Kyle O’Quinn: The Most Important 76er
I was very fortunate to be in attendance at the Sixer’s first preseason game on the 8th and as “A Basketball Fan” something stood out to me, something that’s going to be very important this season and I don’t believe we’re making a big enough deal about it.
No, not Ben Simmons’ first three-pointer or Matisse’s outstanding performance, no it was something even bigger.
On Tuesday night October 8th Kyle O’Quinn was not Greg Monroe!
As I watched this preseason blowout against the Guangzhou Loong-Lions all I could focus on was the fact that the Sixers have a competent backup center, catching rebounds, contesting shots, and putting up easy lay-ins.
“NORMAL THINGS TO EXPECT FROM A BACKUP CENTER GREG!”
Why am I so excited about this pretty boring situation? Last season we drafted a point guard that forgot how to basketball, fired a GM for what “HiS WiFe” did, and almost lost a rookie due to a sesame oil allergy. After all this crazy I think I’m ready to settle down with a good ol’fashion organization I can take home to ma. Which means no more crazy stories, players, or management, distracting this team from an NBA Championship.
We were a team that started Greg Monroe in the playoffs last season, almost a decade after he was drafted and four years past his prime. 
Kyle O’Quinn looking dominant against a CBA Team is what normal teams expect. Last season our lack of consistency at that specific position, is what cost us a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
With how close the series was you can say that about any minor change in roster, coaching, or execution. But looking at the team it was obvious, that position was our weakest point.
Our bench has been a point of contention for forever we’ve never had reliable centers, shooters, or ball handlers. How does a team even do that how can we have 13 guys on a roster and 8 of them can’t shoot, handle the ball, or defend the rim? This offseason we addressed these issues as best we could with the additions of Al, Josh, Kyle, Raul, and Trey.
This season I predict that Kyle won’t average major minutes or turn the tide of most games but his consistent quality of play will quietly be the most important improvement we made this offseason.
“Reliable veteran talent”
a phrase that was once an enemy of all The Process stood for, now a welcomed sound.
