The Philadelphia 76ers overcame the Atlanta Hawks by winning Game 6 on Friday night. Joel Embiid has stayed rather consistent throughout the postseason this year, playing as one of the best in the league. Tobias Harris decided to show up too, as his 24 points on the night helped elevate the 76ers past the Hawks. Surprisingly, Seth Curry has emerged as a consistent producer for Philadelphia, as he's played like a top-three player on the team throughout this series.
Philly now will be going up against Atlanta in a Game 7 matchup, where the winner moves on and the loser goes home. However, even with the 76ers roster improving their game, one still seems to be struggling, putting his future with the organization in jeopardy. Ben Simmons has not lived up to expectations since his arrival to the NBA. He's a talented player that should at least be acting as the sidekick to Joel Embiid, but instead, Simmons just isn't helping Philadelphia the way they would like him to.
During Friday night's game, Simmons totaled just 6 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Additionally, his +/- fell to -9 in Game 6, and this isn't the first time he's played poorly in the playoffs. It's become the norm for Ben Simmons. It's almost expected now. He plays well enough throughout the regular season, then disappears when his team needs him the most.
In Game 6, Simmons didn't even attempt a shot in the first half, which is a problem for a guy who is supposed to be the second scoring option behind Embiid. His struggles at the free-throw line seem to have gotten worse, and he's not a three-point threat either. Opposing defenses allow Simmons to stand at the three-point line wide open, as they know he's either not going to shoot it, or he'll likely miss the shot attempt.
The 76ers are primed for an NBA Championship this year. They're the number one seed in the Eastern Conference after dominating the regular season. However, this franchise faces a pivotal moment for their future. Losing is not an option for Philadelphia. They seem to be that team that makes the postseason every year just to be upset by a lower-ranked team. They've dealt with numerous injuries, new coaching staffs, and Ben Simmons's struggles don't help either.
There is already trade speculation stirring amongst the fan base. In fact, many believe the best move would be to send Simmons away to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for CJ McCollum. The front office is receiving pressure from the fans right now, but most of it rests on the shoulders of Ben Simmons.
Ben Simmons is a great player. There is no questioning that. Scoring has never been his strong suit though, as, throughout his career, Simmons has maintained a stat line of 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game. He's also a phenomenal defender and at just 24 years old, still has the time to make the adjustments to become an even better player in the NBA.
We'll see what happens though. If the 76ers lose Game 7 and go home early, a Ben Simmons trade in the offseason seems imminent. However, if Philadelphia wins this series and moves on to win a championship this year, then the 76ers will likely keep Simmons and have to deal with his struggles again. Catch Game 7 on Sunday, as it is one of the most pivotal moments in the 76ers franchise history.
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