It's almost time. After an extremely active, promising offseason, the 76ers are moving closer and closer to the start of a highly-anticipated 2019-20 season. Back are the members of a young, yet experienced super-talented core. New to the group is a collection of proven veterans capable of adding depth to the starting line-up and bench.
As we get ready for practices to pick up, and games to begin, here are some early thoughts on the year ahead from Sixers radio announcer Tom McGinnis, Sixers.com's Brian Seltzer, and 97.5 FM The Fanatic host Devon Givens.
THE VIBES
by Tom McGinnis
As 76ers training camp gets underway this week, the team has some ambitious goals. For the seventh year in a row, Brett Brown held a preseason press luncheon prior to Media Day. He typically spends over an hour in a relaxed atmosphere with over 30 reporters. It's like the 'State of the Sixers' address, where Coach covers all aspects of personnel, mindset, concepts, strategy, etc.
With such a wide ranging discourse, several headlines emerged that caught my ear. For starters, Brown declared, 'We will end up playing smash-mouth offense and bully-ball defense." He also didn't shy away from saying, "I want to get the no. 1 seed for the NBA playoffs."
Another thing Brown said during his session with reporters was that he believes this is the deepest team he's had since he's been here. What does that mean?
What else does the depth of this year’s roster give Coach Brown? Optionality on both sides of the floor.
The addition of Al Horford will help out in many ways as well. I say half-jokingly, the 76ers will win two more games a year just because they don't have to face Big Al.
Picking up Josh Richardson is going to be beneficial on many fronts. First, he has the ability to defend point guards (we might learn a lot on opening night when he checks Kemba Walker, now with the Boston Celtics). The fact that his offensive numbers have improved every year he’s been in the league is impressive. His size, along with that of the rest of the starters, will give the 76ers one of tallest units in the league.
The battle for minutes between James Ennis, Zhaire Smith, Matisse Thybulle, and Furkan Korkmaz will be fun to watch. There will be defensive attributes represented there, and Furkan's ability to shoot and create offense will be a part of the mix.
Kyle O'Quinn, Jonah Bolden, Trey Burke and Raul Neto add to the versatility too.
The Sixers’ version of the big three, though, will be the key to the team's fortunes. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid seem to be motivated at an all-time high. As well they should be, following two straight second-round exits from the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Tobias Harris, meanwhile, signed a long-term contract this summer, and looks to be a focal part of the offense. He has also pledged to Brown his defense will be at a career best.
People say the Eastern Conference is wide open, with LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard now in Los Angeles. But, it's never easy, and won't be this year.
There's no doubt this promises to be an exciting year for the 76ers. And if Brett Brown's stated goal of getting the no. 1 seed does in fact come true, it could set the stage for a season to remember for the ages.
T.M.
THE OFFENSE
by Devon Givens
That Brett Brown line about playing smashmouth offense and bully-ball defense? It stood out to me too.
When the 76ers take the floor on October 23rd to host the Boston Celtics in the season-opener, Brown will be boasting a big, new-look squad - highlighted by the additions of five-time All-Star Al Horford and defensive ace Josh Richardson.
With Horford (6-foot-10) and Richardson (6-6) projected to be in the starting five alongside Joel Embiid (7-0), Tobias Harris (6-9), and Ben Simmons (6-10), the Sixers could very well pose offensive matchup problems for many teams on any given night. It's a lineup that suggests a punishing style of play, and maybe...not as many 3-point attempts, given the personnel turnover.
We might just see hints of a different identity. Here's how:
As the newly-acquired Horford steps in to man his natural power forward spot (the four), Harris will slide over to small forward (the three). Harris, going into his ninth year, could benefit most from this move, based on how he can score on the wing.
At the three, Harris will look to build upon his 39.7 3-point shooting percentage from a season ago. He should also be more comfortable within the flow of the offense with a full training camp under his belt.
Brown could look to get him going against a number of talented wing defenders around the league, and possibly seekout favorable mismatches for Harris that result from defenses switching.
Richardson’s possible contributions on the offensive end shouldn't go overlooked either. The fifth-year guard led Miami in scoring last season, posting 16.6 points per contest. Think about what he could do with the talent surrounding him on the Sixers' roster.
“I think Josh is almost the secret - as important as any - mortar. He just holds us together. He’s got to be able to shoot when other players get attention. I feel like he’s just going to be kind of the ideal fit to be truthful,” Brown said.
“Bully-ball defense” may be the calling card for the Sixers, but there is no doubt that this newly designed offense will be fun to watch as they try to meet their championship aspirations.
D.G.
THE DEFENSE
by Brian Seltzer
Defense, whether it be "bully-ball" or some other form, has indeed always been the calling card for the 76ers during the Brett Brown era, as Devon noted.
Hasn't mattered if the team's winning 50 games or ten. Defense, as Brown likes to say, has always ruled the day.
So, it should have been to the surprise of no one that during his annual media luncheon the other day, Brett rolled out that same familiar refrain again. Heading into 2019-20, he made it very clear - his top tactical priority is defense.
"It's where my head is centered as my starting point."
But before even conducting a single practice session with the Sixers and their revamped roster, Brown is bullish about the upside of his D.
This optimism seems to have as much to do with physical profile as it does personnel.
"We are huge," Brown said when he lunched with the media.
Yes, the Sixers' starting five is projected to be long and tall (Josh Richardson, the "shortest" player in the bunch, is listed at 6-foot-6). More than that, though, each member of the unit boasts a tremendous defensive track record.
Joel Embiid and Al Horford are all-league defenders. Richardson and Ben Simmons received All-Defensive Team votes this past spring. Tobias Harris has already proven to be dependable, and vows to get better.
"I doubt there are people who are saying, 'Let's pick on him,'" said Brown, referring to the defensive aptitude of his entire starting group.
If it's Richardson who opens the game on the opposing team's primary ball handler, Simmons can be freed up to hound someone else. And as we saw increasingly down the stretch last year, Embiid is capable of holding his own against some fours. With Horford in the fold, perhaps Embiid does some more chasing, if the circumstances are right.
"I can shuffle the deck. I have options," Brown said.
Brown hinted he could also coach with a slightly longer leash this season in respect to trying to turn teams over. Why not, when the Sixers have the length they do.
"Might we blitz a bit more, because we have the ability to rotate behind it because we cover so much ground? Might we get into a little more lanes? Might I be a little more tolerant that we might foul some? That's where my head is at," said Brown.
B.S.