After a season of growing familiarity, Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot knows how to play in the “Sixer System”.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot arrived raw to the Philadelphia 76ers last season. Raw, and energetic. So raw that he rarely saw playing time, despite playing for head coach Brett Brown who prides himself in involving every player. The young guard needed minutes, lots of minutes, and there were too few opportunities for him in the NBA.
You see, he was so very raw.
Brown says he really likes how Luwawu-Cabarrot has bottled up reckless abandon in a young athlete's body. Lets him play through mistakes.
— brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) March 20, 2017
Smooth the rough edges
But over time, the rough corners were smoothed over. Foul trouble dissipated. As the season matured, so did TLC. Playing time became more regular. As the minutes improved, so did the offense. In fact, TLC had and incredible month in April 2017. In those six games, he averaged 18.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
Those are impressive numbers, for a rookie. This year, he is familiar with the team and the team knows him. So what can we expect from TLC round II?
Reason I: He is fearless on defense
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is not just a warm body to throw onto the basketball court. In fact, he is the opposite. His ability to defend is not dependent upon dominating a lesser opponent. In fact, TLC is an equal opportunity defender.
Here he is defending Minnesota Timberwolf Kris Dunn coast to coast.
He is constant motion, with that huge wingspan creating nightmares for players trying to drive the ball past him.
Head coach Brett Brown loves two-way players, and much of the credit for Robert Covington’s value to the team should be given to the way Brown coached him into that dual-threat role he now excels at.
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But I daresay Luwawu-Cabarrot is even more natural at defense. He loves to get within range of the ball-handler and start working those hands to deflect, block, redirect, or knock loose that basketball. At first, he drew plenty of fouls. Now? He has cut his fouls way back to a manageable level.
Reason II: He is one of the best off-ball guards on the team
Luwawu-Cabarrot is fluid on the basketball court. He just knows how to move to get into position instinctively. Part wide receiver, part ballet dancer, he is very efficient at getting to where he needs to be.
When he has the ball, he focuses on scoring. When he does not have the ball, his focus is setting himself, and the team, up to score. TLC is not a greedy player. He will pass out of a double-team. He will drive the ball to the basket to pull defenders in, then pass back out to an open three-point shot.
But he is also quite adept at screens, pick and rolls, and kickouts
and this play.
His wing span not only enhances his defense, but it gives him enough leverage to move the ball to the open shooter.
Reason III: His upside is huge
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot can play defense. He can get into position without the basketball. But the strongest attribute for this young man? His upside. He got into a scoring rhythm and it just ballooned from there.
No, I’m not suggesting he will be the team’s leading scorer, yet. But if he shows the same level of progress this season as last, he will certainly make a solid argument for inclusion in that discussion.
TLC is a wild card player to this team. While he fell to 24th in the 2016 NBA Draft, he was projected much higher. And if not for the fact that the team drafted Ben Simmons at number one, he would be a daily discussion of the fans and in the media.
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Each week, the young man adds experience to his package. Even as the season starts with him on the bench, he will rotate onto the basketball court and find new opportunities. He may not be the marquis name on the team, but he has a role to play. This season, that role will increase significantly.