Playmaking is perhaps one of the biggest gripes for this Philadelphia 76ers squad, and if their poignant showing on offense over their first couple of preseason games is any indication, it might just be their most flagrant issue as well.
As repeatedly mentioned before, the 76ers are not exactly a team highly dependent on creating shots for others to thrive on the scoring end. Given their abundance of individual talent, they have become used to relying heavily on the one-on-one brilliance of their many stars and key cogs in order to generate offense.
Sure, that formula has likewise yielded tons of successful teams, but in the regular season, such a dated design gives those ball clubs a lower floor. The same is true for the 76ers, a team largely dependent on its stars. Heck, the absence of one or two is already a death knell for this squad, no matter the opponent.
One way or the other, Nick Nurse and his crew will have to figure out something to help the team be a more watchable squad on offense when the stars are sidelined or resting. Luckily for them, the solution may already be an in-house one.
VJ Edgecombe could be the solution for the 76ers in the playmaking department
VJ Edgecombe has already turned a lot of heads in his limited NBA action, invigorating fans and pundits alike with his flashy scoring skills and eye-popping athleticism that seems to make posterizations a matter of pure instinct for him.
However, he is far more than a scorer, and he likewise profiles himself as a more dynamic player. In a recent exchange with RG, he was asked about about his basketball idols growing up, pointing to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. and if there’s anything which both of those legends have, it’s their notable skill as playmakers despite not being nominal point guards. Edgecombe seems to have that in his vision to becoming a more versatile cog.
”I've never really cared about dunking. I'm just blessed with athleticism, to be honest. There was nobody where I wanted to say, 'I want to dunk like him.' My playmaking is underrated. I think my defense is also up there.”
Edgecombe seems to be aware that being a facilitator is not his most well-known trait for now, but he definitely has what it takes to not only turn out to be an explosive scorer and a willing defender, but also a lethal shot-creator for his teammates.
That is most certainly something the 76ers are craving for from their guards. Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain are both score-first guards, and while Edgecombe appears to be of the same ilk, him growing as a playmaker would elevate his ceiling and make the team a more unpredictable bunch on the scoring end.
Hopefully, Edgecombe realizes his potential on that end as soon as possible. And when that happens, he could end up being the best player to come out from his draft class.