By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly Staff 

Welcome back to another season of Sixers basketball coverage on SportsTalkPhilly.com. Our previews this year will be titled Sixers Fastbreak and the content will be true to the name. We plan to give you nothing but the top story-lines heading into the game, the lineups, injuries and how you can tune in. As always, please feel free to interact with us on Twitter, @Sixerdelphia.

The Philadelphia 76ers open up their preseason slate this evening against Melbourne United. Point guard Ben Simmons and head coach Brett Brown have connections to Melbourne, with Brown having coached there from 1993-1998 and Simmons growing up there.

Here's a quick look at some of the things to watch for in tonight's opener:

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers have one preseason game remaining before the final roster decisions have been made. A few decisions were made ahead of that on Friday.

The Flyers sent forwards Tyrell Goulbourne and Carsen Twarynski to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, bringing the training camp roster to 31 players, GM Ron Hextall announced on Friday morning.

Goulbourne was placed on waivers on Wednesday and cleared Thursday afternoon before playing in the Flyers preseason game against the Rangers. He had nine hits to lead the team in 10:21 of ice time.

Twarynski was dubbed one of the big surprises in camp, playing in five preseason games with a goal and an assist. He also scored a goal and had an assist in the Flyers 6-3 win in the Rookie Game against the Islanders. He begins his first pro season with the Phantoms after scoring 45 goals in juniors last season.

The Flyers have eight remaining cuts to make before finalizing the roster, though four players on the roster are listed as injured -- Sam Morin, Pascal Laberge, Alex Lyon and Michal Neuvirth. Corban Knight was also injured in Thursday's game and an update is expected after he is re-evaluated on Friday. He did not take the ice for practice on Friday.

The Flyers close out the preseason on Saturday afternoon against the Boston Bruins at 5 p.m.

By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly Staff 

Are you a bobblehead collector? Do you trust the process? Do you just love Joel Embiid? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it's time to mark your calendars...

You have a chance to get a bobblehead of the Sixers big man on November 20. Philadelphia's G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, announced that the first 10,000 fans at their home opener will receive a commemorative bobble figurine of Embiid.

The Blue Coats kick-off their home schedule at the Wells Fargo Center at 7:00 p.m. on November 20 against the Canton Charge. They'll open up their state-of-the-art facility in Wilmington, DE, shortly after the turn of the calendar.

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It wasn't quite a carbon copy of Monday's 4-3 loss to the Bruins, but it came pretty close. The Flyers again had to try to erase a deficit in the third period, and nearly did.

Ultimately, it fell short, dropping the Flyers to 3-3-1 on the season with their 4-2 loss to the Rangers on Thursday. Perhaps more importantly is how they got to a 3-0 deficit again. Some old familiar flaws showed up, which is certainly concerning in the penultimate preseason tilt.

More from the Flyers loss to the Rangers in our Postgame Review.

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Much like on Monday, the Flyers entered the third after a lifeless period forced them into a sizable deficit. Three Rangers goals in the second had the Flyers down 3-0, just like in Monday's preseason game.

A pair of quick goals got the Flyers right back into it midway through the period, but just like Monday, the Flyers couldn't completely recover and fell short, dropping the final preseason game at home, 4-2, on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center.

By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly Staff 

Earlier on Thursday, The Athletic's Sam Amick reported that the Philadelphia 76ers were completely out of trade talks with Minnesota for Jimmy Butler. Beyond preliminary discussions, the two sides got nowhere and now we might know why.

Kevin O'Connor, an NBA writer for The Ringer, hopped on The Bill Simmons Podcast to chat about a number of topics, one of which was Jimmy Butler trade talks. O'Conner mentions to Simmons that he's heard from multiple people that Minnesota's counteroffer to the Sixers for Butler was demanding Ben Simmons in return. Hard pass on that one.

Here's O'Connor's full quote via Sixers Wire:

“One of the things that I’ve heard from a handful of sources is that like, with the Sixers for example, with the initial offer that they made, the counteroffer was like ‘we need Ben Simmons in a deal.'” O’Connor stated.

“It’s counter offers like that that make you wonder, is this actually for real?”

Considering Butler could become a free agent in the summer of 2019, it seems pretty nuts that Minnesota would ask for a player like Simmons for a guy who could run for the hills at season's end. That being said, Butler would be set to make about $50 million more if he signs an extension with the team that acquires him, so the Timberwolves could be thinking about that as well. Butler is obviously hoping that wherever he's dealt, he'll sign a max extension and not have to leave money on the table.

Last season in 59 games for Minnesota, Butler averaged 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists, shooting 47.4 percent from the floor and 35 percent from beyond the arc. 

By Paul Bowman, Eagledelphia Managing Editor

While the Eagles are set to get a key part of the offense back, they also got word that a key part of the defense will be out for the season. Derrick Gunn of NBCSPhilly is reporting that McLeod had MCL surgery to repair the injury he suffered against the Colts.

As I reported Monday a league source confirmed to me a short while ago eagle safety Rodney McLeod had surgery this morning for torn MCL his season is over

— Derrick Gunn (@RealDGunnNBCS) September 27, 2018

The loss of McLeod means that Corey Graham will see more playing time. Graham played well last season for the birds, racking up 28 tackles, four pass deflections and two interceptions. That is why the Eagles wanted to bring him back this season. Once Graham decided he would not be retiring, he signed back in Philadelphia.

The Eagles primary backup is now Deiondre’ Hall. The Eagles acquired Hall from the Chicago Bears for a conditional seventh-round pick. He has upside but has had near constant off-the-field issues as well as problems with personal fouls while on the field. He plays safety with speed and a hard hitting manner, similar to McLeod, but has struggled with off the field issues (he was suspended for week one).

After the Carolina Panthers signed Eric Reid this morning, expect the Eagles to bring Tre Sullivan back to the roster. Unless they are able to get another starting caliber safety in a trade, the Eagles like what Sullivan brings to the table if he can clean up his play on special teams. Sullivan is currently on the Eagles practice squad.

The Eagles also have Chris Maragos on the PUP list. In theory, he would be eligible to return as a backup in week seven, but based on the fact that he and the Eagles reworked his contract so that he is no longer under team control in 2019, it would seem like neither party really expects him back anytime soon.

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Just two games remain for the Flyers in the preseason, which means it's crunch time for players still left on the Flyers roster fighting for a spot.

A lot of the bubble players will get a look in Thursday's preseason game against the New York Rangers, the final one on home ice in the preseason.

Game time from Wells Fargo Center is set for 7 p.m.

By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly Staff 

The Philadelphia 76ers went into the offseason hunting for stars, but emerged with just a few role player additions. Lebron James went to the Lakers, Paul George stayed in Oklahoma City and the Spurs wanted either Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons for Kawhi Leonard. 

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Everyone could use a little help, even former Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, as he looks to return to the postseason for a chance at another World Series championship one last time before his retirement following the season.

On Wednesday, Utley's wife, Jennifer, took to Instagram and called upon the Phillies for a little help to Utley and his Los Angeles Dodgers in the divisional and Wild Card standings.