Give and Go: Which Sixer Has Been Most Impressive Through Camp, Preseason?

Each week, our resident basketball analysts will discuss some of the hottest topics involving the Sixers.

Running the Give and Go are NBC Sports Philadelphia anchor/reporter Marshall Harris, NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com producer/reporter Matt Haughton and NBCSportsPhiladelphia.com producer/reporter Paul Hudrick.

This week, we'll break down which Sixer has been the most impressive during training camp and preseason so far.

Harris
With all of the hype over Markelle Fultz, it's easy to forget about Jerryd Bayless. 

Bayless missed all but three games in 2016-17 with a wrist injury. However, in the preseason he has shown exactly what Brett Brown expected from the guard last season when he signed with the Sixers as free agent. In two preseason contests Bayless has put up 19 points on 7 for 12 shooting from the field (4 for 8 from three-point range), five rebounds, four assists and just one turnover.

The question becomes now just how large of a role will he have on this team? He's better than Fultz at the moment, but Brown has stressed development and winning as being mutually exclusive. 

With 10 of their first 14 games on the road, playing Bayless more over Fultz makes sense if the Sixers are trying to avoid a 4-10 or 5-9 start. 

Yes, it could be that bad if you're relying on a Fultz-Ben Simmons backcourt defensively with Joel Embiid's availability on a nightly basis a giant question mark.

Haughton
A wise man named Uncle Drew once said the name of the game is to get buckets.

With all of the trade speculation and health questions surrounding Jahlil Okafor, it was easy to forget that the big man can flat out put the ball in the basket.

Through two preseason games, the slimmed-down Okafor has posted 24 points on a red-hot 10 for 13 shooting (76.9 percent). More importantly, he has shown a willingness to hit the glass with six boards in each game.

While Okafor will never be confused with a good defender, the big man's 20-pound weight loss has at least helped him be a little more active on that end.

You can never have enough scoring, and the Sixers should certainly benefit from bringing a healthy Okafor's offensive punch off the bench behind Embiid.

Hudrick
I'll be the guy who takes the obvious pick and choose Simmons.

That first quarter against Memphis was breathtaking. Sure, the Grizzlies' lineup that night was obviously not loaded with stars, but consider what Simmons has dealt with. He hadn't played an actual basketball game since the 2016 summer league. He finished Wednesday night with nine assists and just one turnover. Damn impressive for an NBA rookie who's never truly played the point guard position.

Friday night's loss to the Celtics was certainly a little disappointing, but these are the lumps Simmons will have to take. Especially when facing quality opponents like Boston. Then there's the obvious: the shot has to get better. I'm not talking threes. If he can learn to hit 12-foot pull ups, he could be unstoppable. 

Simmons is an example of why fans focused on the playoffs need to pump the brakes just a tad. Simmons will have plenty of games like Wednesday's but will also have a few like Friday's. Just enjoy the ride.