Daryl Morey had video of an attempted moon landing on mute on his laptop as he explained the role of data analytics in the NBA when, suddenly, a crowd of people clapping popped up on the screen.
Morey paused the conversation as Intuitive Machines employees cheered the first U.S. touchdown on the moon in more than 50 years. Morey and his wife have a great interest in space exploration. Their son once interned at Intuitive Machines and the couple scanned the group for familiar faces at the first private business to pull off a moon landing. The lander managed just a weak signal back until flight controllers scrambled to gain better contact.
“The added drama,” Morey said, laughing.
Who needs to leave Earth to find some when you run the Philadelphia 76ers?
There’s plenty of it swirling around Philadelphia these days as the Sixers orbit a spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid remains sidelined following early February surgery on his left knee and the Sixers have scuffled without him. They did split on back-to-back nights this week to New York and Cleveland, putting them at 7-15 without Embiid.
At 33-23, the Sixers under coach Nick Nurse are closer to a potential spot in the Play-In Tournament than a top seed in the East.
Want more drama?
A pair of recognizable faces are in town for a Sunday matchup in Philly — former Sixers coach Doc Rivers and former Philadelphia guard Patrick Beverley are here with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“Another game, another chance to be great,” said Morey, in his fourth season as team president. “There’s definitely going to be drama because of Pat and Doc.”
Rivers is back after his penchant for playoff collapses and second-round exits cost him his job at the end of last season. The 76ers fired Rivers following a third straight exit in the second round of the playoffs, and the second time over that span he lost a series lead and a Game 7.
The 76ers held a 3-2 semifinals series lead against Boston before dropping Game 6 at home and were crushed in Game 7 on the road.
Rivers fell to 6-10 in Game 7s. The 10 defeats are five more than any other NBA coach.
Rivers didn’t stay unemployed for long. After a short stint as an ESPN analyst, the Bucks hired Rivers to take over for Adrian Griffin, who was fired in late January after only 43 games.
It’s been a rocky few weeks for Rivers. The Bucks haven’t played at a championship level — since the coaching change — and Rivers has become embroiled in a series of…
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