* The Sixers won their fourth game ina row last night, shredding the Indiana Pacers with a franchise high 18 three-pointers, on their way to a 121-110 victory.J.J. Reddick scored 31 points.He was the perfect free agent to sign in the off-season, giving the 76'ers the outside shooter they have needed for so long.
Now the team embarks on a 5-game western swing, starting in Utah on Tuesday night. Other then the Jazz, the Sixers take on the Kings, Warriors, Clippers and Lakers. The first game back home is Nov. 18 against Golden State, so it's a rough road ahead.
Match-ups with Lonzo Ball, Stephan Curry and Blake Griffin await. This trip will tell a lot about the Sixers' fortunes this season.
The Jazz are tough to bet in Utah. Sacramento should be a win. I think Philly will split in LA. Count the Golden State game as a loss.I'll go out on a limb and say the Sixers will go 3-2 on the trip.
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The Eagles are still 7 1/2 point favorites over the Broncos tomorrow afternoon. I'll be at the game. I agree that it won't be an easy game, due to the Denver defense. But the Broncos play their third road game in a row, and they are changing quarterbacks.
I can't see the Eagles going into their bye week with a home loss. True, they do have problems with AFC teams, and hopefully they aren't looking ahead to Dallas in two weeks. But they Eagles are the better team, plain and simple, and they are playing in Philly.
A loss wouldn't devastate the Eagles, but a win makes them 8-1 and sets them up for the stretch run and a playoff bye and home field advantage.
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Again, I'm not crazy about the Phillies hiring Gabe Kapler as their new manager. He's a strange guy, eating grasshoppers and sunning his testicles, but all of that won't matter if he can manage the team.
I would feel better if he had some experience. I'm sure he will rely a lot on his coaching staff, and it will be interesting to see who he appoints s his bench coach, hitting coach and pitching coach.
He's a fitness nut, and you have to give him credit for being as motivated and disciplined as he is. Will he be another Chip Kelly and try and force his players to adhere to his weird lifestyle methods? Will he be able to communicate with the players and demand their respect? Or will the players figure out that he's a real nut job and not take him seriously?
This all goes back to GM Matt Klentak. He had guys like Dusty Baker and Joe Girardi out there to interview yet choose to hire Kapler, a guy with zero big league managerial experience. Klentak should get the glory if Kapler succeeds, but Klentak should also get the ax if Kepler fails.
Meanwhile, the Winter Meetings begins shortly and free agency soon after. I don't expect the Phils to do much in free agency but I do expect them to be active with trades. Dealing and packaging guys like Joseph, Hernandez and Rupp may get the team quality pitching, as only Aaron Nola seems like a sure bet in the 2018 rotation.
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