As any Sixers fan knows, the minutes when Joel is off the floor are when the team is at its most vulnerable. In the past seasons, Doc Rivers has tried to fix that with mediocre and washed centers, whether Greg Monroe, Dwight Howard, Andre Drummond, and DeAndre Jordan.
Currently, the team’s options for backup bigs are Paul Reed, Charles Bassey, and the Jordan above. None of them is a viable option to back up the team’s MVP. And yet, Doc has continued to play Jordan in the minutes that Joel is off the floor. Those minutes are the team’s most vulnerable; it begs the question, do the Sixers need to play a backup big? Why not go small?
The benefits of a Sixers small-ball lineup
Before discussing the perks of running a small lineup, here’s how they would do it.
- PG: James Harden
- SG: Matisse Thybulle
- SF: Danny Green
- PF: Georges Niang
- C: Tobias Harris
It’s a wild idea, but that’s why they would have to try it out before the playoffs. James and Tobias are second and third in rebounding, respectively, behind Joel. Niang and Matisse also pull down more than their fair share of boards, so that wouldn’t be the issue.
Neither would the offensive end be the issue. James would be running this small ball unit, just as he would be running the other team with Joel off. We know James has a history of running a fast, shooting-heavy lineup without a typical center. Just look at his Houston days with Robert Convington at the five. This unit would also be filled with shooting and a lob threat in Thybulle. So no offense isn’t the issue. That only leaves defense.
That’s the only real question mark with this small-ball idea. Can a lineup with only one standout defender be viable on the defensive end of the court? It would take some work, but there is a way. For starters, Matisse would be the team’s defensive anchor instead of the typical big-man anchor. Matisse would be assigned to hawk the ball-handler and follow the ball wherever it goes. Green and Harden can guard the corners and help around screens, while Harris and Niang hold the fort from the paint.
This lineup wouldn’t be one the team often sees, as Joel doesn’t sit much in the playoffs. But it could be a lifesaver if the backup big is struggling.