NBA

How the Philadelphia 76ers’ Offensive Diversity Makes Them Dangerous

Stefanos Kyriakou
The Philadelphia 76ers' offensive diversity makes them dangerous.

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Chicago Bulls 127-121 on Sunday night, moving to a 9-2 record for the season and maintaining the first seed in the Eastern Conference. Jaylen Brown led the pack with 29 points, while potential MVP candidate Tyrese Maxey put up 27 and seven assists. Other notable contributors were LeBron James scoring 22 points on 50% from the field and Joel Embiid with 18 in 29 minutes. Philadelphia demonstrated that its scoring threat extends far beyond a single player.

Decoding the 76ers’ Offensive Diversity

Multifaceted offense

The concerns raised during the offseason about how Philadelphia would share the ball were understandable. All four of Philadelphia’s stars are accustomed to having the ball in their hands and creating offense. There was also the question of how VJ Edgecombe would fit into such a talented starting lineup. However, Nick Nurse and his coaching staff have proved themselves capable of making this work, switching between a heavy dose of isolation basketball and set plays, taking advantage of James’ and Embiid’s incredible passing ability.

Brown and Edgecombe are getting the ball to their spots effortlessly, while Maxey seems to be the one who has to adjust the least compared to last season. This starting five seems to be able to do it all. Everybody is creating opportunities both for themselves and others, whether it’s in the post or from beyond the three-point line.

Bench Depth

Philadelphia’s depth extends beyond its starting five. The offseason acquisition, Anfernee Simons, has proven to be essential in generating offense with the second unit. Simons, thus far, has met all expectations, meeting his scoring standards while remaining playable on the defensive end. Other notable additions are Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, with his outside shooting, and Dean Wade, with his very underrated ability to stay in front of opposing players on defense. Sadly, Ariel Hukporti suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason opener and can’t provide his defensive and rebounding abilities.
Even though this roster is top-heavy, its bench should not be underestimated. There are some players who are yet to show what they can do, such as rookie Labaron Philon, who made a name for himself in college as the primary ball handler and scoring option for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He hasn’t received any meaningful minutes this season, but he showcased his abilities in the two appearances he has made. Expect him to get some burn as the long season progresses.

Play Style

The way this squad generates offense feels unique. They seem to play the game the right way, moving the ball around and trying to get everyone involved or feed the hot hand. Embiid still gets his touches in the post, while Maxey remains the team’s primary option. Brown, while a bit slow to start the season, seems to be finding his rhythm, and James is coasting through the early part of the season, conserving his energy while still turning it up when needed. With so much playmaking on the floor, guys like Edgecombe and KCP are finding open looks easily. The overall feeling surrounding this team is that anybody can hurt you on any given night.

The Last Word

It is still very early to tell, but Sixers fans should be excited, as this team is performing like one of the top teams in the league. This feels like a championship season for Philadelphia, as the team appears to have the talent, depth, and offensive versatility to compete for a title. Of course, there are still other challengers to deal with and questions to be answered, plus chemistry will be tested as the season progresses. However, if this group continues to find ways to play together and make the most of its collective talent while staying relatively healthy, the 76ers could be in for a very special season.

 

Main Image: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

 

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