2019-2020 Sixers Season/Offseason

[VoteForKalas]

But again, these are not issues from just this season's 9 games. These are multi-year issues that have either never been or poorly addressed by Brown and the organization. Simmons refusal to shoot and evolve as a player, the offensive spacing, the poor shooting, the strange bench usage, Embiid's conditioning etc. are all ones that have hurt our growth as a team for a long time.

[phillychuck]

The offensive spacing has been good this year, and the bench usage has been fine. Brown seems to be going 9 or 10 deep in most games.

The issues with the two stars remain. Ben made a jumper to start the game last night, but it was one of the 12-foot fall away variety, not an on-balance look. His foul shooting looks better this season, but his results are worse. Joel seems discontented (no Jimmy or Redick?) or tired fairly often on the floor.

They need to play together for at least a half-season to figure out fit, I guess. In February the criticism will be more fair if warranted at that time. Tied for second in the East right now, but a tough back-to-back road game vs. the Magic tonight, who are due. Start of a 3-game trip vs. weak teams. If they are not at least 2-1 it will be a disappointment.

[xogfog]

In last nights game, they seemed to plod their way through, apparently Harris was sick and played anyway, not a good idea as he went a record 0 for 11 on threes. When they got down late in the 4th 97-92 with 3:34 left in the game, they clamped down and Cleveland didn't score again. They played without Horford who had a rest day. When this team builds chemistry, which they should by 25 to 30 games in, they should be right there with the Bucks at the top of the East.

[zambonir]

The key phrase being "Brown and the organization." Obviously Brand either doesn't see it as an issue or doesn't see it as being Brown's fault. And it might not be! It's hard to tell any NBA star what to do, though of course it's not unreasonable to see what another coach can get out of them if the team fails to meet expectations and they don't self-improve.

I think we tend to forget how early it still is in their careers though, especially in real-time (given their injuries). LeBron played six seasons before winning an MVP and nine before winning a championship; he was 27 and in his eighth season when he really got serious about improving and changing his game. Of course that's not a favorable comparison for the Sixers because it might mean one or both them won't actually be on the Sixers by the time it all clicks.

To some extent they're still boxed in by the sins of the previous GMs. I think the revamp is pretty impressive, considering (i.e. how much they gave up last year and how both Fultz and Butler didn't work out and how it looked like they'd have no bench at all for a while). Seems to me their main expectation/gamble is how good Harris can be, rather than on Simmons becoming what we wish he was.

Kind of amazing how all four Philly teams are similar now, if at slightly different points on the timeline, in terms of doing total front office/manager-coach revamps.

[kmc1019]

Another disgraceful 4th quarter collapse by the Sixers in Orlando tonight, outscored 32-15. The apologists will claim games on back to back nights.

[Lawman]

Also, no Joel Embiid, as he was out due to "load management." I'd point to that, rather then back to back games.

[phillychuck]

Saying the game was the second half of a back-to-back on the road, with travel, isn't being an apologist, it's being aware of how things work in a league where they basically play 3-4 games per week. There will be some stinkers. If Tobias makes a normal 3-pt percentage for him they win. And he's not only playing the second night of a B-2-B, he's playing with a stomach virus. I sort of give him a pass on the two horrible shooting games.

It IS fair to criticize the team for not sitting Harris v. the Cavs, and for not playing a pretty well-rested Embiid last night (they could have played him and limited his minutes). You can manage a load without fully sitting a player, too.

[kmc1019]

We can disagree, there is just always some excuse when the Sixers underperform or lose, which is far too frequent and includes the previous night at home, with Embiid, against Cleveland. Not having Embiid certainly makes them a lesser team, but a championship contender should not lose to the Magic, home or away, and whether a back to back game or not.

Related: I don't want to pick on Tobias Harris while he is sick, but - even when healthy - is there another SuperMax $36M per year player out there who is less effective? He has basically been an average player since the Sixers traded for him, but he has 5 years of superstar money coming his way. Ugh.

