Around the NBA (Non-Celtics) 2019-2020, Part 2 – "The Bubble Bunch"

[MagicBagley18]

No Simmons - does this help or hurt us in the 1st round against them

[themoneyteam2]

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[24istheLAW]

No Simmons - does this help or hurt us in the 1st round against them

IMO it definitely hurts us.

Last time these teams met in the playoffs, the playbook was to wear out Embiid physically over the course of the game, and count on Simmons to no-show down the stretch. Now that the Sixers no longer have to try and make Embiid/Simmons work, they can play 4 out, and make it hard to help on Embiid without giving up open threes.

The key is that Brett Brown needs to have the imagination/authority to continue staggering Embiid and Horford. Embiid will b*tch about sitting and Al needs to check his ego at the door. But if they can go with Embiid, Harris at the 4, and shooters, they can get some easy buckets because we can't defend a big C. Then bring in Horford/Thybulle, sit Embiid for most of the 3rd quarter, and try to just tread water. Then bring a rested Embiid in for the 4th with enough strength left in him to bang down low.

[themoneyteam2]

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[ConstableGeneva]

No Simmons - does this help or hurt us in the 1st round against them

On one hand, they've never made the trio of Embiid-Horford-Simmons work and Brett Brown can't seem to maximize his skills. OTOH, losing their primary playmaker (on a team starving for playmakers), not to mention an All-NBA defender, cannot be good for the Sixers.

[themoneyteam2]

No Simmons - does this help or hurt us in the 1st round against them

IMO it definitely hurts us.

Last time these teams met in the playoffs, the playbook was to wear out Embiid physically over the course of the game, and count on Simmons to no-show down the stretch. Now that the Sixers no longer have to try and make Embiid/Simmons work, they can play 4 out, and make it hard to help on Embiid without giving up open threes.

The key is that Brett Brown needs to have the imagination/authority to continue staggering Embiid and Horford. Embiid will b*tch about sitting and Al needs to check his ego at the door. But if they can go with Embiid, Harris at the 4, and shooters, they can get some easy buckets because we can't defend a big C. Then bring in Horford/Thybulle, sit Embiid for most of the 3rd quarter, and try to just tread water. Then bring a rested Embiid in for the 4th with enough strength left in him to bang down low.

I think it helps us. Simmons runs their whole offense. Yes, they will have more shooters now but defensively get they A LOT worse. Simmons is a top 5 defender in the league in my opinion.

Now you have Hayward, Tatum, and Brown with only Tobias Harris who is even a serviceable defender trying to guard those guys. Brown and/or Hayward will have Horford on them which is a mismatch like we saw vs Portland. Offense will feast if Simmons isn't able to go.

[themoneyteam2]

Al Horford replaces Simmons in the starting lineup. Now they have Shake-Richardson-Tobias-Horford-Embiid. That lineup has a 123 ORtg (insanely good) and a 119.3 DRtg (insanely bad). Granted that lineup has only played 40 mins together but Hayward, Tatum, or Brown will have a big mismatch vs that lineup. Simmons is a stud defensively

[ConstableGeneva]

No Simmons - does this help or hurt us in the 1st round against them

IMO it definitely hurts us.

Last time these teams met in the playoffs, the playbook was to wear out Embiid physically over the course of the game, and count on Simmons to no-show down the stretch. Now that the Sixers no longer have to try and make Embiid/Simmons work, they can play 4 out, and make it hard to help on Embiid without giving up open threes.

The key is that Brett Brown needs to have the imagination/authority to continue staggering Embiid and Horford. Embiid will b*tch about sitting and Al needs to check his ego at the door. But if they can go with Embiid, Harris at the 4, and shooters, they can get some easy buckets because we can't defend a big C. Then bring in Horford/Thybulle, sit Embiid for most of the 3rd quarter, and try to just tread water. Then bring a rested Embiid in for the 4th with enough strength left in him to bang down low.

While he's a dominant force down low and no single player can stop him once he gets deep position, I think it'll be easier to scheme against them defensively with less offensive options. Embiid is still turnover prone. If he can successfully pass out of double teams, we might be in trouble 'cos like you said, Sixers can replace Simmons with a 4th shooter. But I'll take that gamble over him scoring or getting fouled down low with single coverage. He's not Giannis-level in terms of consistently finding the open man.

There's also a huge dropoff on defense from Simmons to whoever will take up most of his minutes. Some of it goes to Thybulle, which is okay, but who gets the rest?

[24istheLAW]

No Simmons - does this help or hurt us in the 1st round against them

IMO it definitely hurts us.

Last time these teams met in the playoffs, the playbook was to wear out Embiid physically over the course of the game, and count on Simmons to no-show down the stretch. Now that the Sixers no longer have to try and make Embiid/Simmons work, they can play 4 out, and make it hard to help on Embiid without giving up open threes.

The key is that Brett Brown needs to have the imagination/authority to continue staggering Embiid and Horford. Embiid will b*tch about sitting and Al needs to check his ego at the door. But if they can go with Embiid, Harris at the 4, and shooters, they can get some easy buckets because we can't defend a big C. Then bring in Horford/Thybulle, sit Embiid for most of the 3rd quarter, and try to just tread water. Then bring a rested Embiid in for the 4th with enough strength left in him to bang down low.

I think it helps us. Simmons runs their whole offense. Yes, they will have more shooters now but defensively get they A LOT worse. Simmons is a top 5 defender in the league in my opinion.

Now you have Hayward, Tatum, and Brown with only Tobias Harris who is even a serviceable defender trying to guard those guys. Brown and/or Hayward will have Horford on them which is a mismatch like we saw vs Portland. Offense will feast if Simmons isn't able to go.

The Sixers do get worse defensively, don't get me wrong. But the Celts are more of a jump-shooting team anyway. It's not like Boston can punish Philadelphia for having an undersized player like Harris at the 4. You end up with a worse PHI defender contesting pull ups, shots off DHOs, etc. That kind of offense is relatively independent of who's guarding you. Meanwhile Philly gets more high-percentage looks from finally getting the ability to play 4 out basketball.

If Simmons is out, we have to turn the game into a track meet. Philly can't hang in an up-and-down game. But if Philly can take care of the ball? I think losing Simmons, as individually brilliant as he may be, honestly improves their chances of winning a series.

While he's a dominant force down low and no single player can stop him once he gets deep position, I think it'll be easier to scheme against them defensively with less offensive options. Embiid is still turnover prone. If he can successfully pass out of double teams, we might be in trouble 'cos like you said, Sixers can replace Simmons with a 4th shooter. But I'll take that gamble over him scoring or getting fouled down low with single coverage. He's not Giannis-level in terms of consistently finding the open man.

There's also a huge dropoff on defense from Simmons to whoever will take up most of his minutes. Some of it goes to Thybulle, which is okay, but who gets the rest?

That gamble was a whole lot nicer looking when the ball might end up in Ben Simmons' hands though. Our past track record of defending Embiid, is WITH aggressively helping, counting on his inconsistency passing out of double teams, and with knowing we don't have to guard Simmons.

[djFan71]

No Simmons - does this help or hurt us in the 1st round against them

IMO it definitely hurts us.

Last time these teams met in the playoffs, the playbook was to wear out Embiid physically over the course of the game, and count on Simmons to no-show down the stretch. Now that the Sixers no longer have to try and make Embiid/Simmons work, they can play 4 out, and make it hard to help on Embiid without giving up open threes.

The key is that Brett Brown needs to have the imagination/authority to continue staggering Embiid and Horford. Embiid will b*tch about sitting and Al needs to check his ego at the door. But if they can go with Embiid, Harris at the 4, and shooters, they can get some easy buckets because we can't defend a big C. Then bring in Horford/Thybulle, sit Embiid for most of the 3rd quarter, and try to just tread water. Then bring a rested Embiid in for the 4th with enough strength left in him to bang down low.

While he's a dominant force down low and no single player can stop him once he gets deep position, I think it'll be easier to scheme against them defensively with less offensive options. Embiid is still turnover prone. If he can successfully pass out of double teams, we might be in trouble 'cos like you said, Sixers can replace Simmons with a 4th shooter. But I'll take that gamble over him scoring or getting fouled down low with single coverage. He's not Giannis-level in terms of consistently finding the open man.

There's also a huge dropoff on defense from Simmons to whoever will take up most of his minutes. Some of it goes to Thybulle, which is okay, but who gets the rest?

Agreed. Maybe Alec Burks? He can score and...

[ConstableGeneva]

IMO it definitely hurts us.

Last time these teams met in the playoffs, the playbook was to wear out Embiid physically over the course of the game, and count on Simmons to no-show down the stretch. Now that the Sixers no longer have to try and make Embiid/Simmons work, they can play 4 out, and make it hard to help on Embiid without giving up open threes.

The key is that Brett Brown needs to have the imagination/authority to continue staggering Embiid and Horford. Embiid will b*tch about sitting and Al needs to check his ego at the door. But if they can go with Embiid, Harris at the 4, and shooters, they can get some easy buckets because we can't defend a big C. Then bring in Horford/Thybulle, sit Embiid for most of the 3rd quarter, and try to just tread water. Then bring a rested Embiid in for the 4th with enough strength left in him to bang down low.

