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Philadelphia 76ers: 5 takeaways from the 2018-19 NBA season

By Daniel Lubofsky

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: Joel Embiid #21, Jimmy Butler #23, and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during a game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 5, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 5: Joel Embiid #21, Jimmy Butler #23, and Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during a game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 5, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Brett Brown does, in fact, deserve to be the head coach

Prior to Game 7 of the conference semis, it was reported that should Philly lose, head coach Brett Brown’s chances of remaining with the team would be slim. Not a day later, any scenario involving those rumors would be squashed after owner Josh Harris announced his return for the following season.

As the 76ers have risen up the ranks from depressing cellar-dwellers to title hopefuls, Brown has come under quite a bit of fire. Yes, he led the Sixers through the dark years of sub-20-win seasons, but he didn’t appear to be getting all he could out of one of the most talented starting units in the league with simplistic sets that were easily shut down and hampered the offense.

On the flip side, Philly’s roster, even through the two blockbuster deals, never appeared to be a hand-in-glove fit. Four of the five starters play their best with total control of the basketball, including overlapping skill-sets and different play styles. There’s only so much a head coach can do when his players simply don’t bring out the best in each other.

When one coach is fired, another is hired. Say what you will about Brown, but there isn’t currently any better alternative option on the market. To make such a drastic change for the sake of shaking things up would’ve been a foolish play on the part of the Sixers’ higher-ups.

Depending on how things play out in free agency, Brown will now be given a full training camp and 82-game season to get his guys to mesh on the court. Another playoff failure could very well be the final straw, but it’s an opportunity he’s earned the right to get one more time.