“THE CHOKE is the parody side of ClutchPoints. Everything seen and heard here is purely for entertainment and comedic purposes.”
Perhaps it’s simply emotion. Maybe it’s that newfound successful strategy pushed to the ultimate degree. Right now, we don’t know and won’t find out until, most likely, the Summer of 2018.
Moments after their disheartening 101-98 loss to the Celtics in Boson on Saturday night, Philadelphia 76ers general manager Bryan Colangelo stunned the world with one startling quote.
“Perhaps we haven’t found that true face of the franchise yet, Colangelo proclaimed after his team’s disappointing Game 3 failure. “All options, including lottery (picks) are on the table in exchange for every player, No. 25 included.”
Of course, No. 25 is Ben Simmons, the man whose talents are undeniable. But, overall, he’s been terrible in the series.
Finishing with just one point on 0-4 shooting in Game 2, his seven assists and five boards weren’t nearly enough to overcome his nightmarish offensive output. All told, he finished with a team-low -23 for the night.
In Game 3 on Saturday night, his 16 points simply couldn’t get the job done and apparently, Colangelo was not impressed.
The talk of lottery selections and the NBA organization of Philadelphia is nothing new. Former front office boss Sam Hinkie literally coined a new phrase common from coast-to-coast that rallies around team ineptitude in the hopes to acquire talent and finally reach that mountaintop.
Trust the process.
With the likes of Simmons and Joel Embiid leading the way, Trust the Process has finally reached a climax during the season of 2017-18. Philly finished third in the East with a 52-30 mark. Though he stepped down after Colangelo was gobbled up, Hinkie’s name has lived on in a unique fashion. Many bash the former talent boss. Other credit him with the Sixers’ success.
Either way, he’s still very much interested in his former squad and offered up a ClutchPoints exclusive reaction to Colangelo’s words.
“Yeah, I heard him say it. I guess I rubbed off on him more than I thought (during the short time we overlapped).
“If it was up to me, Simmons and Embiid would be up for sale. Sure, 52 wins are great, but can these two actually lead a squad to an NBA Championship? That’s the ultimate question that needs answering and in this league, if you’re not the clearcut favorites, you might as well finish 30th. Like Ricky Bobby said, if you’re not first, you’re last.
“Wait, wait, before you hang up … Josh (Harris), listen (owner for the Philadelphia 76ers), I changed my phone number recently. Issues with the ladies. You don’t wanna know. Anyway, I emailed you my new cell yesterday, the day before … and last week … and a few months ago. Just want to make sure you got it.”
Down 0-3 to the Boston Celtics, Colangelo’s Philadelphia 76ers, with Ben Simmons in tow, will be looking to cut that series deficit in front of the disgruntled home crown in Game 4.
All that’s left is allowing it to play out. Will Mr. Simmons respond to such incredible words from his GM in the midst of an actual second-round playoff series?
