Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are recognized as two of the best players in their conference. Embiid is a 7-foot center with guard skills while Simmons is an oversized point guard with an incredible all-around game. Embiid is averaging 23.5 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 1.3 BPG while Simmons is putting up 16.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 8.0 APG. Both players were All-Stars in the East, and are the building blocks for their team.
But they will not manage to win an NBA title together. There are five important reasons why this will not be the case, even though Embiid and Simmons are relatively young and they’ve only had a few seasons together. There are simply too many factors going against them at the moment, and they will not win an NBA title together in Philadelphia.
5. Roster
The Sixers are currently 6th in the Eastern Conference (42-29) and have some recognizable names on the team including Tobias Harris and Al Horford alongside Embiid and Simmons. Harris is averaging 19.6 PPG while Horford is having a down year by only averaging 12.0 PPG on 44.8% shooting. While both players are above-average talents, they do not fit together alongside Embiid and Simmons. Quite simply, they can’t play well enough together to win titles.
Horford is recognized as a stretch five but he isn’t a good enough shooter (34.5% 3-pt FG) to provide space for Simmons and Embiid. Similarly, Harris is not a good enough player to be a priority shot-maker from the perimeter which is what the Sixers need. The Sixers simply do not have a good mix of players, because Horford and Simmons cannot space the floor and Harris is not a go-to player in the clutch.
4. Competition
For years, the West was considered the powerhouse in the NBA. That still may be the case right now with the likes of the Lakers and the Clippers, but the East has substantially improved this season. Teams like the Bucks, Raptors, and Celtics are all title contenders. Even a team like the Heat can manage to make a deep playoff push and they have a solid base to acquire another All-Star this summer. It seems the Eastern Conference will continue to get better down the road.
This spells bad news for the 76ers. With already a squat that does not fit well together, more competition means less likely a chance to play in the NBA Finals. The 76ers have been unconvincing all year and their 42-29 record is an exact indicator of the level of play this season.
3. Playing Styles
Embiid and Simmons simply are not a match made in heaven. Embiid is a scorer who likes to have his time in the post, and he can also step out and hit jumpers. A player like that needs a star playmaker like Simmons, but he also needs guys who can space the floor. Simmons simply cannot shoot, and that will most likely never change. Surrounding a dominant center with shooters is a recipe for success, as evidenced by the Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic experiment in 2009.
Simmons likes to play around the basket, and so does Embiid most of the time. While they have tremendous size and look imposing together, there are simply better matches around the NBA for both players. The Sixers might seriously have to make a move to ensure that at least one of them stays to deliver an NBA title.
2. Overrated
That’s right, both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are overrated players. That is not to say they are bad players, as their numbers are impressive and they are bonafide All-Stars. But they lack that extra bit of talent that is needed to elevate a franchise and deliver in the postseason. Last season, they were stacked with the likes of Jimmy Butler and J.J. Redick on the squad to join Embiid, Harris, and Simmons. They made it to the Eastern Conference Semi-Final, but could not progress. Whether it’s injuries or poor performances, there is always something wrong with either Embiid or Simmons.
Embiid is an excellent center with an incredible offensive game, but he ventures too much to shoot threes at times and doesn’t dominate like he is supposed to. There is also a question on his lack of seriousness because he seems to always be playing around on the court and especially off the court. Simmons simply can’t shoot, which is a major fault for a point guard in today’s NBA. Even if Philly plays him at power forward, he still can’t space the floor enough and this will hamper the Sixers during the playoffs.
1. Injury-Prone
The number one reason why the Philadelphia 76ers will not win an NBA title Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons is because they are both extremely injury-prone. Embiid started his career by missing a whole season, and so did Ben Simmons. Simmons most famously won the Rookie of the Year in his second season because he didn’t play a single game in the first one. A franchise cannot build around two players that are constantly injured and always have problems going on with their bodies.
While of course, this is not their fault and beyond their control, missing too many games places too many question marks on the franchise. For the rest of the squad, not knowing when the two star players will be available in the playoffs is very bad for morale and reduces confidence. Most recently, Simmons has gone out with an injury that will keep him out of the playoffs this year after surgery to his left knee. This means yet another season where Embiid and Simmons don’t win together.
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