SIXERS: Team Needs to Pick Turner

The Sixers are a team with many needs.  I believe we have filled one of the biggest by signing Doug Collins as head coach.  Collins should bring some stability to a team that has none at all.  At the very least he’ll get this team to play some defense, which was the biggest reason for the Sixers inability to win games last season. 

Just when it seemed no luck would ever come our way, the Sixers got lucky twice in a week.  They somehow conviced Collins that this is a good team to come and coach, and even luckier, our ball came out for the #2 spot in the NBA draft that takes place in 2 weeks.  This means that either John Wall or Evan Turner, whichever one is left standing out after Washington makes its top selection, will be available for the Sixers to steal.  Assuming the Wizards draft Wall,( and they’d be fools not to) the Sixers should pick Turner, a player I believe can get this team moving in the right direction.  Picking Turner would allow Iguodala to move back to the small forward position, where he plays best.  Iguodala has not been the same player since becoming the shooting guard.  Turner brings offense like no other player in the draft, and for a team that had trouble finding scoring from the perimeter all year long, this is a pick that has to be made.

Now some will say the Sixers should take one of the two top big men in the draft in Derrick Favors or DeMarcus Cousins to replace Sammy Dalembert.  While I agree that Dalembert needs to go, neither Favors or Cousins is a sure thing to succeed.  Favors, despite possibly having the most potential of any player in the draft, is still very raw and might not fully develop into a dominant NBA power forward.  Cousins has all the talent in the world, but has the maturity of a ten year old girl.  Someone like that is too risky to take with the #2 pick in the draft,

So with all that said, Turner should be the newest Sixer when they make their selection in two weeks.  However, it wouldn’t surprise me if the team that has made dumb picks in the past, makes another stupid one this year.

SIXERS: Team Needs to Address Front Office Before Finding New Coach

Well I think we can all say that after a promising finish to the 2009 NBA season, we were all extrememly disappointed in our Philadelphia 76ers pathetic performance this past season.  They went 27-55 and won just 12 games at the usually half empty Wachovia Center this past season, and saw their two top players, Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young, take steps back in their progression on becoming stars in the league.  While we were all expecting those two players to help lead the Sixers back to the playoffs for a third straight season, it was the inconsistent play of the two young players that were one of the main reasons for the Sixers struggles this season.  This team never established any type of identity under now fired coach Eddie Jordan, who was supposed to bring balance to the offense.  Instead the offense struggled all season, and the defense was even worse.  This team missed Andre Miller in so many ways; the fast break offense, the defensive presence but most of all his veteran leadership.  Iguodala showed none of that, something that you need to see when you give someone a contract like he got.  I think he is way overpaid and not worthy of being called an NBA franchise player.  This team needs a complete new direction and it starts at the top.  Right now the Sixers are in the process of finding their new head coach.  Let me tell you now that if GM Ed Stefanski is  not fired, it will not make a difference who the team brings in as head coach.  What this team needs is a guy who will come in and take complete control over all basketball operations, similar to whar Donnie Walsh does for the New York Knicks.  Unfortunately, the Sixers have spent so much money on guys who are not worthy of it (Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala) that they now have no money to spend on one of the big free agents on the market this summer, like Chris Bosh or Dwayne Wade.   We  need new leadership that is going to understand that this team will not be ready to compete for a while.  We need to find a way to unload players like Brand and Iguodala who are just eating up money and not producing for their value.  And then we need that GM to find a head coach that he knows can restore the glory that once was 76ers basketball.  We currently hold the sixth pick in the NBA draft this summer.  If we do not hit one of the top 3 lottery spots, I honestly think we should consider moving down in the draft and accumulate more picks.  With the exception of John Wall, Evan Turner, DeMarcus Cousins and Derrick Favors, I do not see one player worth taking that can be expected to change this whole mess around.  The Sixers are in need of a major overhaul and we can only hope that ownership will realize it.  But judging from their past tendencies, they probably won’t and things really won’t change much.

