Drew Dinsick and Jay Croucher dive into the center of the Eastern Conference and the injury implications impacting their chance of making the NBA postseason.
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Video Transcript
Well, Jay, there are a dozen fascinating things going on in the NBA right now, but what has piqued my interest the most really is what in the world to make of five through ten in the Eastern Conference.
Well, Jay, there are a dozen fascinating things going on in the NBA right now, but what has piqued my interest the most really is what in the world to make of five through ten in the Eastern Conference.
These teams are not sorted correctly by how good they are.
These teams are not sorted correctly by how good they are.
and there’s only three and a half games that’s– that, separates seed ten, who has the hardest road into the playoffs from seed five, who presumably, you know, would, would have a relatively comfortable, you know, first round playoff matchup potentially to move on.
and there’s only three and a half games that’s– that, separates seed ten, who has the hardest road into the playoffs from seed five, who presumably, you know, would, would have a relatively comfortable, you know, first round playoff matchup potentially to move on.
the Philadelphia 76ers are probably the int– most in- of intriguing of these teams five through ten because they will be without Tyrese Maxey for the rest of this month at a minimum.
the Philadelphia 76ers are probably the int– most in- of intriguing of these teams five through ten because they will be without Tyrese Maxey for the rest of this month at a minimum.
Joel Embiid remains a question mark as far as his availability, and their schedule is not as easy as some of the other teams who seemingly play tanking teams every night.
Joel Embiid remains a question mark as far as his availability, and their schedule is not as easy as some of the other teams who seemingly play tanking teams every night.
do you think it is worth taking a shot on Philadelphia no, at minus one twenty to make the playoffs?
do you think it is worth taking a shot on Philadelphia no, at minus one twenty to make the playoffs?
Yeah, I think these prices are fairly reasonable.
Yeah, I think these prices are fairly reasonable.
If I were to back one side, it would be the no at minus one twenty.
If I were to back one side, it would be the no at minus one twenty.
It’s an interesting setup where I think there’s a good chance that Philly do slide into the nine ten and don’t get, the double chance.
It’s an interesting setup where I think there’s a good chance that Philly do slide into the nine ten and don’t get, the double chance.
But once we get there, assuming that Embiid is healthy and Maxey is back and George is back from the suspension, they may well be the best team, in the playing bunch.
But once we get there, assuming that Embiid is healthy and Maxey is back and George is back from the suspension, they may well be the best team, in the playing bunch.
That’s plausible, but they may have to win two games.
That’s plausible, but they may have to win two games.
And so the schedule, yeah, not super easy.
And so the schedule, yeah, not super easy.
I think what may ultimately save them if they do make the playoffs and if they do fall into the seven eight, which would make them, you know, a me-meaningful favorite to make the playoffs ’cause they get two cracks at it, is that the next few weeks, they still do have these games against Brooklyn, Sacramento, Utah, Chicago, which might be a– they may be dogs in that game, Washington.
I think what may ultimately save them if they do make the playoffs and if they do fall into the seven eight, which would make them, you know, a me-meaningful favorite to make the playoffs ’cause they get two cracks at it, is that the next few weeks, they still do have these games against Brooklyn, Sacramento, Utah, Chicago, which might be a– they may be dogs in that game, Washington.
I think that there will just be enough tankers to keep them afloat, but the real, inflection point of this is just when is Joel Embiid gonna come back and is he gonna be healthy?
I think that there will just be enough tankers to keep them afloat, but the real, inflection point of this is just when is Joel Embiid gonna come back and is he gonna be healthy?
If Embiid gets back in the next week or so, I think that they’ll be okay, but there’s a lot of downside risk there.
If Embiid gets back in the next week or so, I think that they’ll be okay, but there’s a lot of downside risk there.
So ultimately, I suspect the Sixers will miss the playoffs.
So ultimately, I suspect the Sixers will miss the playoffs.
Yeah, I agree with that, right now that my most likely landing spot for them is the tenth seed.
Yeah, I agree with that, right now that my most likely landing spot for them is the tenth seed.
My most likely nine seed is Charlotte, so, I would make Charlotte healthy favorites in that game, even with a healthy Maxey and Embiid on the floor.
My most likely nine seed is Charlotte, so, I would make Charlotte healthy favorites in that game, even with a healthy Maxey and Embiid on the floor.
and, yeah, at that point would have to win a second road game to get in.
and, yeah, at that point would have to win a second road game to get in.
So minus one twenty looks very appetizing to me for Philadelphia.
So minus one twenty looks very appetizing to me for Philadelphia.
No.
No.