Fans should be wary about prematurely judging players during preseason matchups. Nevertheless, the performance of Dominick Barlow provided a glimmer of hope for the Philadelphia 76ers. The franchise may have finally found a way to dispel a rebounding curse that has limited its ability to perform at the highest level in previous campaigns.
Barlow signed a two-way contract for the 76ers on July 9 in an attempt to bolster a front court that possessed little depth and appeared to be an injury away from derailing the upcoming NBA campaign before it had even begun.
Former Hawks forward could play an important role
The 22-year-old is yet to make his mark in the NBA after stints with the San Antonio Spurs and the Atlanta Hawks; however, his time with the Sixers could be his opportunity to find a home, as his physical attributes are exactly what this roster requires.
Philadelphia's 84-99 defeat to the New York Knicks in Abu Dhabi was the perfect occasion for Barlow to showcase why he deserves to feature regularly for the Eastern Conference competitors -- and he impressively snatched his chance with both hands.
It was a mature performance from Barlow, in which he demonstrated a clear understanding of the role his head coach required him to play. The young forward recorded around 30 minutes on the floor, registering six points and 10 rebounds.
This dominating display on the boards provided Tyrese Maxey and fellow debutant VJ Edgecombe with an electric transition offense, which was a major contributor to the points that Philadelphia chalked up on the night.
Barlow's finishing must improve
However, it was far from the level of performance that would restrict Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. to a seat on the bench. Barlow must show that he can be more effective offensively if he wishes to acquire heavier responsibility in the rotation.
In the matchup versus the Knicks, the third-year role-player only finished two of his five field-goal attempts and exhibited no real desire to ignite the offense with aggressive movements or seek to get into a physical battle with New York's defenders.
Of course, head coach Nick Nurse will prioritise several players in his offensive game plan ahead of Dominick Barlow. The young forward must continue to display his impressive rebounding ability in the final Abu Dhabi fixture against the Knicks if he wishes to prove his worth to this roster. It is a skill set that could finally rectify an issue that has frustrated Philadelphia fans for an eternity.