Deep Sixer

This was an extremely strange game, one where the 76ers could do no wrong in the first quarter and could do little right the rest of the other 3 quarters.

It's obvious that the one element that is the fatal flaw in this team is no back to the basket threat. It was made even more obvious when the Bulls had Joe Smith and Aaron Gray in the post and both either converted or drew the defense in enough to pass out of it to facilitate ball movement.

With Korver gone, this team no longer has anyone that you have to respect from the outside either. So, we can't score down low or from the outside. Just limit this team's fast break points, and it's game over. Let's hope Stefanski is still taking all of those Andre Miller calls. This team needs to be dismantled and put back together again, with Iggy, Lou Will, Sam, Thad, H. Hill and J. Smith as pieces going forward.

Don't look now, but the 76ers next 6 games are San Antonio, Houston, Boston, Toronto, Indiana and Detroit. I think this team is looking at a 12-game losing streak. If Mo is still trotting out that same starting lineup, then you know it might be time to put him out of his misery.

I know there will be some disagreement on this board, but if the 76ers can't get their power forward in free agency next summer, I would see what the Knicks would want for Zach Randolph. He's a legit 20 and 10 guy when motivated, is young at 26 and could be a no. 1 scoring option in Philly. Charlie V. from Milwaukee would also be an upgrade at the 4 spot. Just something to consider.

Sad to say, but this Sixers group is going nowhere anytime soon. It's a shame, I grew with Hawk and Dawk, Thump n Bump with the G-Man in the middle (with Ron Anderson coming off the bench), but this current group is years away from resembling a team that can comptete. First, they have no low post scoring threat and in my opinion, that's how you win (name the last legit power forawrd this team had - Webber and Coleman dont count). Think about it, 8 of the last 9 NBA champs have been lead by dominant post players (Shaq or Duncan - '04 Detroit was a fluke).Second, they have no outise shooting threat. Third, they dont have anyone who can consistantly beat you off the dribble. How to fix it? They could overpay a good player because a free agent wont willingly choose to play here unless money is an issue (see Orlando and Rashard Lewis - he's not worth a max contract). They could get lucky thorugh the draft, but this group should keep them in that "not bad enough to get the first pick, but not good enough to make the playoffs" range. Dare I say, but we are slwoly becoming the LA Clippers East.

To datruth4life:If you did'nt see the highlights from the Knicks game,you will certainly hear about the disrespect that Zach Randolph displayed towards Isiah Thomas.I know Isiah was a troublemaker in his day,but he is the head coach,and it is totally unacceptable for some overpaid,out of shape,marginal ball player to disrespect a hall of famer,who happens to be his coach.I was going to rant about how terrible the Sixers are,but when you see a player laughing on the bench while his team is getting thumped,and then to see that same player wave his coach off when the coach is trying to talk to him when he pulls him from the game for not playing defense,it's very sad.I wonder if you guys are ticked off as I am.I know the Sixers stink,but at least we're not loaded with thugs such as Zach Randolph,Stephon Marbury,Quentin Richardson,who was laughing as well,and that little Napoleon,Nate Robinson.The Knicks need to officially be dissolved from being a NBA franchise.

As an African American,who grep up in New York,and is a longtime Knick fan,it pains me to refer to certain players on the Knicks,with the same language that so called racists used against our people.But when you see players acting as if they were raised by Apes,then my vocabulary shrinks to negative name calling.And you Sixer fans think you got it tough.

Hard for Iguodala and Miller and Cheeks when the front office has signalled that this season is over (the Korver trade).

There isn't enough "ready" talent on the team, tough for the three leaders to keep fighting when undermanned most every game and no fan support.

Give Sammy credit...he isn't a natural, but he has some skill and is much better this year.

Until the next trade, I would go with rotation of Miller, Iguodala, Sam, Lou, Thad, Jason, Reggie and Ollie. Ollie can really help when Miller is out, lets Lou play 2, helps Thad and Jason as well. Green, Carney,Giracek, we've seen enough.

Last nights game was even more painful to watch than usual. Maybe it's a 'cumulative effect' thing...?!?

Lou Will is still struggling. Thad Young is still sitting on the bench for crucial chunks of minutes early. Green still makes dumb mistakes and shoots poorly yet never loses any minutes. I'm even ready to officially give up on Carney (sorry, late to the party on that one!)

Yes, Sammy had a great game, Miller scored 20+, but we already know that aint gonna be enough!Play the kids Mo! Start them and then give them 30+ minutes a game. Give Sixers Nation a reason to watch.

Hey did anybody else... um... notice Andreas Nocioini pound the snot out of Iggy all night long. He must have put Iggy on the hardwood at least six times unless he was busy clubbing him about the neck and head...Yikes, that was somethin'.

DaTruth: Rule #1-Never trade for or sign a player with baggage. The Sixers would be Randolphs third team, that says eno9ugh about him for me.

Otherwise, I agree 100%. In this league you need a strong PG/post combo to win.

Defense please!!!!
The Sixers no longer play any type of team basetball, they did in the beginning of the season but now it's one on five basketball or yo! yo! basketbal (which the Sixers always played when AI was here). Young is open on many plays but they don't pass the ball enough to get other involved.

Green is a gunner:
Willams is a gunner:

THIS TEAM HAS GIVEN -UP ON CHEEKS!

There is also more to this not playing Carney issue than Cheeks wanting him to pay hard.

James brings up an interesting point: Andreas Nocioini is a player, tough as nails with heart. Would look nice here getting minutes at the 3 behind Thad, and he can play some minutes at the 4 when the team goes small, as many teams are doing more and more these days.

Let me throw this out there: Maybe it's time Andre Iguodala should be looked at as a way to rebuild this team a whole lot quicker. Maybe it really is the time to look at what he could bring back in a trade. He wants a new contract for at least five years averaging well over $12 mil per, actually I think he wants $17 mil per.

If he's re-signed for any more than $11-12 mil per, along with $5-6 mil per for Sweet Lou, their remaining cap room won't mean much. Now's the time to get all you can get for Iggy: A nice young 4 and a No. 1 pick.

It looks like the future building block of this team is Thad, along with J Smith and Sweet Lou (hopefully as a Vinnie Johnson type not the starting point). If we can get a 4 and a draft pick for Iggy as the trade deadline approaches, do it. Andre Miller has trade value now, but will also have trade value this summer and at next year's trade deadline. Now is the time to look at Iggy's trade value, before he gets the huge contract.

FREE HERB HILL!

I can't watch this team anymore. The team stinks, the coach stinks, the broadcasts stink, and no one is interested.

I don't have the sense that Mo has really developed any player or made anyone better. He also seems lacking in discipline. That is why we can't trade for Zach Randolph or any other young/troubled player. As long as Mo is coach, we need proven veterans who can play and lead a team despite having Mo as coach. That is depressing. As to Dalembert, I think most people would agree that his development has been disappointing, and given his promise, I think it has a lot to do with coaching. Half the time it looks like he doesn't even know what play is being run.

Every week is a "player to trade of the week." Kyle Korver (now gone), Andrew Miller, Willie Green, Sammy D, and now Andre Iguodala is on the list.

I watched the game last night and this team works for me. Okay, Willie Green is a 20 minutes max bench player and Andre Iguodala's Lebron James imitation is painful to watch, BUT there are pieces here folks!! Imagine if this team just had one guy who could score 20 easy. Front to the basket, back to the basket, point guard or center, all points between. That's what's missing. We got accustomed to seeing Iverson do it for ten years and earning easy points is the team's glaring weakness.

Right, 20 plus point scorers don't grow on trees and come with a cost, but I say keep most of the roster, get the top 7 pick (no scoring punch has rendered this team one of the league's worst), use that cap room creatively, Mr. Stefanski, and simply add talent! I like these players. Only Andre Miller has demonstrated his full potential. Let them continue to work and grow as individual players and as a team. They might not succeed with any additions, but addition by subtraction might not work either. The existence of some cap room and a draft pick has to portend better basketball next year, right?

By the way, last night I was imagining and seeing the 'train wreck' metaphor Bob Ford used when discussing a Sixers team without Andre Miller at the point. Last night, the team became one about the time Miller subbed out in the first half.

