Philadelphia 76ers Should Utilize Small Ball

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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Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

Like the Warriors on a much less impressive scale, the Sixers have a number of options they can turn to when compiling a small ball rotation. It’s tough to pinpoint a single, primary group that Brett Brown should or will rely on, but the core pieces of Simmons, Saric, and Covington seem to be obvious.

The playmaking in the frontcourt with Simmons and Saric really open up lanes for the players on the perimeter, while also decreasing the need for a pure point guard on the outside. While it’s likely within Philly’s best interest to run out a point guard early on for the sake of adjustment on the part of their rookie bigs, adding another wing such as Luwawu or Grant to the outside could produce a tantalizing team in transition later down the road.

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In terms of the best combination of talents to kick off the 2016 season, a group that looks along the lines of this would likely be ideal:

  • PG Sergio Rodriguez
  • SG Gerald Henderson
  • SF Robert Covington
  • PF Dario Saric
  • C Ben Simmons

In this case, the blend of athleticism in transition and unselfishness in terms of passing is ideal. Rodriguez isn’t exactly an athletic force, but he’s fluid in transition and sees the floor extremely well when operating with the ball. He gives the Sixers’ a solid floor spacer on the outside as well, all while keeping the ball movement up when Simmons is unable to do so.

Henderson and Covington give them solid athletes who have proven themselves apt in regards to covering multiple spots on the perimeter. Henderson is a seasoned veteran with underrated athleticism, even in lieu of a slew of injuries, and compliments the rangy 6-9 Covington seamlessly as his counterpart on the wing.

Simmons and Saric has been a pairing I’ve lauded throughout the article, and their placement here is fairly obvious. Both are capable of creating off the dribble, with Simmons weilding incredibly point guard-esque vision and passing touch alongside his 6-10 frame. Saric is a fluid athlete who spaces the floor at the four spot, while giving the Sixers excellent defensive coverage in switch scenarios coming off of screens.

Throwing Jerami Grant in at the four as he improves his outside shot is also an appealing option, while Luwawu and Thomspon could be serviceable as third wings with a smooth shooting touch if Brown and company deem the facilitating skills of Simmons and Saric adequate enough to function as the head of the offense as the season progresses.

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