76ers 2019-2020

terrynever

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Philly offering Ben Simmons a 5/$168M extension.
Which proves the 76ers are still Brett Brown’s team. He chose Simmons over Butler. Brand concurred. Say what you want but the 76ers are committed to Simmons. Maybe he will work on his shooting form this summer instead of playing the celebrity game.
Brown is not great at coaching offense. His strong suit is defense. Now he finally has a team that can dominate on defense. Josh Richardson is an excellent defender who replaces one of the league’s worst defenders. Embiid, Horford and Simmons are great closers. Harris is solid. Tallest lineup in the league, should rebound well. Mike Scott coming off the bench with more size.
Critics can still question Philly’s lack of shooters. Defense creates offense and the 76ers will once again push tempo. They will be fun to watch. The flaws are still there, just a little harder to exploit.
 

coremiller

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Which proves the 76ers are still Brett Brown’s team. He chose Simmons over Butler. Brand concurred. Say what you want but the 76ers are committed to Simmons. Maybe he will work on his shooting form this summer instead of playing the celebrity game.
Brown is not great at coaching offense. His strong suit is defense. Now he finally has a team that can dominate on defense. Josh Richardson is an excellent defender who replaces one of the league’s worst defenders. Embiid, Horford and Simmons are great closers. Harris is solid. Tallest lineup in the league, should rebound well. Mike Scott coming off the bench with more size.
Critics can still question Philly’s lack of shooters. Defense creates offense and the 76ers will once again push tempo. They will be fun to watch. The flaws are still there, just a little harder to exploit.
Philly is going to play some really low-scoring slugfest playoff games next year. I'm not sure those will be all that much fun to watch.
 

lovegtm

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Philly is going to play some really low-scoring slugfest playoff games next year. I'm not sure those will be all that much fun to watch.
Yeah, teams are going to zone the shit out of them. They have some decent shooters, but no one with a quick release to for tight windows. I get why they didn't want to go forward with Reddick (age), but they're going to miss him a lot on offense imo.

Defensively they could be insanely good.
 

terrynever

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Yeah, teams are going to zone the shit out of them. They have some decent shooters, but no one with a quick release to for tight windows. I get why they didn't want to go forward with Reddick (age), but they're going to miss him a lot on offense imo.

Defensively they could be insanely good.
Amazing how many contenders have changed key parts of their team in the past few days. Reddick carried Philly when he got hot. He will strike up a great relationship with Zion, similar to what he had with Embiid. Smart move on his part to head South, to a great city.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I have to think the teams that will give them trouble defensively will be teams with heavy motion---think pre-Durant GS and the princeton-offiense like sets. It's going to be really rough to score one-on-one against them in the half court absent a few teams with elite quick PGs who can get by their man.
 

EvilEmpire

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Philly is going to play some really low-scoring slugfest playoff games next year. I'm not sure those will be all that much fun to watch.
I'm looking forward to seeing how it all works out. I think it could be fun to see something a little different.
 

bigq

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The Sixers have a lot of money tied up with Simmons, Harris, Embiid and Horford. They can’t have much left for the rest of the team. Great starting rotation but I wonder about depth.
 

lovegtm

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I'm looking forward to seeing how it all works out. I think it could be fun to see something a little different.
Definitely. They also likely match up really well against whatever LAL ends up with, if it comes to that.
 

cheech13

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The Sixers have a lot of money tied up with Simmons, Harris, Embiid and Horford. They can’t have much left for the rest of the team. Great starting rotation but I wonder about depth.
Don't forget they added Josh Richardson and signed Mike Scott as well. Thybulle and Zhaire Smith both there on rookie contracts. Not sure that they have the resources to bring back Boban and Ennis, but that would really fill out the team nicely.
 

terrynever

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Don't forget they added Josh Richardson and signed Mike Scott as well. Thybulle and Zhaire Smith both there on rookie contracts. Not sure that they have the resources to bring back Boban and Ennis, but that would really fill out the team nicely.
Planning to sign 6-10, 250-pound power forward Kyle O’Quinn. This article hints at the bench guard they need to replace McConnell.

https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-kyle-o-quinn-nba-free-agency-power-forward-anzejs-pasecniks-20190702.html
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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People are really sleeping on the Richardson addition. He took a step back on both ends of the floor last year but the prior year was very good. If that wasn't a one off, Philly will have a guy who can provide a lot of what Butler did with the potential to be a more effective/efficient shooter.
 

bowiac

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Agree on Richardson. He was a bit miscast last year as the primary creator for much of the year, but I would expect his efficiency to recover this year. At the end of the day, Philly very effectively spun Covington into a comparable quality guy/contract in Richardson, and picked up Horford in the process (at the price of their remaining cap space). A very nice piece of business by the Sixers however.

