Sixers' Saric accepts backup role
The power forward will go from carrying the Sixers last year to manning the second unit this coming season.
Dario Saric basically carried the 76ers after last season's NBA all-star break.
The power forward was the Eastern Conference's rookie of the month in February and March. He scored in double figures in 22 straight games. It was the longest streak by a rookie that season.
Saric had a career-high 32 points on March 24 versus the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.
His previous career high of 29 points came against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center on March 12. Two games before that, Saric scored 28 versus the Trail Blazers in Portland.
Yet, the 23-year-old, who thrived as a starter, will have a backup role this season.
"Everybody wants to start, you know," Saric said following Wednesday's training camp practice. "Sometimes it's easier to start.
"But I don't have a problem coming from the bench."
The 2016-17 rookie of the year finalist is the odd man out with the return of Ben Simmons and additions of J.J. Redick and Markelle Fultz.
The Sixers starting lineup will feature Simmons, Fultz, Redick, Robert Covington, and Joel Embiid. One would assume that Simmons and Saric could co-exist in the starting lineup. Folks point out that Saric is a post player while Simmons will be the primary ballhandler. That's true. However, Simmons is expected to guard power forwards on the defensive end.
So there's really no place for him with Embiid manning the middle, Covington chasing swingmen, Redick defending twos and Fultz guarding point guards.
Plus, Saric and Embiid weren't exactly a good pairing together in the starting lineup at the beginning of last season. The spacing was bad. The team didn't turn the corner until Ersan Ilyasova, a stellar three-point shooting power forward, replaced Saric in the starting lineup on Nov. 16.
Saric returned to the lineup on Feb. 24 after Ilyasova was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. By then, Saric didn't have to worry about spacing issues with Embiid. The standout center had already played his final game due to a left meniscus tear.
Embiid is expected to return from the injury in time for the season opener at the Washington Wizards on Oct. 18.
"Sometimes it's like that," Saric said returning to a backup role. "Maybe I will have more space for me from the second unit. … I will try to fight 100 percent. That's in my blood."
He focused on the positives that come from playing a reserve role. Saric said he thinks it will allow him to see certain situations from the bench before playing against the other squad's second unit.
Regardless of when he plays, Saric's goals remain the same.
"I had a really good first season," he said. "But I will try to do that in the second season, too."
Saric said that whether he's a starter or reserve player, his goal is to be on the floor late with the game on the line. Sixers coach Brett Brown preaches that being on the floor at the end of games is more important than starting.
Whatever "position coach puts me in," Saric said. "I will play."
