Do the Sixers have the best guard rotation in the league?

[thomas1897]

The 76ers do have the personnel. However, the question is can this group remain healthy for at least 65 games minimum. Historically the 76ers have a problem with injuries and load management. Last year had been extremely difficult for the team and management. Facing the free agency issues with Quentin Grimes this could be a roadblock for his return. There is an option if he does not sign and forces a trade. Justin Edwards is waiting. He does have challenges that can be addressed if he is willing to do his homework. Patience and working with Nick Nurse and staff can be very encouraging for his development. Edwards has been working out with Tyrese Maxey; this could be helpful and build good habits. Justin Edwards has the physical skillset to be a very multifaceted combo guard and small forward. NBA basketball can present challenges of discipline, learning adaptability to the team's system fast and connecting with the coaching staff's agenda. Knowing your role 76ers management has placed veterans such as Kyle Lowery to mentor. There is a time zone for learning which is now and training camp. There is an opportunity to excel for Edwards. My opinion Justin Edwards has a toolbox of resources available: will he use this support and influence wisely.

[thomas1897]

Key factors for Justin Edwards's success in the NBA
Justin Edwards, a small forward for the Philadelphia 76ers, possesses several traits and areas of focus that are crucial for his continued success in the NBA:

Basketball IQ and Adaptability: Edwards has demonstrated good basketball IQ, understanding spacing and making the right passes when driving or facing defensive rotations. His ability to be a smart off-ball cutter is also important, particularly in a potentially off-ball heavy role early in his career, according to Sports Illustrated.
Defensive Effort and Potential: Edwards shows a strong desire and willingness to play defense, using his length and strength to guard the ball and disrupt plays. While his on-ball defense and navigation through screens need refining, his physical tools and effort suggest potential for growth on this end of the court.
Offensive Roles and Efficiency: Edwards can be a reliable spot-up shooter and excels at attacking closeouts and finishing in transition. He has shown flashes of being a threat as a stationary shooter, creating opportunities to attack closeouts and facilitate for others. To unlock a larger offensive role, he will need to expand his playmaking beyond simple closeout attacks and showcase more versatility in his scoring, including developing his right-hand dribble and midrange game.
Mental Fortitude: Maintaining a positive and patient mindset is crucial for Edwards' success, especially when facing challenges or periods of less playing time. His ability to stay positive despite setbacks, like going undrafted, highlights a strong work ethic and focus on controlling what he can control.
Physical Development: Continued improvement in his strength and athleticism, particularly with his explosiveness at the rim, will be beneficial as he progresses through his NBA career.
In summary, Edwards' success hinges on his ability to leverage his existing strengths – basketball IQ, defensive effort, and reliable shooting – while diligently working on areas like his defensive technique (especially navigating screens), offensive versatility (including shot creation and right-hand development), and maintaining a strong mental approach. His willingness to put in the work and focus on areas for improvement positions him well for a successful NBA career.

[mjkvol]

thomas1897 has to be an AI bot, right?

[zaz102]

thomas1897 has to be an AI bot, right?

Definitely a prompt puppet

[eyeatoma]

It's the NBA, so elite individual talent trumps all.

I'd trade all 4 of them for SGA, Luka or Ant, so clearly below those guys groupings.

For just the upcoming season, give me Curry and friends as well.

Mitchell is a tier above anyone we have, so him plus Garland and to a lesser extent Ball puts them clearly ahead.

Spurs is sorta debatable. I imagine most non-bias fans are taking them.

With Hali hurt, we got Indy.

Brunson is a tier above our guys... Not sure who else we are counting as a guard there. If Bridges does, give me them. Brunson, Bridges, Clarkson, McBride.

Based on talent alone for the upcoming season, disregarding fit... Suns? Booker, Green, Beal and maybe CP3?

Feel like youre seriously underselling Maxey. He was a superstar in the Knicks series and had about a month and half last season where he was averaging 30 ppg, and we were begging for him to sit because we kept winning games. When he's at his best, he's at a top 10 player in the league level, and he did it during the playoffs, and part of last year.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

It's the NBA, so elite individual talent trumps all.

I'd trade all 4 of them for SGA, Luka or Ant, so clearly below those guys groupings.

For just the upcoming season, give me Curry and friends as well.

Mitchell is a tier above anyone we have, so him plus Garland and to a lesser extent Ball puts them clearly ahead.

Spurs is sorta debatable. I imagine most non-bias fans are taking them.

With Hali hurt, we got Indy.

Brunson is a tier above our guys... Not sure who else we are counting as a guard there. If Bridges does, give me them. Brunson, Bridges, Clarkson, McBride.

