The Case of the Disappearing Role Players

With the Sixers struggling to survive in a solid Eastern Confrence, the likelihood of the team putting together a true run at contention seems slimmer by the day. The team has shown in recent weeks that it can be competitive, but the inconsistency shown and the inability to close out games are certainly not traits of a championship-caliber team. With a top-heavy Eastern Confrence it is completely plausible for the squad to make a second half run and secure one of the lower seeds but at what cost? Would yet another first round playoff exit to one of the League’s superior teams validate the season? Such a “success” might be able to hide the subpar job that first-year coach Eddie Jordan has done, but it would also land the Sixers in the same spot they’ve been in far too often recently; early playoff exit, no lottery pick, moderate expectations and mild buzz for the following season based on the talent on the talent on the roster and the Confrence they play in, followed by another mediocre season, supplying little to validate the initial excitement or buzz. In fact, recent Sixer seasons are strangely beginning to parallel seasons of LOST; a lot of hype heading into the season followed by in-season highs and lows, a substantial amount of drama, and an eventual end shrouded in disappointment and uncertainty. The only difference is that one of those seasons is enjoyable to watch, and a trip to the consistently half-empty Wachovia center should demonstrate that it certainly isn’t the suffering Sixers.

As the season approaches the halfway mark, the Sixers are sitting soundly in the second-to-last seed in the Eastern Conference; a position that certainly indicates that something isn’t clicking and should signify the need for change. However, more curious than the consistent laid-back demeanor of a coach who should be sitting squarely in the hot seat, is the rotation (or lack thereof) that Coach Eddie Jordan employs. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to when or how often particular players get minutes, and if I was told that Jordan picks his fourth quarter lineup out of a hat, sadly, I would not be surprised. What other factor could explain the virtual disappearance of Marreese Speights, Jason Kapono, and Jason Smith? All three of these players were touted in the offseason as ready to have breakout seasons while serving as key pieces in the Sixer puzzle.

Kapono was brought in during the offseason to help the team with one of their main flaws from a season ago; three point shooting. While Kapono has netted 30 of 74 attempts from long distance so far this season, his lack of playing time, logging only 14.3 minutes a game, has not allowed him the proper time to get comfortable with the offense or his shooting stroke, evidenced by the fact that his .405 shooting percentage from long range this season is his lowest since the 2005-2006 season. Not so coincidently, his minutes per game this season are at their lowest since that same 2005-2006 season, illustrating the fact that more time on the court allows him to be a more accurate shooter, a piece of information that Jordan clearly has missed, as he seems all too content with Jason sitting in a leather chair just a few feet from his own.

Jason Smith’s disappearance does not come as a complete shock, as the Sixers have plenty of players to fill the four spot, including two-time all-star Elton Brand, and up and comers Thaddeus Young and the aforementioned Speights. There is only so much room in the front court, but with the potential Smith has shown one has to believe that increasing his minutes could only work to benefit the team and bolster the front line.

The most curious case is certainly that of Marreese Speights. After a solid rookie year where he averaged upwards of 8 and 4 per (in only sixteen minutes a game), Speights was poised for a breakout season in which both his minutes and production were figured to see a substantial increase. However, like most things thus far in the Jordan era, that has not quite panned out, but due in no part to Marreese. Speights has become the poster boy for inconsistent minutes, playing the bulk of some games and then seeing extremely limited action in others, evidenced by last night’s loss to the Knicks. Speights did not check into the game until midway through the fourth quarter, when he suddenly became the team’s go-to-guy in the clutch, even having the final play drawn up in attempt to get him a look at the basket. In 9 minutes of play, Speights put up 10 and 6, leaving Sixer nation scratching its collective head, wondering why he had not sniffed the court prior to that fourth quarter burst. Marreese has demonstrated that he can score in a variety of ways, even possessing a nice 15-19 foot jumper, an asset noticeably missing from the rest of the Sixer bigs. Marreese has lived up to expectations, at least as much as he can given his sparse playing time, upping his averages to 10 points and 5 boards a game, while notching only three more minutes per than in his rookie campaign. It is true that he can often be overmatched against quicker, more athletic forwards, but his offensive abilities warrant more playing time, especially considering the substantial amount of potential he has displayed throughout his short career.

It is no secret that the Sixers squad has been horrendous at closing out games this year, and more minutes for Jason, Marreese, and Jason doesn’t guarantee victory. However, allotting them more playing time could allow them to provide a bigger boost off the bench, working to better balance the team. Increasing the playing time of Smith, Speights, and Kapono is probably not the magical answer the Sixers are searching for in order to save the season, but at this point, it can’t hurt.