Sixers season preview

So last night’s preseason game got me so excited. Yes, I said preseason, I am going to do something I’ve never done before. I’m going to write a season preview.

I’m not really sure how to do this but I’ll start with some team predictions, then player predictions, then break down of the roster, and finally some more rambling of topics I think should be discussed.

Team record 58-24 1st in the East

Call me a homer, I don’t care, this team is good. I’m sure we have all talked about the defense, they will be a top 3 defense, maybe the best. But their offense isn’t anything to scoff at either. Joel is going to get buckets. Tobi is going to get buckets. Ben is going to average close to a triple double, j rich is a baller and Harford plays smart basketball. Takes good shots but also passes up good shots for a great shot. There is a lack of creation off the bench but I’ll discuss that later. Sixers will be top 3 in defense and top 5-7 in offense. Time to get on board this team is really good.

Players

Joel Embiid:

Some pre-season observations: he looked like he is just going through the motions. I get the feeling that he just doesn’t really care. That being said, his midrange is in mid-season form. He is still getting to the line. And if this is him playing with a lack of energy by it’s preseason, well watch out to the rest of the league bc it’s not going to end well for you. One thing I did see last night that I’m not used to seeing out of Joel, he hit the high post, against a match up come type thing the Pistons were playing, caught a pass turned and hit the opposite corner for an open 3 for Tobi. That’s a pass that is going to work out well for him, something he hasn’t done before.

My goals for Joel this coming season would be conditioning and quick thinking. Joel cannot be stopped when he gets in the post, makes a quick move and goes to the run. Where he gets caught up is when he slows down. Even when he faces up and swings through, he can’t take his time. The quicker he decides to make a move the less time the defender has to adjust. He makes quick decisions he is unstoppable.

Bold prediction: he plays 70+ games this season.

Josh Richardson:

Josh is that dude that is flying under the radar. I think being traded for Jimmy, many fans focused on losing Jimmy rather than gaining Josh. Josh is a baller and fans are going to pleasantly surprised by him this season. He can catch and shoot, he has a mid-range, and he can get to the basket. and his defense is going to thrill a lot of fans. Josh is the non-superstar version of what we wanted Markelle to be.

One thing I didn’t like was him in the PG position against Detroit. Seemed a little too much on him, also I’d rather see Neto or Burke go there if Ben ever has to sit, I wouldn’t want to see Josh run down by the end of the season.

Bold Prediction: He’ll be in the talk for All Star consideration.

Al Horford:

I expect out of Al everything we already know to expect. Takes good timely shots, passes up a good shot for a better if available, plays tough defense, and exhibits high basketball IQ. Horford has been around, and therefore we should know exactly what to expect from him.

I believe that we will see Al rest more than we think. Last year he had some knee problems and he is obviously older so be prepared for a handful of games without him.

Bold Prediction (spoiler alert): He finally wins a championship and it’s with the Sixers.

Tobias Harris:

Tobi is my crown jewel on this team. First off, he will never play up to that contract for some fans, but that’s ok. He isn’t worth that kind of money either, however in the NBA many players who are maxed aren’t really worth the max, it is just how the league is worked. (I know he isn’t fully maxed but you get the point). Harris has taken a step forward every year, and I do not see any reason to believe that he won’t do it again this year. Without Jimmy, I think you’ll see him much more involved and when dude gets in a rhythm and hot it’s lights out, sit back and watch the ball fall through the bottom of the net.

Bold Prediction: Averages upwards to 20 a game. All Star. And much improved defensively.

Ben Simmons:

Here we go, everyone’s favorite topic Ben and his jumper. Well strap in, because we may not like what we see. I think expectations are too high for his jumper. A lot of fans want to see Ben come out shooting. Not going to happen. He isn’t going to take a certain number of jumpers just to take them. He is too smart for that. Hopefully he shoots them when they are given to him. If he isn’t open, we’ll see the same Ben Simmons style game.

What I would love to see Ben improve at is finishing at the rim with contact and foul shooting. If he attacks and shoots anywhere from 70-75 percent from the line, added with taking open jumpers, he is going to be a force to reckon with.

Now the bench:

IT’S NOT AS BAD AS WE THINK. The main problem with the bench is lack of creation. Trey Burke is really the only player off the bench that can create his own shot off the dribble consistently. But other than that, this year finally we have serviceable backups.

