Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, the Philadelphia 76ers rookie, has appeared in some summer league action and is already showing us what he’s good at.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was somehow still on the board when the Sixers went on the clock for the second time during the 2016 NBA Draft. Although other picks had fallen alongside Luwawu, many Sixers fans hoped that Bryan Colangelo wouldn’t mess this up.
Adam Silver started reading the pick. “With the 26th overall pick, the Philadelphia 76ers select…”
Although it occurred in real-time for most non-Sixers fans, this pick was sort of the defining moment for the next chapter of the franchise, and it felt like it was happening in slow motion. Would Colangelo be smart with the pick, or would he take a player that wouldn’t end up being much?
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Colangelo made the right choice, as Silver read “Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot” flawlessly, just as he did for every other hard-to-pronounce name that preceded him during the night.
Some Sixers fans had their eyes set on Luwawu before the draft, and knew right away that it was a great pick with a lot of potential. Others had hardly heard of the French guard, and were curious about what he would bring to the table. Although we can go back and see what he did internationally, the first NBA games often tell more about what the player can do.
Luwawu appeared in the Philadelphia 76ers first summer league game in Utah, alongside top overall pick Ben Simmons. Both players impressed, but since it was Simmons’ first game too, Luwawu got shoved under the carpet a bit.
I went back and watched his performance from the first game of the Utah Summer League, and it was nothing that should have been ignored. Luwawu had the jets on for the whole game, and was clearly trying to show the Sixers that he has what it takes to succeed in the NBA.
It’s just summer league, and the competition is a bit lower than the real deal, but all of these players are fighting hard for roster spots. What Luwawu was able to do is nothing to ignore.
Among a multitude of skills, he did three things very well. Although there were some lapses, the three things he did well were completed on almost every possession or chance he got to get them done.
Next: Fast breaks
Fast break
Video example
What he does well
Timothe Luwawu is a great player to have in transition. What’s great about Luwawu is that he utilizes his solid IQ to know where he needs to be. Whether he has to run straight down the lane, or maybe fill the wing, he knows where he needs to be in order to be most effective, and puts himself there.
In the above video, Luwawu sees that there is a missed shot and anticipates a huge opportunity. In a huge snap of speed, he is able to get down the court and in front of defenders in a matter of seconds. Luwawu was at a standstill before the ball hits the rim, and the instant he notices it’s a missed shot, he flips the switch and sprints down the court.
This situation turned into an easy bucket for Luwawu.
There was an earlier instance where the Sixers didn’t get him the ball, and it was a huge missed opportunity, but it was still a solid showing of how Luwawu knows where he should be. He came down the court, coasted along the baseline, and popped out in the corner of the court.
Defenders didn’t notice that Luwawu had switched sides, and he was left wide open beyond the arc for at least a second and a half. It’s moves and gimmicks like this on fast breaks that will make the Sixers a truly deadly team in transition.
How does this help Sixers?
As far as this relating to the Sixers, it could not be more helpful. The ideal situation for Ben Simmons running point-forward is getting him the ball on an outlet pass off of a defensive rebound, and him pushing the offense in transition from there.
Simmons can use his muscle and ball handling to get himself to the basket, or he can pass the ball to other options around the floor. His height allows him to see more than other guards could, and he will be able to see when Luwawu has a solid opportunity in transition, and put the ball in his hands.
Next: Offensive spacing
Perimeter movement
Video example
What he does well
There’s not a whole lot to explain here, other than saying that Luwawu primarily functions along the perimeter on offense. You won’t see him coming inside the 3-point arc all that often, unless he sees a really great opportunity.
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His defenders often leave his side, getting drawn towards the ball. In the video above, his defender shifts over to help his teammate, leaving Luwawu all by himself. Luwawu, noticing his defender is distracted, rotates to make himself even more wide open, and gets the pass from Simmons to nail a 3-pointer.
How does this help Sixers?
This makes Luwawu a great option to look for when things get messy in the paint. And trust me, things will get messy. With the possibility of Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid, Richuan Holmes, and Ben Simmons all playing on the same roster, a lot of the team is focused in the key offensively.
Being able to have a guy like Luwawu constantly prowling along the arc gives the Sixers a chance to kick the ball out and look for a 3-point shot, or just reset the offense when the paint gets clogged up with Sixers players and opposing players alike.
In addition to the solution of unclogging the key, Luwawu is a great compliment to Simmons, who is an incredible passer. The video above is just one example of how Simmons can set Luwawu up if he continues to get wide open looks. Simmons will find Luwawu all season long.
Next: Attentive defense
Attentive defense
Video example
What he does well
Timothe Luwawu is an incredible defender. These clips were all taken from the very first summer league game against the Boston Celtics, and in my watching of this game the second time through, I watched Luwawu the whole time. Only a few times did an opponent score (twice by my count) because of defensive lapses on Luwawu’s part.
Luwawu is like white on rice with his defensive assignment, often blowing through screens and switching flawlessly.
Luwawu is hard to defend himself, and it looks like that helps him in this regard. He knows how to guard himself, and uses that knowledge to his advantage when guarding other players.
One of the best things about Luwawu’s defense is that he’s incredibly attentive, seemingly with eyes in the back of his head, sides of his head, and really just all over the place. He knows exactly when he should switch with a teammate or stick with his man. Where other players lose their man getting distracted by the ball moving their way, Luwawu can guard two things at once.
Whether it be along the perimeter, close to the hoop, or in transition, Luwawu is a tough defender and, from what we have seen to this point, is able to shut down just about any player he is assigned with.
How does this help Sixers?
The Sixers were not a good defensive team last year, often simply watching players walk to the hoop right in front of them. With Luwawu added to the team, and hopefully some increased defensive efforts from other players, it’s going to be harder for other teams to score.
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Although Luwawu can defend all over the floor, I think it will be smart to place him along the perimeter, in order to limit 3-point shooters’ ability to get ahead by hitting the long ball. Luwawu can stick with these guys even if they drive towards the hoop from beyond the arc.