[phillychuck]

I think you can legitimately criticize the team and the organization for thinking they are the Warriors and not having won anything yet. As was posted elsewhere, they are believing their press clippings. Brown's job is to get them to play with urgency in the regular season even though we all know it's not like the NFL, each game isn't that urgent. It IS urgent for them to play hard so they know how to play together.

I will give Harris time to prove everyone wrong who is down on him now. Shooting slumps are usually followed by torrid hot streaks. I want to see how he plays when he's hot, and when the team figures out how to use him best.

[Dirk41]

Related: I don't want to pick on Tobias Harris while he is sick, but - even when healthy - is there another SuperMax $36M per year player out there who is less effective? He has basically been an average player since the Sixers traded for him, but he has 5 years of superstar money coming his way. Ugh.

I like Harris and think he is playing out of position and will be as long as Horford is around. He does remind you of almost a basketball equivalent to a Jean Segura type player who gets talked up by every front office that trades for him and it makes you realize how much he's been traded. A forever hot commodity.

Don't know what it would take or the likelihood of being successful, but Dennis Smith Jr is pretty much on the outs with the Knicks. He isn't Baron Davis 2.0, but is still talented and better with the ball in his hands than just about any guard we have (not including Ben)

[zambonir]

Yeah it's early on Harris but I don't think anyone believed he was ever worth his deal. It's just the system made it the best move for the Sixers (especially once Butler wasn't).

Not sure anyone has to apologize for a 7-4 team, even if it hasn't always been pretty or they've lost a few that they should have won. Sure we're not 9-1 but who did the Celtics lose to?

Seems like load management will be a huge issue though. We'll be saying "well, they didn't have Joel (or Horford)" 20 times, so those games could ultimately be a seeding difference.

[Dirk41]

Absolutely. Which brings us back to "start" because Ben Simmons should be able to beat a team like Orlando on his own. Even with a great defensive coach like Steve Clifford.

[xogfog]

Ben didn't get to the line once last night...

[phillychuck]

Ben Simmons should be able to beat a team like Orlando on his own

C'mon, you're not serious, are you? It's the NBA, even bad teams are pretty good. One guy who can't shoot outside of about 10 feet isn't beating any team on his own. Look at the Magic:

1-Fultz--#1 overall draft pick starting to learn how to play in the NBA. Quick, good ball handler, good in transition, still has trouble shooting in the flow of the game.

2-Fornier -- an average to above average NBA 2-guard.

3-Gordon -- all-star NBA player

4-Isaac -- a top-5 draft pick who has great athleticism and is developing a good mid-range game.

5-Vucevic -- an outstanding offensive C who is limited on defense.

They should make the playoffs, even after their bad start. They were in contention last year for the 8 seed until game 82. They're not chopped liver. Prime LeBron couldn't beat them "on his own".

[Lawman]

I think that, come mid-season, the calls to trade Simmons will become deafeningly loud.

[Dirk41]

I disagree about Prime LeBron. He willed his teams through playoffs seemingly single handedly, but Ben Simmons should be able to take over a game against a team like the Magic without Joel Embiid.

[zambonir]

It will either be Brown or Simmons, certainly, if things aren't going how they want.

[phillychuck]

That's just not true about LeBron. He had help with all his playoff teams, role players who did their thing, including a couple of shooters with him to space the floor. And, seriously again, are we arguing that because LeBron could do something other good players should be able to do it, too? We're talking about arguably the best ever. In his prime. And he didn't really do it by himself in reality either. We all listen too much to the talking heads and start to get enthralled with the "take over the game" crap. And it is crap.

[Dirk41]

Winning games in the NBA because you have far and away the best player on the court is not crap. But that goes to the original point that maybe Simmons is closer to someone like Vucevic or Gordon than the guy who was missing- Embiid.

[zambonir]

Hey, we all wish Simmons was Magic or LeBron.