Mike Scott:

The Hive stand up. Mike is that dude. Not many role players have taken on a following like he has. And you better damn sure be liked to come into Philly and fight Eagles fans at a tailgate, win, and have the fan base still stick up for you being a Redskins fan. It does help that the guys he fought were racist assholes.

On court, Mike is going to continue to give you what he does. Defense and decent 3 point % and an overall good veteran prescience. And we know he has his guys back when it shit gets real. It is nice to hear that this off season he has done work on court, not just on dude’s head at the tailgate. He has been quoted that he wants to exploit mismatches and get smaller guys in the post. With many of the line ups the Sixers will trot out, Scott has a decent chance of finding the mismatch and getting in the post and playing bully ball. Much like teams, like the Celtics did to JJ Reddick.

James Ennis:

James Ennis quietly won the wing tournament last season. And re-upped with the team this year. Ennis will likely be the first or second wing off the bench. The go guy with put back dunks out of nowhere, offensive rebounds, and an occasional three Ennis is a solid veteran wing back up.

True Story I hated Ennis when he first came here. The way he plays gives me massive anxiety. He looks completely out of control and it drives me nuts. But he did very well for the team in the playoffs last season and he grew on me. I’ll just have to work on my breathing techniques when he starts dribbling.

Matisse Thybulle:

Apparently nicknamed “The Disruptor”, or so I heard on the radio last night. Dude is a complete menace on the defensive end of the court. He may actually lead the league in deflections this year. This preseason he has been all over the place, steals, blocks, just a complete terror on the defensive side. Offensively he has surprised me, shot looks good on catch and shoots, he hasn’t been over aggressive and turn the ball over much, and he has shown the ability to put the ball on the floor and finish. Hopefully that will translate into the regular season. It seems he is already in Brett Brown’s favor and my guess if not to start he will be the first off, the bench by the end of the season.

KOQ:

Kyle is the best backup center the Sixers have had in years. And so far, this preseason Brett has put him in spots that highlight his passing ability. Kyle will be a pleasant surprise for fans when in the game in comparison to the Monroe’s and Johnson’s of last season. I think we will see more of KOQ than we originally thought. Embiid and Horford will play less minutes now that they have a quality backup like KOQ.

Furkan Korkmaz:

Bold prediction: pop that Kork this year. Furkan cracks the rotation for a while this year, and will actually be able to hang this year. Watching this preseason, he seems more comfortable, a little stronger, and I’ve been incredibly impressed with his passing ability. If his shoot begins to fall at a high percentage, you’ll see him play more. With the guys the Sixers send out with him, they can easily mask his defensive limitations.

Shake Milton:

Best thing to happen to Shake is the Sixers finally figuring out that he isn’t a point guard. Shake has shot well, from what I watched this preseason, and again it seems as if Brett is going to have a deep rotation in the beginning of the season. Shake will have a good shot of cracking the rotation. To me he seems a little slow but he will be able to make up for that if he shoots well.

Zhaire Smith:

I have no idea about him honestly. Undersized 2 guard that needs to work on his shooting. He seems as if Brett doesn’t want to play him in the pre-season so my guess is Smith plays a bunch in the g-league. Makes sense, he was a development project coming into the draft and what he had to go through last season with the allergic reaction, he more than likely has a ton still to work on.

Neto/Burke:

My guess is one of these guys are moved by the end of the season. Assuming the OKC pick, the one we got back in the Fultz trade, doesn’t convey the Sixers will have like 9 2nd round picks that can be used as trade chips. So, come trade time I can see one of these guys being moved for a wing. Especially if Brown sees Richardson as the backup PG come playoff time.

As far as who I like more, I don’t know honestly. The concept of Burke is intriguing. But there is a reason he only got a partially guaranteed deal. As we stand today, I would lean team Burke, but I reserve my right to change my mind as I see them play more throughout the season.

Jonah Bolden:

Trade him, cut him, burry him on the bench, for all I care. Jonah honestly looks lost. He is just a foul machine with a really hard shot that goes in once in a while. His basketball IQ just seems so low, and that’s scary considering his age and amount of years he has been playing professional basketball. He is on a cheap deal, and has the measurables that another team may want to try to develop him. But for the Sixers my belief it would be best to move on or not play him ever.

So, the two-way guys I don’t know much to really talk about. Pelle impressed me with his defense the other night against the pistons. I would hate to see him converted to a full contract by the end of the year. I wouldn’t expect much PT with him being behind Joel, Al, and KOQ but with rest and injuries throughout the season I’d rather see him get burn than Bolden. As far as Mayok, from a little that I saw I don’t hate him. He’ll get a lot of run in the g-league and hopefully develop into a player in the future.

