David Zahn, Author at Know Philly

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David Zahn

Sports

Will PJ Tucker Soon Be a Sixer?

David Zahn Posted On March 9, 2021

We’ve officially reached a point in the NBA season where the trade rumor mill is running rampant. With All-Star weekend officially in the rearview mirror, teams that view themselves as serious championship contenders are hard at work, hoping to patch any holes in their roster with proven veterans. Several squads, the Philadelphia 76ers among them, have their eyes on Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker.

In fact, at the time of this article’s publication there already exist a plethora of reports indicating that it is all but a certainty that Tucker won’t be a member of the Houston Rockets for much longer. According to Tom Haberstoh of TrueHoop, “several rival executives” believe Tucker will ultimately end up with the Philadelphia 76ers. If this report bears true, there are two different paths for Tucker to make his way onto the Sixers roster. One of them is via trade where the price would most likely be a second round pick. Another option is the Houston Rockets choosing to buy the forward out, allowing him to freely sign with another team (As the Pistons did with Blake Griffin who quickly signed with the Brooklyn Nets).

A relevant question to ask is how much is left in PJ Tucker’s tank. He’s lauded around the league as one of the hardest working players of this generation, but that consistent effort inevitably takes a toll on a player’s body. This is especially true in the case of Tucker who has routinely been tasked with guarding frontcourt players much bigger than himself as part of Houston’s “microball” experiment last year.

The wear and tear on Tucker’s body has shown itself this season, as he is shooting a career worst 36.6% from the field and 31.4% from behind the arc. Despite these appalling numbers, teams are still eager to acquire the veteran for a playoff run. This is because Tucker’s greatest asset, his tenacious defense, is also one that will perfectly translate to playoff basketball, where obtaining stops is the single most important factor in winning games.

It also doesn’t hurt that PJ Tucker is a seasoned veteran who has repeatedly shown his value during the playoffs. He’s played in fifty such contests, usually guarding the opposing team’s best forward. While he wouldn’t crack the Philadelphia 76ers starting lineup, he would be a helpful addition to the bench, particularly when the team opts for a more defensive lineup.

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Sports

Tobias Harris: A Redemption Story

David Zahn Posted On March 7, 2021

The general feeling around the Sixers organization when they traded for Tobias Harris in February of 2019 was childlike glee. After all, the Clippers forward was widely considered an all-star snub that season and would be joining a team that already featured the likes of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Jimmy Butler. Following the trade, GM Elton Brand declared “We are in a unique position to contend now…Tobias is one of the best three point shooters in the NBA and possesses an innate ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.”

But that Sixers team wasn’t ready to contend. This wasn’t particularly the fault of Harris, but he was having trouble achieving the same level of consistency in Philadelphia that he enjoyed while playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. This was largely a byproduct of the sheer quantity of mouths to feed on offense for the Sixers. While Harris had been the focal point of that Clippers offense, he was merely the third, and sometimes even fourth, option in Philadelphia.

Flash forward to this season and the game of Tobias Harris is entirely rejuvenated. Much of the buzz around the Eastern conference leading 76ers has understandably centered on the MVP production of Joel Embiid and defensive wizardry of Ben Simmons, but the play of Tobias Harris has also been a major reason that the Sixers are sitting pretty atop their conference.

Inside the Numbers

At this juncture of the season, Tobias Harris is averaging a healthy 20.2 points per game to go along with 7.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per contest. That offensive contribution represents the most for Harris during his time as a Sixer. What’s even more impressive than the amount of points Tobias has scored is the efficiency at which he’s been able to achieve that level of production. His shooting splits of 55.4% from the field, 40.2% from three point range, and 88.7% from the free throw line put him dangerously close to the 50/40/90 mark that only the best shooters have managed to achieve across a full season (Nowitski, Durant, Curry, etc.).

While Harris isn’t the elite playmaker that his teammate Ben Simmons is, he’s also posting a career best average in assists per game. The attention that his teammates, most notably Embiid, command on the offensive end of the floor has allowed him to thrive both as a shooter with open looks and a creator in 4 on 3 situations after Embiid has been doubled.

What’s in a Coach?

