The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers Should Utilize Small Ball

By Christopher Kline

Feb 13, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) brings the ball up court against the Texas A&M Aggies during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) brings the ball up court against the Texas A&M Aggies during the first half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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While most of the conversation in regards to the Sixers’ rotation seems to be revolving around how big they’re capable of going, there’s reason to believe that, in today’s NBA, having a small ball rotation is the best route to take.

Small ball. It’s a concept that has seemingly revolutionized the NBA as of late, with the Golden State Warriors’ oft-praised “death lineup” heading the shift towards a more versatile form of basketball. As athletes improve and shooting becomes an increasingly crucial aspect of professional basketball, switching from traditional, back-to-the-basket bigs and their surrounding scorers to a lineup with viable creators scattered throughout will only become a more prevalent trend in today’s league — and the Philadelphia 76ers have all the requisite tools of a team who could put themselves ahead of the curve.

For a Sixers team that has been subpar is just about every offensive facet imanginable over the past few seasons, evolving from their current system to an up-tempo regime could seem like an unattainable goal to some. Their frontcourt is still jammed with bigs who don’t fit the modernistic mold of an ideal NBA big, while their lack of shooting and guard depth has been the focal point of their somewhat expedited rebuild under Bryan Colangelo.

However, when you look at the recent pieces they’ve added, with Ben Simmons, Dario Saric and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot highlighting an influx of young talent alongside a versatile wing player in Gerald Henderson via free agency, there’s reason to believe they could not only make the switch to small ball when desired, but thrive in the process.

Next: Overarching Flexibility