3 shooters on the Sixers roster that can help raise the team’s three-point percentage

The 76ers captured their first victory over the weekend, but here are three shooters whose three-point shooting can improve the team’s overall percentage from downtown.

On Sunday, the Philadelphia 76ers captured their first win against the Indiana Pacers 118-114 in overtime.

Philadelphia won their first game of the season without Paul George and Joel Embiid in the lineup. Tyrese Maxey led the team in scoring with 45 points on 43 percent shooting from the floor.

Caleb Martin (17 points), Eric Gordon (15 points) and Kelly Oubre, Jr. (14 points) chipped in with double-digit scoring. For the unforeseeable future, the 76ers will be without George and Embiid.

This Sixers team, as constructed, can handle some games without their other two All-Stars, but for how long is the question. For this team to be successful in this unknown stretch without two of their best players, they will need their three-point shooting to improve.

Right now, the team is shooting 27.5 percent from three which is last place in the league.

Maxey and Oubre love to put their head down and attack the rim. However, opposing teams will clog the paint if there is no floor spacing.

Here are three 76ers whose three-point shooting can improve the team’s overall percentage from downtown and help add more wins under their belt.

Caleb Martin

Caleb Martin signed with Philadelphia this offseason to a four-year, $35 million contract. He is trying to adjust to his new franchise and feel out his new role.

Needless to say, the former Miami Heat guard will need to get out of his shooting slump. He isn’t a player who can call his own number or create his own offense but he can catch and shoot.

Martin can space the floor with his shooting, and he can finish at the rim while drawing contact. Last season, he shot 34.9 percent from three, and now he is shooting a struggling 14.3 percent from downtown.

While in Miami, he played off of the pick-and-roll with Bam Adebayo and did a great job of placing the ball in his sweet spots. When Martin shoots at a high clip, it will allow other wings to attack the creases or create switches on the pick-and-roll, especially when Embiid returns.

Martin’s three-point shooting will help this team because of his ability to defend as well. He will help this team with floor spacing and creating easy offensive looks.

Right now, the 29-year-old is averaging 13.3 points without consistent shooting from beyond, but once he settles in, he will be able to extend his scoring opportunities.

Eric Gordon

Another player that the 76ers need to improve their shooting is Eric Gordon. He will be a pivotal piece to this team come the postseason.

The 17-year veteran is shooting an uncharacteristic 27.3 percent from three. Granted it’s still early in the season but he is a player the team needs because of his flexibility.

At 35 years old, Gordon can still space the floor, attack the rim, and handle the ball in spurts. He can run with the starters or the bench, depending on the team’s needs.

The last three teams that the former Phoenix Sun played on consisted of a roster built for an up-tempo style of play. Philadelphia can run in the break but the team focuses on half-court offense.

Once Embiid and George return, Gordon’s shooting will be needed to space the floor and allow Embiid to play from the elbow down. On the flip side, George will need space to work from all three phases of the floor because of his diverse scoring ability.

When Maxey, Embiid or George go to the bench or miss games, Gordon’s shot-making ability will be needed.

The Sixers may be one of the more efficient offensive teams that the 6-foot-3 guard has played on. He will need to be on the floor as the season continues to expand especially because of his playmaking and ability and IQ in crunch time situations.

Kelly Oubre Jr.

Maxey is a name that can be listed, but he will adjust, and he can impact the game in a variety of ways. Kelly Oubre Jr. is a Sixer that the team needs to shoot better.

Outside of George and Maxey, Oubre is probably the most athletic rotation player on the roster. He can finish at the rim with either hand and he is a solid free-throw shooter.

The 10-year veteran is a solid defender and can guard multiple positions and he is a hustle guy for this roster. He isn’t the best three-point shooter on the roster but he did shoot a career-high 35.2 percent from downtown while in Phoenix.

Philadelphia may not need Oubre Jr. to revert to 35 percent shooting (although that would be great), but they need him to hover around the 33 or 34 percent mark. Often, defenders won’t rush to close out on his shot or even rotate.

If Oubre can improve his three-point shooting, it will create a cutting lane for his teammates or an open lane for him to attack or kick out to an open teammate.

With the 6-foot-7 forward’s explosive athleticism, he will have slight separation to pull up for a midrange or three-pointer. If he starts to knock open shots down from deep, it will create more space for him to operate.

Improved three-point shooting will help Embiid by possibly taking away an extra defender who is double-teaming and it will force defenses to play straight-up man-to-man defense.