Deep Sixer

Yep, Artest ain't happening. It would be a steal for us, and Sacremento's GM is no dummy.

Thanks for throwing cold water on the Kool-Aid drinkers among us. However, while the competition has been weak. It is also hard to escape the idea that the Sixers are finding their identity, becoming cohesive, and Mo is finding out how to use the talent he has available. There are still lineups I really scratch my head at, but they have come less frequently. We are seeing Evans used smarter, and Carney used to his abilities for example.

This has been the first stretch this year that makes me think this team has a future. That said, it does not take a Nietzsche-ian pronouncement from up high to understand that the Sixers still need 2-3 impact additions if they want to contend for the championship.

I agree that Billy King did a very good job in the draft. The Sixers current malaise has two main causes. First King was terrible at evaluating mature talent (which is strange, because that should be easier than evaluating potential.) He gave big long-term contracts to mediocre talent like Kenny Thomas, Eric Snow, and Aaron Mckie (who was never the same player once he started taking heart medication). The second cause was Larry Brown's horrendous propensity as GM to throw in first round draft picks in all his trades. One could psychoanalyze Larry, and figure that since he hated to play young players, he could avoid all that by trading away all his draft picks. Fortunately for the Sixers, the NBA only lets you trade away every other first round pick. But I believe Brown gave up 1 or 2 first round picks to keep getting Derrick Coleman, and of course, there was my personal favorite-- a first round pick for Jerome Moiso, an end-of-the-bench player for Boston, who never made it out of Sixers training camp. If draft picks are the lifeblood of a franchise, Larry should get an Oscar for his portrayal of Count Dracula.

Larry:

Agreed. The Sixers had two lottery picks while in their late 90's development stage. It was as if they blew both, and then stopped trying.

Also, I have no hard evidence, but I think Billy was just soft with players. Perhaps he emphasized with them too much, and that is why he could not drive a bargain on the free agent market. Or why he bought out Webber for .85 cents on the dollar. Of course, once the McKie, Thomas, Snow, Buckner, etc. deals were done, he had a humongous hole to climb out of, and the only way he could try to do it was to trade for other overpaid under-motivated and/or under-talented players.

Which didn't work out so well.

just out of interest, Marc. Does Dean have pictures or something?

To my fellow Philadelphia Fans,

Thank the good lord that none of you are in the front offices at the Wachovia Center. There are several topics that I would like to discuss with all of you. I will go through them point by point, to keep it simple for all of you who still want to tear this team apart just for the sake of starting it over.
1- Andre Miller Trade- Never gonna happen. Plain and simple for ya drama lovin fans out there who want to see your best player traded for 5 new prospects. Stop. Think. WE ALREADY GOT 5 PROSPECTS! Five people play at a time, why would you want five more players. The Sixers are not running a Saturday rec league for 18-22 year olds, this is the NBA, they are trying to win games.
2- PLAYOFFS VS. DRAFT- Despite the belief that it would be better for the Sixers to lose as many games as possible to get a player like Michael Beasley, DeAndre Jordan, etc. I have two reasons why you are wrong. First, you are never taking steps forward as you take steps backward. You can't tell a kid to not play to win so someone can come in to take his job, then expect him to give you all he's got night in and night out in the future. Character and heart count in this league, look at the teams that have been winning titles. Second, the draft is ridiculously deep. If the past has any precedent, the majority of these college players will go for the money, declare to early, and you get a steal in the teens of the first round. (ie- Josh Smith (17th pick), Boris Diaw (21st pick), Andrew Bynum (10th pick, David West (21st pick), Just to name a few.)
3- RON ARTEST TRADE- Why would any team want Willie Green or Ron Artest.
4- GET OVER ALLEN IVERSON- I'm disappointed at the supposed "die-hard" Philadelphia sports fans who have failed to live up to their reputation as one of the most loyal fans in the country. This team gives you exactly what this city was built on, heart and grit, and yet you won't come see them play. Twenty-seventh in the league in attendance, AND THEY ARE IN PLAYOFF CONTENTION. What is the matter with you posers?! You sell out the arena when Allen Iverson leads them to mediocre seasons, yet when they give you what you were asking for by trading him, you flock by the bakers dozens. If you want the reputation that you most proudly flaunt when you got a superstar or a decent team, earn it. Ed Snider has every right to call your sorry asses out.

to A. Holland, If this team can win a championship with A.Miller I am all for it.If they can do it by adding to A.Miller and the current roster I!M ALL FOR IT. But they better do it in the next 3 years or A.Miller won!t be able to contribute.As far as the lottery, I!ll take my chances with a top 5 pick over a 12 to 18 pick any day of the week. And last but not least, if playing "HARD" and being 7 games under 500 should be enough to satisfy us, than I guess E.Snider thinks we are like his loyal Flyer fans !!!!

AMEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ed Snider can blow that stuff out his ass. People still care about the Sixers, look at how much we go back and forth on this blog? But when you've let your team lapse into sub mediocrity for years, and when there has been zero accountability for management please don't act surprised when there is less attendance.

Snider's biggest mistake was losing Croce over a power play. The energy has never been the same since.

Well, Mr. Holland, thanks for your chastisement of us die hard fans. You're right. We fans shouldn't care at all whether our teams win or not. We should buy season tickets and donate additional money to Ed Snyder because we love our team and Mr Snyder so much. We want him to make much more money and we love his companies making lots of money at our expense. I'm going to attend all of the rest of their games. In fact, I'll follow players around after the season's over, and I'll take pictures that I'll send over to you so that you can tell my sorry ass how great a fan I am. I'm in awe of your zeal and love your self-righteous attitude. I suppose you've been attending all of their games and sending them "Thinking of you" cards and flowers when they've been away? I'm going to follow your lead and do the same. Thanks for your encouragement to support Mr Snyder's teams you are such a motivator. You're awesome.

Andrew, well said on all points...lot of knuckleheads on this blog...well meaning perhaps, but knuckleheads nonetheless...same crowd that calls WIP and wants action for sake of action.

Andrew, nice to have you here.

I LIKE WHAT THE SIXERS HAVE AND ARE DOING..ARTEST IS A CANCER ON ANY TEAM HE PLAYS AND I AGREE HIS ONLY INFLUENCE WOULD BE NEGATIVE...HOLD ON TO THIS CURRENT SQUAD,ADD THROUGH THE DRAFT AND SIGN ONE FREE AGENT......

bravo...someone figured out reggie evans isnt a starting PF....that would be shocking news if the rest of the world hadent figured it out in ..2003..and anyone who thinks iggy should be a 6th man on any nba roster should never offer another opinion on basketball and on a team like the sixers hes the one and only bright light at the end of the tunnel on most nights win or lose....usually lose

hey guys, check out Dj Augustin on ESPn 360 tonight.

To Morty,

First, I couldn't care less about Ed Snider, his money, or what he thinks about the 76ers. I'm a fan. It's not my job to worry about Ed Snider or his financial status.
I do know that playing in front of a gym that could squeeze in snuggly in the confines of the Northeast Catholic gymnasium is not very inticing to free agents, or fun for our young players.
Lastly Mr. self proclaimed "die hard" fan, go to a game. Their a rebuilding team that's playing above their potential, wake up and smell my zeal.

Mark,

Has any thought been given to trade Andre Miller to the Lakers- say for Barnum / Farmar?

