The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers Need Cohesion, Not Seniority

By Bret Stuter

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn speaks at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn speaks at the conclusion of the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) and guard T.J. McConnell (12) talk as time winds down in the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 114-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) and guard T.J. McConnell (12) talk as time winds down in the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 114-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

I. The team is the youngest roster in the NBA

This is essentially true, but the cause and effect of the statement has been excessively overstated. The Philadelphia 76ers have played the past two seasons with a 14 man roster.  As the team has awaited the return to health of 2014 first round draft pick Joel Embiid, the team has had to occupy one slot with a rehabbing player.  That was even more exaggerated at the opening to the 2015-2016 season when hopeful starters such as Tony Wroten, Kendall Marshall, Carl Landry, Joel Embiid, and Nik Stauskas.

After fulfilling some of the roster potential in the heart of the season when the team became healthy, and added point guard Ish Smith,  the team improved to nearly a .500 pace.  But shortly thereafter, the team began to experiment with the roster once more, sliding Nerlens Noel to the center and Jahlil Okafor to the power forward position.  As the new lineup began to stabilize, injuries returned to haunt the team once more – this time claiming rookie sensation Jahlil Okafor with six weeks remaining in the season.

While so much of the focus was pointed at the age of this roster, the vacuum of discussion about the untimely injuries early and late in the season are irresponsible.  Had the team entered the season at full strength, there would have been early struggles, but the team would have responded far more quickly and consistently.  Had the team had Ish Smith throughout the off-season, the team would not have stumbled out of the gate.  Had the team been consistent in their approach to the center and power forward roles of the lineup, the team would have improved throughout the year.  And had the team not been bitten by the injury bug for the last two months of the season, they would have ended the season with positive momentum and with more than ten victories.

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The deliberate act of stockpiling was not done with an intention of failing now, but of succeeding later.   The NBA is a constant battle of trying to replace talent that insists on getting away from a team, either by free agency or simply aging.   The current roster, as it stands today, is set up to mature within a year or two of one another.  Whether all players will be able to eventually contribute to that playoff team was always part of the plan.  There would bound to be some surprises with the roster, and there would bound to be some disappointments.

But the roster is filled with players who are inexpensive, are signed to team friendly contracts, and are eager to earn their way into NBA history.  They just need time to do so.

Next: Recent Drafts were failures