The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers space has trey shots locked into trending-up position

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 25: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a made three point basket in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at the Wells Fargo Center on October 25, 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 - OCTOBER 25: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a made three point basket in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at the Wells Fargo Center on October 25, 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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PHILADELPHIA,PA – NOVEMBER 25: Robert Covington
PHILADELPHIA,PA – NOVEMBER 25: Robert Covington /

Practice makes perfect

The Philadelphia 76ers did not get here in one season. This was not an off-season “AH HA!” moment. This is a culmination of the design forged in the meetings between Sam Hinkie and Brett Brown. In his resignation letter, which we affectionately refer to as the Sam Hinkie Manifesto, Hinkie describes a process of

"“shift the style of play towards tomorrow’s champions”"

In lay terms, in order to become a champion, the Philadelphia 76ers knew they had to play like a champion. That was the birthplace of the Pace, Space, Pass mantra.  Champions played uptempo, played with great spacing, and distributed the ball rapidly to find the best shot on the court at any time.

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Even bad Sixers played to be good Sixers

And so, the 2013-2014 Philadelphia 76ers ended at 19-63, but attempted the 13th most three-point shots in the NBA at 22.5.  The following year, the team fell to 18-64, but the team attempted the sixth most three-point shots in the NBA at 26.3.  In 2015-2016, the ten win Philadelphia sank to their lowest in the standings, but were eighth in the league in three-point shots attempted at 27.5.  And last year, the 28 win Philadelphia 76ers rose to seventh in the league with 29.8 trey’s per game.

Learning the skill meant repeating three-point shots whether they fell or not. The team emphasized the three-point shot. Including Nik Stauskas in the Sacramento Kings trade came from the desire to tap Staukas’ perimeter shot.  The team gave serious playing minutes to Isaiah Canaan, hoping to find a secret to unlocking his perimeter shooting.  It was not “Tanking”. It was a frantic search to uncover the best perimeter shooting available for the team. You see, the team never knew about Ben Simmons. But the Philadelphia 76ers knew that Joel Embiid was rehabbing, and that his arrival mandated perimeter shooting.

Next: RECAP: Sacramento Kings 109, Philadelphia 76ers 108

When you see that the Philadelphia 76ers excel at three-point shooting this season, don’t write it off to random luck. This was the goal for the past five NBA seasons. And you can see it in the roster, in the attempts, and in the history.  But there will be more good news when Markelle Fultz is ready for playing minutes.  You see, he has a pretty good perimeter shot as well. And that fits what the Philadelphia 76ers plan to do perfectly.