by Doug Ammon

Whether you call it a block, a rejection, a swat, or something else, one thing is clear: it’s one of the most exciting plays in basketball

Of course there are the ferocious dunks that get fans out of their seats, but for some reason there is something uniquely fulfilling about watching a player deny his opponent from the glory of scoring. Blocks were not a recorded statistic until the 1973-74 season (legendary Sixers statistician Harvey Pollack was responsible for bringing blocks to the NBA stat sheet), but since then they have held a special place in the game, and for those that watch it.

This season, the Sixers have it made it their mission to use their all-world athleticism and turn it into to high-octane defense, specifically in the shot-blocking department. Philadelphia is currently ranked third among all NBA teams in blocks per game, averaging six blocks a contest. Only the Bulls and Warriors block more shots.

The squad’s blocking ability has also led to an increased total defensive efficiency rating, as they now rank 13th overall in the category after ranking 27th in defensive rating last season. They also ranked 25th in blocked shots in 2013-14.

So how did the Sixers rise the ranks?

The Sixers only have one seven footer, rookie Joel Embiid, and he hasn’t played all season while he recovers from foot surgery. But behind Embiid are 13 other players who measure 6’6” and above; at 6’2”, newly acquired point guard Larry Drew II is the only player on the roster shorter than 6’6”. Philly’s average height is 6’8” making them the second tallest team in the league behind the Portland Trail Blazers (10th in blocks).

The Sixers are taller this season than in any in their history dating back to 1949, the year of their inaugural campaign as the Syracuse Nationals.

The Sixers may be the NBA’s youngest team, but they certainly aren’t with their accolades. The top two shot blockers on the squad are Nerlens Noel and K.J. McDaniels. Both won Defensive Player of the Year honors in their respective Conferences, the SEC and the ACC. Noel averaged 4.6 swats per game as a freshman at Kentucky, and McDaniels averaged 2.8 blocks per game as a junior at Clemson.

These two have seen their defensive prowess at the collegiate level translate to the NBA; they rank first and second, respectively, among rookies in blocks per game. They may be very different in terms of body type, as Noel (1.6 blocks per game) is 6’11” and McDaniels (1.5 blocks per game) is only 6’6”, but their ball-hawking expertise is undeniable.

The third and final ingredient is the bench. Guys one through five are always in the spotlight in the NBA, but for Philadelphia, six through 11 are just as important. In the Sixers’ nine wins this season, the bench has registered three or more blocks six times, which means the players who don’t see the big minutes are still taking pride in the defensive side of the ball, and in particular shot blocking.

Also, this is team has recorded double-digit blocks nine times this season, much of which can be attributed to the contribution from the bench to compliment the starting five.

Looking to the future, this could be a historic season for Philadelphia in the rejection category. If they maintain their average of 6.0 blocks per game, it would be the most the team has posted since the 1994-95 season, when the Sixers led the league in swats with 7.0. Shawn Bradley, who stood 7’6”, averaged 3.3 per game that season.

But this year’s Sixers team isn’t looking to the history books, merely to the next game… and the next time they can get a stop on the defensive end of the floor.

“What you see is a bunch of long athletes that are playing hard and getting to balls a step earlier because they are understanding that first step,” head coach Brett Brown said of his young defenders after a thrilling 93-92 win over the Pacers earlier this year. “I’m proud of our defense.”