Sixers have a lot of downside risk due to injuries and Embiid, but I like what they've done there.
 

Sprowl

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Split out from the Offseason thread. The Philadelphia 76ers will be a major topic this year, and probably the favorites in the Eastern Conference.
 

terrynever

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Split out from the Offseason thread. The Philadelphia 76ers will be a major topic this year, and probably the favorites in the Eastern Conference.
Thanks, Sprowl. I’m not buying favorite role yet. But 76ers do need their own thread. What happened to the 76ers fan from London?
 

cheech13

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Favorites might be a stretch, but I'd put them on the top tier with Milwaukee and Toronto (if Kawhi stays). They were a missed basket away from going to the Conference Finals last year and maybe they could have been champions. I'm a fan of the Horford and Richardson acquisitions and think it makes the team more dynamic, but they've basically gone through two roster overhauls in less than 12 months. That's usually bad news in a league where continuity is undervalued time and again.
 

terrynever

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Favorites might be a stretch, but I'd put them on the top tier with Milwaukee and Toronto (if Kawhi stays). They were a missed basket away from going to the Conference Finals last year and maybe they could have been champions. I'm a fan of the Horford and Richardson acquisitions and think it makes the team more dynamic, but they've basically gone through two roster overhauls in less than 12 months. That's usually bad news in a league where continuity is undervalued time and again.
At least this time they get a preseason to work together. On the down side, pressure is now on Brett Brown to win it all or get out of town. This team could struggle for half the season because of the unfamiliar parts and Simmons turning into an enigmatic player.
 

terrynever

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Barkley sums things up nicely:

“Joel Embiid has to get his fat butt in shape, and secondly, Ben Simmons got to work on his game,” Barkley said. “If those two things happen, the Philadelphia 76ers are the team to beat in the NBA."
 

benhogan

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I hate, hate, hate the original Tobias Harris trade. Then the subsequent overpay. If they had only kept Shamet and picks, Landry would be really useful with this group. Then used Harris money on Brogdon (with $$$ left over). That would have been a scary Sixers team for the next 4 seasons.

Otherwise, I've been too critical of them. The Horford move is smart and he will thrive next to Embiid. I like J Rich a lot and they made something out of a tricky Butler situation. Some nice depth moves and liked the Thybulle pick.
 

lovegtm

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I hate, hate, hate the original Tobias Harris trade. Then the subsequent overpay. If they had only kept Shamet and picks, Landry would be really useful with this group. Then used Harris money on Brogdon (with $$$ left over). That would have been a scary Sixers team for the next 4 seasons.

Otherwise, I've been too critical of them. The Horford move is smart and he will thrive next to Embiid. I like J Rich a lot and they made something out of a tricky Butler situation. Some nice depth moves and liked the Thybulle pick.
Agree really strongly. I would say that it's hard to see the Bucks letting Brogdon go like that, but their luxury tax issues have been looming for awhile. I'd rather overpay Brogdon than Harris (in a Sixers context), and I'd certainly rather have the overpay be for $20-25M than for $36M.

Horford will be awesome next to Embiid but if he has any injuries or age-related decline, which is quite possible, things could get ugly for Philly fast. Horford is a load-bearing poster for them now.
 

terrynever

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Agree really strongly. I would say that it's hard to see the Bucks letting Brogdon go like that, but their luxury tax issues have been looming for awhile. I'd rather overpay Brogdon than Harris (in a Sixers context), and I'd certainly rather have the overpay be for $20-25M than for $36M.

Horford will be awesome next to Embiid but if he has any injuries or age-related decline, which is quite possible, things could get ugly for Philly fast. Horford is a load-bearing poster for them now.
“Things could get ugly for Philly fast” is a state of mind that has lingered over the franchise since the Philadelphia Warriors moved to San Francisco after the 1962 season. Back then, the Warriors were Boston’s fiercest rival after hometown product Wilt Chamberlain joined the team in 1958. Boston always broke their heart in the end, which is another part of the city’s state of mind for pro basketball.
In the old days, Philly was a great basketball town built around its “Big Five” of college teams — Villanova, St. Joseph’s, Penn, LaSalle and Temple. The Warriors were an afterthought. They were quickly replaced when the NBA moved the Syracuse Nationals to Philly as a replacement team. Wilt returned and “Havlicek stole the ball.” Another stake to the heart.
Philly would assemble a phenomenal team in the 1966-67 season that won 68 games and ended Boston’s dominance, for one season. Bill Russell returned the favor the very next season and Wilt demanded a trade to the Lakers.
Since then, the 76ers have won one league championship. Now we are hearing that the 2019-20 team has a chance, if everything breaks right. The fans know things can get ugly fast because nothing stays great for long with the 76ers. They have always been fun to watch, always had a personable superstar like Wilt, Doctor J, Barkley, Iverson and Embiid, but they win it all about as often as Hailey’s Comet comes visiting earth.
So thanks for the special 76ers thread, Celtics fans. Just know there is a lot of angst associated with this team.
 

cheech13

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The 76ers probably aren't concerned about the back ends of the deals for Harris and Horford. They want to win a title now while there window is open and Simmons and Embiid are healthy and under contract. There are no guarantees five years out. If it fails, it fails, but at least they are going for it.
 

