"See This Team is Really Young and Talented"

by Jordan Sams on Feb 7, 2010 1:08 AM PST

This is eerily similar to year's past. Get off to a slow start -- really slow -- blame the coach, get into an Andre Iguodala "superstar" debate, flirt with the idea of blowing it up, start playing well, go through the "see this team is really young and talented" spiel, etc., etc.

I bought into the "young and talented" idea two years ago. Last year, it took some convincing, but once again, I bought in. This time I'm not falling for it.

Eddie Jordan's rotation is looking less "quirky". The Sixers itty bitty talent is beginning to surface, and the players were all cured of their inner-zombie -- but this team is still mediocre, inside and out.

Don't give me this coach nonsense. This same group of players has done the on again, off again thing since 2006 -- under three different coaches.

For the past couple weeks I've been rooting for losses, ping pong balls and a "blow up" (not to be confused with a "blow out"). But I've come to realize, the Sixers won't be bad enough to land a top five pick, and they probably won't "blow it up". They'll make a playoff run in a weak Eastern Conference, and whether they get in or not, management will once again, have the "see this team is really young and talented" card in their back pocket.

Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it. When I root for them to win, they lose, and when I root for them to lose, they win. So I did what any loyal fan would do -- I jumped back on the bandwagon of false hope. Only this time I won't drink the Kool-Aid at the "see this team is really young and talented" end-of-the-year party.

Last night, I wanted a plan I could back 100 percent. Tonight, I accepted my fate.

As much as it pains me to say... Go... Sixers!

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

uhhhhhhhh i didn’t see this when i posted it. DOUBLE RECAP WOOOOOO

Liberty Ballers

by Michael Levin on Feb 7, 2010 2:01 AM PST reply actions

I have no problem saying "Go Sixers"

Im all for succeeding. (now thats outta the way)….BUT im not for the problem (s) hindering us from moving forward. Like say..Eddie Jordan, Ed Stef., and a couple of current players on the team. These individuals are all problems. We need to remove these problems in order for us to succeed. So it’s not wrong to hope that your team fails becuz many times that’s when u see changes made to better the team…to get rid of problems! If u don’t, then u will get what WE have now. A team that’s not good enough but isn’t awful either. We are incomplete top to bottom..period! U can not win a championship with an incomplete team/organization. Many times u gotta take a step back in order to move forward and succeed!!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Feb 7, 2010 6:27 AM PST reply actions

blah

Shoulda saw it coming.

by philiafan14364 on Feb 7, 2010 7:09 AM PST reply actions

So now, you’ve come to the concluson that we have players who can’t play. Whereas I have come to the conclusion that we have a coach who can’t.

Who do you want so bad on this team that you want to blow it up? Who would you bring in return that will get this team out of mediocrity? The fact is you can’t answer that question and neither can the Sixers which is why a trade right now would be stupid and likely to keep us in the same place as a team.

Before you can make a trade you need to see what you have and what you don’t. Without a decent coach, that doesn’t happen. So this is the first thing the Sixers have to do, bring in a coach who will evaluate the player and get the most out of them. Figure out if Speights and Smith are front line NBA players. Figure out if Lou Williams can be a starting point guard or work in a backcourt with Jrue. Run Iguodala at the 2 and Thad at the 3, their proper positions and see how that works. And most importantly, keep two bigs on the floor to block and rebound and score like the good teams do: Boston, Cleveland, LA.

It’s almost impossible for this team to make the playoffs. A .500 record means the tam needs to play close to .700 ball the rest of the season. If they are good enough to do that, it would be a mistake to blow them up.

by RickoT on Feb 8, 2010 7:06 AM PST reply actions

What’s the point of discussing this with you when

A. You don’t listen to anyone elses opinion
B. You don’t see what’s wrong with the sixers.

The goal is winning a championship

This roster will NEVER win a championship

If you’re happy with mediocrity and the late season run that gets the 8 seed and loses in the first round – that’s great for you – but i’m tired of it

by jemagee on Feb 8, 2010 7:47 AM PST up reply actions

I see what’s wrong with the Sixers and still don’t think it’s the players. It may be this group can’t ever win a championship, and I agree that this is the goal. But we don’t know, and we can’t know because our coach shoots the team in the foot.

I listen to everyone’s opinion, I just don’t agree with them.

You yourself know Iguodala is the best player on the team, do you thinking just getting rid of him and this salary moves the Sixers closer or farther away from a championship?

Until this team plays Thad at the 3 and plays two bigs with him, the Sixers will not know what they’re capable of. Do you agree with that or not?

by RickoT on Feb 8, 2010 12:19 PM PST reply actions