Deep Sixer

NOTE: The latest podcast is up. To listen: http://go.philly.com/sixerscast

J.A. Adande of ESPN.com has proposed an interesting trade involving the 76ers, one that would make us think, but not pull the trigger on.
Adande proposes the Sixers sending Andre Miller to Portland for Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and Channing Frye.
Portland is rumored to be in a potential three-team deal with Dallas and New Jersey that would net the Trail Blazers, among others, Devin Harris at point guard. Adande writes, “The Blazers (would) get a point guard with slightly better stats than Devin Harris…The Sixers get three good young players to get their rebuilding process under way.”
It’s a tempting proposal, but one we wouldn’t make because right now, the Sixers appear to be young enough.
If Miller is going to be dealt, the Sixers would have to get a suitable point guard, which Blake is, but also a low post option.
Frye is more of a jump shooter who isn’t known for his toughness. Outlaw can flat out score, as the Sixers found out when he had 10 fourth quarter points earlier this season in Portland’s 97-72 win. He’s not a back-to-the-basket player, but is extremely athletic.
In fact out of the three players, he is the one who is most intriguing.
Adande deserves a lot of credit for this trade proposal and it would be extremely tempting, but from a Sixers perspective, they would be getting younger, but not better where they need the most improvement – in the low post.
Now some people could say the Sixers should make this move and worry about a low post option later on. And that is a fair point.
While some of the people have already commented on this proposal, it will be interesting to see how many would do it and how many wouldn’t.
In fact if this were a trade that was made, it’s one that we couldn’t criticize, just one we wouldn’t make.
Yet there are many who would do it. This would be a bold move and the Sixers are going to have to make this type of deal to improve.
It’s just that one wonders if it really makes them better. And also, while Miller is an upgrade over Blake, Portland would be losing some depth by dealing Frye and Outlaw and may think the price is too steep.
Either way, it’s the type of proposal that gets fans and possibly the Sixers thinking. And for that, Adande deserves an awful lot of credit.

If only everything were this easy. The Sixers have had several grind-it-out affairs, but Wednesday’s 112-69 rout of the Milwaukee Bucks certainly wasn’t one of them.
And the Sixers needed to be on the positive side of one of these blowouts, just to give them a little mental and physical break.
In 2008, the Sixers are now 4-11 and before the win over Milwaukee, the other three victories were by a combined 15 points.
That means for 14 straight games the Sixers were either in close games they won, nail-biters that they lost, or blowouts where they tasted defeat.
So mentally, they needed a breather, even though it came over a Bucks team that has played seven games in 10 days and was without leading scorer Michael Redd.
The fact that the Sixers had three full days off while the Bucks were playing the second of a back-to-back, was a huge advantage
Ok, so let’s not get into details. This is the NBA where the opportunistic teams take advantage of any edge the schedule provides.
While it’s tough to do much analyzing in a 43-point blowout, one stat is mind-boggling – points in the paint. The Sixers held a 68-30 advantage.
And we thought the Sixers’ inside game was lacking.
We interrupt this discussion of the Sixers dominance to interject a previously stated opinion – that Milwaukee’s Charlie Villanueva would look good in a Philadelphia uniform.
Villanueva had a quiet 10-point, 5-rebound effort, but one wonders how better he’d be with starter’s minutes.
Anyway, it appears as if the Sixers are getting their legs back finally after six games on that West Coast trip, a day in Toronto and then the Texas two-step, plus a trip to Boston. And of course there were back-to-back road games last weekend in New York and Charlotte.
So for now the schedule is favorable. Six of the next seven are home.
Then again, playing Orlando isn’t exactly an easy assignment, even though Friday’s game is at the Wachovia Center.
At least the Sixers finally have a little momentum. And they should be mentally and physically refreshed after barely breaking a sweat while overwhelming the Bucks.

We get more e-mails and questions on the blog each week about Herbert Hill. The bottom line on Hill is that he isn’t ready to play. He had to sit out practice again Tuesday because he knee wasn’t responding.
Hill is a fine young man and he works hard, but the people in blogsville are treating him as if he’s the second coming of Bill Russell.
There is a lot about his game that is raw and now when compounded by the physical problems he has had with his knee, it would be difficult to expect much if anything from him this year.
And even if he’s healthy, again, it doesn’t seem as if Hill is ready to come close to making an impact.
We know that in sports, those athletes who don’t play, such as backup quarterbacks, are popular with the fans. Hill played well, in the summer, but remember, that was against summer league players, many who aren’t in the league at this time.
Hill will have time to prove himself, but any Sixer fan who feels he is a secret weapon to be unleashed this season, is only fooling themselves.

Item: A reader – datruth4life - made an interesting trade proposal – Miller, Samuel Dalembert and Rodney Carney to Memphis for Pau Gasol, Kyle Lowry and Mike Miller.

Response: Very tempting. We know Gasol seems to be going though the motions, but if he is motivated, he’s a talented player who can score down low or from the perimeter. Miller is one of the best shooters in the NBA. Lowry in our mind is nothing more than a backup point, and that would mean elevating Lou Williams to the starting position. We don’t like giving up Miller or Dalembert, but you have to give something to get something. This is a trade that we would probably make.

Item: A reader suggested that Thaddeus Young was a steal at 13 (actually 12). He is a Top 7 player on a great team.

Response: We agree that Young could be a steal at 12, but want to see him continue to develop. While it’s suggested that he would be a Top 7 player on a great team, right now he’s a top 7 player on a not so great team. Anybody who watches him realizes the potential, but it would be advisable to have Young string together a number of great games before making any long-term judgments on him. Like all young players, he has to develop consistency and we think he needs to significantly improve his handle in order to take that next step. He certainly has the attitude and the ability to be great, but there is a long way to go before it happens.

Item: One reader said that without Kyle Korver, the Sixers don’t have an outside threat and without one, they have zero chance to make the playoffs.

Response: We don’t want to mention the P-word because it’s way too early for that, but the Sixers do need to become a better team from the perimeter. Thaddeus Young has taken many of Korver’s minutes and while he brings much more athleticism and is already a better defender, he doesn’t come close to being the shooter Korver is. The Sixers aren’t a great outside shooting team and it might be one of their biggest weaknesses (besides defending the three-pointer). It’s agreed that for them to make the next step, they need somebody who can reliably hit a jump shot.

Item: A reader hit a bad nerve by suggesting that the Sixers have an easy stretch leading up to the trade deadline. There was a suggestion that the Sixers could win nine of their next 10.

Response: SLOW DOWN!!! For a team that hasn’t won consecutive games since late December, it might be a little much to expect a streak of 9 out of 10. And remember, nothing is easy for the Sixers. They struggled to beat Miami, needed a shot at the buzzer to beat Memphis. They beat Minnesota by four points. So please, don’t use the words easy and Sixers opponent in the same sentence.

