Organizational Malpractice: We need Jon Taffer to tell the Sixers to ‘Shut It Down’

Another night, another lifeless, uninspired performance from the Sixers. This time, a 124-104 thrashing at the hands of the Celtics that was never competitive, never close, and never worth watching past the second quarter.

So, what are we even doing here?

At this point, it’s fair to ask if the Sixers should just pack it in and go full tank-mode for the rest of the season. Because let’s be honest—this team isn’t winning anything.

We’re stuck in NBA purgatory, a place far worse than outright tanking. No path to contention. No real hope. Just an injured Embiid, a washed Paul George, and a wasted season with nothing to look forward to until next October.

And it didn’t have to be this way.

Tipping Point: The Sixers need to accept their fate after the latest embarrassing loss, this time to the Boston Celtics 124-104 in first game back from the All-Star Break >>

Why Is Joel Embiid Still Playing?

Let’s start with Joel Embiid, who, according to the Sixers, should have never been “back” this season.

Remember, his knee has been bothering him since post-surgery nearly a year ago. He’s been dealing with swelling since last summer. So why was there ever an expectation that he’d be fully healthy this season? Why didn’t the Sixers shut him down for the year?

What’s worse, why did they let him come back at all instead of playing the long game?

The Sixers could have (and should have) treated this season as a gap year—shutting down Embiid, allowing younger players to develop, and setting themselves up for a Top-6 pick in the draft while still holding onto a war chest of cap space for 2025.

Instead, they rushed him back into a lost season for what, exactly? To limp into a 6-seed and lose in the first round? To run Embiid into the ground even further?

This is organizational malpractice, plain and simple.

Paul George Was a Mistake

Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room—Paul George.

The Sixers bet the house on him, handing him a four-year, $212 million contract despite all the red flags. And now? We’re watching a 34-year-old version of George fade into the background of every important game.

He was supposed to be the piece that pushed the Sixers into real title contention. Instead, he’s playing like a guy who got his bag and checked out.

The reality is, the Sixers should have never signed him in the first place. They should have used this season as a reset—not a failed last-ditch effort at contending. Instead, they tied themselves to an aging star while Embiid’s body continues to break down.

The Front Office Is a Disaster

This isn’t just about Embiid’s injury or George’s regression. The Sixers’ front office deserves every ounce of criticism for putting together a team that’s neither good enough to win nor bad enough to rebuild properly.

Daryl Morey has had YEARS to fix this, and yet, the Sixers are worse off than they were in the immediate aftermath of Ben Simmons’ implosion. Every decision has made things progressively worse.

• Morey was dead set on James Harden when other offers were on the table.
• James Harden left by going on a world tour calling Morey a liar.
• Paul George and every NBA Trade Deadline under Morey has been a disaster.

The team is stuck on the wrong side of relevance, and there’s no clear way out.

What Now?

If the Sixers were smart (big if), they’d:

1. Shut Embiid down immediately. There’s no reason to keep trotting him out there when he’s clearly not right.
2. Play the young guys. If we’re going down, let’s at least get something out of Justin Edwards and Adem Bona.
3. Embrace the tank. A Top-6 pick in a draft where they actually own their selection would be far more valuable than a first-round exit.
4. Reassess EVERYTHING in the offseason. Get healthy, get a draft pick, and use that $60+ million in cap space properly this time.

Instead, they’ll probably limp into the playoffs, get waxed in five games, and head into another offseason with no real plan. This season is a waste, and there’s no sugarcoating it. The Sixers are a sinking ship, and the front office is holding the anchor.

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