The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers bench is team’s Achilles Heel for NBA Playoffs

By Bret Stuter

(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 15: Bryan Colangelo of the Philadelphia 76ers before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 15, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 15: Bryan Colangelo of the Philadelphia 76ers before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 15, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Bad bench Brett Brown or Bryan Colangelo?

Was an oversight? Was it an underestimation? Or did some other factor play a hand in this error? We explored the Philadelphia ‘bad bench’ play a week ago from the perspective that casual fans, elated with the Philadelphia Eagles success, wanted similar and immediate results from the Philadelphia 76ers team. After all, the NFL operates identically as the NBA, right?

All in all, the Philadelphia 76ers are very young, had two players on the bench due to injuries, had an unfilled position, and fought through injuries to the starters. Those bandwagon fans blamed the team’s shortcomings on Coach Brown. I merely wanted to set the record straight.  In the end, the shortcoming from the front office surprised even me. Bryan Colangelo allowed the team’s roster to go with just 14 players for ten entire weeks while they pursued a playoff berth.  Ten weeks, while the team already had two players out for the season?  That almost resembles a tanking strategy, doesn’t it?

For even more on this topic, check out: Philadelphia 76ers are flirting with disaster

Bryan Colangelo’s bench

The Philadelphia 76ers starters were inherited. Either on the team’s roster, or the obvious pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. But the Philadelphia 76ers bench is, for the most part, that of Bryan Colangelo, and that is where concerns begin to build.  For all the pieces which place this Philadelphia 76ers team in the position to make the playoffs, only J.J. Redick originated from Colangelo’s efforts.

Ben Simmons was the obvious pick for 2016. And the decision to trade up for Markelle Fultz certainly came from Bryan Colangelo. But it was the pick-swap negotiated by the previous front office with the Sacramento Kings which landed the 76ers at the three pick. And it was that same previous regime which dealt for the other first-round picks used to trade up. And all the while, Markelle Fultz, while on the team due to Colangelo’s trade up to grab him, has not delivered. Even the draft picks from Colangelo ended up parking overseas. While I strongly advocated for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Furkan Korkmaz, even I admit that they have not delivered this season for the team.