Philadelphia 76ers podcast: Ben Simmons’ return, wing rotation, Al Horford’s minutes

By Christopher Kline | Jun 24, 2020

Ben Simmons, Al Horford | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

A look at the Philadelphia 76ers’ rotation ahead of Disney World.

Another week, another episode of The Sixer Sense Podcast. This time, Lucas Johnson and Christopher Kline return to discuss the return of NBA basketball, the Philadelphia 76ers’ rotation, and the decisions Brett Brown must make in Orlando.

The episode starts with the look and feel of quarantined basketball. Johnson and Kline discuss artificial fan noise, in-arena music, and the optics of an empty stadium. The Sixers, being both a great home team and a dreadful road team, could find themselves impacted by the league’s choices on these issues.

Then the conversation turns to Ben Simmons, who is expected to have limited minutes upon his return. Kline and Johnson discuss the importance of caution and question how long it may take for Simmons to return to his full workload.

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Uncertainty around Simmons’ playing time segues nicely into a discussion about the Sixers’ wing rotation, and more specifically, Shake Milton’s role moving forward. Johnson and Kline believe Milton should start, but both question Brown’s willingness to commit to such a change this late in the season.

Then they turn to Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz, Alec Burks, and Glenn Robinson III — who will see their minutes increase, who will see their minutes decrease, and which approach will Brown take when constructing the Sixers’ wing rotation down the stretch?

Johnson and Kline discuss Brown’s affinity for veterans and his stubbornness to change. Thybulle and Korkmaz have dominated the second unit minutes all season, yet Burks and Robinson have more well-rounded skill sets and trump them in experience.

Al Horford is the final bullet point. His role is bound to shift considerably in Orlando, and it’s difficult to predict his playing time as a reserve. He will inevitably need to spend time next to Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, but how much? Johnson and Kline give their predictions, and note the importance of an improved Horford in the Sixers’ championship pursuit.

Also discussed in the matchup-dependent nature of Horford’s role, and how playoff seeding could determine his playing time. While he may struggle against the Celtics, for instance, he could prove invaluable against the Bucks.

You can listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Spreaker, and Google Play. If you feel so inclined, a positive review is greatly appreciated. We also welcome any and all constructive criticism.

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