Item: A reader suggested trading Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller to New Jersey for Richard Jefferson.

Response: If I’m New Jersey, I’d do that in a heartbeat, especially with Jason Kidd wanting out. From a Sixers standpoint, that’s giving too much. We’re not sure Iguodala won’t turn out to be a better player than Jefferson straight up, and to add Miller, that is just too much from the Sixers standpoint.

Item: Another reader said that he would trade Miller and Carney for a Karl Malone-type of power forward.

Response: Nobody in their right mind would trade a Karl Malone-type power forward (if one exists) for just Miller and Carney. Some proposals just aren’t realistic and this one of them.

Item: A reader named Paul had an excellent post about a team’s No. 1, 2 or 3 options, calling it a media creation. (We have written that Andre Iguodala is the Sixers No. 1 option, but might not be on many other teams).
Paul wrote: “The entire discussion is hilarious to suggest that Iguodala might be forced to be a No. 1 option on this team of kids whenever a game appear winnable down the stretch, yet he would be a third option on some contender. Frankly, it is quite a bit harder to be productive statistically on a lesser team than a contender.”
He went on to say that on a lesser team a player such as Iguodala has a more difficult task because he is double and triple-teamed.

Response: While we enjoyed the presentation, we still don’t agree with the theory. A player such as Iguodala on a lesser team will get to take the big shots more often and will get to shoot more. If he were on the Mavericks, Spurs, Celtics or any other great team, he wouldn’t have such a free reign to shoot or for that matter to score.
Paul suggests that on winning squads, there isn’t a No. 1 option because there are plenty of players who can fill that role. Again, we don’t agree with that. Kobe Bryant is quite frankly a No. 1 option for the Lakers. Dirk Nowitzki is a No. 1 option for Dallas. LeBron James is the No. 1 option for Cleveland. When those teams need a big shot, it’s likely to come from those three.
So there are true No. 1 options. Sure teams, like San Antonio or Detroit have multiple options. Not every team has that luxury and the Sixers certainly don’t at this point.
What this showed is that one doesn’t have to agree with somebody to enjoy the presentation. There are probably many who agree with Paul and others who don’t and that’s fine. The exchange of ideas is great and we hope that those who read the blog enjoy seeing the different opinions whether they agree with them or not.

For a 76ers team that is 11 games under .500, there was an awful lot of talk after Monday’s practice about the playoffs.
As former Indianapolis Colts Jim Mora once famously said, “Playoffs, Playoffs?. We just want to win a game.”
First of all, the only reason the Sixers were talking about the playoffs was because the media was asking the questions. Those questions stemmed from the fact that entering Monday, the Sixers were just two games behind Indiana for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Coach Maurice Cheeks says that making the playoffs is still the goal and the players said that if they begin defending their turf at home, that it’s possible.
Our response?
“Playoffs? Stop. Stop Stop.”
This is a Sixers team that has won three of the past 14 games and we’re supposed to seriously discuss the postseason, even in the watered down Eastern Conference?
Andre Iguodala had the best answer when asked if the postseason was a reality for the Sixers.
“We have to take care of these home games in the month of February and see what happens after that,” he said.
Good idea.
The good news is that the Sixers play seven of their next eight at home. The bad news is that they have an 8-13 record at the Wachovia Center this season.
There are many fans who don’t want to see the Sixers make the playoffs, thus giving them a better chance at one of the top draft picks from a talented college basketball freshman class.
Actually, allowing the young players to experience the increased intensity of the postseason would be great for the team’s development.
There we go, talking playoffs.
Stop!!!
Again, even in the Eastern Conference, at this point, discussing the postseason for the Sixers seems utterly preposterous
Could we turn the discussion into the prospect of the Sixers putting together a two-game winning streak?
The Sixers should have a major advantage when they return to the court Wednesday against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.
Milwaukee has to play back-to-back games, including Tuesday night in New Jersey. And the Bucks will be without leading scorer Michael Redd, who is out with a left knee strain.
Before counting this one in the W column, remember that Redd missed Milwaukee’s most recent game with the Sixers and the Bucks still won, 87-83 at the Wachovia Center.
So the Sixers should take nothing for granted.
By the way, the Sixers haven’t won consecutive games since Dec. 22 – 29 when they had wins over Memphis, Miami and Sacramento, not exactly three teams that are vying for playoff position.
So before anybody starts a serious discussion about the postseason, get back to us after the Sixers complete a three-game road trip in four days at Golden State, Phoenix and the Los Angeles Clippers. That trip concludes on March 3.
If the Sixers are still within two games of the final playoff spot, then the postseason speculation will be kind of warranted.
For now, it’s extremely premature, as most fans and Jim Mora realize all too well.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – One has to wonder if Saturday’s 103-96 win over the Charlotte Bobcats is the game allows Andre Iguodala to reach the next level, at least on the offensive end.
A night after writing about the Sixers’ offensive struggles, Iguodala put the team on his back and scored a season-high 33 points, one shy of his career high set last year against Cleveland. (Of course Andre Miller also came for the ride with 23 points and nine assists).
Before the game, coach Maurice Cheeks told Iguodala to become more selfish and look for more opportunities.
And Iguodala acknowledged that too frequently he has deferred, looking to make that extra fine pass when a drive to the basket would have been advised.
This was an interesting weekend for Iguodala.
In Friday’s 89-81 loss at New York, he had a dominating first half with 18 points. He truly looked like an all-star in that first half, shooting 7 for 11 from the field.
The Knicks then adjusted, threw a lot of zones at him and saw him shoot 3 for 9 in the second half.
Last night he was more aggressive in the first half, taking 10 shots, making five for 10 points.
It was nothing out of the ordinary, but his second half sure was. Iguodala shot 8 for 11 in the second half, scored 23 of his 33 points and looked relieved that the Sixers had snapped their three-game losing streak.
We can argue all night whether Iguodala is a true No. 1 scoring option. Many have written in suggesting otherwise and that could be very well true.
Yet for this team at this time, he is the No. 1 option. There is no question he would be a much better player if the Sixers had a complementary scorer who could take some of the load off.
That is what the team is hoping for in the future, but for now, Iguodala is the main man.
And while he hasn’t been bashful to shoot, there are many times he has tried to make a nearly impossible pass instead of taking it to the hoop.
This weekend he totaled 57 points, but more importantly is how he scored. He hit his share of jumpers, but also made some outstanding drives in traffic.
His goal each game should be to get to the foul line double figures. Iguodala made eight trips to the free throw line against the Bobcats. That was close enough on this evening at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.
As Iguodala becomes more aggressive offensively and doesn’t just settle for jumpers, it will open things up even more for his teammates. It will make the Sixers a more efficient offensive team.
Whether this is something we’ll witness over the long haul, remains to be seen. But Iguodala has to look at the results and understand that his improvement as an offensive threat and his level of aggressiveness will have a direct correlation to the team’s chances of improving.

