What We’ve Learned About This Season So Far

Feb 27, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (white jacket) reacts with team mates after a score against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers defeated the Wizards 89-81. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The team is full of surprises

This one doesn’t need much explanation. I could write just a few names on this slide, and you’d understand the “surprises”  that have come with this team. In fact, you probably already know who I’m going to talk about.

Of course, there’s T.J. McConnell, who wasn’t even expected to be on the final roster. McConnell worked hard in training camp and during preseason games, and as one of the only healthy point guards found a point guard spot on the team landing right in his lap. Of course, he earned it, but it was made much easier by all the injuries.

T.J. didn’t start the first few games, as Isaiah Canaan‘s seniority trumped McConnell’s despite Canaan not being built to be a true point guard. McConnell waited, and did well off of the bench, and proved he was ready to start. In the game preceding his first start, he had 12 assists, and no turnovers.

He would follow that up in his first career start with just one turnover and 12 assists yet again. Since becoming the starter, he’s averaging over seven assists and just 2.6 turnovers again. He’s promoting a more productive offense.

The roster is definitely far from polished. In fact, it’s safe to say that most of this roster won’t be here two years down the road. Nerlens Noel is the longest tenured player, and has only been around for three years, so it’s safe to say that the team is fluid, and the roster is changing all the time. But that doesn’t mean that for this season and beyond, there aren’t some surprises on the bench and in the lineup.

I have my eyes on Richaun Holmes and Christian Wood to be the next surprises. With some more confidence instilled in them from head coach Brett Brown in the form of minutes, maybe they could impact further games more than they have, and supply some relief to Noel and Okafor.

Next: Needing to pick up the pace