The Philadelphia 76ers have a star-studded roster led by two of the game’s best in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. They also have assembled a supporting cast around those two that should be able to help them in the long term.
At the end of the day, the team will go only as far as Simmons and Embiid will take them and that means that the two of them will have to take the next step following a disappointing 2019-20 campaign.
To match their roster, the Sixers put together a star-studded coaching staff. Led by Doc Rivers who is one of the more successful coaches in the history of the league, the team hired the likes of NBA All-Star Sam Cassell to join Rivers’ staff. He was with Rivers with the Los Angeles Clippers and he also played under Rivers for the Boston Celtics in 2008.
Due to Cassell’s successful track record as a player and as a development coach, Rivers assigned him to Simmons to help him take the next step forward.
“That’s who’s assigned to Ben,” said Rivers at practice on Thursday. “Sam’s done wonderful work with a lot of guards throughout his career. I think he excels in that area. I think his knowledge is great for Ben. What to run, when to run it, where to go, where to space, where to attack. I just think Sam’s terrific. I think he’s one of the better skill development guys in the league and I don’t think it’s close.”
Ben Simmons working pregame with Sam Cassell #Sixers pic.twitter.com/oqXRmkAWO6
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) December 23, 2020
Simmons stated in training camp that he was working with Cassell on shooting more corner 3s, but Rivers will tell you that it’s more than that. It’s not just going out there and firing up shots as if Simmons is Stephen Curry or Damian Lillard, it’s more of having the knowledge of when to attack and that is what Cassell is working with him on.
“I think is a little bit of all those things,” Rivers added. “Where to look for your jump shot. Where to look for your attacks. How to space, how to cut, being big. There’s a lot. Ben, just like everybody else, there’s things we need to work on to get him better.”
Cassell won three titles as a player as he was one of the more passionate, tougher players on the floor. He passed on his experience to young guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during their time together in Los Angeles and now the hope is that he can do the same with Simmons. If he can, it could be the difference between a deep run to the playoffs and another early playoff exit.
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