In one of several scenarios that could work under the salary cap for both teams how about this trade:
Incoming Players To Sixers
Derek Fisher
6-1 PG from Arkansas-Little Rock
12.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.9 apg in 27.3 minutes
Trevor Ariza
6-8 SF from UCLA
6.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 apg in 18.0 minutes
Andrew Bynum
7-0 C from St. Joseph (HS)
13.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 1.7 apg in 28.8 minutes
Jordan Farmar
6-2 PG from UCLA
9.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.8 apg in 20.8 minutes
Outgoing Players To Lakers
Andre Miller
6-2 PG from Utah
16.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.6 apg in 36.4 minutes
Louis Amundson
6-8 SF from UNLV
1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.0 apg in 4.9 minutes
Edin Bavcic
0-0 from
No games yet played in 2007/08

It gives the Sixers an incredibly athletic front court with Daly and Barnum- one that is very young too. It also gives us a vet PG in return (Fisher) with a young PG (Farmer) for the future (assuming Williams does not work out at the PG position). The Lakers keep Kobe / Gasol / Odom together and add Miller which will put them as the # 1 or # 2 seed in the West. When they got Gasol it essentially made Barnum somewhat more expendable if they want to win now with Kobe / Gasol / Odom all still in their prime.

The Sixers would look like this:

SF Young / Carney
PF Barnum / Evans
C Daly / Smith / Hill
SG Iggy (move Iggy here) / Green
PG Fisher / Farmar / Williams

The Sixers should draft or sign a FA shooting Guard or SF for next season. We could even trade Daly for a SG or SF (if we think Jason Smith is the real deal after this season at PF- making Barnum our Center). Fisher even gives us a 3 point threat for the time being. Thoughts?

PhilPhanatic,

I think the chances that LA trades Bynum for Miller are about the same as them trading Kobe for Willie Green. Sorry.

Andrew - Andre Miller will never win a championship with this team. 1) He's too old. 2) Doesn't play the necessary defense that you need from the PG position. 3) His contract expires in 15 months, and the Sixers won't re-sign him to a long-term deal if they even keep him that long. Therefore, your first point is completely off-base.

I don't have time to discuss your other ingenious proclamations, but here's one thing you might want to consider before calling us "sorry asses" out. Ed Snider hasn't been to ONE GAME since Billy King was fired (I've been to them all, and unless he all of a sudden changed his same floor seats he's had over the past 5 years, he ain't there). Want to know why? Because he lost a power struggle to Peter Luko. So, he has no right to call fans out because (a) he doesn't show up himself and is only worried about his compensation package now and (b) his "sorry ass" hasn't won a championship in over 40 years combined of managing the Flyers and the Sixers.

Andrew, everyone has there own opinion on this board and that's cool. But, when you blast us fans and your facts are wrong, there's only one justified response.

SHUT UP!

Go Dean!

Sorry Andrew but you sound like an idiot!

John must be his high school buddy or something! They seem to be sharing a brain!

PhilPhanatic- Sorry but LA isn't giving up Bynum. It would be great if we could get the LA GM drunk and hi and get him to sign the trade papers but I doubt it will work!

Dean, way over the top buddy.

Dean,
I agree completely with your depiction of Luuko v Snider. What persuaded me was the insinuation that Snider, as suggested back when in print, wanted to, or YEARNED, to, bring back Larry to coach this squad. Course, Snider absentmindedly overlooked that Channing Frye is and has been, one of few of Iguodala's trusted inner circle friends, and Frye detested Larrys jerkfest re the Knick players from game to game.

So Dean, you have earned my respect re this Blog. More, we need to help Marc preserve this Blog from the repetition of lunacy from those obviously noted above ( as in over the last 2 weeks, etc).

Marc doesnt need the headache of having to respond to morons who belong on the Forum, where they belong.

Its a pity that SixerFans, most of them, can't foresee the high ceiling of, and probability that, Iguodala, with his work ethic and drive as a warrior to win, will likely be convinced that, unlrss the FANS wake up and prop pitiful attendance, just DEMAND that his Agent get him miles away from the horrific, at current time, fans of Philly.

Unless the fans wake up quick, I can;t blame him one bit either.

Oh my gosh, Dean and Morty agree again! (on Ed Snider.) Way to go boys!

Deano you are NOT over the top on this one! Andrew Holland is spewing nonsense (and lots of it.)

