This 76ers season has been… interesting. Between disappointing games, Markelle Fultz’s antics and the big trade for Jimmy Butler, Sixers fans have been kept on their toes. I, for one, have had a lot of fun watching the team this season. Yet, every game I watch leaves me frustrated for one main reason: Coach Brett Brown. If things continue going the way they are, it may be time for management to fire Brett Brown.
A Little Bit About Coach…
In his sixth season as an NBA head coach, Brown is leading one of the most talented teams in the league. He has young stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, and the team just acquired Jimmy Butler. With three stars and a number of proven veterans, the Sixers should be playing much better than they are.
For the first four years of his tenure in Philadelphia, Brown was given some leeway in terms of record. He was coaching a rebuilding team, and fans saw his potential as a “prodigy of Popovich.” Granted, the Sixers reached the second round of the playoffs last year, but under Brown, I don’t see them taking the next step and developing into an elite team.
The Problems
From an outsider’s perspective, it looks like Brown has very little on-court control. Too often, Ben Simmons (and others) will make errant passes to invisible players or will try to perform flashy dribbling moves that lead to turnovers. At the moment, the Sixers have the 26th worst turnover rate in the league (16.4 per game). It’s hard to watch for fans, and it can severely hurt the team’s offense, especially in late-game scenarios.
This brings me to my other point: blown leads. Down the stretch, the Sixers have a terrible knack of letting their opponents come from behind. In their last four games alone, they’ve blown two 16-point leads. This is unacceptable for a team with hopes of a deep playoff run. It would be highly beneficial for Embiid to be utilized smarter at the end of games. Against just about any player in the NBA, Embiid can post-up and score with ease. Instead, he often settles for low-probability three-pointers or attempts to dribble and drive the lane.
Also, while having only been on the court for one game at the time of this writing, Butler needs to be involved more. His abilities on both ends of the court make him a valuable player for the Sixers, and they could desperately use some smart decision-making. Though, I expect Butler’s late-game role to change as he gets acclimated to the playbook.
The Solution
While I can’t say that I know what goes on behind closed doors, my time watching the team has shown me that Brown isn’t running this team correctly. They need discipline and improved decision-making. Some guys get a pass. Two of the Sixers’ stars are young and still learning, so they’ll improve with time.
In addition, Brown seems incompetent with regards to calling timeouts (sounds like another Philadelphia coach *cough* Andy Reid *cough*). Ill-advised timeouts often stifle his team’s momentum, yet when an opponents gets on a run, the players are left to sway the moment. The Sixers’ winning potential will decrease every season they don’t improve, and I can’t see many improvements coming from Brown’s regime. It’s time that Brett Brown makes a change or packs his bags.