SIXERS: Iverson Returns to Lead Sixers in Upset over Portland

The Sixers got a huge win the other night against a very good Portland Trail Blazer team in the Rose Garden.  With Allen Iverson back in the lineup for the first time in four games, the Sixers followed their veteran leader to a huge upset, winning by double digits on the road.  Iverson had his best game of the season since he returned to Philadelphia, scoring 19 points on 7 for 11 shooting.  This is a big change from the Iverson of old, who used to score more points but would take (and miss) and ton of shots.  Rarely did we ever see A.I. have a night in which he shot over 50% from the field.  Iverson’s return helped spur the Sixers to a victory, hopefully one they will be able to build off of when they visit Chester native Tyreke Evans and the Sacramento Kings tonight at Arco Arena. 

Playing againts former teammate Andre Miller for the first time since he left for free agency, the Sixers received an outstanding performance from Elton Brand off the bench.  Brand dropped 25 points to go along with his 9 rebounds.  I have been very critical of Brand’s play in the past, but I will give the man credit in that he has been playing very good basketball as of late, especially in the team’s last two wins against Boston and Portland.  The good thing for Brand is that he can come off the bench and play efficiently, while not having to carry the entire burden of playing close to 40 minutes and defending the paint all night.  With fellow big man Marresse Speights having an excellent season thus far as well, the two bigs can split time to give each other rest when they need it.  Thaddeus Young seems to be able to play power forward too, and he has been the starter at that position since Lou Williams returned.  With the lineup of Iverson, Williams, Iguodala, Young, and Dalembert (who continues to be a disappointment despite still showing signs of promise), the Sixers have a good mix of young talent and veteran leaders.  With guys like Brand, Speights, and Jrue Holiday coming off the bench, the Sixers have some depth at each position.  Hopefully they can put it all together and get a few wins.  The team hasn’t won two straight since early November.  Tonight against the Kings would be a good time to turn that around.  They will need a strong defensive effort to get it done, as the Kings average over 104 points per game and have found their new star player in Evans, who is a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year.

SIXERS: Team Heads West Looking for Some Wins

The Philadelphia 76ers continue to pile up the losses, except for a great victory last week  over the Boston Celtics at the Garden.  Why does it always seem that the Sixers only play well against the league’s best.  Those efforts usually result in close, competitive games that end in defeat but make you think if they play this well against Boston (11/25 loss 110-113, 12/18 win 98-97), Cleveland (12/16 loss 97-91), and Dallas (11/30 loss 102-104) they would surely be able to beat the likes of the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards.  Not so.  The Sixers fall short against those teams as well.  After a huge upset, they have started another losing streak.  They have a record of 7-21, meaning they will have to go 34-20 for the rest of the season just to finish at .500.  If they want that to happen, it will need to start with what is historically the most difficult part of their schedule: the late-December West coast trip.  These include trips to Utah (loss), Portland (loss), Sacramento (potential win), Los Angeles Clippers (potential win), and Denver (loss).  If the Sixers win both the Kings and Clippers matchups, it won’t be a terrible trip, but because of the hole they have dug themselves in, they need to upset one of the three teams that I have penciled in as losses.  On a positive note, Allen Iverson is expected to return to the team after missing the last three games on Saturday when the Sixers head to Salt Lake City.  At the end of this West Coast trip, we will know if this team is going to have a prayer to make the playoffs or if it’s time to start looking towards the NBA Draft in June.

SIXERS: The Return of the Answer

The prodigal son has returned to Philadelphia.

Ladies and gentleman, the Answer, Allen Iverson, one of the greatest players to ever don a 76ers uniform, has returned.  He led the Sixers to their greatest season in recent memory, taking the team to the Eastern Conference title, capturing league MVP honors along the way.  He has three scoring titles, a plethora of all star appearances, and was the heart and soul of this city for over ten years.  However, in 2006, it was clear that a parting of the ways was necessary for both sides.  Iverson went to Denver, and in return we got Andre Miller, who took us to consecutive playoff appearances in 2008-09.  While he was very good for us, he could never fill the shoes of Allen Iverson.  The Answer failed to live up to expectations in Denver, failing to get the Nuggets past the first round for the two seasons he played in the Mile High city.  This led to him being traded last fall to Detroit for Chauncey Billups, who went on to lead the Nuggets to their best season in recent memory.  Iverson left Detroit, signed with Memphis, then retired, then came back to where it all started: Philadelphia.