Xing, your biting sarcasm towards "Mr. Holland" was totally appropriate...and enjoyable.

.....And hey Andrew, lighten up. This blog is for fun. we share ideas, argue, etc. You mustn't have been reading for a long enough amount of time or you'd never mistake us for witless WIPers....Stop with the long winded blustering.....Pleeeeease!

Joshua, even Dr. J. had to deal with crowds of 13,000 at playoff games b ack in the 70!s. The fact is, there are other options basketball wise in this city. I!ll give you an analogy; Comcast with no competition, raise prices with less service. Comcast with other competitors, best possible product and a quick service response. We are knowledgeable fans, do the best you can, sixers management, and we will fill your seats. In 2001 it wasn!t about A.I. , it was about a winning team. They didn!t win a championship, but you couldn!t tell by the city!s response.

Road to the Playoffs: Minnesota

Marc makes it sound like the next two games are gonna be easy, when they're likely not going to be.

Like Memphis, the Wolves can give the Sixers lots of trouble with their athleticism - remember what Hakim Warrick did to them in the 2nd half? Big Al can do that and then some to them. They've lost 5 in a row, have gotten some rest, and I'm pretty sure they're anxious to end that streak. They're gonna be full of energy tonight.

Luckily, their coach sucks and Iggy has more basketball IQ in one of his boogers than this whole team combined. Talent-wise, and athletic ability-wise, they can run with the Sixers. But there's a reason Boston wasn't able to win with these players when they had them - in the end, you need to play smart basketball, and the Wolves don't. Last time they played the Sixers, the amount of bad shots they took was staggering.

The Sixers played two teams similar to the Wolves recently, the Bobcats and the Grizz, and both times their best weapon was Iggy. I think if the Sixers wanna win tonight, Iggy needs to fill it up.

Andrew, I usually chop, cook and eat what I smell.

I am not blowing $100 to watch Sixers/Grizz at the Wach. Sorry, I'll watch at home in High Def. I'm already paying Comcast (Sixers)over $150 per month. There's nothing like hearing a Billionaire bitch about money! Stick to the pucks Ed.

I'll give B.K. his due for his drafts, I was impressed when they found Willie Green and Kyle Korver in 2003's late 2nd round alone. Th Derrick Byars deal still has me upset, though, we could have stocked value...

He was still horrible in free agents, contracts and trades, which is why I'm happy with Ed Stefanski.

I'm still in favor of this playoff push, unless Cleveland blows us away with a trade for Miller. What can Cleveland offer for us to take them seriously?

When I see people make ludicrous trade offers like Miller,Amundsen and Bavcic for Bynum, Farmar, Fischer and Ariza, I lose faith in the knowledge level of the posters on this forum.
Please think about a trade from both sides of the deal, not just the side where the Sixers get a top flight center for the next ten years, a young up and coming PG and an athletic defensive minded wing player.
PhiliPhanatic .. you're better than that .. ( I hope )

Marc it's great that you actually read the user comments on your blog. I was the one who said that they were going to get the 6th seed over washington and end up with the 17th pick yesterday. What can I say, this Thad for Reggie swap has done wonders for the team. Thad at the 4 might be kind of like the yankees playing Joba Chamberlain out of the bullpen. Thad playing the 4 is a huge advantage, I mean what other 4 runs and hustles down the court like our Future 2016 Dream Teamer. When and if we ever put him back at the 3 we will be longing for the days when our PF used to run like the devil.

Chris:

There are usually a bunch of nutso trade deals proposed here. I try to stay away from making them, and respond only to something either a) reasonable or b) actually rumored. It's better for one's health.

Darnell:

Ed Snider is yet another businessman who gets upset when market forces apply to him as well. The market has been telling him that his product stinks. Now personally, I go to games through thick and thin, it enhances the experience when they are good, to appreciate where they came from.

Snider is not a basketball guy, and he let his ego get in the way of the business.

