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What's gone right with the sixers

This isn't something I put deep thought into as much as trying to stimulate conversation in a different direction, finding things that have gone right for the sixers this year.  Going into the season, I was one of few (probably) who didn't believe the playoffs were achievable, but at the same time I didn't think it mattered, what matters was smaller things, things that could go 'right' regardless of the teams record.  Haven't seen all my hopes come true but I have seen some.

Star-divide

  • Jrue Holiday - whether you wanted him or you wanted Ty Lawson you have to admit that overall he's a strong defensive presence and has some good court vision and is a 'point guard' in the way the sixers really haven't had since Eric Snow (in my opiion).  Yeah his shot selection (and shot in general) leave something to be desired, but he's only 19, he's the youngest player in the league, even the most avid Lawson now supporters have to see what he contributes when he's on the floor and what he can be as he improves
  • Mareese Speights - his offensive game is even stronger and more apparent than last year.  How long has it been since the sixers REALLY had a low post presence that would draw a double team.  Does it need work?  Sure it does, but if he didn't need work Speights would have been a top 10 pick.  He still needs to work on his passing, and his defense while improving still needs aa lot of work, but he's already a great bench threat when you need some scoring, and also still young, and hopefully willing to work to improve where he needs to improve.  If he can develop his weaknesses to say 75% of his smooth shooting stroke, he'll be an amazing PF in this league and a steal in the draft.
  • Elton Brand - he's healthy (come on - two years straight - some people expected him to break down I'm sure), he's accepted coming off the bench (whether or not this is the right decision is a different argument) and contributes solidly from the bench most games.  Is he what the sixers hoped when they signed him, probably not (and whether or not the expectations when he was signed were realistic is also another discussion) and maybe his contract is killing the sixers, but based on his past 2 seasons you have to be happy with how Brand has performed and accepted his demotion
  • Sam Dalembert - his recent play (which for some reason coincides with Iverson but I don't get why, regardless of what I've read) has been quite good.  Part of that is that Jordan seems to have realized that he gets 6 fouls a game - not four, and while this might just be the yearly 'month' in which Sam plays up to his level, maybe he's turned that corner...who knows.
  • Allen Iverson - oh how i hated this signing for so many reasons that everyone knows, but motivations aside, wins/losses aside, he hasn't been the 'iverson of old' that I would have expected, the guy who stifled Iguodala and shot 20+ shots a game regardless of whether he's hot or cold.  He's been a solid player, and honestly, if he would agree to come off the bench I think it would be even better for him (long term) and the sixers.  He's playing within himself maybe to impress teams but he has to make that 'bench'  if he's looking to play past this year.

I guess when the team is 12-26 you can't expect to be happy about too much - but who knew I'd only come up with four when I started writing this.

So - what do you think has gone right with the sixers this year?

Another user-created commentary provided by a Liberty Ballers reader.

Comment 19 comments  |  2 recs  | 

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i agree

Right now im just lookin forqard to the draft because we all know we wont make the playoffs

by EaglesRock on Jan 15, 2010 1:53 PM PST reply actions  

I want a good draft pick as much as the next guy

But i have a possiably bad feeling we will sneak in to 7th or 8th seed and take 1 or 2 from a top team get a decent player at 17th and go in circles for the forseeable future,i cant root against the team though. u can root for a good pick i guess,but cardinal sin is to root against team,thats y they made the lottery

by Scotan on Jan 15, 2010 3:51 PM PST reply actions  

I don’t know about that, the way this team is playing I don’t even forsee them slipping into the playoffs. They can’t hold a lead for you know what, I mean they just blew a huge lead lately to the T’Wolves of all teams. They should stay lottery bound.

He's back

by IverSun on Jan 20, 2010 7:19 PM PST up reply actions  

I would add what appears to be more of a normal rotation.
Granted, this shouldn’t have been something to hope for, but with this coach’s ability to defy all means of logic, that was something I added to my list around game 20.
Hopefully the three white guys plus Royal continue to enjoy their time on the bench.

by jefu on Jan 17, 2010 8:49 PM PST reply actions  

I’m not ready to comment on the rotation yet – it’s been only recently and (seemingly) in response to Stefanski’s comments. Let’s see how long the ‘good rotations’ last under jordan.

Problem of course is that ‘good rotations’ mean that Speights gets less minutes because of his defense.

by jemagee on Jan 18, 2010 9:27 AM PST up reply actions  

after the Minnesota game

yeah you were right about the rotations. I guess the leash around Jordan’s neck wasn’t very tight.
As for Speights, I hope he learns how to defend, and gets rewarded for defense as much as offense. Competition for minutes isn’t a bad thing under the right guidance. Unfortunately every point made about this team always goes back to the coach.

by jefu on Jan 19, 2010 6:50 AM PST up reply actions  

He looked to be putting forth effort on defense in yesterdays game (thank you free league pass and lunch hour being at the right time)…

by jemagee on Jan 19, 2010 7:07 AM PST up reply actions  

woah woah woah… free league pass?

by Tanner Steidel on Jan 19, 2010 9:51 AM PST up reply actions  

I posted it in the game posting yesterday – league pass ‘mid season’ free preview is this week – includes an online free preview – i could have the game on in the background AND watch it during my lunch break

by jemagee on Jan 19, 2010 9:55 AM PST up reply actions  

The Sixers are better because Brand is healthy and playing well again, and Sam Dalembert is playing better than he ever has in his career. Eddie has tightened the rotation which has helped with consistency, but he is still using Thad as a 4 which is a receipe for disaster.

