Go big or go home: 76ers pursue title dreams by bucking small-ball trend
By Phil Watson
The Philadelphia 76ers, looking to move past the 2nd round of the playoffs, will boast one of the biggest starting 5s in the NBA. Is that enough to move up?
With the much-ballyhooed Process now well behind them, the Philadelphia 76ers enter the 2019-20 season looking take another step (or two) further in the NBA Playoffs after consecutive exits in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
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Last season, the 76ers won 51 games and finished third in the Eastern Conference for the second straight season despite running 26 players through the roster and using 24 different starting lineups.
There will be more new faces joining the mix this season. Shooting guard J.J. Redick is now with the New Orleans Pelicans and Jimmy Butler was a less-than-one-and-done in Philly, going to the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade deal that brought Josh Richardson to the 76ers.
Butler’s lineup spot will go to former All-NBA center Al Horford, who stunned many league observers by making the jump from the Boston Celtics to their long-time arch rival. Horford will move to the 4 spot while likely also spending some minutes behind All-NBA center Joel Embiid.
In the pace-and-space, small-ball crazy NBA of the 21st century, the 76ers are bringing back the old days, when teams tried to bludgeon opponents into submission with sheer size.
Embiid is 7-feet. Horford goes 6-foot-10, as does point guard (point guard!!!!) Ben Simmons. Small forward Tobias Harris is 6-foot-9. Richardson, who slots in at the 2 spot, is suddenly the little guy of the group at 6-foot-6. (Philadelphia could really have fun with this, but it’s not likely undrafted 7-foot-4 rookie Christ Koumadje will be around come opening night.)
The 76ers were one of the six teams in the NBA to rank in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating, ranking ninth in the league with an offensive mark of 108.9 and fifth at the other end of the floor at 106.0.
The Sixers, despite what will be some awkward size matchups, should be solid again at the defensive end. Embiid has been named All-Defensive in both full seasons of his career and Horford brings veteran guile and good size to the 4 spot.
The potential weak link is Tobias Harris, who re-signed for a max deal — five years and $180 million — but has never been known for his work on the defensive end, particularly if he’s going to be asked to guard smaller wings on the perimeter.
What can we expect from the reworked Philadelphia 76ers in 2019-20? There are some big expectations to play up to.