2023-2024 Sixers Season

[zambonir]

I just think Anunoby is too good to get discounted. Also, even if Toronto wanted Harris or his expiring contract the Sixers would have to take back another $20 million just to make that work for the Raptors (unless they trade Siakam too).

Anyway, I am more inclined to agree with you than xogfog. They have to pursue all opportunities and try to get better/not waste another season of Joel this year if they can, so long as it doesn't rule out an even better/longer-term opportunity next year. And figuring out what might give you a better chance to make the Conference Finals vs. what might actually give you a chance to win it all is what they pay this front office for, so we'll see.

[zambonir]

The Murphy column

Pay attention to the Sixers. They are doing things even Daryl Morey and Nick...

The TLDR: #2 offense. #5 defense. Outscoring teams more than any previous Nurse or Morey team. #1 in Simply Rating System which includes SOS. And Nurse isn't even halfway through shaping the team's full identity.

To me the big question is can you make a trade and still keep Oubre Jr. Who you probably can't keep next year either.

[phillychuck]

The discussion on Anunoby is interesting. I think the fan perspective is that he's better or more valuable than he actually is. He's a good, switchable defender who also can shoot 3s, but he's a career 15 PPG scorer (in 35 mins) who shoots well under 40% from 3, and is only OK at attacking closeouts. He'd be a really good fit on the Sixers, but he's not close to a max-contract player. I don't think he has a lot of room for improvement, either. I really like him as a trade target, but not at a seriously over-inflated price. Toronto's Ujiri has the reputation for not being a very flexible trade partner, so Anunoby is probably not a realistic "get" for this year, but I can dream.

[bkeich]

I would really like to see us get a “big” (a 4 /Power Forward) to allow Embiid to not get quite as worn down. It is great seeing him score 50+, but we all know that is just taking energy away and messing with the ticking bomb that is Embiid’s health.

If we can get a player that makes it so Embiid is not such a clear MVP it would help. He only has so much he can give, and we just keep repeating the “wear him down” during the season.

[xogfog]

Sixers with a nice win in Orlando tonight, their first win without Embiid this year.

[phillychuck]

Finished on a 26-6 run; defense was great down the stretch. Maxey with a couple of late daggers and a good Harris finish or two (mixed in with a really soft fast break finish that got blocked). Melton hit consecutive 3's to put it out of reach.

[xogfog]

Sixers with second straight Embiidless win. A nail biter @ Houston, Maxey dropped 42.

[bkeich]

We really could use that 3rd scorer to get to compete at the top level. This just looks like the last few seasons to me, we ride our 2 very good players and wear them out during the year. Harris is a good player, but he can’t consistently put up good numbers, he is a complimentary player miscast as a star. He is very good as a complimentary player and if he didn’t have his crazy contract he would be very valuable.

Hopefully we pick up a good SF or PF to add to this team and take the burden off Maxey and Embiid. Even a SG would be ok.

Fun team to watch.

[phillychuck]

Right now they are not winning the "right" way...the offense is disjointed and the defense isn't creating as many opportunities as it should. Yet, bottom line is that they are wining, even without Joel. A win tonight would be a real statement, everything is against them.

[xogfog]

Sixers ran out of gas in the 4th quarter tonight, losing again to the Bulls in their 3rd game in 4 days all without Embiid. They go 2 - 2 without the big guy.

[bkeich]

I guess Embiid is out again or is it just not playing him in a back-back game? Hopefully the latter

[bigegypt0417]

I love Joel Embiid...it's time to think about moving on from him.

I am not sure there is a way to build a team around him in the time he has left and every day that goes by, he's worth less.

Moving him ends the process but it seems like the process wasn't a success regardless.

[zambonir]

I think moving him re-starts the process!

I've always felt it was unlikely the Sixers would ever win a ring with him, every year it's either poor health or an imperfect fit. But I still think they probably have a much better chance over the next three years with him than without him. Barring an actual tank/rebuild I reckon that with or without him they'd just be in the same place - a top four team in the conference but never one of the two best in the league.

We shall see, this year would certainly be the time to make that call while they still have lots of other assets and expiring contracts too.

[phillychuck]

Now that Embiid is working so much in the top-of-the-key pick-and-roll he's much easier to fit players around, and he's becoming a better passer as the season goes along. I don't think fit is a problem.

I do think the health concerns are a genuine problem. Sixers have to work with him to learn what is causing most of the lower body injuries, and just coach him to avoid those situations or compensate better for contact. Why don't other similarly-sized players take as much of a beating? What can he learn from watching them play?

If they don't think they can keep him healthy for the playoffs and the only goal is a championship, you have to consider moving on and building the team around Maxey and whatever return you get for Embiid and the other pieces they have. For me that would be a sad day; it's just so much fun watching him master different skills every year. I'd keep working the team around him.

[schillingfan]

I love Maxey, but would really miss Embiid. He really is unstoppable because he is an excellent shooter. If he can’t drive the lane, he just knocks down the fadeaway jumper with such ease.

[zambonir]

Joel has only gotten better and become more of an on-court fit, for sure. But it's still not clear the Sixers can find the right mix - whether it's the old-fashioned "third star" or a good enough overall mix - around him and Maxey (once Maxey gets his money). We shall see.

I don't think the trainers and doctors can find a magic way to keep him healthy. Guys Joel's size have been breaking for years. At least he's not Sam Bowie or Greg Oden.

I'll say again - and it seems most would agree - would rather see them try with Joel over the next three (or four or five) years and fail than try anything else that is no more likely to succeed. And tanking (which would likely mean trading Maxey too) also not much of an option.

[bkeich]

There really is no easy way to reset and start over. The idea of building a team is to get where we are, I don’t think we have the pieces, but I don’t know what the trade deadline will bring. We once didn’t have the team we needed around AI, and then we traded for Mutumbo and got very close. That is really all you can do.

Resetting now is pointless, it almost seems like it would be like saying “we will never try to actually win”. Build a team and break it down, you are the Montreal Expos.

Yes, they could speed up the next “build”, but it is simply too early to do that.

[zambonir]

Well, agreed, I don't think there is any way they would actually rebuild full-on (and to do that would mean no Maxey either). With no Joel they probably become the Spurs-post Kawhi (or the Raptors post-Kawhi for that matter). But, there might also be ways to build a great team without him (and with what they get for him). We shall see. They probably still get two more kicks at this can (trade deadline and next off-season) before it becomes a serious consideration on either side. They certainly didn't extend Morey to do anything but try and win it all, and with Joel.

[bkeich]

Embiid with 34 at halftime against the Spurs. No one else has more than 8.

[bkeich]

Embiid ended up with 70. Has any center since Wilt done that?

Sixers had only 4 turnovers in the game. Hard to believe when clearly they knew who was getting the ball.