The revamped roster construction for this year’s Sixers has undoubtedly been part of the reason for Harris’s sudden rejuvenation. The departure of Al Horford and the Seth Curry for Josh Richardson exchange has resulted in a team that makes more sense for a player like Tobias. But the roster isn’t the only difference between this year’s team and the disappointing squad Philly fans watched all of last season.

Doc Rivers, one of the Sixers exciting signs over the offseason, is seldom mentioned as a key ingredient to the Sixers success this season. While you can count me among those that think the impact of the players far outweighs that of any coach, it is plausible that Rivers himself is a major reason for the improved play of Tobias Harris. One shouldn’t forget that it was under Rivers tutelage that Harris thrived as point-forward for a Los Angeles Clippers team that vastly outdid expectations.

Catch Tobias Harris and the rest of the Philadelphia 76ers after the all-star break when they match up with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, March 11th.

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Arts & Culture

Japanese Breakfast Announces New Album, Jubilee

David Zahn Posted On March 2, 2021

Japanese Breakfast Announces New Album, Jubilee

The pandemic has in no way cramped the artistic output from Michelle Zauner, the lead singer and brains behind Philly’s own Japanese Breakfast. Near summer’s end, she released a joint EP with Ryan Galloway under the moniker BUMPER. April of this coming year will see the release of her memoir, titled Crying in H Mart. And the very latest news from Zauner is fresh Japanese Breakfast material, something fans have been desperately craving since the band’s last full length effort, 2017’s Soft Sounds from another Planet.

Japanese Breakfast’s third album, titled Jubilee, will be released June 4th via the independent record label Dead Oceans. What can the Japanese Breakfast faithful expect from this project? “For me, a third record should feel bombastic and so I wanted to pull out all the stops for this one.” said Zauner. When asked about her creative process behind the new record she also mentioned “I wanted to push it as far as it could go, inviting more people in and pushing myself as a composer, a producer, an arranger.”

The result may just be the band’s most experimental work yet, with Zauner tinkering with new sounds and instruments along the way. A new song from the record, “Be Sweet”, along with an accompanying video, has already been released. In the music video, Zauner and Mannequin Pussy’s Missy play the roles of special agents investigating paranormal activity.

Japanese Breakfast - Be Sweet — Japanese Breakfast – Be Sweet

“Be Sweet” features an incredibly infectious chorus that’s hard not to sing along with even after just one listen. This is a positive sign for the possible shape the rest of the album will take. “After spending the last five years writing about grief, I wanted our follow up to be about joy” said Zauner. Japanese Breakfast nail that feeling here and we’ll see if the rest of the album delivers on that promise in June.

For an overview of Japanese Breakfast’s previously released material, check here!

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Sports

What Would it Take for the Sixers to Acquire Kyle Lowry?

David Zahn Posted On February 28, 2021

What Would it Take for the Sixers to Acquire Kyle Lowry

Last week, it was reported that Kyle Lowry, revered guard of the Toronto Raptors, is on the trading block. Not only that, the Philadelphia Sixers appear to be on his short list of potential suitors, along with other championship caliber teams like the Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat. All three of these teams have a glaring commonality. They are in absolute win-now mode and fully understand that the addition of a playoff-proven asset such as Kyle Lowry could push their squads over the top.

The Trade

If Toronto strikes a deal with Philly, the latter will have to provide ample compensation for obtaining Lowry. That compensation will likely entail a combination of future picks, young players, and veterans with expiring contracts (in order to match Lowry’s $30 million price tag).

Luckily, Philadelphia is able to accommodate all three of those potential trade factors. They should have no reservation giving up future first and second round picks as they expect these to be low value selections anyway while the team hopefully rides the prime years of Embiid and Simmons deep into the playoffs. The Sixers also possess young assets, most notably Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle, who would be on the table if a deal is negotiated. Finally, veteran guard Danny Green perfectly fits the mold of a veteran with an expiring contract as the former teammate of Lowry is owed around $15 million this season.

The NBA trade deadline isn’t until March 25th so the Raptors and Sixers have quite a while to work out the trade details if both parties are truly interested. I’m not suggesting that the Sixers should go all-in for Lowry if the price is too rich, but I do think Lowry’s skillset and playoff track record are near perfect compliments for what the Sixers have built this season.

