Opinion

Morey's job isn't to tell anyone outside of his organization the truth. So, I can't say I blame him for not living up to every last word that departs his mouth. But, I do wonder if you still believe in the Tooth Fairy if you choose to take his words for truth.

We then wrapped up the pod with a new game show -- Could James Harden Beat This Thing Off The Dribble?

It's going to take a synergistic effort from the Sixers to stifle Miami long enough to get back into and take control of this series. And if Embiid's return in Game 3 is any indicator of how viable that is, the series may have only just begun. 

Tyrone and I break down some of the numbers behind the series, discuss who should get the center minutes in Embiid's absence, and deliver our keys and predictions for the series.

James Harden can do much in the way of earning the maximum value on his contract extension if he steps up. But, it'll take more than just him to keep the team afloat in Embiid's absence.

Bryan Toporek of Bleacher Report and Forbes stops by to break down the series thus far.

A new episode of The Feed To Embiid is out now!

A brand new episode of The Feed To Embiid is out now! The Painted Lines' Thiago Scabbia joins Austin to talk about the evolution of Tyrese Maxey and why he's a real, potent third guy next to Joel Embiid and James Harden.

On a brand new episode of The Feed To Embiid, Austin is joined by Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia to discuss James Harden's first 5 games as a Sixer. 

Jordan represents the intersection between two axis. One axis is the traditional big that fit so seamlessly next to Harden in the past. The other axis is the veteran that Rivers favors in his rotations. Of course, perhaps the most common criticism of Rivers is his tendency to be so hard-nosed in favoring veterans when they're clearly ill-fit to play. Many would opine that the Sixers already have two lob threats on the roster -- rookie Charles Bassey and second-year big Paul Reed.

Joel Embiid and James Harden represent the perfect storm of imposing physicality around the rim and finesse on the perimeter. Neither has ever had a teammate like the other. Their different styles, on the court at the same time, is a mixture that no defense in the NBA can consistently keep off the free throw line.

Harden's historic prowess for devouring one-on-one matchups is to this iteration of the Sixers what a stuffed animal is to a child on a stormy night. But, "Scary Minutes" won't be characterized by the introduction of any one variable.