National Basketball Association

Why Philadelphia 76ers Are Improving

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:11 p.m. ET

foxsports

Despite An NBA Worst Record, The Philadelphia 76ers Are Improving. Have Doubts? Reassurance Coming Up…

It’s another bad year for the Philadelphia 76ers? Perhaps if you focus on the win loss record, and only the win loss record, that is the story of this team this year.

But I’ve considered the fans of Philadelphia to be far more savvy than W’s and L’s mentality. So the story this season is more than just what you see in the NBA standings, isn’t it?

To start this realistic assessment of the Philadelphia 76ers, it’s important to understand the team’s trajectory. This is a team of inexperienced rookies. But they are talented rookies. In fact, in the absence of the top draft pick from the 2016 NBA Draft Ben Simmons, this team is being led by the pair of redshirted rookies: Joel Embiid and Dario Saric. In fact, per Sports Illustrated’s Rohan Nadkarni, Joel Embiid is this year’s runaway candidate for the prestigious NBA Rookie Of the Year Award.

Saric and Embiid have given the Simmons-less Sixers plenty of excitement, as expected. Fortunately, this team is more than a pair of rookies. And there is still the matter of winning only four games. So far, that’s not much to get excited over. Or is it…..?

Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) and forward Robert Covington (33) shoot at the basket from the second floor balcony during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Scratch And Sniff Test

I don’t think anyone expected the Philadelphia 76ers to begin this season without Simmons, Jerryd Bayless, and Nerlens Noel, but that’s what happened. It was Simmons’ absence which thrust Saric into a starting role. Ultimately, it precipitated the trade of Jerami Grant for Ersan Ilyasova to bolster coverage at power forward.

More from The Sixer Sense

The absence of Bayless has forced the team to depend heavily upon newcomer Sergio Rodriguez, while intermingling T.J. McConnell at point guard. Meanwhile the absence of Nerlens Noel has hampered the team’s defense, forced Brown to micro manage allotted minutes at center, and forced the drafting of Richaun Holmes to pickup minutes in a center role.

But too few writers or pundits even acknowledge the injuries to the team.

On the other hand, this in not an article about excuses. The Philadelphia 76ers entered the season with 80% of the players healthy, and only 60% of the starting lineup healthy. Actually, about 50% strength when you factor in the minutes restrictions of Joel Embiid. 50% strength and already four victories. Feeling better yet?

Dec 7, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie speaks to the media during a press conference to introduce Jerry Colangelo (not pictured) as special advisor before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Liars, Damned Liars, and Statisticians

For starters, there is plenty of ground to cover to arrive on the optimistic side of the street. Beginning the season, the Philadelphia 76ers were an abysmal 92.8 points per game. As of December 5, 2016, the team is up to 97.9 points per game. That’s 5.1 points better, and still without Noel Simmons, and merely a three game “cameo” appearance by Jerryd Bayless.

Secondly, the team has been working at the fundamentals with some success. With Ben Simmons anticipated arrival, the team needed perimeter shooting. In the 2016-2017 season, the Philadelphia 76ers are among the top ten teams of the NBA in shooting the three pointer – currently at 36.6 percent accuracy. There’s more. While the team is still struggling on the offensive boards, they clock-in tied for eleventh best on the defensive boards with 34.4 rebounds per game.

Assistance!

In assists, the team is running at a 22.6 assists per game clip, good enough for eleventh in the NBA. 7.8 steals per game is good enough for 17th place in the NBA. The team is at 5.6 blocks per game, good enough for ninth place in the NBA.

There are areas which need plenty of improvement. Offensively, the team needs to average better than 101 points per game. Defensively, the team needs to cut off their opponents at 105 points per game (currently 107.8). The team needs to improve offensive rebounds, turnovers, and consistency.

But this is a team on the mend and on the rise. Beyond that, there is more at work with this team. Lets see if we can narrate more reasons for hope…

Nov 7, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Dario Saric (9) battle with Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Kaleidoscope

The Philadelphia 76ers have played a total of 20 games this season, nearly 25 percent of the season is complete. Of those 20 games, the team has started the same five just 50 percent of the time. Part of that flux is the need to manage Joel Embiid’s game load. He has not started in games on two consecutive days yet. Another aspect is the change of roles at power forward, where Ersan Ilyasova arrived and assumed the starting role at the four over Dario Saric.

Compared to last season, this roster has been steady Freddie.

Injuries Hurt

With injuries, comes excessive minutes which must be absorbed by the remainder of the roster. The dreaded logjam at center has yet to arrive, as centers have been limited in playing time. This team has been thin in positions believed to be robust: small forward, point guard and even power forward.

