Philadelphia 76ers: It’s time to change ‘The Process’

A once-in-a-lifetime shot from Kawhi Leonard should not have been enough to eliminate the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the playoffs.

The Philadelphia 76ers had its chances throughout the series to take care of business. Consistency was a major problem, as it was throughout the season for this squad. The turnovers continued to mount, the offensive identity was never quite established and the bench lacked the dependability that is required of a championship team.

The issue with the bench is a task for General Manager Elton Brand during this offseason. But turnovers and offensive identity are the responsibility of the core of this franchise.

The 76ers led all playoff teams with 16.5 turnovers per game. That number is up from the 14.5 turnovers per game that the team averaged in the regular season. Some of the mistakes with the ball can be charged to the youth of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. The 6-foot-10 guard often coughs the ball up at the last second when driving to the lane, and the All-Star center still struggles to recognize the double team in the post.

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Teammate Jimmy Butler sees the flaw in Simmons’ tendencies with the ball.

"“Ben, don’t pass the ball in transition,” Butler told Simmons after Game 4. “Attack every single time. That’s how we’re going to win this [series].”"

But there is another option that isn’t discussed enough. Instead of Simmons forcing his way to the basket and feeling trapped at the rim, he could pull up for a six or seven-foot jump shot. It’s something we’ve only seen the 22-year-old attempt a handful of times in his career. Obviously, it’s a part of the game he’s not comfortable with at this stage in his career. But he’s never going to get there without committing to it.

Regardless of how poor of a shooter he is, the success rate is higher than literally throwing the ball into the hands of the opponent.

Joel Embiid struggled when faced with double teams late in Game 7 against the Toronto Raptors. He didn’t always see which side the help defense was coming from. It wasn’t clear where the open teammate would be positioned on the floor. These are things that would have been ironed out if Embiid established post position earlier in the game. Instead, he spent much of his time at the top of the key. Embiid pump fakes from the 3-point line and drives more than we see him with his back to the basket in the paint.

The double team wasn’t the only thing hindering Embiid’s success throughout the series. Between battling tendinitis and a respiratory infection, the cornerstone of the franchise was not at his best at times. Embiid has battled health issues throughout the season. He played in just 64 games all season. Still, there were key moments throughout the team’s playoff run where he just looked physically worn out.

I get it. It’s not easy being seven-feet tall, 250 pounds. But, Embiid needs to spend the offseason committed to getting into the best shape of his career. Whatever he can add to his regimen to avoid the wear and tear has to be the top priority.

There’s no indication that Embiid isn’t willing to take it to the next step. His level of emotion after losing the series isn’t something that goes away overnight. If that fuels his offseason workouts, we could see Joel Embiid become a leading MVP candidate next season.

While we can look forward to what Simmons and Embiid will bring to the table next season, there’s no telling what the remainder of the roster will look like for the 76ers. Jimmy Butler has a player option. Tobias Harris and JJ Redick are among eight players heading into free agency this summer.

Philadelphia should bring back Redick and recently acquired Mike Scott. Mike Scott could be the Sixers’ version of J.R. Smith. Not because he has more tattoos than I can count, but his ability to change the outcome of the game with limited touches is critical. Redick can stay in the starting lineup, but the coaching staff should consider calling less plays for the 34-year-old vet.

The dribble-handoff routine has been snuffed out by opponents throughout the league. Redick’s responsibility should be knocking down shots courtesy of a drive and kick from Simmons or the defense double teaming Embiid.

The Sixers should consider bringing back Tobias Harris. At 26 years old, he could be a key piece of this team for the foreseeable future. He can play defense and knock down shots. Harris only played 27 regular season games with Philadelphia. He went from being the first offensive option on the Clippers to being an afterthought at times in Philadelphia. That takes time to adjust to. A two-year deal will give the 76ers plenty of time to determine if he’s going to be part of this roster for the long haul.

The biggest key to the offseason in Philadelphia is re-signing Jimmy Butler to a long-term deal. But it’s more than just putting Butler in a 76ers jersey for the remainder of his career. He needs to feel comfortable providing the full Jimmy Butler experience.

Understand that Butler came to Philadelphia after things went south with the Chicago Bulls and the epic implosion with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The four-time All-Star joined the 76ers in the middle of the final year in his contract. Simmons and Embiid were already in place as the future of the franchise. Did Butler come into the situation concerned with being considered too aggressive? Failed chemistry in Philadelphia would have been the third strike of his NBA career.

I think Butler has mastered when to speak up and make his thoughts heard. But he’s still figuring out his place on the floor at times. He had single-digit shot attempts in two playoff games against the Brooklyn Nets. It would have been nice to see him more aggressive on offense against the Raptors as well. In Game 7, for example, Butler attempted just four shots inside the paint, while going 1-6 behind the 3-point line.

The 76ers missed a real opportunity this year. Next season shouldn’t be determined by an unlucky bounce, or four. The 76ers have the offseason to figure out what the roster looks like, and the regular season to make sure that everyone’s role in the quest for a championship is completely understood. Winning 50 games in the regular season is part of ‘The Process’ that has already been accomplished. It’s time that Philadelphia plays with the expectation of winning a championship.