Beefed Up Offense
Putting the ball in the hoop was probably the biggest problems of all the problems the 2014-15 Sixers faced throughout the season. The team finished 29th in the league in points, last in turnovers, and last in field goal percentage. The team looked to improve on these stats by picking up various pieces.
Signing guards like TJ McConnell, Scottie Wilbekin, Jordan McCrae, and Pierre Jackson shows the team’s willingness to beef up not only the outside shooting ability, but also to limit the amount of turnovers the team surrenders. All of the new guards averaged under 3 turnovers per game during their NCAA careers and must continue to ensure possessions aren’t wasted.
The decreased turnovers will allow for more opportunities for the main offensive options on the team, Robert Covington and Jahlil Okafor. Covington must continue his semi-efficient shooting from the outside and improve his lack of an inside game. He has the skill set to become, once again, one of the more reliable scorers in the Sixers offense and must use it. For this team to succeed Cov must shoot between 38-40% from three, averaging 17 ppg and 6 rebounds.
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Jahlil Okafor isn’t able to hit the bar scene in Philadelphia, but will be the center of debates in every Philly sports bar during the course of the season. Okafor’s rookie season has to pretty much be historic for the Sixers to have any chance of winning 20-22 games before the all-star break.
Shaquille O’Neal had an amazing season for the Orlando Magic, averaging 23.4 ppg and 13.9 rebounds, and his team still failed to make the playoffs. Okafor has the offensive ability to rack up points in the mid 20’s every night, and must do so if the Sixers have any hope of making a run. Putting up big numbers like that will draw double teams that the Sixers’ outside shooters are already salivating over.
The Sixers have realized the opportunity to free up shooters and were progressive by drafting stretch four rookie Richaun Holmes who has shown a great shooting touch, and also are encouraging Furkan Aldemir to take more threes, as evident over the course of the NBA Summer League.
Everything must go right for the Sixers, and when I mean everything, I literally mean everything. Yes, I am implying that Furk develops a consistent outside shot and pairs well with either Okafor or Noel. If Furkan and Holmes become the Sixers’ version of the Celtic’s Jared Sullinger/Kelly Olynyk, they could become a huge compliment to the inside game of Okafor.
These miraculous offensive improvements could put the Sixers in the conversation of the playoffs come All Star break, but will still have work to do in the second half, and with the all-star break also bringing the NBA trade deadline, it is time for Hinkie to do his Hinkie things.
Next: Trade Tony Wroten