Sixers talk fighting the fatigue factor after Game 1 loss to Knicks

NEW YORK -- The challenge for the Philadelphia 76ers now as they continue Round 2 against the New York Knicks is evening the series before things shift to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4. The Sixers were blown out by the Knicks 137-98 in Game 1 on Monday night and they now must find a way to respond in Game 2.

In their defense, the Sixers had to battle through the fatigue factor on Monday. They finished off a historic comeback against the Boston Celtics by winning Game 7 on Saturday on the road to complete the 3-1 comeback before then having to head straight to New York to begin Round 1 with the Knicks. Only one day off clearly bothered the Sixers a bit in terms of their play.

"I would say so," Kelly Oubre Jr. said on Tuesday in terms of fighting fatigue. "It was a quick turnaround, and we got to travel. We didn't have a full practice before the game, and things like that. So, I definitely thought—you know, in my time, I remember in the playoffs, you always having, like, at least a practice before the game, but I think with the in-season tournament now, I think that it kind of pushes things a little closer together." fish-roadgame.online

It can be such a mental and physical toll to go from one incredibly tough series to another and the Sixers had to battle that against the Knicks. One has to believe a rest and recovery day would have been in order for Philadelphia after the win over the Celtics.

"So yeah, if we were able to kind of get some rest, get some recovery, and then get a good practice in to kind of have a day before shootaround and go over their stuff, I think, yeah, we would have been a little bit more prepared, but we don't make the schedule," Oubre added. "We just got to go out there and play now. We got to go figure it out. So today's a good recovery day, though."

At the end of the day, the Sixers can be rewarded with a mulligan for the Game 1 loss due to the aforementioned fatigue factor, but not for Game 2. If the Sixers suffer a similar defeat, then they will have bigger things to really worry about.

"I mean, you can say that, but at the end of the day, we control that," rookie VJ Edgecombe said of having any fatigue. "We can control how we respond to things, how we play, how hard we play, you know? We control all aspects of the game. So I think if we had a day off or no day off, going from Game 7 into another series, it don't matter. We just got to play hard."

Obviously, this is the first time Edgecombe is going through anything like this as a rookie. That was a quick turnaround for him, but he has also been tough in every situation that has risen for him. He and the Sixers now just need to find a way to bounce back and get after it on Wednesday.

"I mean, obviously, Boston was a historical series, or whatever you want to call it, but it wasn't a championship, you know?" Edgecombe finished. "We know now that obviously it's just steps. Obviously, it was a step in the right direction after the Boston game, but we had to lock in for New York, who’s a really good team, man. It's tough. Obviously, my first time going through it. My first time advancing in the playoffs, first time here, but, yeah, I think it's pretty tough, but, I mean, I think we're built for it."

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers talk fighting the fatigue factor after Game 1 loss to Knicks

Kolstad held onto their championship hopes by defeating Bergen 33-30 in their semifinal showdown. Despite losing Magnus Gullerud to a red card and facing a Bergen team with an extra player, Kolstad secured the crucial victory to level the series.

Simon Jeppsson returned to form with seven goals, helping Kolstad overcome Bergen's comeback attempts in the dramatic final minutes. The reigning champions will now face Bergen in a decisive third match to determine who advances to the final.

Trent Williams' new deal with the San Francisco 49ers may end up helping the team in more ways than one.

Getting back one of the league's most important offensive linemen is huge for the 49ers, but Williams also freed up about $23.8 million in 2026 salary cap space, according to Spotrac. Williams' renegotiated deal will pay the 37-year-old $24.5 million this season, which is down from $33 million. If this ends up being the case, the 49ers will have a league-high $67 million in cap space dedicated to their top-51 contracted players.

This gives the 49ers a lot of flexibility during the 2026 season to make some moves if they want. The team still has some needs they can address at edge rusher and cornerback despite drafting at those positions this year. One name that jumps out is edge rusher Joey Bosa, the older brother of Nick Bosa, who 49ers general manager John Lynch once said was too expensive to sign.

The 49ers could also try to add a veteran left guard if they aren't comfortable with Connor Colby or rookie Carver Willis. Some names on the open market include Kevin Zeitler, Joel Bitonio, and Mekhi Becton.

This also gives the 49ers the firepower to make veteran trades. With so much cap space, San Francisco can absorb some big contracts if needed. While they haven't really been linked to either, AJ Brown or Maxx Crosby are the biggest names on the trade market.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers may lead NFL in cap space after Trent Williams contract

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First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones begin dissecting second-round playoff action! They react to the Game 1 victories of the Knicks and Timberwolves, then discuss potential tweaks we may see from the Sixers and Spurs.

