The 76ers were four bounces away from making it to the Eastern Conference Championship game last year. The focus after that game was on Joel Embiid and his emotion after. Many people were wondering how the 76ers would respond. During the offseason, they added Al Horford, traded for Josh Richardson, and vitally extended the contract of Ben Simmons. Sixers General Manager Elton Brand decided to get bigger, younger, and add some bench depth to help the team. Now the 76ers have all the talent, but how far that talent goes depends on the coaching ability of Brett Brown.
It’s Brown’s job to make sure that the team continues to improve in every game during the regular season. Things started well enough, with the Sixers getting off to a 5-0 start, and everything coming together for the team.
Brown made all the right moves and adjustments during this run, he inserted rookie Matisse Thybulle, who looked like a gem for the team. He was able to be a defensive lift for them, and partnered with the recent development of Furkan Korkmaz have really been feathers in the cap for Brown. Thybulle has been showing that he is ready for the big time, but Korkmaz was a surprise nobody really expected him to do much for the 76ers this season. But, so far, he’s been a consistent scorer off the bench for the team. He is averaging 9.8 points per game and has been a consistent three-point shooter he has made 45.3% from beyond the arc. Now Brown has really developed these two players and he also has adjusted on both sides of the ball.
Defensively shooting guard Josh Richardson and power forward Al Horford are making a big impact for the team on both sides of the ball. Brown has flawlessly implemented both players into the team. However, the team lost Ben Simmons to injury, and Joel Embiid to a suspension.
Losing both of their stars during different parts of a four-game road trip prove to be the team’s undoing. They lost three-straight games and were able to get back into the win column against the Hornets on Sunday. Despite the team having a 6-3 and currently being third in the Eastern conference, some of the team’s old demons are showing up again.
The Sixers are still struggling with turnovers and are currently are last in the league in that category. They average 20.8 per game, which just gives lifelines to teams who really shouldn’t be in a position to reach for one.
Brown has said recently that it is on him to figure out how to limit turnovers for the 76ers. However, it’s an issue that has continued to plague this team for several seasons now and it played a role in allowing them to lose games to the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz. Brett Brown must find a way to get the 76ers to limit their turnovers.
The goal of the Sixers with the talent they have is to at least get to the Eastern Conference championship game. Elton Brand brought in Al Horford and Josh Richardson to help the team defensively and bring in some more depth off the bench.
This may be the most talented team Brett Brown has had in his six years in Philadelphia. Like other talented teams in the years of the NBA, it all depends on the development and coaching ability of their coach. This team will go as far as Brett Brown’s coaching ability and development will take them.
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
