The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Isaiah CANaan Be A Solid CANtributor Next Season

By Bret Stuter

Apr 2, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Isaiah Canaan (0) reacts behind Indiana Pacers guard Rodney Stuckey (2) after his three point shot during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Isaiah Canaan (0) reacts behind Indiana Pacers guard Rodney Stuckey (2) after his three point shot during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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March 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown (right) instructs guard Isaiah Canaan (0) and guard Ish Smith (1) against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the 76ers 117-105. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown (right) instructs guard Isaiah Canaan (0) and guard Ish Smith (1) against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the 76ers 117-105. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

You don’t have to be a star baby….

to be on this team.  The stars are coming.  If you can trust the reports that Joel Embiid is healing, that Dario Saric is traveling, and that Ben Simmons will be selected that is.  If not, you can rest your hopes that the Philadelphia 76ers retain either Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel.

Sometimes it’s okay to get a player who specializes.  You may not get everything you want from him. But you know what you will get.  In the middle of a hotly contested game with possession and a need for a three point play, you will want to have a shooter on the team.

Isaiah Canaan is a shooter.

I’ve debated the merits of this current roster with fans, and the feedback I’ve gotten (when the verbage does not include hot garbage, the worst, d-leaguer) is that fans as a whole want a better mix of defense and overall offense.

But is that what the team wants?

Before you chime in, I’d like to remind you that Isaiah Canaan can drop a load of points for his team.

Canaan is relatively inexpensive, generates offense, and has a select niche on an NBA basketball team.   He was a solid contributor in the Philadelphia 76ers version of small ball.  While he is not an All-Pro defensively, we know that he can generate enough defense to hold his own.  Much of the bad numbers came from Canaan trying to play roles he truly is not made to perform.  When the team began to use Ish Smith at point guard and bring Canaan in off the bench, his numbers rebounded noticeably.

The team has to fill minutes at each position.  Yes, it would be wonderful to have Steph Curry, but that’s unrealistic.   The key is to get contributors throughout the entire roster. Isaiah Canaan contributes – just ask the Golden State Warriors.

Next: He's a great fit for this year