Based on talent alone for the upcoming season, disregarding fit... Suns? Booker, Green, Beal and maybe CP3?

Feel like youre seriously underselling Maxey. He was a superstar in the Knicks series and had about a month and half last season where he was averaging 30 ppg, and we were begging for him to sit because we kept winning games. When he's at his best, he's at a top 10 player in the league level, and he did it during the playoffs, and part of last year.

Yeah, I think a lot of us seem to be forgetting that with Maxey. We had that run in January where he was carrying the team and we were winning games. I hate to say it, but when Embiid came back later that month, all the continuity and chemistry we had developed with Maxey in charge vanished. It was gone and we started losing again. I'm not going to say we were contender level, but Maxey (had we kept that flow that we were on) would have carried us to the playoffs or play in. Something magical started happen for a brief spell with Maxey as the guy. It was there and I think the entire Sixer nation knew it from Nick Nurse on down. Embiid came back and stagnated the entire run. Paul George being in/out hit or miss didn't help either, but he didn't hurt us the way Embiid did when he came back. At that point, Embiid should have probably just deferred to Maxey, but that's impossible due to the standing prestige that Embiid carried. We'll see what happens, but I think a lot of people are sleeping on Maxey all of a sudden. This is pretty much his team at this point and that needs to be known going into this next season. Neither Embiid or George are going to be able to stay on the floor for the entirety of a season. Maxey can...We sat him down the stretch because of that awful back injury? Or was it a finger? I can't remember...Devastating to say the least (sarcasm).

[Iverson Armband]

It's the NBA, so elite individual talent trumps all.

I'd trade all 4 of them for SGA, Luka or Ant, so clearly below those guys groupings.

For just the upcoming season, give me Curry and friends as well.

Mitchell is a tier above anyone we have, so him plus Garland and to a lesser extent Ball puts them clearly ahead.

Spurs is sorta debatable. I imagine most non-bias fans are taking them.

With Hali hurt, we got Indy.

Brunson is a tier above our guys... Not sure who else we are counting as a guard there. If Bridges does, give me them. Brunson, Bridges, Clarkson, McBride.

Based on talent alone for the upcoming season, disregarding fit... Suns? Booker, Green, Beal and maybe CP3?

Feel like youre seriously underselling Maxey. He was a superstar in the Knicks series and had about a month and half last season where he was averaging 30 ppg, and we were begging for him to sit because we kept winning games. When he's at his best, he's at a top 10 player in the league level, and he did it during the playoffs, and part of last year.

And you’re seriously overselling Maxey. A lot of guys “at their best” are top 10, not even sure what that means. Players clearly better:

Jokic
SGA
Giannis
Ant
Curry
Cade
Tatum
Luka
Brunson
Mitchell
Wemby
Kyrie
Durant
Banchero
Zion
Kawhi
Jaylen Brown
Haliburton
AD

There’s about 5 more that are debatable I didn’t even name.

[eyeatoma]

It's the NBA, so elite individual talent trumps all.

I'd trade all 4 of them for SGA, Luka or Ant, so clearly below those guys groupings.

For just the upcoming season, give me Curry and friends as well.

Mitchell is a tier above anyone we have, so him plus Garland and to a lesser extent Ball puts them clearly ahead.

Spurs is sorta debatable. I imagine most non-bias fans are taking them.

With Hali hurt, we got Indy.

Brunson is a tier above our guys... Not sure who else we are counting as a guard there. If Bridges does, give me them. Brunson, Bridges, Clarkson, McBride.

Based on talent alone for the upcoming season, disregarding fit... Suns? Booker, Green, Beal and maybe CP3?

Feel like youre seriously underselling Maxey. He was a superstar in the Knicks series and had about a month and half last season where he was averaging 30 ppg, and we were begging for him to sit because we kept winning games. When he's at his best, he's at a top 10 player in the league level, and he did it during the playoffs, and part of last year.

And you’re seriously overselling Maxey. A lot of guys “at their best” are top 10, not even sure what that means. Players clearly better:

Jokic
SGA
Giannis
Ant
Curry
Cade
Tatum
Luka
Brunson
Mitchell
Wemby
Kyrie
Durant
Banchero
Zion
Kawhi
Jaylen Brown
Haliburton
AD

There’s about 5 more that are debatable I didn’t even name.

Lol, Zio, Kawhi, Brown, Cade, Banchero, Brunson, and Mitchell and Ant are not better than Maxey. At his best meant, he wasn't hurt, he had experience, and he was a focus of the team. That happened in the playoffs, and when Embiid went down.

