Deep Sixer

Marc, I am completely and utterly surprised. I have been a fan for 40 years but the Webber-Iverson/Sixers were impossible for me to watch. As an ex-high school coach, ex-Drexel broadcaster, and a person who LOVES the game, I began to hate the pro game.

Then Andre Miller gave me my game back. Then Reggie Evans announced to me "we are not soft any more." Larry Brown called it "playing the right way." I thought maybe 34 wins this year, then lottery pick and maybe a shot next year. In my mind, Thad Young--total happy surprise, Lou Williams--more than expected, Sammy--still frustrating but more good than bad, The two Andre's--awesome Marc, I am so thrilled with this team and I will say it again----Mo Cheeks for Coach of the Year. If Mo's gets Celts, they still win 60 but if Doc Rivers gets Sixers, maybe we do not have 36 w's and counting.

Marc:

Ignore that "frank" comment. He couldn't read, that was his problem. Most everyone here, the regulars at least, love the blog and the way you handle it. Keep on keeping on.

Anyone who saw this coming was of the ultra-homer persuasion. We're all fans here, but we're also clear eyed non-homers. Meaning, like you, we didn't see this coming.

As recently as the trade deadline some people wanted to trade anyone and everyone. Even people, like myself, who saw potential still didn't see playoffs in the future unless it was a total back-in because the East is so bad.

I do remember back in the first month + of the season, and that team was awful, terrible. And boring to boot.

Anyone who saw 40+ wins back then should have been committed. Now I want them making investments for me.

I thought the Sixers would, like last year, hover around that 8-10 seed & maybe sneek into the playoffs. What they're doing now is a big & pleasant suprise to me. I am loving every minute of it!

Go Sixers!

sdm

I live in Western Massachusetts and bought the NBA package on DirecTV just to watch the Sixers. I was watching them play in mid-January, they were losing in front of no fans at home, but they still (except for a few quarters) played hard. I can't say that I thought they would make the playoffs, but watching them win has been great - you can't imaging what it's like to live with these Boston fans..

To be honest. Before this season I thought we had a chance to make the playoffs. With the success of the team in the second half of last season I thought we could carry that momentum into this season and maybe pull the 8 or 7 seed. After the first month or two of this season obviously that all went out the window and I just figured we were rebuilding so no big deal. I always thought we had potential but just never reached it. While I am very surprised with out recent surge, I can't say I'm blown away because we have very very good young talent. That 5 seed would be nice.. Let's Go Sixers!

Sixers ain't in yet. Don't count yer chickins... .

Let me be one of the first to say that I saw this coming!! I made no predictions on the record, but I saw no reason why they would not make the playoffs seeded anywhere from 5 to 8. I said that the only teams that scare me were Boston, Toronto, Detroit, and Cleveland. Not to toot my own horn, but you asked for it!!! Marc, you told me to slow down after they had beat NY in back to back games in convincing fashion.

Glad to see my boys making me look good (at least on this issue)

I live in Lake Charles,Louisiana and I can honestly say that I saw this coming.I stated several times before the season started that the Sixers would make the playoffs to my fellow cohorts who are fans of the Celtics,Lakers, and Cavaliers.I may not be from or live in the city of Philadelphia but I am the realest Sixers fan you will find.When Iverson requested the trade I felt bad but I knew then that no matter what team he was traded to, I was not going to give up on Iguodala,Korver (who I wish was still a Sixer),Green,Williams,Carney,and the rest of the crew.I didn't budge when Webber left, no real fan would've.I didn't think they would make the playoffs cuz the East is "weak" or "inferior to the West", but because I believed in the guys on the roster.Losing Korver was tough for me but the guys stepped and I moved on, and I still wish Korver nothing but the best.I'll be a Sixers fan until I leave this earth.I don't wanna be a fan of a team like the Celtics.I don't jump on bandwagons.I've been on this one since the NBA Finals in 2001, and didn't leave when they lost.Those guys have competed every night since the beginning of the season.The recent wins against Phoenix,Detroit, and the remarkable comebacks in Boston and Chicago didn't surprise and wouldn't surprise a true fan like myself.People say they love the "underdog", exactly what the Sixers have been since the day Iverson left but a team like Boston is formed and everyone jumps on the bandwagon not truly understanding what or who they're really cheering for and most importantly, WHY.

BB:

Can you call the bottom of the economic downturn?

In the midst of a flood of negativity from other posters, I first mentioned the possibility of the Sixers rising to the 6th seed in this very blog, under the Feb. 11 post 'Momentum Continues for Sixers.' At the time, they were 22-30 and probably around 10th in the conference, though they had just beaten the Mavs for their 4th straight win.

However, what is the difference between astute observation and foolhardy optimism? Only the results, really. I will say, though, that I was in the minority of those who (a) wanted to keep this team together and (b) wanted this team to do as well as possible. In February, opinions ran at least 3-to-1 (and maybe 4-to-1) to make a major trade and/or tank.

Statman:

I remember that. And you were nuts to mention the 6th seed.

I wasn't in the trade or tank camps, but I was nowhere near your camp!

Never fails how people can take such a great opportunity to say the dumbest things! If people are jumping on your bandwagon that means you have a bandwagon to jump on , and is't that a good thing. Fact is Sixers are rolling at the right time, just hope that they dont peak to soon. The pace they keep is ridiculous, I guess you can do that when half your roster is 25 and under.
DONT SLEEP ON THE SIXERS

Q
CHILLIN IN BMORE

I never proposed tanking, but I did view this team as rag-tag, a collection of useable but disposable parts, not playoff-bound. Even with surge and playoff probability, I haven't moved from that opinion much. Sixers are on the upswing but the next step up is considerable. Where do they go from here? Lots of decisions on table this summer. Professional teams in the free agency era change character, sometimes vastly, year to year. It's a great challenge for GMs to piece their respective puzzles. I have more faith in Stefanski than I did in King re roster building. Still, on the whole, the Seventy-Sixers are presently an average team with potential to climb. Could steal a 1st round series depending on match-up, will probably flatten out with half-court game pace prevailing.

PS

MISSING FREE THROWS IS A SIGN OF FATIGUE!!

Marc,

It is amazing...no one saw this coming, not even the players I bet!

Why haven't we seen more on the job MO CHEEKS and STAFF have done with this team.

MO deserves all good things...he is a quiet leader as a coach just as he was as our best PG.

He has to get serious COY consideration doesn't he?

John

Marc, I wanted a high lottery pick, but I didn!t want them to tank. See [CELTICS LAST YEAR]; i FELT WE HAD TO GET REAL BAD TO GET REAL GOOD!!! But maybe, just maybe the young guys are gonna be real good.Maybe its just our time, Toronto taking the stiff instead of Iggy; B.K. taking another wing at 12 and almost another [D.Cook] at 20.Yet Thad is the real deal[ By the way, at our draft party I wanted J.Smith at 12]; L.Will. in the 2nd round, we all thought another A.I.? Mo as the "popular" choice to coach; what a great job he is doing. A.Miller coming in with the right attitude, look at the J.Kidd fiasco in N.J., nuff said about that. It has been a great turnaround and hopefully it will continue.

I'm not going to lie here, I saw this coming after last season's late season surge. I saw them having a winning record by season's end but I was expecting them to either being an 8 seed or just missing out on the playoffs. I can honestly say I didn't expect them to be this close to the middle of the playoff pack They have a legitimate chance at being a number 5 team, heck if Cleveland keeps playing the way it is the Sixers (or Washington) could sneak up to number 4 seed. HOME COURT FOR THE SIXERS BABY!!!! I'm not ready to buy that one yet though...they still have to learn how to beat Atlanta although as I said last week in one of my comments, "A win against the Boston Three Party could go a long way for this team's confidence."

When I though about the late season run of last year and I saw the predictions for this year, it made me sick that we got no respect. What makes me even more sick is that on ESPN.com we get no love. How is this team not one of the top 10 stories of the year in the NBA? We got a blurb on the lower right hand side and even then Portland got more love then we did. Also, when Boston beat us last week it was a big headline with a big picture and everything. We beat Boston last night and we got a little link no picture, no big headline about us going on a 19-0 run to beat a great team. Not even any mention about how we've mowed down some giants lately. It's just frustrating and sickening. They didn't even put the link up that we beat Boston until almost an hour after the day ended.

Jumpin':

Well put. Are you seeing the recent run as more of a return to average, i.e. the team was under performing before?

Perhaps because I am drinking the Dre kool aid much more than you, and perhaps because I value Thad so much (and a little sip of the Carney and Lou kool aid) I am more optimistic about the current players. That they are on the upswing as young players.

That said, I could not agree more with the rest of your post. I still think winning a round would be a tremendous accomplishment for this team. And I still think at least 3 major moves need to be made before we become a true contender - PF, 3 point shooting and Miller. And that doesn't even begin to mention the improvement we need from our young players (including Dre.)

As I posted very early on at this blog, I am not at all surprised that the Sixers are in the position they currently find themselves. The ethos of this team did, at least as I saw it, a 180 once Mr. Iverson and Mr. Webber left town.

What has me scratching my head is why so many others are puzzled with this team's success...why so many did not see what I saw.

Goodness, folks, as I remarked a week or so ago, I think, if Sixer fans and the local sports media folks were solidly behind these guys from the beginning of the season...the Sixers could very well be in the fourth playoff position today.

You know, if you keep telling someone s/he is no good or can not do something...soon that someone may buy into what is being said.

Kudos to the Sixers for not listening to all the negative, low expectation talk that started in the preseason and continued until recently. Kudos to the Sixers for their dogged, neverending belief in themselves.

And...it's a new day, folks. Let's all get behind these guys and see how high they can fly.

I certainly did not see this coming. And , frankly I don't see how you could. First of all, how could you think that such a young team could play with this kind of cohesion? Not to mention, you are getting individual performances that are way better than you could have expected:

Miller-Career Year
Dalembert-Career Year
Green-Career Year
Williams, Young and Smith-Way more than expected.

I certainly did not see this coming. And , frankly I don't see how you could. First of all, how could you think that such a young team could play with this kind of cohesion? Not to mention, you are getting individual performances that are way better than you could have expected:

Miller-Career Year
Dalembert-Career Year
Green-Career Year
Williams, Young and Smith-Way more than expected.

I could see it coming because I knew how good of a player Miller is, he's like Jason Kidd with a shot. Iggy really had no where to go but up with his stats without Iverson taking all the shots. We've all seen Sammy play and even though sometimes it's maddening, he has to put it all together at some point. Green has always been able to score but Iverson was in his way and he wasn't able to grow, plus he had some injury issues. Williams was looking good in camp and I'll admit, I didn't know what to think of Young and Smith but I was pulling for more playing time to see what they had. I did know that Young was a good player at G-Tech but didn't really know too much about Smith. I knew Evans was good defensively but didn't realize how bad he was offensively. If you think about it though, every good team has got at least one guy that's a very good defender.

larry - good point. And don't forget Iggy. His stats are definately his best ever.
Last time sixers had a team with virtually everyone playing at a career-best level, they went to the finals. Am I saying that's going to happen this year. No. But it feels like 1999 when the Sixers took out the number 3 seed Magic. Living in Orlando at the time I just remember the Magic saying over and over again that year leading up to, and during, the playoffs that they were worried about the Sixers length and athleticism. Sound familiar?
Everybody now...
1-2-3,4,5 Six-ers
10-9-8 seventy-Sixers!

Listening to Bill Simmons and Marc Stein podcast. Simmons is a Philly believer, Marc Stein still needs to be educated. Seems like Simmons wants to talk about the Sixers, but Stein keeps changing the topic back to the West.

They mentioned a name, I think it'd be a great free agent for Philly, Willie Green's replacement: Sasha Vujacic.

24 years old, 6'7", 210 lbs.
FG%: 46.2
3PFG%: 43.5%
FT%: 82.1%

He's restricted, don't know how much it will take to get him from the Lake Show. I know 99% of the people here would rather have Turiaf, but I'd rather have Sasha and our current frontcourt rotation than Turiaf and our current backcourt rotation. Willie needs to take his 3-17 games elsewhere; it's gonna be a while before I forgive him for that atrocity, it almost cost us a game against the freakin' Nets...

I'll repeat what I've said a few times on this board: Thad Young has won a lot of games for us at PF, I don't think we should give up on that unless we hit some ceiling where that clearly doesn't work for us anymore. I'll repeat this, too: Stefansky saying Iggy's definitely gonna move to the 2 and Thad to the 3 is him messing around where he don't need to - leave it to Mo. Thad can rebound and can execute his filthy low post game against both 3's and 4's - what more does he need to do to show he can tackle the 4 spot? If the 4 isn't his natural position, then prove it before saying it isn't.

This name was mentioned a couple posts ago, and I've been a fan ever since I saw him play: Kyle Weaver from Washington State. 6'6" point guard, looks silky smooth, the Thad Young of guards. If we could pick him up (and if the Lakers don't, they love big PG's, e.g. Javaris Crittenton), then our future backcourt COULD be LouWill (6'2") and Weaver. Check this guy out - Washington State plays UNC on Thursday at 7:30. You can also check out Ty Lawson (UNC point guard), who some boards have had as the Sixers' pick with their 1st rounder.

Speaking of the draft, draftexpress.com has us taking Nicolas Batum of France now (they liken him to Rudy Gay). He's 19 now and has been playing professionally for around 4 years now. I wouldn't mind him and Iggy at the swing positions. I'd love to have a French player on this team, he might say something along the lines of what Boris Diaw said in ":07 Seconds or Less": "I don't date American women. I have them." And he'd give Sammy a buddy to speak French with...

And for the Sixer die-hards, you'll never guess who plays PF for his team (Le Mans) - Sam "2nd round" Clancy! Never thought I'd see that name again; now I know where to look for Herbert Hill in a couple of years.

Listening to Bill Simmons and Marc Stein podcast. Simmons is a Philly believer, Marc Stein still needs to be educated. Seems like Simmons wants to talk about the Sixers, but Stein keeps changing the topic back to the West.

They mentioned a name, I think it'd be a great free agent for Philly, Willie Green's replacement: Sasha Vujacic.

24 years old, 6'7", 210 lbs.
FG%: 46.2
3PFG%: 43.5%
FT%: 82.1%

He's restricted, don't know how much it will take to get him from the Lake Show. I know 99% of the people here would rather have Turiaf, but I'd rather have Sasha and our current frontcourt rotation than Turiaf and our current backcourt rotation. Willie needs to take his 3-17 games elsewhere; it's gonna be a while before I forgive him for that atrocity, it almost cost us a game against the freakin' Nets...

I'll repeat what I've said a few times on this board: Thad Young has won a lot of games for us at PF, I don't think we should give up on that unless we hit some ceiling where that clearly doesn't work for us anymore. I'll repeat this, too: Stefansky saying Iggy's definitely gonna move to the 2 and Thad to the 3 is him messing around where he don't need to - leave it to Mo. Thad can rebound and can execute his filthy low post game against both 3's and 4's - what more does he need to do to show he can tackle the 4 spot? If the 4 isn't his natural position, then prove it before saying it isn't.

This name was mentioned a couple posts ago, and I've been a fan ever since I saw him play: Kyle Weaver from Washington State. 6'6" point guard, looks silky smooth, the Thad Young of guards. If we could pick him up (and if the Lakers don't, they love big PG's, e.g. Javaris Crittenton), then our future backcourt COULD be LouWill (6'2") and Weaver. Check this guy out - Washington State plays UNC on Thursday at 7:30. You can also check out Ty Lawson (UNC point guard), who some boards have had as the Sixers' pick with their 1st rounder.

Speaking of the draft, draftexpress.com has us taking Nicolas Batum of France now (they liken him to Rudy Gay). He's 19 now and has been playing professionally for around 4 years now. I wouldn't mind him and Iggy at the swing positions. I'd love to have a French player on this team, he might say something along the lines of what Boris Diaw said in ":07 Seconds or Less": "I don't date American women. I have them." And he'd give Sammy a buddy to speak French with...

And for the Sixer die-hards, you'll never guess who plays PF for his team (Le Mans) - Sam "2nd round" Clancy! Never thought I'd see that name again; now I know where to look for Herbert Hill in a couple of years.

I did not see this happening. At best I was hoping that maybe in '09 they could make the playoffs. I love a surprise, and this is one, for sure. I always follow the sixers, but don't really pay attention until they start playing team ball, and, of course, start winning. The last time I felt this type of energy around a sixers team was the year they went to the finals. I don't see that happening this year, but I am certainly willing to be surprised even more than I am. I hope the media (outside of philly) stays negative, or more accurately completely ignores this team. Keep hyping the Celtics, the Suns and LeBron. I'll just enjoy the feeling, cause I haven't had it for seven years. By the way great blog.

How frickin deep is the Lakers bench. The subs on that team challenge for the 8th playoff spot in the east.
I'm not kidding.

First time poster, long time reader. The Sixers are my favorite Philly team. My friends thought I was crazy to stick by this team in the darkest days after the Iverson trade, but I knew we were headed in the right direction. Coming into the season I thought there was a chance to sneak in the playoffs but never saw this coming. If you had told me before the season that the Sixers would have beaten Boston (on the road), Detroit, San Antonio, Phoenix (on the road), Denver and Dallas in a two month span, i thought you would have been crazy.

Seeing the chemistry, the heart, and the hard work coming together right now is absolutely thrilling to watch. I was lucky enough to be at the Denver game with my dad (whose love for the Sixers I inherited). I really believe that the win brought finality to the Iverson era. Sure we gave him the admiration he deserved for the memories, but the bottom line was that it is about the logo on the front of the jersey not the name on the back. This team is a true team and I hope Philly fans get back on this bandwagon to give them the support they deserve.

J.Smith,T.Young,R.Carney,L.Will., K.Ollie;6th man [Randolph] vs. Turiaf,Radmonavich,Ariza,Vucujic,Farmar; 6th man [Walton] Harvey, who would win?

I think last night's Boston win was somewhat of a fluke. Boston was coming off a draining road trip and the first game back is traditionally a tough one for the home team. The Sixers dropped one of those to a depleted Bucks team in January.

The score was tied and the Sixers took advantage of a missed layup and a ball bouncing off a ref to suddenly go up a couple. Then Boston went to their bread and butter - three pointers - and couldn't convert those. In fact, I bet if the Sixers had built up a ten point early fourth quarter lead, Boston would have focused and pulled out the game.

Why am I saying this? Because the Boston game pales in comparison to this recent thrill ride. A Win at Detroit, a win at Phoenix, a win against a desperate Nuggets team, an 18 point comeback against the Bulls, a win against the Spurs, and finally last nights win.
The Sixers haven't been this impressive since they went 10-0 in the championship year, 2001.

Now I do think the Sixers team of '03 with Iverson, Snow, McKie, Coleman, Ty Hill, and Van Horn was probably better talent wise. But did they have the athleticism, chemistry, point guard leadership of this version?

That's why I'm blown away. This team looks dead in the water night after night and they always pull through. It's having several options in clutch time, combined with pretty good team defense when it counts. I still don't believe what I'm seeing; I thought it would be 35 wins max.

I won't say I saw this coming, but in the 4th game of the year (a sixers win over the Bulls), the Bulls announcers sang the Sixers praises. (I heard them when I had a free preview of NBA League Pass on my cable.) As the Sixers were running up and down on the Bulls, they said (and I quote): "Mo Cheeks could have fun with this group." They had also seen Reggie Evans more than people in the East had, and knew what he brought to the table. Look, let's get real: the Sixers probably aren't going to win the championship this year. But what they showed Monday night is that the Celtics probably won't either. Like the Eagles did against the Patriots in the fall, the Sixers showed the league how to beat the C's. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, this was truly sweet.

Quite but very confident Fan! Marc,I can honestly say I was one of the few 76er fans that truly and honestly believed they were going to be better team this year. Marc,I have studied basketball and drafting for just a few years starting back in the mid 70's when the sixers had the great Dr. J. It's really not Rocket science. It's just more common since,patience and putting the right pieces together in the puzzle. Just think of what the old 80"s sixer team would have been if they hadnt added that final piece to the puzzle called Moses Malone. The puzzle looked real good but it wouldnt have been complete and wouldnt have won a championship.Any way enough of that.Lets just look real close at the last 4 years of the sixers drafting and that really tells most of the story here.Lets start with the drafting of A.Igduola then we drafted L.Williams then R.Carney then we Trade A.Iverson and get Andre Miller who has always has been a geat leader and two additional picks. Now we draft T.Young and with the other two picks,after some trading and swapping we get J.Smith and H.Hill who hasnt played this year.Marc,I could see the pieces comming together and believe it or not it really wasnt that hard because when you keep drafting and playing the numbers they will eventualy fall into your favor.Marc, I will admit this because I'm no Albert Einstein and I never thought they could be this good this fast.I did think they were going to be a least a 500 or better team next year.
Marc please remind all the Billy King haters he did a great job of building this fine team we now have and can be proud of.Please telland remind all the sixer fans to give the man some respect and his do credit.Because Mr Ed. from N.Jersey sure didnt do it.
Have a great day!
Go 76ers!
Aaron

Sixerzguy:

Do you have a link for the podcast?

Also, I like your thinking about Vujacic. He's got good size, good athleticism, he can run, and he's young and can shoot lights out. Having only seen him play a handful of times, how does he play D?

Morty, the problem is are you willing to give Carney for Vajucic, don!t think Green gets him.Any restricted free agent will have to be gotten through a sign and trade. I think Turiaf would cost us J.Smith or Carney, don!t think E.S. wants to mess with our core group. Azubuike has a player option, he may be a more realistic choice.

One last thing, sixerzguy. Thad as SF, and moving Dre to SG is as much about Dre as it is about Thad. Dre at shooting guard will create a lot of mismatches because of his size. I think Dre is actually on the smaller size for a SF, but he's a big SG, and thus able to overpower a lot of opposing SG's in the league on both ends of the court. Currently, I'm seeing him as a poor man's Dwayne Wade. Plus, I predict a much improved jumper from Thad next year

Suede:

Like with Wilcox, if we drive a hard bargain we could try to do it with Utah's #1 and the instant cap space. If pressed, I would consider parting with Smith.

If you look at Seattle!s situation, cap room and draft picks and getting rid of long contracts, I think Collison and Watson, 4 yrs. and 3 yrs. contracts are the players they may try to move. For the same reason we like Wilcox, they probably do also. The Lakers did lose picks in the Gasol trade, maybe a future #1 does get us something.

Morty:

I don't do economics friend! But if I did, I'd say sometime after we get a new president!

Like most fans, I didn't see this coming. I was aware of the great basketball we played in the second half of last year, but I felt that it had a lot to do with the somewhat post presence of Joe Smith. Though he's not a great post threat, he provided some scoring for us down there and expanded our game. Gave room for Iggy to operate. Coming into this year I felt the the Sixers would be better than most people though. Most critics and fans labeled us a a 20 win team and to be at the bottom of the east. Most guys on the team have been playing together for some time, and that is key. But I had no idea we would be talking about possibly getting into the 5th seed

Since preseason I've been telling every deluded New Yorker that I ran into that the Sixers could make the playoffs and that their poor exscuse for a team could not. HOWEVER, I thought they would sneak in with a below .500 record and get some valuable experience for the future when we could become a threat.
A part of me, a small part wanted the lottery but in my very first posting I called for them to stand pat and for them to win as many games as they possibly could. The difference between what I predicted and what they are doing is primarrily due to what the youngsters are giving us on a nightly basis. Iggy always had the ability as did AM, but Thad? LWill? Smith? Carney?
The fringe oldheads, RE, KO and even Booth have also exceeded expectations. In fact the whole team has progressed which is what has separated us from the rest of the back below the .500 mark. I never would have predicted we would be ahead of Toronto at this point. I always thought that the other teams below us should be there.
Oh by the way, the jaded NYK fans thought I was crazy and back in February I stopped looking in the mirror because I swear there actually was a crazy man staring back at me. Well who's crazy now? Cackling all the way to the playoffs. Of course living a block from Times Square I am hardly alone in that.
Barton

Am I talking to myself or is that a cell phone in my ear?

fhuck

Yes Marc I did, Ieven predicted several of the Sixers big wins. If you desire to go back over your early season blogs you will see. I'm not answering to get any pub or pats on the back I just would like to see this season end on a very speacil note and I think it will. My Younger son Michael loves the Lakers and we had a bet in preseason which team would do better this year and both teams have been a surprise but non more than the Sixers.

I been posting about this sixers team since the las vegas and rocky mountain draft camps. The young guns were beating teams then. I said, they were going to make the playoffs back then! US posters been criticizing Moe Cheecks about playing the young guns, way before Korver even got traded. It finally came from the top. "PLAY the young guns". Now the Sixers are winning! Did I think they was going to make the playoffs yes. Did I think it would be done in this fashion, maybe!

I have to say this...no puffing intended, but I have been reading his blog the whole season and I have to say his comments are NOT too negative and have been right on...and frankly the fact that he can actually mea cupla is a frigging coup for a sportswriter.

As for being surprised...yes but only slightly so. Last year with a "terrible" team the sixers did pretty well. Why not this year? Probably the most astounding thing is that Thad is one of the best rooks playing. I certainly didn't see that coming...nor did anyone else for that matter.

But hats off to mark...he mea culpa's with the best of em...Eskin would probably act like he knew it all the time...anyway...hope they keep winning...it is fun to watch from afar (philly boy in San Francisco)

What has happened to the Sixers over the last couple of months has been nothing short of miraculous. I don't think many have ever doubted the talent on the roster but it was all too obvious that it was a long, long way from realising it's potential. I still think it's only the tip of the iceberg with this young group of players and I fully expect a bit of tiredness to catch up with the squad before the end of the regular season. That said, the future hasn't looked this bright in years. Certainly made it a lot more worthwhile staying up half the night to watch the guys play!!

Morty,

Just go to ESPN.com, on of their links at the top of the page is "Podcasts", he's under there. Also there is Chad Ford and his "Daily Dish", which is also a good listen.

I think I know the NBA pretty well, but when they mentioned Vujacic possibly getting a big contract after the season, I was like, "WHAT?!?" Sasha's a grimy little 6-foot, overconfident backup guard and low-percentage Euro-gunner, right?

But then I checked his profile and game logs and was surprised that he was much taller and heavier than I thought and has had a lot more good games than Willie has, and he averages about the same number of minutes per game as Willie 3-17. I can't believe he slipped under my radar.

About Iggy at the 2 - I don't believe in messing with success. Iggy at the 3 works. If Iggy at the 2 works better, I'll be fully behind that, but the only sample we have of Iggy at that spot is from his rookie year, when he was the SG and Korver was the SF and Korver was getting burned on a regular basis by the faster swingmen of the league. You'd think that with Iggy as the SF and Willie at the SG, premier SG's of the league would just go off on us on a regular basis, but they haven't.

About what Iggy could do on offense against those SG's, I don't disagree that Iggy CAN do that, but as far as Iggy ACTUALLY doing that in games, it would require Iggy being willing to take advantage of that strength, and if you watch carefully, he doesn't really take advantage of that strength on offense. It's a great idea, but he actually doesn't do it. Kind of like how Garnett really never developed a great low post game despite being a skilled 7-footer. He played SF early in his career and that really shaped him. Although he's been at the PF spot a couple of years now, he still plays like a SF.

Sixerzguy, E.S. was quoted in a radio interview as saying next year Iggy was the 2 and Thad the 3; I felt Iggy was better suited for the 3 also but watching how he defended Hamilton and how he finally is getting to the hoop maybe they see things differently.Everything with this team seems to start down the defensive end and defensively at the 2 and3 we would be very good. I like Vujacic also but my feeling ojn the Lakers is they have too many stars when they get healthy and I could see them moving Odom and resigning all their role players with his money. Josh Smith is going to have a league wide effect this summer.Memphis would have a good backup plan in Odom if Smith resigns with Atlanta. Vujacic,Turiaf and Ariza[ a P.Jackson fav. ] all have to be resigned this summer. Jackson knows chemistry matters, there is only one ball.

After last seasons surprising finish, I felt that the Sixers could contend for a playoff spot because the East was so poor. 38-40 wins felt realistic to me. I too was offended when all the preseason publications dissed the sixers and had them at or near the bottom of the pack. Most, if not all of them, were even ranking the Knicks as a better team...I couldn't believe that!

I attended the 12/3 game against Atlanta (the one where BK was fired, but it wasn't announced yet) and I couldn't believe how bad the Sixers played. They were listless!! It was very disappointing to say the least. At that point, I thought there was no way the Sixers would sniff a playoff spot. That feeling grew stronger after the 7 game losing streak to start 2008. Some of those losses (Lakers, Por, Den) were brutal. Based on how the season has gone, I am shocked that we are talking about the Sixers possibly getting the #5 seed.

I am getting a little tired of all this BK talk. Yes, he made some good draft picks (perhaps luckily - Yi) and yes, the iverson trade worked out pretty well for us, but I really don't think we would be doing as well with him still around. I think ES has had an impact with our style of play and playing the young guys more. BK has his chance and made a lot of mistakes that nobody is talking about right now. Let's support the current team and forget about the past.

Go Sixers!!!

Suede:

Certainly that must be the Lakers' plan, but will they be able to execute it? Odom makes 14.5 mil, thats a big number to swap out, plus they have to take back salary. I would think their ability to keep both Vuacic and Turiaf depends on their willingness to pay luxury tax.

Sixerzguy:

Thanks for the podcast tip. However, I'm with suede in thinking Thad and Dre at the SG and SF spots is a great defensive foundation, plus offensive as well with all the steals they get. Thad does have a great inside game, but he can still go inside on offense, and he is just not big and strong enough, as of yet, to go against the bigger PF's on a consistent basis. He needs to be on the court more next year.

Morty, the funny part is 2 teams, us and Memphis could take Odom off the Lakers without the Lakers taking back much salary and both of us want to run[Odom at the 4]. If he didn!t get hurt so much I!d like him as much as Josh Smith.

Suede:

I tell you what, if LA takes back Green, I'll consider Odom. I don't think his contract is long term, so not the end of the world if he doesn't work out.

Morty, Green and picks, who knows?

He!s in the last year of his contract next year, Lakers may just pay tax this year to resign their young guys but you never know?

Interesting reading at this blog, from a season ticket holder at a fan forum yesterday. Here's the 2 most interesting quotes:

"However [Mo] was interesting in the Q&A portion. For starters, he said point blank, that he played Thaddeus Young because the GM told him to. He also said that Young doesn't have any one skill, and that he was so raw in practice, that they never really took much of a look at him in practice."

"was also apparent from both Cheeks and Stefanski, that they simply aren't sold on Jason Smith. They think he's skilled, but not strong or tough enough."

good point, suede, about Odom's contract ending, and the tax.

My reaction to the above quotes:

1. Anyone still want to argue this would be the same team if BK was still here?

2. Hard to argue about Smith, he does need to get stronger and tougher.

Thanks Morty, I wondered why J.Smith!s minutes haven!t gone up and maybe he will be used as a piece over the summer to get a 4. I hope not, I like what I !ve seen.

after the late season surge I saw the over under at 31.5 and put 2.5 units on it right away. although even i couldn't have predicted this, i figured a sneak into the 8 seed.

really enjoy the blog,i'm a pastor living in myrtle beach from strawberry mansion.started rooting for the sixers in 67 when my science teacher took the class to the game.being so far away has not dampened my spirit. i get every sports package so i can to keep up with all of our teams. i even drive home for an occasional game. i am elated to see the team work and young legs running the floor at every opportunity,always looking but can't say i saw this coming. came fome for the hornets in nov. and was offended by our play.really sad to hear lb and es getting the credit on occassion what about mo and king?

I guess I will toot my own horn...

I called for a playoff run back at the end of our 7 game losing streak in January. Marc criticized me at the time, and we exchanged a few emails about it.

But, I was not predicting they would follow through and start beating top teams like the Spurs, Celtics, Pistons and Suns. I thought we would make a run to get in playoff position, and then hit the rude wall of reality in March. Maybe I should have drank more of the Kool-Aid.

I am as shocked as anyone that the initial confidence gained from beating up the patsies early in our run has transformed us into a confident, never say die team that can go nose to nose against the leagues best.