Offensive Options
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Offensive Options
A year ago, it was easy to describe and analyze the 76ers’ potential style of play. Everybody within the city limits, at least those paying even just a little bit of attention, knew the Sixers would run the Princeton Offense, knew the plan was to have five interchangeable offensive parts, knew that it was a read-and-react style, and knew that – in all likelihood – it was probably ill-suited for this roster.
The Sixers won 27 games.
This year, the Sixers aren’t quite as easy to predict; there’s no gimmick offense to write 100 stories about. New coach Doug Collins has had a few months to talk to his guys, work with those staying in town for the summer, and get a handle on what style might be best for this talent. With less than a week before the opening of training camp, it’s probably time to at least put together a general idea of how Collins will have these guys playing.
After doing a little homework, here’s the tentative, we-haven’t-even-practiced-yet game plan.
1.) “Running for layups” (or, perhaps, “Running for slam dunks”?): This is no surprise. Folks around here are used to following a team that aims to transition quickly. Even before last season, coaches were saying the transition game would take precedence over the Princeton. But that never happened. So … will the team get back to running this season?
Almost definitely, yes. Aside from allowing about a dozen open three pointers every quarter, the Sixers’ biggest downfall last season was underutilizing their athleticism. I’m sure if we looked we could find at least one chink in Collins’ coaching armor, but inefficiently using his players doesn’t seem to be one of them.
If you followed the team closely last season, you’ll remember that during every game there would be a handful of botched fast breaks. A missed pull-up jumper instead of an easy layup, an off-rhythm bounce pass out of bounds, even missed dunks. It seemed the team’s transition game was out of practice. And it probably was.
This year (since there’s no elaborate offense to learn) the team should return to its young gun ways of seasons’ prior. At the start of last season, the starting ball handlers were Lou Williams, Andre Iguodala, and Thaddeus Young. Not a terrible trio, but Williams is more of a scorer than a passer, Iguodala can do a little bit of both, and Young can finish, but can’t pass. Now take into account the following: Williams was spreading himself thin trying to run the Princeton and be all things “point guard,” Iguodala seemed frustrated early at his team’s inability to understand the offense, and Young appeared too overwhelmed with processing everything to concentrate on the break.
This year’s trio would likely be Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Iguodala (with Young sneaking in there as a fast-breaking power forward). All three of those guys can pass. Holiday makes very smart decisions. And from what I’m hearing, Turner is very good with the ball. Add in that Collins won’t overload the team’s playbook with an intricate offense and these guys should have no problem finishing on the break. No one’s saying this is the formula for an NBA title, but it is the formula – given this roster – for winning more games.
2.) Playing inside out: By this we don’t mean the team will be dumping it inside first, then playing off of that. We literally mean flipping the offense inside out: putting the guards inside, the posts outside.
The team believes, right now, that one of its best assets will be strong-shooting big men. In the last seven years, with Samuel Dalembert starting at center, that belief would be laughable. But Dalembert’s trade to Sacramento brought both Spencer Hawes and a newfound flexibility on the offensive end. Yes, the team will miss Dalembert’s defense and shot blocking in the middle, but there are a lot of things the team won’t miss. We could get carried away here, but we won’t. From an on-court perspective, the Sixers could start attacking teams the same way they are usually attacked: by spreading the floor and letting big men shoot from outside.
Spencer Hawes (I’m told, I haven’t yet seen), can pass and hit from 15 feet. Marreese Speights, we all know, can (and certainly will!) shoot from the perimeter. Speights even has three-point range, although it may be a little early for him to start consistently gunning from beyond the arc. Elton Brand can hit the 15-footer, Young can hit from outside, and Andres Nocioni and Jason Smith can knock down perimeter shots.
What’s even better is that none of these guys have to be on the block. Dalembert could only score around the basket, and even sometimes that was a challenge. Now, the team has a bunch of flexible big men that can clear off the block and bring their defenders with them. Dalembert couldn’t do that. Following this strategy through, we can expect to see Collins put Iguodala on the block more often than previous seasons. Most fans will be happy he’s not slated to be teeing up from outside. We’ll likely see Holiday as a block option, maybe even Turner, too.
What it comes down to, really, is making shots. For the last few seasons, this team just couldn’t make shots. Some of it is having great shooters (which the Sixers don’t, considering their two shooters – Jason Kapono and Nocioni – aren’t main pieces), and some of it is creating an offense where each player is taking the shots best suited for him. If Collins can crack that code, the Sixers will win games.
And just to make things interesting, here’s my starting lineup for Game No. 1: G Jrue Holiday, G Evan Turner, F Andre Iguodala, F Thaddeus Young, C Elton Brand.
--Kate
Comments (23)
sorry Kate, love ya but who will rebound ?— phillyroni
On hoping for strong-shooting big men: "In the last seven years, with Samuel Dalembert starting at center, that belief would be laughable." Laughable! An NBA player's offensive talents being laughable!! A classic, and camp hasn't even opened yet.
And here I was, worrying about Kate's writing, without having Coach Quirky around as her personal dartboard. I am (less) Oppressed.
— Nutron- heart = 45
head = 41— kgd - a politically correct choice of a starting five...sorta like four horses pulling a wagon...maybe it's best to let coach find the five who work best together (in his scheme) and then tinker from there— kgd
- Sorry 33 wins at best no playoffs ... unless Turner becomes second comming of Doug Collins.— batmann1
- Starting 5 should be Jrue, Ev, Dre, Brand, & Hawes. Let Thad come off the bench. That way there's 3 (possibly 4 or 5) guys he can come in and be a six man for. If you sub him in for Hawes, Brand moves to 5. Sub for Dre, he plays the 3. Sub for Ev, he plays 3 & Dre moves to 2. Sub in for Brand, he plays 4. What the heck he may even sub in for Jrue & move Ev to the point, Dre to 2 & he plays 3. That's a way to maximize our strengths. Thad can't handle, pass, or hit a consistent jay but he is big & athletic. Bring those fresh legs off the bench. If Willie stays I want him to play the role of Kevin Ollie. Have you ever seen a PROFESSIONAL guard dribble with his head down more than him? Didn't think so. More minutes for Jodie.— XmarksTheSpot
- I'd be very surprised if Turner beats out Young and starts. Young is a better finisher and a better post player. Collins is a smart coach, he'll figure out who his best 8 or 9 are and figure out which ones compliment the others. The team is still short defensive big men. It was a real stupid move to draft Turner over Favors, as Favors better addressed immediate needs. If Thorn was here before the draft, would we have gone the other way?— ricky
- If they are gonna play big men outside anyway, then I think Speights should start at C, Brand PF. Balance of youth and experience and we dont give up as much size. Hopefully Speights wins the job in TC— Aaron B
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About this blog
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
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