NBA: 3 August takeaways and 3 predictions for the playoffs in September

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Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

August takeaway – Disaster season for the 76ers

Welp, that was pretty much the worst-case scenario for the Philadelphia 76ers. The whole season it felt like we were just waiting for them to flip a switch and live up to their potential, but I think it’s safe to say now that there was never a switch to flip.

Sure, put a healthy Ben Simmons in the playoffs and the 76ers aren’t getting swept, but Ben Simmons doesn’t solve all of their problems. The problem, or at least the most glaring problem, is that they lack shooting and have zero cap flexibility for the foreseeable future.

Another early exit for Philly means another offseason of questions about whether or not their two all-stars can coexist with their styles of play that both require them to be in the paint. But as much as I would like to see them both on their own team with a roster built around their strengths, it’s still too soon to break them up before giving another coach a chance to see what they can do with them.

There is no blueprint for the Sixers to get out of this mess of a roster that they have right now. Hiring the right coach that can bring in some creativity to the offensive end will be critical, but the 76ers are on the cusp of being the worst thing you can be in the NBA – stuck.