76ers Are Discovering an Uncomfortable Truth About LeBron James' Fit

When the Philadelphia 76ers went on to sign LeBron James, it was expected that he would make this team better, and he’s done that in a myriad of ways. 

He’s improved their defense tremendously. Last season they were ranked in the middle of the NBA. This season they have risen in the ranks all the way to second in defensive ranking. It's a huge contribution to what James brings to the game. The interesting thing is, this team may be better off without James on the court for offensive purposes.

In the games that James has missed, there seems to be a simpler flow to the offense. Now, that could be due to the fact that Tyrese Maxey is relegated to being the ballhandler, and that’s his comfort zone. The other part to this is while James will at times push the ball up court, he will still have the team bring the ball up to set up the half-court offense. That’s not this team's strong suit this season. 

Another aspect to James' game that may be a hindrance could be his shooting. Right now, James is shooting 23 percent from the field, and he is having a hard time finishing at the rim. Could it be Father Time catching up with him? Or is he still managing the pain from his sciatica? Either way, it shows just how different the offenses can be when he plays as opposed to sitting out. In the three games that James has missed, the 76ers are 3-0 on the season. It’s also rather noticeable how more of the ball moves around and other guys get a chance to score.

In those wins, VJ Edgecombe has stepped up and taken on more of the scoring role, whereas when James is in, Edgecombe fills other needs for the team. This is just one example of how different the team plays and what adjustments they have to make to accommodate James' style of play.  

Make no mistake about it, this team needs James in the long run, but it’s safe to say they can do without him if he had to sit out for a while. Look at it this way: if they relied on James to help this team, then you could say this team is in trouble. James is here to provide guidance when the playoffs roll around.

It just can’t be mistaken that there is a new look to the offense without James. Maybe this is something head coach Nick Nurse can take note of and use to his advantage.