Warp Speed Sixers Ahead - Training Camp!
The Opening Tip
Hello and Happy Thursday, it's the Corner Three!
Embiid is playing soccer and running sprints, Matisse twisted his fro, Justin Anderson is back, I am indeed ready to be hurt again.
Let's get going!
This Week In The Pod
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The Sixers talked! Spike and Mike decided which things they said were true, and which were lies. They also laugh about the Wall for Westbrook trade and discuss the Christmas snub.
The Sixers continued whispering sweet nothings into Joel Embiid's ear with the signing of Justin Anderson. Spike and Mike dig into that, discuss who actually got better in the East, and dive into some goodies from the mailbag.
The newest Carl Landry Record Club podcast the guys welcome on JB Brubaker, the lead guitar player for August Burns Red, one of the biggest metalcore bands in the world.
Oh Yeah,The Sixers
I hope you all caught your collective breath from the draft/free agency whirlwind because, TRAINING CAMP!
The Sixers and the rest of the NBA kicked off media week/training camp this week and as you would expect, there's been alot of adjusting to the new norm and talks about what the team hope to accomplish in this warp speed ramp up to competitive basketball. We've got an influx of new faces on and off the court mixed with the usual suspects which should make for a very interesting acclimation period. Here's some things that I'll be looking for leading up to the team's first preseason game on Dec 15.
Doc's System
In his first training camp media availability, coach Doc Rivers ran through a few questions about his team and his stars. Some things that popped out to me were his desire to have the team rank top 10 in offense and defense, the promise to run more Pick and Roll action involving Ben Simmons & Joel Embiid (separate from each other? Together? I guess time will tell) the responsibility he wants to bestow upon a (13 lbs heavier) Shake Milton and him being ready to turn the offense over to Ben, placing a premium on pace of play instead of how many jumpers Ben takes.
I'll take Doc at his word for now, but I can't imagine he wouldn't want his point forward using that new found freedom to jack a few corner three's (sponsored) here and there.
Tobias Keep it Simple
Rivers mentioned that he also wanted to get Tobias Harris back to his Clippers self, that is, thinking and shooting quicker. As also noted by Doc, Tobias dribbled WAY too much last year, so much that it looked like it hurt him to shoot the ball once he was finished dribbling the damn air out of it. So much easier said than done but if Doc and staff can unlock another level or help Tobias get back to where he's much more quicker and efficient in his offense it will truly make all the difference for a team that needs to get comfortable with its new identity on the fly.
Matisse, Shake, Tyrese
Our young gunners. Matisse & Shake more so, but I don't want to discount Maxey because I do think on a team starved to death and back of guys who can penetrate and get their own shot, he can and will eventually be very key if not right away. Doc had Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, another Kentucky guard, during his Clipper years and really helped him get up to speed and turn the corner fairly quickly as a rookie so here's hoping the magic rubs off again. On Matisse & Shake, I'd love to see both of them looking more confident and comfy on both sides of the ball, particularly Matisse on offense. He mentioned in his availability that he spent a good chunk of offseason in the gym shooting so seeing it translate as the season develops would be *chef kiss*
Jo & Ben Taking the Lead
Daryl Morey took his first 2 weeks as President of Basketball Ops and put a stamp on the Ben & Jo pairing, jettisoning some Horford weight and bringing in a few career chuckers who ideally, will fit the space and pace that these two need to operate much better. Sounds good in theory but won't matter much if there's not 100% buy-in from both of these fellas along with, 100% leadership. If the leap past the 2nd round (please GOD) is to happen this year, it will begin and end on the backs of 21 and 25.
Charity Spotlight
Ever wonder how you can help but don't really have a dedicated charity or non-profit to typically give to? Philly Black Giving Circle can help with that. Founded in 2015, The Philadelphia Black Giving Circle (PBGC) aims to leverage collective resources from diverse donors to support non-profit organizations undertaking impactful work in the Black community. Read their awesome story and how to get involved here!
The holidays are here, and there's a chance you may need to sit back in the big chair with a drink, and that drink should include Stateside Vodka. No gluten, no sugar, no carbs, certified Kosher, distilled seven times and made right here in the city of brotherly love. You can get Stateside Vodka at their website, get it delivered anywhere in PA, or just go to your local liquor store and pick up a bottle. You better be at least 21, and you better be enjoying responsibly.
The Rest From The Best
Ok here's the deal, would you take the 2017-18 Sixers or this year's 2020-2021 team? Think before you answer! The good Mike O'Connor sizes up both rosters and gives us a pretty convincing verdict. Brought to you by our official pet food, By Nature Slow Cooked with Superfusion Pet Food (use code RTRS20 at Chewy).
In a true awesome as hell moment, our guy Andrew Unterberger chatted with Philly fan O.G. Dave "Where is Ben Rivera" Reuter about his About His Book of Forgotten 76ers, 'A Sixers Odyssey' Brought to you by Kinetic Skateboarding.
You asked, and he answered. Mailbag! Sixers Adam is back this week to answer YOUR friggin questions about the league, the Sixers and more Sixers. Brought to you by Adam Ksebe, the Process Realtor.
Peace, Love and Process
That's all I got, gang, be safe, stay the fuck home and do some pushups
-Zo