Full Transcript for Philly Reloaded (ft. Jesse Cherone)

I I wouldn't throw up a crazy argument against you. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:46.560 That that those are all reasonable picks. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:55.439 No, I I think uh the the Sixers are are going to uh ultimately um you know that they're I I think they're gonna pull second. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:03:00.080 Um just in my opinion, uh you know, behind the Knicks. 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:12.400 But I I I I if you told me, hey, the the Raptors are gonna win the these, I'm not gonna argue with it, because they got Giannis, like, you know, who's the Greek freak. 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:17.199 I I I can't say that's completely nuts because it's not. 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:20.080 You could make an argument about so many different teams. 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:30.319 Like, I don't believe in the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they were just in the Eastern Conference Finals, and they added Peyton Watson, who I think is gonna be an incredible addition to that Cavaliers roster. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:34.560 We all forget about the Indiana Pacers who were just in the NBA finals two years ago. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:37.199 We'll see how healthy Tyree Talliburton looks. 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:46.080 They also added Ivitza Zubach at the trade deadline last year, he only played like five games, but now we really get to see that roster together, and they added like Kelly Uber as well. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:47.280 We'll we'll see how he fits there. 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:49.039 It's gonna be weird seeing Kelly there. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:50.639 But there are so many different teams. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:54.000 The magic, if they stay healthy, maybe they look nice together. 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:59.599 I mean, they added Vucevic coming up off the bench, legend in Orlando, as you mentioned. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:03.280 The the Heat, they have we have the Raptors. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:06.719 I I honestly, the the East is wide open. 00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:11.120 The the Wizards, where we get to see Anthony Davis and Trey Young together. 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:14.719 Uh, I mean, we'll see how the Hornets look, the Bulls. 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:18.399 We we don't know what these this Eastern Conference is gonna look like. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:21.439 It there are the seeding could go so many different ways. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:24.319 I predict they're gonna be the number two seed as well. 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:26.720 I will give credit to the New York Knicks. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:31.920 I do think they are gonna take a step back because they lost Mitchell Robinson to the Celtics. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:38.160 I think that is going to be a huge loss for them, and they get Andre Drummond, who is terrible in my opinion. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:40.879 I don't think he was a great backup center for the Sixers. 00:04:41.360 --> 00:04:45.600 But I'm I'm very curious as to what your thoughts are on the Sixer specific moves. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:49.279 Before we get there, I want to, you know, ask a little bit about yourself. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:53.040 Uh, how did you get started in the realm of talking sports? 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:56.079 And did you start through 302 Birds Podcast? 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:57.920 Like, how did that all come together? 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:06.879 Yeah, so um I cannot take credit for us for 302 and the success that they've had um much at all. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:14.480 Uh, but I I I will say I've done um Philly's post-game shows for them pretty much every every game. 00:05:14.560 --> 00:05:17.680 Uh it's been really a tough watch recently. 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:21.920 But uh that's been that's been my jam. 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:29.040 Um I also run uh Philly Sports Pulse on um on Instagram and that's sort of under their wing. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:33.839 Um and I have like a show called that that's that runs Thursday nights. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:35.279 Um usually. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:40.720 Uh we'll take a week here off, a week or two here all week or two off here or there. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:46.959 But um we're usually um good to roll on that front uh with my co-host uh Adam Den. 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:55.439 He's uh is uh a former, he's uh he's not a former, he's also uh a student uh like I am at uh signage college. 00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:58.480 Uh it's a college uh in in Montgomery County. 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:02.079 Uh it's north of Philly, just north just a little bit north of Philly. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:05.920 Um, but uh I mean I I I've done that for about a year. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:12.399 Uh I I do play-by-play for Sinage College, like uh for baseball, football, basketball. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:18.800 So uh whenever I have the opportunity to talk sports, man, I'm here for it. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:20.319 That's that's cool to hear. 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:24.639 And I've also seen on your Instagram you've done like interviews with different players before. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:30.879 What's been I don't want to say your favorite because I feel like you can say all of them because it's always a cool experience meeting different athletes. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:36.639 What's the most memorable experience you've had meeting an athlete, interviewing an athlete? 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:38.480 Hmm. 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:48.560 I mean, like you mentioned, uh like there's I've been a I've been fortunate to be a part of so many cool experiences on that front. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:07:01.360 But uh I I gotta say, uh it's probably a tie between meeting uh McConnell Lemon, getting able to talk to him, and uh, Philly's photo day was was uh during the summer. 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:07.839 Uh I decided, hey, I'm gonna bring my mic, I'm gonna bring my guy, uh his name's Jonah Castle. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:09.600 I'm gonna bring him down to the field. 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:11.279 And Zach Wheeler was right there. 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:17.839 So I got to

talk to Zach Wheeler, that's talking to Don Manningly, uh, and a couple of other Philly legends. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.600 So um that was awesome. 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:27.839 Uh, but uh the Mikhe Lemon thing was the first uh media credential thing that I was a part of um ever. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.120 So that was um for 302 birds. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.680 So that was really cool to see him. 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:59.600 Uh it was for um Odap, uh, which is a uh it's a an organization that uh helps kids uh but helps kids sp specifically in the Philadelphia area learn good values and how to, you know, um be better people, uh as well as um teach them that how to play football. 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:02.800 So it was it was a football camp that he was running at the time. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:11.680 And uh, you know, uh he uh wasn't running a ton that day because uh he had hurt his uh I think he was his hamstring at the time. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:12.000 Okay. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:14.160 Um so so they weren't letting him run. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:16.560 But you know, I I still got to talk to him. 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:24.000 Great dude, very down to earth, and uh I'm really rooting for him in in the in the near future. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:27.920 Um and and not the near not just the near future, but the future in general. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:31.519 I I think that he's gonna have a fantastic career as an Eagle. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:39.919 But uh yeah, it was it was a great time and uh always grateful and and honored for those types of experiences. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:43.279 Yeah, Mikhail Lemon, I mean, I know he didn't have a great game one. 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:50.000 Uh by the time everyone sees this episode, the Eagles sort of already hopefully won against the Tennessee Titans. 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:51.519 That's happening later today. 00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:58.799 So I'm hoping that we see a little bit more from the offense, in particular, getting Mikhail Lemon involved more, Devontae Smith. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:01.440 I know the run game looked pretty bad last week as well. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:03.679 So we'll see how that looks today. 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:06.080 It's an interesting time in Philly sports. 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:10.799 I know we were just talking before about the Phillies and uh the struggles they've gone through. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:16.639 And uh I I applaud you for trying to cover this uh team that is going downhill. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:21.279 Um, so you know, I I know it's an exciting time in Philly sports, especially coming into the fall. 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:23.679 I mean, obviously, we're gonna talk about the Sixers today. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:26.240 Eagles hopefully will be back in the Super Bowl. 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:27.440 Flyers coming back. 00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:30.240 I actually met Noah Cates the other day, which was a cool experience. 00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:31.919 Yeah, he was at a shop, yeah. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:36.960 He was at a shop right promoting uh some trail mic, trail mix that he's uh selling. 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:38.080 And it was it was good. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:38.879 I actually bought it. 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:41.120 Um, you know, yeah, yeah. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.960 I I just yeah, it's good. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:43.759 I I still have it. 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:46.720 He like signed the the the top of it and he signed my hat too. 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:50.320 Um yeah, that was that was a cool experience. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:52.320 It's cool meeting some of these athletes. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:55.360 Like, I also met he actually signed this hat too, VJ Edgecombe. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:10:00.000 He did uh like an event at a pr at a primos uh last year, which was cool. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:05.919 I I don't think I've told the story yet on the podcast, but I I actually showed up like right when the event started. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:08.639 And when the event started, the line was through the roof. 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:10.639 Like with No Cate, there wasn't really a line. 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:12.639 I don't know if many people knew about the event. 00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:31.840 Like, I don't know what the case is, but for Vijay, the line was so long, and I didn't think I was gonna make it, and there was still a ton of line left, like they cut the line off, but Vijay decided to stay a little bit longer because he wanted to get to everybody, which is like the most noble thing I've ever seen, and we didn't have to pay for the event or anything like that. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:40.399 I know obviously like Primos was trying to sell the products, you know, during the event as well, which obviously I had to buy myself a nice hoagie, not a sponsor, but I do love Primos. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:43.120 Um, so you know that was a cool experience. 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:44.559 Meeting athletes is so cool. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:54.559 I mean, I you know, I I've gone to like the Fanatics Fest the last couple of years, but it's nice when these athletes um, you know, do local events and you know they're not charging anything. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:59.279 And you know, it's cool that you were able to interview some of these players and and these athletes. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:02.639 So I I'm definitely excited for the fall here. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:07.440 And speaking of which, let's talk about some of the specific moves the Sixers made. 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:18.879 Now, in the playoffs, they had, I guess you could say a magical run because there was a time I feel like last season where we didn't even know if they'd make the playoffs again. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:22.799 I mean, two years ago, they were playing all these players that I've never heard of. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:24.240 They were pulling guys off the street. 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:26.320 I was like, who

