The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Can Philadelphia 76ers Match Eagles 2016 Success?

By Bret Stuter

Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) is greeted by center Joel Embiid (L) during a press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) is greeted by center Joel Embiid (L) during a press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Saric’s Ceiling

Dario Saric ceiling is complicated from the amount of quality minutes the team can afford to reward him with.

Look no further than the 76ers own Elton Brand to lay a high ceiling for newcomer Saric.  In that rookie year on the Chicago Bulls, Brand averaged 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists on 37 minutes of play per game

Can Saric duplicate that?

He probably won’t get those 37 minutes of play.  But if the team gets him in for 24 minutes of play per game, I can definitely see 15 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.45 assists per game from the new power forward.

In fact, Saric could outplay Brand.  Brand did all that on 48.2 percent shooting from the floor, and avoided the three-pointers.   Saric brings a 50 percent shot and a 40 percent three-point shot with him to the US.  And he’s been tested by the Olympics, and was one of the stars of the Croatian national team.

If he did outperform Brand’s rookie season, nobody would be happier than Elton Brand himself.  Paying it forward is why he has returned to the Philadelphia 76ers.  A veteran encouraging younger teammates is priceless in today’s NBA.

But the team runs from the point, and that is where we’ll find rookie Ben Simmons.