The Sixer Sense
Fansided

What can we learn during Philadelphia 76ers preseason?

By Bret Stuter

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 26: Head coach Brett Brown (R) and assistant coach Lloyd Pierce of the Philadelphia 76ers look on against the Indiana Pacers during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 26, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the 76ers 107-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 26: Head coach Brett Brown (R) and assistant coach Lloyd Pierce of the Philadelphia 76ers look on against the Indiana Pacers during a game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 26, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the 76ers 107-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using the photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Roster KPIs

So the next priority to getting the lineup into a groove is to setting up the priority of bringing players in off the bench, and which players work in which role?  To fans in the stands, the rhythm of the game focuses attention on the scoreboard, and the player individual statistics.

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    • But to coaches and to season impacts, a wise person looks for the order of rotations.  Are they consistent? Does the order vary?  In short, fans should focus on these two areas for roster impacts.

    KPI III: Which player(s) are first in off the bench?
    KPI IV: Which player gets the most looks in differing lineups?

    Rotation and lineups

    It all starts with point man Ben Simmons. Why? No matter how resolute the argument in your mind of where he slots on the five role lineup, the Philadelphia 76ers haven’t a clue. They have already admitted as such when the response to “Who will Ben defend?” has consistently been “Whoever defends him”.

    So who will that be? Preseason games will be the first clues. When the team gets the NBA trending down, you can bet head coach Brett Brown will try to counter with the optimal lineup. That means preseason games will get a variety of looks in terms of player combinations.  And that leads to the second KPI.

    Players earn their time

    Any player who rocks in training and at the gym will push for playing time. Unfortunately, that order as already been scripted to some degree. So if, say Markelle Fultz, plays lights out in the practice gym, he will likely see a variety of combinations around him to see which group optimizes his talent.

    In the course of “starter” versus “reserve”, it seldom matters once the season starts for a Brett Brown coached team.  So don’t lie awake at night nor hit the comments section with tirades just yet.  If you check this teams track record, by the end of game 82, virtually the entire roster contributes in some way.

    Another curious sidebar is the emphasis of this team. Will the team try to mix/blend offensive and defensive players on the same lineup? Or will the team specialize a defensive package and offensive packages?