Which Sixers Player Is Poised For A Surprisingly Good Season?
By Josh Wilson
Oct 18, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Hollis Thompson (31) drives to the basket with Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) defending during the 2nd qtr at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Hollis Thompson has been forgotten about by a lot of fans in light of talk about point guards, roster cuts, and new rookies. That may just be how Thompson wants it, and due to the forgetfulness of people regarding Thompson, he could have a huge year. Heck, last year was bigger for Thompson than a lot of people really seem to remember.
Thompson played 25 minutes per game for the Sixers last year, averaging 8.8 points, 1.2 assists, and 2.8 rebounds. What Thompson brings to the table is his accuracy when shooting. The Sixers have serious trouble on the offensive side of the ball, and giving someone like Thompson trust in shooting could be huge.
Thompson shot 41.3% from the field, but his big positive number was the 40.1% that he shot from beyond the three point line. This was good enough to put Thompson at 14th in the league, above players like Chris Paul and Paul Pierce.
Basketball Reference has put up a projection for Thompson this season, having him score 12.0 points per game with 4.6 rebounds. They also project him to shoot 43.4% from the field, and 40.7% from the three point line.
As a versatile player and a swingman, Thompson can back up a multitude of positions, which will give him opportunity for more minutes. If someone like Robert Covington (currently injured for the time being) or Nik Stauskas (also currently injured) has to sit, Hollis should be the first option. Go figure, for the first few games at least, Covington will have to miss, and Stauskas will be questionable. Thompson may be getting his chance to start right out of the gate, and if the injuries for the Sixers continue, Thompson could quickly become one of their reliable bench guys.
Next: Isaiah Canaan