NEW YORK -- The 76ers are gong through an offensive spell that shows that they have better athletes than basketball players.
With Friday’s 89-81 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, the Sixers have now scored under 90 points in five of their last 10 games.
It has been a continuing pattern all season, but one that seems worse now that the Sixers are struggling. They have lost 11 of their 13 games in 2008 and have been above 100 points three times in that span
In Wednesday’s 86-78 loss to Detroit, the Sixers had three fast break points.
Against the Knicks the Sixers had just nine. The fact that the Knicks scored just four fast break points, shows how much more diversified they are offensively than the Sixers.
And who would have ever thought that statement would be made after the Sixers beat the Knicks twice in two days by a combined 39 points last month?
The Knicks did a smart thing in the second half, playing a lot of zone and forcing the Sixers into shooting jumpers. That isn’t exactly the Sixers’ strong point and they ended up just 2 for 10 from beyond the arc for the game.
After Andre Iguodala was tearing things up for 18 first half points, the Knicks went zone for a lot of the second half and the Sixers had no answer. Iguodala shot just 3 for 9 in the second half.
This was the third straight game that the opponent made the Sixers play at their pace and not surprisingly the third consecutive loss.
Indiana played fast and connected on 14 treys. Detroit played a methodical game and held the Sixers to 78 points. And the Knicks also played more of a halfcourt game, but one that is effective with an inside presence such as Eddy Curry, who only had 11 points, but missed 6 of 9 free throws. David Lee came of the bench for 14 points and he was also hard to handle inside, while Zach Randolph kept killing the Sixers with medium range jumpers.
The Sixers don’t have much of a low post game. Samuel Dalembert usually scores on jump shots from the perimeter or follow dunks. One time he tried a lefthanded jump hook and the results weren’t very pretty.
So without an inside game to command single-teaming, let along double-teaming, the Sixers get very few open jump shots.
The Sixers also don’t seem to have that late-game confidence. They scored just one point in the final 4:59.
So with all the problems with the offense, the Sixers will continue to try to get in transition because that is their best chance to score.
It also wouldn’t be a bad time to shake things up and throw a few new starters, just to give a different look.
Thaddeus Young, who has been getting rave reviews, played poorly against the Knicks, but starting him and Jason Smith, just for the sake of change is something that should be considered for Saturday’s game in Charlotte.
Things right now can’t get much worse and the Sixers are showing signs of frustration that will only be cured by a win, whenever that comes.

It was pointed out on the most recent blog a comment written by Charley Rosen of Foxsports.com. One reader called Rosen a respected voice in basketball.
Other readers describe him, well as something less than that. What Rosen wrote is certainly subject to scrutiny.

Item: A reader named Will pointed out that Rosen wrote that Willie Green will turn out to be a better all-around player than Andre Iguodala.

Response: Our first reaction was that Rosen was being misquoted. That was, until we checked the story and he actually wrote that statement.
Our second reaction was that Rosen wrote this as a way to get some attention and appear on somebody’s blog. And if that was the intent, he has succeeded.
It’s hard to believe that he really thinks that is true and if so, then it would be difficult to consider him a respected voice in basketball.
This is nothing against Willie Green, who is one of the classiest people in sports and despite what some in blogsville have written, has been a solid contributor this year.
On a better team, he could be a useful contributor off the bench, but on the Sixers he has been performing as a starter simply because they aren’t overflowing with talent.
That said, Iguodala is a true talent and it’s hard to see why fans are down on him.
Sure, he is far from a finished product, has forced his share of shots and complains way too much to the officials.
Still, Iguodala is a top defensive player who takes on the challenge of playing the opponent’s top wing player on a nightly basis.
He also has cut down his turnovers since the beginning of the season and has gained more confidence in his jumper. If somebody wants to say he shouldn’t be a No. 1 option on offense, that can be accepted.
On this team, however, he is the top option and that is the way it is. And he is still developing in this role.
Remember, Iguodala is only going to turn 24 next week, so the upside is tremendous.
If the Sixers are going to turn it around, he is going to have a huge role.
This has been a tough time for him because he shoulders a lot of responsibility and has taken the losses hard.
For the fan who wrote that Iguodala has lost his fire, well nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, he has taken the losing hard because it means so much to him to win.
If those who write in to pan him could only talk to other executives, coaches and players in the NBA, they would see how highly regarded Iguodala is.
We still feel he has a chance to be a future all-star, especially once the Sixers surround Iguodala with better players.
While Sixers fans have their share of complaints, one thing they have to be happy about is that Charley Rosen isn’t the general manager of this team.

Item: A writer by the name of John suggested that the Sixers were a .24-17 over the second half of last season with Kyle Korver, Steven Hunter and Joe Smith around. He said he would have liked to have seen that group stay, along with the young players. (John was also the one who felt Iguodala has lost his fire).

Response: Is it any coincidence that the emergence of Thaddeus Young really began after Korver was traded? As long as Korver was here, he would have been eating into Young’s minutes. While Korver is an excellent shooter who wasn’t having a great season this year, Young will prove to be a better all-around player, especially at the defensive end. The only way he can develop is to play and if Korver were still here, those minutes wouldn’t be as plentiful.
As for Steven Hunter, he has been banged up this year and didn’t provide the toughness the Sixers need. Say what you want about Reggie Evans, but his bullish way of going for the ball has made an impression on his teammates, especially Samuel Dalembert, who is going after the ball with a ferocity that we hadn’t seen consistently in the past.
As for Joe Smith, he would have been a good player to keep, but if he was eating up cap dollars, and he wouldn’t be here when the Sixers supposedly turn the corner. That’s why the best thing to do was not offer him the 5 million dollars per year the Bulls did. So the Sixers are better in the long run for what they have done.

Item: A reader named Jeff said he isn’t sure Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith aren’t top 7-8 guys on a good team.

Reponse: We can’t say for sure that Jeff is wrong, because both players have a lot of improving to do. However, it seems to us that both Smith and Young will be rotation players on a good team (maybe that will turn out to be the Sixers in a few years). Both players have shown great aggressiveness, a willingness not to back down either offensively or defensively and good athletic ability. Actually Young’s athletic ability is off the charts. If Smith can keep working on a low post game, he would give the Sixers another dimension they desperately need. We know that Smith has been working on his low post game, but it hasn’t been displayed much in the actual games. As for Young, he has a tendency to dribble too much and still not trust his perimeter game. He also must work on his handle, but remember Young is young. He’s only 19 and has shown great progress. We feel not only that he will be a rotation player, but a future starter. Smith at the worst, should be a solid rotation player if not better in the future.

