The Philadelphia 76ers received some promising news last night as ESPN’s Tim Bontempt’s reported that Jared McCain is expected to make his debut tonight against Chicago.
Jared McCain Will Make His Debut Against Chicago. What Will His Role Be, And How Does He Affect Nick Nurse’s Rotation?
“Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain will be probable to play tomorrow night against the Chicago Bulls, sources told ESPN, Bontempts tweeted. “McCain will be in line to make his season debut after suffering a torn ligament in his right thumb in September before the start of training camp.”
It is excellent news that McCain, who is recovering from thumb surgery, was upgraded to probable, as he wasn’t expected to return until next week. McCain was out of the playing brace last Monday and putting up shots before practice, per Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com. There is a chance that the 76ers decide to hold McCain out if something doesn’t feel right during the preseason.
Tony Jones of The Athletic tweeted early this afternoon that McCain will indeed make his much-anticipated debut today.
“Jared McCain will officially be available to play tonight against the Chicago Bulls, I’m told,” Jones said. “He will make his season debut.”
What Will McCain’s Role Be When He Makes His Return?
Expect McCain to be on a minutes restriction and come off the bench tonight. McCain hasn’t played in a game since tearing his meniscus in his left knee on December 13. However, the No. 16 pick in the 2024 draft was excellent when he was on the court during his shortened rookie season. In 23 appearances, he produced one double-double and scored in double-figures 15 times, topping the 20-point mark eight times and the 30-point plateau twice.
McCain came off the bench in 15 of his 23 appearances for the 76ers last year. So, the 21-year-old guard does have experience doing so. He averaged 10.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 20 minutes a game a season in a reserve role.
If McCain does play, he projects to be the second guard off the bench. He will likely be behind starters Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and sixth-man Quentin Grimes. Therefore, the 6-2 combo guard will likely be limited to 20 minutes, although he may not even get that many, given that this is his first appearance. Expect McCain to receive between 12 and 20 minutes of court time.
The Bigger Question is What Will McCain’s Role Be When He Is Fully Cleared?
McCain can play either the one or the two. McCain is best suited off the ball, but he possesses solid handles and the ability to create secondary opportunities. He is proficient in pick-and-roll situations and moves well without the ball.
As a playmaker, McCain doesn’t turn over the ball and makes quick decisions. However, McCain is a below-average defender, as he gets beaten off the dribble and struggles to navigate screens. He possesses excellent awareness and plays hard, but his physical limitations restrict him to guarding point guards and smaller forwards.
Maxey is the clear leader of the team and has improved his performance in his NBA seasons. Maxey is having a career-best season, averaging 33.7 points, 9.0 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in an NBA-high 42.5 minutes.
Just like McCain, Edgecombe has made a fantastic start to his rookie campaign. Edgecombe has been the perfect sidekick for Maxey in the early going, averaging 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.5 steals, with shooting splits of 49.5/42.1/82.4. Edgecombe has scored at least 14 points in all six games, topping the 20-point plateau twice — which includes dropping 34 points in the season-opener against Boston. He is also an excellent perimeter defender.
Grimes is a strong, versatile wing defender and is the team’s sixth man. Grimes is not a point guard and will play either wing spot. So, if he ends up subbing for Maxey, Edgecombe would slide over to the point.
With McCain available, it is conceivable that Nurse will use McCain before Grimes if Maxey needs a rest. Either way, when the Sixers are full strength, McCain will likely see around 12 minutes at point guard and 10 to 15 at the two.
Looking At Nick Nurse’s Rotation
Even though McCain will be available, Paul George (knee) and Dominik Barlow remain out. George is believed to be getting closer to returning, but he is unlikely to play against Cleveland on Wednesday. Barlow will miss his fourth straight contest due to an elbow injury and is expected to be out until sometime next week. After today and tomorrow’s contests, the Sixers will play a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday. They next play Boston (November 11) and Detroit (November 14).
Starting Five
Nick Nurse has used four different starting lineups thus far this season. Here is a look at the Sixers’ projected starting unit tonight against Chicago.
PG: Tyrese Maxey: Likely to play around 35 minutes when everyone is healthy.
SG: VJ Edgecombe: Projects to play 25 minutes a game this year.
SF: Kelly Oubre Jr.
PF: Jabari Walker: George will take over the starting job when healthy. George will likely be on a minutes restriction for most of the season, likely averaging 20-25 a game.
C: Joel Embiid: Playing limited minutes (22 a game), though he should start his fifth contest of the year against Chicago.
Second Unit
6th: Quentin Grimes: Will likely see a little drop off in minutes when everyone is healthy: 25-30 per game at shooting guard and small forward.
7th: Adem Bona: Primary backup to Embiid. 10- 15 minutes a game.
8th: Jared McCain: Fourth guard: 22-27 minutes a game
9th: Trendon Watford: 15-20 minutes.
10: Andre Drummond: 10 minutes
Extras
11th: Jabari Walker: With Embiid and George being limited in minutes, Walker will likely see about 10-12 minutes a contest.
12th: Justin Edwards: His minutes will essentially evaporate, and he may see five a game when he does get a DNP.
13th: Dominick Barlow
Deep Bench
14. Kyle Lowry
15. Johni Broome
16. Eric Gordon
17. Hunter Sallis
© Troy Taormin, Imagn Images
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