They also preview the other second-round series -- Lakers-Thunder and Cavs-Pistons -- by digging into the matchups, lineups, and schematic battles that could decide each winner.

From there, the guys shift to the WNBA to begin previewing the upcoming season! They start with their top contenders heading into the season, first highlighting the areas (and players) they're excited about, then discussing potential problem areas they'll monitor as the season goes on.

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at [email protected].

0:00 Welcome
1:35 Knicks-Sixers
15:33 Spurs-Timberwolves
34:35 Lakers-Thunder
49:02 Cavaliers-Pistons
01:01:18 Las Vegas Aces
01:08:58 New York Liberty
01:15:41 Atlanta Dream
01:20:55 Indiana Fever
01:24:51 Phoenix Mercury
01:28:54 Minnesota Lynx & Los Angeles Sparks

Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

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Now that the 2026 NFL Draft is done, it’s time for some film rooms on the Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie class. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be publishing individual film breakdowns on the Eagles’ 2026 draft class here at Bleeding Green Nation. My pre-draft rankings and position previews are still up if you want to cross-reference. A quick note on the film: I can’t share All-22 footage here without risking content strikes, so I’ll use clips from other accounts below. However, I’ll have full All-22 breakdowns available on my Patreon, which you can check out and support if you want to see full games of All-22. Let’s go!

PREVIOUSLY IN THIS SERIES: Makai Lemon | Eli Stowers

Markel Bell

A lot of what follows in this piece draws on Brandon Thorn’s film room session with Markel Bell on his Trench Warfare Substack, which I recently watched. If you are not subscribed, it is excellent! Thorn walked through Bell’s tape in detail, with Bell himself present to explain his thinking on specific reps, and it is one of the better prospect film sessions I have seen ahead of this draft. I will reference it throughout, as it was really cool to back up my own film with information from the player.

There is a quote Bell gave in the first 10 minutes of that video (twice!) that has stuck with me and that I think frames this pick better than any analytical breakdown can. Asked about his style as an offensive tackle, Bell said: “It ain’t gonna be pretty all the time, but I got the job done.” That is Markel Bell in a sentence. He’s not polished, not refined, but physically equipped to do the work and self-aware enough to know that the technique has to catch up to the tools.

The great thing about the NFL Draft is that I can’t lie! You can all go back and read where I stood before the draft. Bell was in my Round 4 tier. My pre-draft notes read: “Overall: A massive, long tackle whose traits give him developmental value, but he is a long way away from contributing to an NFL team. Eagles Thoughts: If Bell falls to Day 3, I wouldn’t mind investing in him as a long-term project. However, I don’t see it for a Day 2 pick. He might just be too tall.” The Eagles took him in the third round, which is earlier than I would have gone. Having watched more film on him since (including the Thorn session) I understand the decision more than I did. The Eagles needed an offensive tackle; this class ran thin quickly at the position, and Bell was arguably the last prospect on the board with a legitimate starter ceiling. At some point, you pay the premium on upside rather than wait for a safer pick who has no upside to pay for.

Strengths

The Physical Profile

Everything about Bell’s game flows from the sheer size of the man. He measures 6’9¼” and 346 pounds with an 87⅛-inch wingspan and 36⅜-inch arms in the 98th percentile. That frame changes pass-rush geometry in a way that cannot be taught or developed. Here is a really smart take for you all: defenders simply have to travel farther to reach the quarterback because he is massive. The path around Bell’s frame is longer than almost any offensive tackle in football. His sheer range and size make it mechanically difficult to rush him cleanly.

For a man his size, Bell is shockingly light on his. He is not explosively quick off the ball, but his redirect ability, his footwork in space, and his lateral agility at 350 pounds are pretty rare. He is particularly dangerous on screen, as it’s hard for defenders to avoid him out in space. His work on the 2025 Indiana tape on screens is worth watching in particular. The athleticism is not elite, but at his size, it does not need to be. It just needs to be sufficient.

Hand Usage

This is the most interesting technical element of Bell’s game, and the Thorn session explains it well. Because his height makes natural leverage battles underneath defenders structurally difficult, Bell has developed a specific set of adaptations to compensate. Rather than committing to two-handed punches, he strikes first with his outside hand and keeps his inside hand in reserve. This enables him to protect his inside shoulder, avoiding vulnerability to various moves. It is a sophisticated workaround for a structural problem, and the fact that he has developed it relatively recently shows an above-average ability to be coached.

