Even as the Philadelphia 76ers exceeded expectations this season
Jarvis Landry Jersey , those who have indeed trusted the process still could not have imagined the team’s quick ascension to the NBA’s elite.
Joel Embiid, for one, isn’t about to pump the brakes on what has been a whirlwind ride that has the 76ers heading into their Game 5 home matchup on
Tuesday sporting a 3-1 lead over the visiting Miami Heat.
“A lot of people say we have a bright future,” said Embiid, whose 76ers host the Heat at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center. “But I think our time is now.
We have a special team and I feel like now we have a pretty good chance to go
forward.”
Speaking of the now: With their backs against the wall, the Heat are not flailing their arms wildly, looking for any target.
They are pointedly focused on the present: Game 5 and the 76ers.
“It’s not necessarily us against the world,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It’s us against the Philadelphia 76ers. We have to find a way to finish games.
They’ve really nailed us in the fourth quarters of all four games, except the
one we were able to pull away. We just have to do better. Through three
quarters, we’ve been up. It’s going to require a full 48-minute game of our
absolute best effort.”
Miami has been outscored by Philadelphia by an astounding 42 points in just the fourth quarters through four games. Even in the Heat’s 113-103 Game 2 win at
Philadelphia, the 76ers still outscored Miami 28-27 in the fourth quarter.
In a roundabout way, that Game 2 loss — which snapped Philadelphia’s 17-game winning streak — actually gave 76ers coach Brett Brown some much-needed locker
room material heading into the game.
“Everybody’s trying to break somebody’s spirit,” Brown said Monday. “It’s always the same thing. It happens on the other side of it. And I know
(Spoelstra), who is a great coach, would be in his locker room saying, ‘All we
got to do is win a game and come home.’
“They’re going to live in a really isolated, sort of roomed-in world of
Josh Jackson Jersey Youth , ‘Let’s just win a game. We won a game last time we were here, and just come home and figure it out.’ You can see it.”
Knowing his team can close out a hungry opponent on Tuesday, Brown isn’t changing his message too much.
“My intention is not to speak anything into existence,” Brown said. “It’s all about trying help the team win. Like, we want to get better. We’re gonna. We’re
going to go into Tuesday night and we’re going to get better. I believe that if
we think like that, act like that, coach like that, then the habit becomes, I
hope, we’re going to win.”
J.J. Redick, no stranger to heated playoff series, echoed his coach’s thoughts on Monday.
In Game 4, Redick led the 76ers with 24 points en route to a 106-102 win in a game that Philadelphia trailed by four after three quarters.
“You’re feeling each other out and then later on in the series you have to deliver a crushing blow,” Redick said. “You have to finish that. A team like
Miami, their culture, their organization, their group of guys
Derick Brassard Penguins Jersey , they have fighters. They have warriors on their team. Every game in this series has been tough and there’s no
indication that Game 5 will be different. It’s going to be a tough game.”
Sam Darnold huddled up with his Pad to keep on top of the New York Jets‘ offense
during his brief contract holdout.
The rookie quarterback missed the first three practices of training camp while his representatives ironed out details of his four-year, $30.5 million
fully guaranteed deal. But Darnold wasn’t very far from the field –
literally.
Staying at a hotel just a few deep passes down the road from the Jets’ practice facility, the No. 3 overall pick was able to view film of the team’s
camp sessions on his own while staying patient as his contract negotiations
played out.
”It sucked watching them,” Darnold said Wednesday, speaking to reporters for the first time since rejoining the team Monday. ”But at the same time, I knew
what needed to be done. It was tough watching them, but at the same time, I knew
that it was necessary.”
The hang-up appeared to be over contract language – namely offsets and possibly defaults – and Pro Football Talk first reported that the deal includes
offset language on future guarantees – if he gets cut. But the Jets also agreed
to pay the quarterback’s full $20 million signing bonus within 15 days after
Darnold signed Monday and removed language in the deal voiding guarantees based
on fines by the NFL.
”I thought it played out great,” Darnold said. ”But honestly, you know, I think with the way that everything worked out, that’s why I have great agents
because they’re able to figure that stuff out. And then whenever I get back on
the field, that’s my job and my job is to play football to the best of my
ability.”
While sitting out camp, Darnold said he worked out at the hotel gym and also was able to throw passes at a nearby high school with fellow clients of his
agents’ group – CAA – serving as his receivers.
Darnold is competing with Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater for the Jets’ starting job, but has to make up for a little bit of lost time because of his
early camp absences.
”That’s a coach’s decision,” Darnold said when asked if his goal is to be the starter in Week 1. ”The competitor in me, yeah
Cheap Vita Vea Jersey , I want to start. But at the same time, it’s about the team and what’s best for the team.”
Darnold has appeared comfortable running the offense, hardly looking like a lost 21-year-old who’s simply trying to tread water. He has made his share of
mistakes, too, but his ability to immediately bounce back from them has been
impressive.
”It was the second day for him,” coach Todd Bowles said. ”He’s learning, progressing. He’ll watch the film, learn and get better.”
After having his arm hit as he was throwing a pass that was intercepted by Morris Claiborne, Darnold completed a long pass to Chad Hansen for a big
gain.
”We always talk about it in the quarterbacks room, but we also talk about it as a team: You want to limit your mistakes,” Darnold said. ”At the same time, if
you do make a mistake, you don’t want to keep your head down. You want to hold
your head up high and go after the next play with all you’ve got. So that’s kind
of our mentality here, but that’s also been my mentality throughout playing
football.”
That cool-headed, veteran-like approach has impressed his teammates.
”Just his decision-making with the football,” running back Bilal Powell said. ”Just taking what the defense gives him and not just trying to force it in
there. He’s a smart guy and I think he’s going to do well in this league.”
Added Bridgewater: ”I’m a huge fan of Sam Darnold. I’m glad to be in the quarterback room with him.”
While a rookie holding out might rub some teammates the wrong way, many insisted they understand the business side of the game and didn’t resent Darnold
for not being there with them when camp opened.
That didn’t make the young QB immune from some good-natured razzing
Sam Darnold Jersey , of course.
He received a slow-clap as he jogged onto the field for the first time Monday, causing him to break into a sheepish smile just before practice.
”That was awesome,” Darnold said with a laugh. ”To be able to just be a part of that, not really expecting anything and them doing that, it kind of pushed
everything – me not showing up to camp on time and me being late – it kind of
pushed all that aside. It made me feel comfortable and made me feel like a part
of the team.”
Darnold was the main attraction during and after practice Wednesday, with a couple dozen reporters and cameras surrounding him as he spoke.
Even the other two quarterbacks knew who everyone wanted to hear from.
Bridgewater went first and cracked about how he was part of the undercard to the main event. McCown then compared himself to a warmup act at a concert.
”I’ve only got three songs,” the 39-year-old quarterback joked, ”and one of `em is a cover.”
Then, the headliner made his way to the podium.
”Personally, because I have really high expectations for myself, I’ve got a ways to go in terms of growth,” Darnold said. ”But I feel comfortable with the
offense at a rudimentary level.”
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