Well, what are we talking here? I think he's good enough to carry them to the playoffs without Embiid. He can't carry them to a title by himself because basketball doesn't really work that way.

But yeah, you need more than Simmons. That's what Free Agency and the draft is for. If you're a superstar free agent, I would have to think Ben Simmons is number 1 on your list of guys you want to play with.

No, I don't consider that good. Obviously I also don't agree with it.

They have Simmons. They have their franchise changing superstar. There should be no more talk of "they miss out on another really good draft possibility". No more tanking.

A healthy Simmons will guarantee 50 wins regardless of the roster around him starting next year. He's just getting his feet wet and can't shoot for shit and he's already dominating.

Your franchise superstar has to play in more than 10% of his career games. That's a bit more important than free throw shooting.

Simmons is the key to this whole thing. Embiid is a luxury that probably won't be available most years. Starting this upcoming offseason they need to retool the roster around Simmons. They'll have some flexibility even with Embiid's contract to make some moves.

They are 1-6 with him and no Embiid. If Embiid goes down for any extended pd. of time this thing stalls.

Simmons isn't as impactful as Embiid and I just provided the evidence. Of course Embiid has to play. That is not a revelation but the notion that Simmons can carry this team regardless of surrounding talent is foolish. They are 1-6 without Embiid and Simmons wasn't good enough to beat the Bulls and Sac the last 2 games. Again I say this as Simmons fan. I think it is another example of you overrating the guys that you like. You sort of jump out the water with them.

I'm still going to win the bet Gifmeister.

Wait... are you under the impression that Simmons won't improve? That this 7 game sample size is gonna define his career?

It's not overrating guys. It's usually not hard to tell if someone is going to be a future franchise guy pretty early on. Simmons is clearly one.

No he will get better but saying that he will carry any team regardless of talent to 50 wins next year is pushing it. I don't think he will be that good. Certainly not by next year. This thing hinges on Embiid. I gambled on his health. His health is the key to this whole thing.

Losing too many close games, I thought they'd win 50 and be a 3 seed this year.

Learning how to win consistently in the NBA takes time.

without Embiid thay are 1-7 so the best young talent seems to be unfound

as well as FF's contention that Simmons is the best player on the Sixers. It's clearly Embid.

Nope it’s Simmons. This team would have the same record if Simmons missed 8 games. But he’s a franchise guy so he doesn’t miss 90% of the teams games.

Nope it’s Simmons. This team would have the same record if Simmons missed 8 games. But he’s a franchise guy so he doesn’t miss 90% of the teams games.

They were 13-18 last season with Embiid and no Simmons. This with Embiid on a minutes restriction which prevented him from playing more than about 23 minutes per game. Embiid is more of a difference maker at this point of their careers.

Even without playing a full season it's clear he's the best young big man when he's on the court.

“Young big man” is a pretty damn thin category, but regardless, I consider this to be entirely irrelevant until he plays 60+ games in a season and/or plays in the postseason without a minutes restriction.

It doesn’t matter how good a player is if he’s not playing.

Yeah but when he plays he makes a difference. You've anointed Simmons (who i like by the way) but he has played in fewer games than Embiid and has had less impact.

Brendan Haywood is fast becoming one of the best analysts in the game.

He presented an interesting observation regarding the adjustment teams have made with Ben Simmons. Teams are guarding him with bigs and simply giving room. rather than try and defend him with guards they are using bigs that simply challenge him at the rim. It seems like this adjustment is bothering him somewhat. He isn't scoring as much as he was earlier in the season. He is going to have to make an adjustment.

i agree with ltg....Haywood is good. And entertaining too. About 100x better than Caron Butler

"interesting" and "observation" is the sort of verbiage that will never be used in conjunction with you.

Ben Simmons at LSU 1-3 3pt in 32 games
NBA 0-3 3pt in 33 games did ol' Brendan analyze that? Here's an interesting observation at the end of the year your ass is going to owe me a Benjamin