The Philadelphia 76ers are always at their best when Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are together. Last season, they were the fourth-best two-man lineup in the NBA, posting a 16.1 net rating in 1,305 dominant minutes together. Despite their limitations as shooters and differing tempos, they thrive side by side. And there’s one simple way for them to get even better.
The Sixers ranked dead last in pick-and-roll frequency in the NBA last season. As a result, Simmons only operated as a pick-and-roll ball handler in 29.9 percent of his possessions — a low number compared to many point guards, like Goran Dragic (39.