Only shooting guard has boasted depth and consistent roles with the team so far this season.

But despite shallow depth at many positions, head coach Brett Brown has been able to slow down the Kaleidoscope. In lay terms, the line up is remaining the same.

Yes, Henderson came off the bench on one night. It’s also true that Covington came off the bench on another night. Finally, Dario Saric and Ersan Ilyasova are competing for a starting role, each starting in 10 games so far this season. Consistency breeds improvement. Improvement breeds attitude. Attitude breeds consistency.

The team is starting its climb off the runway.

Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Cavalry

Ben Simmons is on his way back, fans. Not to show up. He’s not coming back to participate. Simmons is on his way to take over the team, to learn and then lead. It’s his burden as the top draft pick of the 2016 NBA Draft.

Much like Joel Embiid, he’s coming to the NBA to prove he deserves the hype.

And he’s coming in as the point guard.

Can he do it? Offensively, in a heart beat. He is a field general, able to roll offensively plays, place the ball into the hands of the shooter just as he lines up for the open shot. He’s all that, at 6-foot-10. But some fear he cannot guard a point guard. With the exception of Gerald Henderson, I’m not certain many on the roster can. Simmons cannot due significantly worse than some defensive play I’ve witnessed so far.

Upside

But the upside is that he may not need to sit in his opponent’s back pocket. His height forms a formidable barrier, while his wingspan gives him an advantage at reaching in to disrupt play. He can cover a wider swath of passing lanes, and his natural passing ability gives him better anticipation.

Often compared to LeBron James, Simmons has huge shoes to fill even as a rookie. LeBron scored 20.9 points per game, delivered 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game. Can Simmons deliver that much? Perhaps not, as he will be joining the team for the last half of the season.

In summer league, Simmons averaged 12.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. While summer league is not an NBA season, it’s the best example of Simmons’ play for the 76ers. His production would be a boost to the team in a number of critical categories.

Sep 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Nerlens Noel (4) during media day at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Unforeseen Circumstances

The Philadelphia 76ers have had a run of seriously bad luck in recent years. Injuries have haunted the team, injuries to the top players and to the number of players, for years. Eventually luck will break the other way.

Right now the team is sitting on the two top rookies in the nation in Joel Embiid and Dario Saric. Beyond this, when Ben Simmons arrives, that could turn into three of the nations top rookies.

All on one team.

And that is just the start of this team’s progress.

At some point, Nerlens Noel will either try to play lights out to earn his next contract, or will be dealt to any number of NBA team suitors. In either case, the results will move the 76ers in a positive direction.

Inconsistency

Meanwhile, the team has seen very inconsistent play from Robert Covington. On occasion, Nik Stauskas has been down and up. To start the season,Dario Saric has been slow to get up to speed. Even senior team veteran Hollis Thompson has allowed doubts with his inconsistent play. It’s naive to think each player will grow out of it.

But its equally naive to assert that no player will do so.

Players oscillate in their performance. Much like waves during a rising tide. The key to the ebb and flow of player production is to maximize good production, and minimize off nights. Right now, the cycle is one good game surrounded by four bad games.

Eventually, that will improve as players learn their own limits, and trust teammates in theirs.

Dec 2, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) dribbles against Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) and guard D.J. Augustin (14) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

More Than Next Draft

In the meantime, the fans no longer need to wish upon a star for the “next draft”. That is, the team is sitting on some bona fide top NBA talent. For now, that talent that simply needs to play the game and mature to get better.

In conclusion, the 76ers have NBA starting caliber talent at each position. On one hand, some need to get healthy. On the other hand, aA few of the players need to develop. Finally, a handful simply need to play consistently. But the talent potential is here. However you see it, just add patience and stir.

Not Easy Being Cheesy

Still, it won’t be easy. Some players won’t deliver on any NBA team. Meanwhile, others simply will discover they cannot deliver for this roster, for this scheme. But this is not a 10 win team right now. As a matter of fact, This may even be better than a 20 win team. When the team arrives at full strength, gets full minutes out of all players, and begins to settle in on the same starting five game in and game out, we’ll know what we have.

Ultimately, the Philadelphia 76ers are loaded for great things in the 2017 NBA Draft. As the team has multiple picks likely in both rounds, and with a deep draft expected, the 76ers will continue to grow stronger.

Most of all, raw elite talent is here. Furthermore, more is on the way. As a result, the record doesn’t sting nearly as much this year. Consequently, that’s why this team is improving. The two, perhaps three, best first year players wear our jersey. And there are more where they came from.

This article originally appeared on