After their latest loss in the hands of the suddenly streaking Bulls, the Philadelphia 76ers remain winless this season when their Big Three of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George take the floor together. Yes, you read that right — this team is now 0-4 when all of them are in uniform and on the hardwood.
While the sample size is not ample enough to go into panic mode about this interesting quirk, the 76ers might just have an issue with respect to their current starting unit. Right now, Nick Nurse is starting those three stars with VJ Edgecombe and Dominick Barlow complementing them. But if this keeps up, changes will have to be made to their opening group.
One possible solution? Relegating Edgecombe to the bench and having him play the role of nominal alpha in the second unit. Of course, that thought piece is going to throw off many fans who have grown accustomed to the energy the rookie has brought on both ends, but the starting lineup clearly needs more balance.
The 76ers should seriously consider realigning VJ Edgecombe’s role when their Big Three is healthy
Between Maxey, Embiid, and George, the 76ers have three proven shot creators who need a sizeable shot diet to be impactful. As such, the most ideal way to fill out the starting five is to put players who can concentrate on doing the minute details on the floor and also punish opposing defenses with their off-ball activity.
Barlow is already a solid complementary piece to that troika. However, as good as Edgecombe is individually, his fit with those three has been shaky at best. After all, he is also someone who needs the rock to find his groove. His off-ball presence is not yet at that level where he can seamlessly fit next to other ball-needy cogs.
Realigning Edgecombe and sending him to the bench — again, as a matter of realignment and definitely not demotion — actually makes a lot of sense upon non-visceral thought. First, it would give the 76ers bench (which ranks among the worst in the league in scoring) a massive boost. Second, it would give the coaching staff that leeway to install a complementary piece therein and shed away some duplicity of roles in te opening group.
Of course, given that Edgecombe has had a sensational rookie season, this seems like something the 76ers would never do — especially Nick Nurse who has always doubled down on starting his five best players notwithstanding the fit — but if their Big Three keeps struggling to win games together, an adjustment like this should definitely be in the cards no matter how distasteful at first blush.