Offseason plan : Fixing this mess

[Kobblehead]

As our team is currently constructed with sieves like Shake Milton, Tobias Harris and Josh Richardson in the starting lineup on the perimeter, it's going to be tough to even hypothesize playing Simmons at the 5, defensively.

[VDT]

There is no way you are going to get a perimeter star without trading Embiid or Simmons, possibly not even then. At this point i see this pairing as entirely temporary, until a suitable trade is found. Only then we can try to start building a coherent team. Maybe if we could get Paul and he still has something in the tank we could get away with keeping them. But i have a hard time imagining all of Simmons/Embiid and Paul being healthy in the playoffs.

In the bright side it seems you dont need much, other than a coherent team building, to reach the conference finals these days. Miami and Toronto are mediocre teams and Boston isnt much better.

[phillynative]

Looks like I was wrong about Milwaukee, I guess small ball is the way to go.

Size doesn't matter, it whether or not you can score off the dribble.

The Lakers/Sixers/Bucks had ZERO chance of winning the title this year because they had nobody that can score in the halfcourt off the dribble. Not because they are big teams.

Who are your faves to win it?

[Kobblehead]

For whatever reasons, this team has had plenty of opportunities to find a guy to potentially tie this thing together.

- In 2017, we could have had anyone at #1 or #3 (Tatum, Fox, Fultz, Mitchell, etc).
- In 2018, we could have had Alexander at #10.
- In 2019, we were able to cash in role players for Butler.

Am I being naive in assuming there could still be plenty of opportunities to salvage this window?

Feels like Holiday is avaialble for whoever wants to pay the price. Potential superstar prospect R.J. Hampton appears to be within striking distance of our pick according to mocks. Paul George could be made available depending on the Clippers finish.

[Kobblehead]

Looks like I was wrong about Milwaukee, I guess small ball is the way to go.

Size doesn't matter, it whether or not you can score off the dribble.

The Lakers/Sixers/Bucks had ZERO chance of winning the title this year because they had nobody that can score in the halfcourt off the dribble. Not because they are big teams.

Who are your faves to win it?

I've been saying Clippers, Raptors, Celtics all year with the Pacers as my 4th team darkhorse (based on a Dipo return). I think I have a pretty good chance at having two of those teams in the Finals (Clippers/Celtics).

[DT RAW]

Obviously Simmons could thrive in a screen and roll role offensively. But he really has no length (sub-7 foot wingspan, poor standing reach). I don't see how he can play the 5 defensively.

because you are still thinking wrong

Today's NBA isnt about shotblocking at the rim and post defense, it's about foot speed and PnR defense and perimeter defense

Ben can handle anyone in the post, no team will ever repeatedly throw it down to their center all game, on top of that, when the center is out of the paint ben could just roam and be a FS on defense

you guys got to start thinking with the times. Ben has insane weaknesses, and they arent EVER going away, but he has strengths, if we are going to keep him on the max(I want him traded) then atleast play to his strengths even if unconventional

[DT RAW]

also, you can harp on this all you want kobble, but josh richardson isnt a sieve no matter how many times you try to speak it into existence

brett brown made every single player on our team a worse defender than they were, on top of it, richardson was constantly forced to guard the opposing team's best player, often time's point guards, on a team that played the PnR about as HORRIBLY as possible

but go ahead and keep trying to speak it into existence

[Kobblehead]

The only player on this roster that can guard a ball handler on the perimeter besides Ben Simmons is Matisse Thybulle. Everyone else ranges from outright terrible (Scott, Harris, Korkmaz) to nauseatingly bad (Richardson, Milton). So it makes zero sense to move Simmons to the paint, defensively. He has t-rex arms and he's physically weak at 235. He would get bodied and scored over with ease.

And as mentioned, all the terrible perimeter defenders we have would be giving up a ridiculous amount of dribble penetration where Simmons would not be able to protect the rim with his t-rex arms. It's just a realllllly bad concept, IMO.

[Kobblehead]

also, you can harp on this all you want kobble, but josh richardson isnt a sieve no matter how many times you try to speak it into existence

brett brown made every single player on our team a worse defender than they were, on top of it, richardson was constantly forced to guard the opposing team's best player, often time's point guards, on a team that played the PnR about as HORRIBLY as possible

but go ahead and keep trying to speak it into existence

Josh Richardson just put up a Redick-esque defensive performance against the Celtics. Outright sieve. Two straight years of him being a bad defender. He's cashing in all his basketball usefullness and selling out for ppg increase. Not a good player.

