The Philadelphia 76ers are rightfully tinkering with lineups during the preseason, but it seems like Nick Nurse will attempt to go even bolder when it comes to experimenting and testing the waters with this current roster.
Nurse, who has long been considered one of the more innovative and bolder coaches in the league when it comes to adjustments within and outside games, is hinted to be planning a huge position shift for one of the team's newest faces. According to Dominick Barlow, Nurse is considering playing him at the three next season, a complete overhaul from his inherent stylings as a back-to-the-basket big man in his young career.
Barlow, one of the 76ers' players on a two-way deal, got a crack at meaningful minutes during the team's first couple of preseason outings in Abu Dhabi against the Knicks. While both contests ended up in lopsided losses for Philly, Barlow managed to show glimpses of what he can bring to the table next season.
Minutes are not promised for Barlow, but he is not your typical two-way player. He has already played for a couple of teams (San Antonio and Atlanta), and if his court time as of late is any indication (30 minutes in both preseason meetings with New York), Nurse will probably try to find minutes for him, especially if he pushes through with this gambit.
Dominick Barlow could be the subject of a bold experiment for the 76ers thanks to Nick Nurse
Barlow playing as a nominal small forward is easily a result of the team not having a lot of size at forward. However, while he himself expressed openness to the idea, there is definitely some risks associated with such a huge shift.
The 22-year-old is listed at 6'9", making him a good option for the 76ers defensively to cover more ground and offer more resistance against opposing teams trotting out sizeable forwards. However, there could be a trade-off on the offensive end, especially since Barlow has never been profiled as a floor-spacer.
Barlow hit a triple in their last game, but this is a career 25 percent three-point shooter we are talking about. He tried to expand his range for the Hawks last season, but it was only resorted to sparingly due to the skill being new to him.
Still, with Barlow having the potential to give the 76ers a lift on defense –– a major weakness for this squad –– Nurse could end up looking more shrewd than before. Hopefully, it pans out this season to benefit both him and the squad as a collective.