Austin Krell

Cover the Sixers @Vertical76ers |🎙️@BlueWirePods Prev.: OnPattison, OnSI; IG: NBAKrell; @ProHoopsWriters member; mozzarella sticks, fries, and a couple beers

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Two summers ago, I had an idea. Today, it’s going live.

I am proud to announce @Vertical76ers, a comprehensive model to cover the Philadelphia 76ers to serve you: the reader, the listener, the viewer. Not the algorithm.

Led by me, in partnership with @howardmegdal and @TheIXSports, we will be attacking the massive limitations to many of today’s journalism business models. Good work and the relationship between consumers and the information you want to know is always the priority. We are here to build on what elite sports journalists are doing in Philadelphia, and always have—not just for one of the most exciting seasons in Sixers history, but sustainably.

We will be your home for weekly podcasts, in partnership with Blue Wire. We will provide consistent analysis and context to this historic 2026-27 season through video reports on our social channels.

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Going through Sixers-Celtics again this evening and it is funny that this was a Sixers possession amid a Boston run in which they hit 8 threes in 10 possessions after Philly tied the game.

Dean Wade is stuck in the middle of nowhere. No screen by Brown to try a Hugo Gonzalez switch or stretch to see if you can get Hauser or George to rotate into help since Gonzalez would be so far away. No screen by Edgecombe to get a small on LeBron. Just watching LeBron work on a center out of the post.

[Vertical 76 @Vertical76ers]

Have you subscribed to the Vertical 76 newsletter yet? Get the latest #Sixers news, analysis and more delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here: https://t.co/28anFpfvPX

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Last night’s loss to the Celtics was the latest symptom in what has been a story for the first few weeks of the Sixers’ season:

They don’t make shots, and they’re not consistently about anything productive on offense.

https://t.co/8aE2GuzGse

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Last night’s loss to the Celtics was the latest symptom in what has been a story for the first few weeks of the Sixers’ season:

They don’t make shots, and they’re not consistently about anything productive on offense.

https://t.co/8aE2GuzGse

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Takeaways from an ugly night for the Sixers, with thoughts on a weird defensive game, a team that has built its ecosystem vs a team that is still figuring things out, and more:

https://t.co/9C9ZdJ5CVX

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

The Sixers are deploying this interesting defensive scheme in which they leave one of Paul George and Sam Hauser open, seemingly at all times. Interested to see how it works out for them.

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Paul George has completely eviscerated the Sixers tonight.

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

The Sixers had this game tied and then the Celtics made 6 consecutive threes—5 straight possessions at one point—to push the lead back to 9.

A little bit of inroads, but the Sixers will leave it all up to the fourth quarter heroics again.

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

This is a multi-layered issue that does not start with a) firing Nick Nurse or b) concluding that Embiid is cooked. It's a team-wide problem right now.

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Wrote about it in this morning's newsletter, but the Sixers' starters have logged the most possessions in the NBA. They've managed to produce the lowest halfcourt offensive rating of all lineups to play at least 200 possessions thus far. Their effective goal percentage is terrible and their offensive rebounding rate is terrible.

Their team-wide effective field goal percentage is also terrible and their team-wide offensive rebounding rate is not good.

To put it simply, they find themselves in these holes because their halfcourt offense is mostly one-and-done. You wouldn't think that would be a huge problem for a team with so much talent.

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

@HomeoftheThrill Think this is definitely part of the problem.

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

@NewloveAdj No, I don't think that's a good answer. Especially with the defense being as good as it is. Just a very weird first couple weeks that has infected the entire roster.

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Celtics lead, 30-23, after 1. Weird quarter for the Sixers. They got beat off-ball quite a bit, but their on-ball defense was excellent. Tatum has 11 already. 3 fouls between Robinson and Queta.

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Mitchell Robison picks up his 2nd foul leaping at Joel Embiid on a shot fake 3. Joel Embiid is shooting 3-for-31 on 3s this season.

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Jayson Tatum just approached Jaylen Brown and attempted to embrace him and Brown completely ignored it.

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Bell-ringer: Marc Zumoff

[Vertical 76 @Vertical76ers]

Ahead of #Celtics-#Sixers, hear Philly head coach Nick Nurse talk about Joel Embiid's shooting slump, how he's advising Jaylen Brown to stay centered and more. Much more to come from our Austin Krell out of tonight's showdown! https://t.co/DdROrYTd4L

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

Gearing up for a loud one.

[Vertical 76 @Vertical76ers]

Nick Nurse, asked if he plans to have Jaylen Brown cover Jayson Tatum, says, "Not sure yet".

[Austin Krell @NBAKrell]

@krisrhim1 GQ Kris over here.