Five Things To Look For At Beginning Of Sixers Season

Sep 28, 2015; Galloway, NJ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas (11) talks with the media during media day at Stockton Seaview Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Is Nik Stauskas Comfortable And Playing Well?

Nik Stauskas, where do we begin with this player? Stauskas was acquired in the offseason as a part of a big trade for the Sixers from the Sacramento Kings, one that also brought them veteran Carl Landry.

Stauskas has had high expectations, despite his rough year last season. He was a first round pick, but barely averaged over four points per game with the Kings. It’s been recorded that Stauskas believes the reason for this is that he didn’t get enough freedom playing, and had to take shots he wasn’t confident taking. Stauskas has a shot, but the Kings really pressured him to take a lot of his shots from deep.

With the Sixers, he’s supposed to have more freedom, and the ability to take shots closer to the hoop if he wants to. With this will come Stauskas organically taking three pointers, rather than forced ones, which will (hopefully) lead to more made three pointers than last season, and more points per game.

Watching him play for team Canada this offseason, he seemed to warm up as games went on, but appeared a bit shy when games started. I’m hoping that he feels comfortable when games start, and that the Sixers won’t have to wait halfway through the second quarter before he gets heated up.

Unfortunately, missing the entire preseason (injury) won’t help him get over that apparent shyness when starting games, so we may very well see him have problems here in the first few games.

There is a chance that Stauskas takes some of the backup point guard minutes in the first few weeks while both Kendall Marshall and Tony Wroten are out with injury as well. There’s going to be a lot to keep our eyes on with as far as Stauskas.

Overall, I think Stauskas is going to have a good year, but these first few weeks may be tough for him, and he may have to use these as his “preseason” to adjust to getting back in the swing of things with basketball.

Head coach Brett Brown feels this way entirely about the Sixers, and has admitted that they’re feeling two weeks behind. Stauskas isn’t alone.

Next: Has The Offense Improved?