Every week is a "player to trade of the week." Kyle Korver (now gone), Andre Miller, Willie Green, Sammy D, and now Andre Iguodala is on the list.

I watched the game last night and this team works for me. Okay, Willie Green is a 20 minutes max bench player and Andre Iguodala's Lebron James imitation is painful to watch, BUT there are pieces here folks!! Imagine if this team just had one guy who could score 20 easy. Front to the basket, back to the basket, point guard or center, all points between. That's what's missing. We got accustomed to seeing Iverson do it for ten years and earning easy points is the team's glaring weakness.

Right, 20 plus point scorers don't grow on trees and come with a cost, but I say keep most of the roster, get the top 7 pick (no scoring punch has rendered this team one of the league's worst), use that cap room creatively, Mr. Stefanski, and simply add talent! I like these players. Only Andre Miller has demonstrated his full potential. Let them continue to work and grow as individual players and as a team. They might not succeed with any additions, but addition by subtraction might not work either. The existence of some cap room and a draft pick has to portend better basketball next year, right?

By the way, last night I was imagining and seeing the 'train wreck' metaphor Bob Ford used when discussing a Sixers team without Andre Miller at the point. Last night, the team became one about the time Miller subbed out in the first half.

It was evident when the team traded Korver that the season was history. With no outside threat (even if KK wasn't "on", teams still had to account for him) and no inside threat, all opposing teams have to do is stop the transition game. You cannot ask the two Andres and Sam to do everything. Here are Miller, Iggy, and Sam's lines from last night:

Iggy - 25 pts, 6 rbs, 5 asts, 4 stls
Miller - 20 pts, 4 asts
Sam - 21 pts, 20 rebs

With three players over 20 pts and Sam with 20 boards, the Sixers STILL lost. How does that happen? I'll tell you how - when your team gets absolutely nothing else from anyone (save Lou Williams pt total 15). This is why you need to go get an IMPACT LOW POST THREAT through free agency or a trade. If teams had to respect a legit back-to-the-basket player and "double down" once the ball was thrown into the post, it opens up the perimeter and lanes to the basket. If you get a stud SG in the draft, it forces teams to not collapse on your low-post scoring threat. There is not one successful team in the league that doesn't have both of these options.

Trade Andre Miller, free up cap space, lose as many games as possible, and next year will be a year that many fans remember as the season that turned this franchise around.

Now that the Sixers season is officially over,I would like for everyone to talk about other teams,particularly the Lakers.Looking at how Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum are playing with great chemistry,I believe that the Lakers are just as good as the other powerhouse teams in the west.Andrew Bynum is playinjg out of his mind,and the trade for Trevor Ariza was a work of genius.Hopefully,we'll get a Lakers vs Celtics finals.Now when you look at the current state of the Sixers and Knicks,you can only hope that David Stern and crew can do something to fix the salary cap mess because as a result of this salary cap hell,two out of the five top market teams,New York and Philly stink.

Born & raised in Philly, I live in Detroit. Been in Michigan since 83" via the Air Force. I bleed Philly, hate the Pissed-Ons!!
This is my first comment, and I value the comments that I read daily. Thanks M.N., makes me feel like reading the Daily News at home. Its a shame B.K. threw so much money away trying to build a team around A.I., who you Love & can Hate at the same time, and had to be an impossible teammate to play with because he monopolized the ball and always had free reign from high school to Georgetown and further. B.K. tried, but failed miserably. In Ed, we have a homer, who is straight business.
6ers play hard EVERY NIGHT, but lack a head shooter or more then one, and a power game. Head shooter & power game go hand in hand, along with guard penetration. 6ers have NONE OF THAT!! Untill we get that, we will struggle nightly. It's a shame Mo will get the ax next season, he loves Philly as much as we do. But he is dealt a weak hand. And 9 times outta 10, new management wants their own team in place. Ed may care enough about Mo from rooting for him back in the day, but I don't even get to see the 6ers, and just by reading about them, realize that he has lost some of his players.Namely Iguodala! Mo has gotta play the young kids more, Reggie Evans shouldn't start on anyone's team, he is strictly garbageman & bench energy, which every team needs. I like Willie Green more as a person then a player, he should never start. Strictly bench help. Carney's psyche is shot! I would play tapes of Shawn Marion to him in his sleep. He has that type of ability, but is fractured now. Expect the Matrix in a 6ers uniform next season, he doesn't like being the 3rd wheel in Phoenix when he does most of the dirty work. On Sammie, you will RARELY see a foreign born player with the attitude of American players. Sammie is finally staying out of foul trouble, and has really improved. Sure he was overpaid by b,k., but he can't do it all himself. He is what he is.
So in parting, I think we are finally going in the right direction management wise, but it will take time and shrewd moves. I think Ed is the right man for the job. Its just a shame Mo will be gone next season, and Larry luggage is waiting in the wings.

Now the true genius of the Korver trade becomes apparant.

This bunch was dubious offensively before, but Korver was the one element that made them viable in the half-court set. Not only could he fill it up (sometimes) but he stretched defenses enough to give penetrating lanes for Sweet Lou or passing lanes for Andre.

Removing Korver from the equation tipped the balance hardcore. He was the one player whose skill set did not overlap with the rest of the roster and now they just can't really score enough. His removal takes them from short on talent but tough to truly bad. I mean they can try all they want, but if opposing teams just avoid turnovers to slow the Sixers down, it's pretty much game over now.

Once the losses really pile up, the transition goes into high gear. Might as well move Miller, we ain't winning anyway. And hey, look at those ping pong balls accumulating.

Let me be clear: I am not saying they should tank. I appreciate the way they work hard. I am merely trying to point out that they were a non-playoff, borderline competitive team with Korver. Flirting with .500, they may have been reluctant to do things like move Miller or put Young in the starting lineup.

By making Korver the first domino, blowing up the rest suddenly seems wiser, sooner. And if that happens to give them a few more shots at Beasley, Rose etc. that can't be a bad thing.

I really feel like somthing is about to give fellas. Don't you kind of feel like this is the calm before the storm, the air is very tense right now in the entire organization...from Snyder down to the interns. A week from now we will likely be sporting a nine game losing streak. My prediction, Mo Cheeks will not be the head coach of this team past January 23rd.

Think about it, we're on a six game losing streak, Iggy is sniping at guys, our 1st rounder from last year is in the doghouse and has completely regressed, guys don't know what play is being called, Lou Will has regressed (only slightly), Mo looks like a general watching his troops get slaughtered, Green is gunning...wait, hold on, back to Mo. He's lost control and I think his body language has shown that.

Mo is one of the few adopted sons of this city but right now it's hard to justify his extremely perplexing resistance to make a change in the starting line up, or like one poster said above, shave Willie Green's minutes despite his poor shooting and decision making. On a team that is in more of a free fall than a rut (The Nets were in a rut), how can you be so stubborn as to have the least amount of starting line up combinations in the entire NBA this year, it's mind boggling. At what point do you say "I need to try something else?" Haven't you guys noticed that Narducci has written like three articles about a line up change potentially being on the horizon but then it never happens? It's because everyone knows its supposed to happen except Mo.

Snyder and Stefanski know they need to do something if the team goes on a 10,11,12 game losing streak which will likely happen. Otherwise, I think it could get a whole lot worse down at the Wach House than the supersonic boos you heard behind Bob Salmi during one of the post game interviews earlier this season.

Firing your coach is easier than trading players, especially when your team is terrible. Wait for it fellas...it's coming soon like The Dark Knight.

Little things. Dalembert racked up impressive stats but Joe Smith schooled 'im when it mattered most - dropping critical mid-range shots over him from different spots, drawing a late game offensive foul. For all of Sammy's athleticism, he sure didn't look like Bill Russell as he trailed Nocioni down the lane on a critical end of game basket with 1 second left on the shot clock. Dalembert was into the game, showed energy and intensity. Problem is, some of it is mere show, and what he'll supply on Monday is an X factor. A somewhat improved but not an innate player - it still stands out like a sore thumb, especially when encountered by savvy and able veterans.

Team's overall lackluster play: It's gotta go to Mo (and staff). A 6-game losing skid, and last night's 25-7 bust-out start turns to a virtual rout (at home, without facing Deng) until Bulls fell asleep - a clear indication of a lack of sustained effort and cohesiveness; splintered, uninspired play. Young players make mistakes on both ends - a given. But defensively, Sixers, including veterans (and supposed stopper Iguodala), are vacant too often. Winning starts where highlights end, for the most part, especially for undermanned teams. Not D-in' it as required.

I was just watching one of those Ahmad Rashad hosted basketball shows, and there was a report on the Blazers. It was talking about how Brandon Roy was made team leader in the off-season. Roy went on to say that although he was not sure to do at first, his teammates made it easy to fill that role, and he is proud to have it. Even when they were struggling, he didn't give up on his teammates and they didn't give up on him.

Imagine if Andre Iguodala took on that attitude instead on growing frustrated and blaming his inexperienced teammates for their mistakes. (Note: Willie Green, Reggie Evans, and Sam Dalembert don't fall under this)

This is why I agree with trackboy1. Iguodala cannot keep up this charade and be team leader. He's not even a number 1 option. If the sixers were, just as an example, bring in Elton Brand, don't you think there would be a clashing of personalities?

So, if you were to trade him, it would probably have to be with Miller. But seeing as we're not winning now anyway, why not?

Brian I agree, and this is what I was saying in my post but got no response. It's over and I can feel it too. I'm not sure if LB Larry Brown is in the wings wating to take over, but it's over I can feel it through the teams bad play that there is an undercurrent.

GET WILLIE OUTTA TOWN, ED.

And let's play Thaddeus, because he's the only one that intrigues me. Iguodala used to be the only reason I watched games, but even he's so hopeless by himself. I want the Sixers to keep him, but he cannot by any means carry this franchise at all.

And we have no need for Andre Miller now.

I agree with da-truth-4-life about Charlie Villaneuva. I always thought he had upside and can put on some more weight. Randolph is another bag altogether. Major issues, man. We have enough trouble here already. That being said, I don't think Charlie V is going to be a savior by any means. He's still unproven as a standout, and this would be his 3rd team. When Korver was traded, the young core of the team (Iggy, Dally, and Korver) was being split. L Will, Young, and Smith are just babies. They're still givin em milk. Korver was the only outside threat. Now all we need an improved version of Villaneuva, an outside threat, and a transplanted heart. I've BEEN done watching this team let alone going to the games. Check you at the end of the off-season, and see what our GM has accomplished if anything.

I agree with da-truth-4-life about Charlie Villaneuva. I always thought he had upside and can put on some more weight. Randolph is another bag altogether. Major issues, man. We have enough trouble here already. That being said, I don't think Charlie V is going to be a savior by any means. He's still unproven as a standout, and this would be his 3rd team. When Korver was traded, the young core of the team (Iggy, Dally, and Korver) was being split. L Will, Young, and Smith are just babies. They're still givin em milk. Korver was the only outside threat. Now all we need an improved version of Villaneuva, an outside threat, and a transplanted heart. I've BEEN done watching this team let alone going to the games. Check you at the end of the off-season, and see what our GM has accomplished if anything.

I agree with Brigthside about how Korver's absence has affected this team's offense. They run the same plays for AI and he never comes off the screens sharply and takes a shot. He circles the screen to receive the ball and face the basket and go 1 on 1. Often, Miller will not even throw him the ball because he runs off screens so poorly. The back door lop to Dalembert as an option off that same screen play has disappeared because AI is no real threat coming off the screen.

As to Villaneuva, I have been watching and following him since he played with Deng in High School. He is not really very good (no heart) and it was evident in High School. Please do not get him.

This team is so incredibly lost that nowadays watching a sixers game is like watching a bunch of middle schoolers play!!! Iverson said it best, this team is lost and the place is flat out empty. Nobody shows up, our so called team leader (Iggy) has been the complete opposite, calling out others and being inconsistent. I stopped watching the sixers after the AI trade. Boy, I wish THE ANSWER was still here, he'd at least keep us a 7 or 8 seed.

