Marco Belinelli continues to elevate Sixers’ offense

By Christopher Kline | Apr 21, 2018

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 19: Marco Belinelli #18 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Miami Heat in Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Philadelphia 76ers hold a 2-1 series lead over the Miami Heat. Marco Belinelli is a big reason why.

When the Atlanta Hawks let Marco Belinelli walk midway through the season, few expected him to be one of the most important players on a legitimate contender. Now the Philadelphia 76ers seem capable of making noise far into the playoffs, and Belinelli is part of the reason why.

Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons get a lot of the credit for Philly’s success, for obvious reasons. Embiid is one of the most complete big men in the league, while Simmons continues to flash Magic-esque upside on the offensive end. In general, the Sixers perform like an above-average team whenever one (or both) of them is on the floor.

The supporting cast can’t be overlooked, though. The Sixers’ reserves have been stepping up for weeks, which was a major reason behind their 16-game win streak to end the season. Belinelli has arguably been the best of the bunch against Miami in round one.

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The Italian gunner has played for nine teams in 11 seasons, never sticking with one organization for more than two years. He can drill shots from just about any angle, but he isn’t much of a playmaker and he struggles on the defensive end. That has made it difficult for him to find a long-term home.

That might change this offseason.

At 32 years old, Belinelli is playing some of the best basketball of his career. With the offense running through Simmons and Embiid, his ability to curl around screens and knock down a wide array of shots has been maximized in Brett Brown’s offense.

His quick trigger — while not always yielding the best analytical shot — makes defenses respect him at just about any point, which opens up more for those around him. When the defense is keyed in on Marco, it doesn’t really matter either. He’s still capable of knocking down shots when blanketed by his defender.

Through three playoff games, Belinelli is averaging 20.7 points while shooting 43.5 percent from deep on 7.7 attempts per game. That kind of efficiency, especially with the shots he takes, is probably unsustainable. That’s only half the equation when it comes to Marco’s value, though.

Even when shots aren’t falling, the mere threat he poses in important when paired with the Sixers’ primary stars. Simmons can’t shoot, but he’s a dangerous slasher whose remarkable passing skills allow him to exploit the smallest of passing lanes. Embiid has proven himself to be a capable passer out of the post all season.

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With those two heading the offense, it’s tough to adequately defend the Sixers’ best players and keep tabs on the likes of Belinelli and J.J. Redick on every possession. The Sixers have at least one of their sharpshooters on the floor at all times.

The Sixers lead the league in passes per game. Brett Brown stresses passing and spacing as cornerstones in his offensive philosophy. That ball movement, coupled with constant player movement from Belinelli-Redick and the playmaking chops of Philly’s stars, makes the Sixers’ primary lineups some of the most potent groups in the NBA.

Per Cleaning the Glass, the Sixers’ starting lineup boasts an average point differential of +21.7 per 100 possessions. That number gets bumped up to +22.3 when Belinelli replaces Redick.

While it’s tough to dub the Sixers favorites in the East, they have a clear — and reasonable — path to the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers are struggling mightily in round one, Toronto is a beatable one seed, and the Celtics are plagued by injuries.

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Assuming health, the Sixers should have a legitimate chance in every series moving forward. Belinelli will continue to be a big part of whatever success comes their way.