Sixers’ young Star deserving of more Playing time that can give them a big Defensive Boost

The Sixers require defensive help, and teenage guard Jaden Springer can provide it.

The Philadelphia 76ers boast one of the strongest rosters in the NBA right now, as well as one of the oldest. The Sixers have a veteran-laden team once again, ranking in the top 1o in average player age. They still have room in their rotation for some younger players, most notably Tyrese Maxey, and should consider giving Jaden Springer regular minutes off the bench.

Paul Reed advanced from a promising young player to a legitimate rotation player last season. This season, Springer has the opportunity to do the same. If the Sixers want to enhance their defense and develop another young rotation player, they should make room in their rotation for Springer.

Why Jaden Springer deserves more playing time for the Sixers

Springer started the year on the fringes of the Sixers’ rotation, appearing in six of their first eight games and playing almost all garbage-time minutes in his last seven appearances. He hasn’t had many chances to be a mainstay in the rotation aside from a three-game streak where he played just over 20 minutes in each one.

In those three games — two of which the Sixers won and the other one being a loss to the Boston Celtics in which Springer was a game-changer — Springer averaged 9.0 points while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from deep. He took seven of his 18 field goals from beyond the arc, a decent three-point attempt rate of .389, which is just below the league average. These stats don’t indicate Springer is bound to be a starter but it shows he can produce sound results on the box score while also bringing energy and defensive playmaking.

The Sixers need defense. Although they rank favorably on that end right now, they have trouble containing opponents at the perimeter. Some of that is designed to funnel them to Embiid, whose rim protection provides a dead end. But they too often let guys get by too freely, which leaves them susceptible to kick-out passes and force rotations that require perfect communication and movement to contain offenses.

Springer could be the most impactful defender on the Sixers aside from Embiid. He ranks fourth on the team in both steal percentage and block percentage. Because of his strength, quickness in his hands and feet and hard-nosed mentality, no one else on the roster is better at the point of attack than him.

The upgrade Springer would provide on defense is obvious. But the question remains of how much of a drop-off the other end will be. The knock on him has been and continues to be his lack of reliability on offense, namely his shaky jumper. While he still has some proving to do, he can’t do it without getting that chance. From what he has shown so far this season, he can at least hold his own on offense.

The Sixers won’t need Springer to shoulder a heavy, or even modest, burden of shot creation. Embiid and Maxey are fine doing it on their own with guys like Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre Jr. pitching in here and there. All Springer has to do is take the open shots that come to him and not totally botch attacks on closeouts. In what he has already shown this season, he is more than capable of that.

While Springer may not be super dynamic with the ball — though he does have the build of someone who could be a very good slasher — he can be very useful off of it as a cutter. His unproven shooting makes him a questionable fit around Embiid but everything else he can do makes the fit work in theory. In practice, the fit pops off the page.

The defensive duo of Springer and Embiid wrecks opposing offenses and plays like this, where Springer cuts into the space his man vacates and fights off a bigger defender to get a layup, make them compatible on offense (or at least good enough to make up for any floor-spacing deficiency).

With Embiid and Springer on the court and with low-leverage situations filtered out, the Sixers have a net rating of +58.9, per PBP stats. The sample size of 38 minutes is limited but still indicative that the Springer-Embiid tandem (even in minutes where Tyrese Maxey is resting) can thrive.

Embiid said after Springer’s huge game against Boston that the young guard is someone who “should definitely get a lot of minutes. He did tonight. He’s tough defensively. He knows how to play, cut to the basket. He had a great drive in the first half from the corner and he scored. He’s tough. I’m sure as they see, I’m sure they’re going to get a better feel and they’re gonna start using him more.”

This endorsement shouldn’t be the only reason Springer gets minutes but it should serve as proof that the Sixers’ franchise guy sees his value very clearly. Nick Nurse is adamant about playing a 10-man rotation and Springer, clearly, is not a part of it right now.

While the Sixers have plenty of veterans to plug and play, none of them can do what Springer does. Nurse should start trying to incorporate Springer by giving him minutes at the end of quarters with Embiid. With injuries to him and Nicolas Batum, the rotation needs guys to step up. It’s worth a try to see if Springer’s defense can help Philly a change of pace.

When they do come back, it’s worth trying Springer as a guard off the bench who plays opposite Patrick Beverley’s minutes. Playing him alongside either Maxey or De’Anthony Melton provides a balance of shooting. While Marcus Morris Sr. has shot the ball very well, it’s worth letting Springer take his spot once Embiid returns.

Morris’ defense on and off the ball has not been very good and his scoring, while valuable, isn’t needed as much when Embiid and Maxey play. What is needed when just both, one or even neither play, tough, is defense. The Sixers know who to call for that.

Springer was recently assigned to the G League to get him some actual playing time during a stretch he wasn’t getting any in Philly. Since he is seemingly on the outskirts of the Sixers’ rotation, getting him real in-game reps when the schedule has space for it makes sense. But the better plan would be to simply make room for Springer in Philly’s rotation.