The Sixer Sense
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Joel Embiid Jahlil Okafor Foreshadow Philadelphia 76ers Tall Ball

By Bret Stuter

Nov 27, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots and scores on a three point shot against Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots and scores on a three point shot against Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tall Ball is coming to Philly. PG Ben Simmons, C Jahlil Okafor, SF Dario Saric, SG Robert Covington and PF Joel Embiid are falling into place

We were the first to call it before Joel Embiid ever stood upon the basketball court.

It just so happens that the Philadelphia 76ers stand at the cusp as innovators of the NBA. It’s been the pattern for a number of years.

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    • As the NBA goes small, the Philadelphia 76ers were scorned for going big. The team struggled to find compatibility among centers Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor in the 2015-2016 season, and this year was worse with the return of center Joel Embiid and forward Dario Saric from two seasons of exile. 7-foot two, 6-foot-11, 6-foot-11, 6-foot-10.  But we saw beyond the basic numbers and detected a pattern.  The team was not gathering bigs, but corralling tall players with diverse skillsets.

    And then the team did the unthinkable. The Philadelphia 76ers drafted 6-foot-10 Ben Simmons. While pundits and analysts remained unshakable in their assertion that Simmons was forever more a point forward, we did what we do best: he is and will be an NBA point guard. Eventually, head coach Brett Brown agreed with us.

    Thanks Brett!

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    While others scorned the team for a senseless devotion for big players, we could see an evolution. Ben Simmons is simply the back court counter balance to Joel Embiid’s front court. While the belief formed that the team was building shooting to compliment Simmons, the truth may be that the team is building something far more daunting.

    Sneak Preview

    The sneak preview happened in the December 2nd game against the Orlando Magic. Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid walked onto a basketball court together. The results were impressive:

    The team is committing to Embiid and Simmons. Jahlil Okafor  is making a strong case to be consider in that mix as well:

    As the team begins to work Ben Simmons into this lineup, the pattern will begin to take shape. Talls versus smalls. Ultimately, the team will need to layer in Dario Saric at small forward and Robert Covington at shooting guard. But neither is a stretch. Together, and combined with an Embiid Okafor Simmons line-up, it could be devastating.

    Patience

    It won’t happen overnight.

    We’ve learned that a consistent line-up works best in this NBA, and the lineup I just described involves significant changes to the that line-up.

    But the patience is baked into the timeline with entrusting Ben Simmons with the point guard role.  The Philadelphia should not hesitate to take this to the limit and observe how the NBA can handle it.

    Next: NBA Rumors: Portland Trailblazers Testing Waters For Nerlens Noel

    We’ve seen Joel Embiid nail three point shots that decided a game. Don’t discount the future of this team. You won’t believe it until you see it.