Philadelphia 76ers: 3 goals for Dario Saric in 2018-19
By Simon Smith
1. Improve overall level of consistency
While Saric made enormous strides over the course of last season, particularly in the playoffs, his overall level of consistency on the floor will be an enormous determinant in just how far he progresses this upcoming season.
Although Saric had 19 games in which he posted at least 20 points, he also had 17 games in which he scored in single figures. Tying in with this, the 24-year-old had just five occasions in which he shot at least 50 percent from the floor in back-to-back games, thus contributing to his overall 45.3 percent shooting clip from the field.
Certainly, one way in which Saric can improve his overall consistency and productivity is his form to the free throw line. Last season, he averaged just 2.7 free throw attempts per game, even ranking behind 34-year-old J.J. Redick on the Sixers’ roster. Overall, Saric had 23 games in which he didn’t attempt a single free throw, clearly limiting his ability to impact the game and put the opposition into foul trouble.
Furthermore, “The Homie” had just two occasions in which he posted at least 10 or more rebounds in back-to-back games.
Granted, with just 169 career games under his belt, Saric has time on his side to iron out some of these deficiencies in his game. However, with the 76ers having had a rather uneventful offseason while still being expected to contend in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers will be banking heavily on Dario Saric to improve noticeably in these key areas.