Which Philadelphia 76ers Player Will Make Biggest Leap in 2014-15?
The only way for the Philadelphia 76ers to have any chance of improving on last year's brutal 19-63 effort is for certain players to improve in ways that many wouldn't expect them to.
Deciding who will make the biggest leap is difficult.
The first name to come to mind is clearly Nerlens Noel. He didn't play in one game during the 2013-14 season after recovering from a torn ACL, and he can't go anywhere but up at this point.
That being the case, it's unfair to say that Noel would be making a leap by having a really strong year. Sure, he'd literally be leaping for the first time in over a year, but we don't have any NBA numbers to base his improvement off of.
There's nothing suggesting that Noel will end up having anything less than a great rookie campaign, but it's only right to give the preseason’s biggest leap award to someone who logged minutes last year.
A number of Sixers come to mind. Everyone from Tony Wroten to Henry Sims and even Michael Carter-Williams could end up being the right answer.
Still, though, there's an underdog who's going to get the nod based off his fit in the system and recent play.
That man is Casper "the Friendly Ghost" Ware.
Let's take a look at why he'll be the guy to elevate his career, as well as provide consistent backup play for Philadelphia.
Talent and Ability
Ware ended his 2013-14 season with the Sixers as an average role-player, but it's clear he's done nothing but improve over the offseason.
Nothing proved it more than Summer League basketball.
If we take away Ware's two Las Vegas Summer League games—in which he saw sporadic playing time—and only look at what he did in the Orlando Summer League's six games, then we can really see his effectiveness.
He averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game while leading the Sixers to the Orlando championship. On top of his hard numbers, Ware also shot 90.9 percent from the charity stripe to go along with 45.5 percent from the three-point line.
Take 9.8 of his minutes away, and it's easy to see him still putting up double-digit points and a healthy amount of assists and rebounds. Combine those numbers with his defensive ability and everything begins to add up.
He might only stand at 5'10", but there's no denying how talented Ware really is. If he's able to maintain his level of play, then he has the chance to help the second unit in a number of necessary ways.
Workload
Ware has a real opportunity to average around 20 minutes if he's able to win the backup point-guard job over Alexey Shved.
Shved came over to Philly from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Thaddeus Young deal and brings a unique style of play. He's a high-energy, athletic guard with a knack for scoring. He might not be much of a defender, but his 6'6" size makes him a matchup nightmare for smaller guards—especially those at the point.
Ware's key advantage over Shved comes at the defensive end of the floor. Few players can guard the ball for the full length of the court like Ware can—similar to the Houston Rockets' Patrick Beverley—and it brings a completely different dynamic to the game. Being able to pick the ball up at the other end of the court drastically slows the opposing team's offense down and forces them to play at your pace.
It's a huge advantage in the NBA, in which there's an eight-second violation and 24-second shot clock. If it takes five-to-seven seconds to cross half-court, then the amount of time to get into the offense is dramatically reduced. Add in the occasional forced and unforced turnover here and there, and you really start to see how big of a difference someone like Ware can make.
Very few teams have a workhorse coming off the bench with the ability to defend the full 94-feet. Shved will get time simply because of his size and offensive game, but it would be surprising to see head coach Brett Brown favor those traits over the defensive ones Ware possesses.
Heart and Work Ethic
Watch the Sixers warm-up for a game—something about Ware immediately sticks out.
How little he is.
Ware doesn't look like he belongs in a game full of giants, yet there he is—getting the job done time and time again.
Sheer determination and effort are the only ways for him to be able to compete at such a high level. CSNPhilly.com's John Finger interviewed Ware and Summer League head coach Lloyd Pierce about what the young point guard brings to the floor. Here's what Ware said:
"It’s been important just to get some of that NBA experience and to work on my game. Plus, it helps you develop your game and get to know the coaches on a personal level. I have to show that I can contribute to the team, shoot and be a pest on defense—be the energy guy coming off the bench.
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Coach Pierce echoed Ware's thoughts, and he provided some insight as to what his experience means for others around him:
"As a coach in summer league, the one thing you want is a point guard who knows your offense. For him to be here for three or four months, he’s helped me out and he’s going to help the rest of the players that are coming into the gym for the first time to get organized. He’s been great. He’s made shots, he’s in great shape and he knows our sets.
He’s going to work and be a better shooter and to give us a spark as a point guard backing up Michael [Carter-Williams]. He’s going to work to be able to guard other point guards in the league, especially second-team point guards.
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Ware only played in nine games last year, averaging 5.3 points, 1.1 assists, 1.0 rebounds and 0.9 steals. An inconsistent workload and only 12.9 minutes never truly gave him the chance to shine among a squad full of young talent.
It seems clear that he has done enough over the offseason to distance himself and be looked upon as a reliable player off the bench.
A role like that will do wonders for both Ware and the Sixers moving forward.
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