It's not always sunny in Philadelphia, and it's been especially gloomy for Sixer fans. Over the past 11 seasons, the Sixers have only reached the .500 mark on four occasions. Since Larry Brown departed for Detroit after the 2002-2003 campaign, the 76ers have had seven different coaches, including two in 2003-2004. And, over the last 11 seasons, this past year was the worst one, as the Sixers finished 19-63 - eight games worse than their next lowest win total. In fact, the 2013 Sixers also earned the second-worst offensive rating, and the absolute worst defensive rating since 2003.
But when you're down this low, there's no way to go but up. The Sixers front office has followed the saying, "You got to tear it down to build it back up," and as a basketball fan, it's hard not to see what's shaping up in the City of Brotherly Love.
2013 Rookie of the Year
as you can see here. McRae is a pure scorer, something the Sixers haven't had since Allen Iverson.
Dario Saric, #12 Overall (from Orlando)
We all know that Saric isn't going to contribute to the team now. He isn't even coming to America until at least 2016. But he's only 20 years old, and he's already won an MVP award in the Adriatic League. And before he signed a contract to play in the Turkish Basketball League, he was widely considered a top-10 pick. It's not hard to see why. This past year, Saric averaged 19.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. The Sixers plan on getting an even better version of Saric when (and if) he comes over to the States in the next few years - when he'll be hitting his prime as a 23 or 24 year old. It's a smart investment.
A Promising Rotation
I really wanted to look at what the ideal lineup would be for the Sixers. I know you may have your own completely different lineup, but, for mine, I took into consideration everything from the advanced metrics, to potential, to my own film study from watching college basketball this past year. This is what I came up with:
| Player, Pos. | Height | PER | Ortg | DRtg | OWS | DWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Carter Williams, PG | 6'6" | 15.5 | 96 | 108 | -0.8 | 2.1 |
| Jordan McRae, SG | 6'6" | 24 | 119.2 | 100.7 | 4.3 | 2 |
| K.J. McDaniels, SF | 6'6" | 28.4 | 114.4 | 90.8 | 3.6 | 3.1 |
| Nerlens Noel, PF | 6'10" | 27.3 | 112.9 | 81.9 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| Joel Embiid, C | 7'0" | 28.2 | 116.6 | 90.9 | 1.8 | 1.7 |
| Lineup Averages and Totals | 6'7" | 24.7 | 111.8 | 94.5 | Total: 10.5 | Total: 11.3 |
I know, the first impression of this team is that it's young. But the way the Sixers have built up talent has only left them with youth and more youth. There are only a few players with a decent amount of NBA experience. As I looked at those players and their numbers, however, none of them really jumped out at me as starters. MCW seems like the only start-worthy player with one full year of NBA experience. After looking at the numbers, the rooks - McRae, McDaniels, Noel and Embiid - all stand out, and seem to have much more potential. Most importantly, there are some great features to a starting lineup like this.
The lineup is tall and lanky. Every single player stands at least 6-foot-6 in height. Both Carter-Williams and McRae should be able to take advantage of smaller point guard and combo-guards. McDaniels, though he may seem small, is lanky and has played forward a lot of his college career. He's the type of defender that could do wonders at the small forward position.
The frontcourt, however, is the most compelling part of this lineup. Noel and Embiid, both practically centers, are a great combination down low. Both are very versatile and can step out to hit some midrange jumpers or they can use their skillful post games to attack down low. But they will be even better defensively as they hold down the paint with their height and shot-blocking ability.
The most important part of this lineup is that it works. Well, we don't know that for sure yet, but it sure looks like it on paper. If all of these players play to their best abilities, it should amount to success. In fact, according to the total offensive and defensive ratings in a game where there's 100 possession, this team should win by a score 111 to 94. To be honest, it's not likely this lineup would average over 110 points per game. But I can believe in the defensive rating. Noel and Embiid will be huge factors down low, and McDaniels is a great defender. If McRae is a decent defender, as evidenced by his rating, and MCW improves upon his lackluster 108, this could be a very scary defensive team.
The Sixers are coming. And they play in the Eastern Conference. You never know what could happen. But, one thing is for certain. The future in Philly is bright.