2020-21-22 Sixers Season

[VoteForKalas]

Simmons did not play Game 4 because he woke up with a sore back and decided not the lace them up.

IMO it was another clear example of Simmons avoiding responsibility and thinking he would be blamed if he played poorly and the Nets got swept. They got swept anyway and now Simmons and his handlers can redirect any questions toward how excited Simmons is to play next season yada yada yada.

I think Nash is over his head coaching the Nets too. With Durant and Irving, that is a toxic mix.

[zambonir]

I actually thought it was reported that Simmons still wasn't mentally ready.

He is an incredibly talented and already accomplished player and I wasn't seriously suggesting he will never play again but between the flaws in his game, his immaturity and the X factor of team chemistry he also may not ever be worth the salary he already has. Thought that also doesn't make him unique. His max trade value was also going to always be for another flawed player or problem child (i.e. someone who wanted out) and that's what happened.

But I really don't think Harden is going anywhere. He is Morey and Rubin's guy. He knows forcing his way out again likely won't end well for him (championship-wise or money-wise).

[zambonir]

I'm more caught up on the Ben stuff now:

Sunday’s events triggered frustration and disheartenment throughout the organization, multiple sources said. The fallout of Simmons being ruled out Sunday led to a meeting among franchise officials, Simmons and his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, on Monday in Brooklyn. According to sources, Simmons told those in the room that a mental block exists for him, dating in part to last summer’s postseason, which is creating stress that could serve as a trigger point for his back issues. He added that he does want to play basketball and play for the Nets as he works on solutions in regard to his well-being.

Inside the Ben Simmons and Nets saga, and what’s next for All-Star and franchise

Both teams probably could have used more conditions attached to this trade!

[VoteForKalas]

I think the 76ers have left themselves no option but to keep Harden. I just think it will be a disaster and likely doom this Process era unfortunately.

Simmons may say it is a mental block that is causing his back issues, but it was reported as back soreness.

Nets list Ben Simmons as out for Game 4 due to back soreness

One day before multiple reports said Simmons was supposed to make his debut with the Nets, the team has listed him as out for Game 4 due to back soreness. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Simmons showed up at the Sixers facility on Sunday and told them of his back pain following Saturday’s workout and “they took him at his word.”

By Sixers facility, I assume that was a freudian slip and the writer meant the Nets facility, lol

[zambonir]

Yeah the Athletic article is a post-mortem with more details in the wake of his absence.

I think the 76ers have left themselves no option but to keep Harden. I just think it will be a disaster and likely doom this Process era unfortunately.

Indeed, what are the alternatives, other than going back in time and keeping Butler, and/or moving on from Ben sooner? Or not trading Mikal Bridges. Or not drafting Fultz.

The Process era is already over (and was the minute they hired Hinkie anyway, even if Morey was also his mentor). This is the Morey/SuperTeam era, and I don't know that Harden is any better or worse a piece than any other available star/max salary player. Or that the Sixers could build around only one star (works for the Bucks, not so much the Nuggets or Blazers). They also likely can't win a championship with mostly young players before Joel starts to decline.

[zambonir]

And all is well (for now)

[xogfog]

On to Miami on Monday night. Our fears got the worst of us after games 4 and 5, but ultimately, they blew the Raptors out in 3 of their 4 wins. Miami is a better version of Toronto. The Sixers split with them in the regular season. I think it is going to be a good hard fought series, but I like the Sixers in 6, while the Bucks and Celtics fight it out on the other side.

[VoteForKalas]

Great win for the 76ers. So glad to see them get their confidence and aggression back and dictate to the other team instead of sitting back and playing around the edges.

Miami will be a much tougher task, but this should help them enter the series in the right mindset. If it had gone 7, even if they had won, that would have been a whole different attitude shift.

They need to attack Miami too; transition will be key. If it becomes a half court offense slog, the 76ers will be in trouble.

[phillychuck]

Big difference is Miami can shoot, and is not as athletic or as long defensively.

[zambonir]

Kind of incredible to me that:

1) The Sixers have not won a second-round series since the 2001 team made it to the Finals

2) This was Joel's first playoff series win of more than five games.

[bigegypt0417]

Embiid with a concussion and orbital fracture...could miss the entire series.

[zambonir]

Seriously unfair.

[bigegypt0417]

Up 29 with 4 minutes left...not sure it's about fairness.

[zambonir]

Well, yeah, that's another angle on it. Should they just fire Doc before the sweep?

Regardless, still a bush play and (literally) a bad break.

[schillingfan]

I remember that late elbow to the face.

[zambonir]

Things may already be looking up (Lowry out for Game 1, Joel hopeful to clear out of concussion protocol for Game 3).

https://twitter.com/MoDakhil_NBA/status/1520801496807317504

[zambonir]

I was gonna make a longshot series bet on the Sixers but I guess Joel's status has taken it off the books (at least on the only site I can use in Oregon).

[zambonir]

well that escalated quickly

[bkeich]

Are we allowed to just forfeit game 2 and pray Embiid is ready for game 3?

[zambonir]

I'm afraid it might be too late, since he's not likely to be at full-strength even if he's back that quickly. Gotta look at what worked for part of this game and try to do it for all four quarters.

Of course it already felt like Heat in 6 anyway, and especially with the hand injury.

It's kind of funny that the Heat became the original superteam, because aside from that era, I think of them (along with the Spurs) as being just really well-run and hard to play against - everything the Sixers haven't been since 2001.