Sports Daily readers of a certain age will remember the game and the classic phrase, “You sunk my battleship!” Well, it turns out that the Nets, who did little damage to the Sixers otherwise, scored a direct hit when Joel Embiid suffered an injury in the first-round series. See, Embiid is the main engine for the Sixers, especially against top-level opposition like the Celtics.
With Embiid hobbled or absent entirely, the odds for the Sixers to win in the second round shrink drastically.
Sports upsets and miracles happen all the time, but they’re usually pulled off by healthy players battling against the odds. Right now, the Sixers’ chances look bleak.
At the height of his career, James Harden was a volume scorer and MVP with the Houston Rockets. But that stage wasn’t completely representative of his game, which is rooted in a desire to “think the game” and find teammates. At every point of his career, Harden has depended on his playmaking, a skill that made him special and remains central to his success with the 76ers.
Next: The Sixers play Game 1 of their second-round series against the Boston Celtics at 7:30 p.m. Monday at TD Garden.
The Phillies are in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers the next three days, and Bryce Harper will be there too for an important step in his return from Tommy John elbow surgery. Harper is expected to meet with his surgeon on Monday, and if he’s cleared to begin sliding without restrictions, he could return to the lineup as as soon as Tuesday. With his impossible swift comeback surges on, the batting order is about to come into focus again. Nobody, certainly not manager Rob Thomson, asked our opinion on how the batting order should look. But that won’t stop us from making a humble suggestion.
Next: The Phillies open a three-game series in Los Angeles at 10:10 p.m. Monday. Taijuan Walker (2-1, 4.97) will start against Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin (0-0, 0.00)
unCovering the Birds with Jeff McLane Ep 6: Beau Knows Football Stories
All-Pros are important. But every good football team needs a couple of colorful characters, too. For the 2017 Eagles Super Bowl champs, Beau Allen was one of those guys. In the latest episode of unCovering the Birds, Beau shares with Inquirer beat reporter Jeff McLane the funny, absurd, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that only a career in professional football offers. From tales of Tebowmania to makeshift parade-route restrooms, Allen recalls his favorite (and infamous) memories. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or go to Inquirer.com/podcasts
Spectators cheer on runners in the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners fly through the final mile of the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
A runner crosses the Broad Street Run finish line with duct taped shoes to keep their feet drier.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
First place finisher Raymond Magut at the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners in the final mile of the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners fly through the final mile of the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners approach the finish line in the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
A spectator holds a sign reading “Hurry up so we can drank,” on Broad Street during the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners pass under the I-95 overpass in the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
A runner carries a sign that read “Buzzed on Broad Street” in the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners pass under the I-95 overpass in the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Francesca (left) and (right) Rocco high-five runners while waiting to see their mom in the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
A runner approaches the Broad Street Run finish line on 11th Street in South Philadelphia.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners approach the Broad Street Run finish line on 11th Street in South Philadelphia.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Sarah and Madison Rose, 3, watch for their family at the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners stop to rest after finishing the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners approach the Broad Street Run finish line on 11th Street in South Philadelphia.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Mary Laughlin waves a cowbell as runners make their way down Broad Street. Laughlin was waiting to she her granddaughter Bayley Sacks, of Birdsboro, Pa. It was her 16th birthday on race day.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Trina Pilhuj, of Conshohocken, watches for her daughter from the center island on South Broad Street during the Broad Street Run.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Runners pass the six-mile marker during the Broad Street Run.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
A runner tries to stay dry during the Broad Street Run.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Runners take the bad weather in stride during the Broad Street Run.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Wet sneakers were the norm during this year's Broad Street Run.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Members of the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra perform the marching band-style "Banda" from Act II of Puccini’s La bohème in front of the Academy of Music, as runners pass by during the Broad Street Run.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Runners pass Walnut Street during the Broad Street Run.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Tony Nogueira, of Glen Ridge, N.J., is the Broad Street Run's wheelchair division first place winner. Noguiera finished the 10-mile route in 39 minutes and 44 seconds.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Emelia Perry, first place woman in the wheelchair division, crosses the finish line at the Broad Street Run. Perry finished the race in 40 minutes and 30 seconds.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Raymond Magut, of Grand Prairie, Texas, is the Broad Street Run men’s first place winner. Magut finished the 10-mile run in 45 minutes and 14 seconds.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Cynthia Limo, of Lansing, MI, is the Broad Street Run's women’s first place winner. Limo ran the 10-mile route in 50 minutes and 55 seconds.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Cain Leathers, of Philadelphia, is the Broad Street Run's first place non-binary runner. Leathers ran the 10-mile race in 53 minutes and 31 seconds.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners finish the Broad Street Run in the rain on 11th Street in South Philadelphia.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners make their way along Broad Street near the starting line of the Broad Street Run.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Runners at Broad Street and Windrim Avenue the Broad Street Run.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Runners leave the starting area at West Fisher Avenue in North Philadelphia during the Broad Street Run.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
A crowd gathers at the starting line at West Fisher Avenue in North Philadelphia before the Broad Street Run.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Runners pack the Broad Street Line at NRG Station before the start of the Broad Street Run. Participants and spectators usually park near the finish line, which was at 11th Street in South Philadelphia this year.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Runners pack the Broad Street Line at NRG Station before the start of the Broad Street Run.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Martha Howard, a Parks and Recreation employee, awaits runners at the Broad Street Run finish line on 11th Street in South Philadelphia.Read moreMonica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Jim Foote (left) and Davis Hughes (right) keep warm before the start of the Broad Street Run. Hughes said he cut up an old blanket to bring to the race.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Richard Klein, of Lancaster County, wears an Uncle Sam hat at the Broad Street Run. Klien said when you aren’t fast anymore you need to have fun. He’s run every Broad Street Run since 1981.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
A group of runners from the November Project get inspired before the Broad Street Run. The November Project began in Boston as a way to keep motived and in shape during the winter months. It has chapters in cities across the world, including Philadelphia.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Runners attend mass at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church before the start of the Broad Street Run on Sunday. Mass started at 6:30 a.m.Read moreDavid Maialetti / Staff Photographer
In 1925, future Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Jimmie Foxx made his MLB debut at 17 for Philadelphia A’s. Foxx had left high school during his senior year and joined the Athletics for spring training, forgoing his high school graduation. He pinch-hit a single in 9-4 loss against Washington.
Double X, as Foxx was known, was one of the few hitters who could challenge the Bambino homer for homer. Many call him the right-handed Babe Ruth. Foxx led the league in home runs four times and was a Triple Crown winner in 1933 and a three-time MVP. Ironically, Foxx finished his career the way Ruth started his: pitching. He joined Ruth in the Hall of Fame in 1951.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Alex Coffey, Scott Lauber, Colin Beazley, Javon Edmonds, Jason Nark, Josh Tolentino, EJ Smith, Devin Jackson, Jeff McLane, Gina Mizell, Keith Pompey, David Murphy, Mike Sielski, and Marcus Hayes.
