The Sixer Sense
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Could the Philadelphia 76ers Make The Playoffs?

By Jaylen Young

Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo during an introduction press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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After this solid off-season, could the Philadelphia 76ers Make The Playoffs?

Three months ago asking the question, “Could the Philadelphia 76ers make the playoffs next year?” would most likely get you a laugh in the face at best. But after the team’s recent events and offseason moves I think we should revisit that question.Let’s start with what made the 76ers so bad last season.

Rebounding:

Last season the 76ers were the worst rebounding team in the NBA. A team cannot expect to be great if they don’t get second chances on offense while giving the other team second chances. The  76ers secured only 41.2 rebounds per game last year and had by far the worst rebounding per game differential at -6.4. The second worst team’s number was -4.7 which was 1.7 rebounds better than the 76ers per game.

Thanks to some new additions to the team though, the 76ers will definitely be a better rebounding team next season. 76ers GM Bryan Colangelo recently signed Gerald Henderson who is one of the best rebounding shooting guards in the league. According to ESPN, Henderson was ranked ninth in the league amongst shooting guards in rebounds per 48 minutes.

The team will also be adding three great rookie rebounders in Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, and Joel Embiid next season. Ben Simmons averaged almost 14 rebounds as a freshman in college per 40 minutes which is an absurd number for someone who will be playing point guard and small forward in the NBA. Dario Saric just came off a season in the Euroleague (a professional league) where he averaged 9.2 rebounds per 36 minutes so I think he will also help the team in the rebounding area. Then there is the 7’2, 260 pound monster that is Joel Embiid who averaged 14 rebounds per 40 minutes in his last college season (freshman year) two years ago. Embiid has became taller and much stronger since he last played so he will probably help the most in the rebounding area if he plays this year even in limited minutes.

Don’t forget about returning sophomore T.J. McConnell who as a rookie posted the fourth best rebounding per 48 minutes number amongst point guards.

With these additions and the improvements of Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel, Richaun Holmes, and Jerami Grant, the team is a very safe bet to be a much better rebounding team than last season.

Defense:

Terrible perimeter defense last year from Isaiah Canaan, Ish Smith, Nik Stauskas, etc. mixed with the bad pick and roll defense and rim protection of Okafor made for a defensive catastrophe. While I don’t think the defense will see an improvement as great as the rebounding, I do think it will be better. With the addition of two athletic beasts in Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Simmons to go along with Robert Covington, Jerami Grant, and Henderson I think the wings should be just fine on defense.

The defense didn’t get any better by adding Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez, but T.J. McConnell is no slouch on defense and fans should be glad he’s returning. Dario Saric can also be a pesky defender at the power forward position with the right amount of effort and we all know what Noel and Holmes can do as far as swatting shots and rim protection. With Embiid coming into the fold all he has to do is stand there with his hands up and the opposition will be scared to challenge him. With those three guys there will always be a guy who can challenge shots at the rim in the game at all times.

Shooting/Spacing:

This is another area where the 76ers will be much better. The 76ers were in the bottom seven last year as far three point percentage (33.9%) while being in the top eight in attempts. That is not a good mix. The 76ers have added a 43.7% three point shooter in Bayless, a 35.3% three point shooter in Henderson, a 37.2% three point shooter in Luwawu, a 40.7% three point shooter in Rodriguez, and a 40.3% three point shooter in Dario Saric. Those five shooters are being added to McConnell, Covington, and Stauskas who are all capable shooters from outside.

A team going from three outside threats to eight is a huge and it will open up guys like Simmons, Okafor, and Embiid’s game. It will open up passing opportunities for Simmons and space for Okafor and Embiid to work down low. I wouldn’t want to be the team trying to guard a tandem of Okafor and Embiid down low one on one that’s for sure. If they try to double either they could kick out to shooters on any part of the floor.

Passing/Point Guard Play:

Last season the 76ers were only 20th in assists per game and had the third worst assist to turnover ratio as a team. The squad committed the second most turnovers per game. This is an area of the game the 76ers have also got better at on paper. Last year the 76ers started the season out giving an undrafted rookie the keys to the offense. That was not a smart decision considering there were two young star big man prospects to develop.

That decision was one of the reasons the team started the season losing 18 game straight. The problem last year was that only a couple players on the team could create for themselves and others. With a new and improved McConnell, Bayless, a former euro MVP and seasoned vet in Rodriguez, Saric who’s a point forward, and Simmons who’s probably the best passer to come out of the draft in recent years, the ball handling and passing duties looks to be very well taken care of.

In only three months time, the 76ers have upgraded themselves in almost every part of the game. While they will still need to work out some chemistry and experience issues, the near future is certainly much brighter.

Next: Game Recap: Warriors vs 76ers

While I can’t tell you if the 76ers will make the playoffs next year, I can say confidently that their probability of doing so has skyrocketed dramatically.