After wrapping up their preseason slate, the Philadelphia 76ers finally inch closer to the regular season where the games really do count. Touted as one of the biggest wildcards in the league this season, expectations for this squad have vacillated, with some pegging the team to be a definite playoff contender, while others have them penciled in as a lowkey title contender thanks to their robust collection of talent.
Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe has been stealing the spotlight for the 76ers thus far, looking the part of someone who was a highly touted prospect during the entire draft circuit. The Baylor standout, whom the team picked with the third overall pick in this year’s draft, has been greatly showcased during the preseason, giving fans a good glimpse of what is to come from him in his first foray as a professional.
However, the 76ers should hold their horses with Edgecombe. Sure, it enthuses a lot of people to see him already pull off the things he is capable of doing, but this is a rookie we are talking about. The coaching staff cannot rest on its laurels and be content relying on him a lot right from the get go. He has to be given much leeway to make mistakes, play through them, and eventually learn the ropes.
The 76ers cannot push VJ Edgecombe too hard in his rookie campaign
Offense should not be a problem of this particular 76ers team. Between their trio of stars in Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey, the team has a litany of proven shot creators who can quickly get hot and take over a game when needed. This team has that much raw talent.
As a result, it would be a grave error for the 76ers to overburden Edgecombe with nearly the same degree of responsibility, especially on offense. The coaching staff should instead allow him to play his real game and not force the issue as a scorer. He is a rookie after all, and as can be gleaned from his preseason stint, he is still prone to making those miscalculations from time to time.
Fortunately, Edgecombe seems like a very quick study, so the 76ers should not have a difficult time integrating him more seamlessly into their scoring attack. But more importantly, easing him into his eventual role as a three-level scorer will likewise give him the required elbow room to make his game more holistic, which is exactly the trail he should be under if he wants to be a better all-around guy.