John Hollinger has a suggestion

by jemagee on Jan 15, 2009 7:33 PM PST Comment 5 comments

On the best way to integrate Brand back into the line up and not mess with the recent awesomeness - I approve only because of it's decrease in the number of minutes to one hatian (burning) sensation

Philadelphia is storming back up the Power Rankings, moving up to No. 11, and the Playoff Odds now have the Sixers finishing in a tie with Miami for the sixth seed in the East -- not exactly what they'd hoped for at the start of the season, perhaps, but a great improvement on the chasm they were in a month ago. Philly blasted Portland by 21 on Wednesday for its fifth straight win, and while its improved 3-point shooting is getting a deserved chunk of the credit, there's a second story here -- the Sixers are playing small. Philly is lining up with Thaddeus Young at the 4 and pounding opponents in transition, and by using four perimeter players most of the night, they have enough floor spacing to generate more of those 3-point opportunities. All of which is of note because Elton Brand is due back this weekend. With Samuel Dalembert all but useless anyway, it seems the best option for the Sixers would be to use Brand as the starting center -- that way, they can keep running opponents ragged with their transition game, and they'll have four perimeter players to spot up around Brand when he's posting up.

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Excellent.

I remember favoring this solution a long time ago. Sammy would be better suited off the bench anyway. How would you like to see a bench of Lou, M16 and Sam come in for three of the starters (Brand, while he’s still getting his legs under him) and have a lineup of Miller, Lou, Iggy, Speights and Sam on the court? You could still run with that unit and then have Thad and Brand return, along with Ivey to replace Miller and have a lineup of Ivey, Lou, Thad, Brand and Speights to finish off the bench before bringing all the starters back in.

Sounds like a plan to me! The x-factors would be Rush/Green/Reggie/Theo. They could also be thrown in there at any time if Ivey, Lou, Speights or Sam is having an off-night.

Oh, and John. I see why you like Hollinger so much. He, like you, has mastered the art of the hyphen.

Pimpin' ain't easy and neither is being a Sixers fan. I manage to do both. Join me at Liberty Ballers, the SBNation 76ers blog. Don't make fun of the name either. It has nothing to do with the New York Liberty of the WNBA.

by jsams on Jan 15, 2009 7:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and John. I see why you like Hollinger so much. He, like you, has mastered the art of the hyphen.

hahaha

"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"

by Whodie126 on Jan 16, 2009 10:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds good in writing...

let’s see it translate onto the court. Should be very interesting to see how DiLeo handles this.

"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"

by Whodie126 on Jan 16, 2009 10:48 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t see them not starting Sam. I think they go back to Sam at 5 – brand at 4 – and then the key is will Iguodala continue his good play with brands return.

Personally – since I think this is a long term answer issue – not short term – i’d do it in steps – steps no one will like.

Step 1 – Put Brand in the starting line up – replacing Young – Leave Iguodala at the 3 – see how iguodala plays for a couple weeks.
Step 2 – Assuming Iguodalas resurgence in the absence of Brand continues with his return – after a couple weeks you remove Willie Green – move Iguodala back to the 2 – and start young.

To me – from an analytical I have a masters degree in science background it makes more sense. No one knows what if anything was repsonsible for Iguodalas slow start. Maybe it was just a slow start, like Miller, maybe it was brand, maybe it was position. What’s known is that since moving to the starting 3 – Iguodala has excelled. Now it might be psychological or it might be the absence of brand – but if you slide him back to the 2 AND put Brand back in the line up you can’t determine what if either of them has impact.

But again – for me – I’m patient – I want this team to win a title, first round playoff wipe out doesn’t matter to me as long as the direction is proper – so taking it slow and maybe losing a few more games cause Willie is starting over Thad isn’t something I’m worried about – not long term

by jemagee on Jan 16, 2009 11:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

To me – from an analytical I have a masters degree in science background it makes more sense.

Master of the Universe, your domain or science… I have to disagree.

For right now I want to keep as much continuity as possible. To many changes and they will lose their rhythm (and unfairly people will claim its all Brands fault.)

I am mostly with Hollinger, the human slide-rule. I eventually see Brand at center and either Speights or Thad at PF… but for now keep the current line-up and sub in Brand for either Sam or Thad at about 6 min. Once Brand is ready (both physically and in terms of how he adapts to the teams style of play) then replace Sam with Brand in the starting line-up.

Stay with Thad at PF for a while. Eventually slide Thad and Iguodala down to SF/SG and start Speights- but not for a while (maybe even next year?). Make sure everyone is on the same page before shifting Iguodala back to SG.

If they shift Iguodala and Thad to SF/SG before Brand is fully up to speed then they will have a line-up of players all trying to adjust- much like at the start of this season.

…Jem, I call your hyphen and raise you an ellipsis…

http://www.phillyarena.com : Philly sports forum/blog. DBodners wisdom and my occasional rant

by tk76 on Jan 17, 2009 2:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs