Ben Simmons is still EASILY the rookie of the year. Utah was good last year, and was good this year. Philly was bad last year, and great this year especially the 2nd half of the season. Philly went from a bottom team to a 2nd round playoff contender in one year, and the big NEW difference was Ben Simmons. Donovan Mitchell filled the Hayward role by shooting probably just as many shots as Gordon, but didn't make them at the same rate. He's an interesting rookie with a decent first year, and MAYBE he gets better in year 2. Simmons was good THIS year, as in All-Star level good. Mitchell just took a lot of shots. Agree Rozier looks absolutely fantastic.
Great and funny comment on Dwayne Casey, so true. Pathetic performance by Toronto, but we'd recommend not giving Casey the boot YET. He deserves to coach a DeRozonless team first, just like Brett Brown deserves to coach a team one year that doesn't have a majority of starting 5 as rookies (sorry Embiid, but you were still a rookie this year).
Sixers series isn't over yet. If 76ers "breaks serve" Wednesday night, a whole can of worms is opened up. Given that games 1 and game 2 could have gone the other way under the right circumstances, game 5 is far from a gimme for Boston, and in fact Sixers are favored by gamblers to win the game. Sixers are actually favored to win each of the next 3 games, but aren't favored to win the series (and that's counterintuitive but correct if you do the math).
Agree 100% with you and LeBron that this last rookie class might be one of the greatest ever.
Ten Hanger-
I always love the replies, you are top notch on basketball analysis, and you know I appreciate that. As far as Ben Simmons Vs. Donovan Mitchell, lets be real, if I'm starting a franchise today I'm picking Ben Simmons. My real issue is the whole "Rookie" debate. I know its not fair, but in my opinion when its a tie, it goes to the guy who hasn't been in the league already for a year. Simmons has gotten NBA level training, adjusted to the travel schedule, etc. for an entire year. Not fair to Ben, but thats just my opinion. Its funny because as insanely difficult as it is to determine who should win Rookie Of The Year, I can't even figure out who has had the better playoffs so far!
You make a really good point about Dwayne Casey coaching a DeRozanless team before you give him the boot. That is a really tough decision the GM is going to have to make. Its either Casey or DeMar, but one of them has to go. Can't just keep doing the same thing over and over every year, that team desperately needs something new.
I would also agree that out of any team that has ever been down 0-3, this may be the only time the more talented team was in that hole. The 76ers are talented, and if Boston loses Game 5 at home, that is a scary situation. I know Brad Stevens isn't on the court, but he kinda is! lol. Something tells me he's not going to let them lose 4 straight.