Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse is seemingly embracing the small-ball approach this season but was just one-upped by a Western Conference contender.
The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to start the 6-foot-7, 206-pound Herbert Jones at center, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. This rotational adjustment by Pelicans coach Willie Green trumps any of the undersized players Nurse has.
"He's going to be a hybrid player," Charania said of Jones on The Pat McAfee Show. "He's gonna play the 4 maybe some 5...I'm told Herb Jones is essentially going to serve as the starting center."
Jones is recognized as one of the NBA's top defenders, earning a spot on last year's All-Defensive First Team and finishing fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He was the shortest player in the top five of the voting. There's no doubt he can hold his own against those at his position, but it remains a mystery if the 26-year-old can properly contest the likes of 76ers' Joel Embiid and Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic.
Not to mention, New Orleans' Zion Williamson is only 6-foot-6 playing the power forward position.
Alternatively, the Sixers are taking the small-ball approach in two areas: power forward and the bench.
Caleb Martin is Philadelphia's anticipated starting power forward, standing at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds. The good news is Martin is accustomed to playing the position in his three years with the Miami Heat, as he averaged 4.4 rebounds last season.
As for the bench, Kyle Lowry and Jared McCain are both regarded as undersized NBA guards while Kelly Oubre Jr. and Paul George are not used to playing minutes at power forward. The haul of new players (some of whom are in new positions) could result in a slower than expected start to the regular season.
The positive for the Sixers and Pelicans is the NBA is in an era of position-less basketball, where any lineup filled with talent can compete for a championship.
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