McCaffery: In a special season, most 76ers made the grade
PHILADELPHIA » They won 52 regular-season games, a playoff series and NBAwide attention. For that, the 76ers had a satisfying, entertaining, compelling season, even if it did finish in a pile of failed shots and defensive assignments. How did it happen? Here is the breakdown in the customary if not obligatory assigning of grades. Cue that graduation march song. JUSTIN ANDERSON » W hen not injured, and he too often was, he typically provided energy and presence. His 33 percent 3-point shooting was underappreciated. He would have helped in the playoffs. Give him aC. JERRYD BAYLESS » He began the season as a starter and finished it so far at the end of the bench that Meek Mill might have told him to get down in front. Signed two years ago to shoot and paid $8.6 million this season to do that, he was unable to get off enough long shots to matter, thus making him an ineffective backcourt partner for Ben Simmons. That D doesn’t stand for defense. MARCO BELINELLI » The Sixers were 24-5 after adding him around the trade deadline. He shot 49.5 percent overall for the Sixers in the regular season, 38.5 percent from distance. But those numbers dipped to 40.6 and 34.8 in the playoffs, when his defense virtually disappeared. For what the Sixers needed, which was a high playoff seeding, he was ideal. Make it a Bminus. ROBERT COVINGTON » At his best, he was a tremendous value. At his worst, he was not able to keep his starting job. If Covington was an All-Defensive team candidate, it was for his ability to smother lesser players on lesser teams in ordinary regular-season games. He was less effective guarding stars. With the Sixers needing shooting accuracy in the playoffs, he shot an unacceptable 31.3 percent from beyond the arc. But he had too many big nights in the regular season to dismiss. Grade: C-plus. JOEL EMBIID » He was an MVP candidate. His lack of foot speed on defense became alarming enough in the playoffs to wonder if he will ever dominate the game at both ends, as was the plan. But he had a special season, easily good for an A. MARKELLE FULTZ » He was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft and healthy, and yet his head coach would not insert him into elimination games. He sat out 68 games with some mysterious shoulder malfunction, but for at least the last 35 he was physically able to participate in vigorous, on-court, pregame drills. He is ill-suited to Brett Brown’s system. Grade: F. RICHAUN HOLMES » For what the Sixers needed, which was a reliable and defense-minded backup big man, he rarely disappointed. He was always ready when asked and never whined when he wasn’t. Grade: C. ERSAN ILYASOVA » A special, team-changing, season-changing addition, his length and ability to play multiple frontcourt positions helped the Sixers win even when Embiid was disabled with a fractured orbital bone. A pro, he gave the Sixers 36.1 3-point regular-season shooting and vital rebounding. His 29 percent 3-point postseason shooting and ordinary playoff defense, however, cannot be dismissed. Make it a B-minus. DEMETRIUS JACKSON » A two-way contracted point guard, he appeared in three games. A committed worker, he was among the last ever to leave the practice floor. Grade: Incomplete. AMIR JOHNSON » The Sixers paid him $5.5 million for what he provided, a good, backup center to lend necessary experience to a young team. His role was reduced later in the season and never caused a stir. He was never out of place when used, but the Sixers hoped for a little more boxscore presence. Grade: C. FURKAN KORKMAZ » On the G-League shuttle early, then lost for 43 games while recovering from a broken foot, he was a non-factor. He was fairly highly touted to be so ordinary, but 14 games played are insufficient for a fair evaluation. Grade: Incomplete. TIMOTHE LUWAWU-CABARROT » Unlike with some other young players, Brown seemed determined to give the swingman a chance, using him in 52 games. He downed six 3-pointers in a game in Memphis, hinting at his potential. But he had too many empty minutes and eventually was buried by Belinelli. Grade: Cminus. T.J. MCCONNELL » It took a while to shed his walkon label, but when it mattered in the playoffs, he became a starter. He defended for 94 feet, moved the ball, shot well enough from distance to be an issue and finished at the rim with magical reliability for a 6-2 player. Grade: A-minus. J.J. REDICK » The best shooter the Sixers have ever employed. A perfect fit for Brown’s offense. It’s easy to spend $23 million the wrong way. Spending it on Redick was the right way. Grade: A. DARIO SARIC » A year removed from a strong Rookie of the Year candidacy, he continued to improve and became a 39.3 3-point shooter. Blessed with an inner GPS that allows him to know where to be for almost every rebound, his competitive streak defined the Sixers’ season. He slipped some in the Boston series, but he was not alone. Grade: A. BEN SIMMONS » The Celtics figured him out, denying him access to the rim and challenging him to shoot. He can’t shoot. He’ll probably never shoot. But he was sensational enough in the regular season, providing 12 triple-doubles and the ability to generate offense from beyond the midcourt line to deserve every Rookie of the Year vote he receives. Grade A. BRETT BROWN » His team defended. It was unselfish. It absorbed veteran players at the deadline without the customary in-house issues. It thrived despite a failed No. 1 overall draft pick. It thrived when Embiid broke his orbital bone. It thrived when it went big. It thrived when it went small. It won 24 more regular-season games than it did the previous year. It reached the second round of the playoffs. He should be the NBA Coach of the Year. Grade: A.