GO NUGGETS!!!!

Please cut all the talk about trading Iguodala. He's a very good player who is and well should be part of our future plans. You get mad at him but shouldn't we realize that his supporting cast is pretty much a who's who of incompetant puppets. Trade Andre Miller NOW because clearly we're going nowwhere fast this year. At this pace we're set for a great draft pick. Keep Dalembert, Iguodala, Thad, J-Smith, Lou Williams and all the rest are expendable. Lets think how much better Dalembert, and Iguodala can be if they were surrounded by some actuall talent at the PF and SG positions.

lets get serious, if you want to be a winner you have to compete in the trade game. this is what the new gm needs to do, callMJdown in charlotte and offer miller and thad young for okafur, if MJ laughs throw in the #1 you just got for korver. noone respects a team without a legit power foward. lets get real and stop wasting everbodys time.

as for Iggypoo, why keep him if you can get what we see as equal or better value? Consider a package of him and Miller- that might get some interested takers. Those trying to hold onto him don't understand the concept of selling high and buying low- just like AI. AI should have been traded in 02 or 03! We could've gotten a much better player/draft picks in return!

Let the tanking begin!Michael Beasley here we come.

Great, insightful post by BrightSide. Korver was key to the half-court set, and now this is the worst team in the league for half court offense. They can run, but that's it. And Korver being gone definitely hurts Sweet Lou's penetration. There's not one shooter on this team. Not one.

Tyler wants to stop the Iggy trade talk and keep him...

Well, Tyler, Igggy wants $17 mil per year for five years. He's not even close to being worth that type of money, and no other team is going to give him an $85 million contract. Even Billy King didn't give it to him.

xingxang nails it: Sell high/Buy low!

Guys, based on the Korver trade, I believe Stefanski has a good pulse on this team going forward. He knows this isn't a matter of adding a piece here or there. This team needs MAJOR work.

I predict this six game losing streak will swell to 12. Let's see what moves (or non-moves) Cheeks will make during this losing streak. If he continues to keep Evans and Green in the starting lineup and go to his small-ball lineup at the end with 4-guards and Dally, then it's time for Big Ed to put him out of his misery.

Yep, this 76ers team would be absolutely terrible without Andre Miller going forward and would probably go on a 12-game losing streak. Oh Wait, they are going to do that WITH him!

Big Ed, get a deal for Miller you like and let's start building a championship squad for the future.

Really? No one commented on KKK's comment? So it's okay to make racist comments, as long as you're a member of the race that you're attacking? Groovy. Look for lots of future comments from me saying vile things about Jews and white guys. It's okay, 'cause I'm Jewish and a honky! You guys won't mind that, right?

Oliver, you're right, those comments were disgraceful.

Hey Marc, whatever happened with this draft pick (even though Mo Cheeks hates to play young power forwards):

www.nba.com/sixers/draft/bavcic_060630.html

“Edin Bavcic is a young kid, 22 years old, from Bosnia,” said Cvjeticanin. “He’s 6-feet-10, he’s a great sized forward, power forward, who can shoot the ball and can run the floor very, very well. He has good muscle definition, and because of that I see a better transition to the NBA game. I really think that down the road, in one or two years, he will be ready for the NBA game.”

FREE HERB HILL!

If they don't want a train wreck team after trading Miller, they could always start the perpetual veteran point guard, the most invaluable member of the squad, the only guy left from the 2001 run, Kevin Ollie. I mean, didn't he do it last year or the year before? He's still got it!

He might get us some bearaBULL losses.

I like how Iguodala gets injured during the game, yet still continues to play pretty good but now people are willing to throw him under the bus. The Sixers are the only team that have the money to pay him this summer so his only hope for getting a good paycheck is taking what the Sixers think that he is worth which will not be a 60 million dollar extension. No one thinks that he is the future number one guy in the franchise but he's a damn good number 2 and needs to be part of our rebuilding plans. No one else can sign him for what he wants, so we will be able to sign him for what we originally wanted.