The greek:

Not if we get Josh Smith. Seriously, who else is with me in thinking that a lineup of Sammy, Smith, Young and Dre could cover up for the defensive deficiencies of Miller?

Also, Andrew Holland wasn't offbase in any of his comments. I have no clue why everyone attacked him when all he did was spit the truth. Who the hell wants Willie Green? Who is to say that we dont resign Miller when his contract rus out. His game isn't based on speed so I dont think that he is going to be washed up in 15 months. The die hards in here know that his the the best pg we have had since mo cheecks. No I don't count AI as a point.

What about Eric Snow or Dana Barros?

Morty:

Hell yeah, your right about Josh Smith being a 4 who can run like the devil. I know that they just traded for Bibby and he is due to make 14 million next year. But I just can't see us getting Josh. I think that Atlanta will match any offer that is made and let childress walk away. The real ? is what is Igoudala going to do? And on top of that what does ES think about the new AI?

The greek:

Between, the contracts of Lou and Dre, free agency and the draft, it should be an interesting summer. Despite the Billy King revisionism going around, I for one, am quite happy he will not be around to manage it all.

Morty:

I think that the reason that there not starting Lou Williams is to keep his the price tag down. It's the only reason I can come up with for Wee Willie starting/playing.

Funny fact, during the final game of the year last season in Toronto the camera Flashed to Billy King so that they could talk about how important last summer would be for him and the future of the sixers. Talk about unbelievable bad timing, porn star tory lane was crouched behind BK talking to him while sexually licking her hot lips. She then handed him over a piece of paper which I assumed was her number. If anyone has that game on film go to 4th quarter with about 4 minutes to go and check it out. Love Tory Lane, hey maybe she was giving BK information on some charity or something.....MMMM Tory Lane

Or for legal purposes I should say a Hussy who looked exactly like Tory Lane.

Morty, Im also quite happy to see anyone but BK managing the money. I dont think anyone will dispute that. I do have to give him credit for at least this past draft - maybe it was just dumb luck, but he made a pick that everyone but everyone was scratching their heads over and the early results are very good.

Since its part of today's topic, I did make a comment about a sixth seed yesterday. But if it was not clear from that post, it was just an observation that people were talking about it vs. november when everyone swore we'd be picking Beasley. Personally im not even watching the win total at this point. I suppose if things really come together here and really fall apart elsewhere, its numerically possble we're as high as six, but obviously much more likely it will be 7,8, or somewhere just below that.

Personnally, I watch every game(mostly from home - whether or not im a "real fan", im not one with a ton of disposable income) and hope they win every time, because i like to see my team win. Rationally i know they have more chance of loosing than winning on a given night this year, but that doesn't stop me from hoping that they win against every team. But as long as the guys on the floor are (a) the guys we want to develop for the future, (b) playing like they want it, and (c) showing steady improvement im ok with the result whether its a win or a loss.

Talent is the most important ingredient to NBA success. You can call San Antonio a class organization, but how far would they have gotten if they ping pong balls didn't deliver Tim Duncan (while we got Keith Van Horn)? We all sneered at Boston for only getting the #4 pick after all their tanking last year, but they were able to parlay it into their incredible rebuild. (Of course, even this pales to their deal with Larry O'Brien to draft Bird a year before he came out, keeping them head to head with the Magic Johnson pick that LA had secured.) Heck, it was a struggle to win championships here even when we secured the two most famous players of their generations. Without them...

Not every year has a dominant player or two available in the lottery. (We'll have to wait and see how Oden works out for Portland.) But how many teams win the title without a dominant player? Detroit made it work a couple of years back, but that was definitely the exception.

KM:

You nailed with this: "but as long as the guys on the floor are (a) the guys we want to develop for the future, (b) playing like they want it, and (c) showing steady improvement im ok with the result whether its a win or a loss."

I couldn't agree more. Until ES came aboard and then the Korver trade this season was painful to watch. But the changes ES has mandated (play the young guys and play up tempo) has made a world of difference.

