* The Sixers won their first game of the season in Detroit on Monday night. They are 1-3 in the early going. NBA season. They return home tomorrow night to face the Houston Rockets.
Joel Embiid scored 30 points in Detroit,, and Ben Simmons earned his first ever triple-double.
But the real story last night was rookie No.1 draft pick Markelle Fultz. H finally admitted that it's true, he does have a sore right shoulder. It has been apparent for a while, especially when he painfully tries to shoot free throws.
I don't get the Sixers' medical staff. They limit Embiids' minutes and won't let him play back-to-back gamses despite JoJo himself saying he is fine. Yet they clear Fultz to play with a noticeably bum shoulder?
No wonder fans and the media are questioning if the docs know what the hell they are doing.
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* OK, maybe I'm jumping the gun, but with every Eagle victory I dream of the playoffs and beyond. It's alright to savor the season and think ahead.
With each win Philly gets closer to a bye and home field advantage in the playoffs. I get it- they need to make the playoffs first. But here are a few fun scenarios to ponder:
- Revenge. Playing- and beating Tampa Bay, Carolina and New Orleans would be pay-back for past playoff losses.
-Getting Seattle in Philadelphia would be big. Allow the crowd at the Linc to be the 12th man, not the Seattle fans.Getting Atlanta out of their dome and in the January cold of Philadelphia is another key. The Eagles would have the advantage against the surprising LA Rams, and not only because of travel and the weather. The Rams would be a newcomer in the playoffs ( as is the Eagles, to be fair). Anyone from the NFC North- Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit or Minnesota-would be underdogs against the Birds.
So, who would you rather play in the Super Bowl?
- Pittsburgh would mean an-all Pennsylvania Super Bowl. Imagine the hype and build-up for an Eagles-Steelers title game> Wentz vs Roethenberger.
- What about playing New England? A chance to revenge the 2004 Super Bowl loss.Tom Brady vs Wentz. Boston vs Philly.The cCheaters vs the Good Guys.
- Kansas City would be a great match-up. Andy Reid against his old team.Waiting for Reid to screw-up time management or bad playing-calling decisions.
Oakland would mean 1980 revenge.
Those are the fun match-ups to consider down the road. As long as the Eagles win their first Super Bowl, who cares who they play?
* Late news- as expected, Jason Peters will be out for the rest of the season with both a torn ACL and MCL. With his age one has to wonder if he can come back from such a devastating knee injury. Knowing Peters I'm sure he will try. It's a big blow to the Birds' offensive line, and Peters was a leader both on and off the field.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks has a ruptured Achilles, also bad. I would be surprised if he came back. Hicks is a young, athletic player. I'm sure he will recover. But fans have to be concerned that he gets hurt so often.
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The World Series starts tonight in Los Angeles, with the Dodgers and Astros battling for the world championship. My heart is with Houston, but my head has to say LA in six games.
The Dodgers have steam-rolled their way through the playoffs. The Astros have a really good team, especially their offense. As it turned out, the best teams in baseball will be meeting in the World Series ( no offense to the Indians), both clubs winning over 100 games.
I hope Chase Utley gets to play sometimes in the Series. That's why he went to Los Angeles and why he hasn't retired yet, wanting a chance to win another ring.
On the Houston side, closer Ken Giles is another former Phillie who should get work.
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