Sixers: Jerryd Bayless and T.J. McConnell are the keys to talented bench
The Sixers are set to roll out a talented starting five, but the success will come with the leaders off the bench.
Jerryd Bayless and T.J. McConnell won’t be high-profiled names when it comes to Sixers talk this year. But they could hold the keys to Philadelphia’s success. The two have seen their roles shrink mightily, thanks to the return of point forward Ben Simmons and the additions of guards Markelle Fultz and J.J. Redick.
So how is it possible that Bayless and McConnell obtain such an importance to this season’s success for the Sixers? Bayless comes in as Fultz’s relief, serving as Simmons’ secondary ball-handler. The role that was expected of him last year mimics equal importance this year.
The staggering of Simmons and Fultz will revolve around two bench players: Bayless and Dario Saric. Dario Saric is clearly the leader of the bench scoring wise. When Joel Embiid and Simmons are off the court, Saric is the focal point of the offense. Problem is, he doesn’t possess the point forward abilities Simmons does.
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McConnell showed the ability to lead the offense last season as the floor general. Even as the “third” point guard off the bench, his role as a facilitator remains keen. Bayless playing off the ball of McConnell isn’t ideal defensively, but his three-point shooting holds importance to the second unit.
Bayless will have to continue the consistency from the outside he showed in his final year with Milwaukee. A failure in Bayless creates a chain-effect in failures off the bench. While Fultz is off the court, the Sixers must continue to surround Simmons with able shooters to fully maximize the offensive game plan.
Although the Sixers’ guard depth is better than ever, the tail-end of the depth chart plays upmost importance. Bench depth has been a key driver for any successful team, and guard play leads the way for those successful benches often.
McConnell and Bayless may have a minimized role, but their importance hasn’t shrunk in the least bit. The wins come with the work of the entire machine, and these two names are nuts and bolts that will hold everything together.
Next: Brett Brown's half-court sets will see success
Brett Brown and Bryan Colangelo have constructed a somewhat complementary roster, and now all names will be utilized. McConnell and Bayless must lead these second and third units to keep the Sixers afloat while the first unit needs a breather. Both players are also looking to earn themselves a role in future seasons.