Sixers’ second unit can finally help sustain defensive success

CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 27: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to sepia.) Justin Anderson #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before practice on September 27, 2017 at the Sixers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. 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)
CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 27: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to sepia.) Justin Anderson #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before practice on September 27, 2017 at the Sixers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey. 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) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers‘ defensive success was limited by their lack of depth outside of Joel Embiid and Robert Covington last season. Come October, that figures to change.

Times are a-changin’ in Philly, with Joel Embiid being joined by Markelle Fultz, Ben Simmons and J.J. Redick in what figures to be the Philadelphia 76ers‘ first competitive rotation since The Process got underway. Bryan Colangelo has played his cards well this offseason, finalizing their young core while retaining financial flexibility moving forward — just about everything Sixers pundits have demanded in seasons past.

As the Eastern Conference crumbles around them, the Sixers’ playoff prospects are only growing. Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Paul Millsap and Carmelo Anthony — among others — have all made the transition out West, leaving several of last year’s playoff teams in shambles. There’s an open lane to a top eight seed, and the Sixers fairly confident in their ability to grab one.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

One of the largest factors in their impending success with be defense. The Sixers weren’t elite as a whole last season, but they measured out as one of the best defensive units in the league when Joel Embiid was on the floor. Robert Covington also helped carry some of that burden, averaging one block and 1.9 steals per contest while finishing fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

If Embiid and Covington are both healthy next season, the Sixers should see more sustained success in their starting unit. They’re replacing the likes of Nik Stauskas and T.J. McConnell with superior athletes in Simmons and Fultz, while J.J. Redick’s presence gives them some veteran guidance they haven’t always had.

Considering the fact that Embiid made the Sixers a top flight defensive team in spite of their personnel, more apt defenders should help a defensive-minded coach like Brett Brown launch his team into the next tier on that side of the ball.

Perhaps the biggest development for the Sixers’ defensive prowess, however, is their depth — something they lacked in significant fashion last year. They haven’t added much new talent to their bench — just Amir Johnson and Furkan Korkmaz — but internal growth and excess from the new starting five should allow them the second unit to carry the defensive torch at a much higher level than they did in 2016-17.

Opposing teams saw their offensive rating spike up nine points when Embiid was off the floor last season, a clear indicator of just how impactful the 7-foot-2 behemoth is. His ability to deter driving guards and impact a wide range of shots around the basket forces offenses out of their comfort zone, and that’s something that Philadelphia desperately missed when he left the game.

Next year, Brown’s focus will be improving that margin. The bench will have more collective experience under Brown’s tutelage, while the pieces they’ll play should be more apt on the defensive end.

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Perhaps the best example of such is on the wing, where Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Justin Anderson are expected to shoulder the bulk of the reserve minutes. There are some clear flaws in their approach, but the second half of last season saw massive improvements for both players — with TLC showing some especially promising growth.

Anderson gets by on strength and energy alone, while a trimmed down frame should allow him to be more nimble on the perimeter while still retaining the majority of the muscle mass that makes him such a versatile multipositional piece. Luwawu has long arms and great instincts, slithering his way into passing lanes and projecting as a viable defender at all three perimeter positions long term.

In the frontcourt, Richaun Holmes has toned his own body a bit, with his nimble feet and bounciness around the basket already translating to defensive success of the bench. His high-energy rebounding and consistent effort is something Brett Brown will lean on, and something that will ideally make a more consistent impact with yet another season (and some more muscle) under his belt.

Dario Saric struggled at times on the defensive end, but brining him off the bench could bode well for his improvement. He already has the strength and mobility to be a flexible two-way player at the four, and giving him more concentrated bursts of playing time as the sixth man — rather than having him lug an injured Sixers squad through the second half of the season like last year — could allow him to max out his energy.

It’ll also be his second season in the league, which ideally translates into better awareness on the defensive end.

Amir Johnson will also make an impact in the frontcourt. While the extent of his playing time is still unknown, his heady plays around the rim have always made him an analytics darling — on both sides of the ball. He won’t block a ton of shots or do anything flashy, but he’s a solid plug-in at the four or five that Brett Brown should be willing to use.

Heck, even Jahlil Okafor slimmed down.

There’s reason to believe T.J. McConnell will continue getting plenty of minutes (if not the majority of minutes) at the backup point guard spot as well, giving Brett Brown another high-energy piece who — if not anything else — can irritate opposing point guards for 94 feet.

As Nik Stauskas either improves or get phased out of the rotation, and names like Gerald Henderson and Sergio Rodriguez depart, the Sixers finally have a bench that’s layered with quality defense at (almost) every spot.

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There are still some flaws, and the team with be exponentially better with Embiid on the floor, but having some form of safety net for when Joel is out is imperative if this Sixers team wants to compete at a high level next season. Brown finally has the tools needed to make that a reality.