I think it helps us. Simmons runs their whole offense. Yes, they will have more shooters now but defensively get they A LOT worse. Simmons is a top 5 defender in the league in my opinion.

Now you have Hayward, Tatum, and Brown with only Tobias Harris who is even a serviceable defender trying to guard those guys. Brown and/or Hayward will have Horford on them which is a mismatch like we saw vs Portland. Offense will feast if Simmons isn't able to go.

The Sixers do get worse defensively, don't get me wrong. But the Celts are more of a jump-shooting team anyway. It's not like Boston can punish Philadelphia for having an undersized player like Harris at the 4. You end up with a worse PHI defender contesting pull ups, shots off DHOs, etc. That kind of offense is relatively independent of who's guarding you. Meanwhile Philly gets more high-percentage looks from finally getting the ability to play 4 out basketball.

If Simmons is out, we have to turn the game into a track meet. Philly can't hang in an up-and-down game. But if Philly can take care of the ball? I think losing Simmons, as individually brilliant as he may be, honestly improves their chances of winning a series.

While he's a dominant force down low and no single player can stop him once he gets deep position, I think it'll be easier to scheme against them defensively with less offensive options. Embiid is still turnover prone. If he can successfully pass out of double teams, we might be in trouble 'cos like you said, Sixers can replace Simmons with a 4th shooter. But I'll take that gamble over him scoring or getting fouled down low with single coverage. He's not Giannis-level in terms of consistently finding the open man.

There's also a huge dropoff on defense from Simmons to whoever will take up most of his minutes. Some of it goes to Thybulle, which is okay, but who gets the rest?

That gamble was a whole lot nicer looking when the ball might end up in Ben Simmons' hands though. Our past track record of defending Embiid, is WITH aggressively helping, counting on his inconsistency passing out of double teams, and with knowing we don't have to guard Simmons.

The numbers back you up, btw, 24itL.

[Bill Lumbergh]

Simmons has never been a big problem for us. It's always been Embiid, as Constable's chart shows. It's not good for the Sixers, but, at least against us, not catastrophic, although their whole season seems out of sync, kind of like ours with Kyrie the previous season. They need a real shake up this off season. Brett Brown has to go. I don't know if they want to try keeping the Embiid, Simmons combo with a new coach before giving up on it, but I think Brown is gone after this season, and probably one of Embiid/Simmons the next season.

[steefP2]

I feel like anyone that says the Simmons injury hurts us is forgetting one thing..

They have to find 35-40 min from their garbage bench...

Simmons is at least a top 20-30 player, not having him ofc makes them worse over all. Yes some things might improve for them and it might make some good things harder but over all ? No question this makes them a worse team. Embiid basically has to beat us by himself. You think we can’t guard Jrich and Harris ? Lock down those guys and let Embiid go for 30 on post ups.

[Taget]

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With the playoffs opening in less than two weeks, this could potentially sideline Simmons at least through part of the first round. Google says it's a 4-6 week injury but we'll see.

I'm not even sure exactly what that is (and would prefer not to know!) but it sounds painful. Hope he has a speedy recovery.

We've always had his number and have long thought him and Embiid aren't the best fit. So might work in the Sixer's favor. Problem is their bench has gotten far thinner than in the past.

[CeltsFlow]

Why do the Bucks have to do us like that, man

[ConstableGeneva]

Bucks are only 11-10 (52.38%) when their opponent makes at least 16 threes. [43-3 (93.48%) otherwise.] They're about to be .500 if Nets pull off the upset here. Celtics lone win against them was when they made 17 threes. We have the guys who can take and make threes too. Could beating the Bucks be as simple as taking/making the shots they're allowing? At least your chances are enhanced that way.

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Another game wherein Bucks are getting beaten with the three ball. Their defense allows those shots. Take them with impunity if you have the shooters on the floor. Hope Cs learn a lesson or two if ever they meet the Bucks again.

[Bill Lumbergh]

I think the Sixers might go on a run without Simmons like the Celtics did without Kyrie. Hopefully not against us. Their fit has been bad all year. I would move Harris to the 4, which is his more natural position. I would keep bringing Al off the bench,as he and Embiid don’t play well together.

[bucknersrevenge]

Bucks righted the ship and are gonna take this one after a 20-0 run. Works for us as it puts back to 2.5 games up with only 4 to go and after Toronto our schedule gets considerably easy to close out so we unofficially just clinched the 3.

[SMTBSI]

Western Conference bubble teams really not doing their part to catch free-falling Memphis. The issue with Memphis is that their last three games are against teams that will basically have their standings sewn up by the time Memphis plays them (TOR, MIL, and us). They could absolutely walk into wins there by default.

Portland's absolutely got to beat Denver tonight.

[themoneyteam2]

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