The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Dario Saric Completes Philadelphia 76ers Royal Flush

By Bret Stuter

Dec 15, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (left) talks with general manager and president Sam Hinkie (right) before a game against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Injured Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (left) talks with general manager and president Sam Hinkie (right) before a game against the Boston Celtics at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 4, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with players on the bench during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with players on the bench during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Bench Built Solid

As we focus on building a championship team, we need to break some old habits.  We are looking at the team moves  in a framework of a starting five players.  As we’ve projected what the team needed to do this off-season, who we needed to target, what we’ve done, many judged each move in terms of “can this player start and lead the league in their position this season?”

The answer in each case has been “no, they cannot”.

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But let’s step back for a minute.  If the team is truly investing in a championship build, and if the team has the projected championship roster (or at least the makings of one) on board now, what is left to put into place?   Three things:  quality depth, veteran leadership, and championship experience.

But the 76ers added a new wrinkle to the equation.  They needed to find back court depth which could run the point guard as Ben Simmons acclimates to the NBA, but also have that player off-the-ball as Simmons steps into his proposed point guard role.

To that end, the Philadelphia 76ers did incredibly well.

But the formation of the starters of this team automatically bolster the bench play.  If the team assigns starters as Okafor, Embiid, Saric, Luwawu, and Simmons, all other players are coming off the bench.  That will include Nerlens Noel, Jerami Grant, T.J. McConnell, Robert Covington, Jerryd Bayless, Gerald Henderson, Sergio Rodriguez, Hollis Thompson, Richaun Holmes, and Carl Landry.  As of right now, that could change as the team will weigh the play of Nik Stauskas, Christian Wood, Kendall Marshall, and perhaps even James Webb III.

But as players earn their way to the starting lineup, good players will be forced to the bench.  Quality players who are already being heralded in the NBA for their achievements last season, with more experience are facing the bench players of other teams this season.

Next: Saric Seals the Flush