The Newz (Entering Q4 Edition)

The Sixers made a move!

Andddd...that's about all that really happened this past week, so...

I can fill up some space by explaining the title of this thread. We are now officially, unbelievably, 75% completed with the regular season. If it feels like the first tipoff on Christmas day was very recently, well, you aren't alone. This has been the most breathless regular season I can recall, even moreso than previous lockout seasons. But now it's time for the stretch run, and it should be great fun.

But lets first talk about what little there is to talk about.

Sixers Add Veteran Depth

On Monday, the Sixers announced they signed 13-year veteran Anthony Tolliver to a 10-Day Contract. Details of the contract were not released.

The Sixers had made no moves since acquiring George Hill at the trade deadline, despite some clamoring for them to seek help on the buyout market. In place of a LaMarcus Aldridge, for example, we get...Tolliver. Now to his credit, the 6'8" forward is a career 37.3% shooter from deep and fires away without hesitation (5.9 3-point attempts per-36 minutes for his career), but color me a bit underwhelmed.

Not that I expect him to suit up much. But he should at least be available to play as soon as Wednesday night, when the Sixers have perhaps their biggest tilt of the season against the Brooklyn Nets. The 35-year-old has not appeared in a game this year, and split time last season with the Memphis Grizzles, Portland Trail Blazers, and Sacramento Kings.

If nothing else, it's kind of a funny story.

Sixers Get Shorthanded Nets

Speaking of that huge game against the Nets, the Sixers new they would already be catching a fairly significant break with James Harden out with injury. And now, it seems like they'll catch an even bigger one since Kevin Durant will be inactive too.

Kyrie Irving will be in the lineup, but the absence of two-thirds of the Nets' Big 3 should be a huge advantage for Philly. The Nets were forced to play Tuesday afternoon in Minnesota after their Monday game against the Timberwolves was understandably postponed due to the recent tragic events, which need not be reiterated in this space, primarily to preserve this writer's own mental health over the state of the world.

Back to basketball. As Kevin Durant works his ay back from his own lengthy break due to a hamstring injury, head coach Steve Nash is being careful when it comes to back-to-back sets regarding the future Hall of Famer. The Nets will also be short buyout additions Blake Griffin, who is being brought along carefully with a chronic knee issue, and LaMarcus Aldridge, who is battling a non-COVID illness.

This is the perfect time for the Sixers to strike a wounded animal down. The teams share 37-17 records, pitting them 1A and 1B in the Eastern Conference (Philly is technically in first), and a win tonight in the teams' final battle this season--currently the record is split 1-1--would give the Sixers not only a definitive one-game lead, but also the all important head-to-head tiebreaker.

Take care of business, guys.

Other Odds and Ends

This is the second iteration of this section in which I highlight some Sixers related news that isn't important enough to dedicate a whole space to. So here we go:

--Ben Simmons straight up took a headshot at Rudy Gobert as a guest on ESPN's The Jump. Just peep this (start at 4:20):

I mean, he ain't wrong. A 42-spot is nice. Now go do it more often though.

--Elsewhere, the Sixers organization does some awesome things for the young'ns.