One Skill Every Philadelphia 76ers Player Should Work On This Offseason
After a successful free agency, the Sixers are primed for championship contention next season. The trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George is one of the best in the entire association; few teams have as much talent on paper as Philadelphia. However, everybody on the 76ers, from the stars to the bench pieces, will need to improve in order to maximize the team’s championship window. But what part of their game should they focus on? Below, I’ll analyze one skill each Sixers player should improve this offseason:
Joel Embiid: Playmaking
What does a MVP and 7-time All-Star need to do to get better? To be honest, Joel Embiid already has a complete skill set, as he’s extremely dominant on both ends. But if the superstar becomes an even better passer, he could elevate his game to yet another level.
Embiid has improved as a playmaker over time, but the big man is still far from perfect in that regard. He’s prone to errant passes out of double teams, contributing to his high mark of 3.8 TOV per game. If Joel can limit his mistakes and get the ball to others in more creative ways, Philadelphia’s offense would become even more efficient. Plus, with the addition of Paul George and development of Tyrese Maxey, Embiid won’t have to carry such a heavy burden scoring-wise, meaning he can spend energy elsewhere on offense. Ultimately, it’s more important than ever for Joel Embiid to create open shots for his teammates, as the Sixers are arguably the most talented they’ve ever been.
Tyrese Maxey: Mid-range scoring
At first glance, it seems like Tyrese Maxey is a flawless shot-maker. The 6–2 guard is a career 39.6% three-point shooter and a ridiculous finisher around the rim. However, Maxey isn’t as efficient from the mid-range as you might expect, given his scoring pedigree:
If Tyrese can improve his mid-range shot, he’ll become a true three level scorer. Opposing defenders will have to respect him more in a multitude of different situations. Specifically, Maxey will be able to punish teams in drop coverage while orchestrating the pick-and-roll with Embiid. On the flip side, if Tyrese doesn’t have a mid-range game, his ceiling will be capped. Many of the NBA’s best scorers, such as Kevin Durant, Jalen Brunson, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are elite from the inside the arc. Tyrese Maxey can join that club if he develops an efficient jumper from 17 to 20 feet out.
Paul George: Passing
Paul George is one of the most complete players in the NBA. He’s excellent both offensively and defensively, and will undoubtedly help Philadelphia for years to come. But if there’s one area where I’d want PG to improve, it’d be his passing. The 6–8 wing wasn’t a great distributor last season, finishing in the 53rd percentile in Passer Rating (CraftedNBA).
George is certainly not a bad playmaker, but with some more improvement he can take the Sixers offense to the next level. Especially when Embiid and/or Maxey are off the floor, Paul will play a vital role in orchestrating Philly’s half-court offense. If he’s able to consistently set up his teammates in advantageous positions, the sky’s the limit for the 76ers. I’m very excited to monitor how George adapts his play style to fit with Philadelphia’s already established core.
Kelly Oubre: Catch-and-shoot threes
Kelly Oubre Jr. had a career year with the Sixers, scoring 15.4 PPG and bringing energetic perimeter defense nightly. The 28-year-old vastly outplayed the minimum contract he was on, earning himself a 2 year, $16.3 million deal to stay in Philadelphia. However, Oubre wasn’t the most accurate from outside, as he knocked down only 31.1% of his triples.
Analyze Oubre’s shooting further, and you’ll see he wasn’t any more efficient in catch-and-shoot situations (31.4%, only a slight increase from his overall 3P%). Why am I looking at these C&S situations specifically? The answer is that those are most shot Oubre will take from deep next season as a part of a star-studded Sixers roster. He’s now expected to be more of a complementary piece, not a shot-creator. Kelly raising his catch-and-shoot numbers to at least league average would do wonders for the 76ers and elevate his impact on offense even more.
