean. Listen, Let's take Tom McGinnis for example. Tom's been in the NBA for over twenty five years. He knows the game, he's seen it, he's talked to people. Sure, if Tom's going to say something about a guy, give an opinion or a stance and a player, great, all for it. It's rooted in something Sam goes from Mark zoom Off. If Mark says on the broadcast, well I think so and so about this
player from that team. Are you gonna listen to it? And should you put credence into it. Of course, Mark's been in the league for like Tom nearly three decades, but I think that's part of the problem here. Justin's been in the NBA calling games in the league for not even four months. And that's not to say he can't do a great job saying that, Hey, this guy made that shot or missed that shot, but that's only
part of the gig. When you have a platform like that that has such a reach and influence and people presume you to be an authority, you just got to be more responsible than that. I think anyone who follows this game, follows this league, understands how good Ben Simmons is. I know Greg Popovitch doesn't know much and he hasn't done much in his career, but I kind of like what Greg Poppitch had to say about Ben Simmons. I
did as well. I liked that everyone has sort of sounded off and when they've done so, they've they've come to the same conclusion that Ben not in fact overrated. I also in general celts and it just rubbed me this way. I don't like opinions presented as facts. I think it happens a lot in our industry and It's fine if that's how you want to present your opinions. But when you mentioned Mark Zumoff, you mentioned Tom McGinnis. They present opinions, it's very clear that their opinions, and
they're not trying to present opinion as fact. And that's just something that I try to look out for. Not that anyone wants to know what my tricks to the trade are, but I don't like when people present opinion as fact, especially when the opinion like this one was wrong. Yes, and you know what, Justin on social media, he doubled
down on a statement. Good for him, but I was also pleased to see that if people had counterthoughts on that, people have engaged with his account and certainly made known what their opinions and thoughts about his take was, not the least of which Ben Simmons on his Instagram story. So that's I apologize on. I apologize for hagging the mic. I apologize to you listeners out there for going on that rant. I just felt I had to do it. All due respect to Justin. He was a great guy.
I have nothing against him personally. I'm just reacting to a statement that was made. It happens to be a person that I met once or twice. No Ill Will, but I just felt I had to do it well add that as well, No Ill Will. It's a tough job play by play covering this league. It's not easy to do. Gotta give a little bit of leeway maybe for some types of takes. This one just not a great one. But wish him the best and hope that
he improves his takes. At the end of the day, mail bag money is about you the populace out there, so let's get to it right now. You have one new message at jaw five nine eight two zero zero nine nine on at Twitter. Ben Simmons is not close to overrated. He is the best defender in the NBA guards one through five. Even though he does not shoot anything outside the paint, he rebounds FA till states and
gets sixteen points per game. His role can become a bit bigger now with him beat out ghost sixers hashtag here they come. I'm with it. The guards one through five thing is an underrated plotline. Who else in the league can as successfully guard one through five as a guy like Ben Simmons. That is so hard to do. He's a big guy who can absolutely put the clamps on little guys, and he's a big guy who can
fight up in the post against big guys. Nobody else in this league does that, certainly not the way that Ben does it. Guards one through five, maybe best defender in the league. Great teammate, makes his teammates better appreciated by his teammates. The list goes on. I'll save you from the rest of it. I'm gonna call for a vibe check here Ben Simmons vibes in that game on Sunday against the Spurs. Honestly, I don't think I've seen anything like that from him in the time that he's
been with the team. He was, you know, looking up to the crowd, playing the crowd the whole time. Maybe it was easier because there were fewer fans in attendance, but just his energy in that game was tremendous. Well, Ben has been training a lot with Dwight Howard and there are some good things he can learn from Dwight Howard. Maybe one of them is showmanship, because both of them were so excited to see the fans. They were doing
it all, they were showing off. It was cool to see Ben engage with this group it's clear that he missed them. He's been a little bit more demonstrative this season, in my opinion, and it was cool to see him be demonstrative, be expressive, be emotional and have fans like feed into it. And then Ben kept typing it up and the fans kept typing him up. It was really cool to see. It's reminding me now of all the conversations we've had about how excited we are for things
to start going back to normal. And while last night's game, by no means it did not feel normal to me, but there were little moments where I don't know if I appreciated an interaction between a player and the fans in the room enough in the past. It was cool to not take that type of thing for granted. It was cool to watch Ben loved it, the crowd loved it. I loved it. It was really cool. To the podline, we go, you have one new message. Ben Simmons is not one of the most how ready plays in NBA.
He's not one of the most overready plays in the NBA, because if he was, he would not be winning actual awards they actually haven't. He would not be averaging sixteen eight and eight, and he would not be averaging twenty one, seven and seven for the Muffle February. He would just like to look at box score and numbers and just do that. Oh but Simmons hasn't improved since you got into the NBA. And Simmons is twenty four years old and he's made aught MBA thirteen and aught NBA Defensive
First Team. That is incredible. He's only stepped his defense up this season. He's looking everybody down and he's improving his supporting game. He had forty two against the defensive Player of the Year. That's incredible. So I know he's going to step it up and beat out and everybody's just going to see, Oh, maybe Ben Simmons is not one of the most over eighty players NBA. He's incredible.
Rack Dad call that was tremendous. We were getting stats spat at us left and right, and I think two, Ben is going to step it up with Joel out. I think he's shown that in the past. I was like reading a resume and I was impressed. I would hire the person with that resume to play basketball. Setting not overrated. I agree the awards don't tell the whole story. They never do. But when you're getting them at the rate that Ben Simmons is getting them, at the age
that Ben Simmons is incredible stuff. The best is yet to come from Ben, especially if this year is any indication He's gotten better on a lot of levels. And I'm very excited to see how the resume continues to fill itself out over the next few years. Yeah, pretty much since February, Ben off the charts his last fifteen games, nineteen and a half points, nearly sixty three percent, shooting almost seventy percent from the line, seven boards, seven and a half assists, and one and a half steals per
game with three double doubles. You love to see. It's you have one new message. The other question we asked this week, especially on the Sixers at Sixers Instagram story sticker, which you can look for every either Saturday or Sunday. Going into our next mail back, mondays, what are you most looking forward to about being back at the center should you be fortunate enough to go to a game? Alana Robbins says, stoked to be part of why the team has the biggest home court advantage in the league.
With the angry snorting emoji face Lauren. The game on Sunday makes the Sixers now forty six and five at the Center and games played in South Philly since the start of the twenty nineteen twenty season. Notable that one of those five they had seven players like I don't even know if we should really be counting that right anyway. So cool to have those fans back. I can't say it enough. I remain cautious about the safety. I want to make sure that I'm promoting mask wearing and promoting
distancing when we talk about fans on this show. But it was so great to see them back, even in a limited capacity. They made such a difference. The guys set it after the game. Doc Rivers set it after the game. It was really really cool to have them there, and even though their number was smaller than usual, maybe they were mightier than usual. It was a really cool feeling. We asked on Instagram, what are you most looking for?
Two about coming back to the Center? K Cam seventy one says Chickie and Pete's see Franco one two two nine says flying back from Miami for one. It's been so long. Love that loyalty. I love it as well. There's so many things that make these types of moments
special to people. So whether that's chickens and PiZZ or who you go with, or what time of year you go, there are so many emotional associations to seeing games in person, and I think, especially now, like we've already said on this pod, you're going to start to appreciate things that you used to take for granted a little more. And that sense of just sheer joy, happy to be there was on everybody's face last night, and that was really cool.
Only one dot Joseph three, Oh god, I don't know everything. That's what I'm looking forward to about being back, looking forward to everything. I would agree. Tierny Morrison says, welcoming Tyrese Maxie to Philly last night, he got a great ovation against the Spurs coinciding with a frosty freeze out possibility. What a great set of circumstances for the man featured in our latest here they come presented by Geico Video Series Tyrese Maxie to get out on the floor in
front of fans. I think they really do love him and it was nice to see that against the Spurs. It was cool and Tyrese was robbed of the traditional first intro to the fans experience that we've seen other rookies get over the last few years. Philadelphia is thrilled to have Tyrese Maxie as part of the family, and it was cool for Tyrese to have the opportunity to feel that in a very sensory way. People were so excited to see Tyres and the other rookies that got
to join the fun last night. We actually got the submission before the game on Sunday was played. Diehard Philly told us an igs what is he looking most forward to about coming back to games? Channing, I thought, this is ironic refu suck that did happen at the end of the first half and they Hey, the fans did not miss a beat. They were back and better than ever. They remembered all they were up to their old tricks
in the best way. It was great. It was really nice, and it was also great to hear some of the players just shout out the fans after the game. And compared to how the energy was at such a higher level at the Center compared to other atmospheres on the road. How about this one, Lauren, the last one from our Instagram submissions, Bree Hornberger says, I'm looking forward to going to my first game with my best friend who made me a fan during the bubble. I love that new fans.
There are people, there are Sixers fans with new children that they didn't have last time they were at games. We're going to see some new baby and toddler Sixer fans in the coming weeks and months, and I'm very excited to welcome that submission and everybody else into the family. All right, let's switch over to our Twitter mansions at Medina GRN six O nine n J says, and this was in response to Tobias Harris's remarks about not making
the All Star Game. Bro, you got game. We all know you're nice, Stay hungry, stay tenacious, get it done. When you're on the floor, come playoff time, you will wreak havoc on the opposite Asians. So that was in response to a tweet that Lauren you and I put out there about Tobias Harris him summing up his thoughts
on not making the All Star Game. He said it was disappointed, but essentially, and this was part of the quote that he's going to put a bounty on the heads of the coaches and media members who did not show him enough respect in his mind, and he's played like it so far. I love that attitude, and it's nice to hear the fans supporting him as well well.
