The Sixer Sense
Fansided

5 improvements the Sixers need to make for a playoff run

By Dan Volpone

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before a NBA game against the Miami Heat on February 27, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before a NBA game against the Miami Heat on February 27, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

4. Better bench play

The Sixers starting lineup boasts one of the best net ratings of any five-man group in the NBA. The bench is a whole different story. Brett Brown‘s squad has been beaten badly when the second unit is in.

Struggles on the bench have stemmed from two main issues:

  1. Without Joel Embiid on the floor, the defense is significantly worse
  2. The bench doesn’t have anyone capable of scoring points

While the bench defense doesn’t figure to improve much, the Sixers reserves should get a boost in scoring to end the season.

In February, the Sixers signed Hawks’ buyouts Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova. Both have proven to be able scorers thus far, and they’ve helped keep the Sixers in games while the starters get a breather.

A continued improvement in bench scoring would be big for the Sixers come playoff time. However, there’s another problem the Sixers need to solve concerning the bench: finding a regular rotation.

Belinelli seems to have found a spot in the regular rotation. The same can be said about McConnell and Ilyasova, two of the league’s most pesty defenders.

After those three, the bench has a lot of uncertainty.

Since the recent additions, Richaun Holmes, Amir Johnson, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot have all gotten irregular minutes. Jerryd Bayless, a regular rotation player earlier in the season, hasn’t played at all. The situation would become even more complicated should Markelle Fultz return this year.

In order to succeed in the playoffs, the Sixers will have to figure out the best way to get the most out of their bench before the season ends.