Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia 76ers are bad at playing defense.
They surrender the most points per game (110.6), rank 6th-worst in defensive efficiency and are allowing opponents to shoot a strong 46 percent from the field. Philadelphia’s terrible defense is bad for the team, as well as their fans.
However, it’s incredible for fantasy purposes.
We are 10 weeks into the season, so the sample size is legitimate and large. However, while many knowledgeable fantasy hoops players are well aware of how heavenly the 76ers are for fantasy, some probably don’t. I mean, take tonight, for example. There were only three games on tap, but many daily players were all over NBA action, simply because the 76ers played. They’re bad, folks. How bad, you ask?
Let’s find out.
Vs Point Guards
The cream of the atrocious crop.
As bad as the 76ers are at defending the other four positions (we’ll get to that later), they are by far the worst against point guards. The 46.08 points per game allowed is the most in the NBA by almost three whole fantasy points. Opposing point guards are also averaging a league-leading 10.60 assists per contest this season, as well as 2.80 three-pointers allowed per game, which is also tops among defensive units. In fact, the Sixers rank inside the bottom-10 in every statistical category against point guards, whether it be steals, blocks, field goals made, you name it. The Sixers play at such a fast pace (league-leading 102.7) that opposing point guards tend to benefit from it, and it presents them with far more fantasy opportunity than they would see against other teams.
Vs Shooting Guards/Small Forwards
Hey, improvement.
Instead of being the worst against shooting guards, Philadelphia is only surrendering the third-most fantasy points per game to the position (39.05). The Sixers are one of the worst teams at defending the three-ball, allowing 10.2 triples made per game, the most in football. Shooting guards benefit from that, too, as they are sinking 2.87 three-pointers per game, the second-most in basketball.
As for small forwards, guess what? Philadelphia is once again in the bottom three, allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to the position (40.75). Opposing small forwards are averaging the third-most points per game each night, coming in at a srong 21.80 per contest. Small forwards are also averaging the third-most rebounds per game on the season, hauling in a healthy 8.48 boards per game.
Vs Power Forwards/Centers
The Sixers also have one of the softest frontcourts in the NBA.
This unit is coughing up a healthy 12.1 offensive rebounds per game, which is the 6th-most in the league. They are also surrendering 34.5 defensive rebounds per contest, which is good for the third-most in the league. The opposition is averaging a whopping 55.5 total rebounds per game. Only Lakers opponents are averaging more this season. Because of their inability to grab rebounds consistently, opposing power forwards and centers have been very fantasy relevant against them.
Power forwards are averaging 44.25 fantasy points per game, which is good for the fourth-most in the NBA. They are also blocking a strong 2.02 shots per game, the third-most among power forward units. They are also fourth in steals (1.58 per game).
As for centers, the Sixers are also surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points per game, coming in at 46.33. Centers are also leading the NBA in steals per game against the Sixers weak defense (1.67).
So, what have we learned today?
The Sixers are quite bad on defense. They rank inside the bottom-five in fantasy points alowed to every single position in basketball. I mean, whenever the Sixers on the a night’s slate, fantasy players tend to gravitate towards that matchup, simply because plenty of points are likely to be scored.
Start everyone, folks.
Adam Pfeifer is a featured fantasy sports columnist for Rant Sports.
You can follow him on Twitter @aPfeiferRS.
