Hoops Habit
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Philadelphia 76ers: Hiatus is just what Ben Simmons needed

By Derek Hryn

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 15, 2019 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 15, 2019 in New York City. 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. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers, Ben Simmons
Philadelphia 76ers, Ben Simmons (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

What’s next?

It’s felt like an eternity since the Sixers capped off a commanding victory over the Detroit Pistons on March 11, a night that featured a few rarities — Embiid and Horford coasting on the court together, each finishing with a pair of double-doubles, and the bench strapping up on defense and consistently cashing in on open looks — ever since, we’ve been left to only speculate what would’ve transpired with what would have been a month remaining in the regular season.

Yet, predicting that a great win against an inferior team would’ve sparked a streak of potent performances is a fool’s errand. And while playoff-starved guys like Devin Booker would probably think being the sixth seed with a 39-26 record is nothing to sneeze at, it’s totally unacceptable if you’re the Sixers. This franchise-defining season has been far from the tale it was supposed to be. As we sit and play the waiting game in quarantine, it’s fair to say.

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Again, nobody wants to see it (WE WANT HOOPS, ALREADY), but if we’re being honest, no other organization is reaping the benefits of this torturous basketball break more than this one. If there is basketball again, the refreshed Sixers will be ready. It’s what they’ve been built for. Head-to-head against anyone and fully healthy, they are a title contender, even if the league ultimately decides on a truncated version of the NBA playoffs. Having Simmons back for the first game of a series would be a real impetus for the team.

Simmons and Embiid have won in a rambunctious atmosphere before, and they could do the same without it. If not for a few unlucky bounces on the rim a year ago, there is no telling how these two cornerstones could’ve changed the narrative. And that shot at redemption still lies ahead, somewhere down this long road to return — with Simmons in position to make the first move.