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
When you look at the Sixers’ current roster, or at least how it projects in the future, it’s not difficult to understand just how effective they could be from a small ball perspective. Once you get past the fact that they need to move on from one of their excessively plentiful big men, the athletic prowess and positional versatility that Sam Hinkie and then Colangelo have put into this rotation is fairly striking.
Ben Simmons was one of the most prolific rebounders at the college level, averaging upwards of 12 per game while still being utilized as the main facilitator at times during his tenure at LSU. His court vision is possibly the most developed of anybody in the 2016 Draft class, and standing at 6-10 he has the quickness and strength needed to cover any position from center to shooting guard on the defensive side of the ball. It seems likely that he will be the best player on the court for the Sixers on day one, and he could legitimately operate from the five spot as the main ball handler on the court if necessary.
In addition to Simmons, the potential of Dario Saric coming over next season, if not this season, gives them another versatile piece to work with. He runs the court with impressive fluidity and has solely improved upon and already reliable outside shot during his extended stay overseas. While there’s a chance he could get pushed out of minutes by Simmons in a traditional rotation, running out a small ball lineup with Simmons at the five and Saric at the four could put opposing defense on their heels.
Both are capable facilitators when called upon, and have the defensive mobility to guard multiple spots on the floor while still rebounding at a respectable rate. Simmons has the upside of an improved Draymond Green, and Saric could be ideal compliment to run alongside him.
In terms of their perimeter depth, albeit lacking in some aspects, they do have some solid pieces to work with as their development continues. Robert Covington is a rangy athlete with a smooth three-point shot, which would allow him to easily slide into the rotation alongside Simmons and Saric at either the three or two spot in an effective manner. He helps space the floor even further for a team that has lacked that luxury when running out consistently traditional lineups, and gives them another player who can handle the ball and keep the offense moving around the court with excellent rapidity.
Alongside Covington, Brown has the likes of Jerami Grant, Timothe Luwawu, Gerald Henderson, Nik Stauskas, and Hollis Thompson to incorporate as well. Grant is a fluid athlete who could fill a valuable gap both defensively and in transition for Philly, while Luwawu and Henderson are skilled 3-and-D players who could mold seamlessly into the rotation. Thompson and Stauskas give them more shooters to work with as well, further expanding the plethora of options Brett Brown could fall back on with an ever-evolving rotation if he were to incorporate a small ball set. In addition, Furkan Korkmaz will be making his way to Philadelphia next season in all likelihood.
Another benefit of having playmakers like Simmons and Saric up front comes at the expense of the Sixers’ point guards. They have three willing passers who could easily cap off the rotation in Sergio Rodriguez, Jerryd Bayless, and T.J. McConnell who could help them space the floor further and give them another willing passer to boot. However, if they place enough trust into Simmons and Saric as the primary playmakers, they could further impose their defensive capabilities by adding another skilled wing such as Luwawu to the end of the rotation while still retaining ample ball movement.
Richaun Holmes and Christian Wood, if he’s retained, are other solid athletes who could play alongside Simmons in the frontcourt as well, only expanding the possibilities.
Philadelphia’s rotation will likely see a lot of change over the course of the next few seasons, but their core pieces of Simmons and eventually Saric seem relatively guaranteed in some capacity. With the league changing as quickly as it is, throwing out a rotation from time to time that matches up well with the most elite offensive and defensive groupings in the league is certainly a reasonable idea.
Small ball spaces the floor far better than anything we’ve seen from Philly in recent years, and also highlights the strengths of some of their most important young pieces for the foreseeable future. Having the versatility that the Sixers currently have as a viable weapon in the playbook is becoming an incredible bonus in today’s league, and Brett Brown would be almost foolish not to utilize it.
They have the ability to of going big and doing so with some success, but that’s simply not the direction the league is heading. While it may not be the rotation they start out each game with, periodically relying on a smaller rotation could yield plentiful results for the Sixers as they begin to recognize their long term plans.
Next: Setting Up Their Core for Success
The Sixers not only have the personnel needed to execute with a less sizable group on the floor, but the style of play that would likely follow a smaller lineup is one that plays to the strengths of Philly’s most important players outside of of traditional bigs.
