Ben Simmons' future with the Philadelphia 76ers likely rests on their mutual success in Game 7.
If Simmons had performed to the level his résumé might suggest — three straight All-Star selections, two consecutive All-Defensive first-team nods and a third-team All-NBA bid last season — the Sixers would not be in this mess, facing another win-or-go-home game against an inferior team in the second round.
There is no couching that fact.
His defense is not the problem. That is a weapon Philadelphia has fired at Atlanta star Trae Young with some accuracy, save for the five fouls that limited Simmons to 25 minutes in Friday's must-win Game 6.