My biggest concerns with this team are obviously injuries. When it comes to injuries that take players out for a few weeks or so it concerns me if that player would be Tobias, Ben, or J Rich. I honestly believe losing them for a short period of time would be more harmful than losing Joel. Obviously, the team will only go as far as Joel, but I believe they are better equipped to lose him for a short period of time, than the wings.

Other than that, and I don’t want to be a RA-RA guy but this team is really good. My guess is they struggle offensively to begin the season but they will figure it out. The basketball IQ on this team is really high and they seem to like playing for/with each other. I just think they are going to be really good. I picked them at 58 wins because I think they start a little slow, and honestly just to kind of tailor my own expectations. I say 58 but I believe that they can absolutely win over 60. Strap in because this is going to be a fun year!

…….

oh yea … I’ll see you guys on Broad Street in June. This may be the homer ra-ra coming out in me but the Philadelphia 76ers will be NBA Champions after this season.

Sixers!

So the Sixers can’t beat the Celtics. Really it’s really annoying. Mainly because I hate the Celtics. 0-3 this season and a lot more losses before this. I think I hate it just as much as Joel. But I really think that is about to change.

This is a whole new team.

So I never finished this. But now I’m back, and the Sixers finally beat the Celtics. It was cool honestly, good game I was really into it. Sometimes I have problems going to sleep, so I use medical marijuana. I was so pumped after the win I actually had to go back outback in order to fall asleep. I haven’t been that hype since the super bowl honestly.

But of course the Sixers has to sixer and lose 2 straight to the hawks and magic. Who actually aren’t bad teams, hawks have more talent than their record indicates and the magic might make the playoffs.

Bad losses happen in the nba. I understand that. And usually I don’t like to overreact to any one game. But last night against the magic, man I was mad. If you lose to the magic that’s fine, but it was like they didn’t care. It feels like the Sixers are a little too confident right now, thinking they can bullshit through a game and then just win at the end. Losing happens, but when it’s lack of effort is when I get mad.

Watching last night game after the 3rd quarter I honestly believe Brett should have empty his bench for the whole fourth. I know you don’t bench stars in the nba. 40% of Joel Embiid still gives you a better chance to win than bolden or Amir. But Joel looked like he was running at 10%. If you are going to lose because you are bullshitting and don’t care, I’d rather see you lose because you played shake and zhaire the whole 4th.

Although there was a lot to complain about with last night’s game I’m really not worried. They aren’t going to lose in the first round. I understand the season is a grind. I think the 3 seed is pretty much locked up. I’d rather not see them coast to the end but the talent on this team will get them to the second round.

I also don’t buy into this theory of ecf or bust. Or that if they don’t get past the second round the season is a failure or the coach should be fired. There is so many variables. Brand new team, trying to figure things out. I think there is more pressure on in the offseason and next season than this year. If they resign everyone and improve the bench a little with shake and zhaire and the draft. Then there is pressure. This is a gel time.

That being said, I think they get past the second round at least.

My Markelle Theory

The number one over all picked in the 2017 NBA Draft forgot how to shoot. Crazy isn’t it. Maybe not as crazy as it seems. There is an ongoing debate on wether this is mental or physical why he can’t shoot. Fultz’ agent or attorney whatever he is has made a hard stand that it is physical and not mental at all. I think that this point it most fans would say he is a “headcase” (which is a bullshit term referring to mental health likes it’s fucking 1920 but that’s a topic for another post). Let’s put aside fandom right now, put emotions and prejudice aside and maybe come to the conclusion that it’s both, physical and mental.

Many are going to refuse to acknowledge that fultz was originally injured, that he was weak and soft and he just can’t make it in the league so he made up this “injury” last year. There is a solid chance that he may just not be good enough to play nba basketball, but I don’t believe it. I do believe something happened to markelle’s shoulder and that the pain forced him to change his form. Whatever happen seemed like kelle was afraid to tell the team that he was hurt so instead he did what he had to do best to hide it, this really isn’t uncommon in young kids especially when there could be bad consequences.

