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The Sixers season is over after losing to the Miami Heat by a final score of 105-101. I already gave a quick recap of the game in the immediate reaction thread. For this post, here are some closing thoughts and takes from this season.
Final Thoughts
• Fun part of the game I didn't mention earlier: Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel drawing up plays. Check it:
Loving Coach JoJo. Watch him grab Hollis. https://t.co/qXJMwa6hbs
— Jake Pavorsky (@JakePavorsky) April 16, 2015
Embiid for Coach of the Year.
• OK, just kidding. Brett Brown is the REAL Coach of the Year.
• Hard not to be a little bummed when it comes to the draft picks. It looked like the Sixers were going to have at least more than one. There's still a chance that they get the Heat pick and/or the Lakers pick, but it's certainly not likely. The Sixers will head into the lottery with only the third best chance of winning it all.
• With that said, a lack of draft picks does not define this Sixers season. There were plenty of positives to take away. Nerlens Noel stayed healthy for most of the season. He was arguably the Rookie of the Year. Robert Covington is going to be a bargain for seasons to come. Jerami Grant flashed at times. And even though the Sixers might not get some of their picks this year, they'll still get them at some point. Or maybe they'll use those picks in a trade. Who knows?
• One of the things that makes me sad the Sixers' season is over is no more Marc, Molly, and Malik until the fall. I say it often but this is truly a great crew. They're enjoyable and they're good at what they do. It'll be nice to see them get the attention they deserve if/when the Sixers finally get good. I just hope they stay together for a long time.
• Only 34 more days until the lottery. Definitely make sure you're coming to the Sixers lottery party. Details here. It was lots of fun last year. I'll be there. Will you?
• Are the Eagles going to draft Marcus Mariota? I don't know, but Dave Rueter made me address this question. All I can say is just stay tuned to this really cool Eagles website called Bleeding Green Nation.
• To the LB community: Thank you for being great. It's bound to be an interesting offseason so don't go anywhere.
• I saved the best for last: Joel Embiid. He's going to be really good, you guys. And the next time the Sixers play a real NBA game next season, he's going to be on the court for them. It's going to be awesome.
I leave you with these quotes by Jonathan Tjarks in a post written back in November. Try not to get excited.
"There is nothing Joel Embiid can't do on a basketball court. He's 7'0 250 with a 7'4 wingspan and he's an elite athlete who can get down in a stance, play way above the rim and control the defensive glass. On offense, he is a very fluid player who can play with his back to the basket, step out and knock down a mid-range jumper and find the open man out of a double team. This is after starting to play basketball only 3-4 years ago.
Embiid is the rare 7'0 who projects as an elite offensive player and an elite defensive player. In my mind, he's the best big man prospect since Tim Duncan. He's way more athletic than Yao Ming and Andrew Bynum and he's more polished than Dwight Howard and Greg Oden. Most young big men have to adjust to the NBA - the NBA is going to have to adjust to him. This is a guy who could be the best C in the NBA by the time he's 22-23.”