Scenario 2: Sixers down by two in the final quarter (20 seconds left with possession)
Best Sixers lineup: Seth Curry, Danny Green, Tobias Harris, Shake Milton, Joel Embiid
With the game on the line, and time to run a play, Doc Rivers would do best with this group of players. The first thing you might notice is the absence of Ben Simmons. Why is he not ideal in this situation? First, his foul shooting is a liability. If he was a 70 percent shooter at the line, perhaps I would insert him into this lineup. I would not risk it though.
With Embiid as your primary option in the post, you have to explore the possibilities from there. He shoots 80 percent at the line, and he is a master at getting opponents to bite on his pump fake. He’s hit big shots from the foul line before, so there is your first advantage.
The other advantage in having Embiid as the first option is the double team that is sure to come. Should the defense collapse on the Sixers’ center, there are four solid options for perimeter scoring. We saw Shake Milton hit a huge shot against the Spurs last season in the Disney Bubble. Tobias Harris has his own highlight reel of clutch shots, and the other two players are veterans with tons of experience. Seth Curry and Danny Green will not hesitate to take a big shot should the Sixers need a two for a tie or a 3 for the win.