is Marcus Bagley? 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:28.000 Who is Philip Wheeler? 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:34.240 Who is uh I know they were hyping this player up um on NBC Sports Philadelphia, but I'm like, who is Jeff Doughton? 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:45.039 I felt like every every time they were they were hyping up some random player, and it felt like we were kind of getting back to that at a point last season because Joel Embiid still missed a ton of time. 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:48.080 I believe he only played like 38-39 games last season. 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:51.600 Paul George obviously got suspended for 25 games. 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:56.799 There were injuries to every player left and right, but yet they still made the playoffs. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:04.000 Nobody thought that they would beat the Boston Celtics at all, who you know magically made the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:06.480 We somehow come back down 3-1. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:15.279 We get our asses beat by the New York Knicks getting swept, and then after all of that, they fire Daryl Morey, they bring in Mike Gansy. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:16.960 I know we have Bob Myers back. 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.480 Then they make these moves. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:38.000 Obviously, like they made the Ariel Huck Porty and Dean Wade moves, but then Mike Gansy somehow, somehow, trades 36-year-old washed podcast P Pinky P for Jalen Brown, who was a top five MVP candidate just last season, arguably one of the best two-way wings in the NBA. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:39.440 I don't know how they did it. 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:46.720 I mean, it was just for Paul George, I believe it was two firsts, which aren't very good first-round picks, and two second-round picks. 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:55.440 I don't know how he did it, but what are your thoughts about Jalen Brown to the Sixers and what do you think he is going to do for this team this season? 00:12:55.840 --> 00:13:12.000 Well, in terms of Jalen Brown, I really think that he's gonna have a bigger basketball impact than the greatest basketball player of all time in LeBron James that we're going to that we obviously are gonna are gonna discuss here. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:18.080 But uh, yeah, I I think that he is gonna fit great in the system. 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:27.120 The fact that he was able to carry Boston last year without Tatum for uh as many games as he did just shows to me the leader quality that he he has. 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:33.840 And he's talked about multiple times on his pot that this is the this is the time to get blood. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:35.840 This is the time to go for blood. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:38.240 This is the time to get revenge. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:43.919 He's pissed at the Celtics, pissed because he didn't want to get traded by those guys. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.879 He he wasn't on a i he wasn't requesting to be traded. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:49.600 No, he wasn't there

was no beef, no nothing. 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:59.600 And I just out of the blue, Brad Stevens, who listen, he's one of the best GMs in in in basketball, but I still uh and I've got some Celtics friends. 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:01.360 I I I I still clam. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:02.799 I'm sorry for them, by the way. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:03.919 I'm sorry for them. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:05.840 And no, no, not me. 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.600 They've had they've had enough success. 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:08.960 I I guess that's true. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:13.120 I I I I just I don't understand the move at all. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:30.399 Like what you're talking about a guy in return in Paul George that was literally and we don't uh we don't we we take mental health seriously here, but he was suspended for uh he was suspended for a drum like in the middle of the season, right? 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:33.200 What what are we doing here? 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:43.120 It's it uh and he he's what yeah, he's had 36 years like he's he's not not even close to the to the the the Jalen Browns of the world. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:45.360 It's no comparison. 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:52.159 I and here maybe maybe you could maybe you could argue in his prime, maybe like OKC days, maybe end of Indiana. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:57.120 Maybe but not but like this is like this is like Wizard Shaq. 00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:57.679 Yes. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:00.320 It's like no. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:08.080 And the and the fact that like the just go stay with me for a second. 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:30.720 The the fact that Boston, who was the Sixers' biggest rival outside of the Knicks, traded Jalen Brown, an MVP candidate, to the Sixers, which ultimately led and was the driving factor to lead LeBron James. 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:37.200 LeBron James, who is the best player of all time to the Sixers. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:48.000 The Celtics essentially traded the the the Celtics uh essentially led LeBron James to the Sixers. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:53.039 The Celtics! What what kind of timeline are we living in? 00:15:53.519 --> 00:16:04.480 Right, it's kind of like in my opinion, I don't I don't think it's as big of a deal as this, but it's kind of like when the the Bucs and basically gave the Celtics Drew Holiday, right? 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:14.000 They they made the move for Porzangis, and then they get Drew Holiday on top of that, which I think if it wasn't for that move specifically, I don't know if the Celtics would have won a championship that year. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:21.600 Obviously Tatum's great, Jalen Brown's great, but that team, that starting five, was one of the most elite we've seen in a long time. 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:24.000 So, like, I don't know what the Celtics were doing. 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:27.440 I still think it's a move that was forced upstairs. 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:36.000 I think ownership demanded that, whether it was because of the money he was making, uh, I believe he's up for an extension coming up pretty soon. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:38.720 They didn't want to pay that this new ownership group. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:40.000 I don't know what the deal is. 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:53.919 Maybe Jason Tatum just didn't want him there anymore based on the clips we've seen of Tatum talking, uh, what was it to some to some group and kind of dissing Jalen Brown a little bit with that smartest person in the room conversation? 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:56.240 I I don't know what they were doing. 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.919 I think it's insane. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:02.799 You know, and this is a team, the Sixers, who have had the worst luck ever. 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:06.400 Like, you know, and we could bring up the Clippers, we could bring up the Kings. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:11.359 The the Sixers were in those conversations of one of the most embarrassing organizations. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:18.000 I mean, you could talk about the process, obviously, but like even in the last 10 years, the Ben Simmons stuff, Mark L. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:19.039 Fultz, right? 00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:21.119 Uh letting go of Mikel Bridges. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:34.799 Uh, we could talk about the James Harden drama, we could talk about Paul George, we could talk about just a couple months ago, Daryl Mori trading Jared McCain to at the time the reigning defending NBA champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder. 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:36.960 McCain was starting for them. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:47.839 And then six months later, after getting blown out, and it looked like there was no future for this team with the the contract Paul George was on, and Bede's extension didn't even kick in yet. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.519 Now it's finally kicking in. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:51.519 I mean, now the future's looking bright. 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.759 Now Embiid's kind of like an afterthought. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.920 I mean, so it's it's great to see. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:03.599 Now, speaking of Embiid, before we get to obviously LeBron James, now that we have Jalen Brown, Tyrese Maxi is gonna continue to get better. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:07.759 Vijay Edgecombe, I'm expecting a huge leap in year number two. 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:12.799 If Embiid is, let's just say he's at least 50% healthy, because we never know. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:16.319 Do you think that this is kind of the end of the Embiid era? 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:20.240 Like, I feel like we're we're starting to kind of wipe him away from existence. 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:23.920 Not enough people are talking about the Joel Embiid factor of all this. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:25.599 Yeah, yeah. 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:29.920 And I think last year was kind of the the start of it. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:33.039 Uh you know, we w last year, right? 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:35.599 Uh th this wasn't Joel Embiid's team. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:37.200 This

was Tyrese Maxw's team. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:40.640 And it's going to continue to be Tyrese Maxw's team, by the way. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.319 It's gonna be him and Jalen. 00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:52.880 Um but I I I still think that uh the you w when Joel Joel Bead is healthy, he is a top center, if not the best center in the league. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:56.000 Without a a doubt, is just the health factor. 00:18:56.240 --> 00:19:23.839 But I I think I have a lot more faith that he is gonna be healthy this year, uh, just because of the conversations, and and maybe I'm being a little disillusional here, but just because of the conversations that he had with LeBron James, uh, in order for LeBron to sign with us, a lot of it had to do with Jane LeBron, but LeBron and Joel met in LA at these private meetings, and he basically got assurance from Joelle that hey, I I'm gonna be healthy this year. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:30.720 I'm doing things to keep my knee from exploding, and I I'm I'm gonna stay healthy. 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:45.599 And if you have the trust from again, the best basketball player of all time, and if the best basketball player of all time believes in you, I think the rest of the league should as well. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:50.319 Yeah, I mean, it's insane just to hear that we have LeBron. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:52.079 Now, I know you say he's the best. 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.680 I I have him as number two. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:59.440 Now, I I hate I hate the argument though, if like you have one as number two, that must mean you dislike him. 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.640 I love LeBron. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:05.359 I I don't think there should be any question of, oh, I have Michael Jordan above LeBron. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.720 That means LeBron sucks. 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:07.839 Not even close. 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:10.079 I mean, it's two different eras, obviously. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:16.000 But if you get the chance to get one of the top two and in and in your opinion, the best player of all time. 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.920 I mean, why are people mad about it? 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:19.759 I mean, I'm seeing sports radio. 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:28.880 We we've seen people in like WIP, for example, call it the the worst move in Philly sports, which I just think is ridiculous. 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:34.559 Like, take away a second the the best the best move stuff. 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:39.920 Yeah, you you're talking about an economic impact, which is absurd. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:43.759 Like, I still haven't got my jersey yet. 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:46.160 Because it's still in the queues. 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:52.960 Like the the the the the website the the the day that it came out, it broke. 00:20:53.599 --> 00:21:04.880 It broke the the the the the website to get Sixers tickets when when uh they they first came out, it broke, my man. 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.720 Everything broke. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:19.599 It may have led me, and I may this may not be the reason, but this may have led to an entire damn new arena with the Sixers. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:27.519 Yes, like and not just the Sixers, the Flyers, and the WMBA team. 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:34.319 Like this is setting things up, not just for the next two years, but for the future. 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:44.880 You're talking about people that are gonna come into Philly to uh to see him, to to buy the the food that's around there to intertwine within the city. 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:48.240 Like, this is bigger than LeBron, man. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:51.279 This is this is a culture shock. 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:53.839 Yeah, we're just gonna get eyes to the city now. 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:56.880 I mean, what is it, 34 national TV games this season? 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:58.000 Like, that's insane. 00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.759 We were lucky to get maybe like five. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:02.319 But we were the butt end of a joke. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:12.000 I mean, obviously, Philly the last several years has been known for the Eagles, which, you know, by all means we we should be, but we're a basketball city, and now we really get to be that. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:19.599 Now we the fan base has grown because we're getting all the LeBron fans, and I'd be very, very shocked if the New York Knicks come to town. 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:21.759 We get flooded with Knicks fans anymore. 00:22:21.839 --> 00:22:22.480 There's just no way. 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.519 I just don't see it. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:28.960 So, you know, not only is LeBron a huge deal, but as you said, it's driving so many different avenues. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:37.119 Mark uh um, we got the the PA announcer, which it's which is so crazy. 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:45.440 Matt Cord, the the PA announcer for the Sixers who retired last season, he's coming back, and and that was a huge announcement the other day. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:49.119 I'm gonna said Mark Zumoff a second ago, but like that, and I'm hoping Mark Zumoff comes up. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:53.759 Imagine we bring back I'm not even counting that out though, by the way. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:23:00.480 I'm not I'm not counting out them bringing back hip-hop permanently, which we absolutely absolutely should, by the way. 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:05.680 Bring back hip-hop, uh, shout out my guy, uh, bring back hip hop permanently on Instagram. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:14.559 Uh, but shout out to him, uh, shout out the Sixers, maybe maybe bringing back the the black jersey permanently like you're wearing right there. 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:14.880 Yeah. 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:27.680 I mean, listen, I this it's a Nike thing, but listen, again, if LeBron James is signing with the Sixers, I think Nike has to take that into consideration here. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:31.680 I know we've got only a few weeks, but like, come on. 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:38.559 There's