The Resulting Sixers Squad

If a deal for Kyle Lowry gets done and Phildelpiha is able to hold onto all of its core pieces the resulting crunch time lineup is downright scary. Presumably the starting (and ending) five would be Kyle Lowry, Seth Curry, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris, and Joel Embiid. This lineup would wreak havoc on defense through the play of Lowry, Simmons, and Embiid while featuring five players who can all get their own shot on the offensive end.

Of course, moves that improve starting lineups of ten come at the expense of bench depth and such would be the case here as well. Maxey and Thybulle are both important bench contributors for the Sixers and it would be a substantial loss if both of these players were included in a Lowry deal. Even so, I think the opportunity outways the disadvantages considering how powerful the above lineup is.

Reservations for Lowry

All of this trade speculation only has the potential to be realized if Lowry decides he legitimately wants out of Toronto. While this information has been reported, we haven’t yet heard from Lowry himself. It’s prudent to remember that Lowry is considered the greatest player in Raptors franchise history. While the team has had more prolific stars such as Vince Carter and a year of Kwahi Leonard, none has displayed such persistent loyalty and love towards the city of Toronto.

Additionally, Kyle Lowry already has an NBA championship ring and consequently is less likely to be desperately ring-chasing down the stretch. Still, if Lowry desires a trade it seems probable that the Raptors franchise would willingly work with him to accomplish a deal. One league source even reported that the Raptors want to reward Lowry for his years of service by helping him secure an opportunity to win another NBA title.

Final Thoughts

The race to strike a deal with Toronto for Kyle Lowry should be a tight one, as the Sixers, Clippers, and Heat would all benefit in a huge way with the addition of the perennial all-star (he didn’t make it this year amid the Raptors’ rough opening stretch). It would almost be poetically fitting for Sixers current president of basketball operations Daryl Morey to get the trade done, considering that he actually sent Lowry to Toronto a decade back when the two were together in Houston.

Currently, questions of concern that swirl around this Sixers’ team are not about regular season performance. This squad will be judged by their success in the playoffs and a fearless leader like Kyle Lowry’s biggest contribution to the team would be his playoff experience and refusal to back down from a fight. Here’s to hoping the Sixers can get a deal done.

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Sports

Is Ben Simmons the Best Defender in the NBA?

David Zahn Posted On February 25, 2021

Is Ben Simmons the Best Defender in the NBA

When the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia 76ers matched up with the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of January, Ben Simmons was tasked with defending Lebron James, undoubtedly one of the hardest defensive assignments to draw in the entire league. Two weeks later, when Philadelphia did battle with the Portland Trailblazers, Ben Simmons had the job of defending Damian Lillard, easily one of the most lethal offensive players of this generation. Simmons did a tremendous job with both of these assignments. It’s unrealistic that superstars like James and Lilliard will be completely shut down, but Simmons displayed an uncanny ability to slow down the production of both of these players down the stretch of these contests.

The above anecdotes allow us to take a step back and realize how impressive Simmons’ defensive versatility is. Lebron James is a 6’9, 250 lb. forward that was likely sent from a distant planet (where aging doesn’t exist and hairlines can change on the fly) to conquer the sport of basketball. He typically bullies defenders with an unmatched combination of speed and strength. Damian Lilliard meanwhile, is a 6’2, sub 200 lb. guard who routinely torches defenders forced to account for both his lightning quickness and historically efficient outside shooting.

Ben Simmons is one of only a handful of players in the entire league that can reasonably defend both of these diverse offensive juggernauts. This ability undoubtedly begs the question: Is Ben Simmons the Best Defender in the NBA? Let’s take a look at some of the other candidates for the coveted distinction of top defender in the league.

Rudy Gobert

Most figured the Utah Jazz would be good this season, but no one predicted the astonishing results that Gobert and company have found so far. The Jazz currently have both the best record and the best point differential in the NBA by a wide margin. Rudy Gobert, already a two-time DPOY winner, is a huge reason for their success as the lynchpin of their suffocating defense. His frightening interior presence results in teammates’ being able to guard the three-point line closely as they know that Gobert is consistently a reliable salve around the rim. Consequently, the Jazz are at or near the top of the league both in three point shots allowed and opponent’s field goal percentage around the rim.