So what does this all mean?

It means that attendance is going to temporarily skyrocket, something that is drastically needed, as it is becoming pretty embarrassing playing in front of a half empty arena every home game.

It means that the Sixers have a point guard for the time being while starter Lou Williams is on the shelf nursing a broken jaw.

It should mean that the team’s overall play will improve (it can’t get any worse, right?)

What it doesn’t mean is that the Sixers are going to completely turn the season around.  There are still a lot of issues, including the poor defensive play nearly every night.  There is also no way to tell how well Iverson will play.  He is not going to be the same Answer we once knew.  I still believe he can and will have something to offer.  What we can’t have is an Iverson who is going to bring a bad attitude.  He seems so happy to be here, back with the team and city that he built his legacy with, but then again his reputation preceeds him.  Who knows how he will take coming off the bench once Williams returns to the starting lineup?

For now, though let’s welcome back A.I. with open arms and pray he can deliver some of the magic of old.  He officially rejoins the Sixers tomorrow night against his former team, the Denver Nuggets.

SIXERS: Two Straight Heartbreakers Puts Team at 5-10

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!! Hope everyone gets to eat plenty of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and pie tonight. 

The Philadelphia 76ers are in a state of turmoil.  For those of you who do not know, the team is currently 5-10 and is struggling to compete with the teams regarded to be the worst among the league.  Case in point, the recent losses to the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards.  The Wizards game was a heartbreaking 108-107 loss that the Sixers had a chance to win at the last second but fell when Lou Williams’ shot came up short.  Last night was even more disappointing.  The Sixers played what might have been their most impressive game of the year against the Boston Celtics without Williams, who was sidelined with a broken jaw.  Elton Brand also was out with a hamstring injury, which in all honesty was probably a big reason they played great.  The Sixers led for much of the game, taking a six point lead into the fourth quarter at the Garden, only to squander it late in the game thanks to a late Celtic rally led by Paul Pierce, who scored 27 points and drew a key charge down the stretch, and Rajon Rondo, who led the comeback in the final minutes with six points, including a key jumper from the baseline to seal the game.  The Sixers lost to Boston on the road 113-110.  They played their hearts out last night but it wasn’t enough.  Despite the close score it’s still a loss, something the Sixers have been doing a lot of these days.  They have now lost four in a row by a total of 15 points.  They have been in every game but cannot close them out.  Two of the losses are considered “good” losses, as there is no shame in falling to both Cleveland and Boston on the road by a total of 9 points combined.  However, you cannot lose to teams like Memphis and Washington.  There is no excuse for it. 

So while the team has shown some life in the past few days, they have nothing to show for it.  You can play well against Cleveland and Boston but all that really matters is at the end of the game do you have more points than your opponent.  And for the past four games, the Sixers have come up on the short end.  The team stands at 5-10, 3rd place in the division only because the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets are two of the biggest joke teams the NBA has ever seen.  Coach Jordan is on the hot seat.  He came in and said this team will be better than last year under Tony DiLeo.  As much as I hate to say it, this team was better under DiLeo than it is under Jordan.  He needs to get this team back on track soon.  The good news is that it is still very early in the season.  We’ve played only 15 games out of an 82 game schedule.  The bad news is that the road is only going to get tougher when we start facing the Western Conference teams soon, and with injuries starting to pile on (Marresse Speights, out 6-8 weeks with a torn ligament; Lou Williams, broken jaw), it’s only going to get tougher, and if a turnaround doesn’t happen soon, the Sixers may be in a hole too deep for them to climb out of.

