On the NBA Beat Ep. 155: Dan Morgan: “Ben Simmons” Will Be “the Guy Blamed" for 76ers' Exit

Dan Morgan of the Process Potables podcast joins Loren and Aaron to break down the Philadelphia 76ers’ heartbreaking Game 7 defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks. From Ben Simmons’ offensive disappearing act to Joel Embiid playing through injury to Dan’s faith (or lack thereof) in head coach Doc Rivers to President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey’s offseason task ahead, this episode has everything. Enjoy some excerpts below: 15:02-16:26: “‘Can they [co]exist, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid?’ Well, that’s been the question for a long time. They did enough to be the No. 1 seed in an improved East this year, so there’s something to be said for that. I still don’t know that you can say, ‘No, it absolutely can’t work.’ But the problem is year after year, the conversation happens, and of all of Ben Simmons’ shortcomings, this was the worst, and I don’t think it’s close at all. This was far and away one of the most atrocious things I’ve ever seen. … The one lesson that I think I’ve already learned and I’m not gonna get fooled again is believing that Ben Simmons is gonna add something offensively this offseason.”       23:53-24:15: “It’s not people overreacting at this point because the argument has been ‘every other part of his [Simmons’] game is there.’ But in this series, in fourth quarters, in second rounds of the postseason, it hasn’t been. … There’s been a lot of other gaping holes, and that is where the concern lies with this franchise.”  26:59-29:21: “Ben Simmons is gonna be the guy that is blamed for this, so Doc Rivers is gonna get a pass because he wanted the chance to make them work. I think you just realize he can’t do it either. And now Ben Simmons will be the scapegoat. Next season, Rivers won’t have the Ben Simmons excuse. … While I don’t believe in Doc Rivers, and I’m pretty sure I don’t believe in Ben Simmons anymore, I do believe in Daryl Morey. … Now it’s time for him to prove why that’s the case.”      32:13-32:30: “If you trade Ben Simmons, you really can’t trade Matisse Thybulle because Matisse Thybulle made second-team All-Defense off the bench. That’s how good he is on the defensive end. … You can’t trade ‘em both.”    36:06-37:04: “The Sixers’ third-most played lineup during the playoffs was George Hill, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, Tobias Harris and Dwight Howard. … One starter and four bench guys, two of which cannot shoot a basketball at all. That lineup finished with a net rating of negative 16 points per 100 possessions, per Clean the Glass. That is an atrocity! … You’ve gotta play your horses.” 42:50-44:21: For all the Embiid turnovers and poor shooting nights, he’s the only guy really on the team that was willing to be the person to go to. … After everything he did, playing on the injury, putting up the numbers he did, as soon as everything was done, he came out, said in his pressers, ‘I have to do better. I can be better. I’m gonna work on things’ etc., etc. He went on social media. He said, ‘Philly, I love you. I’m sorry I let you down. I can do better.’  Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices