When the Philadelphia 76ers fully invested in their guard depth this summer, many expected them to field a three-guard lineup this season. Now that Quentin Grimes is back in action, that possibility is approaching reality.
Nick Nurse revealed that starting three guards is “definitely on the table” after the 76ers’ practice on Wednesday, Liberty Ballers’ Paul Hudrick reported. Philadelphia will get a chance to experiment with Grimes, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe against the Orlando Magic on October 10 at 7:00 PM EST.
Why Philadelphia should do this
Fans spent the offseason debating which of the 76ers’ talented guards should start next to Maxey. However, during the trial, some did not understand why Philadelphia made such a commitment to its backcourt.
Playing multiple guards gives the 76ers more versatility on both ends of the floor. Philadelphia’s smaller size would allow them to move more freely and force turnovers, both of which have been key parts of Nurse’s defense in recent years.
However, this unorthodox formation mainly strengthens the 76ers’ attack. Whether Philadelphia starts Grimes, Edgecombe or Jared McCain he is recovering from his torn UCLthere will be sufficient floor space over the entire half field.
Philadelphia shot 8.6% from beyond the arc against the New York Knicks on Thursday and then improved to 36.4% in the rematch on Saturday. While the preseason numbers will be useless data on opening night, these two outings highlighted the 76ers’ spacing issues.
Although Kelly Oubre Jr., who started at the three, has contributed in other ways, the Knicks ignored him and swarmed the paint because of his spotty shooting. At power forward, Trendon Watford and Dominick Barlow are also questionable shooters, as they both shot less than 35% from three-point range in their respective careers.
By playing rotations with multiple guards, Philadelphia will give themselves variety in ball handling and plenty of floor space around the core of Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George.
Possible disadvantages
Edgecombe showed glimpses of two-way brilliance in the first two preseason games in Philadelphia. However, in those games he was unable to record more than one three-pointer. The Knicks showed him the same respect, or lack thereof, as Oubre and Barlow. Nevertheless, the third overall pick can make up for it with his athleticism and defensive play.
Still, with a three-guard lineup, the 76ers could exploit one of their biggest weaknesses: rebounding. New York defeated Philadelphia in both games.
The 76ers’ lack of front court size was already a blemish on the roster, so these problems could be exacerbated if they went small. After all, this is a team that has ranked among the bottom 10 teams in the NBA in rebounds per game since the 2021-2022 season.
Either way, the benefits outweigh the risks. Philadelphia wanted to become a more modern team with its youth and lineup versatility, and experimenting at this size is a step in the right direction.
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