so much to this that brings a positive light to the city of Philadelphia. 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:41.680 Yeah, it should have been a permanent thing, the the black jerseys. 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:45.680 I don't know why the the what the Nike rights are, anything like that. 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:53.519 I know they're bringing back the cream jerseys, which I think those are okay, but come on, like, this is so iconic, and you bring in LeBron and Jalen Brown. 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:58.000 I mean, and and why wouldn't the NBA want to and Nike want to make money off of it? 00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:05.359 You know how much money you would make selling LeBron versions of these black jerseys, Jalen Brown versions of these jerseys. 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:07.039 I mean, that's insane. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:10.400 Uh that that's the real you and you don't have to do the court again. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:13.359 Now, I I know you brought up hip hop, like, you don't have to do that stuff again. 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.559 Now, would that be cool? 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.920 Yes, obviously. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:19.359 But like, it's just so iconic, and I cannot wait. 00:24:19.440 --> 00:24:31.839 Like, as soon as I saw that hype video of uh of Matt Cord uh uh introducing the starting lineup, and you just hear that LeBron James, James, it's just like I I cannot wait. 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:33.599 Now, I won't be at the home opener. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:35.200 I'm I'm going to right now. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:45.920 My plan is to go to the November 2nd game against the Chicago Bulls, but I cannot wait to go there in person and just hear that you know voice echo around the arena. 00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:57.599 Um, now I believe he's only coming back for one more year, but yeah, if anyone's gonna be calling LeBron his first season in Philadelphia, it should be the legend Matt Cord. 00:24:58.640 --> 00:24:59.440 Yeah, yeah. 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:02.000 That that guy is such a stud. 00:25:02.559 --> 00:25:09.279 Uh I I again, like, I I don't think they even had a guy to and maybe they did behind the scenes. 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:09.680 Yeah. 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:17.680 But uh I I think wait when you get a call from Alan Iverson, yes, you have to come back. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.359 You have to. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:24.400 Like, the the the like shout out to to Alan man. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:35.359 That that whole conversation that uh he brought up on on uh 97.5 the other day, uh you know, another time, it was so funny. 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:40.880 The the fact that it was it was a Charlotte area code, and he's like, is this is this Alan? 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:42.880 He's like Alan's like, yes, Alan. 00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:57.119 And you know, I I I think if if Alan Iverson didn't text him, uh uh I I I don't know if he comes back, but again, the Sixers got LeBron James and Jalen Brown. 00:25:57.359 --> 00:26:01.359 So I'm sure there was gonna be

some pressure somehow. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:10.559 Uh and I I you know last year, the the way that it ended, like that that can't be how it ends. 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:24.720 But we had we had that magical run against the t the Celtics, but then the the way that the season ended last year, before we brought in Mike Gancey, I I thought we were cooked. 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:30.640 And then we brought in Mike Gancey, who at the time, I mean we'll get into it. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:35.359 I wasn't necessarily impressed when we brought him in. 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:38.000 I wasn't, I wasn't either, yeah. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.079 But I wouldn't admit that. 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:42.559 Well, and and I I've said this before. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:47.759 I I said you could hire uh uh you know that table back there and it would do the same thing. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:53.759 Any inanimate object, uh it it didn't matter who you hired, it could have been Josh Harris taking over. 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:56.480 It didn't matter, it's gonna be the same result no matter what. 00:26:56.640 --> 00:27:01.200 They were going to find some aging star, which they've done the last several years. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:11.599 I mean, I remember I saw um some uh I don't know if this was an article or if this was even true, but uh, you know, there there was there was talks about like Harrison Barnes during the NBA Finals. 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:13.680 It was like that is so the Sixers. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:21.839 That you know, that is so the Sixers finding some some guy that was good maybe like five, ten years ago, to to bring into this team, right? 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:27.519 I mean, the the Kyle Lowry's of the world, Paul George, it's like we we keep doing this over and over again. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:31.519 So when they brought in Mike Gansy, I had the same, you know, uh thoughts as you. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.960 I didn't think it would do anything. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:38.240 And then, you know, again, they brought in Dean Wade, they brought in Huck Porti, and I'm like, all right, those moves are okay. 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:39.759 I mean, uh, I like Dean Wade. 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:42.960 Huck Portio is like he's a third string center on the Knicks. 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:46.640 Eh, I mean, bet is better than Drummond, yeah, sure. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:48.160 Better than Bona, I don't know. 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:50.319 I mean, I know Bona's injured now, yeah. 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:54.480 Um, but uh, you know, I didn't think that was that was impactful. 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:58.880 And then you bring in Jalen Brown, LeBron, and then the bench. 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.640 I mean, Anthony Simons. 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:04.000 I think nobody talks enough about how big of an impact that's gonna be. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:07.599 Can't Tavius Caldwell Pope, KCP, two-time champ. 00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:09.599 And people like to look at the last two years. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:13.279 The Orlando Magic have been terrible offensively forever. 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:15.440 I mean, they're just not a good offensive team. 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:17.200 So KCP just didn't fit there. 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:21.440 And then you look at last year, he played for a Grizzlies team that was trying to lose games. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:23.440 That's how they ended up getting Cam Boozer. 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:26.000 So I don't think you can look at the last two years. 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:38.240 Let's look at the couple years prior when he won a championship alongside LeBron James in the bubble with the Lakers, and then with one of the most dominant big men in Nikola Jokic winning a championship with the Denver Nuggets. 00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:40.640 I mean, you're getting that type of a player. 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:45.440 One of the most important positions in the NBA, as you know, is the two-A wing. 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:51.519 And you got three of them, one of the best in Jalen Brown, Dean Wade, and KCP. 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:59.599 And and and that's not even mentioning we still got Dominic Barlow, we still got Justin Edwards, uh Mike Ganzi drafted LeBaron Phylon Jr. 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.519 Who was balling in summer league? 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:04.799 I think this is one of the best rotations we've ever seen. 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:08.000 Now, maybe the center position behind him beat isn't great. 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:10.079 Again, we'll see how Huck Bordy looks. 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:13.279 Maybe Bona takes a step when he comes back from his injury. 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:16.799 Maybe that's something they can look at, you know, during the trade deadline. 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:20.559 But I mean, what are your thoughts on on the depth of this team? 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:25.200 I mean, I feel like we see this every year that, oh, this is like the the deepest roster we've seen. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:29.279 But I think really this year, I don't know how you can argue otherwise. 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.960 Yeah, it's nuts. 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:44.319 Um, but you like I don't even think the the center position here is necessarily a uh uh well it's a weakness, but I wouldn't say that it's like the craziest weakness at all. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:48.319 Yeah, we're we're forgetting one guy, taco fall, man. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:54.240 Like, yeah, dude, he he's a seven foot what six beast again. 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:58.319 No, I know he hasn't been in the NBA for a while, yeah. 00:29:58.559 --> 00:30:04.400 But like I I think he's a better option than Hug Worty uh by a long shot. 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:16.799 Um, so I I I think if Bona needs to, you know, come out for a little bit, I I I I trust in a short stand at least, I I think that Taco Ball is gonna be fine. 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:28.480 And I mean everybody says, like, hey, yeah, like Maxie and B and Jalen and LeBron,