NOTE: The latest podcast is up. To listen: http://go.philly.com/sixerscast

We’ll save any deep analysis of the Sixers 86-78 loss on Wednesday to the visiting Detroit Pistons.
The Sixers lost to a veteran team that just did enough to win. Actually more than enough.
Did anybody ever think the Pistons were ever in danger, even when they held single-digit leads for much of the fourth quarter?
The Pistons played at their pace, and won on their terms.
They may not always be the most exciting team to watch, but the fact that the Pistons have almost twice as many wins as the Sixers and remain an NBA title contender, is a testament to their style.
The Sixers could only speak in admiration of the Pistons afterwards.
“They don’t have a weakness,” Andre Iguodala said.
That may be overstating things a bit, but the Pistons are a cohesive group that plays excellent defense, whether they are in a man to man or zone.
Most of all, and this is the biggest difference – the Pistons have tremendous talent. That is far from a revelation.
It is talent that still wins in the NBA and the Pistons combine talent with a selfless attitude, especially with Chris Webber no longer part of the team.
Rasheed Wallace didn’t score until the fourth quarter, and despite being the center, he led the Pistons in assists. And Wallace doesn’t care about scoring.
Neither do Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton or Tayshaun Prince
It can’t be emphasized enough how talented Detroit is.
Just match the starters of both teams. Detroit has a major advantage in four positions and many would give Prince the edge over Andre Iguodala.
So we’ll spare analyzing this game. The Sixers just don’t match up well with the Pistons.
In the first game, Detroit played as badly as it possibly could (shooting 2 for 14 from beyond the arc) and still beat the Sixers, 83-78.
In both games, the Pistons controlled the tempo with their methodical, but effective style.
The Sixers have to play a flawless game just to be competitive against a team like Detroit. Turning the ball over 19 times won’t get the job done.
The Pistons are the type of team that can make an eight-point win appear like a blowout.
Especially against a Sixers team that appears to have lost a great deal of confidence, not to mention 10 of their last 12 games.

NOTE: The latest podcast is up. http://go.philly.com/sixerscast

The suggestions from the fans keep coming and many are certainly worth contemplating. So here’s a look at some of the issues the fans are discussing on this blog.

Item: In the Sixers quest to find a power forward, we suggested the other day that Indiana’s Ike Diogu wouldn’t look bad in a Sixers uniform. Some like it, but others are worried about his true height, question whether he is really 6-8.

Response: We’re not saying that Diogu is the end-all for the Sixers troubles at the 4-spot, but he does have toughness can score and isn’t playing very much in Indiana. When we asked Jim O’Brien why he wasn’t getting many minutes, O’Brien said that Diogu was hurt and missed valuable time. Plus now that Indiana is going with a smaller lineup, with players who can shoot from the perimeter, Diogu wasn’t a good fit.
He played just under 9 minutes against the Sixers, but had six points and four rebounds. Diogu has great leaping ability, although we’d like to see him lose a few pounds. Still, he would be a decent addition, not the main answer, but somebody who could help the Sixers.

Item: A fan named Suede suggested that the Sixers should start Jason Smith at the 4 and Rodney Carney at the two.

Response: This isn’t a bad idea, at least concerning Smith. He has played well in two of the past three games and while there is the feeling that he has hit the rookie wall, we see continued progress.
What Smith would give the Sixers as a starter is another offensive threat at the power forward position. Smith also isn’t afraid to take on defenders, but he does commit his share of rookie fouls.
Still, he is one player who should probably play a few more minutes. Smith always goes after the ball aggressively and is a willing if not always able defender.
As for Carney, he has been inconsistent, but his minutes have been up and down all year and that might be contributing his uneven performance.
He has athletic ability off the charts and has given the Sixers a spark the last few games but we like him off the bench for the spark he can provide.
Carney can take it to the basket, but when forced to shoot from the perimeter, his game is still lacking.
So we like Smith as a starter and Carney to keep coming off the bench. Carney though should stay in the rotation so the Sixers can make a true evaluation of him. It still seems as if a chance of scenery will do him the best.

Item: Mo Cheeks is being criticized for the Sixers’ defensive effort against Indiana. Actually, it’s been the defensive effort the entire season. The Sixers have trouble stopping dribble penetration, allow way too many wide-open shots and have great difficulty defending the pick and roll. One fan said to ask Cheeks if the team could try something different because the defense hasn’t worked all season.

Response: We always ask Cheeks about the defense and his main response is that the team has to do a better job. Our response: No kidding.
The Sixers play a lot of man-to-man and often get beaten off the ball, which is why so many point guards have enjoyed double-digit assist totals against the Sixers. Maybe the Sixers should play more zone, although a zone is usually used to stop penetration, not outside shooting. Right now the Sixers can't stop either so something different has to happen. Too many opponents are running and shooting freely on the court. One of the players told me that they work a lot on defense, but anybody watching the games hasn’t seen the results. That leads to one other conclusion – maybe this just isn’t a good defensive team. Among the rotation players, the only two who are known for their defense are Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert. Thaddeus Young looks like he has a chance to be a good defender, but he’s still learning the game. It’s possible that with all the talk about the offense that the Sixers need, that the team should also consider some sort of defensive stopper

Item: It’s no secret that Ed Stefanski liked Michael Redd coming out of college and remains a big fan of the Milwaukee Bucks guard. Dean is among the bloggers who urges the Sixers not to consider Redd, citing his poor perimeter defense.

Response: While Redd is instant offense, it’s agreed that his defense is virtually nonexistent. He also is earning a huge salary, around $14.5 million this year that would take a large chunk of the cap. And of course what is forgotten is that the Sixers would have to give up a valuable part to get him. We don’t see Michael Redd in the future of the Sixers anytime soon.

Item: The debate to trade Andre Miller continues. He brings stability to the offense, but as we mentioned, is not a strong defender on the ball and often gets beaten. So with less than a month to the trading deadline, do the Sixers make a move?

Response: It appears as if the Sixers will have to be knocked over by an offer to trade Miller by the trade deadline. He actually may be more valuable to trade after the season, with one year and an expiring contract left. Plus, it still may be too early to hand the point guard keys over to Lou Williams. We think Miller could very well survive the trade deadline, but whether he’s here by this time next year remains highly questionable.

