Breaking down potential lineups for 2022-23 Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers head into the 2022-23 season with expectations of being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They have two legitimate stars, Joel Embiid and James Harden, leading the way; a rising star, Tyrese Maxey; and solid additions via trades and free agent signings.
Those new additions include scrappy guard De’Anthony Melton, former NBA champion PJ Tucker, and good 3-and-D contributor Danuel House Jr. With the versatility those additions offer, the Sixers can throw out a variety of lineups. Sixers Wire breaks down a few of the lineups coach Doc Rivers can use.
The starters
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PG: James Harden
SG: Tyrese Maxey
SF: Tobias Harris
PF: PJ Tucker
C: Joel Embiid
In the 2021-22 season, the Sixers employed this starting lineup with Matisse Thybulle instead of Tucker, and they scored 123.3 points per 100 possessions per Cleaning the Glass. Due to Thybulle’s vaccination status, they went with veteran Danny Green in the playoffs and that lineup scored 116.2 points per 100 possessions. With legitimate 3-point shooter Tucker catching passes from Harden and Embiid, the offense should run more efficiently than in the 2021-22 season.
The closers
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PG: James Harden
SG: Tyrese Maxey
SF: Tobias Harris
PF: PJ Tucker
C: Joel Embiid
There is no reason to change the closing lineup from the starting lineup. Harris and Tucker are legitimate 3-and-D players on the perimeter. Harris has improved greatly on the defensive end, and Tucker is already a pest on that end of the floor. Given their 3-point shooting ability and the star power of Harden, Maxey and Embiid, the Sixers should feel comfortable running offense late.
Shooting lineup
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PG: James Harden
SG: Tyrese Maxey
SF: Danuel House Jr.
PF: Georges Niang
C: Joel Embiid
Maxey shot 48% from deep after the All-Star break once Harden joined the team in the trade, and he has turned into a feared 3-point shooter. House Jr. is a legitimate shooter who shot over 41% from deep in the 2018-19 season next to Harden in Houston while Niang shot 40.3% from deep in his first Sixers season making him a great complement next to The Beard.
Defense lineup
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PG: De’Anthony Melton
SG: Danuel House Jr.
SF: Matisse Thybulle
PF: PJ Tucker
C: Joel Embiid
Looking at this lineup at first glance, one might wonder how they would generate offense, but House Jr. and Tucker are elite catch-and-shoot players while Embiid is just great all-around. All five of these guys, especially Thybulle and Embiid, are terrific on the defensive end and they can generate enough offense to make it all work.
Playing big
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PG: James Harden
SG: Danuel House Jr.
SF: Tobias Harris
PF: Georges Niang
C: Joel Embiid
This lineup offers size and versatility. Harden and Embiid would again make everybody’s lives easier and they would have the proper shooting around them in House Jr., Harris and Niang. Philadelphia can attack the glass with this lineup as well which was a problem in the 2021-22 season.
Going small
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PG: De’Anthony Melton
SG: Tyrese Maxey
SF: Danuel House Jr.
PF: Tobias Harris
C: PJ Tucker
When Rivers needs to get Embiid a break, that is where Tucker can come in with a smaller lineup. This group offers shooting at all five positions as well as players who can get out and run on the break and be able to score in bunches. The versatility of Harris and Tucker to play multiple positions will be a big plus throughout the upcoming season.
The all-bench lineup
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PG: De’Anthony Melton
SG: Shake Milton
SF: Danuel House Jr.
PF: Matisse Thybulle
C: Georges Niang
At some point, Rivers will pull out an all-bench lineup. It happens at times, but the Sixers will have a solid cast of players they can turn to with the Melton and House Jr. additions. The two of them provide elite play on both ends of the floor, and the Sixers will be able to count on them a bit more than say a Furkan Korkmaz. One has to figure Paul Reed will figure into the rotation somehow as well to back up Embiid, but Rivers could just go small with a lot of his lineups due to the versatility and shooting.
