The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers could legitimately field winning tall ball lineup

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Ben Simmons #25 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers play against the Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 3, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 3: Ben Simmons #25 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers play against the Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 3, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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With Markelle Fultz continuing to rehab, the Philadelphia 76ers could change the NBA landscape with a tall ball lineup

There will always be an argument favoring big versus little.  But in the course of the NBA rule changes over the years, little has gained almost permanent ground against the bigs-centered play of yesteryear.  Still, with the current roster of the Philadelphia 76ers, that could change.  And I, for one, hope it does.

The Philadelphia 76ers once cornered the NBA market on young talented centers.  Perhaps it was the rarity of their appearance which persuaded the team to grab three of them: Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, and Jahlil Okafor.  At one point in time, it appeared the team might try to work out a lineup for two of the three on the court simultaneously.  The results were… less than impressive.

Off you go…Oka and No

Things changed.  The team traded away Nerlens Noel, and for all intents and purposes has no interest in placing Jahlil Okafor on the basketball court in a Philadelphia 76ers jersey.  But they are not the stars of the team right now.

Right now, the two true stars are 7-foot-2 center Joel Embiid and 6-foot-10 point guard Ben Simmons.  Those are two pretty tall players. Still, the recent play of 6-foot-10 Dario Saric is encouraging.  And we know that 6-foot-9 Robert Covington deserves a starting role. If the team could amp up the play/minutes of 6-foot-6 shooting guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, that could be a rather formidable lineup.