The future of the 76ers was seen again on Monday and we should be seeing a lot more of it in the second half of the season.
For long stretches during Monday's 110-103 loss to the visiting Indiana Pacers, the Sixers fielded a lineup in which the oldest player was Andre Iguodala, who turns 24 next week.
One lineup had Iguodala, rookies Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith, Lou Williams and Rodney Carney.
This is not the first time they used this lineup, but it's been used for longer stretches recently. For example during Friday’s 116-89 loss at Boston, the same lineup was used to begin the second quarter.
During Monday’s loss to Indiana, these young players all accredited themselves well.
In fact they helped the Sixers run off 16 unanswered points, going from a 35-21 deficit to a brief 37-35 lead.
When asked why this group didn’t stay together longer, coach Maurice Cheeks correctly pointed out that the pace was fast and that the players were getting tired.
That may be the case, but these five, including Carney, should have significant roles over the second half of the season.
Did anybody notice that Young was the first player off the bench against Indiana?
He continues to be given more minutes and responsibility.
These young players have certainly given the team energy and some hope for the future.
That’s not to suggest that the Sixers don’t need some talent upgrades. If they get a power forward (and by the way, Indiana’s Ike Diogu, wouldn’t be a bad addition) and a shooting guard, this could be an interesting team.
As we’ve said before, Willie Green would be much more effective coming off the bench. For that matter, so would Reggie Evans.
Yet the Sixers still won’t reach the next level until they learn how to defend the perimeter.
Indiana became the latest team to destroy them from the outside, shooting 14 for 25 from beyond the arc.
The problem with the defense is that it’s not just the young players who are making the mistakes, although they are responsible for their share.
The Sixers keep being beaten off the dribble, and while Andre Miller has played well at point guard, stopping dribble penetration isn’t his strongest suit.
Dribble penetration leads to double-teams, which then allows open shooters. Jamaal Tinsley became the latest opposing point guard to earn a double-digit assist total with 12.
So the defense has to tighten up and the Sixers have to stop acting as if they haven’t played a team before that can shoot from the perimeter.
In the last three games, opposing team are 36 for 63 (57.1 percent) from beyond the arc.
Working on perimeter defense has to be the top priority. The second should be the continued development of the young players.
They have demonstrated a lot of potential and one of the biggest storylines will be whether the young players can continue with their progress over the final 40 games.

Nothing comes easy for the Sixers, as evidenced by Saturday’s 99-95 win over the Toronto Raptors.
The Sixers held a 20-point lead entering the fourth quarter, saw the Raptors get within four and almost within one before Anthony Parker missed a wide-open three-pointer with 30.8 seconds left.
So the Sixers survived and are now 16-25 at the midway point of the season.
There are two important things that came out of that game. Had the Sixers lost, it would have been their most devastating defeat of the season and could have sent them into a second half downward spiral.
It also showed they learned from their previous mistakes against the Raptors.
In the first three games, all won by the Raptors, Toronto constantly got open looks.
In this game, the looks weren’t so open even though the Raptors were 8 of 16 from beyond the arc. In this win, the Sixers were able to defend the pick and roll slightly better.
Just enough to win.
There will be cynics out there who will suggest Toronto looked dead tired, playing its fourth game in five days. Then again, the Sixers were playing their fourth in six days and are just beginning to get their legs back after that long West Coast trip
Now the big question is whether the Sixers can show marginal improvement in the second half.
(By the way, this reporter predicted 32 wins. The mathematician in me suggests that 16 wins at the halfway point is right on target to reach 32.)
This is not to receive a pat on the back because one won’t be coming anyway. It’s just to show what low preseason expectations the Sixers generated.
Let’s make one thing clear.
The Sixers have the ability to exceed 32 wins. The players feel they gave away too many games in the first half of the season and they are right.
Also, the rotation is much more settled and Thaddeus Young will play a bigger role in the second half of the season. His improvement can be seen on almost a daily basis. Whether Andre Miller stays around will be a key question (although frequent readers know that the vote here is to keep him).
There are many fans who hope the Sixers go south of the 32-win total so they can have a chance at a higher lottery pick, but we think winning should be the priority.
As we’ve said many times, players are more likely to come here via free agency if they see the chance to win.
It will be interesting to see the reaction of the fans. Do the fans want to see the Sixers win more than they lose in the second half of the season, or is it a priority to get a chance at one of the top freshmen who will be at the top of the lottery?
It’s simple when making a post – vote whether you want the Sixers to have a successful second half or to continue to stumble.
This is not a scientific poll, but it is interesting what you the fans are looking for, a repeat of last year’s strong second half or a record in the final 41 games that is worse than their first 41.

BOSTON -- The story of the season was once again demonstrated during the 76ers 116-89 loss on Friday to the Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden.
The Sixers hung with a more talented team for three-and-a-half quarters before being steamrolled down the stretch.
Boston finished the game on a 26-4 run, an impressive achievement even for the team with the NBA’s best record.
The Sixers have shown that against the great teams, they just don’t have the ability to finish down the stretch.
They played well for most of the game in San Antonio, only to be outscored, 14-5 at the end of the game of Monday’s 89-82 loss to the Spurs.
The Sixers are actually making a better impression on others than they probably are on their fans.
We know the readers are tired of hearing how they play hard, but once again the Sixers took it to the Celtics for the majority of the first three quarters.
Unfortunately, the game is played for 48 minutes.
The Sixers seemed to gamble too much on defense, and double team the ball too frequently, which led to so many wide open shots or uncontested ones.
Boston shot 16 for 23 in the fourth quarter.
The Sixers meanwhile, did a great job of getting to the basket and a not so great one of converting free throws. They shot just 19 for 33 from the foul line (57.6 percent). The Sixers also made too many poor decisions in the final period.
It’s the difference between a team that should be headed for an extended postseason run and one that is still trying to find its identiy, even 40 games into the season.
Still, it was interesting to hear how Celtics stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce spoke about the Sixers in glowing terms following the game. Garnett mentioned how the Sixers kept coming at Boston and wouldn’t let up.
Pierce suggested that if the Sixers team stuck together for a couple of years, “they could be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference.”
Before the game, Celtics coach Doc Rivers, like Pierce, talked about how impressed he was with the Sixers athleticism and ability to compete.
What this means is that the Sixers have to eventually make the transitions from athletes to basketball players. Plus, regardless of what others says, they obviously need an upgrade in talent. We all know that.
Right now, the Sixers are learning the painful lessons in what it takes to put away a great team.
Yes, they came back and beat a decent Houston team, but that’s not the same as defeating with San Antonio or Boston.
If the Sixers learned nothing else, it’s that they can hang with great teams for 3 and a half quarters or more.
Finding a way to do it that extra half a quarter is the difference between a playoff contender, and a team that is now 10 games under .500.

