Bench

[HollowHustla]

Imma go out on a limb and say, moving forward, I believe Edwards can replace McCains production.  He’s bigger, can get his own shot, can shoot the 3, and defends pretty well.  All he needs is consistent mins & touches, now that his confidence and play has returned.  If the bench is gonna be Grimes, Oubre/Barlow, Edwards, Bona, and Payne headed into the play in…they should be able to score the ball & defend.  They scored 139 w those guys and I don’t care who they played.  Thats a lot of points for GL and UDFA types. 

W that being said…NN has got to let them play and not close games w 3 G lineups.  Stay big.  The bench can stay big using VJ at PG.  VJ, Grimes, Edwards, Watford/Bona, Drummond.  IMO Bona can defend these stretch PFs like Mobley. Finally, we should never see Lowry in a game.  NEVER!!!! 

Next season I’d bring Beauchamp back.  I think that kid can play….just need opportunity and continued development. 

[jkay]

need Johnny

[HollowHustla]

need Johnny

Who is Johnny? 

[Cowboys4life]

Imma go out on a limb and say, moving forward, I believe Edwards can replace McCains production.  He’s bigger, can get his own shot, can shoot the 3, and defends pretty well.  All he needs is consistent mins & touches, now that his confidence and play has returned.  If the bench is gonna be Grimes, Oubre/Barlow, Edwards, Bona, and Payne headed into the play in…they should be able to score the ball & defend.  They scored 139 w those guys and I don’t care who they played.  Thats a lot of points for GL and UDFA types. 

W that being said…NN has got to let them play and not close games w 3 G lineups.  Stay big.  The bench can stay big using VJ at PG.  VJ, Grimes, Edwards, Watford/Bona, Drummond.  IMO Bona can defend these stretch PFs like Mobley. Finally, we should never see Lowry in a game.  NEVER!!!! 

Next season I’d bring Beauchamp back.  I think that kid can play….just need opportunity and continued development.

While that may be the case... That does not mean that both could not have worked... I have made the case that at minimum McCain could have been the 6th man...

That's part of the problem, Grimes seems to be starting and not on the bench... When Oubre was out, why was Edwards not starting being he's a true SF... Add that he is 22 years of age, would be nice to see VJ and Edwards together... Bona should have been starting all this time getting experience... Again, what the F are we doing... I don't agree with Bona at PF, start him at Center... And even with Joel back, it should be Joel playing the stretch 4 being he can hit that 3 point shot. It's all irrelevant as we sit in the 9th seed and more than likely a loss tonight...

[Why_Cant_Philly_Win]

What’s the % probability of all 3 JE/PG/TM playing all possible playoff games. I say 20% or 1 in 5 possible games.

[mikejack20]

What’s the % probability of all 3 JE/PG/TM playing all possible playoff games. I say 20% or 1 in 5 possible games.

have to start with the number of games/rounds.

all 3 can play in the playin game they get bounced from....lol

seriously though, if they go into the conference semis, 20% sounds about right and that may be high. if they have to play 14+ games to that point, odds are pretty high one of embiid or george would miss a game, at least. its not like its a one year thing with the injuries.

[HollowHustla]

While that may be the case... That does not mean that both could not have worked... I have made the case that at minimum McCain could have been the 6th man...

That's part of the problem, Grimes seems to be starting and not on the bench... When Oubre was out, why was Edwards not starting being he's a true SF... Add that he is 22 years of age, would be nice to see VJ and Edwards together... Bona should have been starting all this time getting experience... Again, what the F are we doing... I don't agree with Bona at PF, start him at Center... And even with Joel back, it should be Joel playing the stretch 4 being he can hit that 3 point shot. It's all irrelevant as we sit in the 9th seed and more than likely a loss tonight...

When Oubre was out earlier, Edwards wasn't playing very well.  He didnt start, but he did play.  He was @$$.  He played and avg 17mpg during that time.  His numbers?  29% FG, 25% 3FG, 4ppg.  Joel cannot defend stretch PFs on the wing.  He cant move well enough defending guys on the perimeter. 

[Bsktbller]

While that may be the case... That does not mean that both could not have worked... I have made the case that at minimum McCain could have been the 6th man...

