FanPost

The Sixers will be better this year - a lot better

With both summer league coming to a close tonight, and free agent moves totally silent to this point, a lot, and maybe most observers, believe the Sixers will once again be among the worst teams in the NBA this season. While this may turn out to be true, I am in the minority that believe that the team will be significantly better. They may even be good. With the franchise locked into 3 core principles, building through the draft, length and athleticism, and player development, I would like to look at this year's team via the prism of the Rule of 3.

3 solid starters -

MCW will be back, and will bring his ROY skills to the PG spot. Only this year he will have better teammates to play with.

Thad Young will be back, manning both forward spots at times, and there is no doubt that he is a legit NBA starter.

Nerlens Noel will split time at PF and C, but wherever he plays he will bring a defensive presence in the paint that we have not seen on this team in a long time. And he will score some points, with dunks and alley oops and little hooks shots, and at the line.

3 returning 2nd year Sixers -

Tony Wroten, Hollis Thompson and Henry Sims - here we will start to see the player development efforts of the last year begin to pay dividends; one of these three will crack the starting lineup, likely Thompson, and maybe Sims some of the time as well. All 3 will be a part of the regular rotation, again with better teammates to work with.

3 2nd round draft picks -

KJ McDaniels, Jordan McRae and Jerami Grant - one of these three will likely fillthe last starting spot, either McRae at SG or McDaniels at SF. They will bring a lot of energy along with their length, providing offense McRae, defense McDaniels, and energy Grant.

Those nine alone will provide a vastly superior rotation as compared to last season. But the Rule of 3 has yet more to offer.

3 undrafted Free Agents -

Roberts, Kilpatrick, and Sampson - one of these 3 will likely make the team and contribute.

3 other returning players -

Williams, Moultrie and Ware -

it is not impossible that one of these 3 will lend a hand, most likely Williams.

3 final thoughts -

The Sixers will be much better defending the paint

The Sixers will be much better defending the perimeter

The Sixers will be much better on the break

The Sixers will simply be much better.

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