The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Why Philadelphia 76ers Are Improving

By Bret Stuter

Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) and forward Robert Covington (33) shoot at the basket from the second floor balcony during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) and forward Robert Covington (33) shoot at the basket from the second floor balcony during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie speaks to the media during a press conference to introduce Jerry Colangelo (not pictured) as special advisor before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie speaks to the media during a press conference to introduce Jerry Colangelo (not pictured) as special advisor before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Liars, Damned Liars, and Statisticians

For starters, there is plenty of ground to cover to arrive on the optimistic side of the street. Beginning the season, the Philadelphia 76ers were an abysmal 92.8 points per game. As of December 5, 2016, the team is up to 97.9 points per game.  That’s 5.1 points better, and still without Noel Simmons, and merely a three game “cameo” appearance by Jerryd Bayless.

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    • Secondly, the team has been working at the fundamentals with some success. With Ben Simmons anticipated arrival, the team needed perimeter shooting. In the 2016-2017 season, the Philadelphia 76ers are among the top ten teams of the NBA in shooting the three pointer – currently at 36.6 percent accuracy. There’s more. While the team is still struggling on the offensive boards, they clock-in tied for eleventh best on the defensive boards with 34.4 rebounds per game.

    Assistance!

    In assists, the team is running at a 22.6 assists per game clip, good enough for eleventh in the NBA. 7.8 steals per game is good enough for 17th place in the NBA. The team is at 5.6 blocks per game, good enough for ninth place in the NBA.

    There are areas which need plenty of improvement. Offensively, the team needs to average better than 101 points per game. Defensively, the team needs to cut off their opponents at 105 points per game (currently 107.8). The team needs to improve offensive rebounds, turnovers, and consistency.

    But this is a team on the mend and on the rise.  Beyond that, there is more at work with this team.  Lets see if we can narrate more reasons for hope…