The Sixer Sense
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How to maximize the Philadelphia 76ers’ new additions on offense

By AJ Iezzi

Al Horford | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images).
Al Horford | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images). /
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(Photo by Darren Carroll/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Darren Carroll/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Trey Burke: Find synergy with Ben Simmons

One of my biggest issues with the Sixers’ previous roster construction was the lack of a shooting point guard. The last Sixers point guard that attempted a pull-up three was … Chasson Randle? (I mean I have no idea, but it shows how deprived the position has been of long range output)

Trey Burke has spark plug qualities that the team has lacked for several seasons. He’s able to utilize the pick-and-roll and isolations like few on the roster can. Burke can get off shots deep in the clock and isn’t dependent on constant ball movement. He has microwave potential that nobody else on the bench can produce.

Don’t confuse Trey Burke with any of the league’s high-end bench scorers. He wouldn’t have been available until the end of July if he was among the best, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have a role on a team with championship aspirations.

With the exception of his 2016-17 season with the Wizards, Burke has never seen postseason action. For the majority of his career, he’s been on bad teams and hasn’t had much to work with. Contrarily, his scoring efficiency isn’t consistent and he posted a sub-40-percent field goal percentage for his first two seasons. Some nights Burke can randomly give you 30 points and others it’ll be single digits on a horrendous percentage while providing zero defense. It will be interesting to see how Burke adjusts to being on the most talented team of his NBA career.

Towards the end of last season, the Sixers began to toy with Ben Simmons as a roll man. Trey Burke could become the ideal partner to pair with Simmons. Burke has had a heavy dosage of pick-and-roll plays and having an orchestrator that can pull up and shoot will open up opportunities for Simmons rolling to the hoop.

Ben Simmons’ passing ability and monstrous physical presence gives him lethal potential as a roll man. Burke has enough scoring pop to play alongside Simmons and provide an extra element to the offense. The Sixers offense will be built around post scoring and spot-up shooting. Getting Trey Burke in a position to succeed could be important for not only the second unit, but Ben Simmons as well.