Boston Celtics: Ranking the five best dynamic duos amongst the top seeds in the east

3) Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons

Even if rumors of their demise have been greatly exaggerated, the Philadelphia 76ers’ two best players have overlapping skill sets. Ben Simmons is a lefty and jumper-less version of LeBron James, able to read the floor and attack the paint with measured force.

Joel Embiid is a paint-dweller too, though, and does much of his work near the basket. Though he may see himself as a floor-spacer, Embiid has been one more in theory than in practicality…much to the chagrin of Brett Brown and co.

While his 3-point shot is a work in progress–up to 34 percent on just under four shots from 30 percent the past two years on similar volume–Embiid is best-used on the block. That just so happens to be the same area Simmons frequents most. Hell, it is the only place he can shoot, being that Simmons has taken just six shots from beyond the arc all season and 17 his first two seasons.

The playoff success so far for this All-Star duo has been limited to making the second round. The past two seasons have been stopped short by the Toronto Raptors in seven games, and of course, a dominant gentlemen’s sweep by the Boston Celtics in 2018.

This season has been disappointing for Philadelphia, as they were pegged as preseason favorites in the Eastern Conference but have failed to gel with the acquisition of Al Horford but now occupy the sixth seed in the east. Because of that, they are merely a middle of the road duo in the Eastern Conference despite their immense individual talents.