The Philadelphia 76ers continue to have a lot of issues that put their championship contender status in serious doubt. An embarrassing loss to the Miami Heat on Monday on the road adds more questions and it has everybody pointing at coach Brett Brown.

Brown and superstar Joel Embiid were in disagreement with what happened in the second half on Monday where he only took four shots. Brown then expressed concern with the team’s spirit and how it isn’t translating to the floor in games.

Then, on ESPN’s First Take, the notorious Stephen A. Smith took his turn and he went for Brown as the main problem with the Sixers.

Smith said:

It hurts me to say this, but I’m going to say it. The problem is their coach, Brett Brown. I do not want this man fired. He’s a good man. I think he’s a good coach, but he’ll never get accused of being a great coach. This team is underachieving and I’m putting it right at his doorstep.

Brown comes from the system of Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs meaning he does things a certain way. It’s comparable to the “Patriot Way” in the NFL where it only works for the New England Patriots. The “Spurs Way” only works for the San Antonio Spurs.

Smith added:

I got news, I hope that Brett Brown is listening to this: you are not the San Antonio Spurs. I was talking to somebody about this last night, Tony Parker isn’t walking through that door. Tim Duncan isn’t walking through that door. Brett Brown is a prodigy of the Spurs system, doing things their way. You know what? Different system, different players. You don’t have that in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Ben Simmons is a star because he does so many things right. Shooting is not one of them.

The Sixers are absolutely underachieving. The 6 seed was not what this team envisioned when they put this roster together. This was supposed to be a team that contends for an NBA championship, and they very well could still, but the team is struggling mightily on the road at 9-18 and things just are not good for them right now.

Smith then added:

Here’s where I’m holding Brett Brown accountable. Who gets better under you? At the end of the day, if you’re a coach, that’s the ultimate question. I got love for Elton Brand, who I thought did a fabulous job last year as executive for the Philadelphia 76ers, but right now both Boston and Miami have the egde over you…Ben Simmons has not improved his perimeter shot, he doesn’t even attempt them…Joel Embiid. He’s not reliable durability-wise…as a coach you got to be able to maximize what you got to work with and I don’t see him doing that right now.

The Sixers really need to figure things out and it won’t get easier. They have a road matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday looking to avoid another winless road trip.