they're all gonna be ball huggers, and everybody needs to ball. 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:29.440 Yes. 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:31.759 No, no, no, no, no, no. 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:35.119 And it's not how this is going to work. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:51.279 This is a group of veterans, this is a group of people that understand the common goal that this is going to end up hopefully in a championship, and these guys are going to want to sacrifice their points. 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:56.240 Like, like, like, like Jalen Brown is not gonna put up 30 a night. 00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:58.160 I mean, but sometimes he will. 00:30:58.640 --> 00:30:59.920 Sometimes he will. 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:10.559 But I like that this team is not gonna be uh, you know, putting up 30-day night each each day for each player. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:12.079 That that's not how this is gonna work. 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:14.400 The the assists are gonna go crazy. 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:18.079 The the um the the assists are gonna go crazy. 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:24.480 The uh the the sending the ball out to the corner for for a Jalen three is gonna be it's that's gonna go nuts. 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:28.400 And then the feeding it inside to LeBron to to to dunk it. 00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:30.480 Those are gonna go nuts. 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:35.359 Um Tyrese on the off uh off ball, he's gonna go crazy. 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:38.400 He's one of the best off-ball scorers in the entire league. 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.039 Thank you. 00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:43.839 So I that that is that that should be common knowledge, by the way. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:45.359 I I'm not I'm not kidding. 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:49.279 I had an argument with somebody uh with the clip I posted yesterday on my socials. 00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:56.559 By the way, if you're not following uh socials, DJ Sportsum, second round syndrome, wherever, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook. 00:31:56.640 --> 00:32:01.039 Uh, I posted a clip yesterday uh talking about LeBron's fit on this team. 00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:08.240 I had somebody tell me, Maxie can't play off ball, Jalen Brown can't play off ball, Joel Embiid can't play off ball. 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:14.559 And I just thought that was the most hilarious thing I've ever seen in my life when Maxie thrived next to James Harden. 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:18.000 We have Joel Embiid, who won the MVP that year. 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:28.079 He led the league in a uh in scoring, and James Harden led the league in assists, and then we have Jalen Brown, who's played next to Isaiah Thomas, made it to the conference finals that year. 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:39.359 We talk about Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, uh Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon, and then obviously he's played next to Derek Waite and Jason Tatum who need the ball in their hands, and Drew Holiday. 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:44.799 Like, it just doesn't make any sense how you could say these players cannot play off the ball.

00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:53.279 Yeah, and LeBron, who played with AD and in the Lakers system, who, again, always wants the damn ball. 00:32:53.440 --> 00:33:06.880 And there's a reason that, you know, there's still trade talk uh about him to this very day, even though LeBron has been a Sixer for uh a month or two. 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:11.680 Like these guys, these guys are gonna thrive. 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:13.440 These guys are really gonna thrive. 00:33:13.599 --> 00:33:16.240 And uh especially Maxie, man. 00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:34.480 Like, he he's been like remember um I forget what it was, but uh Joel was uh you know causing some problems uh in the uh not the locker room, but uh, you know, he he needed some motivation from from Maxie, right? 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:36.640 Uh and he and and he got it. 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:40.799 I I I think Maxie is is wise beyond his years. 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:44.559 I I I really think that he's gonna be a focal point behind his offense. 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:53.279 And uh, I mean he scored what almost 29 points a game last year without LeBron and Jalen Brown. 00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:56.079 I and this kid is phenomenal, right? 00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:58.880 I mean, and and the Sixers have been missing one thing. 00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:08.239 It's other than a two-way wing, which which we talked about with Jalen Brown, they needed a true ball handler because last year you only had arguably two or three real point guards. 00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:22.800 You had Jared McCain, who they traded, you had Kyle Lowry, who was a hundred years old, and maybe you could say like Trendon Watford, who is not a good NBA player, maybe no, like he had the one triple double. 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:25.199 I think it was like against the Nets, if I'm correct. 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:28.000 But you you needed a ball handler. 00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:33.920 LeBron is the best, and people forget that just a couple of months ago, what he did in the playoffs. 00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:40.719 I I had another argument with somebody saying like LeBron hasn't, you know, been the the number one option in years. 00:34:40.880 --> 00:34:41.840 That's not true at all. 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:44.960 He doesn't, he but he doesn't need to be, man. 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.239 That's his thing. 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:52.800 He doesn't the greatest basketball the the what one of the best basketball players of all time doesn't need to be that number one option. 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:58.079 He doesn't he he like he didn't come here for that. 00:34:58.239 --> 00:35:03.679 He came to win a championship, and he he he's on a what a two-year deal? 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:04.719 Two year deal. 00:35:04.880 --> 00:35:05.760 Eight million dollars. 00:35:06.559 --> 00:35:07.760 Eight million dollars. 00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:09.199 He's in his 40s. 00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:25.360 It like he he he took a setback last year in the minutes, but that's not to say that

he can't come in during the game when the Sixers need a little bit of boost and and boost his team, like that's his job, and I think he's gonna do great at it. 00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:26.960 And he can step up when needed. 00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:28.880 I mean, we we saw that in the playoffs last year. 00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:34.480 No Luka Doncic, Austin Reeves came very late in that Houston series, and he carried them. 00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:40.000 He averaged like 27, 8, and 6 just in that series all by himself. 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:44.239 He could step up when needed, but I don't think that's gonna be a problem this year. 00:35:44.320 --> 00:35:49.199 Because again, Maxie's young, VJ's young, Jalen Brown's only what, 29 years old? 00:35:49.360 --> 00:35:51.119 He's still in the midst of his prime. 00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:53.920 I mean, the only real concern is Embiid. 00:35:54.079 --> 00:35:56.559 I and I don't know why people are concerned about LeBron. 00:35:56.800 --> 00:36:02.159 Even at 42 years old, I mean, he played, I think he still played about 60 games last season. 00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:08.800 I mean, yeah, he missed uh I think he missed the beginning of the season a little bit for some injury, but he he's still available. 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:17.760 Like, I just don't think it's gonna be as much of a problem as it's been in the past because last year it was two of your top three guys in Joel and Paul George. 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:21.440 Now it's even if Embiid misses games, it doesn't matter. 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:24.079 You still got four dominant scorers on that team. 00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:31.519 Not not to mention, you know, Anthony Simons and LeBaron Feinland coming off the bench, who I think are gonna, you know, be dominant scorers as well. 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:38.559 Yeah, this team, I if there's one concern about him, uh it's it's it is the defense. 00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:39.039 Okay. 00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:49.440 But uh I I in my opinion, but I I I still trust, you know, D Embi again, when he's on the floor, he's nasty. 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:54.000 Those blocks at the rim are gonna go nuts. 00:36:54.239 --> 00:37:00.079 Um but uh we've seen like what he is when he is healthy. 00:37:00.239 --> 00:37:09.519 That series versus Boston, game six and seven, he stepped up multiple times to completely carry this team. 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:20.000 And well, because there there's gonna be games when you have somebody that's struggling, like you know, as just a fact. 00:37:20.639 --> 00:37:28.480 But the way this team is built, they have I believe enough depth to overcome it. 00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:34.880 Now, these are gonna be very, in my opinion, very high scoring games every single game. 00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:42.960 Because I again I I'm like, I I think if there's gonna be a weakness on the team on the team, I think it's gonna be defensively. 00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:43.440 Okay. 00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:46.159 But uh what let me let me hear your thoughts about that. 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:51.920 Yeah, I think defensively, uh, you know, uh it's tough because VJ is a great two-way defender. 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:53.599 Jalen Brown's a great two-way defender. 00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:58.239 Joel, I'm concerned just because it feels like he just can't jump anymore. 00:37:58.480 --> 00:38:02.079 I mean, we we know he can be a dominant blocker when he's healthy. 00:38:02.239 --> 00:38:08.719 Uh the only weaknesses you could say defensively in the starting lineup, Maxi, who I think has gotten better over the years defensively. 00:38:08.800 --> 00:38:11.920 I mean, he's gotten better and better each and every year, so maybe he takes a leap. 00:38:12.079 --> 00:38:14.960 LeBron, I mean, it's just because he's on the older side. 00:38:15.119 --> 00:38:17.760 I I think they can still hold their own defensively. 00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:20.239 And then again, you have Dean Wade that you could throw in there. 00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:22.400 You have KCP who's gonna help you a ton. 00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:35.039 Uh, I think with the rotations that Nick Nurse has to work with, and like I think Nick Nurse should be the most excited out of anybody because the last couple of years, he's gotten nothing but crap, and I don't think it's all his fault. 00:38:35.199 --> 00:38:43.039 Now, I mean, you could talk about last year, maybe he could have figured out ways to get Jared McCain involved more because maybe that led to him eventually being traded. 00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:45.679 Nick Nurse just didn't know how to use him. 00:38:46.239 --> 00:38:50.719 I think this kind of reminds me of the Toronto Raptors in 2019. 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:59.119 You have so many different pieces to work with, you know, Siakam, Kawhi, Kyle Lowry, Gasol, Ananobi, Norman Powell, Fred Van Vliet. 00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:02.079 Like you have so many pieces, Danny Green that you can work with. 00:39:02.239 --> 00:39:09.599 I think he just has so many puzzle pieces, and it's gonna be the matchups that are gonna really determine how this team moves forward. 00:39:09.760 --> 00:39:11.280 The starting lineup, who cares? 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:13.199 Who cares what the starting lineup is gonna be? 00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:14.880 I know I know there were arguments about that. 00:39:15.039 --> 00:39:16.559 It's who closes games. 00:39:16.719 --> 00:39:19.119 Um, the the argument about there's only one ball. 00:39:19.280 --> 00:39:25.119 I I just I think it's so irrelevant because all five of those guys are not gonna be on the floor for all 48 minutes. 00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:26.400 It's not gonna happen. 00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:31.199 And I think that's gonna help Joel because you know you have guys that could step up in his place. 00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:35.599 He could play more sparingly because he doesn't have to carry the offense anymore. 00:39:35.760 --> 00:39:38.400 So defensively, maybe it's still a weak point.