So you're the one that has pointed out this statistic all along, But since Tobias was not officially not named to the All Star team, the Sixers have not lost a game, and that's independent of personnel, opponent. Home wrote, they have not lost a game, and that is worth something. Tobias Harris has always been motivated, He's always been driven. He's always brought the utmost professionalism and class to his job.
And now he's bringing a little more edge, a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, something to prove. He's taking names, and I'm okay with it. I promote it. I am happy for him. I love seeing him succeed this way, and hopefully, as Doc Rivers has suggested, you have suggested Celts, as he has suggested, this could all turn into an All Star bid the next time they're available.
You know one else I really like to one of his former coaches, Danna Orlando stand the man, stan Van Gundhi a great Twitter follow if you do not already shouting out to Bias as well, saying that Tobias no doubt about it, an All Star and he represents everything that's right about the NBA professional working, get better as a person, great teammate, cares about people. I thought that
was nice. I'm with it as well. Always good to see respected figures offer takes that are similar to our selts, but offer any positive reinforcement for guys that are no longer necessarily parts of their day to day lives. Stan doesn't have to say any of that. You know he means it because he doesn't have to say any of that. I liked seeing that endorsement as well. All right, one more to pull from the mail back for this week.
You have one new message at MS sports with Z two one five says, do we still need an insurance pols to make a move by the trade deadline for one more player? Question mark? Hopefully not breaking up too much the second unit or bench players. I don't know, maybe offering up some future draft picks and money to shure up the quest to win the title this season. Listen, I think that I always think that Daryl Morey speaks
true words, but I forget where it was. I don't know if it was on Twitter or in an article. Maybe I'm wrong, Lauren, you can check me on this. But didn't he say, He hopes that people focus on the team and the players the Sixers have now, rather on what they could get as we draw closer and closer to March twenty fifth, and listen, I think the bench right or wrong. They are playing like a group where no one wants to leave this team right now.
Since the All Star break, they've been amazing, for sure, and it's been really interesting to hear from the high up folks, from Darryl Moorey, from Doc Rivers, it's dangerous to disrupt the vibes, and the vibes have never been better. These guys really get along, They support each other, they're enjoying their time together, and they're winning. What else can you ask for? Understand a reluctance to make a move
when things are going well. How many times do we have we heard the cliche saying if it's not broken, don't fix it. This is a team that's working really well together, And honestly, maybe you're right. Maybe they were playing like a group of guys that didn't want to be moved, and if they're doing that, it's because they don't want to be moved. It's proof that they're enjoying each other, that they're enjoying this team, that they're enjoying this run. I don't know what else you could ask
for at this point in this specifically difficult season. Let me tell you, if there's a Twitter follow that you don't have out there, you gotta get on AT six or stats. Quite the engaging account this year. I'll tell you there's been an evolution of engagement in AT six or stats this year. More personality, not just numbers. Love what they're doing. But this number Sixer's bench has scored at least fifty five points into the last three games.
It's just the second time since bench stats were first tracked in nineteen seventy seventy one that the Sixers bench has pieced together such a streak. The only the time was in the middle of March nineteen seventy eight. Stuff, I'm with it, the bench, Great stuff from the bench. We've believed in them all along. Selts, I have to say, of course we did. Yes, never a doubts. All right, thank you mail bag participants and those of you who submitted.
And before we go, Lauren, I'm just gonna apologize one more time for that rant and rave at the beginning of the podcast it. I had to get it out of my system. I tried to flush it away ever since it happened, I had three or four days to do it. Look, Seltz, he used his platform and now you've used yours. I don't think there's anything wrong with that. And I'll say this, these are my opinions. They reflect no one but yours. Truly. This might be my last
mailbag Monday. I don't know. Stop ditto. I'm with you, all right. Thanks to everyone who's submitted, Lauren, thank you. We'll do it again Friday with the von Gibbons for the Friday Deep Dive Awesome thank You sets and also on the Programming doc this week for the seventy six ers podcast network. We should have the latest episode of
Tom's Talks with Tom mc ginnis available on Thursday. If you missed the last couple episodes, some great chats back in our back catalog and listen to Tom's interviews with to the new Sharpshooters for the seventy Sixers playing greats as of late. Danny Green and Seth Curry, thanks so much for listening to and participating in Mailbag Monday and check your DMS if you are a winner of a swag bag. We will soon be in touch. See you later.