Quick stat snapshot of where the Sixers are after 3 games

[Kobblehead]

Top 10 in Defensive Efficiency (pp/100 poss. allowed)

1. Bucks (100) play big
2. Cavs (105.3) play big
3. Lakers (105.4) not yet realized but they need twin tower
4. Suns (107.2) will get decimated in the playoffs
5. Wolves (107.7) play big
6. Magic (108.9) play big

*lakers should slide AD to PF like what Vogel used to do. That way he can create mismatch like how Bud did for Giannis.

If playing big is the secret sauce in defense why wont everyone do it? Its because you need a potent scoring backcourt to run it. Cavs is building and even doubling down on that philosophy.

Coaches who knows this.
- pop
- joeger
- vogel
- dan burke
- carlisle
- udoka

Might be some small sample size with that top defense group. The Cavs were the only team that went big that were top 10 last year. I'm guessing most of these teams will fall back to the middle of the pack.

The Bucks, for instance, were a very mediocre defense last year.

[youngcrev]

Maxey going off has me faltering on my "move him to the bench" position.

It really comes down to him staying aggressive and our stars making sure he's involved.

I don't think it should factor into your position. We all know what Maxey is capable of from an individual standpoint. We also know we're never going to play with pace or have the requisite FGAs available to him when our normal team is together. I think the logic comes down to who is more able to provide rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks between Maxey and Melton. And honestly, I don't think it's very debatable. Those ancillary traits are what is needed to make our starting unit balanced. I think Melton is just the correct choice and that's no disrespect to Maxey.

If Harden and Embiid are just going to take turns dominating the ball and playing at a snails pace, yeah, I think you get more out of Melton.

Maxey might be too good relegate to that type of role though, and I'm intrigued by what they could be if you put Melton in place of PJ and found some balance between pace and the halfcourt slog we have.

Kinda goes back to what we used to say with the Ben/Joel combo: look to push for easy, early offense. When it's not there, let Jo (and Harden) eat in the half court.

Force Joel to get his ass in shape from running up and down the floor. I need him to get slim and trim so he can get back to being a dominant force on the defensive end.

[ProcessDoctor]

I’m coming back to the idea that we have the right pieces, just not always the right playing style or rotations.

For one, Thybulle absolutely has to be a part of this rotation for 15-20 mpg. He’s outperformed House in limited playing time and showed last night he can still wreak havoc defensively. Melton is a stud role player and should probably be playing closer to 28 mpg. I’m not a big Reed fan, but I’m open to the idea of trying him next to Embiid. Tobias has absolutely filled his role and deserves a shoutout for that. His 3PA rate and BLK/STL metrics have been great. Harden is mostly back. Maxey is an offensive stud. Tucker and Niang are bodies that are fulfilling their roles for the most part.

Ironically, the biggest question is how do we integrate Embiid with the rest of these guys. Last night wasn’t the first time this team has shown flashes without him this season. We have to figure this piece out over the next 10-15 games if we want to truly compete this season.

[DCasey91]

Bench unit I recommended games ago:

Maxey
Melton
House jr
Niang
Reed

Wasn’t actually too far off our best unit last game (Harrell for Reed and Thybulle/Melton combo).

I think Doc needs to realise Thybulle/Melton is our wings to bank on not Tucker/Harris as they are downright 4’s.

The starting lineup is the issue even though the netrrg is positive.

Something like:

Maxey
Melton
Harden
Tucker
Embiid

Harris off the bench. Or start Thybulle and move Tucker to the 4.

We need that burst of defensive output. Melton had 5 steals and probably another 5 deflections and Thybulle well it’s Thybulle. I think it’s gold here.

It’s also one less mouth to feed when the game starts.

[Jailblazers7]

I’d probably drop Tucker from the starting group and go Maxey/Harden/Melton/Harris/Embiid. PJ is the player most in need of load management and Tobias is actually a better rebounder on defense. Tobias has also shown a willingness to bomb away from 3 which is more valuable than PJ’s corner 3s.

Tucker off the bench also opens up more opportunities to experiment with small ball units and he can be paired more frequently with Harrell to hide him on defense.

[76ciology]

Read on Twitter

For me this is how we should play on defense. It should be as if it’s by design that we funnel them into the paint where we had Biid and another big protecting the rim and closing out on defense that at worse, it will buy us some time for our shorties to recover to their man.

