Cooney: Losses help Sixers return focus to real goals
REMEMBER JUST about a week ago, when folks were talking about the Sixers' playoff possibilities? Of course, that was before the Sixers embarked on their current four-game road trip, in which they have lost the first three by an average of 19 points; and before anyone knew Joel Embiid would be sidelined with a sore knee (or because the team was winning too much, take your pick), as he has missed the last four games.
REMEMBER JUST about a week ago, when folks were talking about the Sixers' playoff possibilities?
Of course, that was before the Sixers embarked on their current four-game road trip, in which they have lost the first three by an average of 19 points; and before anyone knew Joel Embiid would be sidelined with a sore knee (or because the team was winning too much, take your pick), as he has missed the last four games.
Still, even without Embiid, there are other concerns that have developed while he has been shelved. The most obvious is the defense, as the Sixers have given up an average of 114.8 points in the past four games. That number is also spiked due to Robert Covington, the team's best perimeter defender, having missed the past two games because of a hand contusion.
Moving forward, even though the rush of winning teased thoughts of playoffs, the remainder of the season still has to be about experimenting, developing and improving. Here is a look at some key areas that will garner watching the rest of the season.
The health of the big men
Embiid's awkward landing after a monstrous dunk against Portland on Jan. 20 produced a left knee bruise that at first didn't seem too severe but has since cost him eight of the last nine games. If there is something going on in there more than the bruise, the question has to be this: Why did the team allow him to return in the Portland game and why did it let him play 28 minutes a week later on national television against Houston? Patience with injuries has been the organization's M.O. for the past four seasons, so why was it so sporadic with Embiid that one week?
The gut feeling here is that the team was winning a bit too much of late, and falling back to the pack for the security of a high draft pick in June has made the decision to rest Embiid lately a bit easier.
While the trade deadline approaches and everyone knows the continuing logjam at the center position, the knee soreness experienced by Jahlil Okafor does no one any good. Most fans want him shipped immediately, if not sooner, but still want to get something decent in return. Understandable, but probably not doable right now. Yes, I believe there is a place in the league for someone of Okafor's size who can score as easily as he does. I also think that, just 87 games into his NBA career, he can improve in his rebounding and defense. That being said, a big man with knee problems is a major red flag to anyone who is considering a trade. Okafor had surgery last March to fix a torn meniscus in his right knee. At the time, the team called it minor surgery and said he'd return in about six weeks. Seven months later, Okafor was just starting to play five-on-five basketball for the first time since the surgery. And now there is soreness. That, more than his suspect rebounding and defense, could be the major roadblock in a deal getting done. And fans have to keep their fingers and toes crossed that no injury fells Nerlens Noel any time soon.
The debut of Ben Simmons
I agree with those who feel his return will come soon after the All-Star break, which ends when the Sixers host the Washington Wizards on Friday, Feb. 24. That gives coach Brett Brown and his players a little more than a month to get used to Simmons' style, to figure out exactly how he might be used and who to sprinkle around him and Embiid. This will be Brown's biggest experimentation of the season. The coach has said he wants Simmons to play the point, both offensively and defensively. I think that's an impossibility at the defensive end and the team would be better served playing Simmons at the small-forward spot, while still being the facilitator of the offense.
The return of Simmons will be a slow one, probably much like the way Embiid started this season with a growing minutes restriction, probably starting around 12 minutes. And, like Embiid for the rest of this season, don't expect Simmons to be playing any back-to-backs.
Who are the keepers?
This much we know for the 2017-18 season: Ben Simmons and Embiid will be starters. After that, who knows? Ersan Ilyasova has shown what type of power forward works best with Embiid, so re-signing him or getting a player like him to fill that starting spot seems the best idea. Dario Saric coming off the bench, at least for another year, is a great fit. Covington has proved to be super valuable at the defensive end and still has the ability to be an above-average outside shooter. But is he best suited coming off the bench if the team drafts an upgrade to what he does? Do the Sixers find a point guard they see as a fit with Simmons? Or do they already have that in T.J. McConnell, who should be on this team next season no matter what. Jerryd Bayless and Gerald Henderson are such valuable vets and Brown covets those with his young team. And the improved play of Nik Stauskas, Richaun Holmes and rookie Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is a nice mess for Brown and Bryan Colangelo to have to sort.
While losses aren't fun for anyone, the Sixers' last three do bring back a dose of reality and put the playoff talk where it should be: on the back burner. Time to refocus on the experimenting, developing and improving.
@BobCooney76
Blog: philly.com/Sixersblog