Months
Probably the most likely scenario, the NBA could be realistically shut down for some months. If the season is suspended for say three to six months then the Sixers would pick up around June to August. Word is that the league would proceed without canceling any games even if a few months go by.
How Brett Brown Can Keep His Job
Much like the first scenario, it all comes down to playoff seeding and post-season play. If the Sixers thrive in a playoff environment then obviously Brett brown will receive credit for their performance. Again the team will have to storm past the likes of Boston or Miami but theoretically, it is possible.
While Ben Simmons could be healthy in three weeks, giving him some extra months certainly can’t hurt. With a fully healthy Simmons, the Sixers could blow past the competition especially given their easy schedule. Brett Brown needs to cherish these easy games because nothing will come easy in the playoffs.
How Brett Brown Could Lose His Job
If the NBA season is suspended for months the Sixers could once again meet their old nemesis conditioning. Now the Sixers would have the rest of the regular season to get back in shape but some Sixers take longer than others. Even though the team cannot officially work out together at this moment, they should all be taking proper steps to stay in shape. Eating properly especially should be emphasized during the suspended season.
In a perfect world, this wouldn’t be a concern but it often is for the Sixers, none more so than Joel Embiid. We’ve seen what a sluggish Embiid can do to the Sixers in the post-season and it isn’t pretty. Shooters may also come out cold. Shake Milton has been the NBA’s best three-point shooter since the All-Star break but would some extended time off though off his game? There is a similar concern for Tobias Harris. A streaky player to being with, what if he comes back and is cold from the jump?
The Sixers could face many issues stemming from an extended break and Brett Brown would have his work cut out for him. Brown would need to coach better than ever to overcome these obstacles and secure his job.
Canceled Season
If the season is doomed to be canceled, one of two things will happen:
What Will Happen
If the Sixers have played their last game this season, Brett Brown is likely to return. The Sixers suffered through many struggles this season and it’s fair to say they were not all Brown’s fault. The organization will likely look at the situation and deem that with all the uncertainty the league just faced, they would like to proceed with a familiar voice.
Maybe they decide to first reevaluate Elton Brand’s position or look to move Al Horford and hope everything else works itself out. This would be a moronic move that would set the fan-base on fire, it would also not be surprising.
What Should Happen
The signs are all around us that the Sixers need to move on from Brett Brown. At this point, it would be beneficial for Brown also who is clearly struggling to maintain this locker room. This should be a clear situation of two parties mutually agreeing to part ways, think Kenny Atkinson in Brooklyn minus the two snakes. For the health of both the Sixers and Brett Brown, this era must come to an end.
This is what SHOULD happen, it is not what’s likely to happen. It’s not likely that the season would be canceled in the first place but it’s a reality worth exploring. The Sixers face troubles beyond Brown and those troubles (Josh Harris) will be much more difficult to resolve. While it is not a cure-all, no matter the length of the suspension, unless we see a different Brett Brown in the playoffs, the Sixers need a new voice.
Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
