NFL
The Philadelphia 76ers made a late addition to the team during for NBA Trade Deadline that should not only put them as the favorites in the Eastern Conference, but the favorites to win it all. Yes, the Brooklyn Nets made a few moves themselves but this 76ers’ team is not to be taken lightly.
While everyone expected a move for Kyle Lowry, Victor Oladipo, or Zach LaVine, Daryl Morey pulled a rabbit from his hat with the George Hill deal.
Adding Hill allows Doc Rivers to get creative with his lineups. While the consensus is that Hill will come off the bench, the smart decision will be for Rivers to start Hill in the backcourt with Seth Curry and put Ben Simmons at the Point Forward position.
The reason this is a great move for the team is spacing. With Simmons leading the attack, the 76ers are one of the best in the league record-wise. However, even with his great passing and court vision, the 76ers still rank 22nd in the league in assists per game. This will give the 76ers three players who can shoot over a defense or attack the rim off the dribble.
Placing Hill in the starting five will allow better shooting opportunities for Curry who’s already hitting .422 percent from deep. It will also allow Tobias Harris to slide back into his natural SF position to create mismatches for opponents.
But the best reason is that it will put Simmons in a position where we will dominate any PF set to defend him. Simmons is a master at getting to the rim and most Forwards cannot keep him in front. With his court vision, Simmons would be even more dangerous making passes from the post than from atop the key.
Hill is not a better passer than Simmons but he’s a threat from the perimeter. This season, while with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Hill shot .508 percent from the floor while connecting on .386 percent from beyond the arc. This is what the 76ers’ offense has been missing.
Yes, Kyle Lowry could have provided the same but Hill is a solid vet at a much cheaper price. The 76ers improved while not sacrificing the pieces used to get them atop the Eastern Conference standings.
The bench has been a huge concern for the Philadelphia 76ers but sliding Danny Green to the second unit will give them a solid defensive presence to go along with the likes of Dwight Howard, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, and Furkan Korkmaz.
George Hill is not LaVine, Oladipo, or Lowry but he doesn’t have to be. The 76ers were the best team in the East before the trade and they walked away from the trade still in that position.
The Nets are a real threat but chemistry may prove to be a problem come playoff time. The Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics have struggled all year while the 76ers have stayed consistent.
While their shooting has been a focal point this year, the real winner of Hill starting would be Joel Embiid. With Simmons and Hill on the court at the same time, this will allow more freedom for Embiid to operate in the post.
With defenders having to respect his perimeter game, this will place defenses in a tough spot. The 76ers can now take defenders off the dribble if a zone is played and allow Harris, Hill, and Curry to come off screens if man is played.
The second unit has played well but their bread and butter is still their starting unit. It was strong before the trade but it’s even better after, thanks to the addition of George Hill.
