2018-19 Sixers Season

phillychuck 2019-01-02 13:51:44 UTC #181

Worrisome signs continue, though. Simmons and Embiid had a tiff after Simmons accidentally elbowed JoJo on a rebound, and neither one was over it after the game in interviews. Butler (who was ejected after a scuffle with Avery Bradley) is still not being used efficiently or often enough.

Good things: They actually won this game in large part (in addition to Embiid) because their bench outplayed one of the best bench groups in the league from the Clippers. TJ, Muscala, and Bolden were particularly good. If Bolden can play like this, it plugs a big hole in terms of back-up minutes at the 4/5. I think the key for Bolden is not to force things and let offensive opportunities just come to him. It also helps if he gets more consistent from 3-point range just so he can hit the open ones (like Amir takes).

There is some speculation from those around the team that Simmons and Embiid are not on the best of terms these days. It's not Kobe/Shaq (yet) but it's concerning.

Also, Fultz is being re-examined early next week and may be cleared.

bigegypt0417 2019-01-02 15:17:56 UTC #182

I think that comes from two competitive players.

I'm not going to worry about it since there are many stars who butt heads every now and again.

frylock 2019-01-06 04:13:50 UTC #183

True about competitive players, but my concern is Embiid cares about competing for wins while Simmons errs more towards competing for triple doubles... hope that's not truly how he feels, but that's the vibe I get.

bigegypt0417 2019-01-09 13:51:15 UTC #184

Sixers blow out a really bad wizards team. Shamet with a career high 29 points. 8-14 from 3 point range.
16 points for Korkmaz who I think the sixers will regret not offering a contract to.

The highlight for me and the reason people love him was Joel Embiid sitting the second row watching part of the game with a young fan. another player who loves the city....

bigegypt0417 2019-01-09 17:44:08 UTC #185

Interesting trade idea in here....

I'm not actually sure Phoenix would do it.

phillychuck 2019-01-09 18:25:26 UTC #186

That's a lopsided trade for Phoenix. No way I would ever include Redick, and I think Simmons alone is too much talent-wise. So, they really can't match salaries, so they can't trade. I'd keep Simmons anyway....

Not to mention Simmons actually plays D...and Booker, uh, does not.

bigegypt0417 2019-01-09 18:44:36 UTC #187

Redick is an expiring contract...I really like Booker but this seems way too complicated to make sense.

Patchmk88 2019-01-09 18:56:58 UTC #188

Not a Sixers fan, but Booker plays absolutely no D. Would not want him in a trade involving Simmons.

Squire 2019-01-09 19:33:38 UTC #189

Honestly, I like the team as presently constructed assuming Fultz and Zhaire Smith can come back.

nycphils 2019-01-09 23:36:48 UTC #190

The only person that I’d seriously consider trading Simmons for is The Brow,

phillychuck 2019-01-10 02:09:03 UTC #191

I'd listen to Davis or Giannis as a one-to-one offer, but the age difference weighs in favor of Simmons.

phillychuck 2019-01-12 03:05:07 UTC #192

Bad loss to the Hawks tonight without Embiid and with Redick shooting bricks. Muscala and Chandler were pretty awful, especially on defense. Bad acquisitions by the interim GM team.

kmc1019 2019-01-12 03:19:32 UTC #193

I just left the game myself. You are right, Brown the GM is causing much pain for Brown the coach. Our bench plus Chandler are just not ready to compete among the elite teams.

Tough to see how the Sixers make it deeper into the playoffs than last year, at least as the roster is currently constructed.

frylock 2019-01-13 19:04:48 UTC #194

Is Brown the GM causing Brown the coach pain, or did Brown the GM get Brown the coach exactly what he wanted, he just isn't all that good at evaluating talent and runs a flawed gameplan of chucking threes that the top teams in the East will solve come playoff time?

I'd wager on the latter.

Of course this team is worse off than last year in the short-term as they sacrificed depth for a higher-end talent via the Butler trade, but I believe this team will remain stagnant progression-wise as long as Brown is at the helm.

phillychuck 2019-01-13 19:30:15 UTC #195

All the best teams in the NBA shoot a lot of threes. this isn't the 1950s anymore; basketball strategy has changed. Philadelphia is 14th in the league in 3-point attempts per game. I do think you need to give Brown some time to adjust to the talent he has on hand, and we need to push Brand a little to get another rotation piece or two in short order.

bigegypt0417 2019-01-13 20:01:42 UTC #196

This is what Simmons needs to do more.

xogfog 2019-01-16 04:59:34 UTC #197

Sixers paste the Timberwolves 149 - 107. Embid with 31/13 in 27 minutes. Bench played well, seven players in double digits.

nycphils 2019-01-16 15:09:32 UTC #198

The turnaround off the post up is definitely an improvement, so I don’t want to minimize it, but it isn’t what is needed to open the offense up. He really needs to spot up a couple times a game and shoot either off the catch or dribble to force the defense not to sag off him when he’s facing up. If he can expand his repertoire to that - even just elbow jumpers - the offense should really blossom.

bigegypt0417 2019-01-18 03:04:54 UTC #199

Nice win tonight against the pacers.

xogfog 2019-01-20 03:09:37 UTC #200

Epic game versus the Thunder today. Thunder won (that's 19 straight versus the Sixers), but it was a very entertaining game. The end brought up a rule I hate. Butler stole the ball and made a go ahead basket with 6 seconds left. The Thunder did not inbound the ball, they just called time out, and they get a side out in the Sixers zone to start the next play., where George came off a screen to hit the winning 3 pointer. That is such a stupid rule that a time out let's you advance the ball to past half court to the other team's zone. You can take the time out but you should have to inbound the ball where it last was, which was under their basket to play it in. They still might have won the game, but it would have been a lot harder to do if they had to go the length of the court. Just stupid.