It’s the end of September and that means it's time for the NBA discussions to begin. The Sixers are usually left out of conversations involving NBA powerhouses, but this may be the year that changes.
Ben Simmons
What people tend to forget in regard to Simmons, is that he’s been learning how to play the point guard position for the past two seasons, in the NBA, at the highest possible level of competition. What’s interesting is that he’s been successful. IF you listen to the critics, he hasn’t taken a jumper and he’s a failure because his team didn’t win the title. In reality, Simmons has learned how to run the team, be a true point guard in the league and will finally have some of the leash removed, allowing him to play to his full potential this season.
This has always been about “The Process” and the past two seasons have been no different. You’ve seen Simmons dominate games when needed, but, he’s spent the majority of his time running the offense that coach Brett Brown has implemented. This year, we should see more of Simmons in control of the whole offense and as he unleashes his jump shot, teams will be at his complete mercy.
There will no longer be stretches of him handing off to Embiid after advancing the ball and then becoming a statue on the side. Simmons is a point guard now, a dominant one. With his jumper ready be displayed, he will be virtually unstoppable. This could be a year that Simmons is in serious contention for the MVP of the league and could lead his team to the NBA Finals.
Joel Embiid
Embiid has been nothing short of dominant in the league over the past two seasons, when he’s played. His fitness level hasn't been where it should have been, especially toward the end of the season. When you see him on the sideline, housing Big Macs prior to games, that’s not a good look for one of the superstars of the team.
Embiid labored in games throughout the year but, he’s apparently lost twenty-five pounds this offseason and has adapted a better fitness and diet plan. That doesn’t seem good for the league, especially for a guy that was so powerful last season.
Embiid should be able to spend much more time on the floor and hopefully in the low post, where he’s unstoppable. With Simmons having full control of the offense, Embiid will benefit from not having to be out of position for rebounds, taking too many outside jumpers and laboring through the pace the Sixers play at. The weight loss will also help his knees and feet withstand the rigors of the 82 game schedule. It would not be surprising to see both Embiid and Simmons in the top ten for MVP at the end of the season.
Tobias Harris
Harris had limited games with the team last season and may have seemed out of place at times. But, after signing an extension this offseason, Harris is here for the next five years and will be a vital part of the Sixers championship hopes. With Harris left to the starting small forward spot and not having to worry about Butler and his ego, he’ll thrive and the Sixers could realistically have three players average over twenty points per game.
His ability and lack of ego will be huge for him in having to accommodate Simmons and Embiid on the team but, that’s where Harris thrives. He’s part of a team and not a focal point. He can play his game and will be vital with an 85% free throw shooting mark in closing out games. Harris has had breakout years in each of the past three seasons as he’s continued to improve his game, while moving around the league. With a permanent home, this year should be his best yet.
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The Bench
The biggest issue for the Sixers the past two years has been their lack of depth. Elton Brand has seemingly fixed that issue this past offseason. Bringing back Mike Scott and James Ennis helps the bench immediately with veteran players that can do their jobs on both ends of the floor. While Furkan Korkmaz has returned and should be looked at in the same light as Landry Shamet was last year prior to his trade. He’ll add floor spacing three-point shooting off the bench.
Zhaire Smith should be in shape and ready to put some speed, energy and shooting on the offensive side, but he’s one of the best athletes on the team and will really help with the second team defense, if he can stay healthy. After that, rookie Matisse Thybulle shouldn’t be counted on to play a starters role but rather come off the bench and do what he does best, play defense. He’ll be a huge improvement over last years wings. Jonah Bolden is back along with newly signed Kyle O’Quinn, Raul Neto, and Trey Burke to add some depth to a bench that has seriously lacked it the past two seasons.
The team has remained relatively young and the bench is filled with potential but having Ennis and Scott there to work with them, the bench should be a surprise bright spot for the team this season.
Brett Brown
This may be the biggest of them all. Brown has a penchant for removing players during hot streaks and leaving them in during cold ones. He’s interrupted too many times where the team was playing and flowing well and he’s failed to recognize when they need a break and to regroup. With that being said, Brown has had a job to do and it was to prepare players like Simmons and Embiid for this season and the next few. He’s put them through tough spots and let them get beat up. He’s allowed them to see both the good and bad on the floor and as a teacher, he’s succeeded.
Most people will look at it negatively and tell you that he’s been poor as a coach and only succeeded because of the talent the team possessed. Again, this has all been part of “The Process” and Brown has done a great job preparing his team and it’s superstars for their run.
The Sixers title-run starts now. If Brown allows Simmons the freedom to run the offense throughout the game, lets Embiid dominate the paint, and rotates his bench evenly, the Sixers will be hard to catch in the East and they’ll be a nightmare for the teams in the West. These next four to five years should see the Sixers in the NBA finals more than they’re not. At least three times. Brown deserves the credit for getting this team where it’s at right now as he’s surely taken the blame for all of the early ills of “The Process”.
Buckle up Sixers fans, this year will be a good one. The team is as good as any in the league and the city could, realistically, be planning a parade in June.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