 

SIXERS: Williams, Iguodala Guide Sixers to Win Over Nets

Lou Williams and Andre Iguodala both had good games for the Sixers tonight in a 97-94 win over the New Jersey Nets tonight at the Wachovia Center.  After a horrendous performance the other night against Boston, the team shot the ball well tonight, including going 8 for 16 from 3 point range.  In what was a pretty close game throughout the entire contest, the Sixers needed a late 3 pointer from Iguodala to secure the win in front of a crowd of just 10,054.  The team had some trouble keeping the Nets from scoring down low, especially Center Brook Lopez, who had a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who are still looking for their first win of the season.  It certainly did not help that Thaddeus Young, Elton Brand, and Samuel Dalembert all failed to reach double digits.  Lou Williams had a great game, scoring 18 points to go along with 9 rebounds and 6 assists.  Williams has been one of the biggest surprises so far this season, averaging 17 ppg along with about 5 assists.  His play tonight may have very well saved the game for the Sixers since they got no production from their frontcourt.  Along with good play from Iguodala and Jason Kapono (4-6 from 3 point range), the team was able to scrape out a very forgettable win against New Jersey.  It is becoming clear that so far this season the Sixers are nothing more than an average team who are able to win close games against the inferior teams, and are being thoroughly dominated by the best of the East.  However, a win is a win, and hopefully they will find their stride soon.  Next game is Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Sixers: Celtics-Sixers Preview

Tonight’s game:  Boston Celtics (4-0) at Philadelphia 76ers (2-1) 7pm from the Wachovia Center.  Line:  Celtics -7

Key Players

For Boston:

PF Kevin Garnett:  There is no doubt the Sixers focus on this game is going to have to be defending the perimeter.  With sharpshooters Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, along with Rasheed Wallace off the bench, the Celtics can light it up from down town.  The Sixers have never been the best at defending the 3-pointer, so they must key their concentration on limiting Boston’s shooters.  This will mean that the Celtics will need Kevin Garnett to shine for them.  If Garnett is on tonight, it could be a very long game for the Sixers.  He has the ability to neutralize any defense with his inside game, combined with his excellent mid-range jumper.  He is coming off a serious injury and is still trying to get used to playing every game again.

PG Rajon Rondo:  Rondo is the X-Factor for the Celtics.  He is their most underrated player by far, and is quietly becoming one of the best point guards in the game.  Always a threat to put up a triple-double, the Sixers cannot allow Rondo to dictate the game.  He is at his best when he has control of the offense, weaving in and out of lanes to get Pierce and Allen their open shots from the outside.  If they can force Rondo to take shots rather than distribute the ball, their chances of winning will improve.

For the Sixers:

PG Lou Williams: Williams has had a tremendous first three games for the Sixers.  Now his biggest test arrives tonight, where he will be asked to step up on both sides of the court.  Offensively, he must keep the Sixers transition game moving, getting the easy buckets off turnover as well as working the Princeton offense effectively.  This will be a talk task considering the Celtics are allowing just 81.4 points per game this season.  Defensively, he will be charged with the job of shutting down Rajon Rondo, not an easy task.  How well Williams plays Rondo may very well be the determining factor in the game.

C Samuel Dalembert:  Sammy needs to stay out of foul trouble and control the point.  When he is in there, the Sixers are much better at preventing second chance opportunities for their opponents, something they cannot give the Celtics if they hope to come out on top.  He can also provide some scoring down low, along with offensive rebounds, something the Sixers will also need if they hope to pull off the upset tonight.

What the Sixers must do to win:

A lot.  They need to be able to contain the Boston offensive game.  They can’t let them get any easy points, nor allow them any open looks from 3-point range.  Play physical but play smart, they can’t afford to get in foul trouble.  Offensively, they need to be very efficient every time they have possession.  Boston is a great defensive team, so the Sixers must have good shot selection throughout the entire game.  They also must get some points via the fastbreak by forcing turnovers.

Prediction:

The Sixers will have their hands full tonight.  Boston is undefeated and looks very much like the team that won the NBA Championship two years ago.  However, the Sixers have played well recently against them at home, losing both games last year by a total of 3 points.  If they execute on offense, and play very strong defensively, they will have a shot.  Unfortunately, I don’t think they will be able to do enough to get it done tonight, although I do expect this game to be close for the majority of the game.