The season starts and fultz is obviously in the national spotlight with this messed up jump shot and crazy high expectations for a 19 year old kid. When the world sees that he uncharastically “forgot” how to shoot it becomes one of the biggest and oddest stories in sports. The theories fly, espn fox sports every channel is talking fultz and his twitter mentions blow up. There were many supporting fans during this time but there was also many cruel and cynical fans that thought because they were behind a keyboard they can say all kinds of nasty things to him. After a few games they take him out’ diagnose him with some sort of shoulder injury and he is out the majority of the season. So a quick summary, fultz is drafted first in the nba draft a real dream come true. Something happens and he hurts his shoulder. He changes his form to deal with the pain. Comes on the national stage of the nba and can’t shoot anymore and his form looks atrocious. The sports media world takes up the story, he is called a bust and a headcase and soft on national tv on almost a daily basis. Sports radio goes nuts and callers say all kinds of mean and nasty things about him. People on twitter and Instagram crush him and attack him like a bunch of cyber bullies. Pile all this bullshit on a 19 year old kid plus the fact that his dream of playing in the nba just got put on hold and possible lost forever. To me that seems like a pretty traumatic experience for a young kid. Markelle is experiencing PTSD.

I know it sounds crazy. He has never been to war or almost been blown up. But Ptsd isn’t just for veterans. Rape victims commonly have ptsd from their experience. Same with domestic violence. Pretty much anyone can developer symptoms of ptsd from a traumatic event in their life. Ptsd anxiety mental health it doesn’t discriminate. Doesn’t matter if you are Medal of Honor winner, or joe smo on the street. It doesn’t even care if you are the number 1 overall pick in the nba. For some people when they go through shit it changes them.

To me this all makes sense. As young kid when stuff like this happens it can cause serious change in your mental state. And it doesn’t mean that you can see it in everyday life. Subconsciously anxiety can be there without a person or the people around him really noticing. When we watch kelle play, what is his only flaw? Set shots and foul shots. The pull up off the screen is money. He gets to rim, runs baseline to baseline and dunks on someone. Even the 3 he hit on Zach Levine’s face. What do all these things have in common, there is no time for his brain to think, it’s all reaction. But when he is all by himself and the defender is 6 feet off him daring him to sleep, even for a split second his brain recalls that whole traumatic situation and his anxiety sets in even if he doesn’t realize it. So it’s natural for him to react when the anxiety comes and just go to what he is comfortable with, putting the ball on the floor and attacking.

So here is the biggest problem with this situation. His situation is still going to be looked at negatively, like he is soft or mentally weak. And his camp and agent and people around him refuse to acknowledge he may have some problems are nothing but enablers. The more they blame it on injury or whatever they want, the more he is never going to face the problem and the likelihood of he being well again is slim to none. By the way as someone who lives with ptsd and depression, it can cause physical pain, the brain is a crazy muscle. The saddest part about this is it’s bigger than basketball because when basketball is done for him it will only get worse in his life.

But the good thing is its beatable, I’m living proof. I went through hell and back, and now honestly I’m mentally better than I’ve ever been in my life. And I have other vets I know and talk to that have done the same thing. First step is admitting and acknowledging and then getting the help needed. And the craziest part about all this is that it’s ok to have these problems. It doesn’t make you weak or soft and if you think it does I’ll introduce you to a dozens guys and girl that deal with it that will make you look like a baby back bitch.

At the end of the day the best for him is to get better. I’m not a doctor or anything close enough to really make a firm statement. In fact I have no real credential to write this about him. I’m just going off my life experience. At the end of the day I think we all want kelle to get healthy and be ok. And honestly I hope I’m wrong. I hope it’s just an injury and physical therapy will get him back to where he needs to be. But if I’m not I hope he realizes it before it’s too late or someone around him does. As big of a Sixers fan as I am, I really don’t care if he never plays again I would love him too I just want to see him healthy before it’s too late. I’ve lost too many people and seen too many stories of suicide and drugs. I’m in no way implying that markelle does drugs or is suicidal, I just know what this kind of mental state can bring a person to do.

So markelle do what you have to do to get better. And I home at some point IF this is the problem someone around you can open your eyes and help you. and if possible get back on the court and prove all these hating ass motherfuckers wrong.

PSA I am in no way diagnosing this. I am not trying to say that this is the actual case. If the doctor says he is injured I’m not going to argue. I am just trying to give an alternate perspective. This is my opinion and my opinion only.

