1. Ball handler in halfcourt
Simmons has been exploited as a roller in the pick-and-roll a lot recently. But how many times have you seen the ball handler unsuccessfully pass to Simmons. It happens too often and this is where Alec Burks can help.
Burks is a decent playmaker, averaging 3.1 assists per game for the season. He is a decisive enough passer and good at finding the open man. We’ll see if coach Brown decides to run this, as Simmons can finally have the ball delivered to him on the roll.
With Simmons taking more of a step back when it comes to handling the ball — Josh Richardson and Shake Milton are the ones who have been taking care of it more and more — it wouldn’t be surprising to see Alec Burks take up that position as secondary ball handler. He has the handles and vision to play that role, and it is something he has done all year with Golden State.
Burks is obviously not the game-changing player that will turn the Sixers season around. But he is good at what the Sixers need him for, and it will also give them that much needed scoring depth on the bench. Now that you know the name, let’s hope Alec Burks is a name we’ll remember after the season.