Sixers: Ben Simmons' injury may be final blow for Brett Brown

Philadelphia 76ers: Is Ben Simmons’ injury the final blow for Brett Brown?

HOUSTON, TX - JANUARY 03: Brett Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Ben Simmons #25 in the first half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on January 3, 2020 in Houston, Texas. 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 Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

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Ben Simmons, Sixers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

With the news that Ben Simmons is likely lost for the season, the Sixers may have run out of time to save head coach Brett Brown’s job.

The Philadelphia 76ers got the worst of news on Saturday afternoon when ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that All-Star Ben Simmons would undergo surgery to remove a loose body from his knee. This is a major blow to a Sixers squad that even at full strength has been rather unimpressive so far in spite of their 3-1 record in the bubble.

While Simmons isn’t officially out for the season, he’ll be out long enough that a deep playoff run will be needed to give him time to get back in the lineup.

The Sixers have been facing high expectations for the last couple of seasons. With a two-star core of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, it’s fair to raise the standard that the team should live up to, and thus far have not met.

Of course, blaming Simmons and Embiid doesn’t get you far. For a franchise that a few years ago had a Process they adhered to in order to build their championship pedigree, the team’s construction makes less and less sense over time.

They added Al Horford to the mix and subtracted Jimmy Butler, downgrading in talent and anything resembling roster cohesion. It’s hard to find a way for this team to fit together in either a traditional or modern sense, no matter how you try to spin or flip this roster upside down.