2019-2020 Sixers Season/Offseason

[zambonir]

We'll know when we know I guess. Agree it's not short-term but does that mean back in April or worse? Easy game tonight but good to see Joel and Harris rise to the challenge.

[frylock]

"... but he is also the guy who has led them, and the Sixers, to great heights so far."

I think most coaches could've achieved what he has given the talent level. If anything, He gets exposed in the playoffs when talent is more equal and coaching comes a bit more into play. I think he took a championship-caliber team last year and turned it into a second-round exit.

Dwayne Casey took the Raptors to great heights, but they gambled and made a talent upgrade for one year of Leonard as well as gambling and kicking Casey to the curb for Nurse. Good lesson in not staying complacent -- I personally believe it's pretty clear Brown will never be a championship-caliber coach with this roster. Maybe if he has the Warriors roster of past years, but he's one of those who is stuck on his offensive philosophy whether the talent fits or not (everybody bomb threes even though we don't have the personnel to win consistently like that!)

Can you do worse than Brown? Sure. But at this point, not sure what other evidence they need. Maybe ownership is cool selling out the stadium and doesn't care enough to add expenses (new coach + Brett's salary), who knows.

[zambonir]

I found this to be pretty convincing. The team and its two stars have gotten worse (or failed to get better) because the roster has gotten worse. Not on them, not on the coach.

The Sixers definitely don't have a Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid problem

I think he took a championship-caliber team last year and turned it into a second-round exit.

If anything I'd say that if not for bad luck in a Game 7 on the road we'd be remembering the parade right now and giving him a new contract.

Nurse is certainly the best-case scenario for change but I think the Raptors have a better front office and owner.

To me the only big unknown/question is whether Brand's off-season moves (and apparent mistakes) were made because he was kow-towing to Joel and Ben (and especially Ben). Did someone not want to play with Jimmy or did Brand actually give up on Jimmy when Horford became available. If the latter, that appears to be an act of malpractice that will go unpunished if Brown takes the fall.

[phillychuck]

We need to give up the "Jimmy" longing, I think. He has said several times and it has been reported many places he always wanted to go to Miami. It was reported even when he was in Minnesota.I don't think he would have stayed if they maxed him, and he would not have been happy if he did.

[bigegypt0417]

he did.

Butler is a good player who seems to wear out his welcome every stop he makes. The heat are also starting to come back to earth with Butler up to 10 missed games this year.

[zambonir]

I have no longing for Butler but every indication is that something specific went down. Yes, some say Butler didn't want to stay (and in fact turned down the offer). Some say the offer was never made. And if there were problems in the locker room between Butler and Joel or Butler and Ben, that's still an easy choice. And even easier to assume Butler was the bigger problem. In any case, Ben wasn't going to have the ball as much w/ Butler here. But the holes in the roster that are ultimately (probably) going to end in an early exit can't be denied. Between them neither Harris nor Richardson has been able to provide the same skill sets and we see how Horford instead of a shooter has worked out. That "third piece" that was supposed to be Fultz and then Butler and now Horford or Harris still isn't really here, whether it's talent or positional fit.

Lowe: The Sixers are all-in on new vibes after their absurdist drama

But on June 30, there was no five-year maximum offer for Butler, multiple sources say. Perhaps the Sixers pivoted after learning of Horford's interest in joining. Perhaps they were concerned about tension between Butler and some within the team, including on the coaching staff. Maybe those two things were interrelated. Like every team chasing Butler, they probably wondered how he would age.

[VoteForKalas]

I agree Harris and Brand, but also Jerry and Brian Colangelo are mainly to blame for where the 76ers are now. The lowlight was the one off season where we had no GM which was beyond mystifying during a critical time in the process.

However, I do not think Brown has done a good job developing the talent, forging them into a team and creating schemes to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. The first several seasons, sure, he had peanuts to work with, but the last few years he had good talent.

I also do not let the players of the hook; teams need stars, but also leaders. Sometimes they are the same, but not always. To me, Horford was signed for his leadership as much as his talent and, so far, it has been a flop on both counts from my vantage point. I do not see a leader on this team; neither Embiid nor Simmons appear to have that ability and there is no one else.

[Dirk41]

It just seems as if the Sixers and Butler may have had conversations leading Butler's side to believe the max was coming and then it was pulled when they learned of Horford's interest. That isn't hard to gather from everything else that has happened.

[zambonir]

That's probably the simplest theory. Butler implies there was more to it, but being dramatic about it suits him.

[bigegypt0417]

I agree Harris and Brand, but also Jerry and Brian Colangelo are mainly to blame for where the 76ers are now. The lowlight was the one off season where we had no GM which was beyond mystifying during a critical time in the process.