His aiming points reflect the same adaptive thinking. Rather than fighting for traditional hand placement, he targets fixed points that do not move regardless of a defender’s moves, giving him a reliable anchor. Short, choppy steps rather than large sweeping kicks keep him balanced and allow easy redirection. These are not things you develop naturally; they are things you develop by working hard at your craft. It was cool to hear Bell talk about it.

However, it is worth noting here that Bell has taken every college snap at left tackle. His outside-hand-first striking mechanic is built around that alignment, and if the Eagles move him to right tackle, which is the obvious long-term plan, he will need to rebuild those instincts from the other side. Bell acknowledged this directly in the Thorn session. It is a real developmental challenge, and the coaching staff will need to be patient with the transition.

Run Blocking and Frontside Movement

Bell’s run blocking is where you see the size and movement most clearly. On wide zone in particular, he generates a lot of movement on the frontside. I bet this is a huge reason why this staff liked him. He keeps his feet moving to wash defenders out of the play in a way that creates lanes rather than just filling gaps. His double-team work on feeds and kick-outs shows the same active feet, and when he gets it right, the combination of length and momentum is very difficult to deal with.

Character and Accountability

The interview element of the Thorn session is worth discussing separately, because it has impacted how I view this pick. I’m a sucker for a good interview, what can I say. Bell comes across as very self-aware, coachable, and prepared to do the work. He talks specifically about his weaknesses, names them precisely, and frames them as problems he is actively solving rather than things he hopes to paper over with his size. He looks like he studies film a lot and was able to name the pass rushers and how they win, specifically, in all the clips. He would speak about how he had to change how he plays depending on his opposition, which is good.

Weaknesses

Leverage

Bell’s height is his greatest asset and his most persistent limitation, and the leverage problem is a big issue. Bell knows it too, as he talks about it with Thorn a lot. His high center of gravity makes him vulnerable to speed-to-power rushes where defenders get into his chest before he can drop his hips and reanchor. The “forklift” technique, where defenders can get under his pads and move him backward, specifically targets what his frame makes structurally difficult to protect. He can recover, and he does recover on film, but he gives up initial ground in a way that a more compact tackle does not.

The inconsistent knee bend is a related issue. There are run plays in the Thorn session where he fits too high and the defender is able to recover and disengage precisely because Bell’s pad level gives them a path back. Getting his hands lower in the run game is a constant coaching point, but the height makes it difficult to solve rather than simply a habit to correct.

Footwork Inconsistencies

His feet are better than they should be at his size, but they are not consistently reliable. Against sophisticated rushers who have some useful pass rush moves, Bell’s feet are occasionally a bit all over the place. His pass set angles need quite a bit of work. He sets at too much of an angle or steps out too wide rather than setting vertically, which gives rushers the space to operate on their own terms rather than forcing them to run through his frame.

Limited Experience

One full season as an FBS starter is a thin resume to project from. Bell only accumulated 21 career starts at Miami. The upward trajectory is visible on film, but there are situations he has not yet seen and techniques he has not had to develop because he has not consistently faced elite competition. The Eagles are betting on the trajectory and the ceiling rather than the completed product. That is fine, but it is a bet, not a certainty.

The Film

Overall Assessment and Fit With the Eagles

Markel Bell is a project. I had him in Round 4 before the draft. I said I would not do it on Day 2, and the Eagles took him in Round 3. Having spent more time on his film since, I understand the decision better than I did in the moment, even if I would still have waited a round.

This offensive tackle class was strong early, but it fell off quickly. By the time the Eagles were picking in Round 3, Bell was likely the last prospect on the board with a starter ceiling rather than a career backup profile. Paying a third-round price for a player I had as a fourth-round prospect is not a catastrophic overpay when the alternative is getting nothing at the position at all. You can make that calculation and feel fine about it.

This feels like a bit of a boom/bust pick. I don’t know how easy it is for someone that tall to ever win the leverage battle, and the RT transition from LT is a real challenge that will require rebuilding instincts if the Eagles want him to replace Lane Johnson.

However, the ceiling is real. The frame, the movement, and the willingness to be coached all point toward a player who, given time and the right staff, could develop into a starting right tackle. The Eagles have Lane Johnson in the building for at least another season. If Bell can sit and develop behind him while the coaching staff works on the leverage, the stance, and the RT-specific technique, this pick could look very good in a couple of years.

It ain’t gonna be pretty all the time. But he might just get the job done.

Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below and ask any questions. If you enjoyed this piece, you can find more of my work and podcast here. If you would like to support me further, please check out my Patreon here!