BOSTON -- Believe it or not, the 76ers are going to be facing the Boston Celtics at the right time, if there is such a thing for a 31-6 team.
It doesn't appear as if point guard Rajon Rondo (sore lower back and hamstring) will play. While that's not like missing KG, it still takes a component away from the offense, although the Celtics didn't miss him much in Wednesday's 100-90 win over Portland.
Forgetting about the Rondo factor, Boston is actually slumping, having lost half its games this season in their last five outings.
"I feel any team in the NBA can be beaten at any time," Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said.
Call the Sixers crazy, but they actually believe they have more than a passing shot against Boston.
In the first meeting the Sixers faded over the final eight minutes of a 113-103 loss to Boston on Dec. 5 in Philadelphia. And while K.G. had 22 points and Paul Pierce added 19, the two players who really torched the Sixers were Eddie House and James Posey, who combined for 32 points, That was just another example of how difficult it is to beat the Celtics.
Still, if Washington can beat the Celtics twice in a three-day span, anything is possible. And let's not forget, Charlotte went into Boston and won last Wednesday. (Even though Ray Allen didn't play against Charlotte, that is no excuse for a home loss to the Bobcats).
The Sixers appeared loose at practice on Thursday at Emerson College, sort of like the weight of the world has been lifted off their shoulders since they snapped their seven-game losing streak with Tuesday's 111-107 win at Houston.
It's important that they have the mindset to try to steal a win because the Sixers then return home for three games against Toronto, Indiana and Detroit and they need some momentum.
We know, there are those of you out there who feel the games aren't important and are just waiting for the Sixers place in the lottery, but we feel that if they want to attract free agents, that showing they can win more than once every eight games is a good thing.
Plus, the only way young players learn about winning is by winning.
The Sixers are only 7-11 at the Wachovia Center (compared to 8-13 on the road).
As Cheeks said earlier this week, the Sixers have to establish themselves on their home court.
A win over the Celtics would at least provide some needed momentum.
The Sixers have to be as aggressive as they were in their last two games. They can't be passive and settle for half-court looks.
They attacked the basket against the Spurs and Rockets and must do the same against Boston.
And putting pressure on whoever plays the point for the Celtics would be a good idea.
A week ago, the thought of the Sixers winning this game would have been far-fetched. It's still improbable, but not looking as impossible as it did before the team headed out on this three-game road trip.

Note: For the most recent podcast, an interview with coach Maurice Cheeks go to: http://go.philly.com/sixers.cast

HOUSTON -- It’s been the opinion here that the fans are staying away from embracing the Sixers because they aren’t a winning team. One reader strongly disagreed. We are producing the letter close to the way it was written, so English teachers, cover your eyes.

Item: “Marc, your an idiot, this team (stinks). They play zero defense at all period thats why no one cares, not because they lose…”

Response: Again, anybody is entitled to his or her opinion, and unfortunately, there are many who might agree about the idiot part.
As for the Sixers, if they gave up 120 points a night and won more than they lost, the people would care. It’s all about winning and losing. Fans don’t want to emotionally invest in a franchise if they feel there is no reward at the end of the regular season. These days in the sports world, winning is what counts with fans and until the Sixers do it consistently, they will have trouble drawing.

Item: Another reader asked about Edin Bavcic, who was acquired on draft night in 2006 after being selected 56th by the Toronto Raptors.

Response: Bavcic is playing overseas, but here’s some advice – stop worrying about him. We saw him extensively in the Las Vegas summer league and even though it was only summer league, it would be a major surprise if Bavcic is a factor in the NBA. At 6-10 he doesn’t move well and isn’t a sharpshooter. We don’t see him in the Sixers’ future.

Item: With the emergence of Thaddeus Young, some are suggesting that the Sixers should make him the cornerstone and send Andre Iguodala packing. Others claim he could be better than Iguodala.

Response: One word about the thought of trading Iguodala – STOP. There are some fans who may feel Iguodala doesn’t deserve the salary he is seeking and that will be a subject that will continue to be debated.
As a player, he is an important part of this franchise. It’s difficult to find players who are willing to put it out defensively, especially with how much he is expected to produce on offense.
He isn’t an all-star, but if the team has future plans of winning, Iguodala is the type of versatile player who the Sixers will need. There will be nothing wrong with putting him together with Thaddeus Young. That would be a pretty athletic 2-3 combo.
For the reader who described Young as potentially a young and more aggressive KG if his body catches up to him, we would suggest to slow down.
Young has been better than expected and looks like a great pick at No. 12, but let’s hold down the comparisons to future Hall of Famers at this point.
There is the chance one day that Young can become better than Iguodala, although we will still back on Iguodala in this debate. And if Young does surpass Iguodala, think of what that will mean in terms of winning for the Sixers..

Item: And finally, a few writers suggested that they don’t want to settle for a team that plays hard. They want one that wins, so they weren’t buying that the victory over Houston was a “character win” as we described it.

Response: No problem with that line of thinking, but right now the Sixers aren’t good enough to win consistently. It would be worse if they weren’t good and didn’t bring it every night. At least they have one out of two qualities and with Ed Stefanski at controls, there is every reason to believe that this team will eventually have the talent to match its work ethic. It just won’t happen right away.

Remember, if you would like a personal response, leave an e-mail address or e-mail me at mnarducci@phillynews.com. Have a good day everybody and we’ll be talking to you from Boston.

NOTE: The latest podcast, an interview with Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks is up. To listen go to: http://go.philly.com/sixerscast

HOUSTON -- If more people were paying attention to the 76ers, they would realize that this is the type of team that Philadelphia could embrace.
They do everything but win consistently, which is why they haven’t received a strong endorsement by the fan base.
Still, Philadelphia sports fans like a team that never gives up, that keeps fighting to the end.
And for the most part this season, the Sixers have done that, never more than in Tuesday’s improbable 111-107 win over the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.
When Yao Ming hit one of two free throws with 2:20 left in the third quarter to extend the Rockets lead to 16 points, the game looked over.
The fans felt that way and based on the post-game comments, so did the Rockets.
Now the Sixers do have the annoying habit of getting down by double digits, but if one looked at most of their games, they usually make a late charge.
Until they get more talent, things will probably stay that way, but they don’t hang their collective heads very long.
It would have been easy while riding a 7-game losing streak to just count this one in the loss column.
One of the reasons they don’t quit is the youthful enthusiasm they have and Tuesday’s win was a classic example.
Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams both played the entire fourth quarter and each scored eight points.
They gave the Sixers a burst of energy, not to mention four combined steals in the 37-22 fourth quarter.
The Sixers may not be the best shooting team and don’t have much of a low post presence, but as scouts and coaches have said that we talked to, they are really athletic. And they never stop battling.
And when the Sixers have players such as Young and Williams, along with Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert on the floor at the same time, they can look like a relay team.
While fans will likely only begin to pay attention to the Sixers once they can begin to win more than they lose, this team never stops coming at opponents.
It likely won’t stop them from being in the lottery again, but at least they will go down fighting and showing the type of grit that could actually earn them a few additional followers along the way.

