- I'm proud of the Sixers. They fought hard and didn't give up. It was a hell of a year, only two years removed from 10 wins. Still it was frustrating and disappointing, knowing the Sixers were favored in the series, with Boston without two of its regulars. It could've been so much more.
- Markelle Fultz was the overall No. 1 pick of the draft yet didn't play at all in the Boston series. After seeing Jayson Tatum excel in the series, knowing they passed up on Tatum ( a decision that will likely haunt the organization for years), it was even more painful not to see Fultz. His situation needs to be made clear by the start of next season. You can;t have the No. 1 pick sit on the bench without even sniffing a minute of playing time in a huge playoff series.
- Could Kobe Bryant help to remake Ben Simmons' jumper? Kobe or no, Simmons needs to work on his outside game this summer. The Celtics' plan for Simmons was simple: clog up the middle so Ben can't drive and glide to the basket. Force him to shoot from the outside. Simmons knows, at this point in his young career, he can't shot a lick, even from 15-feet in. His foul shooting remains an issue, and at times he doesn't want contact for fear of going to the foul-line. Simmons may be Rookie of the Year but his overall game needs to improve big-time.
- Same with Joel Embiid. Great player but he takes way too many 3-point shots. As Shaq O'Neil said on the post-game show, Embiid should never settle for a long jump shot if he is being guarded by a shorter opponent. Take the ball to the basket, draw fouls and punish guys in the box, not 25-feet away from the basket.
- I bet the organization keeps Coach Brett Brown, but his blew several games in the Boston series by stupid decision-making. The players have to perform, but not calling time-out in Game Two as Boston made it's comeback run was ridiculous.
- Who goes and who stays? Do Bellinelli and Illysova leave because they don't play defense? Does Paul George or LeBron James come to Philly to get the 76ers over the hump? What happens in the draft?
- The Phillies destroyed San Francisco again last night, 11-3. Franco and Santana continue to surge. The offense clicked even with both Hoskins and Kingery having the night off. The team is now 21-15, still 1/2 game behind the first place Braves in NL East.
- With a win this afternoon ( another stupid Facebook-only deal) against the Giants, the Phils will have swept another four-game series at home. They beat Pittsburgh earlier, taking all four games. The club is 14-4 at Citizens Bank Park so far, and have a 14-2 record against opponents not in National League East.
- Nick Pivetta pitched five scoreless innings to get the win last night. The starting pitching has been great, with Arrieta and Nola doing thier ace-like magic, and Eflin a pleasant surprise.Vince Valasquez takes the mound today vs. SF. Valasquez has been inconsistent, like usual. His ultimate fate may be in the bullpen as a future closer, but for now, he is in the rotation. Jared Eichoff and Mark Leiter Jr. loom soon form injury. Valasquez needs to pitch well to secure his spot in the starting rotation.
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