Philadelphia 76ers: Raul Neto has earned more respect

The Philadelphia 76ers’ backup point guard has gotten the short end of the stick all season.

Much has been said about the Philadelphia 76ers‘ second unit. It’s not particularly strong, but in comparison to (recent) years past, it looks the part of a championship contender. Shake Milton and Matisse Thybulle have thunderstruck the fandom, while Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III provide valuable depth for an inevitable postseason run.

One player who doesn’t get the credit — or the respect — he deserves is Raul Neto.

I’ve long voiced support for Neto, both on the site and on the podcast. He’s a good reserve — a genuinely solid player who can contribute meaningfully to a competitive basketball team. He’s not special, and he may not even qualify as “good,” but Neto has a tool kit the Sixers and their fans should hold in higher esteem.

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Neto has averaged 11.5 minutes per game this season, his lowest mark since 2016-17. You would think a point guard who can space the floor would earn more minutes in the Sixers’ playmaking-deprived rotation, so in order to maintain proper context, it’s worth re-emphasizing that point. Neto is not special, and I’m not proclaiming him as some superstar in the shadows. He’s simply a good reserve who might deserve a few more minutes here and there, and who definitely doesn’t deserve the slander he has received from certain corners of the fandom.

In his meager playing time, Neto has amassed a solid stat line. His 4.3 points per game isn’t something to write home about, but he’s shooting 45.1 percent from the field and, more impressively, 39.3 percent from deep. He’s a workable defender as well.

The Sixers need shooters, and Neto has proven himself worthy whenever on the court. He can spot up, he can work in the occasional pull-up jumper, and he’s a largely mistake-free playmaker. He does all the little things indicative of a valuable backup point guard.

Neto is a limited defender, but he plays hard and holds his own against his position. He doesn’t pressure the defense to the degree Trey Burke once did, but he also dribbles less and is more inclined to move the basketball. Neto contributes to crisp and clean offensive possessions, which wasn’t always the case for his former co-reserve (and point of comparison).

As a veteran and a former starting point guard, there’s reason to believe Neto can continue to give solid minutes when provided the opportunity. He plugs a lot of holes in Philadelphia’s rotation, and when the playoffs hit, it’s not unreasonable to view Neto as a fallback if current members of the 10-man rotation falter. I’m looking at Furkan Korkmaz.

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The Sixers have players (rightfully) ahead of him, and Neto’s playing time has been limited all season, but he’s still solid. He’s not the type of player you write off or ignore. He’s a card you keep stashed in your back pocket, ready to use when the moment arrives.