Celtics by 8.

SIXERS: Recap of first three games

With an off day in the 2009 World Series, this seems like a good time to recap the Sixers first three games.  Before I get into the Sixers, I want to give a shout out to Cliff Lee.  He is without a doubt the best pitcher we have seen in a Phillies uniform since the days of Curt Schilling.  No matter what happens in the rest of the series in New York, Cliff Lee deserves all the credit in the world for getting this team as far as it’s come.  Let’s keep thinking positive and focus only on Game 6, one game at a time.  Lets Go Phils!

Now onto the Sixers.  I’ll admit I have not been able to watch any of the first three games due to the Fall Classic but have caught all the highlights and read all the articles, so here is what I have to say about the first three games.  After a terrible opener in Orlando, the Sixers rebounded nicely with wins against Milwaukee and New York.  However, there are several issues to address.

Number 1: Defense

It hasn’t been there at all for the two games against Orlando and New York.  The Magic shot 55% from the field, and 55% from the 3-point mark, torching the Sixers in a lopsided 120-106 game that was never as close as the final score.  Against the Knicks, they blew a 23 point lead to allow them to force overtime.  Thankfully, Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams brought their A-games, combining for 59 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 assists to lead the team to a 141-127 overtime victory at Madison Square Garden.  The team is struggling to defend both inside the paint and from beyond the arc, something that they need to remedy immediately.  They did play a great defensive game against Milwaukee, taking their home opener by a score of 99-86 behind strong performances byAndre Iguodala (19 pts, 9 reb. 7 ast.) and Samuel Dalembert (10 pts, 12 reb., 2 blk.).  One of the most important things I noticed about that game was that Dalembert only had one foul.  He went on to have a great game and had a +18 for the night.  In the two poor defensive games against Orlando and New York, Dalembert has 5 and 6 fouls, respectively.  This led to his inability to contribute, which hurt the Sixers defensive game tremendously.

Good start overall offensively, as it seems the team has adjusted well to Eddie Jordan’s Princeton offense.  But the team has to be able to defend the opposition better.  Otherwise they have no shot.

 

SIXERS: 2009-10 Season Preview

The Philadelphia 76ers are about ready to kick off the 2009-10 campaign Wednesday night in Orlando.  The Sixers, under new head coach Eddie Jordan, started the preseason 4-0 and finished with a 5-3 record.  Jordan has said that he is pleased so far with what he has seen, but we won’t truly know how good they are until the regular season begins.  The team has made their final roster decisions, so let’s go through each position to see who will be playing for the Sixers this season.

Point Guard

Starter: Lou Williams

This will be by far the the biggest question for the Sixers this season.  The loss of veteran point guard Andre Miller to free agency has caused a lot of questions among critics as to whether or not the Sixers will be able to fill that spot capable of producing the same numbers as Miller.  Rather than put all the burden on one player, the Sixers will most likely rotate in and out different players to play point guard in the beginning of the season.  If one player appears to stand out from the rest, look for that man to become the full time starter.  However, for now, Lou Williams will get the start and see the most playing time at point guard.  This will be Williams’ first season as a starter, and depending on his play, we’ll see if he remains there throughout the duration of the year.  Williams was very effective coming off the bench for the Sixers last season, averaging nearly 13 points per game.  He has also done well so far this preseason.  I am glad to see Lou get the opportunity to start after putting in several years coming off the bench.  I expect him to have no trouble scoring, forcing turnovers, or hitting clutch free throws with the game on the line.  What concerns me about Williams is his poor shooting percentage, especially from beyond the arc, as well as his ability to take care off the basketball.  He also will probably struggle early on in running the offense, including the fast-break which Andre Miller ran so well, until he gets comfortable playing over 30 minutes every night.  It will be a struggle for Lou early on, but hopefully he will be a quick learner and adapt to the change from being a reserve to an every day starter as soon as possible.

