This image is a derivative of Philadelphia 76ers by Michael Tipton (CC BY-SA 2.0)

There is always a debate to be had when it comes to Ben Simmons.

It all started back in his rookie season. The NBA world spent months arguing over his eligibility for the Rookie of the Year award after sitting out his first season since being drafted.

More recently, his status amongst the best players in the game has been discussed and whether or not a guy that has made two three's in 200+ games, in this era of basketball, can really be talked about alongside the likes of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The topic has changed again, though.

Now his standing in Philadelphia is up for debate. Joel Embiid has been considered 'the guy' since 2017 with Simmons a great player, but not one that can lead a team to greatness. However, with Embiid missing nine games throughout January, we've seen what Simmons can do as the top dog.

It's good.

Very good.

The 76ers went 6-3 while Embiid sat on the sideline and Simmons has never looked better. One respected analyst or another has called a different game or a singular quarter "the best of his career" in each of the last three weeks.

So, it this Simmons' team now?

It may not be a bad idea for Brett Brown and the 76ers staff to make it so.

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Simmons Without Embiid

In the nine games Simmons just played without Embiid, the Aussie averaged 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game shooting 65.3%. He averaged 14.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 8.6 assists while shooting 56.3% in the three months prior.

Simmons is still not shooting three-point shots, but as has been said so many times before, Simmons doesn't need to hit long-range shots to be an elite player.

He was outstanding in Philly's 117-111 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Typically excellent on defence, it's the career-high 34 points that made waves around the NBA. Simmons shot a barmy 12-14 from the field while getting to the line for 14 free throws, making 10. Add the 12 rebounds and 12 assists to the box score and you've got what, at the time, was Simmons' best game of his career.

Just five nights later, he was back at it, giving 76ers fans another game to throw into the growing cluster of his "best ever".

His line isn't quite as impressive. Simmons had 28 points on 12-15 shooting with ten rebounds and eight assists in this one. It's how he did it, who he did it against, and the audience that saw it that really got the latest Simmons-related debate humming.

Against the Los Angeles Lakers in the primetime slot on national television, Simmons took command of the 76ers. He made the Lakers pay for sending the 6"6' Danny Green to defend him, blowing by and getting to the rim with relative ease. He took control of the team, quarterbacking them to a massive win over the best team in the Western Conference, and to many, the championship favourites.

When the 76ers needed Simmons to step up during the ebb and flows of the game, he was there, just as you'd expect from a superstar player and leader of the team.

Simmons made shots at an unsustainable rate in those two particular games, but still consistently knocked down shots throughout the nine-game run.

It doesn't matter who is on the floor with him; Simmons' shot profile doesn't change. He will get to his spot on the floor regardless.

What does change is the rate at which he makes those shots.

With the lane clear of the All-Star Cameroonian, Simmons is presented with open space. He connected on his 10.8 field goals attempted in the restricted area per game at a 72.4% clip without Embiid. A considerable improvement on the 66.7% he shot before Embiid's injury.

The sample size may be small, but the general consensus is that Simmons is a better player without Embiid beside him.

76ers Without Embiid

While Simmons' individual numbers look like those of a superstar leading his team toward a championship, the overall offensive numbers of the team, do not.

Even before Embiid's latest injury, the 76ers' 109.2 offensive rating ranked 14th in the league - the worst of the genuine championship contenders. That number dipped further to 104.8throughout the nine games played without Embiid. An alarming 25 teams played with a better offensive rating during that period.

Philadelphia's downturn in offensive rating comes mainly due to the diabolical 93.7 points they scored per 100 possessions with Simmons on the bench across the nine games.

Interestingly, the 76ers played with a 106.5 offensive rating with Simmons on the court, just 0.2 points per 100 possessions worse than when Simmons and Embiid are on the court together this season.

The 76ers are among the best defensive teams in the NBA. Ranked 5th in defensive rating before Embiid was forced to sit in the stands, the 76ers have maintained that position despite playing without a Defensive Player of the Year candidate with their 102.9 defensive rating behind only the Bucks in his absence. There is little to worry about on that end of the floor. It's finding the right balance in the offence that will make or break Philadelphia's championship chances.

Moving Forward

Despite what the numbers say (and to the horror of the more analytical basketball fans), the 76ers 'looked' better out there. More fluid, cohesive, and playing as a group. What this period of nine games has done is highlight what Simmons needs to play his best basketball, and it's not Embiid.

He needs shooters.

Simmons completed this excellent stretch while Al Horford, Matisse Thybulle, Josh Richardson, Mike Scott and James Ennis III shot a combined 26.2% on 18.2 three-point attempts per game. Put some talented shooters around him, and a team designed for Simmons can be a true offensive force.

Likewise, Embiid would be better served to play with additional shooters and a traditional point guard, or, at least one that can space the floor and give him room to dominate down low. He's forced to bide his time on the perimeter and limit his touches in the paint without one.

The partnership isn't perfect, but it's the best for the 76ers right now, and these two will continue to play together for the time being.

Embiid is signed through to 2022-23 while Simmons' extension keeps him in Philly until the end of 2024-25. Whether they're the right fit or not, the 76ers will try to mould the pair together anyway.

Brett Brown has talked about Embiid, Simmons and Horford shooting more three's being the way forward for the young pair to coexist. After seeing how well Simmons can play when the floor is spaced, Embiid has recently said he's willing to shoot more three's.

"We will figure it out."

Embiid seems sure of that, and if they do, the 76ers will be a relevant team at the pointy end of the season for the foreseeable future. As it stands, the Stats Insider futures model puts the 76ers at 8.5% to win the 2019-20 championship. However, the recent form of Simmons without Embiid and the necessary changes it has uncovered to improve the offence could soon see that championship percentage increase.

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