2018-19 NBA Thread

I don't know why I was fixated on Ben Simmons down the stretch last night. He was completely invisible on offense in crunch time. He may as well have been Mark Landsberger (on fill in with a more current stiff).
The sixers played a two man game with Butler and Embid. Redick would catch the ball and immediately throw it to one of those two other guys.

What is Simmons' role on this team?

 

Who is the better replacement out there? Ty Lue?

They're just a weird collection of parts. Embiid is a talented big who, IMO, spends too much time on the perimeter and Simmons is a PG who not only shoots poorly from the perimeter but almost refuses to do so. The Fultz thing is a killer. They got nothing out of him in uniform or via transaction.

I guess I just don't get why Brown is almost certain to get roasted while Brad Stevens' seat isn't even above room temperature.

 

Only a matter of time before the Lonzo-for-Simmons talk heats up.

 

Can all the talkers who penciled in Simmons as the next Magic Johnson please find another job?

 

I bet he’s sick of recruiting 17-year-olds. He’s made enough money. This gives him the chance to show up for the games, see the country and have the assistants do all the game breakdowns.

He’ll go 30-52. Then 10-21 in year two and be home in time for Valentine’s Day.

 

It's interesting Beilein jumped for the job Izzo was rumored to be in line for more than once
Beilein can adjust to the pros easier than Izzo could have
A lot of Beilein's players are in the NBA but that doesn't make him an NBA coach

 

Is Monty Williams the "hot" coaching name? I'm guessing he would be interested. No clue if he or anyone else would be better than Brown, but his main claim to the coaching job seems to be 1) he was a trusted guy on the Spurs staff and 2) he's responsible for the development of the current roster. If Embiid keeps floating to the perimeter and Simmons can't be compelled into shooting more, that's on them, but it's also on the current coach.

I think Stevens' seat would be hot if they hadn't made the run last year, obviously. But, they did. Also, while the roster had a minutes crunch this year, the Celtics players have noticeably panned out better than the Sixers. I think he'll be in trouble next year though, if 1) Kyrie is gone, and Tatum and Brown don't return to 2017-18 playoff production levels or 2) if Kyrie is there and they trade for Davis, and they don't make at least the conference finals.

 

Who's gonna tell @sgreenwell?

 

Oh man, missed that - Just saw that he had interviewed with the Suns weeks ago, and then, completely forgot about it, haha.

 

To be fair, history shows the Suns may fire him before the season starts.

 

Maybe coaching in college is going to get a lot harder pretty soon?

And maybe with the success of teams that are more guard oriented and not loaded with a couple mega million players, maybe the NBA might be an easier place to coach if you embrace the team play, which can be built with lower paid players?

Or maybe it’s the money.

 

If, as rumored, the NBA goes forward with a monetized G League and allow players to choose to turn pro after HS or have to stay in college for at least 2/3 years, coaching may become easier at the top levels.