Revamping the Phillies' Defense: The Need for a Run Prevention Coach and Defensive Reps

Obviously, the Phillies are giving away too many runs on defense. Perhaps not many teams have won, but how about a run prevention coach, or a defensive coach, or both? They all need to take many reps. They are professional athletes. If they practice something, they will get better.

On the Sixers front, this is the time for Joel Embiid to try to step up as a leader. I know it is not in his DNA, but he is the MVP, and this is what an MVP does. He has to talk to James Harden, and tell him that he has to play his best, so that the Sixers can get maximum trade value for him. He has to do it as a professional.

And Embiid also has to try to embrace his role as the top dog, and say, ‘We can win without James Harden, or me, for that matter. We’ve done it many times during the season. So I’m in the playoffs. I have faith in these guys. They know how to play basketball. We’re going to play good basketball if we have James Harden, and we’re going to play good basketball if we don’t. We are all going to rise to the occasion, starting with me.’