Matt Plesco
The Philadelphia 76ers got lucky with this hiatus. Instead of remembering how much of a letdown this season has been, history will remember the season’s suspension due to COVID-19 and Rudy Gobert’s antics.
With that being said – the Sixers need this season to resume. Either way, the failure that this season could turn out to be won’t be remembered but finishing the season – with everybody healthy – will be key to success next season.
Next season the roster will look different, but Brett Brown deserves the chance to finish this season given all that he has done for the franchise. Ben Simmons can continue his best season yet – and hopefully cap it off with a DPOY award. Joel Embiid can continue to prove he is one of the top 5 players in the NBA.
Shake Milton is on a tear right now and the extended offseason could impact his progress. There is nothing you can do in practice that’s close to a real game and Shake need’s all the experience he can get right now.
Matisse Thybulle’s exploded onto the scene this year as one of the league’s best defenders and seeing what he can do down the stretch and, in the playoffs, would be great going into next season in terms of rotation building for no matter who the coach is. Al Horford had a much-needed bounce-back week and while he might not (and should not) be on the team next season finishing the season strong will improve his trade value.
We all know about the Sixers horrid performances on the road this season but six out of the seven remaining road games are against teams not in a playoff position and the lone road game against a playoff team is against the eight-seed Grizzlies. There’s a lot riding on these last 17 games and the 76ers need the season to continue.