The Sixer Sense
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Stating The Case For Pierre Jackson To Start

By Bret Stuter

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Stating The Case For Pierre Jackson To Start

They Slept.

Now They Woke.

Of course I’m describing former Baylor Bear, 5’10” 180 pound point guard Pierre “Pappy Jack” Jackson. With a young roster, the team will need a productive leader from the point. Well, if leading by example qualifies, Jackson will do nicely.

OFFENSE

SHOOTING

Jackson’s height can limit his shot looks, but he can hit from long range when he gets space. His perimeter game is opportunistic, as he can hit from the distance until the defense comes out to him to close, then he will need space. His ball handling can usually create that space too, and he can burst towards the basket or when pressured can keep the ball alive until someone gets open. His speed and low center of gravity wears a defender down, giving him the option to pop into a jumper straight out of a dribble for the shot.

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He can definitely be an offensive threat, which is paramount to giving defenders reason to pull out of the post. His size and agility give him the advantage in most one on ones, and without help he literally can take over a game.

PASSING

The key to the Brett Brown team is the pace, space, pass mantra. Jackson can run the high tempo, and his vision gives him good command of spacing out the floor. His passes can be outright spectacular sometimes, but more importantly passes are strong and on target. On a new team with a new roster, it will take time to develop the intuitive understanding of who will be where on each play, so that will take time to develop.

As he grows comfortable, he will create the triple threat of shooting, penetrating and passing to the big men down low, or flipping back out to the long range shooters for the threes.

FREE THROWS

As Jackson threatens the other team, he will most assuredly draw fouls. Perhaps when it is all said and done, it will be the free throw accuracy which will determine the point guard starter. If that is the case, Jackson has a good shot from the line, and his style will bring plenty of opportunity as other teams try to slow down the Sixers pace.

DEFENSE

PERIMETER

Jackson’s court awareness is a boon to his defensive skills, as he instinctively finds the optimal position to defend a ball handler, and does a good job working his hands to confuse and cause hesitation. He glides, keeping good position and avoiding chasing down the ball.

His awareness is amplified as he directs teammates to their spots. As he grows in comfort with the team and teammates, his direction will merely serve to remind and enhance the team.

REBOUNDING

Despite a disadvantage of height, Jackson uses his incredible jumping skills to maintain a rebounding presence on defense. His is good at locating the right spots, but his burst speed quickly chases down a loose ball coming off the rim.

STEALS

Pappy Jack is shrewd, he is opportunistic but does not work so hard as to draw stupid fouls. He is lightning fast and will snatch the ball away at the first chance, igniting a fast break offense. He can jump passing lanes as well. He will likely be encouraged to be more aggressive in defense in his first season.

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SUMMARY

Pierre Jackson is solid on skills on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. But, he is a rookie, and as such the learning curve will be very steep early in his Philadelphia career. That curve is amplified by the fact that he will be calling and directing the team from the point.

Jackson is special. He is back from a crippling Achilles Heel injury and is stronger for the experience. He is undaunted and his personal career is an eerie parallel to the Sixers story so far.

The team needs to turn it around, and to do so will need the shoulders of a “never say defeated” leader. Pierre Jackson is many things: father, friend, athlete, success. But one thing he is not is a quitter.

For the Sixer team, that may be the most important trait of all.

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