Cooney: Sixers slowly becoming a more balanced team

THE PHRASE was first uttered soon after the 76ers closed out their abysmal season last April. While talking to reporters about the biggest goal for him and president Bryan Colangelo, coach Brett Brown revealed that the biggest offseason goal was to get a roster that was "positionally balanced."

Many took it to mean that Colangelo would have to work the phone lines and deal one of the three starting-caliber centers the roster possessed in Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel. That never happened.

Other thoughts included getting some shooters to surround the plethora of big men to help with floor spacing. That was partially addressed with the signing of combo guard Jerryd Bayless, but he hasn't seen the floor yet this season because of damaged ligaments in his left (non-shooting) wrist.

Many wished for a true point guard, but that didn't happen. But in Ben Simmons, the team could have its point guard of the future, a 6-10 ballhandling and passing wizard who possesses the speed and quickness of guards many inches closer to the ground.

Tuesday, the team announced it had traded Jerami Grant to the Oklahoma City Thunder for veteran Ersan Ilyasova. The transaction didn't bring about the type of reaction that moving Noel or Okafor would, of course, but it might turn out to be significant for the organization's future.

With Noel sidelined for a few more weeks, at least, after a knee procedure on Oct. 24, Brown is set at center with Embiid and Okafor, and a sprinkling of Richaun Holmes when needed. Now with the addition of Ilyasova, a shooting power forward with three-point range, Brown also is set at the "four" spot, with Dario Saric joining that mix. With Sergio Rodriguez's steady play at the point, you can envision him being a nice backup to Simmons, once he returns from his surgically repaired fractured right foot.

See what we're getting at here. There is positional balancing going on, as far as this roster goes.

Whether the team brings back Ilyasova after his contract expires this season remains to be seen, but, for now, Brown is set at another position, at least for the rest of the season, and is able to work with a lineup that can finally include a floor-stretching shooter at power forward.

"I just think that the skill package that (Ilyasova) has is similar in many ways to Dario and the skill package that Joe has and Jahlil has are similar to each other," Brown said. "I just think that it's clear what their strengths are and the offense should reflect that. I think that those are also our best scorers. As you design your offense and you go to your strengths, I'm looking at those guys.

"I see it being a positionally balanced team at the 'four' and the 'five.' What I also see is two players that have played four and three games (Saric and Embiid, respectively). So I'm seeing the realities of young (players), but it is positionally balanced. Those are 'four' men and 'five' men. So there's clarity, clear clarity, on what I think we should be doing offensively. It's clear what you can do in a halfcourt game. I feel the reality that I came in beating my chest on - pace, pace, pace - and now that is challenged. I still think you can't walk stuff up, but we're not flying and that is an admittance for me. So how do you coach to your strengths, is the long end of the story."

The short part of it is that Brown even has strengths to play with. He hasn't had that luxury since arriving. Now, with Embiid showing remarkable ability for someone who has played so little and with a true offensive post player in Okafor, the center spot looks to be well above average in the near future. With a capable shooter at the "four" in Ilyasova, and an improving one in Saric, he now has his spacers, as well as two guys who are above average at handling and passing the ball.

The main theme, obviously, remains: Everyone stays patient while injuries heal; players learn about one another; and this team learns what it takes to win games. So much of the losing has been because there has been absolutely no continuity. Small forwards playing center, centers filling time at power forwards, non-shooters playing shooting positions. It has all been a puzzle with misfitted pieces for the past three years, and now the roster is starting to finally have some balance.

"This a great opportunity," said Ilysavoa, fully aware of where the Sixers' rebuild stands. "Obviously, comparing Philadelphia to last year and this year, it is two different teams. They are going through their rebuilding, and it is completely understandable. But from this point, it's all about habits. Winning is a habit, obviously. When you go through a season like they did last year, it's hard to get on the other side of it. As far as I see this team, they are very unselfish, they move the ball, play well, and now we have to learn to close the games.

"Losing always sticks with you. Losing is easy. Winning is hard. To win games in the NBA is not easy."

Ilyasova is accustomed to losing. He was on the 2013-14 Milwaukee Bucks team that won only 15 games. They improved to 41-41 the next season. Perhaps he will be a part of what is hoped to be a major turnaround for the Sixers. For now, he provides the organization with some clarity and positional balancing, two things that have been absent for quite some time.

@BobCooney76

Blog: philly.com/Sixersblog