Allowing Simmons to get out and push the pace as a primary creator would be exceptional for his development. He’s extremely quick for his size and has already displayed the fact that his ball handling skills are transferable to the next level during his summer league play thus far. When he gets moving in transition, it’s tough to find a defender capable of staying in front of him with the size and speed he possesses. He’s much to agile for a traditional center or power forward to keep pace with, while small forwards and shooting guards are likely to be overpowered and inadequately prepared to match his overall momentum.
A free-flowing offense that puts Simmons in fast break scenarios where he can find teammates on the drive and look for his own offensive more aggressively would maximize his production from an early age, while also allowing him to fine tune the most important aspects of his game.
In addition to Simmons, a number of other core fixtures in the Sixers’ rotation would be placed well with position to exceed. Dario Saric moving around the court as a secondary passer and reliable athlete both off of screens and in transition would avoid his skill set being overshadowed by that of Simmons.
Philly’s perimeter pieces would also be well suited to running the court at a higher clip. The most developed areas of Timothe Luwawu’s game come when he’s sprinting the court in long strides, while giving Covington and Grant room to operate in the open floor could dramatically increase their already improving production.
Henderson would be given more space to create off the bounce, while their shooters would be given more open looks when playing with a great sense of urgency and increased play movement as well, while their point guards could find new avenues of production as off-ball scorers.
While the Sixers’ primary bigs wouldn’t be featured all that much when Philly did revert to small ball, the vast majority of the rotation would be placed in a better position to operate. They’re an athletic, youthful core that can run the court with consistent vigor at a rate not many teams are capable, while the influx of spacing could neutralize their shooting woes that have often been prevalent in games over the past couple of seasons.
The Sixers have the players to do it, and do it at a high level, all while playing in a manner the truly increases the level of production from some of their best players.
Next: Turning Defense Into Offense
The Sixers’ small ball lineup would also translate well to the defensive side ball. With a rotation comprised of fluid athletes capable of covering multiple positions, the Sixers could excel in defending off of switches and would rarely get caught in a mismatch that was overly detrimental to the team.
Both Simmons and Saric are capable of stretching their defense out to the perimeter effectively. While they may not find their most consistent success when forced out there, the ability to come off of screens and rotate onto the opposition’s point guard without giving up an easy look is essential in today’s NBA.
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s versatility in defending the Warriors was key to their near-victory in the Western Conference Finals, while a perfected set of defensive rotations and impressive perimeter coverage by Tristan Thompson was an vital part of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ comeback in the Finals. To cap it off, Kevin Love‘s outside defense on Stephen Curry‘s final shot in Game 7 was a defining moment not only in the series, but in a sense, for the game of basketball itself and the direction it is currently heading.
Simmons and Saric are both far more capable defensive players on the perimeter than both Thompson and Love, and could give the Sixers a massive edge on the side of the ball that Brett Brown preaches on a daily basis.
In addition to the frontcourt’s potential flexibility, the backcourt would also be a massive factor in the success of the defense. Luwawu made his way into the draft as an ultra-athletic wing defender who is capable of getting into passing lanes and spearheading transition opportunities, while both Henderson, Covington and Grant are capable of alternating assignments based on matchups.
Small ball could, ideally, allow the Sixers to overpower the opposing team on the perimeter and out-finesse them in the post, allowing them to stave off easy buckets coming off of picks and utilize their defense as a catalyst for fast break offense rather than a stationary protection of the rim with exploitable holes both inside and out, especially when Okafor is in the game.
Next: Retaining Their Rebounding Presence
One of the most likely arguments against a small ball rotation is going to be rebounding. People will likely point to the falsely perceived rebounding success of Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, while assuming that Simmons and company is far from capable of retaining any such advantage.
More from The Sixer Sense
- 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
- 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
- 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
- Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
- Sixers Podcast: Danny Green returns + James Harden bombshell
Noel, averaging just upwards of 8 boards per game, was a fine rebounder last season. However, when you looking at Okafor, especially on the defensive end, he struggled to a much greater extent than expected. Okafor was often out of position and at times no physical enough on the boards, which led him to only averaging around 4 to 5 defensive boards per contest, despite having a more than sturdy build underneath the basket.