Interestingly, the Hollinger rankings grade the Sixers out as the 15th best team in the league, better than all other teams with a losing record, and even slightly better than Portland.

I like the direction this team has taken and I agree with the philosophy of being patient. As much as I want a championship as a Philadelphia fan, I look at the Knicks and I see a team that has burried themselves with salary problems and malcontents on tehir team, all due to the drustration of losing over a period of time. Rome wasnt built at the trade deadline people. There is a proper way to build an organization and this team has waited a long time to get he salary cap space they have needed. I am all for letting the ppyers we have scrap for one of the last playoff sopts and letting them grow in the process. whether they get in or not Isnt the point. Its the maturation process that matters as well as having the cap-room to go add a vital piece in the off season without having to sacrifice a draft pick.

oh.... and by the way.... Things are a little different this year. By the time the Sixers are sitting on their sofas and evaluating the power forwards whose services they would like to retain in the off-season, Cole Hamels will be on the mound and The Fightins' will be entertaining us with dailly 10 run production games. Its not like years past when we had a big void to fill from may until Eagles training camp. We should look to the Phillies in order to give the Sixers the breathing room that they need to rebuild this team properly. They have alot of promising young talent, and with the new found salary flexibility awaiting them this summer, Now is not the time to get antsy and make a stupid trade in order squeak into the 7th or 8th playoff spot. A false move could end up negating all of the patience that the diehards on this site have shown. pulling the trigger on a deal is all about timing, and this team is not poised to make a run yet. They have given themselves a solid foundation to build on, but they arent experienced enough or big enough yet to close the deal. Give them one more off season, then start to expect results from this group.

Darnell Dunkenstein, I agree completely with your comments. God save the queen!

how good would San Antonio be? Well they'd still have Bowen, Parker, and Ginobili that's for sure. Although Tim Duncan is one of a kind. He's one of the best players of all time.

I haven't watched many Spurs games, is Ginobili still flopping like Reggie Miller? That seriously annoys me to no end. I dont want basketball to turn into world cup soccer with all the falls they purposely take.

By the way, Kidd deal finally went through:

"Jason Kidd, Malik Allen and Antoine Wright are headed to Dallas. The Nets will receive a package built around the promising young point guard. Devin Harris, and two first-round draft picks. The Nets will also receive center DeSagana Diop and forwards Maurice Ager, Trenton Hassell and Keith Van Horn."

I truly think that many of you are drinking some strong Kool-Aid in believing that making the playoffs is a good thing this year. The East is so incredibly weak that teams like us and NJ are in the race for a playoff spot. If we were in the west, we would be 15 games out of a playoff spot or more. The only positive could be the experience for Lou Williams and Thad. Trust me, it is kind of fun for the fans who watch the team all season, but it is truly better for this team to get in the lottery.

I agree with Case on the comment of going to the games. I have been at 3 or 4 games this year and there is nobody there. I would prefer to watch the game in HD over going there and wasting money to watch them play any team in this league. We can still support the team without being in the arena. If Snider/Comcast wants people there, they have to adjust the prices and stop trying to sell these lame ticket offers (Guys' night out, etc.). Nobody is going to go for that. It is such a joke. And for those who say the draft is a crap shoot, you are right, but your chances of getting an impact player are higher as you move up in the draft. There is also the ability to acquire future/additional picks with a higher pick via a trade.

I am in favor of moving Miller, if possible, for an expiring contract and having the additional money this off-season. If not, I fear that we will be an 8 seed and get a number 16/17 pick and will have trouble getting a real impact player in the draft. Lets see what Lou Williams has these next 30 games at the point. I personally would love to see us get Rose in the draft, but that looks like a long shot as he will probably be a top 5 pick if he comes out and it doesn't look like we will be drafting there. He is a PG to build a team around.