And dear god stop talking Herbert Hill for gods sake. Mo Cheeks is in no way the next Phil Jackson but i'm going to go out on a limb and say he probably knows a little bit more about Herbert Hill's progress than Trackboy. If he's not showing anything in practice, than he won't be playing any time soon.

Herbert Hill had an MRI on his knee,and he was listed as out an additional 5-7 weeks.The way these guys talk about Herbert Hill as if he's the second coming of Tim Duncan.Now after watching College Hoops yesterday,I realize how much more important it is for the SIxers to land a top college player.I keep hearing about Derrick Rose,and OJ Mayo,but nobody is talking about possibly the best PG coming out this year,and he's none other than Arizona PG Jared Bayless.He's cut from the same cloth as Deron Williams,and is the same height,might be taller.And the featured big man matchup between Roy Hibbert,and Hasheem Thabeet was won by Hibbert.And the best matchup came from the big 12,between Michael Beasley,and the other PF from Oklahoma,who they're comparing to Carlos Boozer.

I'm sorry,Herbert Hill was listed as out an additional 5-7 days.And on to another topic,I absolutely regret the trade that sent Steven Hunter and Bobby Jones to Seattle,and gave us Reggie Evans.I believe that if the Sixers would've kept Hunter,then there would not have been a need to sign Calvin Booth.Hunter was no David Robinson,but he at least gave you something offensively,Evans gives you about as much on offense as a corpse.And the old saying,you can't teach height and lenght,something Reggie Evans does'nt have.Bobby Jones could have easily been waived,and the Korver trade would have still been made,but now they're stuck with this stiff who is worse at shooting free throws than Shaq,and Ben Wallace.

Thank you Tyler, Clint. The Herb Hill talk is driving me crazy. The guy is a bum and not going to help this horrendous team.

Clint - i didn't think Hunter was so bad either...certainly not when compared with Evans/Booth. One of the many reasons we have a new GM, in my opinion. Some of Billy's trades and draft-day moves just looked like flailing, kind of leaving you scratching your head wondering if all the moving really accomplished anything.

I'm also getting the feeling people have mentioned that something is about to break. I do like Mo, but as others have observed it's become a pretty ugly pattern of our guys not living up to their potential...not to mention the man-crush on certain players (or whatever it is that makes him give certain players way more time than is warranted). So I'm either seeing him going or another big trade. I don't know, up until recent I'd say Ed was set to play out the rope this year, but you do just get that sense of foreboding lately.

By the way trackboy, that's an interesting idea about that Bavcic. Found this youtube on him - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVKsB6wCwIk. If you can get past the German pop music its worth a look. Looks maybe a little skinny(its hard to tell since the video is a little grainy) but he had some halfway decent moves and hits a ton of threes in that video. I tend like europeans just because their fundamentals are usually strong. They're not always big or tough enough, but hey, why not bring him into the DL for a while just to see...that's what its there for, right?

Trade suggestion(Don't know if Atlanta would go for this) : offer Andre Miller & Jason Smith to atlanta for Josh Smith & salary cap space. This allows atlanta to move Horford to power forward with Pachulia/Smith/S.Williams to center.

Clint, I always look forward to reading your opinions and posts, but I do disagree with you on a couple of points. I think the trade of Steven Hunter for Reggie Evans has mostly been a positive for Philly. With that one move, Philly is now one of the better rebounding teams in the league. With Hunter, they were one of the worst and he played a large role in that.

Hunter is better on the offensive end than Evans, but his free throw shooting is just as bad. While Hunter was soft and ran from contact, Evans is a lot tougher and will lay some wood on people. Still, with all of that being said, BOTH are just bench players and should play no more than 20 to 25 minutes a game.

And you guys should give Herbert Hill a chance before passing judgment. The kid can play. Two skill areas for players that generally translate well to the NBA from college are rebounding and blocked shots. Hill averaged 10 boards and about 3 blocks this past year. But better than that, he can score down low. I think the fact that he was more impressive in training camp than Thaddeus and Jason Smith speaks somewhat well of his abilities, also.

Hill isn't an all star by any means, but he's the best back to the basket big on this squad.
Let's just hope that he can get healthy and will be given an opportunity to play.