The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers: Jahlil Okafor Enigma May Be Unsolvable

By Bret Stuter

Dec 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) and head coach Brett Brown against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the 76ers 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) and head coach Brett Brown against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the 76ers 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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April 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) moves the ball againsat Los Angeles Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) and center DeAndre Jordan (6) during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
April 25, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz guard George Hill (3) moves the ball againsat Los Angeles Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) and center DeAndre Jordan (6) during the second half in game five of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

Step three: Add complimentary skillset to roster

As much as I hate to say it, the Philadelphia 76ers have only made one move to help Jahlil Okafor. On one hand, the team traded for a legitimate point guard in Ish Smith at December 2015. By the end of February 2016, Okafor was on the bench.

On the other hand, for a first round top three pick, the team really hasn’t done much to help him succeed. He carried the team as a 19 year-old rookie center. He didn’t have a true starting center until December 2015, and fell to injury in February 2016.

Complimentary player

Since that time, he has fought a two-way battle of health issues and competing for a roster spot. This team cannot put the young man onto an island going forward.

If the team needs space pace and passing for the core team, what does a second lineup need to run with Jahlil Okafor at center? Well, that actually has a rather similar set up, with one exception: pace.  Okafor is not the first player up and down the court.  He’s a basket to basket player.  He defends (well is assigned the defending of) the hoop , and he plays offense in the paint with his back to the basket.