In a recent interview with the always fantastic programming at Sports Radio WIP, Larry Brown commented on Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.

I have a hard time when I read that they can’t play together, that maybe we split them up. They’re two of the best 10 players in the NBA, in my mind.

The fact that this opinion on Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid is “newsworthy” still blows my mind, but that’s where we currently sit with our two young NBA All-Stars.

If you haven’t been paying attention. Maybe this will come as shocking news to you. Larry Brown (and the majority of people who watch the Sixers) believes that Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are not the issue on the Sixers but rather the personnel they are surrounded with are the real problem.

Brown also stated that the lack of consistency in personnel and the fact that we got rid of Jimmy Butler, JJ Redick, and TJ McConnell really hurt the team on and off the court.

I admire Brett, I love Philly, I want to see them win. Here’s my issue—you can’t lose Jimmy Butler, JJ Redick, and (T.J.) McConnell and tell me how you’re gonna be better? They’re not only really, really good players, they’re really, really great teammates which I don’t think people take into account enough. 

Spot on again. We have highlighted this on several other articles. Team chemistry on and off the court is always suffering for the Sixers because of the moving pieces surrounding our young core.

Speaking on the topic of Tobias Harris and Al Horford, Larry Brown again, doesn’t miss. He believes that Tobias and Horford are both great players who suffer when playing out of position. He’s absolutely right.

I’m a huge Al Horford fan, but he’s not a four man (power forward). He had an unbelievable advantage playing center because centers could not guard him and he could guard center. I’m a huge Tobias Harris fan, but he’s not a three man (small forward). He can guard four men, but they couldn’t guard him. It’s a struggle for him to guard three men. It’s a struggle for Al to guard four men. Again, I’m not trying to be critical because I’d have any of those guys on any team I’d ever be involved with. But I think losing the three I mentioned and then I think sometimes we’re playing some people out of position, that it affects everything.

WIP states that when it comes to Ben Simmons shooting, Larry Brown is in the minority when stating he doesn’t believe it’s a problem. That’s where WIP is wrong and has been wrong on this topic for quite some time now.

We shouldn’t be worried about Ben Simmons shooting the ball. That is going to develop over time. The main concern should be keeping Ben Simmons aggressive at all time and attacking relentlessly when he is on the court. 

Here’s my thing, he’s gonna become a better shooter simply because he’s gonna have more opportunities to shoot the ball, Brown said of Simmons. But this kid, he can guard one through five. He makes everybody on the court better. He’s as good a passer, rebounder, defender as we have in the whole league. People (opponents) used to be happy as hell if Allen took a three point shot! 

I think if you put Joel and Ben on the block, I don’t know who could guard them. And I think they could surround enough people on the court who can space it out and make a shot.

Spacing. Spacing. Spacing. It’s the recipe for success. That’s why a Sixers team with JJ Redick and Jimmy Butler worked better than the Sixers team we have this year. It’s the most important piece to this puzzle.

I previously wrote why Shake Milton can be one of the pieces to the puzzle and should be in the starting five when the season resumes. If Shake Milton can continue where he left off before the world shutdown, the Sixers are on the right path in building around Ben and Joel.

The NBA is set to resume in July. The Sixers will have 8 games to play in the “regular season” before entering the playoffs. 

Larry Brown gets it. Hopefully Brett Brown was listening.