2019-2020 Sixers Season/Offseason

[bigegypt0417]

It'd be fine if the Sixers were overly dependent on threes if they had people who could get open for and make them every night!

I would add that while I didn't watch the game myself, the generally even-keeled Murphy also said this:

David Murphy on Twitter

ok...they played like dookie.

Feel better?

Does that allow you to ignore there were some excellent games by 3 players?

Cool...they are what you think they are. Dookie.

[zambonir]

Seems clear to me that two players had excellent games: Ben and Korkmaz. And Embiid had a good game but still got outplayed by an inferior player for too long. And Horford had the worst game of his career (offensively).

I don't really have an opinion, but this thread started because PC called it a nice win and said the home Sixers were pretty tough, and meanwhile I'm reading what Murphy wrote and that the home fans booed. But a win is a win. Let's see what tonight brings. Still chasing that four seed.

[bigegypt0417]

Great game for the sixers tonight...all around.

Triple double for simmons and we got good embiid tonight.

Ben Simmons is playing at a higher level. Even without the jumper.

[zambonir]

Seems like there was some coaching going on tonight, at least as far as the rotation. Great way to go into the break.

They still have a lot of untapped potential in terms of actually getting to play their best, healthy players all the time (to say nothing of the new bench).

Simmons is a monster. I don't think he has to change (so long as he's going to the foul line). It's just not the ideal roster for him. But it ain't bad.

[bigegypt0417]

The roster is not as much an issue if embiid plays with his,back to the basket more. He is pretty much unstoppable when he does that.

[VoteForKalas]

Fantastic team game by the 76ers vs the Clippers.

Great that Brown finally realized Horford should come off the bench and that clearly helped the first unit's spacing and offensive production.

Again, playing at home. Would be great to see these type performances on the road against top teams or even bad teams

When Simmons stays aggressive, he shows he is making good strides. Same with Embiid, when he is getting to the foul line he is much more effective.

[phillychuck]

It is becoming clearer that the rotation mis-matches occur when Horford, Simmons, and Embiid are on the floor together as a threesome. There is plenty of game-time available for AL, he plays the 18 minutes Embiid sits, and the 10 minutes Simmons sits. Just don't play all three together unless you need them together for a certain defensive matchup vs. another big team (which they would then likely be effective against offensively, too).

[bigegypt0417]

Agreed.

Embiid will also need to learn he's unstoppable in the middle and the only way to stop him is to foul him. he and simmons can co-exist in that scenario. Horford off the bench could be a positive for this team with his offense.

They are a better team with the new bench pieces.

[VoteForKalas]

Agree, PC.

Agree to a degree, BE. The issue is Embiid still has to deal with Simmons being in the post due to his continued refusal to shoot from outside 5 feet. If Simmons drove to the rim aggressively like he does, but otherwise stayed out of the post and focused on his jump shot, pick & rolls etc., Embiid could wreak havoc consistently. down low.

I know Embiid can hit a 3 ball at times, but his % is pretty bad and I do not want him out there consistently. He needs to be on the block punishing opponents and grabbing offensive rebounds.

[bigegypt0417]

Agree, PC.

Agree to a degree, BE. The issue is Embiid still has to deal with Simmons being in the post due to his continued refusal to shoot from outside 5 feet. If Simmons drove to the rim aggressively like he does, but otherwise stayed out of the post and focused on his jump shot, pick & rolls etc., Embiid could wreak havoc consistently. down low.

I do disagree with this. Embiid with his back to the basket could help facilitate those drives by Simmons but also the team has other shooters that could punish a defense when they do double Joel.

You saw last night what happens when Embiid stays under the basket more.

Ben Simmons may never turn in to the shooter people want him to be but when he's aggressive and takes advantage of bat match-ups, he's still unstoppable.

[VoteForKalas]

I do disagree with this. Embiid with his back to the basket could help facilitate those drives by Simmons but also the team has other shooters that could punish a defense when they do double Joel.

You saw last night what happens when Embiid stays under the basket more.

Ben Simmons may never turn in to the shooter people want him to be but when he's aggressive and takes advantage of bat match-ups, he's still unstoppable.

I want Simmons driving to the basket and making cuts for passes from Embiid when he is double teamed on the post. I want Simmons to be aggressive and attack with confidence.

What I do not want is Simmons posting up and pushing Embiid out. The block needs to be Embiid's territory; Simmons needs to stay out and focus on driving, but also making teams pay with his jump shot.

The reality is we do not have many good shooters on this team; most are inconsistent and either cannot create their own shot or need to be wide open to hit with any regularity. Simmons needs to shoot more for us to reach our full potential. Again, it would only make him even more unstoppable and help the team win more games.

