Daryl Morey has single-handedly created a Nets-Sixers rivalry, and we’re here for it

Final week, Daryl Morey went on a victory lap of a press tour following the Feb. 10 trade that brought James Harden to Philadelphia. He spoke with each local (and here) and national retailers. The extra I heard Morey communicate, and the extra I thought of his quotes, the extra I really feel that the Nets-Sixers rivalry goes to play an element within the Jap Convention over the subsequent couple of seasons. There are a number of compelling storylines.

Whereas the times of groups hating one another to the purpose of duking it out are fortunately over (Yes, Dr. J, I see you choking Larry Bird. No, I don’t believe NBA players need to choke each other out to show they care), there are sufficient enjoyable storylines to maintain issues attention-grabbing, not less than for this season.

1. Joel vs. Ben

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Whereas the 2 received alongside nicely sufficient for the majority of their tenure, evidently their relationship fully soured after final 12 months’s Hawks sequence. In an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic on Feb. 7, Embiid addressed the Ben state of affairs and said that his soon-to-be former teammate was being unreasonable with how he’s dealt with feedback within the aftermath of the sequence. Ben’s tenure with the Sixers was as eventful because it was maddening. See Shamus’ story here detailing Ben’s timeline with the Sixers.

In Ben’s post-trade presser, he acknowledged speaking with several people in the Sixers org, but not with Morey and Joel. Whereas Joel doesn’t troll his opponents as a lot as he did in years previous, he couldn’t help himself in getting in a shot at Simmons on the way out. It appears they’ll be standing in one another’s approach as they contend for a championship for the foreseeable future. I’m excited to see them conflict throughout their subsequent sport on March 10, however acknowledge issues might get actually ugly; the followers are fairly upset with Simmons. Let’s keep in mind that the NBA world shall be watching the Sixers (and their followers) that day, and hope that the sport — and never an incident — stays the most important story of the day.

2. Harden vs Durant

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Harden and Durant are longtime pals, and this relationship was one of many causes the Nets assumed their Huge Three would work; but, the group has been damaged up.

Right here’s Durant desperately avoiding taking James Harden with the second-to-last choose within the All-Star draft, insisting that his group wanted Rudy Gobert. Durant appears to be like like a pricey in headlights, whereas LeBron James and the NBA on TNT solid laughs. This was nice.

Possibly Harden and Durant have/will work issues out, and all the things is nice between them. However within the days after the commerce, Durant appeared uncomfortable addressing the Harden state of affairs. For his half, Durant maintains there’s no ill will, but additionally that he was taken without warning by Harden’s request. This can be a enjoyable one to look at.

3. Ben vs Harden

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There’s been no reported ailing will between the 2 gamers, but it surely’s secure to imagine that Simmons didn’t recognize how the Sixers dealt with commerce rumors within the run-up to final 12 months’s commerce deadline. Simmons could also be incentivized to play additional laborious in opposition to the Sixers, and attempt to shut Harden down, displaying his previous group he’s higher off with out the Sixers. We don’t know when Ben will take the ground for Brooklyn, so perhaps this rivalry exists solely in my head.

4. Doc vs. Seth 🙁

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As you might already know, Seth Curry is married to Doc’s daughter, Callie. I do know it’s a enterprise, and Doc doesn’t have remaining authority on personnel, however it’s kinda tough that Doc should have OK’d the commerce to ship his son-in-law packing. This one’s largely tongue-in-cheek — thanks to Seth, for his work with the Sixers. He could rating 25 factors a sport in opposition to the Sixers for the remainder of his profession; I wouldn’t be stunned.

4. Daryl vs. The Nets

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The one barely eyebrow-raising quote I noticed from Morey relating to the commerce and why the Nets requested for the gamers they did is that this one, the place he defined why the Nets insisted on getting Drummond. Ought to the Sixers lose a playoff sequence with the Nets, this quote will completely hang-out Morey.

In 2018, Morey famously stated his Rockets group was constructed to beat Golden State. The Warriors had been extremely motivated by the feedback, and edged out the Rockets in a seven-game sequence. Draymond Inexperienced himself confirmed that the Warriors had been only a bit extra motivated after Morey’s feedback. Morey likes to offer the media good quotes, so I’m not right here to ask him to cease that; simply know he enjoys a aptitude for the dramatic. It appears he’s a little bit extra cautious together with his quotes these days. Right here’s Draymond on JJ Redick’s podcast in early February:

…Or perhaps not. Daryl is already on the market on Twitter, mildly “threatening” the Sixers’ first opponent of the James Harden period, the Minnesota Timberwolves. This degree of “rivalry” is enjoyable, and will add a little bit extra juice to a sport that already had lots.

I doubt this quote goes to unleash the angriest, most incentivized model of the Wolves, however I’ve been unsuitable earlier than.

March 10 is simply three weeks away. We’re dying to see how that sport performs out. The subsequent few seasons of Sixers-Nets ought to extremely dramatic, and it’s going to be enjoyable.