Gobert is currently sporting averages of 2.8 blocks and .4 steals per game, giving him a total of 3.2 stocks per game (a statistic invented by Bill Simmons which combines steals and blocks to give a fuller picture of defensive disruption). Stout defensive play translates to team success and Gobert is making his case for best defensive player in the league as the Jazz continue to rack up wins.

Kwahi Leonard

Similar to Gobert, Kwahi Leonard has also collected two DPOY awards across his career. However, his impact on the defensive end is markedly different as he often stifles the opponent’s best perimeter player far away from the basket. Once almost exclusively known for his defensive prowess, Leonard has evolved over the years into one of the absolute best all-around players in the league. Yet his defensive ability persists to be among the very elite. A huge reason for this is the sheer size of his hands which could reasonably be mistaken for flying saucers when they are travelling at high speeds around the court intercepting passes.

This season the Clippers forward is averaging 1.7 steals and .6 blocks per game, for a total of 2.3 stocks per game. The Clippers only rank towards the middle in terms of defensive efficiency this season but Leonard is doing all he can for the team, always drawing the toughest perimeter assignment on the opposing team.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

And who could forget both the reigning MVP and DPOY. When Antetokounmpo took home both trophies last season, he became just the third player ever to achieve those feats in the same season, joining the very prestigious company of Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon. Giannis sports a body that might very well be created in a lab if one were attempting to construct the premier NBA defender. He has both terrific size and length, allowing him tremendous potential to wreak havoc on opponents’ offensive schemes. Last year, he was the most important reason the Bucks had the best defense in the league. Milwaukee has not achieved that level of success this season but Giannis has still been an invaluable defender averaging both 1.3 blocks and steals per game for a total of 2.6 stocks per game.

How Simmons Stacks Up

The above players have all been great defenders this season. Having said that, I do think Ben Simmons has a case for being at the very top of the defensive pyramid. The Sixers have been a better defensive team than all of the above squads except for the Jazz, ranking sixth in the league thus far. Joel Embiid is a huge reason for the Sixers dominance on that end, but Simmons remains their most significant defensive piece. He’s averaging 1.6 steals and .8 blocks per game, for a total of 2.4 stocks per game. At this point, I think the race for DPOY is a tight one with Gobert and Simmons leading the pack. So is Ben Simmons the best defensive player in the year? Not definitively but I’d wager that he is certainly the most versatile and the Sixers will count on his ability to guard multiple positions when matching up against opposing players like Giannis, Durant, and Kyrie Irving. Simmons can match up with all three.

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Sports

Philly Discards Wentz; Looks to Future

David Zahn Posted On February 21, 2021

Last week, the Philadelphia Eagles officially moved on from Carson Wentz, the quarterback once thought to be the face of the team’s future. Wentz was sent to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 second-round pick. The latter of these draft picks will turn into a first-rounder should Wentz play 75% of snaps for the Colts this coming season (or just 70% of snaps provided the Colts make the playoffs).

Meanwhile, the Eagles franchise will still be charged $34 million for Wentz this coming season. This is record-setting as it is the largest dead money charge for any NFL team in the league’s history. Some financial context will illuminate just how detrimental this dead money charge is for the team. That $34 million constitutes roughly a fifth of the Eagles’ spending for the 2021 base salary cap and it’s all just to rid the team of Wentz. Sure, the Birds managed to score some future draft picks in the trade but that cap hit is unsavory no matter how you slice it.

Even so, I see this is a decidedly positive move for the Eagles. Wentz was already a sunk cost and the Eagles are displaying their willingness to quickly turn a new leaf rather than get bogged down in the sunk-cost fallacy. Their supreme mistake happened in the past, the moment they decided to invest in Wentz as their signal-caller for the future. That investment was unprecedented in team history. First, the team traded away five draft picks to move up and select him at #2 overall in the 2016 NFL draft. Next, they signed him to a four year contract with more than $100 million guaranteed.

