LeBron’s a Sixer: Delayed Thoughts, Astronomical Expectations, Natural Historical Concern

credit to whoever made this because it wasn’t me

You know why we got LeBron?

Because we got Jaylen Brown.

Know why we got Jaylen?

Because Brad Stevens is a moron… but also because we had two second round picks from the Jared McCain trade to ship off to Boston.

Thank you, Daryl Morey… kinda.

To present day!

There’s… months til basketball season and we will do what we do best in Philly. Raise the stakes and worry. Well, it’s not really possible to raise the stakes because this is the best basketball team the Philadelphia Sixers have ever assembled. Sure the bench could improve, but c’mon, this is a basketball fan’s dream.

It’s also our nightmare.

Because every single loss will feel like a failure.

Every single bad shot will be scrutinized.

Every end of game decision that doesn’t go our way will be criticized.

If there were two basketballs in the game, I wouldn’t stress.

Instead, we’ll have to see if Nick Nurse is able to weave some chemistry into a team with at least two monstrous egos — Embiid and Brown. Not necessarily saying that in a derogatory way and I’m not including LeBron because I have plenty of faith that he will play exactly the way he needs to play in order to make this team the best it can be.

We’ve seen the instagram clips of Brown playing selfishly in the playoffs, skipping Tatum en route to contested shots (and buckets). We’re married to Joel so we know his strengths and weaknesses.

And even though the Sixers will be favorites in 95% of the games they play by more than a bucket or two, at least half of the games will come down the last few minutes.

That’s where we need a coach who’s able to work with the alpha dogs in order to make the best decision. So when those big plays come up, it’s never about who’s taking the shot, it’s about what is the best way to put that bitch in the basket.

One thing we cannot do is just throw it to Embiid and get out the way. We’ve been doing that for 7 or 8 years now and it just doesn’t work. The league is too fast and too defensively sound for the decisions to be made by the biggest and slowest guy on the court. Maxey, Brown, and even Edgecombe (matchup pending) will likely start with the ball and I’m sure an Embiid pick will follow. Not his forte. Not a historically successful play down the stretch. What I hope Nurse will consider is Maxey/Edgecombe with the ball and a Brown/LeBron screen. In hopes of getting Brown/LeBron on the smaller defender to make the play, or better yet, a LeBron clearout cut to the basket looking for the ball and positioning for the rebound, while Brown screens for Maxey/Edgecombe and we’re playing off the bigger defender on the speedy guards or the smaller defender on the strong and capable Brown.

I know. I know. Easy to say these things so confidently from afar, __ months out, but the point remains, the same old will not suffice. Embiid is likely the one who will need to play 3rd, 4th, 5th option, dragging the center away from the basket and spotting up for three. The big man has heart and passion. It won’t be easy for him to do that, especially as the face of the franchise, but this is about getting a ring and we’ve got a two year window to do it.

LFG Sixers.