As for this late praise of Billy King's drafts, please look a little closer. He was decent at best. Iggy fell into his lap. I think Willie green is a marginal player at best. He is a 7th guy on a decent team at best. He can provide a small scoring punch off the bench on occasion. He is pretty good for a 2nd round pick. Korver was a good move, but this team clearly needed a 3-point threat and he was the best shooter in the NCAA that year. That was kind of a no-brainer, but it was a good move. Lou Williams has yet to prove that he can consistently produce but I do like his prospects especially given where he was drafted. He took Dalembert over Tony Parker and Damone Brown over Okur. He was always terrible with International prospects. I heard that he used to joke about certain prospects and their trouble with the language. Also, I wonder what he thought of Dirk the year we took Larry Hughes. Our only real international player of note was Rentzias. I don't know if this is a DiLeo issue or King or scouting or what, but we never looked to be interested in any international players.

How about Andre Miller for Luis Scola, expiring contracts of Francis and Wells?

In a heart beat - then we must look to move Sammy for Mike Miller or something like that.

Should we have any interest in Nick Fazekas?

He became collateral damage for the Jason Kidd trade today and was waived.

He is a young PF who shoots OK from the outside. I was hoping we would draft him last year in that last pick in the 1st round or 2nd round.

Hugh,

The Sixers as currently constituted are better than you think. Look closely and you’ll see they’re playing winning basketball:

1. They’re taking high-percentage shots. They’ve made up somewhat for their lack of scoring down low.
2. They’re creating more possessions for themselves with their rebounding and steals.

It’s really awesome what I’ve been watching recently – they just might be creating a blueprint for a new kind of gimmick team that other GMs might start to follow: play defense and run. It’s not smallball, you need great offensive players to run smallball, especially players who can pass and shoot the three.

Mo wasn’t getting that at the beginning, but now I think he does. This is why Carney has become so crucial to the team right now, more than Jason Smith. Of all our players, he has the potential to cause the most madness out there with his defense and his athletic ability, and you’ve seen glimpses of that. Your favorite whipping boy, Sammy, holds them back in one crucial way - it takes him forever to make an outlet pass, and I think this is one area where Jason (or Kevin Love) could really contribute if given the chance.

Yes, they suck at half-court sets, but with Iggy’s smarts and his jumper falling, and Miller’s offense, they can play about even with most of the teams in the league when playing half-court. But with that “steal and run” game of theirs, they’ve shown an ability to get leads on their opponents recently, and I think it’s gonna continue for the rest of the year. And the part that has me most excited is, I think it gives them a chance against Boston or Detroit!

Hugh,

Thanks for some more cold water on the BK revisionism. He's made some decent picks especially pulling Korver, Lou and Green out of the second round and his best pick is likely Thad at #12. But let's not pretend that all of a sudden his tenure looks like gold b/c the team won 5 in a row.

Even with a some good pieces to form a young core, this team still needs 2-3 top notch players to be more than a 6-8 seed in the playoffs.

That said, I disagree about making the playoffs. The team has 29 games left and 23 wins. Even if the wheels fall off we will not be all that much better than where we were last year in the draft. It's too late to get a top 5 pick. So as long as Mo plays the kids their minutes, what will be will be. I can't see a huge difference between 12th and 17th pick. Last year was their year to tank, and they blew it.

Don't forget, we can always move up in a trade at draft time. We'll have the ability and pieces to do it for a change.

For the record, I don't praise all of BK's picks. Just giving credit where credit is due for Thaddeus - I was not happy with that pick, but im willing to admit when im wrong. Im happy with that pick now.

I've said mostly everything already echoed in this blog so i guess i'll wait for the next one...i should get a sports writing job...i'd guess parts like this would be fun as hell...alot of research too....i'm excited about extending our win streak...gotta love this team

Agreed that their recent surge has been entertaining, but disagreed that this is a blueprint for any GMs. This run and gun style is fine when you have young players who can get out and run and create some easy layups/dunks, but it is not a style that wins consistently. Give me the last team that has won while implementing this style of play. Even the Lakers of the 80s had Jabar who was perhaps the best half-court center of all-time.