At a minimum? You are going to have to elaborate on that, Cowboys. Sounds like your suggesting you expect he should start. Ie in a 3 guard lineup with Maxey and VJ?!? For a guy that hates small ball that sounds preposterous.

[jkay]

Who is Johnny?

Johnny bench

[PlayTheBlackKeys]

What’s the % probability of all 3 JE/PG/TM playing all possible playoff games. I say 20% or 1 in 5 possible games.

I would probably put that number at zero point zero (in my best Dean Wormer voice).

[Why_Cant_Philly_Win]

I would probably put that number at zero point zero (in my best Dean Wormer voice).

As long as JE/PG are collecting a paycheck this team has no chance of winning the east.

[krukster]

As long as JE/PG are collecting a paycheck this team has no chance of winning the east.

Fans who think that a new team built on players born after 2000 will somehow be immune to players missing games are completely missing the plot on what's happening to the modern game.

Gen Yers had SOME semblance of toughness, even if they were softer than they Gen X and Boomer predecessors.

Gen Z and A are gonna sit out playoff games for paper cuts.

The solution to our problem isn't the players or GM, but the coaches.  Brett and Nurse employed dynamic but physically taxing systems.  Doc's system was not physically taxing, but excessively boring.

You watch current elite teams and they find a way to be dynamic on both ends without putting too much physical pressure on their players.  That's the key to succeeding in this high paced perimeter oriented version of the game.

The "weez needz to tank" crowd is preaching an outdated narrative that didn't really work even when it was in vogue.

[HollowHustla]

I disagree Kruk.  Have you seen OKC, DET, NYK play?  Very physical on both ends.  I’d say CLE, SAS, DEN don’t play that way cuz Harden & Jokic are elite facilitators who can pass/score.  Both teams have good defenders and CLE has a C who can erase mistakes in Allen.  SAS has a generational talent surrounded by top 10 picks.  He also can erase defensive mistakes and score w the best of them.  Most every other team has to play a system w the cards given them.  Whether it’s small ball, uptempo, 2man game…teams have to play according to the cards dealt them.  Thats where PHi sits IMO. 

[krukster]

I disagree Kruk.  Have you seen OKC, DET, NYK play?  Very physical on both ends.  I’d say CLE, SAS, DEN don’t play that way cuz Harden & Jokic are elite facilitators who can pass/score.  Both teams have good defenders and CLE has a C who can erase mistakes in Allen.  SAS has a generational talent surrounded by top 10 picks.  He also can erase defensive mistakes and score w the best of them.  Most every other team has to play a system w the cards given them.  Whether it’s small ball, uptempo, 2man game…teams have to play according to the cards dealt them.  Thats where PHi sits IMO.

Physical is fine, as I've said for years, nobody gets hurt from bumping and grinding on a basketball court.  Tired and bruised maybe, but never hurt.

It's the higher volume of hard cuts and bursts that increases the risk of injury.

When we played the Hawks their commentators joked that we never ran any offensive sets.  Everything on that end is 1 on1 basketball, with the hope/prayer that our guys will pass it to the open man if they're double teamed (which they rarely do).

Defensively we're like an elementary school soccer team chasing the ball around wherever it goes.  That trap crap stops working after high school, even college teams don't run it now save for some select occasions.

For every turnover our trap scheme generates it gives us multiple easy buckets while taxing the hell out of our players.

[Cowboys4life]

At a minimum? You are going to have to elaborate on that, Cowboys. Sounds like your suggesting you expect he should start. Ie in a 3 guard lineup with Maxey and VJ?!? For a guy that hates small ball that sounds preposterous.

Did he not start 8 games early in the season? He was our 5th leading scorer last season... I'm suggesting that he should have been the 6 man... I don't understand why he couldn't... Why couldn't McCain substitute for Maxey to play with VJ... Why couldn't McCain and Grimes coexist off the bench as substitutions...

I hate small ball... Yes, the 3 guard lineup... I never understood, even when healthy, why Grimes has to be in the game the last 5 minutes... What I do know, McCain was not played correctly, nor given the opportunity or minutes... Why can he succeed in OKC, but not in Philly... Edwards should have gotten consistent minutes behind Oubre if not starting... Bona should have been the day one backup to Joel... This season has been an EPIC FAILURE... it's going to be interesting to see what happens, because I have thought all along that Grimes will walk for a larger contract to end the season... Then what...