Stephen A. DEFENDS Mad Dog: Let's NOT ACT like the 76ers can't WIN IT 👀 | First Take

[@KZ1994able]

"The Sixers should trade Embiid & build the team around Ben Simmons" - Chris Broussard, 2021

[@MeiA-h9r]

Thank God, he was not the sixers GM at the time😂😂😂😂

[@FrankMatthews556]

Lol that dude is a clown

[@acemomey23]

clown

[@skipbayless4375]

To quote himself, “Is the man retarded”

[@rafaelisslaam1894]

cap, he said that to get ratings. Hes fantastic on FTF.@@FrankMatthews556

[@unfoldx]

"Embiid is guarding freaking Tobais Harris" LOL what?

[@No.24Baraka]

😂😂😂

[@IfBayless]

Embiid is guarding freakin Aaron Gordon and Tobias Harris? 😮😅😅

[@tylerwest3161]

Both where guarding each other so many times embiid was smacking 3s in jokic face

[@snupedummy]

They were balling

[@b2284]

They don't back each other down went go against each other because Joker doesn't play in her post, so the 76ers don't want to take Ernie out of the paint

[@Charlie2timez]

He watches highlights…not the game.

[@dontAtMe69420]

Embiid made 3 total 3's not all were against Jokic lol

[@WawaMarvel]

They don’t watch. Aaron Gordon guarded him for a few plays. They forget that there are screens and movement. So switching happens. These clowns just scream and say things to get attention. Then other clowns believe them.

[@DavidGolic]

"Tobias Harris needs to show up" -Everyone, every year.

[@mwebster3265]

He only shows up when he has to be “The Man” because all the stars are injured. I don’t get it. You would think he’d have less pressure not being the #1 or #2.🙄The last time he was consistent was when he was playing for the Clippers.

[@DavidGolic]

@@mwebster3265 agreed. And when he is playing well it's probably just for a quarter. The main problem is that he is playing off ball and he is just not someone who is an elite off ball player, much better as shot creator, from mid range, mid post area, using his size. He is spotting up most of the time and that is just not his strong suit, never was, never will be.

[@ebok33643]

“Embiid needs to show up in the playoffs” Everyone every year 😂

[@TYLOTYLOTYLO]

Honestly the sixers have one of the best rosters. But the worst attitudes. If all players are cooking they can win a chip. They lost in 7 games to the chip winning raptors and 7 games to celtics who are apparently the best team to ever exist and havent won a chip in nearly 20 years. But yeah.

[@jaymendezz]

Mad Dog only watches games from before 1989

[@OotoriKyouya]

He just said he watched the game. Learn to listen

[@chimaebinama3192]

What is Mad Dog talking about. Ain't no one laughing that Embiid and Jokic didn't guard each other. They had cross match ups as a defensive scheme. But Embiid and Jokic did guard each other at times, and Embiid was more effective at doing that than Jokic.

[@nbarealtalker]

If Philly even whiffs the conference finals this year, Nick Nurse needs to be recognized as one of the best coaches in sports.

[@Young-ep8ik]

Having Embiid and Jokic guard each other would be good for the entertainment business of the league, but it would be a stupid basketball decision.

[@ayoomisope6563]

Why exactly? Such matchups happen in the playoffs all the time

[@Young-ep8ik]

@@ayoomisope6563 same reason why it would be absolutely ridiculous for steph to say give me the hardest defensive assignment in the playoffs. Some players are so involved in the offense that it’s simply not worth having them exert too much energy on the other end. There’s a reason people hunt for steph even when he’s been a plus defender in recent years - to slow down his offense. Both Jokic and Joel are similarly important to their respective team’s offense. It’s not 90s anymore where there were less skill, less movement and slower pacing where it’s possible to pull it off on both ends without impacting winning too much.

[@DarkAlpha171]

Windy must of taken too much of that blow, dude couldn't stop blinking.

[@shaheemtaylor960]

Lmaooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@JavonRansom]

Thought I was the only one the noticed bro malfunctioning

[@xzu-ip7qj]

Skip Bayless is coked out of his mind ...

