Finding Perfect Rotation for the Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers' roster is still a major work in progress, but head coach Brett Brown is slowly discovering what his most reliable rotation looks like.
However, Brown will be forced to make a few adjustments in the coming days, particularly as it pertains to his starting backcourt.
Over the season's first couple of weeks, Tony Wroten assumed primary scoring and distributive responsibilities in place of the injured Michael Carter-Williams.
But with Carter-Williams on the mend and destined to reclaim his starting gig, Philadelphia's bench stands to benefit from Wroten's attacking style as he transitions to the role of sixth man.
There's also the matter of rookie K.J. McDaniels, who's made strong impressions early and often thanks to his penchant for blocking shots from the weak side while making opponents pay from beyond the arc.
So as the Sixers gradually determine which lineup pairings make the team most competitive, we've assembled an ideal eight-man rotation based around Philadelphia's current (and active) personnel, early returns and projected gains in the months ahead.
All statistics courtesy of NBA.com and current as of Nov. 10 unless noted otherwise.
Point Guard: Michael Carter-Williams
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He's yet to make his 2014-15 debut, but Michael Carter-Williams is on the verge of providing some sorely needed stability to the Philadelphia 76ers' starting lineup.
According to CSN Philly's Dei Lynam, Carter-Williams is expected to make his return this Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks after participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages last week.
And as Carter-Williams told reporters, according to Lynam, the reigning Rookie of the Year's return should help put his teammates at ease:
"When anybody is missing, the team isn't fully comfortable," Carter-Williams said. "I think when everyone is back we will get comfortable and be able to perform. With me being in those situations last year with close games, whether trying to make a big shot or make the right pass so someone else can finish, I can definitely help out with that."
The first rookie to average at least 16 points, six assists and six rebounds since Magic Johnson, according to Basketball-Reference.com, Carter-Williams' presence should help stabilize an offense that's run a relatively scant number of pick and rolls in the early going.
Shooting Guard: K.J. McDaniels
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K.J. McDaniels has yet to make a start, but the Philadelphia 76ers will be forced to promote him if he sustains his superlative play on both ends of the floor.
Not only has McDaniels been one of the league's most captivating high-flyers, but he's helped provide some punch from beyond the arc.
To date, McDaniels is knocking down a team-high 42.1 percent of his threes, which represents an 11.7 percent increase from his junior year conversion rate at Clemson.
The rookie has also shown glimpses of his massive defensive potential, most notably in last Monday's 104-93 loss to the Houston Rockets.
Liberty Ballers' Derek Bodner explains:
"James Harden shot 2-7 when K.J. McDaniels was defending him, with both of his makes coming off of pick and rolls. When Harden tried to isolate McDaniels, the rookie largely won the battle, forcing Harden into a pair of well-contested three point attempts and two tough step back jumpers, one of which was an airball, with McDaniels appearing to get a piece of it.
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And with a knack for using his length to disrupt opponents' shots, McDaniels leads all shooting guards with 1.7 blocks per game.
Finally, opponents guarded by McDaniels are shooting just 38.1 percent from the floor, which represents a 5.9 percent decrease from the league average of 44.0, according to NBA.com.
Far and away the Sixers' best perimeter defender, McDaniels should be thrust into a starting role sooner rather than later.
Small Forward: Hollis Thompson
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In order to keep their offense afloat, the Philadelphia 76ers need to depend upon the catch-and-shoot capabilities of Hollis Thompson from beyond the arc.
One of the few reliable options Philadelphia possesses on the perimeter, Thompson has the ability to keep the Sixers competitive night in and night out with his quick trigger.
Take last Friday's 118-115 loss to the Chicago Bulls, for instance.
En route to scoring a career-high 21 points, Thompson shot 3-of-6 from three, with each conversion coming on a catch-and-shoot opportunity.
Although he's not going to help relieve pressure by attracting defensive attention off the dribble, he's been able to take advantage when Tony Wroten has penetrated and kicked out for open looks.
With Chris Johnson and JaKarr Sampson comprising Philadelphia's other wing options, Thompson is the easy selection to carry the load at small forward.
