National Basketball Association

Have Philadelphia 76ers Bubble Players Turned The Corner?

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 10:26 p.m. ET

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Nik Stauskas and Hollis Thompson were at risk of not making the team, but the pair of Philadelphia 76ers teammates are showing signs of life and turning the corner towards a better NBA player. At times…

In the off-season, there was a good debate over which players might survive to make the roster for this year. Two names that came up, frequently on the “might be gone” list, were Nik Stauskas and Hollis Thompson. Thompson was a veteran of the group who had never truly brought his defense up to his offense level. Stauskas was brought in to help space the floor, sink the three-point shots, and ultimately join Robert Covington in specializing in a two-way threat on the basketball court.

In the 2015-2016, neither plan seemed to gain much traction.

But, when the the 2016-2017 season began. veterans Stauskas and Thompson had more remaining in the proverbial gas tank than a sunsetting promise of an NBA career. Both players. perhaps at the bottom rungs of the team preseason rankings, learned to deliver shots that scored, and to man up on defense when it counted.

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Well, at times, they do.

The Philadelphia 76ers are already down on healthy bodies so far this season, with neither Ben Simmons nor Nerlens Noel available 25 percent of the way through the season. Add to that the mere cameo appearance of projected starting point guard Jerryd Bayless, and minutes and load restrictions on both Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor, and the current situation has forced the Philadelphia 76ers to squeeze this roster for minutes from all remaining players.

Some have stepped up, while others have not. Ultimately, the uncertainty in this time of who will be hot and who will be cold on any given night has needlessly complicated the very complex task of head coach Brett Brown.

Dec 6, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas 911) drives against Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Philadelphia 96-91. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Hot Or Mild Sauce

Nik Stauskas, a.k.a “Sauce Castillo”, has been a young prospect trying to find his way in the NBA. This year, it appeared as though he had mastered the concept of playing professional basketball.

He had given up his social media, he was spending extra time in the gym, and the results were paying off. In fact, he was pushing hard for rotating in as the team’s starting shooting guard, despite productive dependable play from veteran shooting guard Gerald Henderson.

And then, cold December 2016 blew in, and blew him off-track.

It’s a stark contrast so far, almost enough to speculate possible nagging injury. Through November 2016, the team had the “Hot Sauce”. Stauskas averaged 25.3 minutes per game, scored 10+ points, rebounded 2+, assisted 1.5+, blocked .5, and manufactured .5 steals per game. And he did it all on better than 50 percent shooting from the floor, 45 percent shooting from three point range, and 77 percent shooting from the foul line.

Stauskas seemed to be a player who finally “got” it. His work ethic improved and results were showing. He even won over the hearts of Philadelphia 76ers fans.

But then December happened…

Nov 21, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas (11) looses controls of the ball in front of Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Cold Front, and Mild Sauce

December 2016 found the team converting to a very mild “Sauce”. Averaging 33 minutes per game, he is scoring 6.5 points per game, rebounding 2.5, assisting 2.8, blocking 1.0, and nabbing .3 steals per game. But his accuracy has gone icy cold – only scoring 20.6 percent from the floor and 16.7 percent from three point range.

It’s enough to frustrate head coach Brett Brown. Particularly as Brown has begun to give Nik Stauskas starts at the small forward position as well.

It’s as though the gold-touch of Midas has infected the Philadelphia 76ers in an opposite manner. Whether its Robert Covington, or Nik Stauskas, the small forward position seems to be a position where the Philadelphia 76ers truly struggle for consistent play. But what about Hollis Thompson?

Nov 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Hollis Thompson (31) dribbles past Chicago Bulls guard Jerian Grant (2) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Chicago Bulls won 105-89. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Holla at……. Hollis?!

Hollis Thompson is the senior veteran Philadelphia 76ers player. He is a wing player, and until 2016, was primarily a perimeter shooter. In just 3.25 NBA seasons, and despite coming in off the bench, Thompson has shot 903 attempts from three-point range. He’s scored on 353 attempts, good enough for a 39.1 percent accuracy.

Thompson is versatile, and can slide in at either small forward or shooting guard. His teammate, Robert Covington, (@Holla_At_Rob33 on twitter) is even more versatile, playing power forward at times for the team. While @Holla_At_Rob33 is struggling, the team was hoping to Holla at Hollis to pick up some minutes.

Thompson was on an upswing. Through November 2016, he was scoring over 7.5 points a game on just 19 minutes. Additionally, he was bringing down 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, .3 blocks, and .6 steals. In a win against the Phoenix Suns, Thompson scored 14 points on 26 minutes on 55.6 percent shooting. It was hoped to be the shape of things to come.

And then, December happened.

Mar 4, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with guard Hollis Thompson (31) against the Miami Heat at Wells Fargo Center. The Miami Heat won 112-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Fading Fast

Equal to the fade of Nik Stauskas, Hollis Thompson has wilted in the spotlight. In December 2016, despite consistent 19.8 minutes per game, Thompson’s production has faded quickly.

In December, he averaged just 3.5 points per game, on 23.8 percent shooting from the floor, while shooting 30.0 percent from three-point range. Rebounds fell to 1.5, assists down to 1.0, and steals declined to .5 per game. Only blocks maintained at .3 per game.

December has been a difficult month historically for Thompson. But last year’s number were double those of this year. He averaged 7.7 points per game on 37.6 percent shooting and averaged 24.8 minutes per game.

If this was Thompson’s rookie or sophomore season, it could be waived off as “growing pains”. But this is Thompson’s fourth season, his “contract year”, and it’s the year to deliver as much as he possibly can to entice the Philadelphia 76ers or another NBA team to offer an optimal contract to have his services for the next four years.

Thompson is simply one more player who is struggling in transition from former president Sam Hinkie’s “Trust The Process” squad, along with Robert Covington and T.J. McConnell, into Brian Colangelo’s “Build”.

Stauskas, while delivering a solid showing in November 2016, simply hasn’t had enough track record on the positive to fit as “fading”.

Dec 6, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown motions to his team during play against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Philadelphia 96-91. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Foundation Of Sand

It’s a shame for the team. In many losses, the team was competitive until the closing minute. As many as nine losses may have resulted in wins if last year’s players did not slump in those games on those nights.

So far, the team is getting solid play out of the center (Joel Embiid) and power foward (Ersan Ilyasova/Dario Saric) roles. Even Sergio Rodriguez is doing enough to help the team out. Ultimately, even Gerald Henderson has been playing consistently enough to generate some success for the team.

But the search to improve wings from last season appears to remain on the wish list. With the struggles of veterans, I’ve even suggested the team give Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot a try in the role when Ben Simmons returns from injury.

The team is still searching for consistent pieces. Rather than focus on seniority, or participation awards, minutes should reflect the players who are either delivering production, or developing promise.

For now, Nik Stauskas and Hollis Thompson have not fully persuaded me that they are capable of doing either. But it’s not me they need to convince, it’s the Philadelphia 76ers.

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