Philadelphia 76ers Emerging As Pace Space Pass Legends

What’s So Different This Year?

Much has been made of the change in attitude of the Philadelphia 76ers since Bryan Colangelo has taken over. But to the show-me-don’t-tell-me fans of the Philadelphia 76ers, it’s only been a change of rhetoric. Former Sam Hinkie said virtually nothing, fearing to give away key elements of his strategy and affording an opportunity to another team to take more immediate advantage. Under Bryan Colangelo, he broadcasts the intentions of the team months in advance, but when it’s time for action, his path has been remarkably similar to the path chosen by his predecessor.

The reality is that whether or not the team had changed executives, virtually each of the player transaction so far would have been identical.  This year was simply following a script that was written four years ago.

While the team awaited the first player to arrive who could truly be a difference maker for the franchise, Brett Brown showed remarkable patience and positivity in developing players to fill their roles in the NBA.  Now that the starters are showing up this year, the team has invested heavily on a roster with starting caliber reserves.

But better than upgrading the bench, this is the first season where Brown truly has a roster capable of running his Pace Space and Pass system to its fullest potential.  Pace is the quickness of the NBA team that runs from getting the basketball to making the shot.  Space is placing shooters at sufficient intervals on the floor to force the defense into man coverage, or risk leaving a man open for a shot.  Pass is the ability to distribute the ball to the open man just as his shot opens up.

Simmons, Saric, and Embiid are more than three talented players.  They are athletic enough to play multiple positions for the Philadelphia 76ers.  For a team that is emphasizing Pace Space and Pass, that is the final and important ingredient.

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