00:39:38.480 --> 00:39:39.119 I mean, we'll see. 00:39:39.199 --> 00:39:42.639 Rebounding has always been a struggle for this team. 00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:46.239 Maybe it'll be better this year because LeBron is more aggressive. 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:51.679 Maybe uh he encourages VJ to get to the to the rack a little bit more, grabbing those rebounds. 00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:56.480 Maybe he he can help out um a Dem Bona and Huck Porti. 00:39:56.960 --> 00:39:58.960 Hopefully, rebounding they're better this year. 00:39:59.039 --> 00:40:00.880 It's always just been a struggle. 00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:04.320 I I that that's been the two biggest things in the last couple of years. 00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:05.840 Last year was also the third quarter. 00:40:06.000 --> 00:40:07.840 Hopefully that gets resolved this year. 00:40:08.000 --> 00:40:11.199 Hopefully, they stay in the game for all four quarters. 00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:17.440 I think if they if they can figure out those couple of things I just mentioned, I don't know who can stop this team. 00:40:17.519 --> 00:40:19.119 I I just don't. 00:40:19.760 --> 00:40:25.679 Yeah, I I I think the rebounding aspect is honestly, I think it's gonna be fine this year. 00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:30.239 And I I think a lot of that actually has to do with BJ Edgecomb. 00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:35.760 I think this kid, I think he's gonna take such a big step. 00:40:35.920 --> 00:40:37.440 It's it's gonna be nuts. 00:40:37.599 --> 00:40:38.079 Absolutely. 00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:44.159 Because this year he's got LeBron James to to mentor. 00:40:44.239 --> 00:40:46.239 And this is the LeBron James effect. 00:40:46.320 --> 00:40:49.599 Again, like he he's here to mentor the young guys. 00:40:49.679 --> 00:40:53.760 And Vijay already last year was one of the best rookies in the entire class. 00:40:53.920 --> 00:40:54.239 Yeah. 00:40:54.559 --> 00:41:01.440 So I I I think his aggressiveness is just gonna be on full display uh this year. 00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:08.159 And although, you know, I I think he's gonna learn when to really explode uh down in the paint. 00:41:08.320 --> 00:41:11.280 I I think that he's gonna be an absolute beast this year. 00:41:11.360 --> 00:41:14.559 I think defensively he's gonna take a big step. 00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:22.639 I think he's gonna be a I think he's gonna be a bigger part of the Sixers offense than people realize. 00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:28.079 Yeah, I mean, and and one of the biggest comparisons people made to VJ was Dwayne Wade. 00:41:28.320 --> 00:41:31.440 Who knows Dwayne Wade better than LeBron James? 00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:35.280 I mean, that there are so many things that he can teach VJ. 00:41:35.760 --> 00:41:41.760 And and you know, may maybe he can help him become that dominant score like a Kyrie Irving, that shiftiness. 00:41:41.840 --> 00:41:48.320 And and again, Dwayne Wade, another dominant scorer who played really well alongside LeBron. 00:41:48.639 --> 00:41:56.960 I mean,

one of the arguments people made, I I remember uh a couple weeks ago, Draymond Green was on his podcast saying, if I'm VJ's agent, I'm pissed. 00:41:57.119 --> 00:41:57.840 I'm mad. 00:41:58.000 --> 00:42:01.760 I I just don't understand how you could be mad if you're VJ and his agent. 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:04.880 Vijay is, I believe, 21 years old, if I'm correct. 00:42:05.039 --> 00:42:12.159 Uh, and by the time LeBron is off the team, he and and the and Embiid, because I believe Embiid is gonna be done after those three years. 00:42:12.320 --> 00:42:14.480 Maybe he's cut before, traded before. 00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:38.079 But VJ's gonna be 23, 24 years old, entering his prime, with hopefully a max rookie contract extension, and with hopefully one to two championships under his belt, with a big three of him, Tyrese Maxie, who will be in the midst of his prime, because I don't even think Tyrese Maxi's reached his prime yet, and Jalen Brown. 00:42:38.480 --> 00:42:42.239 I mean, I don't know how you're mad if you're VJ or VJ's agent. 00:42:42.320 --> 00:42:43.760 It just doesn't make any sense. 00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:59.360 No, and dude, he's gonna be due for a I mean, I will we'll see if he he reaches that sort of status by the end of the his contract, but like but by by the by the time that Jalen's done, LeBron's done, all their contracts, he's gonna be due for a supermax. 00:42:59.679 --> 00:43:01.840 He this is eventually going to be his team. 00:43:02.239 --> 00:43:12.159 And then they're they're gonna bring the the the the way the way that that Mike Bancy has is structured this I I absolute cinema. 00:43:12.320 --> 00:43:16.079 Absolute cinema because because again, he's just waiting in the wing. 00:43:16.159 --> 00:43:28.400 He and by the time he's gonna be ready for that supermax, uh assuming he plays better enough to but good enough to get one, hopefully the I and I don't think this is gonna be the next Tobias Harris situation, it's better not me. 00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:33.679 I don't think it's gonna be but um I assuming he plays well enough for that. 00:43:33.760 --> 00:43:45.760 Uh he's uh gonna be uh he's gonna be uh healthy enough, he's gonna be uh more he's gonna be knowledgeable enough to make that sort of transition extremely smoothly. 00:43:45.920 --> 00:43:52.400 Uh and then who knows what the Sixers bring to the table by the time that he's done. 00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:54.880 There's gonna be hopefully somebody under his wing. 00:43:54.960 --> 00:43:56.480 Maybe the Baron. 00:43:56.559 --> 00:43:57.920 He'll take that next step. 00:43:58.239 --> 00:44:01.360 I think the Baron is gonna be a a beast on this team. 00:44:01.519 --> 00:44:14.480 I mean he comes from and I know Alabama isn't necessarily a basketball school, but he comes from that sort of culture of, you know, Nick Sabin, tough, you know, tough sports. 00:44:14.719 --> 00:44:16.960 Like I think he's got that. 00:44:17.440 --> 00:44:27.360 And you know, we saw that in

the the the not the preseason, but the the rookie games that he was like we saw how much of a beast he was then. 00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:34.159 So by the time that you know VJ's done final's gonna be right behind him. 00:44:34.480 --> 00:44:46.800 This this offseason didn't just set expectations for this year, but it set expectations for three years down the line, five years down the line, ten years down the line. 00:44:46.960 --> 00:45:04.079 Like the this offseason was I I I mean honestly I think this might have been better than Golden State's offseason where they brought in KD Steph like I think it was that good man. 00:45:04.320 --> 00:45:05.599 I think it was that good. 00:45:06.400 --> 00:45:07.519 I like that comparison. 00:45:07.679 --> 00:45:26.960 I mean that team I I feel like at the time the NBA was just in a different spot because it wasn't nearly as competitive so I mean obviously uh Golden State at the time already went to back to back finals they won one they obviously lost the next to Cleveland I feel like it's a little bit different just because the NBA just wasn't nearly as good. 00:45:27.119 --> 00:45:30.079 I mean in the Western Conference then I mean who was there? 00:45:30.159 --> 00:46:16.159 Maybe the Rockets with Harden and and CP3 uh maybe the Spurs were still kind of there like I don't know I just feel like uh and and then in the Eastern Conference the Cavs weren't nearly as good especially when Kyrie left uh you know so it's just kind of LeBron carrying that team that's how good he still was then um now it's a little bit more competitive so like things have to go their way hopefully they can be that top two three seed uh because again they they have to win as many games as possible there might be a slow start and there's gonna be hiccups uh which is normal but it's how they're going to recover from those that's gonna be the big deal and like again I just don't under I I don't know how the Sixers got so lucky where like VJ just falls into our laps. 00:46:16.239 --> 00:46:42.719 I mean we get the number three pick um you know and yeah it would have been cool getting Cooper Flag um you know Dylan Harper obviously balled out uh but VJ I mean I I think he's gonna be a superstar like and I think Cooper Flag's gonna be great in the next several years as well Dylan Harper I think probably in the next year or two I know they're stuck with De'Aaron Fox right now he's gonna be starting and he's gonna be an all-star caliber player but VJ I think has one of the brightest futures that I don't think enough people are talking about. 00:46:42.800 --> 00:47:11.119 And then you add LeBaron Phylon who honestly seems like another version of Jared McCain who could possibly even be better right I mean you know I that I think his scoring ability might be better than McCain's and I love McCain I mean I uh my my father actually bought a uh McCain jersey for me like a couple weeks before he got traded which is kind of funny um so uh I just have

