The Sixer Sense
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Ranking the Sixers: No. 8, T.J. McConnell

By Jason Blevins

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 has been a stalwart of the process years. Will he continue to have a role in the Philadelphia 76ers‘ new era?

You have to love T.J. McConnell if you love The Process. The era was defined by outside media and fans as an abomination of bad basketball and rejection of competitive spirit. And yet, the other side of the process was the unique opportunity for a professional living and playing time that it afforded unheralded rookies and young players.

And no one took that opportunity more seriously than Timothy John McConnell.

Philly Tough

T.J. and Robert Covington embody The Process, but T.J. also has a hard-nosed personality off the court that a city like Philadelphia loves. He get’s in his opponents jersey, he get’s in his teammates face. T.J. is the old school floor general that harkens back to a bygone era before the modern scoring point guard.

But for all of McConnell’s lovable attributes there are a few very real factors that keep him from being higher on the list in the Philadelphia 76ers‘ rotation. His inability to force a defender to go over on the pick-and-roll and his inability to stretch the floor or be a credible threat to finish at the rim make him a tough fit on a team built around Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.

Statistical profile

Minutes per game – 23.1

This is a number that will almost assuredly decrease this season. The Starting point guard offensively will be Ben Simmons and minutes for Simmons will be staggered with Markelle Fultz. Expect Fultz to play point guard for much of the time that Simmons is on the bench. Jerryd Bayless will also play some time as point guard when both Simmons and Fultz are on the bench.

There will likely be plenty of DNP-CD (Did Not Play — Coaches Decision) games for T.J. this season. When he does play, I would expect his minutes to be more in the spot duty variety. Fortunately this will allow him to play with even more intensity and hustle without having to worry about fatigue.

Because of this expected drop in minutes I will reserve other stats to per 100 possessions, as opposed to per game.

Field Goal percentage — 46.5 percent

This actually dropped off in season two likely because of teams becomming aware of him and increased playing time giving defenders time to adjust. Also, T.J. dropped from a 35  percent 3-point shooter in his rookie season to just 20 percent last season. From looking at T.J.’s form I would say he is somewhere between an awful shooter from three and simply bad. Something like 33 percent would be a huge development for T.J.’s career.

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Steals/100  — 3.1

This is the area that I think can really jump for TJ in a limited role. He was often playing against starters last season and still managed healthy steal numbers despite limited wingspan and reach. Add that to the fact that he will not have to worry at all about foul trouble, he will be able to increase his already famous reputation for feisty on ball defense.

Assist to turnover ratio 3:1

I really believe there is a huge opportunity for TJ to improve on an already fantastic ratio of 3 to 1. That is the golden ratio of NBA point guards and he has been consistently a good steward of the ball. In a deep reserve role I see no reason why this would not continue.

I will say part of the reason for this is that his lack of a viable jump shot has caused teams to sag off of him instead of pressuring the ball. This extra space helps limit his turnovers but it doesn’t really have the same game altering effect that an elite scorer with similar numbers may have on a game.

Best lineup combinations

T.J. will fit best in lineups with Joel Embid, Robert Covington, J.J. Redick,  Richaun Holmes, Dario Saric and/or Nick Stauskas on the offensive end. He will be able to work well in a lineup where he can run the offense in a conventional way.

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He really does not add value to lineups including Ben Simmons or Markelle Fultz because of his redundant skillsets and inability to space the floor.