The Sixer Sense
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T.J. McConnell’s jumper could make or break his season

By Christopher Kline

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 02: T.J. McConnell #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers gets a pick from Shawn Long #36 and goes to the basket against the Toronto Raptors during NBA game action at Air Canada Centre on April 2, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 02: T.J. McConnell #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers gets a pick from Shawn Long #36 and goes to the basket against the Toronto Raptors during NBA game action at Air Canada Centre on April 2, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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T.J. McConnell‘s most glaring weakness has always been his jumper, and it’s something the Philadelphia 76ers point guard needs to fix.

Few players have captured the hearts of Philadelphia 76ers fans like T.J. McConnell has. Formerly an undrafted free agent who seemed destined for European ball, McConnell scrapped his way through Summer League and into a prominent role with a Sixers team that was in desperate need of guard help.

Now Philadelphia has opened it’s competitive window, with the raw talent needed to grab a playoff spot in a weakened Eastern Conference. The Sixers’ rotational dynamics have shifted as well, with Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz ushering in a new era for Brett Brown’s offense.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

After winning over the starting spot last season, McConnell will have to fight for backup minutes come October. Fultz and Simmons will carry the bulk of the ball handling load in the starting rotation, while Jerryd Bayless and Dario Saric will be competing with T.J. for those same duties off the bench.

If McConnell struggles, there’s a chance that he could lose his spot altogether.

It’s still difficult to see McConnell flaming out like that. He was voted Teammate of the Year by his peers last season, and his leadership role in the locker room is something that Brett Brown clearly covets.

He still needs to improve, though, and one facet of his game is in dire need of an upgrade: shooting.

After hitting on 34.8 percent of his 1.1 attempts per game during his rookie season, McConnell’s 3-point shot took a somewhat expected step back last season. He took fewer per game, while his percentage dropped to 20 percent overall — a lackluster number that’s easy to comprehend when watching his form.

McConnell is undersized and not much of an athlete by NBA standards, which means his quaky release makes it difficult for him to improve as a shooter — especially off the bounce — without some significant changes to his mechanics.

Upping his proficiency is, however, within the realm of possibility. It’s something he has talked about doing for quite some time now, while focusing on a more fluid release and subjecting himself to an offseason full of constant shooting can work wonders in a league that now revolves around the outside shot.

We’ve seen plenty of centers add shooting to their repertoire over the course of an offseason or two, with Brook Lopez being a notable example of such. Knowing how hard McConnell works, some form of improvement seems inevitable — it’s just a matter of how much he improves.

A lot of McConnell’s success next season will hinge upon whether or not he poses any sort of reputable threat from deep. Given his quickness off the bounce, adding a jumper — especially a pull-up — to his arsenal would force defenses to cover him out to the perimeter. That opens up more driving lanes, while forcing the defense to plan for both his passing and scoring.

McConnell’s one physical advantage is speed, and shooting helps him spread the defense and leverage that against opposing teams. Quick decision making has carried McConnell thus far, and adding yet another wrinkle to his game inherently increases his ability to pick apart defenses in surgical fashion with crisp, pinpointed passes.

We’ll also see McConnell sharing the court with some of the other ball handlers next season. Simmons, Fultz, Bayless and Saric will all have chances to run the offense, which means some plays will force McConnell off the ball. Being able to spot up and work himself into Brett Brown’s offense as a shooter — rather than solely relying on slashing — would be a nice boost to the Sixers’ second unit.

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We shouldn’t expect T.J. to shoot lights out next season, but some form of consistency is attainable. He has the high basketball I.Q. needed to succeed in virtually any offensive setup. In order for him to excel, though, he needs to pose a significant threat outside of basic playmaking prowess — and that’s what a jump shot would allow him to do.