Now, Carson Wentz is finally off the team’s books. Fans should view this news with relief as to say his play last season was horrendous is actually an understatement. He led the NFL in both sacks and interceptions while ranking near the very bottom of important categories like passer rating, yards per throws, and completion percentage.

Philly Discards Wentz; Looks to Future - Jalen Hurts — Philly Discards Wentz; Looks to Future – Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts, Wentz’s replacement down the stretch of last season, projects to be the team’s starter moving forward. However, don’t put it past the Eagles to select yet another quarterback in this year’s draft as their GM Howie Roseman has previously expressed his desire for the franchise to be “a quarterback factory”. As a result of some shameless tanking orchestrated by the since-fired Doug Pederson, the Eagles have the sixth pick in a draft that’s widely considered to contain four top quarterback prospects. The Birds may have a choice to make between a promising young quarterback and a blue-chipper at a different position. If they genuinely believe in Hurts’ future ability then I wouldn’t waste another pick on a quarterback. But if the team isn’t sold on Hurts then they very well may take their chances.

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Sports

Meet Nick Sirianni: New Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles

David Zahn Posted On January 23, 2021

Meet Nick Sirianni New Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles

The nightmare that was the Philadelphia Eagles 2020 season culminated with the firing of head coach Doug Pederson. Recently, executive vice-president Howie Roseman announced his replacement, former offensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts Nick Sirianni.

The most vital job for Sirianni relates to how he will handle the quarterback situation in Philadelphia. The organization made this point clear with the statement by owner Jeffrey Lurie “It behooves us as a team with a new coach, a new coaching staff, to be able to really get [Wentz] back to that elite progression.”. The hiring of Sirianni is essentially a concession that the Birds will move forward with Wentz as their quarterback.

On the Wentz front, it is important to note that Nick Sirianni has been the right hand man to Frank Reich while the latter has served as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. This connection is pertinent as Carson Wentz’s 2017 MVP campaign came under the direct tutelage of Reich, while he was the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia.

Sirianni was able to achieve success as an offensive coordinator in Indianapolis despite the unexpected and abrupt loss of quarterback Andrew Luck two seasons ago. The Colts have boasted an above-average offense despite having subpar signal callers like Jacoby Brissett and the recently retired Philip Rivers behind center.

Many candidates were interviewed for the position, including Arthur Smith, Robert Saleh, Jerod Mayo, Joe Brady, Kellen Moore, Duce Staley, Todd Bowles, Dennis Allen, and Josh McDaniels. Sources report that the race quickly narrowed to just Sirianni and McDaniels, but the Eagles decided to choose the less heralded coach as he impressed the organization mightily across his multi-day interview.

Interviews are one thing, but the real test for Sirianni will transpire next season. The Eagles know they have a roster better than their 2020 record might suggest and they fully expect to challenge for the division title as early as next season. Of course, the realization of that hope will only happen if Sirianni can be the salve for Wentz and he once again plays like the franchise quarterback he was paid to be.

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Sports

Philly Holds Firm with Simmons; Harden Traded to Nets in Blockbuster Deal

David Zahn Posted On January 15, 2021

Philly Holds Firm with Simmons; Harden Traded to Nets in Blockbuster Deal

The team that drafted Ben Simmons with the number one overall pick in the 2016 draft will be sticking with him. Consequently, James Harden will not be a Philadelphia 76er. Instead, the former Houston Rocket was dealt to the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday, where he will combine forces with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as part of the most lethal scoring Big 3 ever assembled.

The blockbuster deal shakes up more than just the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers were also part of the mega-trade. Cleveland will receive Taurean Prince and Jarrett Allen, signaling to the rest of the league that they are unafraid to unleash a lineup consisting of five centers at once. Meanwhile, the Pacers will receive young guard Caris LeVert and a 2023 second round pick for the price of Victor Oladipo, who is now a Houston Rocket. Along with Oladipo, Houston’s haul for Harden includes Dante Exum, Rodions Kurucs, four unprotected first round picks, and four unprotected first round pick swaps.

