"Trust the Tank"

Anre had no answer defensively.

Still keepin' the seat warm for The Anchorman.

Denver FINALLY plays an eastern conference opponent.

Pre-Game Thoughts: For everyone that was hoping to see a match-up of two of the very best centers the NBA has to offer, you're out of luck as Embiid will take this one off to rest.

Kerry Eggers: 76ers coach Brett Brown on his team with and without Embiid in the lineup: "We are 3rd in the NBA defensively and 6th offensively with Joel. We go down to 29th defensively and 21st offensively without him. It’s night and day. He is our crown jewel."

If you were hoping to get your first glimpse of #1 pick Markelle Fultz, I'm afraid that's not happening either as he's still out with a shoulder injury.

Keith Pompey: #Sixers Ben Simmons on Markelle Fultz: "I know he wants to get out there, He can't wait. I’m looking forward to playing with him just because the start of the season, you could see a lot of potential with him.I think we’re going to have a great chemistry once he gets back."

What we will see however, is a much improved team that is finally starting to have expectations, lead by the (should have been) R.O.Y. last season, Dario Saric and the likely R.O.Y. this season, Ben Simmons. Also they've got Timothe "Joe" Luwawu-Cabarrot

It is with an ever-so-slight modicum of embarrassment that I must report I watched my first non-Nuggets game of the season on Thursday (I can not take the color commentators for ESPN or TNT) to see Nurkic and Embiid do battle and I must say that Embiid is impressive (particularly with his range on the J) and I'm disappointed that I won't be able to see he and Big Honey match wits.

Simmons is a legit star in the making who's only hole (shooting) is one of the easiest to fix with repetition, unlike the innate abilities (namely vision, first step and physical gifts) he already possesses. Saric is a versatile, do-it-all forward with a tremendous BBIQ who figures to be a glue guy if and when this team is EVER fully assembled.

All that the Sixers lack are health and experience, both of which are the only dark clouds currently hovering over an otherwise sunny outlook for years to come. Unfortunately, you simply can not predict how either will affect team chemistry but I like their chances in the future, especially in the depleted "Leastern" conference. It's really only them and Boston who possess any sort of longevity minded Process.

I absolutely abhor how this team came to be and really wish that something could be done to dissuade tanking. I seem to be in the overwhelming minority there (a place where I tend to operate best), clinging to my day-glo orange life preserver in a cesspool of rosterbation flotsam but I can't argue with the talent they've assembled. Now lets see how our Nuggets stack up against them. Go Nuggets!

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And now what none of you come here for; how about some basketball nerdery?!?!

(After these messages... Er Nicknames)

Philadelphia 76ers Roster

Coach: "Big Bad" Brett Brown

Denver Nuggets Roster

Coach: Michael "Mr Imagination" Malone

*Rosters courtesy of ESPN.COM

Update: Millsap had successful left wrist surgery and is expected back some time around the all star break and Plumlee is playing through a twice dislocated finger for the Nuggets. As for Philadelphia, Embiid is out tonight, resting. Markelle Fultz is still out with a shoulder injury, Furkan "A" is out with a lisfranc injury, Anderson is doubtful with shin splints & Covington is questionable with a left, middle finger injury.

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Data: Open this link in a new tab for the definition of TPM™

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TPM™ Game 36 PHI

Jamal Murray: +24

Emmanuel Mudiay: N/A

Monte Morris: N/A

Gary Harris: +12

Will Barton: +11

Malik Beasley: N/A

Torrey Craig: -3

Wilson Chandler:-7

Juancho Hernangomez: N/A

Richard Jefferson: N/A

Paul Millsap: N/A

Kenneth Faried: N/A

Trey Lyles: -1

Darrell Arthur: N/A

Tyler Lydon: N/A

Nikola Jokic: +10

Mason Plumlee: -5

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Total TPM™ starting Game 1 vs. Uta

Jamal Murray: 36 Games +367

Emmanuel Mudiay: 30 Games +293

Monte Morris: 1 Game +1

Gary Harris: 33 Games +479

Will Barton: 35 Games +356

Malik Beasley: 31 Games +66

Torrey Craig: 9 Games -5

Wilson Chandler: 32 Games +233

Juancho Hernangomez: 16 Games -14

Richard Jefferson: 9 Games -2

Paul Millsap: 16 Games +173

Kenneth Faried: 25 Games +46

Trey Lyles: 31 Games +213

Darrell Arthur: 5 Games -14

Tyler Lydon: 1 Games -3

Nikola Jokic: 29 Games +428

Mason Plumlee: 36 Games +89

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +10.19

Emmanuel Mudiay: +9.77

Monte Morris: +1.00

Gary Harris: +14.52

Will Barton: +10.17

Malik Beasley: +2.13

Torrey Craig: -0.56

Wilson Chandler: +7.28

Juancho Hernangomez: -0.88

Richard Jefferson: -0.22

Paul Millsap: +10.81

Kenneth Faried: +1.84

Trey Lyles: +6.87

Darrell Arthur: -2.80

Tyler Lydon: -3.00

Nikola Jokic: +14.76

Mason Plumlee: +2.47

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 35:

New feature: Team TPM statistics

*Credit DomP on the Spreadsheet. It's as if my (nerdy) baby (TPM™) learned to speak

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We Suck Again!

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