a jersey that I I can't wear anymore I guess I still could because there's no bad blood or anything like that. 00:47:11.599 --> 00:47:17.440 But I mean I I think Phylon is going to be so freaking good it's just one of those steals in the draft. 00:47:17.519 --> 00:47:46.480 I mean obviously people are going to talk about DeBonsta people are going to talk about Peterson Boozer and Wilson you know maybe Acuff with Sacramento but I I think LeBaron Phylon Jr is gonna be like one of uh the most underrated players with how good he's going to be it's the same thing when the Eagles got Mikhail I it's just it's crazy how back to back draft with with the Eagles and the Sixers we end up getting the steal of that respected draft. 00:47:47.119 --> 00:50:48.400 Yeah and it's it's really crazy um with with a with a first year GM in in Mike Gancey with the Sixers I I did I tend to uh not put a ton of stock in in terms of like the rankings of like who's my my favorite who's the best GM Howie you know I I think how is number one but like i after the the offseason that we had top to bottom like it and getting getting what uh and people are forgetting the little moves like getting a a second round pick uh out of not justin edwards who was the guy that we lost uh Jenai Broom yes uh uh for Janai uh second round pick for Janine Broom like like the the offseason that he had has to cement him number two amongst the the the Philly GMs it's it's how we it's always been howie yeah except for when he brought in Jarrett or Sega Whiteside and Jalen Riker for yes that that was a bad move still instead of Justin Jefferson yeah yes yeah I I still don't understand it to this day but like I like I know they haven't even played yet and this is a fight that I get like you know into with uh uh you know some Philly sports creators sometimes like I I I I put I I I am very high on on LeBron and and Jalen and I I've put them sometimes with my top 10 or top 11 Philly athletes I I've put LeBron in there and people are like oh my god he hasn't even played a game yet you're you're out of your mind like the I it is the same thing the Mike Gancey thing uh he he they haven't even played a game yet I I I think from top to bottom from the draft class that we had uh from the players that we brought into the depth I I I think there's no way that we don't win a bunch of games assuming everybody does stay healthy and uh prayers up to with Dumb Bona uh I think that he's gonna be a big I think he could have been and probably is going to be a big part of this six years rotation uh you know he's gonna take a big step but uh assuming that everybody stays healthy I I I think that you there's no way that you can't put Mike Gancy in in in in the top three at least for Philly GMs he he's right there I mean it he might be one of the best of all time just based on what he did um and and he like we just talked about the Jenai Broom thing that was another Darryl Morey mistake just comes in and fixes that like and

and it that that pick never made sense at the time um I I feel like they should have taken like a Maxime Reyneu instead who's who's pretty good with Sacramento. 00:50:48.960 --> 00:50:52.159 I I I can't believe he was able to get rid of Janai Broom there. 00:50:52.400 --> 00:50:55.440 That that's just that's crazy in and of itself he just didn't work. 00:50:55.599 --> 00:51:24.639 So you know credit to Gansy I mean and and credit to Josh Harris who you know I've been very negative on uh for for years and I I still don't love him as an owner don't get me wrong I still think there's a lot of problems with that ownership group but the fact that he brought in Bob Myers who you know even went on Rich Paul's podcast basically trying to recruit LeBron I mean and and he helped Mike Gansy put together one of the most incredible rosters we've seen. 00:51:24.719 --> 00:51:35.519 I don't like in Sixers history it's gotta be I mean maybe you could mention the you know uh Butler Harris year JJ Reddick Van and Joel I mean that roster was pretty good. 00:51:35.679 --> 00:51:47.599 I know they were the one seed the year they had uh Seth Curry and Danny Green but obviously that like that that roster wasn't like star heavy it was just a good year for them that obviously ended up in embarrassment with the the Hawk series. 00:51:47.840 --> 00:52:04.480 But like I I don't know any other roster that that could compete like then so I I'm very excited for this season and you know I with with this leadership that they have now I I I just don't think anything could go wrong except for possibly injuries. 00:52:05.360 --> 00:52:07.440 And hopefully they they don't prove me wrong. 00:52:07.599 --> 00:52:28.719 I know Philly sports they love to disappoint me I mean I you know obviously what we've been talking about the the Phillies you know before we started and they just got blown out 10-3 last night they they're probably gonna lose this uh the series today in my opinion I think it's gonna be I don't I I think they're still gonna make the playoffs don't get me wrong but it might be a wild card exit at this point. 00:52:28.800 --> 00:52:33.920 Like I have no faith um I mean I the one bright spot right now is the Union. 00:52:34.000 --> 00:52:45.599 I watched the game last day and they had an incredible comeback which was so fun to watch but just between you know the Eagles season the Sixers and the Flyers like it's an exciting time in Philly sports. 00:52:46.159 --> 00:53:49.599 And and you know it it's awesome that you get to cover you know all these all these different teams yeah it it's really great um and and uh I mean it's even better I mean this is just a complete side note but my birthday is in October beginning of October to have a birthday of all time um but yeah this this fall's gonna be electric um my bank account is not gonna like me but you know what that's uh that that it that's it's uh for the common good man um and I can't wait um you know the the the the Eagles today hopefully they take care of business against the uh the Tennessee Titans uh the Tennessee Titans they they absolutely suck uh they got blown up by the Jets uh you know last week uh so that that should be a win uh but you know i i i I think this is gonna be this is really gonna be Sixers season yeah yeah this is this is gonna be a uh a squad that's gonna put on a show every night I can't wait. 00:53:49.840 --> 00:54:01.039 Is there anyone in the Eastern Conference you think could stand in their way like obviously we'll give credit to the Knicks I mean are you know uh well part part one of the question is gonna be uh what are your thoughts on the opening night game? 00:54:01.199 --> 00:54:33.599 Because we are going against the Knicks uh in in Madison Square Garden it is ring night which is annoying and cool at the same time like maybe it will be uh motivating for the Sixers seeing that it'll be kind of funny seeing Drummond there watching his entire team getting a ring in instead of him uh I mean I know Huckporty's gonna get it so like how excited are you for opening night and do you think that any other team could stand in their way I think if uh so opening night I I I I can't wait uh I actually do see it sixers W that night. 00:54:33.760 --> 00:54:41.920 Oh okay um I I see a little bit of an upset uh I I I know we said that you know the Knicks are gonna win the East. 00:54:42.079 --> 00:54:45.360 I I I still think that's uh I think that's gonna happen. 00:54:45.599 --> 00:54:52.480 But um this Knicks team I I really don't see them being the Knicks of of last year. 00:54:52.639 --> 00:54:55.679 Uh especially like you said Mitchell Robinson gone. 00:54:56.719 --> 00:55:10.000 Usually um usually honestly uh the the the the the win the you know the champion usually gets like a a a championship pay over in the very next year. 00:55:10.320 --> 00:55:24.719 So I I don't think the Knicks are gonna go far in the playoffs when they get there because I think the Knicks are going to make playoffs I think but I I think the Sixers are going to take care of business against them in the playoffs. 00:55:25.199 --> 00:55:39.840 But opening night I I think I think it's gonna be a win and honestly like we've talked about how the the the Knicks fans always take over our city I think this year a lot of I think it's gonna be flipped. 00:55:39.920 --> 00:55:51.199 I think we're gonna take over MSG this year uh yeah I and I don't think it's gonna be particularly close and I cannot wait for that because I do not like Knicks fans I think they are absolute garbage. 00:55:51.440 --> 00:56:25.920 Um but uh that's gonna be great in terms of uh you know teams that could potentially take over the Sixers obviously the Knicks you know just won the win the championship but again championship hangover that's a that's a thing uh so uh I could just as easily see the Sixers taking over the number one spot but also you gotta uh take into consideration uh the the Pacers the

