Philadelphia 76ers: Maximizing Al Horford’s special skill set

The Philadelphia 76ers can unleash Al Horford in a variety of ways.

Elton Brand‘s unconventional management style has led to arguably the most interesting combination of talent in basketball. The Philadelphia 76ers will look to turn the small ball era on its head, instead powering through opponents with unmatched size, physicality and force.

Joel Embiid, Al Horford, Tobias Harris, Josh Richardson and Ben Simmons will tower over most teams. The bench, centered on Mike Scott, James Ennis and Zhaire Smith, won’t get much smaller. The Sixers will throw fit to the wind — it’s about grinding the opposition into the ground.

The biggest addition to Brett Brown’s tool belt was Horford, a five-time All-Star star who spent the last three seasons in Boston. While most would argue Kyrie Irving has been the Celtics’ most talented star, Horford was the most important. His defense, playmaking and I.Q. were a stabilizing force in Boston’s dynamic rotation.

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It’s somewhat surprising Boston let him walk, even at 33 years old. It’s also surprising the Sixers — who have lost several games to Horford’s credit in recent seasons — were his destination of choice. Both sides agreed on the benefits of an Embiid-Horford pairing.

The Sixers are tasked with maximizing Horford in a vastly different setting. While Boston successfully paired Horford with Aron Baynes, Embiid is on a separate plain of existence, and plays a style foreign to Baynes’ more passive existence on the floor.

Embiid will still command touches, both as a post-up bruiser and as a face-up thriller. An undisputed top-10 talent in basketball, it’s Embiid who sparks Philadelphia’s engine. Horford will need to work in conjunction with Embiid, not in spite of him.

Philadelphia didn’t fly blind into the Horford signing. There’s strategy behind each move, and Horford has more than enough skill to coexist in an Embiid-driven system. On defense, they both cover large swaths of space. On offense, Horford is a prototypical glue piece, and then some.

In order for Brown to take full advantage of Horford’s presence, the Sixers will need embrace the All-Star’s full range of skills. That means a change in approach. If it weren’t obvious, Philadelphia’s offense will look drastically different in 2019-20.

The Sixers are embracing the arrival of Horford and Richardson, while also dealing with the departure of Jimmy Butler and J.J. Redick. Horford can help bridge the gap, adding a versatile playmaking threat to a loaded offensive roster. Brown just can’t run the same system of yesteryears.

In addition to his typical reliance on DHOs, Brown will need to implement the pick-and-roll. It’s an area where Horford thrives, and a play type the Sixers have largely ignored in the past. Every member of the starting five has some degree of pick-and-roll utility. It just needs to become a regular staple.

For those in search of positive indicators, Brown appears open to adaptation. The Sixers unleashed Butler in the pick-and-roll regularly in the postseason, improving the offense dramatically in a near-defeat of the eventual champions. There’s positive momentum on that front.

Horford is a pick-and-roll savant, largely due to his unique intelligence and finesse at 6-foot-10. While not flashy in the traditional sense, Horford is an absolute blast to watch for those parsing the game on a micro level.

He sets sturdy screens, which comes first and foremost in any pick-and-roll. He creates space and allows the ball-handler to get downhill, which increases the range of potential outcomes on a possession. By throwing the defense off-track, the offense can avoid stagnation.

Upon setting the screen, Horford can either float to the 3-point line or roll to the rim. He lacks a quick release, but is an efficient deep threat who, with proper space, punishes lackadaisical defense. That will go a long way in keeping the floor spaced for Embiid and Simmons.

When he rolls to the rim, Horford becomes a multifaceted threat. He’s a capable finisher at the rim, but he’s also a skillful in-between scorer. Whether he pops a quick mid-ranger or hits a short floater, Horford can take what the defense gives him.

In addition to his scoring, Horford remains an elite passer. He averaged the third-most assists at the center position last season, wracking up 4.2 per contest — a shade higher than Josh Richardson’s average as Miami’s top perimeter option.

Horford uses his height advantageously, peeking over the defense and whipping passes at various angles. He can find cutters on a dime, locate shooters on the perimeter, or work into a shot of his own. It makes the defense work hard to contain every possible outlet.

When not in the pick-and-roll, Horford’s skill translates nicely to the high post. He can camp out on the elbow, directing traffic and initiating offense. Much has been said about the Sixers’ newfound lack of dynamic ball handlers, and rightly so. But there’s more than one way to initiate an offensive set, something Brown knows as well as any coach.

All five starters, in some capacity, can initiate offense and create for others. Horford is special because of his selflessness. He will do everything in his power to move the ball, maintain flow and set up teammates. Philadelphia knows this going in — Horford will cede opportunities for the greater good.

When Embiid sits, Horford will have even more room to showcase his talents. The Sixers can pair him with Harris and/or Richardson, centering the offense on pick-and-rolls, DHOs and inside-out scoring. Horford can operate as the offensive hub without taking a shot. He fits Philadelphia’s culture of defense, ball movement and hustle.

There’s no telling how Horford’s contract will age over the next four seasons. The Sixers made a calculated risk,  but a risk nonetheless. For now, the main concern is taking advantage of the unique attributes Horford provides.