The Sixer Sense
Fansided

5 reasons why irrelevance of Philadelphia 76ers Jahlil Okafor is exaggerated.

By Bret Stuter

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers is seen at the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the San Antonio Spurs during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers is seen at the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the San Antonio Spurs during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA,PA – MARCH 6 : NBA Hall Of Famer Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers signs autographs for fans prior to the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Wells Fargo Center on March 6, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA – MARCH 6 : NBA Hall Of Famer Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers signs autographs for fans prior to the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Wells Fargo Center on March 6, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Reason V: The NBA game is ever evolving

The NBA was once a game played almost entirely near the basket.  If you have not watched many NBA games prior to 2000, you missed some of the best basketball ever played.  The yesteryear games were not just superstars.

Michael Jordan was an NBA elite. But those bad boys from Detroit knew how to bump and whack and keep him in check enough to win.  The Pistons were not better players. But Jordan was just one against many.  Against those odds, the Detroit Pistons had a distinct advantage.

Changes keep on changing

But the game has indeed changed. NBA centers are not so durable. NBA guards are plentiful. And the NBA changed the rules to allow the three-point shot – mainly by backcourt players. And that is where we are today.

But the game continues to change. We’ve been operating for some time that defenders of the basket are the center.  But with the addition of Markelle Fultz, could the 76ers change that paradigm?

Fultz, and others, may fix Okafor’s defense

Fultz is a quick-footed fast-handed guard.  As such, he can shadow virtually anyone driving to the basket. As a result, he remains in position to block shots that many cannot get to.  Does he become part of the Okafor defense solution?  Why not? Defense, after all is said and done, is the team responsibility. As the team loads up on more talent, why not innovate?

Next: Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid needs to learn Skyhook

Ultimately, nobody knows the future. We project, forecast, wager, suspect, and hope. But nobody knows. While there certainly are areas to improve on virtually each NBA player, fans have become surly and unruly where Jahlil Okafor is concerned