DJnVa

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Wow. When you essentially have 4 players that take you over the cap for next 4 seasons, there ain't much you can do around the edges.

Not to mention the worst of the 4 players makes the most. The only player they have in between those huge contracts and the small ones is Richardson (and Mike Scott). And Richardson is likely worth more than that.
 

the moops

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Well they likely will improve just as their core ages. Simmons and Embiid still have decent capacity to become much better basketball players
 

lovegtm

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Yeah they’re not totally screwed—if they need to shake things up and go even more all-in, they use Horford as salary and do one of the “all our future picks” deals that I hear are all the rage now.

They also can cross their fingers for internal development from Zhaire and Thybulle—binking on guys in those draft slots drastically changes a franchise’s outlook when it happens.
 

DannyDarwinism

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Wish I wasn’t bullish on both those guys (and Shake Milton to a lesser extent,but I still liked him as a second rounder). Smith’s actually two years younger than the others, and has the highest upside, so he’s the one I’ll be watching the closest. Nothing's written yet, of course, but I think there's a good chance of one or more of those guys hitting and providing good value on their rookie contract. At least Mikal Bridges looks pretty solid.
 

benhogan

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terrynever

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OMG, that's incredibly pathetic that someone actually posted that. He hit 1 open 3pt shot in a gym with a bunch of friends.

Time to call Kendall and get back to the Viper Room.

Jump shot and dunk work are done for the Summer!
Just keeping you up to date, Ben. It was his trainer who posted this so yeah, not a real critical look at the form in his jumper. I believe Simmons split with KK. It’s not good that he is training in LA but that’s the lifestyle he wants away from hoops. Does he work hard enough? Probably. Does he work on his deficiencies? Doubtful.
 

TripleOT

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An NBA player making north of $33 million a year hit a jump shot in a summer pickup game?

What a joke this Philly rebuild has been. They lucked into Embiid, when he fell to third due to injury concerns. Almost every first round draft pick the past half decade plus gets injured and misses his rookie season. One number one overall pick forgot how to shoot, and another never knew how. They've gotten virtually nothing after moving on from a 1, a 3 and a 6 pick over the past six years.

And they're still a contender in the East.
 

djbayko

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OMG, that's incredibly pathetic that someone actually posted that. He hit 1 open 3pt shot in a gym with a bunch of friends.

Time to call Kendall and get back to the Viper Room.

Jump shot and dunk work are done for the Summer!
Just an FYI - the Viper Room isn't exactly a place where people like the Kardashians go to be seen anymore. It's kind of a dump. Let's say Bootsy Bellows :)
 

terrynever

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An NBA player making north of $33 million a year hit a jump shot in a summer pickup game?

What a joke this Philly rebuild has been. They lucked into Embiid, when he fell to third due to injury concerns. Almost every first round draft pick the past half decade plus gets injured and misses his rookie season. One number one overall pick forgot how to shoot, and another never knew how. They've gotten virtually nothing after moving on from a 1, a 3 and a 6 pick over the past six years.

And they're still a contender in the East.
What is a coherent rebuilding strategy in this era of superstars choosing their own paths? I thought Boston had a great plan but Kyrie and Al left, Hayward got hurt and the Kings’ draft pick fell out of the lottery.
Philly’s rebuild has been three misses for every hit. If you get lucky on a talent like Embiid, that covers up a lot of mistakes, as you point out.
Eldon Brand has made several bold moves since November. His version of a rebuild began last winter and continues into 2019-20. They are done making moves now. 76ers live or die with this group. No more excuses. It’s put up or shut up.
 

benhogan

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Just keeping you up to date, Ben. It was his trainer who posted this so yeah, not a real critical look at the form in his jumper. I believe Simmons split with KK. It’s not good that he is training in LA but that’s the lifestyle he wants away from hoops. Does he work hard enough? Probably. Does he work on his deficiencies? Doubtful.
That's cool, thanks for posting Terry. I wasn't criticizing your post.

Those highlights were all over ESPN and Nick Wright was paying it homage this morning...I was just expecting much, much more. Maybe drilling a ton of 3's with Drew Hanlan or hitting a dozen shots in pick up game. BUT a baseline turnaround fadeaway, a FT line pull-up and an open 3pt shot. Three jump shots and then a dozen dunks. We're not going to even talk about the form. Yikes...
 
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terrynever

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That's cool, thanks for posting Terry.