[zambonir]

It's just not gonna happen though. Maybe two-three years from now we'll look back at how he gradually grew into a better and more aggressive shooter on his way to multiple championships and an MVP. But it's not how the 2020 Sixers are going to win anything. The way it's looking the 2021 Sixers will end up swapping Horford for a Reddick type, and/or they'll try to move on from Harris in their eternal quest for that third piece.

Simmons is still a 23 year-old third-year pro. If he isn't the best player he can be (and possibly the best player in the league) until he's 27 that would just make him like almost every superstar ever in the modern NBA.

[zambonir]

In non-Sixers news... it's just amazing how some college coaches simply can't make the leap. I cannot imagine Jay Wright ever wanting to coach the Knicks (who are purportedly after him again) and I don't know that the Sixers would be any better an idea.

Sources: Beilein out, Bickerstaff in as Cavs coach

[VoteForKalas]

Simmons is still a 23 year-old third-year pro. If he isn't the best player he can be (and possibly the best player in the league) until he's 27 that would just make him like almost every superstar ever in the modern NBA.

Two problems:

1. It assumes, and they're doing the same with Embiid, that players somehow develop their skills on their own and cannot or should not be coached, pushed and held accountable. The 76ers, especially Brown, appear to have a "hands-off" approach with either star which is ludicrous and an absolute dis-service to the players, fans and organization IMO.

2. By the time he is 27, the 76ers likely will be re-building again. They need to win now or the process will be confirmed as a failure. Brand and the 76ers have committed and capped us out. We are on the Titantic yet most are still sipping tea on the aft deck in ignorant bliss. In 4 years, Embiid and Simmons will likely be gone, having forced their way out or been traded.

Maybe we'll get lucky and things will fall into place; unfortunately I'm skeptical unless the 76ers change their approach and the star players understand the urgency of this time.

[bigegypt0417]

[quote="zambonir, post:354, topic:51834"]
1. It assumes, and they're doing the same with Embiid, that players somehow develop their skills on their own and cannot or should not be coached, pushed and held accountable. The 76ers, especially Brown, appear to have a "hands-off" approach with either star which is ludicrous and an absolute dis-service to the players, fans and organization IMO.

Simmons and Embiid are coached...to say anything different has no basis in fact.

Simmons and Embiid are pushed...to say anything different has no basis in fact.

Again...how would you like to see them held accountable? For example..how would you hold Simmons accountable for not shooting jumpers?

[phillychuck]

I'm tired of hearing that the process will be a failure if they don't win a championship. The objective was to field a team that is a championship contender. They clearly were a contender last season, and they are considered a contender despite the bad "fit" of the supporting players this season. The process is already a success. Winning it all is, of course, the ultimate objective, but the process has succeeded in making that a possibility (as Hinkie predicted). Getting the final pieces in place, and also getting good bounces and good luck with opponents, is a crapshoot. Again, as Hinkie said at the time, there are no guarantees, the process just improved our odds.

[bigegypt0417]

I'm also tired of the term "the process"

This team has a relatively easy schedule left this season and should be able to move in to the top 4 and I dont know I would want to play this team with home court advantage. With the recent additions, the moving of Horford to the bench and the possible change in approach for Embiid, we could see a different team post-all star break.

[zambonir]

I agree. They are getting coached and pushed. You think if Brown was the Larry Bowa of basketball they'd be better players? I think it's probably the opposite and they'd be worse.

Brown may not be the guy to fully unlock their potential at the level of a Phil Jackson but he is also the guy who has led them, and the Sixers, to great heights so far. And it's not his fault he's had neither the right roster nor the same roster around them, even if he could maybe adjust his system better.

I think Marcus Hayes is mostly right about this though - it is ownership that empowers Joel and Ben, in a league where the players already have most of the power. It's their team, not Brown's, and not Brand's. It's rare to find a coach that can rise above that (and also takes a really good owner and GM to get and empower him). LeBron and Kobe and Magic and Kawhi all had great coaches but mostly they were self-motivated. Ben and Joel, so far, don't seem to have quite that same level of insane intensity and maybe they never will. But again: they're still kids.

For sure, they conversation will change if they actually make a run at the Top 4, and even more so if they actually knock off Milwaukee (regardless of round). It's not gonna be easy but it's not all that far-fetched. We'll see what they are coming out of this break.

[bigegypt0417]

Not much of an update but Simmons is out indefinitely...doesn't really sound like this is short term though.

Was he hurt during the all-star game?

[phillychuck]

According to the Sixers he was hurt the practice the day before the Brooklyn game.