THE TAKE
Embiid and Simmons are an elite duo. Name 3 better
BOLDNESS
45/100
GRADE
18/100
PLAYERS / TEAMS
EmbiidSimmons
GRADING CRITERIA
TRUE if, as of the 2020-21 NBA season, fewer than 3 other NBA duos can be reasonably ranked above Embiid-Simmons based on a combination of individual All-Star/MVP-level performance, two-way impact, and playoff success. Candidate duos to evaluate against include: LeBron-AD (Lakers), Curry-Klay (Warriors, though Klay was injured), Giannis-Middleton (Bucks), Kawhi-PG13 (Clippers), Jokic-Murray (Nuggets), Luka-Porzingis (Mavs). FALSE if 3 or more duos are clearly superior based on those criteria.
hot takevaguebold call
OUTCOME
CONFIRMED FALSEThe 2020-21 season clearly featured at least three duos superior to Embiid-Simmons: LeBron-AD (defending champs with two top-5 players), Giannis-Middleton (went on to win the 2021 NBA title), and Kawhi-PG13 (two elite two-way stars on a contending Clippers squad). Jokic-Murray (pre-Murray injury) and Luka-Porzingis were also in the conversation. Critically, the Embiid-Simmons duo collapsed in the 2021 playoffs — eliminated in the second round by the 5-seed Hawks, with Simmons posting the worst free throw percentage in NBA playoff history (34.2%) and infamously passing up an open dunk in Game 7, leading Doc Rivers to publicly question whether Simmons could lead a championship team.