If Speights can get 20+ min. per game, and the Sixers keep Dalembert + Brand out on the floor the rest of the time, the Sixers can win a lot of games. The guard play is well above average, and Thad and Iggy are top 10 players at the 3 and 2 spots.

If they had a different coach, 50 games would still be possible. We’ve dropped a lot of games that woud have been wins with the right substitutions.

by RickoT on Jan 18, 2010 9:23 AM PST reply actions  

So you’re saying that with a different coach (just any ol’ coach that’s not Eddie Jordan) we could go 37-5 the rest of the way? There’s too much sarcasm, hilarity, incredulity, and disbelief in my head for me to respond to this.

What are you?

by Michael Levin on Jan 19, 2010 1:30 PM PST up reply actions  

Well on that tip that leads to an entirely different discussion and exercise…with a coach with a clue who made smart substitutions:

A. What would the record have been so far ?
B. Would they have needed to sign Allen Iverson?

by jemagee on Jan 19, 2010 1:39 PM PST up reply actions  

As for A

I think there are strong arguments for maybe 5 or 6 different games that really could have been wins. Obviously, the different rotations would never have guaranteed wins, just increased chances. Say we do the season over, everything playing out the same way except that someone else did the second-half rotations. I think they pick up maybe 3 or 4 games that way. That’s not nothing, but it’s not exactly a push to 50 wins either.
As for B, it’s obviously tough to say; the Lou injury was nobody’s fault. However, another coach might have let Jrue get more time before that, and felt more comfortable having him start until Lou returned. On the other, I admit, as John apparently does as well, that I’ve been pleasantly surprised by AI. Still, though, it’s not like he’s made this a championship team. And the Sammy-suddenly-playing-well thing since AI showed up does demand some kind of explanation. It’s too much of a coincidence. And I’m not sure if I buy the “Sammy likes AI and plays hard for him, and AI likes Sammy and is willing to look for him to get his shots – a couple of dunks, whatever – early in the game” explanation, but strangely enough, I can’t bring myself to reject it outright. It’s something of a surprising situation, and I don’t know what the problem is. I do see that he’s been playing with a good bit more anger and emotion in this hot stretch, though. That has to mean something.
Yeah, sorry for rambling.

by Saul on Jan 19, 2010 7:45 PM PST up reply actions  

Say we do the season over, everything playing out the same way except that someone else did the second-half rotations,

But it’s not as simple as that…the starting five, the first half rotations, for a coach who gave a rats ass about defense would be entirely different.

by jemagee on Jan 19, 2010 8:34 PM PST up reply actions  

Only a moron would think the problem is defense.

LibertyBallers.com

by Michael Levin on Jan 19, 2010 9:03 PM PST up reply actions  

That's actually somewhat my point.

People bitch about “why wasn’t player X on the floor at the end of the game” (I was guilty when Carney took that last shot against the Knicks) when really the problem is much deeper. If we restarted the season with, say Thibodeau at head coach (the guy I said at the time was my first choice; disclaimer that I have no clue if that was ever a legitimate potential reality), we could assume that the defense would be much better (since defensive talent is there on this team). But how would that have affected the outputs of guys like Brand? Has Jordan done anything to stabilize (if imperfectly) that situation? What about Sammy’s suddenly improved play? What if it is somehow connected to AI’s arrival? If AI doesn’t get signed, are we still wanting to give the guy away? I guess a big part of what I’m trying to say is that this is an intellectual exercise and nothing further. There are FAR too many variables for anyone to make any kind of realistic claim that they know how this season would have been with a good coach. And frankly, I don’t know if it really matters – because we don’t have that better coach.

by Saul on Jan 19, 2010 10:24 PM PST up reply actions  

Jrue is in the starting line up – that’s good – his minutes are still being abused by the coach – but baby steps

And if you haven’t read this – read it – and make all effort to find out who said that thing about Jordan to Fagan – he’s the guy we want in charge

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/82535567.html

by jemagee on Jan 26, 2010 1:12 PM PST reply actions  

She has a cute face, although her voice is kind of annoying. She doesn’t sound all that intelligent either. Not to really knock her or anything, although a cute face certainly makes up for some of the negatives.

by jefu on Jan 27, 2010 3:53 AM PST up reply actions  

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