That starts in training camp, as it did this season, with a physical playbook that Miles McBride estimated to be 5 inches thick. “Initially [when I got it] I was like, ‘What the hell?’ ” Donte DiVincenzo said. “Because it was the first time in my career I’ve gotten something like that. And then, the way my brain works is like, ‘Why is he doing this?’ And then the thing I learned about him is everything in that book — you might not know where it’s at, but he knows where it’s at. And you know that because midway through the year, he’ll throw something out there.” Verbal quizzes can be sprung on players, which had Josh Hart concerned Wednesday. There’s also new playoff playbooks/videos arriving shortly. “I’d probably fail a pop quiz,” Hart said. “I might go home and study a little bit today. He’s giving us the keys to the test tomorrow so we’ll see.” -via New York Post / April 18, 2024

Kristian Winfield: Josh Hart on if he looks at Tom Thibodeau after making a bad play in a game: “Nah I don’t really look at him too much. I hear him. Damn sure hear him. Sometimes you can’t help but hear him. I let Thibs be Thibs. Thibs gonna yell no matter what.” -via Twitter @Krisplashed / April 17, 2024

Brian Mahoney: Scary moment at MSG as Josh Hart was on the ground under the basket and then a Bulls player landed on top of him. Hart was down for a minute but eventually made it up and checked out of the game. -via Twitter @briancmahoney / April 14, 2024

ClutchPoints: “I feel like we ain’t ducking no smoke. We wanted the Knicks matchup, that’s the easier team… It’s gonna be fun. We match up pretty well with them.” Paul Reed on the Sixers avoiding the Celtics in the playoffs 👀 (via @RunItBackFDTV) pic.twitter.com/gjGBxkaq3f -via Twitter @ClutchPointsApp / April 18, 2024

For example, Sixers big man Paul Reed learned a great deal from Lowry and what he brings to the floor. “He does a lot, man,” Reed told Sixers Wire. “Having a veteran guy like that, that has experience and championship games and knows ins and outs of the NBA and referees and all that. I mean, it’s a huge plus because he’s a great leader. He leads. Not just me, but he leads everybody on the team and guiding everybody to do the right thing. He’s like a coach for real.” -via Sixers Wire / April 3, 2024

Harden may be front and center this week, but the Sixers’ players don’t seem to mind. “We didn’t take it personal at all,” said Maxey, who called Harden “my brother” and said the two still talk. “Even when James came to training camp, whenever he was there, he was nice to us, he was good.” Said Tobias Harris: “James is a hell of a player and I’ll always have a huge amount of respect for him. Playing with him here, it’s good to see him playing in L.A., flourishing and playing his game and just ballin’ out. It’s all love and respect. He’s a hall-of-fame player, and for me it was an honor being here, playing with him.” And Paul Reed, another former teammate of Harden’s in Philadelphia: “It was cool seeing big bro out there.” -via The Athletic / March 25, 2024