Harden Traded to Nets in Blockbuster Deal

So what does all this mean for the Philadelphia 76ers? For the Simmons-truthers, it must be a sigh of relief. When it became clear over the offseason that James Harden wanted to part ways with the Houston Rockets, many immediately looked towards the Philadelphia 76ers as a viable destination for the perennial MVP candidate. The reasons for this connection were fairly obvious. First, Philadelphia’s new president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey, had extensive experience building rosters around the unique talent of James Harden. Those teams won incredible amounts of regular season games and were a CP3 injury from reaching the finals in recent memory. Secondly, the 76ers had the assets to create a valuable trade package, highlighted by their young blue-chip star Ben Simmons.

Ultimately, the deal didn’t get done. No one can know for sure exactly what was on the table, but sources speculate that the package for Harden included Ben Simmons along with some combination of Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, and future picks. It is unlikely that the Sixers would have given up all of the above for Harden but in any case no compromise was made.

This leaves the current 76ers roster intact, and that’s not such a bad thing. The season is still young, but this team currently sits atop the Eastern conference and Joel Embiid has been playing the most inspired basketball of his career. An obvious downside of not landing James Harden is the fact that now he plays for a team that will certainly be challenging the 76ers in the Eastern conference. Following the Harden trade, Vegas was quick to alter their odds in such a way that makes clear that the Brooklyn Nets are the new favorite to come out of the East. They figure to be an absolute juggernaut on offense as they possess three of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. However, questions about defense, chemistry, and bench depth linger.

The Sixers refusal to part with Simmons, along with other pieces of their young core like Maxey, demonstrates a commitment to what has been built largely from the ground up. Simmons has stated that he is “ecstatic” to not have been traded and hopefully he reflects that sentiment in his play the rest of the season.

The Philadelphia 76ers will get their first crack at the new-look Brookly Nets with a home game on Saturday, February 6th. With five stars across both lineups, it figures to be an exciting Eastern conference matchup and a possible playoff preview.

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Sports

Heroics from Embiid Snap Sixers Losing Streak

David Zahn Posted On January 13, 2021

Joel Embiid just submitted the best game of his young NBA career. The big man dominated both ends of the floor and made continuous high-effort plays to ensure the Sixers snapped a three game losing streak. An undermanned Sixers squad rallied around his brilliance and ultimately defeated the Miami Heat in a 137-134 overtime thriller. It is extremely encouraging to see this team overcome adversity and get back on track after a recent string of losses.

The Sixers began this season in red-hot fashion, achieving victories in seven of their first eight games. However, a flurry of absences due to multiple players being in COVID-19 related health and safety protocols have forced the team to play the last several contests undermanned. Consequently, the Sixers dropped three games in a row to the Nets, Nuggets, and Hawks, allowing at least 112 points to each opponent.

While vital contributors such as Tobias Harris, Seth Curry, and Shake Milton remained out, the Sixers were able to trot out Ben Simmons, who had missed the last two games. He provided important help on the defensive end (2 steals) and his passing prowess was on full display (12 assists). Unfortunately, he still hasn’t found his offensive touch this season (just 5 total points) and fouled out of the contest before regulation expired.

Simmons’ subpar season thus far has meant that the Sixers require MVP caliber play from Joel Embiid on a night to night basis. As lofty as those expectations are, so far he’s delivered. His performance last night was just the cherry on top of the incredible season he’s put together. Against the Heat, Embiid scored 45 points (16-23 fg), grabbed 16 rebounds, had 5 steals, and even dished out 4 assists. Missing just 7 of 23 shots is mighty impressive but Embiid even outdid himself there by hitting a perfect mark from the free throw line (11-11). Most impressive was his clutch ability in this game as both teams knew Embiid was the Sixers only reliable offensive option down the stretch. He made the right passes out of double teams, didn’t shy away from contact while getting to the rim, and hit outside shots in rhythm when he was open.

A knock against Embiid has always been that his conditioning is poor and he has a tendency to falter down the stretch in games where his usage is high. Yet, Embiid played a full 39 minutes in this contest and managed to look sprightly towards the end. A play that won’t get enough attention is Embiid’s full body lay-out to tip an offensive rebound to Danny Green, who subsequently scored on the possession. If Embiid is motivated to make these plays, the sky’s the limit.