The Sixers had some solid rebounding players in Covington and Grant as well, mostly due to effort, but they never were exceptional in that category from a team perspective. Games where the Sixers were totally outmatched on the boards came in droves, and lacking size underneath clearly wasn’t where that problem was derived.
With their small ball rotation, it’s tough to see a major dip in production. Simmons was one of the most productive rebounders in college basketball at LSU, often putting on good showings against other solid rebounding talents such as Damian Jones and Alex Poythress in the SEC. Simmons has the leaping ability, quickness, and strength necessitated at 6’10” to maneuver his way around the paint and rebound at a high clip with little problem at the next level. He’s going to be a legitimate triple double threat from day one, and shouldn’t give them much of a dropoff in that category.
Saric likely won’t be a great rebounder, but the aid of a lengthier rotation around him and solid effort on the wings should keep their totals on that side of the ball fairly respectable. They likely won’t dominate the boards by any stretch, but detailing the Sixers’ starting rotation as a sizable upgrade is a little generous at times considering Simmons will likely be a focal point in any improvements made.
Next: The Evolution of the NBA
10 years ago, the idea of running out a small ball rotation woudn’t have crossed my mind. In reality, it probably wouldn’t have crossed my mind prior to the Warriors signing Steve Kerr as their head coach either. But Golden State has truly changed the dynamic of the NBA and how the most effective basketball is played.
The Cavs’ best basketball was played with Richard Jefferson on the court rather than Kevin Love during the Finals, while the evolution of the Warriors’ death lineup has changed how teams have had to game plan heading into those matchups. A gritty group of athletes who neutralize their size disadvantage through savvy playmaking and superior athleticism is a proven weapon, and the Sixers are now fully capable of utilizing it.
As floor spacing and versatility have become ever so important in today’s league, the Sixers seem to be the one team that has gotten substantially worse in those areas. Their two big men sets bogged down the rotations and limited the work they could do on the inside, while leaving expansive gaps in their ability to cover the floor on the defensive end as well.
A rotation revolving around Simmons and a group of floor spacers could help allieviate a number of those problems. It won’t be their starting rotation, but it gives them an option that allows them to put their most impressive young talents in motion and shoot the ball at a clip much higher than they’ve been able to in years past.
This is the direction the league seems to be heading with the sheer momentum the Warriors’ movement has gained, and Philadelphia could be well on their way to establishing their prominence in that transition as we speak.
Next: The Lineup
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.
More from Sixers News
- 3 Sixers players who could help Team USA Basketball
- 76ers 2k24 ratings: 3 most underrated players on Philadelphia roster
- 76ers head coach Nick Nurse bares lofty plans for Paul Reed this season
- Grade the Trade: 76ers swap Tobias Harris for superstar PG in mock deal
- Breaking Down Bombshell Report on Sixers Star James Harden
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.
Next: The Sixers' Identity
Philadelphia’s main goal under Bryan Colangelo has been establishing a team identity and really highlighting what direction the franchise is set to take moving forwards. With Ben Simmons now the cornerstone of what has been an otherwise hazy rebuilding process after Sam Hinkie’s stint with the team, building portions of the game plan around the Sixers’ newfound versatility could be a massive step towards attaining their goals.
The Sixers have been steadfast in their search for a place to unload either Nerlens Noel or Jahlil Okafor. Their rotation won’t be nearly as a big man-heavy as it currently is by the time they reach legitimate competition in the East, and running their system like it will be would be a noteworthy mistake.
Whether it’s for extended periods of time or only a few stretches per contest, the Sixers should undoubtedly look to implement small ball into their plan of action. Allowing Simmons and company to run the court and utilize the full scope of their talents in a spaced out, up-tempo environment could be crucial for both their development and the success of the team to some extent.
Next: Dario Saric Says He's Coming to America
They have the opportunity to outmatch teams in a manner that they haven’t been able to for years now, which could lead to both an increased win total and an uptick in confidence around the organization from the top down.