Lack of Accountability Just Part of the Sixers’ Problem

The Sixers lack accountability, and that is a big problem.

Its a players league and stars win games, but if they aren't held accountable for their actions both on-and-off the court, the trickle-down affect is noticeable from the players around the stars.

On Sunday, after the Sixers were swept by the Celtics, Josh Richardson voiced his frustration with the teams lack of accountability.

"He is a good guy, he is a good man, he means well," Richardson said about Sixers head coach Brett Brown.

"I just think going forward he has to have more accountability. I don't think there was much accountability this season and I think that was part of our problem."

We discussed this issue a week ago on The Sports Bash with ESPN's Tim Legler, who also look at accountability as a reason the Sixers have failed to meet expectations.

"Accountability.  I don't think this team has any," Legler said on the show.

What Richardson said is consistent with some of the reporting that has come out with the Sixers season coming to a close.  Per Yahoo's Chris Haynes, Brown “never grabbed full command” of the locker room.

Brown, who was chosen as the coach of “The Process” seven years ago, never grabbed full command of the locker room during his tenure, sources said.

Another new Sixer this year, veteran player Al Horford, expressed frustration about the lack of communication and his role not being defined.

Al Horford, one of the more silent and reserved players in the league, stated before the season went on hiatus that he was frustrated by not having a defined role communicated and established with him.

Another story that has emerged was the handling of rookie Matisse Thybulle.  Many of the players in the locker room were left to wonder if Brown had an issue with the rookie, whose minutes fluctuated for most of the season.

The handling of rookie Matisse Thybulle, who has demonstrated he’s an elite defender, was a head-scratcher. His minutes fluctuated at bizarre junctures, leaving some in the locker room to wonder if Brown had an axe to grind with the youngster, sources said.

If a new coach comes in, they will need to figure out a way to get more from Ben Simmons, something Brown has not been able to do.

Watching Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic gives you a glimpse of the kind of players Simmons needs to be.  While Doncic isn't a great shooter, just 31% from 3-point range, he is a willing shooter. He is a confident player, who wants to take the big shot and have the ball in the biggest moments of the game.

If a new coach can get that out of Simmons sign me up.

As for Embiid, a new coach is going to have to get more from the big man, in a era where the big man is becoming extinct. Embiid is an unbelievable talent who can dominate games, but its hard to run things through him in late in games.

If the next coach can get Embiid to cut weight, and get in better shape, sign me up.

"Whoever comes in, that is the first thing. Accountability," Legler explained. "They need to say that's the reason we made a coaching change, here's how we are going to do things, we are going to do things the way I want to do things, and I am going to make you accountable for that."

Accountability matters, but stars still win games. The only way the Sixers will win is if and when their stars make the commitment to become the players they can be all the time, not just some of the time.

Maybe a new coach can make that happen, or maybe Simmons and Embiid are what they are.

Amazingly, frustrating talents.

Time will tell.