There has been a lot of criticism lately surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers and it has been centered around their All-Star duo of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. They both play different styles and sometimes they can get in each other’s way on offense, especially with this new group that the Sixers have assembled.
Due to this, a lot of opinions have come out that the two can’t play together and they point to the team being only the 5 seed in the East as proof. They also point to the team’s up and down offense as another piece of proof as they continue to try and work things out.
However, both are All-Stars for the second consecutive year and Embiid has a message for the people who say that the two of them can’t play together.
Embiid told reporters in Chicago at All-Star weekend:
I think it’s BS, because when you look at the last two years we have been playing together, it was not a problem. This year it’s only problem because at times our offense has struggled and I think it’s definitely going to be better after the All-Star break. I mean, just look at the last two years what we have been able to do and I think it can work and it’s going to work.
#Sixers Joel Embiid on people saying he and Ben Simmons can’t co-exist: pic.twitter.com/KB3FeQSUcH
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) February 15, 2020
The duo has been the center of attention due to the fact that they have been in Philadelphia the longest and they have been through the wars. They were the ones who carried the Sixers to the playoffs in 2018 and 2019 before the additions made in the offseason. They are going to be the ones who will take the Sixers to where they want to go. It has looked disjointed at times due to the roster construction, but it will get better with time, it has to for this to work.
Embiid and Simmons will oppose each other in the All-Star game on Sunday in Chicago with Embiid on Team Giannis and Simmons on Team LeBron. [lawrence-related id=25796,25805,25790]