The process has been over since Hinkie left.

the job that brand has done is create one of the more talented rosters in basketball and a team that is almost unbeatable at home and mystifying on the road.

Your narrative seems to point to your belief this team is the road team we see vs. the home team almost no one can beat.

[bigegypt0417]

So my question would be is do you believe Butler could have coexisted on this team with Simmons and Embiid?

[zambonir]

I don't know. I just know this team isn't as good as last year's team, or at least, it didn't get better than the competition did (despite the defending champions losing their best player and us taking one of Boston's best players). If this team loses in the second round again and fires it coach who's to say a team with Butler wouldn't have done more? All I do know is they blow up the supporting cast every year - three times in one calendar year, even - and it looks like they're gonna have to do it again this summer. Forget "The Process," capital letters - not having a GM in the 2018 off-season meant there was no process, small letters, which is partly why Brand had to be so aggressive (and spendy) on the job.

And so long as they aren't sniffing the 2nd seed I think we have to treat the road team as the version of the team that matters. Obviously they have the talent to surprise. Great teams are consistent, nobody can say this is a great team.

[bigegypt0417]

And so long as they aren't sniffing the 2nd seed I think we have to treat the road team as the version of the team that matters. Obviously they have the talent to surprise. Great teams are consistent, nobody can say this is a great team.

I can't explain what is happening on the road...I really can't.

But again...if they become more consistent on the road then I think this team can win in the playoffs. This team has more than handled most teams they've played at home...they have looked very good when playing in philly. I have to imagine they will get at least a bit better on the road before the playoffs.

[bigegypt0417]

Nerve impingement for Simmons. will be re-evaluated in 2 weeks.

[zambonir]

Sure, anything can happen. And ultimately all they have to do is go 1-3 on the road in a series, if they remain unbeatable at home. I guess I'm just very skeptical that they will remain unbeatable at home. Even putting aside the fact that the playoffs mean a different style of play, no weak opponents, a compressed schedule and a low margin for off-nights (which they did almost survive against the Raptors) it's a lot easier to imagine them going down 0-2 and 1-3 to the Bucks than to imagine it as 1-1 and 3-1. I'd take 2-2, certainly.

Mostly though it just seems like this season isn't in the cards for them. Can't stay healthy, can't keep a starting five together, can't find that next gear often enough. Good news about Ben, let's see if they can actually win one game they are not supposed to over the next six (and not lose any they are supposed to win). At least the 4 seed remains viable.

[nycphils]

Good news about Ben,

Not sure why you say this - I’m not a Dr. but I am a sufferer of lumbar disk problems, and “nerve impingement in the lower back” I’m fairly sure is a less-threatening way to describe a herniated lumbar disk.

For a 23 year old, that’s bad. There is no sure way to treat a herniated disk - sometimes physical therapy will move it back in place and that would be the two weeks plus of treatment the team said he’s having. I wonder he can get an epidural injection - pretty sure that’s a steroid. Surgery is last resort of course, but it’s efficacy is uncertain (50/50 to work, I’ve been told, although his age probably improve those odds.

However, disk problems never really go away. They come and go (hopefully), and are very debilitating.

[zambonir]

Yeah I was responding to the "will be re-evaluated in two weeks" but I see from fuller reports he is expected to be out a lot longer. I think a pinched nerve or nerve impingement can be other things though. We'll see if they are being cagey about his condition or if they they just don't even know for sure yet.

[schillingfan]

If it’s a disc herniation, they definitely know, as that shows on MRI. I suspect the issue is whether surgery is needed. Or if after rest he can play through pain.

[VoteForKalas]

The process has been over since Hinkie left.

the job that brand has done is create one of the more talented rosters in basketball and a team that is almost unbeatable at home and mystifying on the road.

Your narrative seems to point to your belief this team is the road team we see vs. the home team almost no one can beat.

Disagree....Brand inherited Embiid and Simmons which is the core of the team.

Brand signed Horford which has turned out so far to be horrible and extending Harris for $180M is hard to defend too based on his play.

He has maxed out our cap flexibility and thus we are stuck with this roster and can only shift around the edges.

I liked getting Richardson back once we knew Butler wanted to go to Miami

The rest are fungible pieces that mostly do not fit that well or are just not very talented.

[bigegypt0417]

The process has been over since Hinkie left.

the job that brand has done is create one of the more talented rosters in basketball and a team that is almost unbeatable at home and mystifying on the road.

Your narrative seems to point to your belief this team is the road team we see vs. the home team almost no one can beat.

Disagree....Brand inherited Embiid and Simmons which is the core of the team.

Again...they have one of the most talented starting 5 in basketball.

You can try to disagree with that but this is one of the most talented teams in the NBA,

This team would barely be a playoff team if Brand just went with your premise of Simmons and Embiid.