[@yxngkillua7700]

As a 6ers fan at the end of the day we are playing either the bucks or celtics second round -- celtics team is nastily stacked so that makes things difficult -- bucks I'd say we're better than especially based on how I've seen each of us play but they are a clutch team so I'm not seeing that happen either

[@kb101ist]

Bucks are very dominant against top teams so can't see it tbh

[@mikeblaze7424]

We beat the Celtics fully healthy people need to stop

[@yxngkillua7700]

@@mikeblaze7424 let’s really put bias aside I hate the Celtics as much as anyone but realistically they have 5 players who are all star calibre and one of those 5 is coming off the bench so yh what I said is rational they are the most talented roster in the league and have been for 3 years now

[@weixiangwei9413]

I do think sixer should try to replace Tobias Harris expiring contract and few pick for an all star like Siakam or few 3d players for depth to compete with Celtic or buck in the playoff

[@sob_meen]

Who guards a healthy joel? They had jrue trying to guard him man they only stop joel when he is injured tbh@@yxngkillua7700

[@D15-b8j]

Joel was guarding AG for defensive scheme. Joel could help off an AG to defend the rim. Tbh dk why jokic wasn’t guarding embild 😁 but whatever

[@k_hack9441]

Jokic can’t guard a traffic cone

[@tylers9476]

@@k_hack9441 You act like Embiid leaves the paint

[@ShquonHodge0627]

​@@tylers9476 embiid was midranging the nuggets the whole game so yes he leaves the paint in fact he has been killing teams from midrange all year

[@BlackedOutDreams]

@@ShquonHodge0627you’re pathetic

[@tylers9476]

@@ShquonHodge0627 no one is talking about offense kid

[@pravindandekar6585]

He's acting like Embiid didnt smack a 3 on Jokic

[@dillonroyalfeathayes8976]

And like 5 jumpers lol plus a euro

[@marquis-rg9jw]

I disagree I think the way this philly team is built around Embiid I believe they have a chance to win a championship.

[@KCM316]

Philly still won’t get past the 2nd round

[@jaylucas8352]

Need to get out a second round first they ain’t done it yet w Embiid his ppg drops by TEN POINTS in the playoffs cause he don’t get free throws

[@krisxchirbas9503]

Based on? They haven't even made it out the second round?

[@shaunr1985]

@@krisxchirbas9503based on them actually having a coach that coaches in game, and doesn’t choke (doc rivers), as well as Maxey’s improvement, as well as addition of batum, Kelly oubre…. Anything else?

[@King_Kunta]

@@jaylucas8352that’s just a lie. Embiid’s stats drop because he played with legit injuries that players would literally miss games for. Yall all always leave that part out

[@ryanrowe1975]

Embiid and Jokic played defense against the finals of defending the paint to staying healthy when he is in the game

[@pennytrue2741]

With all due respect they are trying to win the game not put on a show for all of you. Both jokic and embiid would’ve racked up fouls and fouled out of the game had they guarded each other the whole time and then you also would’ve had nothing to watch.

[@ND-OPS]

Stop cryin. NBA today don't have the competitive mentality.

[@Z_Is_Me_Reacts]

They have a chance but they blow it every playoffs

[@ImMaleik]

like the cowboys

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Put a small dude on jokic so Joel can swat oop attempts to gordan. Cuz they’ll spam it.

[@jimifender22]

yep. last year when they played sixers were getting absolutely destroyed on cuts to the rim in the first half which is why they put tucker on jokic. it's kind of bizarre to me when people say its lame embiid doesnt guard jokic when everybody knows while jokic is a very good scorer what makes him the player he is is the passing. really it's a compliment to both jokic's ability offensively and embiid's ability as a defender that the sixers think their best bet to defend the nuggets is to keep embiid at the rim

[@swizzy215]

@@jimifender22thank you! Somebody here gets it!

[@kobelipsey0616]

Jokic couldn’t guard embid well every time he did embid would score that’s why ag had to guard embid Embid however could guard Jokic but because of how Jokic gets other players involved, it left the paint very vulnerable, bringing embid out to guard Jokic would allow Denver role players to have a field day in the paint Mad dog is it really that hard to see the strategy that was applied by both teams?

[@swizzy215]

They let anyone talk about sports man 🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️. Ok let me give a basketball 102 course for the mentally disabled: Where does Jokic typically play from? Answer: Highpost! What is Embiid biggest strength as a defender? Answer: DEFEND THE POST! So why in tf would Embiid let Jokic pull him out from the rim to KILL him with back door cut passes all game?! BECAUSE THATS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN! All Aaron Gordon wants to do is dunk! Jokic is a point Center, play his pass more than his shot because he’s not even looking to kill like that shooting. Where as embiid is too quick for Jokic so they make the decision to have AG on him who is strong, jumps high and can move with Embiid in the perimeter where he usually gets the ball. Stephen A Smith and Mad dog want ego basketball that would be idiotic 🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️🤦🏿‍♂️.

