FanPost

Two Weeks to Camp - a couple things to think about


As the countdown to camp continues, here are a couple things to think about

1. Offense vs Defense - in this case I am thinking the following - the Sixers have the potential to put together a very good defense, with all the length, athleticism, and skilled defensive players we have assembled. A lineup of MCW, McDaniels, Thompson, Mbah a Moute and Noel might be our best defensive group. But this group seems to lack both the ball handling, and the outside shooting needed to run the dribble drive offense which has been rightly pointed out as the Sixers offensive philosophy. For that offense, an optimum lineup might be MCW, Wroten, McDaniels, Thompson and Noel, with the combination of MCW and Wroten really giving you attacking guards with some handle at both spots up top. Our most balanced lineup might be MCW, McDaniels, Thompson, Noel and Sims. Throw JRich and Shved into the mix and it will be very interesting to see where coach Brown is leaning this season in terms of offense vs defense.

2. The bench - there is going to be a very interesting and intense camp battle this year to make the roster, vs starting the season down in the D League or simply being waived. How much loyalty if any is going to be shown to all the fringe guys who have been around for a bit - Moultrie, Davies, Varnado, Williams, and Ware - vs the upside potential of Roberts and Sampson.

3. The SG position as it evolves over the course of the season with JRich, Shved, McDaniels, Williams and Wroten in the mix, and McRae waiting in the wings halfway around the world. One would think that if Hinkie has his way he will try to build any value he can and then flip JRich and Shved both at the deadline, unless something most unusual occurs. And how many minutes of precious court and development time are they willing to sacrifice in the attempt to build up some trade value.

4. Expectations - around the league expectations for this team are extremely low - so really there is almost no downside in terms of their performance vs those expectations. What happens if this team comes out at the start of the season and they are simply respectable - hanging around the .500 mark, and thus hanging around the playoff picture in the east at least thru the end of 2014. Do the fans start to show up? Do they hang on to JRich or Shved or whomever else is contributing to this relative bit of success? Do they move them for assets? Do they move them to tank? Does this impact the possibility of an early return for Jackson, or Embiid, or an early recall for McRae. Do we look to acquire other pieces with our ample cap room? This would be one of the most fascinating things that has occurred in this town in terms of sports and management philosophy in a very long time...

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