The Philadelphia 76ers made a number of solid offseason moves to improve the depth around Joel Embiid and James Harden. That makes for some pretty interesting and diverse lineups for the upcoming season.
Sixers Wire already broke down the many lineups coach Doc Rivers can utilize in the coming season, but Bleacher Report had a wrinkle to the small-ball lineup that it originated.
B/R’s small-ball lineup for Philadelphia is Tyrese Maxey, De’Anthony Melton, Harden, Tobias Harris and PJ Tucker. B/R on that lineup:
Melton has quietly been one of the league’s better perimeter defenders over the last few seasons, and his 6’8″ wingspan allows him to hold up against wings on switches. And Tucker, who gained plenty of experience as a small-ball 5 with Houston, has the strength to at least challenge opposing big men if teams counter a lineup like this with size.
The other three inclusions here are fairly obvious. James Harden — a famously solid post defender himself — Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris can provide enough firepower for a configuration like this to dominate short spurts.
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It will be interesting to see what Rivers and the Sixers will do when the season begins in October. This is a very good roster, and Philadelphia will have to decide on the best lineups for every situation outside of Harden and Embiid.
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