Heroics from Embiid Snap Losing Streak - Tyrese Maxey — Heroics from Embiid Snap Losing Streak – Tyrese Maxey

Also of note is rookie guard Tyrese Maxey, who has seen increased minutes as a result of other Sixers’ players being unavailable. He looks comfortable out there and plays with a necessary fearless edge. Maxey had 8 assists before fouling out of this most recent game, but his real moment to shine came during the Sixers recent loss to the Denver Nuggets. There, Maxey dropped 39 points to go along with 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

The Sixers will play the Miami Heat for a second time before preparing for a weekend back-to-back consisting of matchups with the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder. It is quite likely that when the Sixers match up with the Boston Celtics next week, it will be a battle between the #1 and #2 seeds in the East.

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Sports

Doug Pederson Dismissed as Birds’ Head Coach

David Zahn Posted On January 12, 2021

Doug Pederson Dismissed as Birds’ Head Coach

Three years ago, Doug Pederson didn’t just bring a severely injured Eagles squad led by backup quarterback Nick Foles to the Super Bowl. He won the damn thing, bringing immense joy to a dedicated Philadelphia fanbase that hadn’t before tasted the sweetness of a Super Bowl victory. That win happened in large part because of Pederson’s playcalling, which existed on a spectrum somewhere between “gutsy” and “downright fearless”.

But that was three years ago, in February of 2018. This Monday, January 11th, owner Jeff Lurie gave the announcement that the team was moving in a new direction, a journey which wouldn’t include Pederson. Based on Lurie’s explanation of the decision, it seems likely that the split was at least somewhat mutual. Lurie stated “Coach Pederson and I had the opportunity to sit down and discuss what the collective vision would look like moving forward.”. Evidently, both sides had trouble compromising on a collective vision. Earlier this month, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network broke the news that Pederson “was sick of people in the organization telling him what to do.”. Well, no one from the Eagles’ front office will be making any demands from Pederson anymore.

Pederson’s success as Philadelphia’s head coach does extend beyond the team’s magical 2018 Super Bowl run. Across his four seasons he led the franchise to two NFC East crowns and three playoff appearances. His record as a head coach during his Philadelphia tenure sits at 46-39-1, and that winning percentage took a serious hit as a result of the team’s performance this past season.

Even considering the horrendous past season, most around the league thought that Pederson’s job was secure. Surely a coach that had so recently won it all would be granted a longer leash. This begs the possibility that Pederson’s decision to essentially throw the final game by substituting Nate Sudfeld for Jalen Hurts ultimately led to his dismissal. Fans may never know.

Possible Replacements?

Doug Pederson Dismissed as Birds’ Head Coach - Lincoln Riley — Doug Pederson Dismissed as Birds’ Head Coach – Lincoln Riley

There is now another major off-season mystery for the Philadelphia Eagles. Not only is there little clarity on who will start at quarterback, but now a new head coach needs to be factored into the equation. Two possibilities that immediately come to mind are Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Chiefs QB’s coach Mike Kafka. Like Pederson, both of these minds hail from Andy Reid’s coaching tree.

Another possibility is that the Eagles front office looks to promote a coach from the college ranks. Tim McManus of ESPN reports that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has a “strong relationship” with current Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley. Admittedly, I’ve never watched a second of Oklahoma football, but I’m steadfastly in favor of hiring Lincoln Riley because of the pun possibilities of Lincoln coaching at Lincoln. Please make this happen.

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Newer Posts Older Posts

David Zahn

Will PJ Tucker Soon Be a Sixer?

Tobias Harris: A Redemption Story

Inside the Numbers

What’s in a Coach?

Japanese Breakfast Announces New Album, Jubilee

What Would it Take for the Sixers to Acquire Kyle Lowry?

The Trade

The Resulting Sixers Squad

Reservations for Lowry

Final Thoughts

Is Ben Simmons the Best Defender in the NBA?

Rudy Gobert

Kwahi Leonard

Giannis Antetokounmpo

How Simmons Stacks Up

Philly Discards Wentz; Looks to Future

Meet Nick Sirianni: New Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles

Philly Holds Firm with Simmons; Harden Traded to Nets in Blockbuster Deal

Heroics from Embiid Snap Sixers Losing Streak

Doug Pederson Dismissed as Birds’ Head Coach

Possible Replacements?

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