Zion, always hurt,

Kawhi, same but fine he's better

Brown nope, just no

Cade, was good this year, but I'd say Knicks and January Maxey last season was better.

Banchero, very inefficient.

Brunson- biggest flopper in the league, I have zero respect for him, he's a manufactured star

Mitchell, hurt often, also chooses when to play well. Injury prone

Ant, had a down year this year, and IMO Maxey is at his level.

Tatum, no, sorry, he's also probably never going to be at that level again unfortunately.

Curry, Maxey is better than last years version.

[youngcrev]

Feel like youre seriously underselling Maxey. He was a superstar in the Knicks series and had about a month and half last season where he was averaging 30 ppg, and we were begging for him to sit because we kept winning games. When he's at his best, he's at a top 10 player in the league level, and he did it during the playoffs, and part of last year.

And you’re seriously overselling Maxey. A lot of guys “at their best” are top 10, not even sure what that means. Players clearly better:

Jokic
SGA
Giannis
Ant
Curry
Cade
Tatum
Luka
Brunson
Mitchell
Wemby
Kyrie
Durant
Banchero
Zion
Kawhi
Jaylen Brown
Haliburton
AD

There’s about 5 more that are debatable I didn’t even name.

Lol, Zio, Kawhi, Brown, Cade, Banchero, Brunson, and Mitchell and Ant are not better than Maxey. At his best meant, he wasn't hurt, he had experience, and he was a focus of the team. That happened in the playoffs, and when Embiid went down.

Zion, always hurt,

Kawhi, same but fine he's better

Brown nope, just no

Cade, was good this year, but I'd say Knicks and January Maxey last season was better.

Banchero, very inefficient.

Brunson- biggest flopper in the league, I have zero respect for him, he's a manufactured star

Mitchell, hurt often, also chooses when to play well. Injury prone

Ant, had a down year this year, and IMO Maxey is at his level.

Tatum, no, sorry, he's also probably never going to be at that level again unfortunately.

Curry, Maxey is better than last years version.

I love Maxey, but I think you are wildly overrating to him to the point that I can't tell if you are serious

[eyeatoma]

And you’re seriously overselling Maxey. A lot of guys “at their best” are top 10, not even sure what that means. Players clearly better:

Jokic
SGA
Giannis
Ant
Curry
Cade
Tatum
Luka
Brunson
Mitchell
Wemby
Kyrie
Durant
Banchero
Zion
Kawhi
Jaylen Brown
Haliburton
AD

There’s about 5 more that are debatable I didn’t even name.

Lol, Zio, Kawhi, Brown, Cade, Banchero, Brunson, and Mitchell and Ant are not better than Maxey. At his best meant, he wasn't hurt, he had experience, and he was a focus of the team. That happened in the playoffs, and when Embiid went down.

Zion, always hurt,

Kawhi, same but fine he's better

Brown nope, just no

Cade, was good this year, but I'd say Knicks and January Maxey last season was better.

Banchero, very inefficient.

Brunson- biggest flopper in the league, I have zero respect for him, he's a manufactured star

Mitchell, hurt often, also chooses when to play well. Injury prone

Ant, had a down year this year, and IMO Maxey is at his level.

Tatum, no, sorry, he's also probably never going to be at that level again unfortunately.

Curry, Maxey is better than last years version.

I love Maxey, but I think you are wildly overrating to him to the point that I can't tell if you are serious

I might be, I think he has it, that you see in super stars, and what he did in that Knicks series was pretty incredible. He also did it in last season for almost 2 months, and he was legit playing like a top 10 players. I remember saying it during the games, and people were agreeing, and said ya'll would forget later on. Dude was on fire, and it was scraping his cieling.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

I'm not going to say Maxey is in the top ten. You could argue he's in the 15-20 range. In my opinion, he's an all-star, he's a lead guard on a winning team, and he can be trusted with the basketball late in games. We would be incredibly foolish to trade him for anyone less than Cade Cunningham (wherever you rank him). I think he's right there with Brunson. Might not have the shotmaking clutch gene to the extent that Brunson lives by, but he's also never been asked to take the last shot.

Last season, we got a quick glimpse at what an unlocked, set-free Maxey can do in this league. I'm pretty excited about this backcourt with or without Embiid. If Grimes is included, all the better. I can't wait to see these Nick Nurse lineups. I still say the keys belong to Maxey, and he'll be the one driving the offense. If Embiid plays, that's great; hopefully, he comes back strong.

