Sixer Fans Are Making A Random Mid-Season Game Against A Hobbled Nets Team Into Their Super Bowl

Our own 76ers Superfan Rone tweeted out this morning that the Sixers game tonight against the Nets was “the most important game since Game 7 against the Raptors.”

You remember that game, don’t you?

LOL Sixer fans, you never forget the ones that rip your heart out. You remember who gave up and let Kawhi get in the corner because he thought Embiid had him on lock, right? Hahaha Mr. Balloon Hands. Bad look to give up on the ball at that point in the game. You hate to see it.

It’s WILD that Sixer fans are equating a regular-season game a month away from the playoffs with a game 7 close out game against a team that ultimately won the title, but I digress. 

Let’s be honest, this Nets team is significantly more talented than that Raptors team with 3 current and 3 former all stars and truthfully, a seven game series is nothing like a one-off game in April. And the Nets are banged up, missing James Harden to a hammy injury and because KD is back from injury just a couple games back, he’s out for load management. Add in Blake and Aldridge, and it’s basically the Philadelphia 76ers against Kyrie Irving. And guess what?

This will be a fun ass matchup between the self proclaimed DPOY and one of the most skilled players in our generation in Kyrie Irving.

Will Ben lock Ky down? I don’t think so. Like Smitty said, Kyrie is probably the only consistent offensive threat playing tonight with Harden and KD out. 

I even have a bet up on the Barstool Sportsbook app now Kyrie Irvin O/U 28.5 and I am HAMMERING the over. 

So back to Rone’s point. Is this the most important game? Or just a skeleton crew feel good game for Philly? 

The interesting thing about Kyrie is how he became as good as he is. One of the people credited with developing Kyrie’s footwork and handle and recently said that Kyrie is the greatest ball-handler of all time. 

Phil Handy is an under-the-radar basketball guru, coming in as a skills coach a decade ago, and currently has rings with three different organizations -- the Cavaliers, the Raptors, and the Lakers. He’s worked with some of the great players of the past two decades, including Kobe, Kawhi, Lebron, and Anthony Davis. 

I was fortunate enough to sit down with Phil on the latest episode of THIS LEAGUE and it was one of the best conversations I have had about basketball in ages. One of the many questions Phil was candid about, was when I asked who he was most proud of working with and who he’s impacted most. He said Kyrie. I’m always interested in players who have handles growing up admiring Tim Hardaway and AI and since Phil’s specialty is footwork, balance, and shooting, there is probably no one better qualified to speak on the subject.

Not only did he say that Kyrie was his favorite person to develop, he also said that in his opinion Kyrie has the best handles in the HISTORY of the NBA. Before you go off in the comments, he’s not saying that Kyrie is the BEST player in the league, he’s very clear he thinks Lebron is, but that no one can score in as many different ways than Kyrie can. 

And you know what? I agree with him. Kyrie is downright FILTHY.

There is no one as skilled handling the rock and getting to the rim in as many ways as Ky. His scoring versatility is similar to Harden’s but he has a much bigger handle package and slightly smoother game overall. 

Check out the latest episode of THIS LEAGUE and download on Apple and Spotify where Phil discusses whether the mid range and traditional big men are still useful in the modern NBA, whether he aspirations of head coaching in the future and a lot more. 

We’ve had a HUGE week so check out the past few episodes from last week as well. My conversation with Erika around the future of branding and her belief that women should lean into being the villains was fascinating.