Eubanks Is Back, Philly Sits Everyone, Center Job Wide Open

0:04The host: Drew Eubanks was penciled in for today — left thumb and arm, day-to-day since September 28th — and today's the date the Knicks put on his return.

0:13The analyst: Estimated return, October 5th. Tonight. If he suits up, he's in the mix for backup center minutes behind Towns, first time all camp.

0:22The host: Good. Because this roster needed him healthy before anybody starts talking rotations for real.

0:27The analyst: And honestly, that's the whole plot of tonight — not the score.

0:31The host: Philadelphia isn't bringing anybody who matters. Maxey, Embiid, Simons, LeBron, Bona — every one of them day-to-day, every one tagged 'rest, other.'

0:41The analyst: That's not an injury report, that's six scratches on one sheet. First preseason game of the year and the other bench doesn't even show.

0:50The host: So whatever happens tonight, it's not a measuring stick against anybody's real team.

0:55The analyst: It's a measuring stick against us. Drummond, Wiseman, Bradley — three centers, one job behind Towns, and tonight's the first real look at it.

1:05The host: Sixers went 45 and 37 last year, Nurse's first season running that locker room. Embiid played 38 games, scored 26.9 a night when he did.

1:16The analyst: None of that walks through the door tonight. VJ Edgecombe's the one name who plays real minutes — 16 points a game as a rookie, 75 games started.

1:26The host: He's the whole Philadelphia story for one night. Jaylen Brown's in that building too, 28.7 a game last year, but he's not listed to go either.

1:35The analyst: Right — so the matchup that actually decides this is our frontcourt rotation against their leftovers, not anything with real stakes attached.

1:43The host: Our side's clean otherwise. Eubanks is the only name on the whole injury list, and he's dated to go tonight.

1:49The analyst: Diawara cleared October 3rd too, so that question's shut for good. Twenty guys, one name on the report — that never happens in October.

1:58The host: Which means this is Jaden Akins, Tyler Nickel, Kevin McCullar — the two-way guys — getting real run against a Philadelphia bench that's just as thin tonight.

2:08The analyst: Exactly the matchup you want for guys fighting for a roster spot. Nobody's washing them out with a Jaylen Brown closeout tonight.

2:16The host: Brown's wanted pace out of that second unit all camp — tonight and the Wizards on October 8th are the only two looks he gets before the opener.

2:24The analyst: Two preseason games to find pace. That's thin, but it's what there is.

2:29The host: Give me the number.

2:30The analyst: Thirty-seven point seven. That's Brunson's scoring average across his last three games, all thirty points or better.

2:37The host: Three in a row at thirty-plus — that's absurd for anybody not named Embiid.

2:43The analyst: It's three games. Small sample — it doesn't tell you how he holds up guarding the other team's best wing for eighty-two nights straight. It tells you he's healthy right now, and that he's got it.

2:54The host: I'll take healthy and got it in October every time.

2:57The analyst: That number's also exactly why tonight's really about Drummond and Wiseman, not Brunson.

3:04The host: Bondy had Drummond, Wiseman, Bradley and Towns all grouped under one word October 2nd — 'center.' Nobody's claimed that job yet.

3:12The analyst: And remember, Bradley's only here because Konchar got waived for him September 30th. That spot already turned over once this camp.

3:21The host: So tonight's not nothing. Whoever plays well at the five walks out of Philadelphia with real separation.

3:27The analyst: Eight o'clock, NBA TV, Knicks at the Sixers. That's where you watch.

3:32The host: One more thing before we let you go. James L. Edwards reported today that Towns is frustrated with how his extension talks are going.

3:40The analyst: Reported — not confirmed, not a deal falling apart. Just the first time 'frustrated' made it into print since Media Day on September 28th.

3:51The host: Six days, no movement, and now the word's out. That's a story we're not done with.

3:57The analyst: And it's not nothing money-wise either — payroll's at $227.7 million, over the second apron at $200.4 million. Any extension for Towns stacks right on top of that.

4:10The host: Which is exactly why McBride's extension talk hasn't gone anywhere either. There's only so much room.

4:16The analyst: So tell us — who do you want to see get the center minutes tonight, Drummond or Wiseman?

4:21The host: Drop it in the comments. Watch the five spot tonight, and catch the breakdown on Knicks Nightly, on Hoops Nightly, tomorrow.

4:29The analyst: Enjoy the game.