1. Justin Anderson didn’t play at all
Projected by many to be the first wing off the bench heading into next season, Justin Anderson didn’t see a single minute last night. Brown instead used Fultz primarily as a two-guard off the bench, playing alongisde T.J. McConnell and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot at the one and three respectively.
It doesn’t necessarily come as a surprise given TLC’s evolution and Brown’s comments on McConnell this offseason, but Anderson was somebody who was largely expected to see considerable minutes. If this trend of him riding the bench continues, that could leave a sour taste is the mouthes of Sixers fans who still find themselves opposed to the Nerlens Noel trade.
The McConnell/Fultz/TLC trio is interesting. Anderson obviously brings more flexibility on defense — and heck, his shot may be better than Fultz’s too — but this seems to be a sign of who Brown is willing to lean on moving forward. Anderson is aggressive to a fault at times, and doesn’t really have a spot on this team long term. That’s especially true if Furkan Korkmaz shows some growth this year.
Next: Roundtable -- Predicting NBA awards, Sixers statistical leaders
We’re just scratching the surface of what could be an exciting year for the Sixers and their fans. With the next game coming up on Friday night against the Boston Celtics, we can expect another good game against one the East’s better teams — and perhaps a chance a redemption after Wednesday’s rough ending.