Heat I I think the Heat especially I know Clay is old but I really think the Heat are gonna be nasty this year. 00:56:26.159 --> 00:56:26.480 Okay. 00:56:26.639 --> 00:56:45.599 Um uh one team that uh I I do see not being a factor at all in the with the Sixers and I know this is gonna sound nuts and I do think that that they'll still make make a playoff push slash spot I don't see Cleveland doing anything this year. 00:56:46.480 --> 00:56:51.840 I I think they're gonna be I think they are gonna do not good. 00:56:52.079 --> 00:57:55.599 I I think they're gonna make the playoffs but I do not think especially with a a team that is surrounded by and basically run by uh James Harden who was like for some reason I do not understand that at all I know he had a decent year but I I am I am a D1 Jalen uh not Jalen Brown I am a D1 uh James Harden a hater I guess you would call it uh he's just ever since his six century in the playoffs a few years ago I have not been more out on that guy if you if you tried uh I do not think the guy is a leader I I think the guy is all about Rama I I and again Donovan Mitchell's nice so maybe he could be the guy but there there's nobody behind him that I'm like yeah this this team's gonna go for this team's gonna make a championship run. 00:57:55.760 --> 00:58:00.880 Yeah there's too many factors about Cleveland like I like the Peyton Watson move I actually think it was stupid that Denver let him go. 00:58:00.960 --> 00:58:47.679 Now I know they had a bunch of um second apron restrictions uh because uh excuse me because of all the contracts they have I mean obviously Jokic Murray Christian Brown Aaron Gordon are on huge contracts they gave Spencer Jones a big contract because they had to match the OKC offer so they unfortunately had to let Peyton Watson go um unless they were okay with being up in the second apron but I think he's gonna be a huge addition to Cleveland because again he's a two-way wing that they desperately needed uh I think it stinks that they had to let go of Max Struess but I I think he's gonna be nice but the problem is Harden they gave him a three year extension which I think is crazy because I think by that point what he's gonna be 40 years old I mean I I can't I can't imagine 40 year old James Harden still in that type of contract. 00:58:47.840 --> 00:58:53.519 Donovan Mitchell I do like Spida but the problem is he chokes the playoffs every single year. 00:58:53.679 --> 00:59:10.239 So we just we still haven't seen him take over when it matters the most Evan Mobley we haven't seen him kind of take that leap that everyone is kind of expecting him to be and then can he fit alongside Jared Allen we still don't know if that's true or not and then I just don't like their bench at all. 00:59:10.400 --> 00:59:18.400 I mean they got Merrill they got like Tomlin Tyson I I don't love their bench uh what I think they also brought back like Mario Hazonia. 00:59:18.960 --> 00:59:31.760 I just I don't see Cleveland's depth doing anything so it's very reliant on their starting five so I still think they're gonna be a playoff team um are they gonna get back to conference finals? 00:59:31.840 --> 00:59:42.000 I mean I they they never they didn't win a conference finals game before I still don't think they're gonna win a conference finals game now um you know I I think they're gonna use that as a as an excuse. 00:59:42.159 --> 01:00:22.880 Kenny Atkinson um I think he's on the clock now especially after all the analytical comments he made last year during the postseason analytically we're winning the series I think now he's gonna be in a hot seat because if things go south this season we we might see him um you know no longer the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers I still don't know if I'm a believer in the Miami Heat because I don't know if I like the fit between Giannis Antecumpo and Bama de Bayo uh you know I I like the Klay Thompson edition because I believe they needed shooters and you know Klay shot I believe the last two years like 38% from three which is a bad year for him. 01:00:23.199 --> 01:00:30.400 That's a good year for most NBA players for an average NBA player shooting you know 38 39% from three that's not bad. 01:00:30.800 --> 01:00:33.840 I like Bobby Porter's as another audition Tim Hardaway Jr. 01:00:34.079 --> 01:00:49.760 I don't know how I feel about their the their starting point guard you know Davion Mitchell I think they need improvement as you know at the at the point guard spot I know Giannis is still gonna handle the ball a lot but I think he he he thrived when he had Drew Holiday there in in Milwaukee. 01:00:49.920 --> 01:00:50.159 Right? 01:00:50.239 --> 01:01:03.679 I mean Dame I think it could have worked if they both stayed stayed healthy but you know I I don't know so you know the the Heat I'm still not like super uh you know I don't know I still don't think they're gonna be a championship contender. 01:01:03.760 --> 01:01:16.559 Uh they should be in the conversation because they do have Giannis but is Giannis gonna stay healthy I I I don't know and Bama DeBayo I think is a nice player but he only averages about 20 points and eight rebounds every season. 01:01:16.800 --> 01:01:39.679 Like I he he's just not that dominant big man that we see from Embiid when he's healthy when we see from Wemby and and Jokic uh I just don't he's just not that type of player yeah I I'm more on the Greek freak train uh I I really I I I think Dame is gonna be a big X factor here I I think he's gonna be healthy. 01:01:39.920 --> 01:03:10.480 Um I think he's gonna be said Dame or not um uh yeah uh Dame right because he's in Portland he's back in Portland oh wait no not no not Dame um oh my god um uh oh he is yeah yeah uh because I if you if you remember uh not this past offseason the offseason prior uh the Bucks waved and stretched Damian Lillard and he re-signed with Portland and then Milwaukee ended up signing miles Turner to that

crazy contract oh right right well I I mean honestly I I I I think um it from from if if there's one thing that I could trash uh Miami for it it's what they gave up to my to Milwaukee yeah it to like in the Giannis trade that that that that to me that's a lot that's a lot yeah I believe they gave up what hero uh chonos and khalil I think were the four players they gave up oh yeah yeah and it's not like you know Milwaukee's gonna be in a playoff spot no um by the all said and done but that was a nice haul that was a nice haul so uh the depth for Miami isn't necessarily there but I I still do like their I really do like their uh their starting five and obviously I I I mean I I just I I think that that you know Giannis is gonna be a I I think he's right there with Embiid. 01:03:10.719 --> 01:03:31.039 I I do he he's an NBA he's an NBA champion which is not something that you know uh the that's not something yet that uh Joel Embiid can necessarily say yeah I think the only difference is Giannis hasn't been healthy for the postseason since they won in 2021. 01:03:31.360 --> 01:03:36.480 So uh if if Giannis can stay available then I think they have a shot. 01:03:36.639 --> 01:03:55.599 Uh but I right now I haven't seen that in last season he dealt with a bunch of injuries during the season which you know I Milwaukee arguably played better without Giannis um you know last season I mean it was a weird fit I mean Ryan Rollins Kuzma Turner I mean they they didn't have a good roster so I didn't I didn't think they were going to do anything regardless. 01:03:56.480 --> 01:03:59.119 But you know I I think he is a nice addition. 01:03:59.280 --> 01:04:26.320 I I don't know what team I would have preferred him going to uh I thought obviously Boston uh missed dropped the ball by not trading Jalen Brown for Giannis obviously I'm happy that he ended up coming to the Sixers but it's that's why I think it's so funny with the Boston aspect how do you go from Giannis to Paul George well you you end up getting it you know what happens when you go from Paul from Jalen Brown to Paul George? 01:04:26.480 --> 01:04:29.920 You end up getting a top 10 pick in the NBA draft next year. 01:04:30.159 --> 01:04:34.159 I I think Boston is going to be trash. 01:04:34.639 --> 01:04:39.920 Okay you think they're you think they're gonna lose a ton of games okay I think they're gonna be garbage this year. 01:04:40.159 --> 01:04:59.519 Do you think Tatum's gonna stay healthy I I think if there's well I I'm I I think he is and I think that he's gonna be I think he's gonna be a really good fantasy player at least I hope because I I drafted him in fantasy but I I I I I do not trust Paul George. 01:04:59.679 --> 01:05:59.519 I do not trust the rest of that I mean maybe uh I I maybe I trust Paul George for like small stints uh but uh otherwise I I mean there's uh there's some decent players on that roster uh Derek White I I think be okay he had a rough year last year yeah he did but he had a

decent playoff run against us yeah um so I I think you think he can be a decent shooter um but otherwise Pritchard's nice uh Sam Hauser eh like Balor eh Dylan meh I I don't know that team just they they they I don't think they make the playoffs I think yeah they didn't they didn't they didn't make a lot of good moves this offseason I mean I think obviously other than you know bringing in Paul George and Mitchell Robinson I think the only other thing they did was bring in like Mike 01:06:00.800 --> 01:06:04.639 And uh I think they drafted, I think his name is Sanak, if I'm correct, in the draft. 01:06:04.719 --> 01:06:06.800 I forget if he was a first or second round pick. 01:06:06.880 --> 01:06:09.039 Uh, but like, I I I don't see it. 01:06:09.519 --> 01:06:15.360 Their depth heavily relies on their young guys in Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, uh Shireman. 01:06:16.000 --> 01:06:17.280 I I just I don't know. 01:06:17.360 --> 01:06:24.079 I I still think they're gonna be a playoff team just because um, you know, the Celtics just seem to always be a playoff team. 01:06:24.159 --> 01:06:36.639 And after my comments last season, who I thought I thought they were gonna be trash after getting rid of Porzingis, Holiday, Cornet, Horford, I thought they were gonna be, you know, a hot, steamy pile of of trash. 01:06:36.960 --> 01:06:39.039 But I was I was so wrong. 01:06:39.280 --> 01:06:45.760 You know, I it there was no way I could have predicted that Detroit and Boston were gonna be the top two C's in the Eastern Conference this past season. 01:06:45.840 --> 01:06:48.559 There's just no there was no way I was gonna be able to predict that. 01:06:48.800 --> 01:07:00.800 Um now I still think they're gonna be a playoff team, but obviously if Tatum ends up going up, because obviously he came back last season, maybe he came back too early because obviously he couldn't play during that game seven. 01:07:01.119 --> 01:07:02.239 I I I don't know. 01:07:02.480 --> 01:07:06.239 If something goes wrong this season, they don't really have a backup plan. 01:07:06.480 --> 01:07:08.559 That that's my that's my one concern. 01:07:08.800 --> 01:07:14.159 Um, and they're not usually a team that that goes for the lottery, and now the lottery rules are so different. 01:07:14.320 --> 01:07:15.840 So, you know, I I don't know. 01:07:16.000 --> 01:07:24.400 Um if you're one of the worst teams in in the in the conference, at least in the entire NBA, you might not get a top draft pick this upcoming season. 01:07:24.880 --> 01:07:28.400 Yeah, and it's it's the same thing with with Detroit. 01:07:29.360 --> 01:07:34.960 When they lost Cade, like that they were we're they were toast. 01:07:35.280 --> 01:07:42.239 So there's a lot of top heavy teams this year, um that that that have no bench. 01:07:43.360 --> 01:07:51.519 The Sixers are in like I think we're gonna I mean maybe I'm biased here, but I think the Sixers have a top three bench in the league. 01:07:51.760 --> 01:07:52.320 Yeah.