In the playoffs, it is a half-court game. Detroit never allows teams to get out and run against them. We will get smoked in 4 if we get the 7 seed and same if we get the 8, especially with the way we defend the 3.

Also, I disagree with the difference between the 12 and 17 pick. There is a lot of value with 5 slots when trying to move up in the draft. I agree that the talent availabe at both picks is comparable, but there is defintiely a difference. Also, is someone is falling, those 5 slots could prove to be very significant. There is also the chance of lucking out and getting a top 5 pick when you are in the lottery. I do understand the idea of a building block, but it is absurd to think that we can beat a Detroit or Boston in a 7 game series with this team.

Finally, we have a big decision to make this offseason in regards to Lou Williams, don't we want to see him as mich as possible in these last 30 games? Andre Miller is playing great, I will not disagree with that, but this must also mean that his stock is higher than ever right now.

Larry...

Alot of people forget that Larry Brown's hand was on the team when alot of those scratch your head personell decisions were made...I believe even tho King had the track record and title of GM...It was Brown who made those impulsive personel blunders...And the perception of most of the players most notable Iverson viewed King as a flunkie... Thats why King had to fight so hard for the players' respect and maybe one of the reasons he got fired overall...Larry got him the job but it was a hard thing for him to establish himself once he matured into the position while Larry was there. But once Larry left for the knicks we found out what Larry was used to doing when he tryed to put together trade offers without consulting then GM isiah thomas...We also learned of Billy King's abilities and draft savy when we found out that the pieces around Iverson were not as bad as advertised once King changed the 'culture' lol...Another telling situation is the 98 draft...King wanted Pierce from Kansas and Brown

Hugh,

I don’t disagree that there’s a more traditional way to win championships.

But the Sixers play defense first, THEN run. Not “run and gun”, that’s what gives them a chance, in my opinion. I don’t remember the last time I’ve seen an attack like this, if ever! After a rebound, block, or better yet, a steal, of all the teams in the NBA, it’s the hardest to get back on defense against the Sixers. Detroit and Boston are both pretty old teams, and have suspect coaching.

That’s what’s been great about this streak – it’s not offense-based, which can come and go, but founded in defense.

...wanted Larry Hughes from Saint Louis...hmmmmmm I wonder if the celtics were happy with that pick at 10 slot...I dont think it worked out too well for the sixers...hughes got traded...So I'm not going to judge King threw the Larry Brown days...Just afterwards...He's done well after Larry... Not perfect but better than people tend to think...Larry Brown left such a mark on the Billy King perception that most GM's wouldnt do a trade with the sixers unless they could completely get over on him...I think thats why he had a hard time making deals and another reason why he got fired...No one respected him...But he still managed to put together a fairly decent team while trying to find ANYBODY who could play with Iverson without morgaging the teams' future

On Dan C's comment.. Right on point! Could not agree with you more. I agree with what you said completely. I mean what is this cities fasicination for trading one of the best players at his position in the league along with being a very good character guy both on and off the court for someone (artest) who brings more drama everywhere he goes just by showing up and opening his mouth. leave artest alone..i will agree he is a great talent..but sometimes you have to pass on something and keep moving forward as the sixers are doing right now in the right directon. you have a plan in place stick with it and don't deviate from it..honestly, i say stay the course with the team you have right now..barring an injury or getting something strictly from the heavens in the form of trade, play with what you have..these guys have devleoped very good chemisty in the time they are together why bring in someone who is basically a mercenary for you who has to learn the system, has to develope chemistry with the team and so forth..go with what you have and leave the oscar nominations (best actor in the form of a sane ball player) alone for some other team to deal with..and finally, ed snider is correct in calling out the philly fans for being fair weather fans..if you say you are a true sixers fan, say it loud and simple by your actions - SHOW UP!..Its like this..in poker there is phrase ALL IN!! Well, if you are behind this team, well your either ALL IN or posing..which one are you?..SHOW UP!! Be ALL IN! for them..