Power Forward: Nerlens Noel
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While Nerlens Noel has played both power forward and center to this point, he'll continue to log minutes at the 4 so long as the team's trudging on without Joel Embiid.
In need of Henry Sims' size inside, Noel has carved out a defensive niche on a Philadelphia 76ers team that's made some nice progress when defending the rim.
According to the NBA's player tracking data, Philadelphia ranks eighth in opponent's field-goal percentage at the rim (49.6) thanks to Noel's Inspector Gadget-like arms and quick bounce.
Perhaps more telling, though, is that the Sixers are allowing just 97.3 points per 100 possessions with Noel on the floor, which is an 7.8-point improvement from the team's defensive rating of 105.1, according to NBA.com.
Center: Henry Sims
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On any other team, Henry Sims would be relegated to the role of reserve big man.
But given the construction of the Philadelphia 76ers' roster, Sims has been promoted to starting center in Joel Embiid's absence.
While he doesn't crash the boards at a particularly high rate (6.3 per game) or possess a flair for blocking shots (0.1 per game), Sims' best assets are his raw physical attributes.
At 6'10'' and 245 pounds, Sims is the bulkiest player on the Sixers' active roster, and his size represents one small way to mitigate opponents' major advantage in the frontcourt.
Especially with a wiry Nerlens Noel earning starts at the 4.
Ultimately, Sims' starting gig is more indicative of the Sixers' commitment to the rebuild than his individual skill level. However, with few attractive alternatives at their disposal, Philadelphia has to peg its hopes on the former Georgetown Hoya as a stopgap solution for the time being.
Sixth Man: Tony Wroten
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On a team that struggles mightily to score in the half-court, Tony Wroten has been depended upon to curate points in a run-and-gun fashion.
And while The Intelligencer's Tom Moore recently noted "Wroten has been starting in place of Carter-Williams but the two could ultimately be paired together in the backcourt," it's hard to imagine that duo evolving into a new starting backcourt.
While Wroten's ability to create his own shot is commendable and his efficient approach this season has resulted in more palatable shooting splits (44.1 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from three), he's simply not as effective when you take the ball out of his hands.
To that point, 39 percent of Wroten's shots have come off of 3-6 dribbles, according to the NBA's player tracking data, while 53.8 percent of his total buckets have been unassisted.
Considering Wroten commands plenty of time and space to facilitate open looks, it's in the Sixers' best interest to hand him the keys to the second unit and let Carter-Williams distribute to less needy catch-and-shoot options on the perimeter.
Seventh Man: Brandon Davies
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Once believed to be on the roster bubble, Brandon Davies has made head coach Brett Brown look wise for retaining his services.
Fresh off a productive week that saw him score in double figures twice while recording a career-high 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting against the Orlando Magic on November 5th, Davies has emerged as a half-decent complementary scoring option.
And while a case could be made to start Davies alongside Noel in the frontcourt, his reluctance to crash the boards (3.7 rebounds per game) makes him a better fit as a low-post and mid-range scorer off the pine.
According to NBA.com, Davies has filled that role nicely to this point, knocking down 50 percent of his catch-and-shoot jump shots, attempts which have accounted for 32.7 percent of his offensive production.
The sample size is admittedly small, but it's encouraging that the Sixers have uncovered a rotational contributor capable of knocking down jumpers from mid-range while displaying some surprising competency (35.7 percent) on threes above the break.
Eighth Man: Luc Mbah a Moute
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At first glance, Luc Mbah a Moute may seem like a redundant piece of the rotation given the inclusion of Brandon Davies.
However, Mbah a Moute's positional versatility makes him an ideal candidate to capture the eighth and final spot, particularly with one-dimensional options like Chris Johnson and JaKarr Sampson representing his primary competition.
Entering Sunday night's tilt with the Toronto Raptors, Mbah a Moute was logging 71 percent of his minutes at small forward, according to Basketball-Reference.com, which is understandable given how thin the Sixers are on the wing.
But with a 230-pound frame and 57 percent of his career minutes coming at the 4, Mbah a Moute provides Brett Brown with a few more lineup permutations.
He's not going to burn opponents with any sort of offensive expertise, but Mbah a Moute has the defensive wherewithal to earn regular minutes as a wing and post defender in a thin frontcourt.
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