[@Toxic_4041]

Not bad really good point 💯

[@Docwell]

Harris is important but it’s really just all about Embiids health. If he can play in every game and not be injured they have a chance against anyone.

[@TheBestMovieAlive]

Did everybody forget that Embiid’s play drops off in the playoffs? His points per game drops by 10! That drop-off is the largest by that year's MVP in NBA history.

[@jaylucas8352]

His playoff win percent is .455. Not exactly great

[@ND-OPS]

Injuries brotha

[@JustDaveHuynh]

You’re looking at his past 2 seasons with him scoring so much in the reg season and then getting injured in the playoffs in back to back season… he had the orbital fracture and torn thumb ligament and then last season he had the sprained mcl in the Brooklyn series so he wasn’t 100% Ppl automatically look at the box score and completely ignore the context of his injuries

[@tellsteveharveyidontwanthe2283]

@@ND-OPS8 season yeah right bro he lost with prime simmons reddick butler harris

[@Docwell]

Stop it, his play does not drop off when healthy. His play drops off because he is injured every year. When healthy he is just as good. You clearly don’t watch basketball.

[@chrisbartorillo2884]

i really think if the sixers and nuggets met in the finals the sixers would win because jokic brings the best out of joel and he always plays with a chip on his shoulder against him trying to make his statement that he’s the best big in the game

[@JaysonT975]

They need a 4th guy, Denver Boston OKC and Milwaukee all have 4 guys, Philly has 3.

[@dalecamilleri9372]

Stephen A heard Shaq saying Tobis needs to be the 3rd star and ran with it 😂

[@pennytrue2741]

If they were in the west they would be fine. Celtics and even bucks give them trouble. Honestly it really depends if Embiid can stay healthy and be as dominant as he is in the regular season. Without a healthy embiid they have no shot with this roster. They no longer have harden and maxey can’t carry the load with so many defenders on him as the number 1 option. Imo nick nurses coaching will help this year but if embiid isn’t healthy even that can’t really help.

[@TuneSquadFTW]

u good blinky windy?

[@sharoncook5883]

Sixers Embiid is a warrior The best center in the NBA❤ MVP💪💪🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆❤️

[@Qadir103]

Bro this man blinked a million times 😩😩😩

[@fifis677]

Maxey and Jokic were guarding Each other...

[@dirkfade113]

Why they cut windy off like that I was tryna hear him

[@CasualGamerPlays]

Whoever Stephen A picks for any championship, you should always go the opposite way. Just saying

[@aleksandarhadjov8536]

SAS what are you talking about??? Did you saw the game from start Jokic was guarding Embiid but Philly switch Batum on Jokic then Denver switch AG on Embiid..class act from Embiid saying that Jokic is still the best player in the NBA and they are in a race..Jokic must shoot the ball more instead playing for others all the time bc no one can guard him..he took those 2 threes to late in the game he should've shoot it mutch sooner..by the way last season Embiid won in their match up but lets get in the playoffs so we can see who's who..Denver is going back to back✌️

[@The_JAR24]

IDK what Russo is talking about... Embiid and Jokic guarded each other for over half of their shots in that game. Embiid pulled shot two three pointers in Jokic's face and posted up on him numerous times because of switches. It was a super exciting game. Russo just likes to yell and complain about the new NBA any chance he gets. This is the same guy who thinks that Wilt and Bob Cousy would be dominant today as they were back in the 50s and 60s.

[@sedaw3261]

Doggy telling it like it is

[@eshaandabest1382]

mad dog is crazy. there is no way he us revolving the Sixers and Denver game about the match up between embiid and jokic and not about winning git. They weren't playing on each other because they wanted to put pressure up top and jokic/emmbiid can sit back and rim protect

[@f1k199]

Embid best shooting center to play the game?

[@Criminal.Lawyer.2024]

It's all going to come down to which teams are healthy. There are 8 teams that could win it this season.

[@user-nu4um2gr3d]

Who's the biggest star in Phily Embiid, Hurts, or Harper.

[@lilmocharlie]

I loved doggy take they need to play eachother fans love head to head matchups

[@officialthomasjames]

Mad dog doesn’t understand defensive scheme. Joel was able to hold down the paint and eliminate a lot of Jokic’s passing options near the rime.