SAN ANTONIO -- If anybody is wondering why the Sixers are so desperate for a low post presence, all they had to do was watch Monday’s 89-82 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
The Sixers played their collective hearts out and the main difference was that they don’t have a nine-time all-star in the post and the Spurs do.
While Manu Ginobili was cited for his fourth quarter heroics by scoring 14 points and hitting all four treys in the final period, the person who set everything up was Tim Duncan.
Duncan might be the most unappreciated superstar in all of sports.
He isn’t flashy, doesn’t seek headlines and isn’t very interested in compiling statistics, only rings.
Duncan has four rings and there is no reason to believe he won’t fill up his hand soon.
One reason Ginobili was so wide open for his treys was that Duncan commanded double-teams down in the post. And there are few big men who are more adept at kicking the ball out to open teammates once it is passed inside.
The Sixers don’t have that type of presence so they have to mix and match in order to score. The reason they don’t get many wide open looks is that teams don’t feel compelled to double-team in the post.
When your best post up player is your point guard (Andre Miller) then you know that it's a part of your game that needs to be upgraded.
Before he is through, Duncan could be considered one of the top 10 players ever to compete in the NBA. He’s that good, even though he does little to bring attention to himself, other than win championships.
It can be argued that this was the Sixers best game not only during their seven-game losing streak, but in a long while.
They didn’t back down from the defending champions, but they also didn’t have Duncan.
He had 18 points and 16 rebounds, but his dominance of the game went well beyond the stat sheet.
On most nights the Sixers would have won this game. Then again, they can take consolation that on most nights, in fact 80 out of 82, they don’t have to deal with Duncan.

With the 76ers’ top priority being to grab a scoring power forward, here’s one that name that they should consider – Milwaukee’s Charlie Villanueva.
This is only something that this writer is proposing, not something the two teams, at least at this point, have proposed.
Villanueva, who turns 24 in August, has looked extremely strong coming off the bench in two games against the Sixers, getting 15 points and 10 rebounds in the Bucks loss in Milwaukee and adding 16 points and four rebounds in their win in Philadelphia.
Of course a player has to be judged on more than he did just against the Sixers.
Villanueva is averaging 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds, but he is playing just 20.1 minutes per night.
That’s nearly six minutes a night fewer than Reggie Evans is averaging.
Villanueva is still developing, but he would provide the Sixers a scoring presence.
Plus Milwaukee would be able to clear more time for Yi Jianlian, who is averaging close to 28 minutes per game.
Now do the Sixers have what it takes to get Villanueva, and would Milwaukee want to part with him?
Those are very good questions, but he is definitely worth pursuing.
(It’s doubtful that a trade of Rodney Carney, Shavlik Randolph and a future protected first round pick would get Villanueva, but it’s at least a starting point).
There will be other names mentioned, and we want to point out, that nobody in the Sixers organization has mentioned Villanueva. This is our idea.
It’s not to suggest that Milwaukee would part with him or that the Sixers even want him.
This is just our way of putting out two cents in. Villanueva would be a major upgrade and a solid step in the rebuilding process. And the advice is free of charge.

So much for winning a must-win game.
The 76ers looked like world beaters in the first quarter and like a beaten squad the final three periods of Friday’s 100-97 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
Sure, they trailed by 16 points in the fourth quarter and then made a game of it late, but what good is that?
We know the Sixers don’t give up, but overcoming 34-point turnarounds isn’t the easiest thing to do.
The Sixers led by as many as 18 points in the first quarter and by halftime were down by five. And when Chicago scored the first seven points of the third quarter, the Sixers faced an uphill struggle the rest of the way.
What should hurt the Sixers the most is that this was against a Bulls team that is now 14-20 and was coming off a home loss to the New York Knicks for crying out loud.
And the Bulls were without Luol Deng for the third straight game with left Achilles tendonitis.
So once again, the Sixers couldn’t take advantage of playing a team without one of its top players. They played the Lakers without Lamar Odom, the Bucks without Michael Redd and it didn’t matter.
The Sixers looked great in the first quarter when they had their transition game going.
In the final three quarters they scored just seven fast break points. And when the Sixers have to play a half-court style for most of the game, the results are predictable.
The Sixers continue to have trouble defending the three-point shot. Chicago was 9 for 21 from beyond the arc.
Worse than that was a loss of composure. Like so many teams during this six-game losing streak, the Bulls got many open looks and easy baskets inside.
And the Sixers seemed to panic as the Bulls kept pulling away.
Right now everything seems to be falling apart and the only thing that will cure this funk is a win.
When that will come is anybody’s guess as the Sixers head for road games at San Antonio, Houston and Boston.
Coming back home to play Toronto will be no picnic either.
To win a game next week the Sixers would have to pull a major upset. And right now, nobody can see that happening.

A must win game in early January? You bet if the 76ers want to turn around a season that is definitely headed south. The Sixers play a 13-20 Chicago Bulls team tonight at the Wachovia Center that might be the biggest disappointment in the NBA.
True confession – this reporter had Chicago facing Phoenix in the NBA finals this year.
Would you say we’ve been a little off with that pick?
Ben Wallace has been banged up and his skills have eroded quicker than expected.
Kirk Hinrich has taken a major step back this season.
Luol Deng is banged up and has missed the last two games with Achilles tendonitis.
And Chicago is coming off a home loss to of all teams, the New York Knicks (who appear to be battling with Miami for the second biggest disappointment in the NBA).
Anyway, with road games at San Antonio, Houston and Boston next week and then a return home to face a Toronto Raptors squad that is 3-0 against the Sixers, it doesn’t take deep thinking to realize that tonight is the Sixers’ best chance to win in a while.
And we know there are fans who hope they continue to lose so they will move further up the lottery trail. Young teams and players have to learn how to win and losing does none of the current players any good.
Plus, we are of that old notion that a professional team should try to go out and win every game. Again, not everybody agrees with that, but we still value winning over losing, even if it means not getting Michael Beasley.
Anyway, the Sixers will be leaving for the road with their heads down (not to mention a six-game losing streak) if they don’t beat the Bulls.
One can tell that the Sixers have lost confidence while losing five straight games.
Returning again to the road with a winning streak, even if it is only one game, would make a huge difference.
And that is why the Sixers have to face this game with even more urgency than usual.
A loss here and it’s anybody’s guess when that first win of 2008 will occur.