[Murray_17]

As i said before, too small of a sample size, variance is too big.

5 games later we're 4th in 3 FG%, 2nd in FG% in general.

A lot of it it's that we're last in FGA per game which means we're basically taking less but better shots than opposing teams. We're last in FGA per game too because we're last in rebounding and pace, which is expected.

Our transition defense still sucks bu we look better in opp points of turnovers and opp points in the paint.

Again, small sample, but some encouraging signs after the bad begining

[76ciology]

As i said before, too small of a sample size, variance is too big.

5 games later we're 4th in 3 FG%, 2nd in FG% in general.

A lot of it it's that we're last in FGA per game which means we're basically taking less but better shots than opposing teams. We're last in FGA per game too because we're last in rebounding and pace, which is expected.

Our transition defense still sucks bu we look better in opp points of turnovers and opp points in the paint.

Again, small sample, but some encouraging signs after the bad begining

We’re also second in halfcourt offense, prior to the Wiz game.

I think there’s a lot to be optimistic about, and i find our problems to be fixable within the roster

[Jailblazers7]

I feel really good about the team now after seeing the rotations get sorted out and Melton start to pop. If Embiid is healthy and looks good on defense we’ll be cooking with grease.

The one remaining wild card is Matisse. If he can do enough offensively to stay on the court, then I’m a big believer in this team.

[eyeatoma]

Does this team play better without Jojo?

Same story again.. down the stretch we play smallball without Jojo and we were able to match and get it close.

You seem to have a weird agenda here.

Sent from my SM-S908E using Tapatalk

[DCasey91]

We are playing better but granted the last 4 games have been against so so opponents. The real look for me is the ortg/drtg against playoff or above .500 teams.

Melton I think should by some measure be in the starting unit. Tucker to the bench? Possibly I just don’t like having 2 PFs when our transition defence is putrid.

Essentially now both him and Thybulle are our true wings and Doc must rotate both extensively.

[Jailblazers7]

I think Tobias should start to reduce PJ’s minutes. Then we can play either depending on matchup in the playoffs.

[76ciology]

Our best 5 man unit which we have used in 4 games and with a +20NetRtg

Maxey
Harden
Melton
Tobias
Tucker

[76ciology]

Read on Twitter

Opponent drives to the basket, draws embiid. Drop pass it to someone below the rim.

Nowadays if you play this scheme with I believe is Dan Burke’s idea similar to what he run with Hibbert with the Pacers, you need a secondary rim protector.

[SixthStreet]

Yup, this team is a coach willing to go 2 big away from being THE favorite for the title, IMO. There's a ton to like about this roster and there are some wildcards deep in the rotation or out of it that can factor over the season and into the playoffs, namely Thybulle/Reed and to a lesser extent Korkmaz, Milton, and maybe even Springer.

This is a real good team.

[DCasey91]

Our best 5 man unit which we have used in 4 games and with a +20NetRtg

Maxey
Harden
Melton
Tobias
Tucker

That’s basically it bar Tucker for Embiid. I think in the playoffs it should be that, I think the jury is out but our best overall unit will involve Thybulle/Melton only if it clocks high end mins together with the rest of the starting 4. It’s purely on Doc.

If it doesn’t happen then it just number 1001 on the list of things we spotted ages before the old fart did lol

[76ciology]

Read on Twitter

We got 3 guys in here

[Jailblazers7]

Would love to see a stat that shows PPP differential for isos vs facing double teams to understand how effectively each player is navigating those situations

[youngcrev]

Read on Twitter

We got 3 guys in here

I don't think that includes the Washington, which would probably boost Harden even more in positive directions.

Don't love those efficiencies, though it's probably too early to make much of it.

Interesting to see Maxey in there. Guessing the two games against the Raptors helped, who seemingly have built their whole system on doubling and scrambling.

[76ciology]

Getting PJ Tucker should have been a red flag.

How the hell does Tucker who’s 6’5” makes sense with a big with declining athleticism makes sense on defense?

And NEVER runs on the break and NEVER runs on transition defense..

6ppg 4rpg .6spg and .4bpg

Wake up.

That’s more like a chihuahua than a dawg