That vid was all over ESPN and Nick Wright was paying it homage this morning...I was just expecting much, much more. Maybe drilling a ton of 3's with Drew Hanlan or hitting a dozen shots in pick up game. BUT a baseline turnaround fadeaway, a FT line pull-up and an open 3pt shot. Three jump shots and then a dozen dunks. We're not going to even talk about the form. Yikes...
I’m with you. But the Philly writer, Marcus Hayes, decided the championship is all but won if Simmons has developed a shot that works. All Hayes had to do was watch the video, see who posted it, and realize the vid showed little. But he wrote a column fit for a cheerleader.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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People can laugh and yell "Fultz" all they want but Simmons is a very good basketball player even without a jump shot. If he manages to develop a credible one, the conversation about where he ranks and how high the 76ers ceiling is gets very interesting. In short, if he could shoot even at an average clip from deep, Philadelphia becomes the clear favorite to come out of the East.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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What is a coherent rebuilding strategy in this era of superstars choosing their own paths? I thought Boston had a great plan but Kyrie and Al left, Hayward got hurt and the Kings’ draft pick fell out of the lottery.
Philly’s rebuild has been three misses for every hit. If you get lucky on a talent like Embiid, that covers up a lot of mistakes, as you point out.
Eldon Brand has made several bold moves since November. His version of a rebuild began last winter and continues into 2019-20. They are done making moves now. 76ers live or die with this group. No more excuses. It’s put up or shut up.
The best rebuilding strategy is what Hinkie did. Figure out a timeframe on when to contend. Keep you cap space as clean as possible and use it to acquire assets. Lose - a lot - until it's time to contend.
An NBA player making north of $33 million a year hit a jump shot in a summer pickup game?

What a joke this Philly rebuild has been. They lucked into Embiid, when he fell to third due to injury concerns. Almost every first round draft pick the past half decade plus gets injured and misses his rookie season. One number one overall pick forgot how to shoot, and another never knew how. They've gotten virtually nothing after moving on from a 1, a 3 and a 6 pick over the past six years.

And they're still a contender in the East.
The injury and missed high draft picks really helped PHI. It seems clear that what teams need right now is top 5 talent. Getting a draft pick that is good enough to win a team 35 games but not good enough to be the best player on a championship team is a hard place to be. So PHI kept losing until they could get two players who could potentially be top 5 talents. I mean if Embiid had played in 2015-16, they almost surely wouldn't have gotten Simmons.
 

BigSoxFan

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People can laugh and yell "Fultz" all they want but Simmons is a very good basketball player even without a jump shot. If he manages to develop a credible one, the conversation about where he ranks and how high the 76ers ceiling is gets very interesting. In short, if he could shoot even at an average clip from deep, Philadelphia becomes the clear favorite to come out of the East.
I don’t think people are disputing any of this.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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I’m with you. But the Philly writer, Marcus Hayes, decided the championship is all but won if Simmons has developed a shot that works. All Hayes had to do was watch the video, see who posted it, and realize the vid showed little. But he wrote a column fit for a cheerleader.
Its fine for this time of year - there are a ton of articles, blog posts etc about how players are working really hard during the summer. Heck we have even referenced Hayward's full summer of workouts in this forum with *some people optimistic that he will show an improvement over last year.

Again, this is a story that bears watching and unlike the Fultz situation, there is no mystery here. Simmons can play basketball and is dominant without a shot. Its ok for columnists and fans to get excited by glimpses of him getting one, even if most people know that shooting vs friendlies in a gym in July is nowhere near taking a contested jumper versus actual NBA defenders during the season.

If I am a 76ers fan, I am pretty bulled up on the team without Simmons having an improved shot. As I stated upthread, if he gets it even partially figured out, that changes things for the better in a big way.

Edit: More precise language
 
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terrynever

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Its fine for this time of year - there are a ton of articles, blog posts etc about how players are working really hard during the summer. Heck we have even referenced Hayward's full summer of workouts in this forum with lots of people expecting that he will be back to the same level or better as he was in his final season with the Jazz.

Again, this is a story that bears watching and unlike the Fultz situation, there is no mystery here. Simmons can play basketball and is dominant without a shot. Its ok for columnists and fans to get excited by glimpses of him getting one, even if most people know that shooting vs friendlies in a gym in July is nowhere near taking a contested jumper versus actual NBA defenders during the season.

If I am a 76ers fan, I am pretty bulled up on the team without Simmons having an improved shot. As I stated upthread, if he gets it even partially figured out, that changes things for the better in a big way.
Philly has more talent, size, athleticism than anyone in the East but the best team still wins in basketball. There is a history with the 76ers of having talented teams that do not win the big games. Embiid’s health is an ongoing story. It’s always fun to watch the 76ers, even if they break your heart in the end.