In order to maximize their potential, the Sixers will need to find a way to improve their floor spacing and outside shooting, writes Dave Zarum of Sportsnet.ca. Asked after Tuesday’s loss to Toronto about the 76ers’ shooting woes, Joel Embiid replied, “Last year we had some really good shooters and this year we don’t have them.”
Philadelphia does still have some reliable long-distance marksmen on its roster, including J.J. Redick and Robert Covington, but the team has missed Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli in the early going. Assuming Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz don’t turn into outside threats overnight, the Sixers will need more out of Dario Saric, who has made just 23.4% of his three-pointers so far this season.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- With Daniel Theis expected to be sidelined for the next few weeks with a foot injury, Celtics first-round pick Robert Williams is ready to take on an increased role if asked to do so, per Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. As Forsberg relays, coach Brad Stevens praised the rookie’s work ethic and upside, suggesting that he has “no doubt [Williams] could be thrown in when it’s all on the line.”
- Given the presence of Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Delon Wright on their roster, the Raptors don’t necessarily need a fourth point guard, but Lorenzo Brown has earned a roster spot in Toronto and is ready to make the most of it. Blake Murphy of The Athletic has the story, along with quotes from Brown.
- In an interesting piece for ESPN.com, Anthony Olivieri takes a deep dive into the big bet Raptors president Masai Ujiri is making on his franchise’s culture following this summer’s blockbuster acquisition of Kawhi Leonard.
If Ben Simmons is their point, they need him to guard opposing 4s, and to stop starting him at 1 alongside two wings and two bigs. He needs to be playing with Joel and three sharp shooting wings.
I’ve been a huge fan of Saric since his first Olympics but either he leads the second unit, or they trade him. He isn’t lights out from deep, but isn’t being used to his advantage either. As it stands he’s kind of accepted a role as a hustler, with very little drawn up for him.
Any team with a surplus of guards in need of a stretch 4? Boston? (Can’t imagine them helping a rival) Lakeshow? Ideas?
I agree with this. The chemistry problem is in the trio of Embid, Saric and Simmons, and exists with or without Fultz (it was evident last year), although unless he shoots better, he does aggravate it. I think Saric’s Euro stats on distance shooting translate well to the NBA, but even if he becomes a lights out 3 pt shooter, he’s still not a true 2 way perimeter player, nor is Simmons. Trades at this time of year are hard, and Saric, as a one position big, may not ever carry the trade value to bring back a player who’s a better fit, a wing that can cover guards and shoot, or, the biggest challenge, a PG with skills complementary to Simmons (can shoot and play off or on the ball). Smith was likely drafted to be the first, and Shamet to be the second if Fultz doesn’t work out or as his backup. So, I don’t think the issue is a mystery to team management. In the interim, I don’t know why they don’t just give Fultz a shot and go get another 2 way SG.
Their bench is weak. TJ McConnell is great.
Trading Fultz will be hard – I really like the kid and believe he could become a decent player, but they really need to bolster their bench, and spread the floor around Simmons and Embiid.
I remember last season whole stretches where Embiid was injured and Simmons, with cutters and shooters, had real success. I almost feel like the Sixers should field two teams, with Simmons and Embiid staggered, to run two very different schemes.
Brown’s coaching ‘brilliance’ now under the spotlight, for me at least.
Once Wilson Chandler comes back, that adds important versatility, especially defensively. They should probably also let Fultz come off the bench regularly, instead of messing with his role. I get the idea to give him early confidence, and then put him back on that 2nd unit later in the game, but I just think it makes more sense to have Reddick in that starting lineup with Simmons and Embiid. I could see Fultz in that lineup if they had Simmons at the 4, but they’re using him as a PG
sixers had cap space and went silent.. eventually embiid/simmons will check out