The 76ers have so much star power and raw talent just from their starting five that the rest of the league has yet to figure out how to put a full stop on their tracks. So far, Philadelphia only has two losses to its name –– a pretty impressive feat given that the group is still at the stage of nesting with regard to their offensive attack. That has been a puzzle for the squad so far, and the way they have deployed LeBron James is one indication that their offense is still far from being optimized.
With Philly having a boatload of talented scorers, James has taken a major step back on the scoring end, averaging just 15.6 points a night –– easily a career-low. That, however, has not prevented him from imposing his will as a scorer when needed. During the team's most recent victory over the Bulls, the megastar finished with a season-best 22 points, draining eight of his 16 shots from the field. That could very well be a reminder that the 76ers should still tap into James' scoring acumen.
The 76ers should encourage LeBron James to be an aggressive scorer
It was only natural for LeBron to assume the mantle as the main playmaker on this 76ers squad. After all, that has been pretty needed on the roster over the last few years, and the sheer number of scorers they have has simply necessitated having someone whose main focus is creating plays for others. And even at this point in his career, James remains an elite passer who can organize the team in the half-court and also kickstart fast-break opportunities.
Scoring was never going to be the main emphasis for the King, but that does not mean that it should cease to be a focus for him altogether. Given that he is still an intimidating force on the scoring front, the 76ers should at least actively deploy LeBron as an option on the secondary. That way, the team will be able to optimize his ability to go downhill and generate even more easy opportunities to score.
James lying low on the scoring end gives comfort to the defense. But when he is proactive as a threat to rack up points, opponents will be constantly restless and avoid giving him space, even if the intended action on his part is ultimately to pass the rock.
As he proved during last season's playoffs, LeBron can still be an elite scorer. The 76ers have not needed him to take on that mantle so far, but it might be easier for their meager offense so far if his scoring prowess remains an active part of their offensive design. After all, there is a good reason why teams still fear him.
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