Despite a difficult season, these returning players are young and improving. But most of all, they are undervalued players for the Philadlephia 76ers
The roster of the Philadelphia 76ers will be a roster filled with competition, challenge, and intrigue. While many fall into the trap of “it’s always greener on the other side of the fence, I’m convinced that a number of returning players will not only fill significant minutes this year, but will do so in such a way as to compete for a starting role.
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The Philadelphia 76ers, until now, have not only been a team of development, but of experimentation. The team has played Robert Covington at the power forward, the small forward, and the shooting guard spots. Both Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel have played both power forward and center roles for the team. Richaun Holmes has played center and power forward as well. Even Jerami Grant has taken turns at power forward and small forward.
While the team has experimented with players in various roles, they have added incredible experience to the young men with each new manned on an NBA court. Experience which accumulates exponentially. That “360 degree” view of the basketball court, earned by placing players out of position to fill holes last season, gives a greater understanding and court awareness this year.
There is a great deal of talent coming to the team this season, that is undenied. What is debatable is the role of returning players to this team. I think it will be more significant than many expect. But why?
Next: Brown Knows What He Has
Brown Knows What He Has
Like it or not, Brown has invested at a minimum a year getting to know his players: their strengths, weaknesses, their discipline, their buttons.
When the team was facing a season without a true point guard, and had a hot undrafted prospect in T.J. McConnell, Brown went with the veteran Isaiah Canaan. When the team had a true power forward in rookie Richaun Holmes, but a center converting to power forward in returning player Nerlens Noel, Brown went with Noel.
Brown understands that there is a great deal of pressure in entering the NBA as a rookie, and he is the type of coach who will not set up a young player to fail. That means he will hold a player on the bench until they show sufficient confidence, skill, and fortitude to start. Some seldom got to that point last season.
But conversely, each player on the Philadelphia 76ers roster last season, with the exception of part-timers Christian Wood, Sonny Weems, and Phil Pressey, earned at least one start under Brown. In fact, eleven players for the Philadelphia 76ers earned more than ten starts last year. In stark contrast, the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors had just seven players reach that plateau. The Cleveland Cavaliers as well as the Los Angeles Lakers had just eight to do so. Even the Brooklyn Nets had just nine players do so.
That diversity of starters has given many of the Philadelphia 76ers young players a strong focus of what parts of their games need emphasis on this off-season. With that focus, the players can arrive this year with stronger skills, improved work habits, and a true awareness of their coaches’ expectations. All of these factors will give them an immediate edge as the players are assembled onto this team’s roster.
Next: Sixers were recognized by the NBA last year
Philadelphia 76ers Were Recognized By The NBA Last Year
The Philadelphia 76ers were better than their reputation last year. Despite the struggles to keep a healthy consistent roster on the floor all year, there were enough players who excelled brightly.
Both Jahlil Okafor and Jerami Grant were selected to participate in Team USA Select in 2016. This is a prestigious honor for young basketball stars, to experience the preparation for the Olympics, and to connect with NBA veterans around the league, veterans who may someday become teammates, friends, and even mentors. That type of connection for two young and very talented prospects will prove to be priceless for both Okafor and Grant going forward.
But there are more players on the team who are recognized for their superior play on the court. These are players who listened intently to their coach’s instructions, practiced hard, took advantage of playing time, and who performed in such a way that they stood out among their peers.
That’s the type of player who finds his way onto a basketball court, playing productive minutes, and constantly improving. The “typical” NBA veteran plays at his peak performance in years four through nine. Right now, the average returning 76ers player is just over his second year of play. That means this year should be a far better season for many of the team’s returners. Layering that on top of some players who truly stood out to the NBA means that these young men already have a compelling argument to get playing time.
Next: Steady As She Goes
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
Nature Abhors A Vacuum
The team no longer has field general Ish Smith to take the shot under pressure, or the familiar cheer of “CANAANBALL” following a clutch three pointer by Isaiah Canaan, so two of the top five scorers of the team are no longer with the group.
While the team has a very optimistic view of Jahlil Okafor this year on offense, the real burst may come from Robert Covington, whose season ended with the swiss army knife veteran of the 76ers putting up 18.1 points per game in April 2016. In many trade rumors, Covington’s name mysteriously slipped into the demands from the tentative trading partner, and for good reason. Covington is extremely versatile, can perform both offensively and defensively, and is a solid player who is willing to start or come off the bench. Last season , he appeared in 67 games for the Sixers, and started in 49 of those games.
Covington is one of those players who will benefit tremendously by the presence of Ben Simmons on the court. His accuracy at the perimeter is very dependent upon getting clean looks. As he became an offensive threat for the Philadelphia 76ers, his accuracy dropped. With Simmons, the point forward will attract plenty of defensive attention, but has that sweet pass to the open player as the shot opens. In that scenario, Covington becomes deadly accurate. If the shot is not open, Covington can dish the ball into the post for Okafor, or back to Simmons to place the ball elsewhere. If the team opts a tall ball lineup, Covington may land some playing time at the shooting guard position.
So too, both Hollis Thompson and Jerami Grant – both falling just under ten points a game last year, will have the opportunity to score much more in this new season. Thompson had the purest three-point shot on the team, picking up three points on 38 percent of his attempts. While Grant needs to work on his shot arsenal, he has an uncanny ability to pick up points on alley oops to the net – another attribute which will improve under Simmons.
Next: The Philadelphia 76ers Will Get Richer in 2017
In the end, what lineup was with the Philadelphia 76ers is no longer. This roster has pulled up the ramp to development of young players. Now it’s developing a cohesive team that understands what the head coach is trying to accomplish. The expectation for the team to run a completely new five man roster is a possibility, but not a path walked by Brett Brown before.
This team will rotate players early in the season, getting a feel for who can do what on the basketball court. As players improve, they’ll earn they way into more playing time, . That’s how it works in Philadelphia. Brown rewards experience with starts, effort with playing time.
So far the results are pretty good. Now the team simply needs to win.