There is a passionate Sixers fan named Dean who has proposed for a while in Blogsville to trade Samuel Dalembert, Rodney Carney and a first round pick to Memphis for Pau Gasol and Kyle Lowry.
Whether anybody agrees or not with this proposal, let’s be honest, it’s an interesting suggestion.
The salaries would work out and that is a start.
While we’re not as enamored with Lowry as Dean, the thought of getting Gasol would be intriguing.
Lowry is an athletic point player who doesn’t shoot well. Don’t the Sixers have enough of these players?
The only problem is that the trade would be replacing defense for offense. Gasol is a proven scorer and can give a team offense down low. He won’t get too many all-defensive votes.
The one question one worries about is how much fire Gasol has. Gasol, who actually looked really good against the Sixers this season (going for 31 and 13), seems to have been beaten down by the losing in Memphis.
Well if Gasol came here, he wouldn’t exactly be entering a winning environment.
And why would Memphis make the trade?
The Grizzlies are allowing 104 points per game and could use Dalembert’s defense. Yet if they got rid of Gasol, their offense would be worse than the Sixers.
It’s unlikely Memphis would make this trade, but if for some reason they would, the Sixers should jump at it – with one provision.
The first round pick would have to be protected because if not, the Sixers might be giving up Michael Beasley or O.J. Mayo or Derrick Rose.
Remember, even with Dalembert, the Sixers have given up 109 or more points in four of the last five games and have been inconsistent defensively this season. So as good as he has been defensively, the Sixers have still struggled.
All we can say is that the trade proposals are interesting to talk about and who knows, maybe some day one of them would be made.
Either way, we encourage all the input the fans have given here. Again, we won’t always share the same opinion (in fact very few agree with this writer’s view on keeping Andre Miller), but the exchange of ideas is what makes things interesting.
Now if only some of these fantasy deals prove to be reality.

The latest Sixes podcast has been posted. To listen to the podcast go to http://go.philly.com/sixerscast

TORONTO -- While not all will agree that it is important for the Sixers to win, especially those Michael Beasley fans, the premise here is to try to win as many games as possible so the young players learn what it is like to have success.
Plus any team should try to win games. Anything less would be cheating the game, even if that means fewer ping pong balls.
That said, the 76ers would be wise to try to shake things up. Other than when Willie Green was had the injured groin, the lineup has been the same.
Now with five straight losses after Wednesday’s 109-96 defeat to the Toronto Raptors, it wouldn’t be a bad time to make a lineup change.
The first move should be to put Thaddeus Young in the starting lineup.
Either move Andre Iguodala to shooting guard, and have Green come off the bench, or use Young as the four-man and have Reggie Evans come off the bench.
Either way, Young has had a series of strong games and even though coach Maurice Cheeks and the players acknowledge that Young is getting by right now on his talent, that is more than enough at this point.
Young had 16 points, tying a career high and four rebounds in Wednesday’s loss to the Raptors.
Eventually the 19-year-old Young will learn the nuances of the game. For now, he has brought a major spark to the team by just playing hard and displaying his incredible athleticism.
And by not making a change, it would signal that everybody is satisfied with the status quo.
It actually wouldn’t be the worst thing if both Young and Jason Smith were made starters.
Green and Evans would be able to bring offense and rebounding respectively off the bench.
And the Sixers would really get to see what they have with their two first round picks.
Even if the experiment doesn’t work, it can’t hurt trying. That’s because Cheeks and the Sixers have to show that they are doing everything possible to try to shake this losing streak, which has reached five games.
The schedule in the next week and a half is unforgiving. The Sixers are losing confidence and games.
Change can sometimes be good. And it can’t make things any worse.

(The latest Sixers podcast is up at http://go.philly.com/sixerscast)

It might not be rock bottom but it’s getting near that point.
Here’s the dilemma that coach Maurice Cheeks faces. His team doesn’t shoot well from the perimeter. There is little low post presence.
And opponents have done a decent job stopping the Sixers on the fast break.
What’s left?
Sure the Sixers could say they had tired legs after a six-game road trip in which they were gone 11 days.
But would making 2 of 13 shots from beyond the arc been too much to ask?
That was the difference in Tuesday’s 87-83 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in their brief homecoming at the Wachovia Center.
The Sixers shot 0 for 13 from beyond the arc. Milwaukee was 6 for 16. Not to overwhelm anybody with math, but that’s 18 more points on treys for the Bucks.
It’s not like the Sixers just had an off-night. They are shooting just 32.3 percent from beyond the arc. And that percentage was brought up slightly by Kyle Korver, who was shooting 35.2 percent before being traded to Utah.
Even though he wasn’t having a typical season, the loss of Korver’s deep range has been glaring.
That doesn’t mean the trade should be panned because we don’t know what the expiring contract of Gordan Giricek will bring the Sixers, but for the short term, they don’t have anybody who can reliably hit a jumper.
What was most frustrating was that playing the Bucks, a team without leading scorer Michael Redd, was looked at as the Sixers best chance to win in the next two weeks.
The Sixers had hoped that they would feed of the home crowd’s energy, but that’s hard to do when half the seats are unoccupied.
Now the only sub. 500 team the Sixers play in the next two weeks is Chicago at home on Friday and even the Bulls have been playing better.
Can the Sixers shoot their way out of this slump? They have no choice.
Teams should be playing zone against them a majority of the time until they prove they can hit a jumper with regularity.
And right now, the Sixers have plenty of proving to do in that category.

DENVER -- So the 76ers were done in by another former teammate, a growing trend on this disappointing 2-4 road trip.
First it was Kyle Korver in Utah and then Allen Iverson, who had 38 points and 8 assists as the Sixers ended their trip with Sunday's 109-96 loss to the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.
Iverson may say he didn't have any extra motivation, but it was difficult to tell by his performance.
Now at 14-20, the Sixers have to watch against free-falling.
They have to make sure that their confidence isn’t lower than their shooting percentage.
Andre Iguodala took just 11 shots from the field, or just four more than Reggie Evans.
Is something wrong here?
Iguodala has to get incorporated in the offense more but that is only part of the problem.
It’s an offense that gets few easy baskets and that continues to be the main problem.
The Sixers aren’t a good perimeter shooting team, yet they are relying on the jump shot too much.
And they continue to struggle with winning teams. Only two of their wins this season have come over teams that are above .500.
The Sixers attacked the basket in the third quarter and got back into the game.
They have to have that aggressive mindset on offense and must get tougher on defense.
On paper, the Sixers were expected to go about 2-4 on this trip, so in that way, they met the less than modest expectations.
That isn’t good enough if they want the season to matter beyond the all-star game, or even before.
The team is tired, but this is no time for the weary, with back to backs Tuesday against Milwaukee and Wednesday in Toronto. Then there is a tough road trip to Houston,San Antonio and Boston the following week.
After the game coach Maurice Cheeks talked about how the Sixers will come back.
One has to wonder how many times the Sixers can keep fighting back. We’ll surely find out in the next two weeks.

LOS ANGELES -- The 76ers 124-93 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday at the Staples Center could arguably be the team’s worst defeat of the season. And believe me, there have been plenty of decent candidates to choose from.
The Lakers didn’t need Kobe Bryant to be superman. They didn’t even have Lamar Odom, who was serving a one game suspension for a flagrant foul.
And still the Lakers outclassed the Sixers in every aspect. Thadde