Reserve: Jrue Holiday

Backing up Williams, will be 1st round draft pick Jrue Holiday.  While the team has high hopes for Holiday down the road, this will probably be a building year for the Sixers top draft choice.  Holiday is still very raw, having only played one year at UCLA before leaving for the NBA.  He was regarded as the best high school player in the country in 2008, but struggled to live up to the hype last season at UCLA, having a very mediocre year for a very mediocre Bruin team.  The Sixers love his potential to dominate, but still realized he is a work in progress.  It may take a couple seasons before Holiday is able to play to his potential.  Until then, he will serve as a backup seeing limited time in the beginning of the season.  Depending on how well he plays, Holiday could see his minutes increase as the season progresses.

 

Shooting Guard

Starter: Andre Iguodala

No surprise here as Andre Iguodala begins his sixth season with the 76ers.  The Sixers will turn to Iguodala to provide the majority of their points every game.  Iguodala has usually been an 18-19 points per game player, a number the Sixers would like to see increase this season.  If Iguodala ever wants to be among the elite of the NBA guards, he will need to improve both his 3 point shooting and free throw percentage.  Iguodala averaged barely over 30% from beyond the arc last season.  This has to improve as the team cannot continue to get poor three point shooting from its backcourt.  In addition, he was inconsistent from the free-throw line all year, including the playoffs.  He shot 72% from the free throw line, about 3% fewer than his career average.  As the Sixers go-to player, Iguodala needs to be able to hit free throws to close out games.  Recall all the games last year that the Sixers lost on a buzzer beater.  Buzzer beaters usually occur because a team failed to close out the game at the free throw line.  Hopefully Iguodala will have improved since last season, which should result in him averaging over 20 points per game, something the Sixers have lacked from one player since the departure of Allen Iverson.  One thing we should not have to worry about are Iguodala’s defensive abilities.  He continues to improve each season, and should draw the opposing team’s top perimeter threat each game.

Reserve: Willie Green

Willie Green will be a solid backup for Iguodala.  He should see between 15-20 minutes per game unless he struggles, which could allow for Jason Kapono to get more playing time.  Green has struggled in the past when he was chosen to start games, but has usually excelled when coming off the bench.  Green can be inconsistent in terms of his scoring production, but can be counted on to take care of the basketball when he is in the game.  He is, however, a major defensive liability, so it is critical that Iguodala stays out of foul trouble so that Green will not have to play for a large portion of the game.

Reserve: Royal Ivey

Ivey should see limited time off the bench for the second straight season.  He can provide a little offense but is of little value beyond 10 or more minutes of playing time.

 

Small Forward

Starter: Thaddeus Young

Thaddeus Young is the player I expect to improve the most from last season.  He is entering his third season in the NBA, and has gotten better each year thus far.  Now it is time for him to the next great leap forward.  He shoots a great overall field goal percentage (49.5 % last season), but I would like to see him get more involved with the offense.  Despite averaging over 15 points per game, the former Georgia Tech star would often take fewer than ten shots per game.  Getting him more involved in essential for the Sixers, as he is also the best 3 point shooter (34%) of their five starters.  The best thing that Thad has going for him is that he is only 21 years old.  He hasn’t even come near to reaching his prime.  This gives all of us great optimism that he will continue to progress and become a great NBA player.

Reserve: Jason Kapono

Kapono will see a lot of time off the bench this season, mainly in place of Young.  The Sixers’ newest acquisition should help the team improve from its league-worst ranking in 3 point shooting.  Kapono is a pure 3 point shooter, and he won’t hesitate to take plenty of shots from beyond the arc.  This can really add a new dimension to an offense which is mainly known for its fast-break abilities.

Reserve: Rodney Carney

Carney returns to the Sixers looking to get his NBA career back on track.  He is good for eating up some minutes while grabbing some rebounds and providing offense from down low and beyond the arc.  He is currently nursing a strained hamstring, which will limit his minutes for the first few weeks of the season.  But Coach Jordan has liked what he’s seen from Carney and says he will see significant playing time this season.

