How the Sixers can get over the hump, with or without Joel Embiid
By Uriah Young
The Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated by the Boston Celtics only a few weeks ago, and the organization is in a familiar place – on the outside looking in. While the Miami Heat is handling the Boston Celtics in the conference finals, Philly fans are assigning blame for the most recent early exit and debating what the franchise should do next.
Doc Rivers was fired a week ago, and James Harden’s future in Philadelphia looks over. The two biggest additions since getting swept in the Orlando Bubble by, ironically, the Celtics, were not enough to help propel the Sixers to the Eastern Conference Finals, a place where the team has not been to since 2001. Yes, Joel Embiid had his first MVP season, but if a Hall of Fame coach and player can’t get this team over the hump, what is the real problem?
Is it ownership? Josh Harris, who recently purchased the Washington Commanders, is easy to point the finger at because his acquisition of an Eagles rival is a bad look. In addition, his attempt to relocate the Sixers into a downtown arena to save money illustrates his concern is his bottom line (owning is better than leasing). Here’s the thing: owners don’t play.
Is it management? Elton Brand, Daryl Morey, and Brett Brown have made questionable trades and free-agent signings since 2018. Whether it was trading Mikal Bridges for Zaire Smith on draft night or not finding a way to secure Jimmy Butler over Tobias Harris, the Sixers have dropped the ball multiple times.
Morey got Philly out from under the Ben Simmons epic collapse, just to bring in a declining James Harden while giving up key players in Seth Curry and Andre Drummond. Still, management was not on the floor when the 76ers blew it in games six and seven versus the Celtics on Mother’s Day.
Joel Embiid is both a gift and a curse when it comes to the success, sustained and limited, Philly has had since 2017. On one hand, he is a dominant center who can score from anywhere on the floor while being an elite rim protector. On the other hand, he cannot stay healthy and continues to come up short in the second round, when the team needs him most.
There are three scenarios in which the Sixers can break the shackles of postseason disappointment, and they center around the team’s most prominent player. Here is the first scenario: