Deep Sixer

The scoring has been there, seeing that for we have only scored under 100 twice in the last nine games. Also, in the fourth quarter (in the last nine), the opponent has only averaged 22 pts. (especially evidenced as Philly only gave up 20 pts. to Denver last night in the 4th). Our winning streak has been due to clutch play and teamwork. I dunno if we can expect Andre Miller to give us 30 and 10 every night so the defense, hustle, and team play is the only thing that can sustain this streak. The Detroit game was a perfect example of that grind-it out style that Philly must be able to call upon, especially if the fast break isn't jump starting. But all in all, I believe they can ride the positive wave.

It's natural to question what we are seeing here from the youth movement that has transcended the Sixers into a veritable playoff team with legitimate hopes of achieving some success in the playoffs that nobody prior to this season would have dreamed of.

I have been transfixed by these games: the drama, the coming from behind, the selfless play of a team without a bonafide star, the amazing leadership from the quietest guy on the team - Andre Miller. Top that off with AI returning to Philly and getting beaten by a better team than when he left it, and maybe even better than the current team that he is on.

It would be a mistake to underestimate the Sixers after what we have seen thus far. Let down? Sure, it's possible, maybe even probable. But these boys are young, they have fresh legs, and they don't believe in the naysayers that say they are supposed to lose.

So they haven't been losing these games that nobody expected them to win. This has no doubt caught the attention of the rest of the NBA. These guys run, play hard every game, and they don't quit. Mo has them playing their hearts out every game and opposing teams will fear these boys if they aren't fearing them already.

I really want to see them play in the playoffs to see how far they are away from being one of the better teams in the league. I think they are going to surprise many by going much further in the playoffs than anybody thinks they will.

It seems our 9 man rotation allows us to recover quickly in back to back situations. Seems alot of the teams in front of us are leery of going deep into their benches.We have won in a lot of different wats with a lot of different players stepping up.I!m starting to think we have our 1 and 1A stars already in the fold.Usually the steps to a championship are :1]make the playoffs, 2] win a series, 3] get to conference finals, 4] win it all; can we aqccomplish the first 2 this year,why not!!

Marc, I think that our guys are learning to win, but they have not been under any REAL pressure yet as there are no expectations.

Therefore I think it is fair to assume they will have a bump or two coming up, but that also will prove to be of value as a learning experience.

Regardless, the future is bright, and how many of us would have said that at the start of the season!

I feel like most of us have been treating this playoff push with quite a bit of disbelief. This isn't skepticism, just genuine bewilderment. I mean just a few months ago we were very much a team in progress with lots of hole and not many options. So I think its alright Marc for you to wonder a bit, I still suspect a bump will arrive as well. Again, this isn't this skepticism, nor the usual Philly treatment. This is more like finding the perfect girl and not believing your luck.

It has been an incredible run we have gone on since early February. Watching these games have got me feeling that we can beat anybody.I love how we go out there and give 100% effort and and never take the score to account in how hard they play.We could go go on a mini slump, but I think we'll get right back on track after it. Even if we loose every game from here on out, I will see it as a successful season. No one expected this level of play from us and it has put a huge smile on my face. Can't wait for the playoffs!!

John:

I politely disagree with you about the pressure. They have felt pressure ever since King was axed to perform well enough to either not lose their jobs or to prevent Ed S. from shipping them to another team. Iggy has faced pressure ever since he decided to play the lotto with his contract by playing his way into big money. Miller, pressure to play well so he is not traded. I actually think he likes it here and is tired of moving around. Carney, to improve. Willie, to show he is a starter. Lou, to show that he has turned the corner, and the list goes on. Didn't even mention Cheeks and the obvious pressure he was under all year long!! This teams individual pressures turn into one massive ball of fear and uncertainty that they have been able to overcome. What we are seeing as a result is wins and expectations that has risen to a level none of us could have imagined! These wins started coming along after the trade deadline, pressure off!!! Now they can just play.

If they stay at 7, I think they have a chance to defeat Detroit. They are getting pretty close to the end of the road in the motor city. We beat them and the only teams I am afraid of are Toronto and Boston. And that's only because we have not beaten them yet. Everyone else can be had.

Letdown?

Hmmm...this brings to mind the words of FDR.

"We have only just begun to fight."

Not letdown...but let's go.

Let's go, Sixers. Time to push it into another gear...and begin to fight.

Even if they do have a letdown and go .500 the rest of the year, they would still finish 41-41. I'll be the first to admit I thought this season was over at 18-30. I'll also admit that before the season started I said if the Sixers won 30 games we should throw a parade for them. Whatever they do from here on out,they have impressed me.

If I was Detroit, I'd be pulling pretty hard for the Sixers to get the #6 seed. They are an old team that is out of gas.

One factor that would seem to mitigate against a long losing streak is that the team has taken on the personality of their coach and their floor general: unflappable. After the Boston loss last week, I would have thought the Detroit game was the perfect time for a letdown (I know I was pretty deflated myself after the Boston game), but they dug deep and pulled out their grittiest win of the year, springboarding them to another winning streak. It's been 25+ years, so the memory is hazy, but I don't ever recall Cheeks losing his cool in a game (although I wish he had hit the free throw to tie it at 91 in Game 7 against the Celts in 1981). It's pretty much the same for Miller, though Miller's got three technical fouls this year (I don't remember them).

As for playoff matchups, I don't think the Sixers should concern themselves with who they are playing. They just need to be sure they are playing their best basketball, which is enough to give any team in the NBA trouble (with the possible exception of the Celtics).

There is no evidence of any problem with the Sixers since they learned how to play. In fact, as their winning has gone on, they've increased their winning percentage, until now they are 8-2 over their last 10.

Not only have they been winning, but until last week, their scoring differential was improving. The only reason that has tailed off is because of the talent of the teams they faced. But even though all of those teams were highly ranked, the Sixers outplayed them all except for Boston.

One of the most startling things about the most recent wins, is that the Sixers have done it with defense. These games are down to the wire, with the Spurs and Pistons, and they stared them down, managing to out-execute them in the half-court. These are teams that are known for their toughness at the end of games, and the Sixers closed THEM OUT!

The first time the team beat Orlando is when I took real notice. That team always found a way to beat Phila. But the last time they played, the Sixers found that their guards could outplay the Magic's, the Sixers backcourt also outplayed Detroit's.

Based on their recent play I have the Sixers ranked 10th, and they probably should be higher than that.

It is also important for them to win every game they can, since they might just edge-out Cleveland and get homecourt advantage.

Beating Orlando and NJ, should be easier than beating Chicago and San Antonio.

After the end of this month, we are done with WC teams. We will have the opportunity to run off a very decent win streak against weaker Eastern opponents with two games against Cleveland, Atlanta and the Nets each. Those two games against the Cavaliers may determine who gets home-court advantage in the first round.

I think if we can pull out a win against the "Boston Three Party" it will give us a higher level of confidence and a feeling that we DESERVE to be in the playoffs. It may give us the feeling that we can win it all. Here is a list of playoff contenders that the Sixers have beaten at least once this year: Washington, Houston, Cleveland, Toronto, Dallas, Orlando, San Antonio, Phoenix and Detroit. That means that the only playoff teams that they haven't beaten are NJ, NO, BOS, UT, GS, and LA. Only 2 of the teams they haven't beaten are Eastern Conference teams meaning that they've only played the Western Conference teams only 1-2 times as opposed to 3-4 times. I'd like them to get the 5 or 6 seed because I like the match up against Cleveland and Orlando better than Detroit or Boston. I think the other 2 are very winnable series and would further build confidence for this young team

About the dumbest power poll I've seen yet has to be Hollinger's daily power rankings on espn.com. Before Denver he had us at #12 and after we won we were down to #13 all the while he is singing our praises. Perhaps it's best if people still refuse to believe what their eyes are telling them. We can only hope that teams are just as stupid.
It reminds me a little bit of Detroit when they first started getting good with their current squad. Most of them had been deamed overated based on their previous work in other cities and then Coach Brown got a hold of them.
MJordan couldn't stand Rip while they were in DC, even telling him during one game that if he didn't give the over-the-hill HOFer the ball every single play that he would see to it that he would never play. Yeah I guess Jerry Stackhouse who was brought in to replace him was better. LOL.
CBillups failed on more than one occasion. Sheed was being chased from the league because of his inability to deal with the refs and BWallace was seen as an undersized PF who only had D and questionable hair styles.
I still remember when they took out our 6ers before going on to capture their first crown. that was considered a big upset. Oh Yeah! Then people started to believe.
Let us sneak up on some teams. I know whoever we play will swear that they are not about to take us lightly, but can we blame them if they do. No all we will be able to say to them after they are dunked on into submission is, "See yah, wouldn't want to be yah!"
It's late and that is far more WIMZY than I am accustomed to dealing.
Good night Philly and good night 6ers. Sleep well because tonight you have some heavy lifting to do.
Barton

The thing that stikes me watching these games is the sudden feeling that I expect the Sixers to make the shots and make the stops. It was always how I felt about the OTHER teams. When I watch this team I believe I am watching not a new core of players - many players are the same - but a whole new TEAM in concept - a team that doesnt carry the baggage of the old AI sixers post-2001. Like a man stuck in well who finally lifts his leg up out of the hole. They could surely lose some games even suffer a streak, but i dont expect it because i know from watching them that they'll never be the same.Because something has truly happened to this group. I think it's Miller's excellence that is transforming this squad from the inside out. For the love of God...dont trade him.

Basketball is a team gain, we forget that most of these young guys have been playing together for at least three years, Dalembert, AI ,Green, Lou Will etc..I knew that by the second half of the season these guys would be a better team, I didnt know they would be this good though! Sixers are peaking around the right time while others teams are still struggling to find there playoff identity. Once the playoffs begin its a new season all over again 0-0, no wins no loses and its on. I like the Sixers chances. They are a deep talently athletic team that has taken on the playing character of their coach . DONT SLEEP ON THE SIXERS (trust me nobody else in the NBA is)-GO SIXERS!!!!

Q
Chillin in B-More

Even though I had USC winning last night, the fact that they exited first round should make OJ drop even further. If we can pick him up with our late draft pick it would be a coup.

If they trade awway Andre Miller beore his skills start to diminish or don't resign him it is a mistake.The floor leadership and chemistry start there from what I c can see. I believe if we keep him let our people continue to grow with a couple of additions here or there then this team will compete for the East title for quite awhile.Danny Ainge went out and bought a Championship with aging veterans to make a run in Boston.This is a team homegrown with the draft and trade here or there. Iverson with his talent like, Charles Barkley before will not win a championship
so this was the best hing for the franchise no matter how any ovations he got.

Just one more thing I forgot. Andre Miller is why the team doesn't loose. Whenever we need a basket Andre can create his own shot and draw a foul.

In fact, most NBA teams only have one or two players who can create their own shot. The Sixers have Miller, Igoudala, Williams and Young. Carney and Green seem to have the ability as well.

The only thing this team is lacking is a post-player who could create his own shot, so that in cruch time, when that player is fouled the ref HAS TO CALL THE FOUL!!!!

That is really the whole secret of winning in the NBA and why Duncan and Shaq are who they are.

Sometimes the frenzied panic defense that all teams fall into at the end, will give the Sixers a lob to Dalembert or an easy open look to Jason Smith.

Igoudala took the last few shots last night after Dalemberts winning shot, and didn't make any. Fortunately, he didn't have to as the Nuggets defense couldn't score.

In any case, the Sixers are a very tough team to stop since they have so many offensively-minded players, and because they really bust hump on defense-that is a wining combination.

Sorry guys, I don't think we're beating the Pistons in a seven game series where they have home court advantage. Yes, the Nuggets game was playoff atmosphere, but it still wasn't the same thing. Our young guys are going to need a game or two to adjust, and those two games would likely be on the road against a core that has been playoff tested for five plus years.

Suppose we slip into the five seed and get the Cavs. Can LeBron beat us single handedly? It's going to be interesting to see

I am just along for the ride. This team is so young, that whatever they do (except for a total collapse & missing the playoffs) is going to be a positive. The future looks bright for this team. I just hope they have no trouble keeping Andre. He deserves his big pay day.

GO SIXERS!!

I am just along for the ride. This team is so young, that whatever they do (except for a total collapse & missing the playoffs) is going to be a positive. The future looks bright for this team. I just hope they have no trouble keeping Andre. He deserves his big pay day.

GO SIXERS!!

BB,

Good points...I was really thinking of the pressure of TEAM expectations to WIN...that is everyone expecting you to win, to make the playoffs, to go far in the playoffs...they have none of those pressures given the stage of their development.

But I agree, the individual pressures are there.

John

I'm not worried about this year's run. Win or lose I'm proud of the team.

My concern is next year and the year after. That's when young guys that are prone to big heads and ego's start to become distractions ala Dalembert a little while ago. Fortunately, we have Miller and Cheeks and hopefully they'll be along long enough to remind the kids, a) Don't read your own press clippings and b) The whole is better than the individual parts.

sdm, Iguodala deserves his big payday? For what, 3 3/4 years of speckled work? 14.5 pts/5.7 rbs/4 assists/2.8 TO. Don't the Sixers get big negotiating credits for giving him a broad 308 game canvass on which to splash his sometimes ugly, gaudy but developing b-ball pop art? Oh, I forgot, this new breed gets paid a king's ransom on speculative value and projection. I hope the Suns or Cavs gives him what he wants. Iguodollar, Dollar, Dollar!!!

Jumpin':

I have been very ambivalent about Dre. He is still not, and may never be, the "go-to" guy at the end of a game, but he is without question improving, and more importantly he is the glue of this team. If he goes, there is no point to keeping Miller, and you are back to blowing up and rebuilding the entire team. I think that is a major point in favor of resigning him.

Unless ES had some plan ready to roll to bring in a better player, it would be very risky to let Dre go.

We should make a deal with dala-bill. put him on the same spot in the court where he made that crazy 3/4 court shot and tell him if he makes it again, he can name his number. If not we get to name it. Call it salary arbitration.

With the recent talk about Iggy's payday, it brings to mind something I've read earlier in the preseason about Al Jefferson of the T-Wolves. I believe he was offered a Max contract but declined it because he felt that he wasn't good enough yet to earn max dollars. He's getting paid 65 million over 5 years (13 mil a year on average) I think and with that, he's doing 20 and 10 with 1.5 blocks and a steal. If Iggy takes that kinda attitude (because we all know as good as he is, he's not and might never be a max player) and accepts a similar contract, than I think that everyone here will be satisfied.

Just saw that Iggy turned down a 5 year/ 57 million dollar contract (about 11.5 mil a year)...I don't know if it would be wise to offer much more, especially with the potential that Thad Young has been giving off...damn.

Setting aside my bad joke, Andre Miller has to a consideration in how you negotiate with dala if you think we should extend Miller. Giving dala a big payday and extending Miller means we'd have a tight cap next summer, and prob until Miller's deal is over(unless you front-load it).

Miller wouldn't have been a question a few weeks ago but lately people have been talking about extending him, so it at least needs to be metioned. you Might be able to extend Miller for a little discount given age, but now that the league has seen he can score and run the point, I dont think you'll get him to take that much less. Baring injury, i cant see his level of play declining much over the next 3-4 yrs.

success changes the picture in lots of ways...

Step right up:

You raise an important issue: what to do about Miller. On the one hand, he does seem able to maintain his play with age over the next 3 years. On the other hand, someone younger who can shoot the 3 (a Calderon-type) might be better for the long term. And of course how much will it cost to keep him, and will that hamper our efforts to improve the team as a whole?

That's a lot of issues to consider and balance out. And a reminder for the BK revivalists among us that there are a lot of big time decisions yet to come for this team as it tries to become a title contender.

Well. The evaluation is ongoing.

There's enough time to continue the evaluation this year based upon our performance Ed can make the appropriate moves.

I love the BBowen-RCarney comparison. Hopefully he develops in to a better offensive version oh him. Our 1/2 court offense is much better with Carney stretching the defense.

As far as Iggy, if we keep winning at a high percentage, he should be signed. If our level of play drops off, more thought is necessary.

It's a great time in Sixers land!

Calderon is a real nice player, would make a good sixer too, imo. But even setting aside the feasability of getting him from Toronto, i think you'd have the same cap space consideration with him as with miller - be pretty surprised if he winds up getting too much less than 9-10mil. Unless we decide get outbid on Lou?

not really taking sides on what to do about the point position yet, just putting it out there that its turning out to be a much stickier issue than anticipated.

Lots of considerations at lots of positions. Eddie the Shot will have the chance to make or break his reputation this summer - the rub is we probably won't really know if its a make or a break until around this time next year.

Meantime, im just going to put my feet up and enjoy the run our boys are on.

Jumpin'johnny -- first, I love the nickname, esp. after your explanation of where it was derived. I'm not old enough to have seen the real Johnny Green, but descriptions of him make him seem like a colorful and exciting player in his time.

Anyhow, I respect your opinions, which are obviously borne out of playing a lot of high-level basketball (more than most here on this board). But here is a little thought experiment for you.

Player A in his first four years played 316 games, started 220, played 32.5 minutes per game; shot 51% on 2-point FGs, 26.5% on 3-point FGs, and 69.5% on FTs; and picked up 6.0 rebounds per game, 4.4 assists per game, 2.0 steals per game, 1.0 blocks per game, 2.7 turnovers per game, 3.3 fouls per game, and 14.2 points per game.

Player B in his first four years played 308 games, started 308, played 37.5 minutes per gam; shot 50.5% on 2-point FGs, 33% on 3-point FGs, and 77% on FTs; and picked up 5.7 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists per game, 1.8 steals per game, 0.5 blocks per game, 2.4 turnovers per game, 2.5 fouls per game, and 14.5 points per game.

Which one would you choose? There really isn't much to choose. Player B played more minutes and got slightly lower rebounds, assists, and steals per minute than Player A, but with lower turnovers and fouls and higher 3-point and free-throw percentages. Well, Player A is Scottie Pippen in his first four years. Player B is Iguodala, up-to-date.

Now, you can argue that neither player deserves a max contract after those first four, nearly-identical seasons. But if you were the Bulls' GM in 1991 and had to make a decision on whether to sign Pippen to a max contract, would you have done it? Having the benefit of hindsight, I most certainly would have if given that decision. Pippen is a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and an indispensable cog in all of the Bulls' championships (how many championships did Jordan win without him?).

Going forward, Iguodala could only wish to have the career that Pippen had. But the point is that, statistically at least (and I do realize that -- despite my username -- statistics can sometimes be misleading), Iguodala IS on his way to having a Pippen-like career. Pippen's best years statistically were years 5-11, and it's very possible that Iguodala's best years will be as well. So when the Sixers decide whether to pay Iguodala the max, they won't be paying him based on what he's done but on what he's likely to do. If it's not already clear, I'm in favor of re-signing Iguodala, for the max or close to the max. I'm open to rebuttals, though ...

Don't know if he is coming out (Soph) but Davidson's Stephen Curry, Dell's kid is something special. Like Dad he can really stretch the D. He just put up 40 on Gonzaga just raining 3's.
Last year he went off before losing in the first round and I was impressed. He is 6'3" 185 and well schooled as you would expect. His D looked pretty good but I don't know how it is usually. But that shot of his is so so smooth.
Could definitely see him in the 6ers rotation in 09. Although it will still be hard for any rookie to get a lot of minutes, but if he works hard and learns from AI, LWill, WG and AM I could imagine him earning 10-15 per game as the year goes on and he learns the game and about the league.
Is there anyone out there who has seen him more than once or twice with an opinion?
Barton

Barton:

Didn't you get the memo we'll never be able to acquire 3 point shooting, and that's why the Korver trade was such a disaster?

But seriously, I had the game on in the background and saw Curry light it up. He looked like a solid spot up shooter, but like Korver, not able to create his own shot. However, I didn't watch the whole game, so could be wrong about that.

Morty,
If there are lots of holes in your offense like the 6ers had early on then you probably can't afford a square-up 3pt specialist. However, if you have an abundance of athletic players who can defend the perimeter, get to the hoop, drive and dish someone like Curry can be a significant asset.
I don't remember Dell Curry having more than an outside shot yet he managed to make the all-star team if I'm not mistaken. Or take a look at how KK is being used in Utah. They had the other pieces in place already but had no outside shooter. They don't need him to drive or defend much but yet he is critical to their rotation because he can come off the bench and give you instant long range offense. And 3pt specialists always have high trade value.
Barton

Barton:

Just having some fun, and reminding some posters that there are 3 point specialists coming out of college on the cheap every year. But I should probably let the sleeping Korver debate lie.

Morty,
Just watched KK's brother another KK from Drake lose. He had 21 by the time I turned it on but then missed a few deep 3's before fouling out. Another Ashton Kutcher with range.
Barton

Hahahaha. I saw that. The Korver family has a third son at Creighton, where KK went. Maybe we could grab one of them - that would be hilarious.

Statman, You've lived up to your pen name. Nice job. The parallel you presented was interesting. The similarity in stats between Iguodala's & Pippen's 1st 4 years is lessened in significance, however, when one considers the conditions in which they were accumulated, and the immediate ascent and general malaise of their respective teams upon subjects' arrivals:

Bulls (of measured years) -
50-32 lost conf. semi
47-35 lost conf. final
55-27 lost conf. final
61-21 won championship

Sixers (of measured years) -
43-39 out of the money
38-44 out of the money
35-47 out of the money
34-34 sniffin' money

Teams were understandably comin' hard at Bulls during that span. Sixers, even with this year's mild success to date, don't inspire the best in opponents (it's one of their advantages on which they've capitalized). Also, Pippen made the All-Star team in his 3rd year. Iggy has yet to be honored. You acknowledge the unreliabilty of statistics in gauging value; I acknowledge that Iguodala's a player of impact, but he's not Pippen-important, my opinion.

Hey Jumpin, do you think the Dre!s can be star 1a and 1b for a championship team if we add star 1c, a player at their level at the 4 . E.S. seems to feel that way.

Jumpin:

Don't forget about the benefit another player, his quality or better, could have for Dre's game.

I will say, though, in the aftermath of this year's improved play and young promise, Dre's contract negotiation will be a big test of his willingness to leave some money on the table for the team's greater good.

Marc,

I feel the need to go "Matrix" on you. You state that the players expect to win every time they step on the court. That's because Maurice Cheeks is playing the role of Morpheus to the Sixers Neo. He has them believing. And the fans too. The most important thing, according to Morpheus, is not what I believe but what you, the Sixers believe. If they believe they can win every time out, then they can. You also wonder how long it will last. As the Oracle said to the Architect at the end of "Matrix Revolutions": "as long as it can, as long as it can".

Damnit Mo! what does Green have to do to get yanked? If he's not hitting any shots, pull him quick!

Well, looks like Lou is the only Sixer to show up in the first half.

Letdown? What letdown?

I do believe that Iggy deserves a big pay day. He's improved every year & has, I think, handled his post Iverson role well. I realize he hasn't been an all star yet, but he's entering the prime of his career & I think those honors will come. Hey, if Dalenbert got the big bucks, Iggy should too.

sdm

St. Joes and the 6ers are really getting their butts kicked at halftime. Still, even as a Philly fan it is not time to start looking for razor blades and a tub. With all the wins I almost forgot what the real world was like. Let's see if either one or both can come back at least a little in the second half.
Heh 6ers fans, it was bound to happen at least a few times before we are locked into the playoffs. If they had gotten shut out tonight I wouldn't panic. This is the NBA and the 3pt shot giveth and it taketh away. Only tonight it is giving to Orlando and it is taking a piece of our butt.
Barton

Barton, true that. Hopefully just a letdown.

I agree. Just one of those nights. We'll bounce back strong tomorrow against the Nets, just like we've done before

i'm not trying to be negative, but sometimes the 6ers really have problems with their perimeter defense. its games like this where dala is supposed to step up and carry his team a little, at least try.

Tonight was simply a letdown, can't win em all as the cliche goes. One thing I love about all of this (the team , the fans, etc.) is there is a renewed sense of hope among sixers fans. I was at the Denver game, and it felt like 2001, the energy the team gave was crazy. I would hope for the sixers to draw either Orlando, or Cleveland, I think we could handle them the most. Iggy normally defends LeBron well, and the Magic won't shoot like that every night. Detroit I would like us to avoid, but if we do draw them, I'm not worried, we can play with them, as we've shown.

Hey Marc --

Let's take our minds off the Magic loss with a quick Herbert Hill question. Since it's a leg injury he's suffering from, is Hill doing some serious upper-body weight training? He was awesome in his last couple months of college, but some scouts said he lacked strength. Any information?