Philadelphia 76ers: 5 Starting Lineup Options

 Lineup No. 5

• PG TJ McConnell
• SG Gerald Henderson
• SF Ben Simmons
• PF Joel Embiid
• C Nerlens Noel

This is the all-defense team in a sense, and another method of going big if Brett Brown were to look into doing so. Noel and Embiid would provide their two most consistent rim protectors underneath the basket, while Simmons is mobile to the point that he can guard almost any position in a flexible manner.

TJ McConnell finally makes his way into the rotation here for the exact same reason — defense. He’s a solid playmaker in his own right and a smart player with the ball in his hands, but his unyielding effort on the defensive side of the ball is what truly sets him apart for a lot of the team. He’ll provide the same role Sergio Rodriguez or, to an extent, Jerryd Bayless would alongside Simmons, and has the defensive effort to cap off a rotation based almost solely around that.

The offensive side of the ball isn’t all for naught here, though. Simmons has already developed a rapport with McConnell during Summer League play, and Henderson’s scoring prowess on the perimeter would be as valuable as in any other rotation. It’s worth noting that the veteran wing is the only player outside of Simmons to appear on all five of the proposed lineups.

Simmons would still run the show for the most part, finding his backcourt mates off of quick cuts to the basket or running the pick-and-roll with either big in the rotation. For the most part, Philly’s offensive scheme will be centered around allowing Simmons to work himself and his teammates into a rhythm in almost any setting, and that doesn’t change with a larger rotation.

Embiid’s high upside remains a factor here, and his ability to step out and score from the high post when needed is a solid compliment to have alongside a player who will spend the majority of his time under the basket in Noel. Embiid is attempting to fill the mold of a Tim Duncan much like Okafor is, and has all the athletic tools on both end to do so at an even more impressive level.

All in all, Brett Brown will have a number of choices he can turn to to decide this year’s starting rotation. The arrival of their new pieces opens up far more options that they have ever had in the past while still being able to put a respectable unit on the floor, and it’s quite likely that we see Brett Brown toy around with different possibilities as the team continues it’s upward marathon.

Next: 3 Veterans the Sixers Could Still Pursue

This will be an all-encompassing effort as Brown looks to find out not only which pieces coincide the best on the court, but also which pieces the team wants to retain in a long term role. Their production early on in different settings could determine which big gets traded, or how much playing time their younger perimeter players, such as Timothe Luwawu, actually receive. It should be an intriguing evolution to watch as the season begins.