It's My Destiny to Be the King of Payne
Spike will always love our new-old shooty backup point guard.
I can’t help it, I love Cam Payne.
It sorta sucks that Cam Payne’s arrival came while I’m being actively pissed off about the Sixers trading Jared McCain, but it wouldn’t be fair to Cam to take it out on him.
We all have a type, right? My type is over-confident small guards who shoot too much. Isaiah Canaan is absolutely my type. Of course Jared McCain was my type. And Cam Payne is absolutely my type.
There is no doubt that at some point this season Cam Payne is going to get scorching hot during a game and either put it away, or drag the team back into a game that they were definitely out of. It will be at this point during his tenure this season when this particular stretch during a game will be all I ever remember or bring up about Cam Payne.
I want you to know that I’m not doing this on purpose, I just know I’m going to do it. I will absolutely ignore the games where he scores zero points and thinks he’s hot. I will absolutely not pay attention to the fact that he can’t guard anyone. I will only make note of the fact that he is willing to shoot when everyone else is scared to, and occasionally we’ll get a game where most of those shots go in.
This is why, ten years later, I am still talking about Canaan’s four-point play against the Warriors in a game that the Sixers lost anyway but almost won, and an almost win against the Warriors that season was basically a win. That play is all that matters to me about him.
So as we’re stuck in this weird, pretty ok but not much more than that Sixers season, at least I know I’m getting the Cam Payne Game at some point.
New Stuff From VERB Energy
Verb Energy is our newest sponsor. Kick ass energy bars that have 80 milligrams of organic green tea caffeine in them. They’re actually kind of perfect for the middle of the day for me. I’ve realized I like eating half of one, and then the other half in an hour or two.
They’ve got a new, limited time flavor that is absolutely worth trying – Red Velvet. Now, there is no dairy in there (so they’re vegan-safe), and the ingredients, as with all VERB bars are just real ingredients, check the label. But if you use code RTRS you’ll get 20% off your order.
Team Ricky
We are truly blessed to have Mike O’Connor writing for the Ricky. I really can’t believe he’s still doing it for us. In any case, he put together five thoughts for the team after the All-Star break, including some stuff on Jared McCain, the third quarter, and some actual optimism.
Speaking of the third quarter, we put The Statman on it. Beckett Sanderson did a deep dive on exactly how fucked up the third quarter is for the Sixers, and why it might be so fucked up. Unfortunately, the answer’s not super clear (about why, the answer is super clear that they suck in the third quarter). In any case, it feels good to know that you’re not crazy.
WEEKLY BECKY WROTE AN ARTICLE FOR THE RICKY?!
Other Stuff
Please listen to Kelly Oubre’s new song.
Friend of The Ricky Kevin O’Connor did a very good podcast with Drew Hanlen, where Hanlen talks a lot about Joel and Tyrese.
I will not feel bad about how we “treated” Tobias Harris. Sorry!