Do we have the best guard rotation in the league? Talent wise, I think we can, but it really depends on how well we play on the other end of the floor. If we can defend and rebound the basketball, then yes, I think we'll have one of, if not the best, guard rotations in the league. It also depends on how much McCain improves and how ready Edgecombe is to contribute. McCain may come back like nothing happened and just start killing it out there again. Or, he may come back, show a lot of rust, not trust the knee, and struggle. Either outcome wouldn't surprise me with him.

Edgecombe will probably be brought along slowly. I personally think he's a can't miss as a pro, but it could take him until year two before he really takes off. I still look for him to make plays for us nightly; he's just not going to be playing 40 minutes a game right away.

Grimes is kind of a wild card in all of these. I have my concerns if we do bring him back. Mainly about how effective he can be next to Maxey. I've watched Grimes play on other teams. With all three of the teams he's been on, he's primarily been a spot-up shooter. None of these teams really ever let him cook with the basketball. Now, if somebody wants to pull his C&S numbers with those teams, feel free, but I remember him missing a lot of shots back then. He looked a hell of a lot more comfortable with the ball in his hands last year with us. In fact, he was a completely different player from what I had seen with those other teams. If Maxey is back driving the bus, then what does that do to Grimes, and can he still thrive with that being the situation? I like Grimes, we need to bring him back. He plays with some tenacity, and that's exactly what this team needs. Nick Nurse has his work cut out for him, having four talented guards on the roster, but this isn't exactly a bad, and I'm sure he'll find a way to make it work. We'll probably see a lot of 3 and maybe even 4 guard lineups. There should be plenty of minutes to go around for them.

[76ciology]

In a team structure, I see Maxey as a clear #2, a semi-alpha with floor-raising ability. His floor raising ability solidified when he had improvement defensively, averaging 1.8 steals per game last season. Offensively, he’s an efficient shooter and scorer, but what holds him back from being a true alpha or #1 option is his limited ability to consistently run the offense on-ball while maintaining hyper-efficiency. He’s close, but he’s still limited by some skill limitations.

What I’d like to see is how adding other guards with floor raising capability like Grimes, McCain, or Edgecombe might elevate him into a legit alpha. Our guards can help push the pace, give him room to breathe (spacing or ball handling duties) and punish defenses that trap or overload him. As well as possibly some stretch 4 and a lob big, so he would face less pressure when driving to the paint.

Previously, he had to expend too much energy just bringing the ball up the floor (defense would often pressure him). The slow paced often lead to the defense being set which prevents him to use his speed. He was easy to trap, and defensive pressure often extended deep into the paint, especially with Jojo at the elbow. As a result, most of his damage came from the perimeter

[76ciology]

One potential issue I see with our guard depth is the difference in pace needed to maximize them versus the pace we have to play with Embiid. That’s always been a concern for me, and I think it’ll become even more apparent now that we have our best guard depth ever, especially considering Embiid’s ongoing health situation.

And this is a spicy topic nobody wants to talk about. Which if VJ, Maxey and McCain would perform better than expected, I think ultimately we’d lean towards the guards, and we’ll have the same situation Blazers faced with Lamarcus Aldridge back then.

[Samson]

We certainly have a team full of incredibly-highly-rated & sky's-the-limit-potential Guards...

Tyrese Maxey - 10th overall recruit coming out of HS, 6'2" combo guard - an All-Star & Most-Improved-Player.
Jared McCain - 12th overall , some people on this forum think he's going to be the next Michael Jordan & the next Jason DeRulo of Tik-Tok combined...(he's played 23 games, people...) , a 6'2-6'3? combo guard...
Quentin Grimes - 8th overall, 6'4" combo guard that can do just about everything - we might not have him anymore, as he's a FA, and as I type this, like an hour ago it came out that Jared Butler also left.
Kelly Oubre Jr. - 6th overall recruit, 6'8" Guard-Forward/Swingman... he can certainly play and again can do most everything very well...

And then there is my main man VJ Edgecombe, 4th overall , 6'4", probably the most potential & SuperStar-level ability on the team if not in the league now (this draft had a bunch of dudes who could become All-Stars for the next decade) ...

We have *endless combinations* of PG/SG/SF ... the problem is we don't have a PF, and we have 3 years @ $55mil on a player who doesn't seem to want to play basketball much anymore these days, let ALONE at the 4, and our superstar Center has 4 more years at slightly more money and apparently has trouble walking.

But if Johni Broome can step into the 4 and do in the NBA what he did at Auburn, we might just have solved that problem. I am not saying he can or can't, will or won't... but we have a PF Problem & Center-issues-for-life- but we have like ALL THE STAR GUARDS/Swingmen in the world. We even have an All-World SF ... he just is a little busy these days, thank you very much. Remember to Like, Subscribe, and Ring The Bell.