'You've gotten yourself to the best record in the eastern conference but not able to get over the hump because of the mental challenges of your second-best player. 'That is an issue they have to address, because 'The Process' has all been about these young men growing together and competing for a championship. 'In regards to your second-highest-paid player, potentially your best player, you can't have him on the floor at the end of the game,' Jackson said. Simmons averaged 10.7 points (ninth overall), 7.8 assists (second) and 6 rebounds (fourth) per game in the series.įourteen-year NBA veteran Jim Jackson called on the 76ers to 'dig deep and think about next year', saying on the broadcast that Simmons's place on the team was one of the biggest questions they had to answer after another 'disappointing loss'. Maxey, meanwhile, should have a neon-green light in his age. The 76ers famously underwent a lengthy rebuild, dubbed The Process, that ended with them pairing Simmons with superstar centre Joel Embiid.īetween them they have garnered seven All Star appearances, four All-NBA spots and five berths in All-Defence teams, but it has not translated to major playoff success. Embiid, Harden and Tucker will all play a ton, but the Sixers will be cautious about not leaning too hard on them in the regular season.

It is the fourth straight year the Sixers have failed to progress past the second round of the playoffs, and comes after similar questions were asked about the make-up of the team when they were bounced 4-0 in the first round last season. Simmons scored just five points on four field goal attempts, to go with 13 assists and eight rebounds, as his team lost the series-deciding game seven 103-96 in Philadelphia.

76ers play by play