Joel Embiid is at his best when he can control the paint. Ben Simmons is a big point guard who excels in the open floor and can make plays at the rim, but he is hesitant to shoot the ball from the perimeter. As such, there have been questions about whether the Philadelphia 76ers can succeed and build around these two stars, whose skill sets do not seem to complement one another.
However, former Sixers guard J.J. Redick believes the Embiid-Simmons duo can work.
Redick noted the advance metrics suggest the Sixers are actually a much better team when both Embiid and Simmons are on the floor, and he also hinted Philly's problems might stem from the supporting cast (via Derek Bodner and Rich Hofmann of The Athletic):
“They are both incredibly intelligent, and I’m always betting on guys that are smart enough to figure things out. And they will,” Redick said.
“The numbers kinda say that, when they’re on the court together, they do pretty good: 2018, pretty good (for reference: +15.5 net rating); 2019, pretty good (+7.9 net rating); 2020, still pretty good, but not as good (+0.9 net rating), right?” Redick said. “I don’t think they’re changing, so maybe the people around them are changing. That, to me, just goes back to the right fit and the right pieces.
“I think that they (Embiid and Simmons) can fit together, for sure,” Redick concluded.
Redick might have a point in terms of the supporting cast.
The Sixers' roster has changed quite a bit since 2018, and the 2019-20 season brought about the arrival of players like Al Horford and Josh Richardson along with the departure of Jimmy Butler.
These roster changes might not be the best strategy in terms of allowing Embiid and Simmons to build chemistry and grow more comfortable with their surroundings. Plus, the Sixers did not do much to add perimeter shooting in the offseason.
Regardless, Redick is not among the skeptics when it comes to Embiid and Simmons in Philly.
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