The Sixer Sense
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Who Is the Triple-Double Machine on the Philadelphia 76ers?

By Rusty Gorelick

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Ben Simmons (LSU) reacts as he walks off stage after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Ben Simmons (LSU) reacts as he walks off stage after being selected as the number one overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Triple-double machines have made their presence known in the modern NBA for the first time this season. Do the Philadelphia 76ers have one?

Obviously, the Philadelphia 76ers have one of the best young cores in the NBA, featuring Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Dario Saric, as well as some good draft picks in the next few years. Fans have yet to see if Simmons can dominate a game, and the sample size for Embiid is still small. Saric has thrived after the All-Star break, but he still has room for improvement. The 76ers are readying to become a true positionless team when they’re fully healthy, which could make for some interesting stat lines for some players.

Joel Embiid is a decent idea for the Sixers’ triple-double machine of the future, but that title belongs to Ben Simmons, since Embiid isn’t a great passer and the concept of an average of 10 blocks per game seems preposterous. Brett Brown has previously said Simmons will play point guard for the team, which will lead to a guaranteed mismatch if Brown plays two other big men at the same time.

Simmons averaged 19.2 points and 11.8 rebounds in his one season at LSU. For the college game, those are some sensational stats. If he starts out at point guard for the 76ers, expect his college mark of 4.8 assists to rise. The Australian’s assist stats would have been higher during his time at LSU if he had been the first-choice point guard, and if he had decent teammates on his team. Once he gets going in the Sixers’ uniform, he will have teammates who will be able to finish the plays he makes.

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One pattern that many people have noticed about the NBA’s premiere triple-double machine, Russell Westbrook, is that he is probably the best player in the league in transition.

The Sixers are a fast-paced team who always try to run, and Simmons’ 6-10, 250 pound frame will thrive in the role of fast-break point guard. Simmons, similar to Westbrook, will be the type of player to start his own fast break off a rebound and try to go coast-to-coast.

Teams will be weary of his ability to pass in transition from the beginning, so once he establishes his ability to attack the basket and go left and right, opponents will end up guessing which will be to Simmons’ benefit.

Since the All-Star break, Dario Saric has asserted himself as a point forward similar to Simmons. Though Saric has a better shot from deep than Simmons, the Aussie wins the nomination for Philly’s potential triple-double machine due to his superior athleticism.

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If the Sixers can add a few guards who can shoot from 3-point range in the draft and free agency, then it will be pretty easy for players to get triple-doubles with all the offensive threats that would be on the roster.

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Simmons gets the nod as the favorite for the perennial triple-double player due to his athleticism, potential for mismatches, and ability to put up good numbers in college without quality teammates. Even if Simmons’ jump shot doesn’t develop like LeBron’s did early in his career, fans should remember that Magic Johnson‘s lack of a reliable jumper didn’t hold him back from dominance.