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Without a doubt, the Philadelphia 76ers' All-Star duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are exceptional individuals with bright futures ahead of them.
However, the keyword is “individuals”. The main critique for these two household names is that they can't seem to maximize their potential with spacing being the biggest issue. It only makes sense that if your best players can only get most of their points in the paint, then that area will be heavily clogged. This harshly limits opportunities and allows the opposition to exploit this particular weakness. In the era of “The Process”, everyone has believed in this team based on their potential. But potential may no longer be enough as they will either have to drastically step up, or make some personnel changes in the offseason to suit the growing needs of the team.
These are the 3 possible steps that the Sixers need to make if they want to keep Embiid and Simmons in an ideal environment.
1. Show clear signs of maturity
This will need to be a joint effort. From Brett Brown, he needs to show his ability to adapt and make adjustments to maximize the efficiency of all his players. In addition, Simmons and Embiid will have to tighten the reins and enforce their roles as the unquestioned leaders of the team. Lastly, all these factors must be seen on a consistent level all throughout the games to fully reap the benefits.
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2. Experiment
This may be a strange move considering the limited playing time left before the postseason starts, but this step may be a good high-risk, high-reward play. Tinkering the starting lineup along with some plays that will maximize the roster may be a good start. Some players may need to take the backseat, while others will be thrust into the starting lineup. Simmons might need to shoot more, and Horford may have to cut back on the threes. With 39 wins to their name in the mediocre Eastern Conference, it's obvious that some changes need to be made. The Sixers are known as “unconventional” in a sense, so it might not hurt to ride the wave and see where it goes. Now would be the best time to make those changes.
3. Convert potential into the winning column
Let's face it, “The Process” is no longer a process. Over the past few years, the Sixers have finally turned things around for the better. Along with that, the expectations are now higher as well. Therefore, the team needs to see success deep into the playoffs to validate the potential of the two superstars playing together. Ideally, if they can make it past the Eastern Conference Finals, then that would be a great sign of proof that these two can actually make it work.
