Better bench than ever before
But perhaps the true value to this team is the bench
PG- Markelle Fultz / T.J. McConnell
SG-Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot / Nik Stauskas
SF-Furkan Kormaz / Justin Anderson
PF-Dario Saric / Amir Johnson
C-Jahlil Okafor / Richaun Holmes (injured)
The bench has double digit scorers. Markelle Fultz, although banged up, is the top pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. Jahlil Okafor, long berated as a non-fit, is showing up strong and focused this seaon. Dario Saric was one of last season’s heroes. T.J. McConnell continues to elevate his game.
Sir Charles In Charge
Bench backing up better boast
Now, I don’t expect the bench to deliver dominating basketball in each and every game. But Luwawu-Cabarrot delivered 17 points, four rebounds and three assists off the bench against the Miami Heat. In that game, Nik Stauskas fought hard for relevance by scoring 11 points off the bench.
Against the Brooklyn Nets, Dario Saric unloaded 26 points and nine rebounds off the bench. T.J. McConnell brought 10 points and seven assists as well. TLC dropped 11 points, four rebounds, and two steals in the game as well.
Now, the team will not roll out a full bench. We learned that Saric / Simmons combination works very well. We saw how well McConnell was able to feed the ball to Embiid in the post. Unlike other years, this season will arm head coach Brett Brown with a full quiver of player options to deliver during the game. Right now, the only limits is the injury to Richaun Holmes, and minute restrictions to Joel Embiid.
But we saved the best for last.