Brett Brown cannot be blamed for Richardson sucking this year. Richardson was a terrible defender last year too with Coach Spo. So that excuse is BS.

[youngcrev]

Really tripling down on the JRich being a bad defender thing, huh?

[phillynative]

The only player on this roster that can guard a ball handler on the perimeter besides Ben Simmons is Matisse Thybulle. Everyone else ranges from outright terrible (Scott, Harris, Korkmaz) to nauseatingly bad (Richardson, Milton). So it makes zero sense to move Simmons to the paint, defensively. He has t-rex arms and he's physically weak at 235. He would get bodied and scored over with ease.

And as mentioned, all the terrible perimeter defenders we have would be giving up a ridiculous amount of dribble penetration where Simmons would not be able to protect the rim with his t-rex arms. It's just a realllllly bad concept, IMO.

Agree with everything except Jrich being a bad defender. I think hes a bit of a tweener defensively, not quick enough to constantly stick with guards , not big enough for wings. I dont think hes bad though, he gives enough effort and has just enough size and effort to be solid.

[ProcessDoctor]

NOP out: Holiday
NOP in: Richardson, Korkmaz, Parker, #21, PHI 2022 1st (lotto protected)

PHI out: Harris, Richardson, Korkmaz, #21, NYK 2021 2nd, 2022 1st (lotto protected)
PHI in: Holiday, Hield

SAC out: Hield, Parker
SAC in: Harris, NYK 2021 2nd


Holiday(32)/Milton(16)
Hield(32)/Smith(12)/Milton(4)
Thybulle(28)/MLE(20)
Simmons(34)/Horford(10)/MLE(4)
Embiid(30)/Horford(18)


Holiday/Milton/Micic
Hield/Smith/#36
Thybulle/MLE/Shayok
Simmons/Scott/#34
Embiid/Horford/Pelle

[Kobblehead]

Really tripling down on the JRich being a bad defender thing, huh?

Performance over time should dictate reputation, right?

J-Rich has the defensive talent to be a capable team defender in a good system, but ever since he was asked to defend ball handlers at a higher frequency, he's been swiss cheese. He really got exposed defensively in that final year in Miami and it was more of the same this year with us.

I don't see how other people aren't noticing how bad he is at defending ball handlers. He's a sieve. He can't stay in front of anyone. He can't deny driving lanes. He gives up dribble penetration with ease. The only thing he does well is occasionally recover from getting beat and block a fga from behind.

How is he not a bad defender?

[Kobblehead]

When J-Rich is guarding the 3rd or 4th offensive option of the other team and he's left to roam as a help defender, he can be an awesome defensive cog. A good team defender. That's what he was in the beginning of his career in Miami.

But then he was given more defensive responsibility and he's been overexposed as a defender on the ball.

And if you can't guard ball handlers, you cannot be considered a good defender. I'm sorry.

[phillynative]

NOP out: Holiday
NOP in: Richardson, Korkmaz, Parker, #21, PHI 2022 1st (lotto protected)

PHI out: Harris, Richardson, Korkmaz, #21, NYK 2021 2nd, 2022 1st (lotto protected)
PHI in: Holiday, Hield

SAC out: Hield, Parker
SAC in: Harris, NYK 2021 2nd


Holiday(32)/Milton(16)
Hield(32)/Smith(12)/Milton(4)
Thybulle(28)/MLE(20)
Simmons(34)/Horford(10)/MLE(4)
Embiid(30)/Horford(18)


Holiday/Milton/Micic
Hield/Smith/#36
Thybulle/MLE/Shayok
Simmons/Scott/#34
Embiid/Horford/Pelle

Do you consider Holiday the best player in this bunch? We are giving up the most. Giving up the that plus the #21 is a stretch.

[Kobblehead]

Offloading Harris and securing Jrue gets us 4/5s of a championship-worthy starting unit.

Really dislike Buddy Hield, though.

Can we turn around a flip Buddy Hield to Memphis for Justice Winslow and Kyle Anderson?

Embiid/Horford
1. Ben Simmons
2. Jrue Holiday
3. Matisse Thybulle
4. Justise Winslow
5. Kyle Anderson
6. _____________

Good lord, that playoff rotation is impenetrable defensively. Just need an MLE/vet min guy that can score off the dribble (retain Burks?) and we're set for a legit title run.