01:07:52.559 --> 01:08:01.440 Yeah, there's so many teams in the East, like we you never even mentioned the Hawks yet, because they they you know arguably did the best against the New York Knicks in the playoffs. 01:08:01.599 --> 01:08:07.440 Um, and you know, they they added like Lou Dort, um, they added Aaron Wiggins this offseason. 01:08:07.599 --> 01:08:11.039 Um, they did finally get rid of Risa Shea, who's now with the Mavs. 01:08:11.119 --> 01:08:14.480 Um, maybe they're a team to look out for in the Eastern Conference. 01:08:14.639 --> 01:08:18.159 Detroit, as you mentioned, I don't know how Detroit is gonna look. 01:08:18.319 --> 01:08:21.359 They still have not figured out the Jalen Duran situation. 01:08:21.520 --> 01:08:24.239 He is still a restricted free agent. 01:08:24.479 --> 01:08:28.159 It looks like I I honestly bet in the next week we're gonna see him. 01:08:28.239 --> 01:08:32.800 I don't I don't know what the deadline is, but I think he's gonna take that qualifying offer and bet on himself. 01:08:32.960 --> 01:08:34.239 Is that gonna go well for him? 01:08:34.399 --> 01:08:34.960 I don't know. 01:08:35.119 --> 01:08:38.079 I mean, we've seen players bet on themselves and it didn't work out. 01:08:38.159 --> 01:08:44.000 We've seen that with Dennis Schroeder, uh, we've seen that with Cam Thomas, we we've seen that with Jonathan Kaminga. 01:08:44.640 --> 01:08:46.640 I mean, we're we'll see what happens. 01:08:46.720 --> 01:08:51.760 I don't know if he's gonna just say, all right, I'll accept the uh I forget what the contract amount was. 01:08:51.840 --> 01:08:56.479 I think it was like five years, uh 190, and he wants like 200 million. 01:08:56.640 --> 01:08:59.680 I you know, I don't know how they're going to look, Detroit. 01:08:59.840 --> 01:09:02.479 Um, the uh uh I don't know what other moves did they make? 01:09:02.720 --> 01:09:04.479 They brought in like Isaiah Joe. 01:09:04.720 --> 01:09:09.039 I mean, you know, yeah, uh they brought in John Collins to replace Tobias Harris. 01:09:09.199 --> 01:09:12.000 I I I don't know how Detroit is gonna be this year. 01:09:12.079 --> 01:09:18.720 They're in my opinion, them and Atlanta are the two biggest wild cards because I I just I don't know how they're gonna look. 01:09:19.520 --> 01:09:28.000 Yeah, no, I I I really I I I think this is the the six I think uh I think this is the sixthers here, man. 01:09:28.319 --> 01:09:29.199 I really do. 01:09:29.920 --> 01:09:31.840 Last question I have for you around the league. 01:09:31.920 --> 01:09:34.720 Uh obviously we had the Kawhi Leonard trade go through. 01:09:34.880 --> 01:09:38.319 Do you think that makes Toronto uh a real threat in the Eastern Conference? 01:09:38.479 --> 01:09:48.880 Because when Kawhi joined the Raptors years ago, they already had a contender, in my opinion, in the East, you know, with Lowry, with Siakam, with the players they had. 01:09:49.039 --> 01:09:58.079 Now I do like Scotty Barnes, but he he's got

a roster of like Jakob Purdle, Emmanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, uh a bench that isn't too strong. 01:09:58.239 --> 01:10:01.600 I mean, I like Murray Boyles, Shedd is a decent player. 01:10:01.760 --> 01:10:06.239 I mean, do you see Toronto as as a real threat in the East? 01:10:06.960 --> 01:10:09.760 Yeah, I I I think I do. 01:10:10.079 --> 01:10:14.720 Um I think they definitely can I think they can make the noise. 01:10:14.800 --> 01:10:19.439 Uh now uh again, I don't think they take down the Sixers. 01:10:19.760 --> 01:10:28.479 Uh but I I do like I actually like Quegley uh and um you know RJ Barrett, you know, he was nice. 01:10:28.640 --> 01:10:39.840 Uh but you know I I don't think this is comparative level that Toronto had with, well, Nick Nurse a few years ago, uh, with with Kawhi and all. 01:10:39.920 --> 01:10:54.319 But you know, I I I think that uh uh a Kawhi Leonard, anytime that you have Kawhi Leonard who averages about 28 points per game, and Barnes who averages about 20, you know, 18.1-ish. 01:10:54.880 --> 01:10:56.800 Like I I take that any day of the weekend. 01:10:56.880 --> 01:10:59.840 RJ Barrett, he's right around 20 as well. 01:11:00.079 --> 01:11:10.399 So I it's overall it's a really solid roster, and I I do think that they're gonna do some big damage in the east, but I don't think they're taking down our guys. 01:11:10.479 --> 01:11:12.079 I think that's a good thing. 01:11:12.239 --> 01:11:13.600 Yeah, I I agree with that. 01:11:13.760 --> 01:11:15.760 And uh f final thoughts here. 01:11:16.000 --> 01:11:19.760 Record Sixers this upcoming season, how many wins do you think? 01:11:21.199 --> 01:11:40.159 So I think that the Sixers in let me just pull up my uh let me pull up my projections because I I had that um I had that in the drafts, um, you know, uh in uh for a post in the in the next couple of weeks. 01:11:40.319 --> 01:11:44.159 Um I have them let's see here. 01:11:44.800 --> 01:11:48.880 So sorry, I got me a little bit on the spot. 01:11:49.199 --> 01:11:55.039 Um yeah, I have them at fifty-eight. 01:11:55.520 --> 01:11:58.960 Okay I have fifty I have them fifty-eight. 01:11:59.439 --> 01:12:06.000 Uh I I think that they are they're gonna be you know what? 01:12:06.399 --> 01:12:08.960 Let me let me let me flip places. 01:12:09.279 --> 01:12:12.560 I I I I think they're gonna I think they're gonna take the east. 01:12:12.720 --> 01:12:13.760 I think they're gonna take the east. 01:12:13.920 --> 01:12:14.640 Oh, alright. 01:12:14.880 --> 01:12:18.000 I I I I I I'm flipping it mid-show, I know. 01:12:18.319 --> 01:12:20.880 I just don't I I I just whole things ruined, man. 01:12:21.119 --> 01:12:22.319 I I know. 01:12:22.560 --> 01:12:27.279 I just I do not I I think the Knicks are gonna take a step back, man. 01:12:27.680 --> 01:12:32.239 Championship teams, teams at winnering, usually always do. 01:12:32.479 --> 01:12:42.079 And I think the Knicks are gonna be second, uh, right behind us, but I think that the Sixers, they're gonna finish in that 58, 59 win, you know, mark. 01:12:42.319 --> 01:12:43.359 All right, I I like it. 01:12:43.439 --> 01:12:44.319 I you know, we'll see. 01:12:44.399 --> 01:12:50.000 Again, obviously, my hope is that they're the number one seed, and um, and everyone has to run through the Sixers. 01:12:50.159 --> 01:12:51.039 We'll see what happens. 01:12:51.199 --> 01:12:53.199 That would obviously be an incredible outcome. 01:12:53.359 --> 01:12:54.720 I think this is our year. 01:12:54.880 --> 01:12:58.000 Um, no, we're not stinky Cowboys fans who says that every year. 01:12:58.079 --> 01:13:02.079 I I truly believe that based on everything that I've seen in the offseason. 01:13:02.159 --> 01:13:03.520 I'm so excited for Media Day. 01:13:03.600 --> 01:13:05.279 I believe that's coming in about a week. 01:13:05.520 --> 01:13:13.760 I'm super excited to hear LeBron James speak to everybody for the first time, wearing uh, I assume he'll wear probably the Blue Sixers jersey. 01:13:13.920 --> 01:13:15.520 That's gonna be so fun to see. 01:13:15.680 --> 01:13:18.479 Um, Jesse, thank you so much for coming on. 01:13:18.560 --> 01:13:25.520 I know we've been talking about this a little bit um over like the last several months, so it's awesome that we finally uh were able to get you on the show. 01:13:25.680 --> 01:13:31.039 Um, everybody else, please make sure to check out 302birds podcast. 01:13:31.119 --> 01:13:33.199 Uh, where where can they find you, Jesse? 01:13:34.000 --> 01:13:35.119 Oh, we're everywhere. 01:13:35.359 --> 01:13:40.159 Instagram, Twitter, uh, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube. 01:13:40.800 --> 01:13:43.760 Um, we're all there, 302birds. 01:13:43.920 --> 01:13:49.039 Uh, also, we've got a website now, as of recent, 302birds.com. 01:13:49.520 --> 01:13:54.319 Uh, a lot of my blogs, uh, thranic villy sports are on there as well. 01:13:54.399 --> 01:13:55.680 So go check that out. 01:13:55.760 --> 01:13:57.760 We've also got a merch on that website. 01:13:57.840 --> 01:14:00.479 So, and it's really fresh merch that I may have. 01:14:00.560 --> 01:14:01.840 So, uh, go check that out. 01:14:02.000 --> 01:14:03.760 302 Birds podcast. 01:14:04.000 --> 01:14:04.640 Go check it out. 01:14:04.720 --> 01:14:04.960 Thank you. 01:14:05.199 --> 01:14:08.640 Yeah, I'll be putting yeah, of course, I'll be putting links in the description. 01:14:08.720 --> 01:14:13.520 So, check out all everything that Jesse's up to, everything that 302 Birds is doing. 01:14:13.680 --> 01:14:17.039 I saw they were doing uh an Eagles live stream even before we started. 01:14:17.199 --> 01:14:21.600 They're constantly putting out content for the Eagles, for the Sixers, for the Phillies. 01:14:22.000 --> 01:14:23.039 Check everything out. 01:14:23.279 --> 01:14:27.359 As for second round syndrome, we I thank you so much for watching. 01:14:27.520 --> 01:14:32.159 You can find us on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, iHeartRadio. 01:14:32.319 --> 01:14:42.000 Uh, please make sure to like, share, subscribe, leave us a comment, let us know what you thought of the episode, what you think about the Sixers going into this upcoming NBA season. 01:14:42.239 --> 01:14:46.640 As always, I'm DJ SportZone, and I will see you next time. 01:14:46.800 --> 01:14:48.079 Let's go, Sixter.