Philadelphia 76ers: A 2019 Christmas present for every player

3 of 8

(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

SECOND UNIT

Gifts to those who don’t start, but receive regular minutes.

Trey Burke — More defense

On paper, Trey Burke brings a lot of what the Sixers presently lack. He’s a shifty ball-handler, a capable three-level scorer, and someone whose skill set aligns with both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The only issue is he’s the Sixers’ weakest defender. If he could elevate to a net-zero on that end — or even a minor negative — he would get 20 minutes a night.

Raul Neto — More oomph

Another player who, on paper, should help the Sixers quite a bit. Brett Brown has mostly settled on Raul Neto as the backup point guard, but his production — outside a quick start to the season — has largely underwhelmed. He’s a good shooter and a good defender at this position, but Neto lacks a certain aggressiveness to his game. The Sixers need someone in his position to assert, not exist.

Furkan Korkmaz — A few more pounds

I’m pretty sure this was Furkan Korkmaz‘s gift last season. He remains the most exploitable defender in the 10-man rotation, and his strength (or lack thereof) is a major reason. There are technical aspects Korkmaz could improve in, but on the whole, he’s simply too easy to shove off his spot. He can get plowed through by stronger wings, and lacks the quick feet to stick with shiftier guards.

Matisse Thybulle — A handle

Imagine if Matisse Thybulle, steal aficionado and sneaky-elite shooter (apparently), could dribble the basketball. When the Sixers ask Thybulle to take more than one or two dribbles, the results are typically an adventure, and not the good kind. He’s a capable spot-up shooter and his defense is a genuine source of entertainment. Now he needs to strip it down to the basics.

Mike Scott — Consistency

On the whole, Mike Scott is an effective — even crucial — member of the Sixers’ second unit. This season, however, his three-point shooting has come in waves, and his defense has left some to be desired. He’s as solid a 3-and-D forward as one could expect, but he needs to show up every night.

James Ennis — More minutes

If you told me to guess James Ennis‘ three-point percentage, 39.7 would not be my answer. He continues to stand out as Philadelphia’s top reserve — a hard-nosed defender who crashes the glass and finds his spots on offense. He should lead the bench in minutes. As the season progresses and games get more important, expect his playing time to increase.