[@chimaebinama3192]

How are the Sixers definitely behind the Nuggets or Clippers? I'll give you the Celtics, but I'd put the Sixers on the same level as everyone else.

[@Justme-jq2np]

SAS praising Embiid for playing Gobert but Jok plays him 4 times a year. SAS is a clown.

[@JojSs_sh]

Sick part 64

[@tellsteveharveyidontwanthe2283]

just a reminder last time embiid played in denver it was 5 years ago nov 2019 and when they played jokic hit the game winner😂

[@pjraduta749]

Just a reminder that he's missed those games because of injuries that kept him out multiple games as well as Covid health and safety protocols one year.

[@Madurocgrz]

As a fan, sure it would have been nice to see them guard one another, but the way these guys draw fouls, one, or both would be in foul trouble and you wouldn't get to see much of them play one another much anyway. Down the stretch in the 4th, they did play one another

[@chengxiong6806]

😂No, Embiid is going to choke again in the playoffs

[@majkldzordan4270]

Embiid is faul merchant and he doesn't get those calls in playoffs so 2nd round exit 😂😂😂

[@booksrdevinkevin]

Nope I love maxey but I don't think they don't play defense

[@makielcepeda9003]

Best game of the season

[@tylerwest3161]

Nah that Giannis vs wemby is

[@009godspeed]

How is mad dog that stupid that he doesnt realize why the coaches didnt have them guard each other. Embiid didnt guard jokic because jokic wouldve dragged him out to 3pt line & the paint would be wide open. jokic didnt guard Embiid because he wouldve been in foul trouble. Both coaches were EXTREMELY wise for this decision & its what made the game a good watch. Had they been matched up entire game they'd both been in foul trouble and it wouldve been a boring a$$ game to watch

[@MeiA-h9r]

Tobias Harris‼️‼️‼️‼️😂😂😂😂😂😂 Are y’all serious❓❓😂😂😂😂

[@officialthomasjames]

Sixers won, Joel dominated Jokic. Whatever we did, it worked.

[@ebok33643]

And that’s the post season? 😅

[@lifescope]

Mad Dog didnt watch that game.

[@swizzy215]

I’ll bet everything in my pocket he’s watched 1 maybe 2 sixer games all year.

[@OotoriKyouya]

This is why you sixers fans are the worst. You're all pricks

[@mustleman1]

We do this literally every year and every year they get smoked. Embiid is afraid of al horford

[@griffinburns9238]

Wasn’t Mad Dog supposed to retire after the hole Arizona situation

[@nyelle.1]

I’ll save everyone time. The answer is no

[@TheReal2Q]

Thing is we gotta see embiid do this in jokic’s house next week, and stop ducking denver !

[@rellwill231]

He missed 1 game in Denver because he was really hurt and had 47 and 20 when they played

[@Bassplayerfromearth]

Let’s Go Sixers 2024 champions 🫵🏿

[@topherklimek2259]

Russo is definitely just that loud grandfather that needs to be put to bed early every family get together.

[@hulk6452]

Why does Stephen A say “Die-rectly” instead of just just “directly”? Perkins says it like that too. So weird

[@tellsteveharveyidontwanthe2283]

they cant as long as embiid is your nr 1 second round is where your dreams end

[@CandGCleaningTeam]

If you watch the game every time they guard each other the refs blow the whistle

[@shaheemtaylor960]

At least the Eagles won a championship recently and played in another recently. 76ers I’ve seen this story over and over Embiid dominates the regular season then come playoff time he disappears and 76ers get eliminated 2nd round.

[@jacobrichardson768]

Mad dog doesn’t know basketball

[@davighidetti8947]

I don't know how every year they trust Embiid in the playoffs

[@kaysheye7784]

Sixers need a ball-handler among other things

[@Reggied103079]

He sounds like a grumpy old man

[@tonibrown8166]

Jokic went to guard Joel but Joel didn’t not guard Joel. Joel scratches and makes Jokic bleed no foul yet AG doesn’t even touch Joel Joel gets 3 throws Joel is hyped okay free points goood job! Now all of sudden he didn’t care about mvp after he cried like a baby last year and people sympathy voted for him. Now he’s pulling Jokic whole point about not caring about awards championship only

[@ValeraJuravlev-k9x]

Careful beast 52

[@samehear-360]

Doggy is right

[@deongreen1431]

Facts match up 😂

[@KingJ259]

Philly is NOT beating Boston or the Bucks simple

[@k_hack9441]

Bucks are fake. Boston is an injury from imploding

[@RKO859]

76ers has not made it past 2nd round since like what, 20 years ago? Since mr. Trust the process started, he has done nothing in the playoffs except lose and choke

[@dubbrown5594]

Tobias is the key

[@terrordoszucas7219]

With Nick Nurse the 76ers are the best team in the east. He will outcoach everybody.