[youngcrev]

Players shot 7.1% below their average against JRich in that Celtics series. On the season players shot 2.7% below their average with him on them. The Sixers defense was 1.9 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. Constantly took tough defensive assignments. Can guard 1-3. Visibly he's a high effort guy on that end that makes good reads and has the length and quickness to stay with most perimeter players. Comparing him to guys that need to be hidden on defense is just a bad take

[ProcessDoctor]

NOP out: Holiday
NOP in: Richardson, Korkmaz, Parker, #21, PHI 2022 1st (lotto protected)

PHI out: Harris, Richardson, Korkmaz, #21, NYK 2021 2nd, 2022 1st (lotto protected)
PHI in: Holiday, Hield

SAC out: Hield, Parker
SAC in: Harris, NYK 2021 2nd


Holiday(32)/Milton(16)
Hield(32)/Smith(12)/Milton(4)
Thybulle(28)/MLE(20)
Simmons(34)/Horford(10)/MLE(4)
Embiid(30)/Horford(18)


Holiday/Milton/Micic
Hield/Smith/#36
Thybulle/MLE/Shayok
Simmons/Scott/#34
Embiid/Horford/Pelle

Do you consider Holiday the best player in this bunch? We are giving up the most. Giving up the that plus the #21 is a stretch.

Yes, I think by a good margin over Harris. Getting the best player and offloading Harris warrants giving up the most IMO. If things pan out the way they ought to, that 2022 1st is pick is in the mid-to-late 20's.

Edit: I think it's possible we get by without giving up the 2022 1st since NOP isn't taking on any bad contracts. Really depends what other teams offer them tbh. Here's a cleaner version:

NOP out: Holiday
NOP in: Richardson, Parker, #21, PHI 2022 1st (lotto protected)

PHI out: Harris, Richardson, Korkmaz, #21, 2022 1st (lotto protected)
PHI in: Holiday, Hield

SAC out: Hield, Parker
SAC in: Harris, Korkmaz

[Kobblehead]

Players shot 7.1% below their average against JRich in that Celtics series. On the season players shot 2.7% below their average with him on them. The Sixers defense was 1.9 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. Constantly took tough defensive assignments. Can guard 1-3. Visibly he's a high effort guy on that end that makes good reads and has the length and quickness to stay with most perimeter players. Comparing him to guys that need to be hidden on defense is just a bad take

Defensive FG% is not reliable and is subjectively tracked. Plus/minus stats are lineup dependent and replacement dependent. Those metrics have no value. Do you see Richardson routinely stymieing ball handlers like Simmons/Thybulle or do you see him constantly getting shook off the dribble and gone around?

Him being able to guard 1-3 is a joke. He can guard PGs that don't look to score or penetrate. He can guard catch and shoot SGs that can't score off the dribble. He can guard stationary SFs that specialize on the other end of the court.

Alluding that he can guard any of those positions when they're filled by ball handlers that can score off the dribble is a bad take. He can't guard anyone on the ball. He's a team defender only. He got torched his final year in Miami, torched his first regular season with us, and was almost just as bad as J.J. Redick has been for us in the playoffs.

[youngcrev]

Players shot 7.1% below their average against JRich in that Celtics series. On the season players shot 2.7% below their average with him on them. The Sixers defense was 1.9 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor. Constantly took tough defensive assignments. Can guard 1-3. Visibly he's a high effort guy on that end that makes good reads and has the length and quickness to stay with most perimeter players. Comparing him to guys that need to be hidden on defense is just a bad take

Defensive FG% is not reliable and is subjectively tracked. Plus/minus stats are lineup dependent and replacement dependent. Those metrics have no value. Do you see Richardson routinely stymieing ball handlers like Simmons/Thybulle or do you see him constantly getting shook off the dribble and gone around?

Him being able to guard 1-3 is a joke. He can guard PGs that don't look to score or penetrate. He can guard catch and shoot SGs that can't score off the dribble. He can guard stationary SFs that specialize on the other end of the court.

Alluding that he can guard any of those positions when they're filled by ball handlers that can score off the dribble is a bad take. He can't guard anyone on the ball. He's a team defender only. He got torched his final year in Miami, torched his first regular season with us, and was almost just as bad as J.J. Redick has been for us in the playoffs.

I mean, when you have no stats to back up an opinion that deviates so far from what every other person (whether it be fan or expert) sees when watching the game (and there are stats that back up those opinions), I don't even know what there is to debate here.

He defended pretty much every star PG in the league (to mixed results, mostly due to our PnR coverages). He defended Paul George extremely well. He did a solid job on Tatum (waaay better than anyone else on the roster).

If you wanted to say he was overrated on defense, whatever. Subjective term that could really mean anything. This take is Stephen A level outrageous