How the process saved my life

I’ve been through some shit. I went to war a few times, lost my dad at a young age and lost my stepdad, like a second dad to me, in recent times too. two dads gone and im only in my thirties. I live with massive amounts of regret, my dad died a week before I was supposed to come home from Afghanistan. I had every opportunity to call home that week and even that day but I was too dumb to actually do it. I never got to say goodbye. I’ve been to war twice, I spent 9 years in the military under leadership that did nothing but stress workers out and lead by fear. I’ve lost friends to drugs. I failed out of college twice. I’ve been fired from a really good job bc I’m a damn idiot. But the biggest mistake of my life may have ended up being the best thing to happen to me. I lied to my gf and my sons mom and told her I was working overnight shift ( I was supposed to but didn’t go). I did work my first overnight shift and when I was done at 7 am I stopped at my dealers house and got some cocaine. Then shit got weird. I went home for about 12 minutes made up some lie about how I needed to go back to work and instead got a room in ac. And I partied like a Rockstar. After a good 24 hour binge and the coke, money and alcohol ran out there was nothing left but shame and guilt.

So I came to the conclusion I needed to be home. I was ready to admit I had a problem with drugs and alcohol and I wanted help. But my dumbass decided to drive home. At some point I don’t remember I got off the ac expressway and was on some back road, and must have fallen asleep. I swerved and hit a brand new ford f150 head on. The guy driving was an off duty cop in that town. I was fucked. I got arrested and got the dui thing and all, but I had to call my gf to pick me up at the police station. She had to bring my 4 month old son. Obviously she wasn’t taking me home so she took me to my parents, where she told me our relationship was over, I’d never see my son again, and she was changing his last name. That last part hit me hard, that last name was on my chest for 2 wars, my dad gave me that last name, which his dad gave him, that last name was supposed to have honor on it not shame, my son was supposed to carry on that honor, but now I ruined all that. I got dropped off at my parents, took a bunch of pills, and went to sleep with no intention of ever waking up again. Spoiler Alert, I woke up.

After that weekend things obviously needed to change. I was invited back to my house and family. But the next few weeks still a little uncertain and I messed up “relapsed”. Finally went to rehab for a week and my insurance said it wouldn’t cover it after the week I was there and sent me home. Whatever happened that week, I think it just showed me the seriousness of my action, when I came home I decided to be sober and have been sober ever since. Actually that’s a lie, later I’ll explain I battle depression and ptsd and recently I’ve been prescribed marijuana and it’s has helped so much but that’ll be another post. The battle wasn’t over, I was kicked out the guard and I lost my full time job. I became a stay at home dad, my gf was a nurse worked 3 12s and in her final 2 semesters to get her masters, so she was out of the house majority of the week. My world was completely flipped.

So what does this all have to do with “the process?” Well being at home all day long not being able to drive or go anywhere with a 4 month old baby it’ll make you go crazy. Put that on top of trying to fight the urge to drink and do drugs, I kinda slipped into a serious depression. Honestly the only reason I got out of bed in the morning was because if I didn’t my son would eat. I needed a hobby a distraction. I did the gym thing and continued to play basketball, and that helped but what about the hours I was stuck in the house. Well I dove into the process even more than I did before. I read everything I could. I followed every beat writer and basketball writer i can find on twitter. I studied potential draft picks the Sixers could get. I knew the odds to where the Sixers would land in the draft. I became completely obsessed. I haven’t missed a game since then, even if I’m not home I record it and watch it the next day. I used the Sixers who I’ve always loved, and the process of a complete distraction from real life and the shit that I did and my consequences. Truly when I say that without that and the process I would have one less crutch to help me become a better person and still be here for my son and family.

It’s crazy how far both the Sixers and I have come since then and the process. Sixers have come from 10 win season to a top 3 team in the east and potential championship team. I was the human version of a 10 win team, now I’m “sober” happy, in a position to finally graduate college in the near future and if I may brag I’m a pretty fucking good dad. And I’m alive. And the Sixers and the process played a great roll In that. So thank you to the Sixers, thank you to Sam hinkie and the process. Thank you Joel embiid. Thank you to all the writers and radio host on twitter who I commented on everything they tweeted over and over again until they finally responded and engaged in a convo when I had no one else to talk to. Thank you to my family and friends who stuck by my the whole time and let me ramble on about a terrible Sixers team all i wanted. You guys are the real mvps without all you I don’t know where I’d be.

Ps Best part about all this I get my license back soon and I’ll be taking my son to his first Sixers game this season. Life is good. Trust the process.