Thanks to VJ Edgecombe playing like an absolute stud and turning in sensational performances left and right to start the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as an upstart ball club. All of a sudden, the team’s floor and ceiling have been raised, and the stage seems set for the team to surprise a lot of people this season.
Naturally, given the kind of campaign they had last season, fans and pundits alike were divided as to their capacity to truly contend for the championship, even with a much healthier squad. Of course, the season is way too young for anyone to make a pronouncement about being a contender, but there is no doubt that the 76ers have the tools to finish as one of the top teams, at least in the Eastern Conference.
Edgecombe being this good already is huge for the 76ers. Granted, the team is still missing three rotational pieces in Paul George, Trendon Watford, and Jared McCain, while Joel Embiid is still on a minutes restriction, but they already look like surefire bets to make the postseason after a one-year disappearing act.
However, the way the 76ers are doing things at present is something that certainly invites danger. We are talking about how the coaching staff seems to be playing Edgecombe way too many minutes right from the get go.
The 76ers could be inviting risk by overplaying VJ Edgecombe this early
Through three games, Edgecombe is averaging 40.3 minutes per outing, which ranks second in the league behind his fellow Sixer, Tyrese Maxey. The rookie sensation seems prepared to log those kind of minutes, but the 76ers cannot make this a thing of normalcy.
Edgecombe has the physical tools to withstand that, but the 76ers have to start cutting his minutes, especially when Jared McCain returns. But in the meantime, the coaching staff has to find windows of time to rest hi from time to time.
Last season, the 76ers quickly shot up McCain’s minutes the moment he started finding his groove, and while his court time eventually got shafted, he ultimately fell victim to a season-ending injury.
Now, Edgecombe seems to of a different ilk physique-wise, but the 76ers know all too well about how the injury bug can afflict anyone under any circumstances. Prevention will always be better than cure. Hence, it would be more prudent for the team to start reducing his minutes as much as practicable.