 

Power Forward:

Starter: Elton Brand

Elton Brand is healthy (for now) and ready to make an impact on this Sixers team.  He was signed last season to give the Sixers a dominant low presence that they have lacked for many years now.  Instead all he gave them was inconsistent play and a spot on the injured reserve list for most of the season.  Now that he is back, Brand needs to step up his game and give the Sixers a consistent presence in the post that both provide easy points, as well as making it difficult for the opposition to dominate the Sixers down low they way they have recently (Dwight Howard in last year’s playoffs).  For the 29 games that Brand did play last season, all his numbers were significantly less than his career averages.  He needs to be scoring between 16-22 points each game, along with around 10 rebounds each night.  The only way the Sixers will have a chance to contend in the Eastern Conference is if Brand has a great year.  The Sixers need to have that low post presence that can go to for easy buckets and to limit all the big forwards (i.e. Howard, Kevin Garnett, Shaquille O’Neal) they will face in the East.

Reserve: Marresse Speights

Last season’s first round pick Marresse Speights should take big strides this season.  His offensive skills alone will get him more minutes this season.  If Brand or Dalembert struggle, Speights may see himself play over 20 minutes a game.  He has tons of potential and on a team that is desperately looking for a consistent scoring big man, Speights is going to play a big role on this year’s team.

Reserve: Jason Smith

Smith has a very solid rookie season before missing all of last year with a season ending ACL injury in the preseason.  The 7-0″ Smith will see limited time off the bench, mainly to eat up minutes for Brand and Dalembert when they’re in foul trouble.

 

Center: Samuel Dalembert

Dalembert is back as the starting center once again for the Sixers and the same question remains as always: Can he stay out of foul trouble so that he can actually make an impact on the game?  Well if history is any indication, then the answer will continue to be no.  Dalembert’s biggest strength is his ability to control the paint defensively.  However, he has not been able to do it without constantly fouling the opposition.  This leads to a massive reduction in his minutes and never allows for him to get into the game.  When Dalembert is able to stay out of foul trouble, he usually plays very well.  He can score down low as well as rebound on both ends of the court.  If Dalembert can finally stay out of foul trouble, he can help the Sixers solidify their front court play which well greatly improve their chances to win against the top teams in the league.

Reserve: Primoz Brezec

The Sixers signed the seven foot Brezec to give them a defensive presence off the bench when Dalembert goes out for foul trouble.  He will be expected to fill the role that Reggie Evans played last season.  Expect him to come off the bench and provide rebounds and some scoring.

5 Keys to the Season

1.  Elton Brand–>Brand must play well for the Sixers to have a chance to contend this year.  It’s as simple as that.  Enough said.

2.  Consistent point guard play–>The team took a big hit when they did not resign Andre Miller, who was the quarterback of the fastbreak that was so big in the Sixers offense for the past two seasons.  They will need Lou Williams to come through for them, otherwise it will be tough for this offense to get on track.

3.  3 point shooting–>The Sixers have ranked last in the league for the past two seasons in 3 point shooting.  The addition of Jason Kapono should help that ranking improve, but it is still not enough.  Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, and Lou Williams need to be able to hit 3 pointers for this team.  Iguodala especially must improve, so that defenses will be forced to play the Sixers on the arc, rather than around the paint in anticipation of a drive to the basket.

4.  Smart Defense–>The team needs to play defense without fouling.  The Orlando Magic were always shooting free throws during last year’s playoff series.  Samuel Dalembert especially must stay out of foul trouble so that he will be able to assert himself as a major defensive presence in the paint.

5.  Strong Start–>The Sixers play a relatively easy schedule in the first month of the season.  If they’re able to start strong while working out any problems at the same time, they will give themselves a great chance to contend for a top-4 spot in the conference.  If they start slow, they will still probably make the playoffs but will find it very difficult to get one of those top spots which would allow them to avoid playing Cleveland, Orlando, or Boston in the first round.

Regular Season Prediction: 45-37 to finish 2nd in the Atlantic Division behind Boston and 5th in the Eastern Conference behind Cleveland, Orlando, Boston, and Atlanta.