Kicking it with Elton Brand of the #Sixers and he thinks they are playoff bound next year with Evan Turner."
Jay Williams via Twitter.
over 1 year ago
Jordan Sams
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Welcome back, jsams.
They’re probably playoff-bound without Eddie Jordan, at any rate. It might be that they even have:
1) Set rotations
2) A coherent offense
3) A level of defensive intensity
4) A real contribution from some of the guys who regressed last year (I’m looking at you, Thad Young)
5) A set role and set minutes for Slammin’ Sammy
6) Iguodala not jacking up so many ill-advised threes
7) A whole year of the Jruth!
All of which should be sufficient for a solid return to our regularly scheduled mediocrity, even without Evan Turner. On the other hand, the painful lack of depth and a go-to scorer will not be addressed even with Evan Turner, at least not next year. Any rookie who’s name isn’t LeBron James or Dwyane Wade or Carmelo Anthony isn’t going to address that need this season.
The single biggest addition to the team is the subtraction of Jordan. Anything they get out of Turner this year is gravy, although I do believe he can and will be a serious contributor.
by dweebowitz on Jun 4, 2010 7:28 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
you pretty much nailed it. Replacing Jordan with Collins alone pretty much guarantees a playoff birth regardless of what we do with the second pick. Injury is probably the only thing that can stop it.
One minor disagreement is that I’m not sure Carmelo would make us much better. I don’t consider him in the same class as the other two.
Fair enough on Carmelo, but that wasn’t really my point. In this lineup, he would be a total go-to scorer. Feel free to add other names, like Durant, or Paul, or whoever. What I’m saying is that there are a few special players who can walk in their rookie season and be a go-to scorer for an NBA team the minute they walk out on the floor for the first time. Evan Turner isn’t that guy, I don’t think. I think he could be, in time. But I don’t see him as being a transcendent talent like a LeBron, who is going to be a top player in the league from the get-go. He is missing too many tools to be that guy, in particular a consistent 3-point shot, which may well come in time. He is reputed to have a terrific work ethic.
Agree with all your points, but I don’t think they’re a lock to make the playoffs.
I think it’s interesting that EB said they’re a contender with Evan Turner instead of “we’re a contender with the 2nd pick”.
I like the intensity. I’d only want a playoff birth if it meant the development and Jrue, Thad, Marreese and Evan. If we’re trotting out Green, Kapono and Lou for valuable minutes, I won’t want it. Let the young guys play and see where that takes us.
by Michael Levin on Jun 4, 2010 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah. They should be the Garbage Time Kings. The Darkos. Or injury replacements.
But I can see a coach falling in love with the idea of Lou’s “instant offense” or Kapono’s shooting.
Willie Green should never see the court this season.
Brand knows that if the Sixers draft Favors his days with the team will be numbered. Of course he wants Turner. Until he shows me he can play Brand is a back-up PF being payed waay too much money.
This should have been a playoff team last season, I think Collins gets enough out of them to get us back, and the #2 pick in the draft should give us a significant boost.
No Acceptance Speech for your award Ricko?
by Michael Levin on Jun 4, 2010 8:19 AM PDT up reply actions
I think if you’re going to give out awards based on my name the least you could do was consult with me! Then again, naming the awards after me is great flattery! I feel honored.
As well you should, Ricko. As well you should.
by Michael Levin on Jun 4, 2010 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Wouldn’t that just ruin the surprise?
I would have been honored just to be nominated by the Liberty Ballers Academy.
Oh and TK you basically won for last year so I wanted to give Seany boy some love this time around. If there was a LB Hall of Fame, you’d be a first balloter no question.
by Michael Levin on Jun 4, 2010 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions
That would be Saul, who no longer entertains us with his Dartmouthisms
by Michael Levin on Jun 4, 2010 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions
I think Turner is ready to be an impact player as a rookie. He have to adjust his game, and will have some turn-over issues- but given his age and level of dominance at the college level I expect he will be as good or better on offense than Iguodala and Jrue from day one.
Turner’s ability to be contribute right away is a big benefit given the Sixers cap issues. Turner will be worth way more than his contract from day one. That helps offset someone like Brand who is worth less than his contract.
So if Brand + Turner make 20M-24M combined, Turner’s star contribution on the rookie scale will help get value from that combined money. That is how teams like orlando and Utah were able to contend despite having players with horrible contracts. While they were on the rookie scale, Deron and Dwight offset Kirelenko(16M) and Rashard(18M.)
Yeah we make the playoffs. 5th-8th seed. Early exit. 15th-20th pick in draft. Here we go again. I have no problem with Brand. I just can’t accept his contract. Until that contract is gone, I can’t see the Sixers seriously attempt to compete for a top 4 seed. Like MikeBourn said: .
I’d only want a playoff birth if it meant the development and Jrue, Thad, Marreese and Evan.I think that while we wait for Brand to expire, we can spend our time developing those guys. Hopefully we have a solid team by 2012.
Tinger
Brand occasionally makes a thinly veiled remark that shows he wants to be utilized more. I think the fact that he mentioned Turner really means nothing. The Sixers brass aren’t going to tell him what they are thinking. And naturally, he’d rather see Turner added to the roster than a PF/C so he can stay on the court longer.
I disagree with the idea that Turner will be our best offensive player on day one. Jrue developed unusually quickly, and AI9 doesn’t get enough respect for his ability to generate offense if utilized correctly.
His name is, of course, protected by satire laws, a subcategory of 1st Amendment freedom of speech rights. The Supreme Court first recognized satire as a protected form of expression under the 1st Amendment in the 70s in terms of political cartoons, etc, in a series of cases extending from the 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan case, extending freedom of speech protection to political commentary and opinion.
Stop that snoring, dammit! There will be none of this tomfoolery in my class! :)
what are u guys talking about… Lou Williams is and has always been the REAL DEAL… u guys aren’t true SIxer fans if u can’t see that. Ur the kind of fans who cheer when we win and leave the stadium early when we’re down instead of cheering for every hard-earned bucket that the Sixers get because of their awful coaches and undeveloped young stars. With Collins u will see the best out of Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young, and Mareese Speights. So u guys can poke fun all u want but it’s real sad when u go out of ur way to put down ur very own Sixers who bust their butts to win games and get no fan support when they’re down. U guys should go root for the Lakers or something if u really feel that players aren’t good unless they’re on a championship squad with a legendary coach.
by LouWilliamsMVP on Jun 5, 2010 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
So just because we’re not biased towards Lou Williams, even though we recognize his ceiling as a player has been all but reached, we’re not ‘true fans?’ That makes sense.
Gentrification.
by guitarmouse35 on Jun 5, 2010 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I assumed you were being ironic the whole time. but you’re not?
You’re like a failed hipster.
by Michael Levin on Jun 5, 2010 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
nobody knows anything, ask charles barkley, jamal mashburn, and magic johnson. All guys paid millions for their opionons on TV which amount to shit. LOL. Peace
i have no clue what this means either… maybe its some kind of code.
by killacaravagio on Jun 5, 2010 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions
I just cracked it!!!
wait, no…. that’s just the cure for cancer….
by guitarmouse35 on Jun 6, 2010 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
Pretty special — that was my 3,000th comment ever. I feel that’s fitting.
by Michael Levin on Jun 6, 2010 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
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