The Sixer Sense
Fansided

The Undervalued Veterans Of Philadelphia 76ers

By Bret Stuter

Apr 10, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown shouts at his players during the second quarter of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown shouts at his players during the second quarter of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick /

Steady As She Goes

The Philadelphia 76ers have landed a very good draft crop from the 2016 NBA Draft, probably a better draft class than hoped for. While the team was certain to select Ben Simmons with the first overall pick, the sting of losing out on Brandon Ingram was partially assuaged by the surprising availability of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot at 24 and Furkan Korkmaz at 26.

While Korkmaz will be stashed overseas this season, Luwawu brings a young ferocity that fires up his passionate defense – a defense sorely needed on the team right now.  But, he is raw.

So too is Simmons, as a point forward, raw.  It may be that his game is polished.  It may be that his moves remind spectators of the Harlem Globetrotters circus style moves.  But to a team, to his coach, to the results of wins and losses, it’s just now being absorbed, planned for and around.

In order for the team to optimize the learning process of both Simmons and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, head coach Brett Brown will need to oscillate playing time where they get exposed to the NBA, and bench time where they will be able to absorb, process, learn from, and integrate that knowledge into their play.

That same process which the team experienced a year previously with Jahlil Okafor and Richaun Holmes.   In the end, Okafor played in 53 games and started 48, while Holmes appeared in 51 games and started just one.

Next: Nature Abhors A Vacuum