[@aidanwalsh7423]

Lmao I’ll come back to this when the sixers loose in the 2nd round like always lmaoo pathetic joke of a franchise 🤣🤣🤣

[@terrordoszucas7219]

@@aidanwalsh7423 You’re crazy. We will see. I’ll text you then at this comment.

[@franckdzefi]

SAS repeats the same thing every show lol. I can almost predict his takes.

[@sincereyoutubeapology]

Stephen As forehead dropping a triple double on these clowns

[@cythefly]

Philadelphia “2nd round” 76ers

[@kiddchaos7626]

IMO it’s Boston> Philly >Bucks

[@Tylertheexplorer772]

Embied is good but gets too many calls

[@Madeinstaten_305]

Facts

[@Aneeshtheraveyank]

Don’t blame him. The defenders are the guys that foul him.

[@SPACEKNOCKERZ76]

Better than good lol you didn’t see all those jumpers he was drilling in dudes faces lol

[@ryanmctear5606]

Casuals

[@yxngkillua7700]

He dropped 16 in first quarter w no calls

[@Dcint302]

No disrespect to Mad Dog but bro I can definitely tell you didn't watch the whole game

[@Un_k_noWN]

lol no. not with Embiid there

[@jamesnerosa2453]

They had him on embiid he got cooked for 7 straight points so they tried something else

[@ThePoloboy120]

Love mad dog 🤣

[@Seraphimcherudream]

Mad dog needs to calm tf down

[@FreLitqa]

Windy hoed Mad Dog so bad

[@ALOTTAMOTiON-PAJWE]

MADDOG THE VAMPIRE 🧛‍♂️

[@wilk215]

Get rid of Mad Dog. His yelling is telegraphed and corny

[@caper087]

Perk, NFL is a different league then the NBA, gtfoh fans can root or boo for whoever they want

[@legendarytonyclutch]

Embiid has yet to reach a conference finals the sixers aren't beat the bucks and celtics

[@censari544]

Bucks vs Clippers in the finals.

[@KCM316]

Same bucks that got destroyed by the Cavs if Giannis gets hurt they are done

[@dubbrown5594]

I like mad dog 😂😂😂😂

[@gideonamankwah6491]

76ers can win it all but at the same time, they wont

[@Liam301987]

Do the producers slip the presenters an illegal substance before they go live, or do they just tell the presenters to pretend they have? Stop shouting like lunatics!

[@Tuesflex]

How are they better than the Celtics and bucks? 😂 these are “sport analysts”

[@IfBayless]

Sixers need another piece This team right now isn’t enough

[@K124B]

how many pieces do they need? they had harden last year and should advanced further than where they went

[@snupedummy]

@@K124Benough to win a chip lol why wouldn’t teams grab everything and more to win

[@tylers9476]

They had Butler and Harden, they never making it out of the 2nd round

[@jimifender22]

@@K124B celtics are really good man. if the celtics were on the level of like, the bucks or even the nuggets i'd say the sixers have as good a shot as anybody but celtics have been destroying teams all year and historically have been a bad matchup for the sixers to begin with

[@4evahodlingdoge226]

They should go after Caruso, they don't need another offensive piece.

[@Justme-jq2np]

Windhorst is so mediocre. He praises sweeps and playing on back to back

[@armontimuzic6785]

It’s not them the refs don’t let them play it’s the refs fault

[@WawaMarvel]

Clearly you and others don’t watch the games. Teams run screens and have movement. Sometimes you have to switch. Both players guarded and scored on each other. You mentioning Shaq and wilt. They weren’t skilled like these two guys. So, they can play in the perimeter, where switching happens . Think before you scream espn fools.

[@Uno_jellyfam]

Bro yall really think 76ers can beat Boston and bucks let’s be honest bro he have a hard time going against the bucks big man and Boston help defense don’t tell me max is going to take yall all the way😂😂😂😂😂