The run-up to every postseason tends to spring different anxieties on the Sixers. The most prevalent have typically been linked to a rotation that’s forever scrutinized and rarely ironed out. Most teams encounter a similar dilemma—what is a rotation if not the most advantageous way to organize and exploit a roster’s collective talent?—but Philadelphia’s has, annually, been a source of particular consternation.
In years past, everything revolved around the need to answer a fundamental question: Should Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons be staggered or play a majority of their minutes together?
- Before Philly traded for Jimmy Butler in November 2018, the former was extremely popular. Using input from his analytics staff, Brett Brown aggressively staggered Simmons and Embiid and avoided pretty much ever having fewer than two starters on the court at the same time. Philadelphia’s starting five outscored opponents by a whopping 11.4 points per 100 possessions during a magical 52-win ’17–18 season, but it also accounted for only 25.8% of their total minutes, which ranked 19th in the league.
