The Sixers ended 2019 with a horrible road loss in Indiana on New Year’s eve ushering in 2020 with a 23-13 record. As fans, we expect so much more from this squad, but with so many new faces, it has taken longer to gel than the fans thought. Brett Brown has said that he didn’t expect the Sixers to develop more cohesion until Christmas but, on some nights we have seen what looks like the best team in the East, while other nights this team STRUGGLES. I still believe this team will get it together one way or another, but until then, here is a 2020 Wishlist of hopes for the Philadelphia 76ers:

1. Exert more effort against opponents on the road

The Sixers are 7-11 on the road and tend to play down to competition in the first three quarters, until they decide to turn it up in the 4th and almost always, it is too little too late. Sixers have road losses in DC, OKC, Orlando (2X), Phoenix, and Brooklyn. All those games should have been wins. Joel Embiid and company need to find some inspiration against lesser teams on the road or they will find themselves stuck in a precarious situation where they are continually ranked in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference.

2. Tobias Harris improving consistency

When Tobias inked the 180-million-dollar contract in June 2019, people wondered if he “would be able to live up to being a max contract player”. Tobias started the season a little rough with a dreadful 0-23 from “3-point Land” streak. He has since become more reliable as a scorer and increased his PPG to just under 20 PPG. Since mid-November Tobias has low key played at an All-Star level with three 30 point games. All we wish for him is to attack every game and get more shot attempts. Nine shot attempts in Indy on 12/31 is not acceptable.

3. Joel Embiid to stop “Saving himself” for the Playoffs

I get it, we need a healthy “JoJo” for April and May but it’s obvious he only gets up for certain match ups. Yes, he’s had bad luck with injury in the last two playoff runs, but if he doesn’t play his best, and the Sixers lose games they shouldn’t, they could find themselves in the 4/5 spot. And as a result, this could land the Sixers in a matchup against the Bucks in the second round instead of the ECF. We also know that Embiid could be a Top 3 player in this league if he gives maximum effort on a nightly basis.

4. Better Spacing

Spacing in the NBA determines how well an offense works. Spacing determines how teams get open shots in the half court and you usually need players to space the floor to allow one on one post play, pick and roll or isolation. We all knew this lineup had the potential to be the best defensive team in the league. We got a surprise with how good defensively Matisse Thybulle is and how good he has been from 3-point range. As we sit here at the beginning of January, the spacing issue hasn’t been figured out. Ben, Al, and JoJo all like to be in the paint. Tobias and Josh like PNR ,which is something Brett is just starting to run. For this to work, they need better spacing which includes having “shooters” on the court at all times. Furkan Korkmaz has been a surprise, but he’s not enough with Mike Scott having a down year. My two ideas for space creation would be either changing the starting lineup to something like Ben, J-Rich, Furkan or Thybulle, Tobias, and Joel. Horford would be a glorified 6th man and could get starts when Embiid doesn’t play. He could also play the 4th quarter clutch minutes as well but it’s just not working. Asking Al to shoot seven 3’s a game is a bit much. The other idea would be to make a trade for some shooters. If that occurs, you may have to trade Horford, Zhaire Smith, Jonah Bolden, or Mike Scott (Sorry to the hive). A combo of any of those players would have to be traded for some shooting. According to the insiders, Sixers have their eyes on David Bertans (Wizards), Bogdan Bogdanovic/ Buddy Hield (Kings), Josh Hart/ JJ Reddick (Pelicans). They need to do something to fix the spacing issue and it’s on the coaches and Front Office. P.S. Elton Brand won’t trade Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid, so you guys can stop wishing for one of them to go to build around the other.

5. Fans accepting that Ben Simmons will not shoot

As much as we all want Ben Simmons to shoot jumpers and 3’s, it’s clearly not going to happen. After all the summer workout videos, we have only watched Ben take two real 3’s in the half court this year (2/2). He may have taken a total of only 10 jumpers thus far this season. He’s not going to shoot them for whatever reason and the Sixers are going to live with it. Brett wants him to shoot, and teammates want him to shoot… but he just won’t. At this point, we need to accept Ben for the player he is and give him credit for what he does well now. He is having an all-defensive first team type season and is a phenomenal passer and rebounder.

6. Brett Brown to figure this thing out

It is evident that Elton Brand is loyal to Brett and wants him to see the fruits of the years of the “Process”, but if they can’t advance past the second round this year, he will be fired. If Colangelo was still the GM, he would have worked with the Owners to fire Brett, and Jay Wright would have been the Sixers coach. Brett needs to figure it out, forget the egos, and do what is best for the team. If he does not, he could find himself unemployed after this season. It doesn’t help that after every loss, #sixertwitter is filled with “Fire Brett Brown” tweets.