Sixers 2012: What to Look Forward To
by Michael Levin on Jan 2, 2012 1:52 PM PST
in Read and React
Email
PrintAh the New Year. Opportunities, resolutions, dance parties.... it's all there. For the Sixers, 2012 seems like it will be a very telling year. After making the playoffs last year and falling to the Miami Heat in five games, much is expected of this young roster under the tutelage of veteran coach Doug Collins. But through the first four games of the season, the Sixers have been - stop me if you've heard this one - mediocre at 2-2. So what is to come over the next calendar year for the Philadelphia 76ers?
Win a Playoff Series
The Sixers have not won a playoff series since Larry Brown and Allen Iverson beat the 2002-03 New Orleans Hornets led by Jamal Mashburn and David Wesley. In the eight seasons since then, they've gone to the playoffs four times and lost in the first round each time (Detroit x2, Orlando, Miami). Will this finally be the year they get back into the promised land of the second round?
Trade Andre Iguodala
This has been rumored since before this site existed and we've already hypothetically traded him to the Clippers, Pistons, Magic, Jazz, Lakers, Warriors, and I'm sure more that I'm forgetting. Evan Turner is breathing down his neck but thus far, Andre and his rainbow jumper have been connecting at a 66% clip from beyond the arc. At this point, we'll probably just have to wait until he gets traded in 2045.
Get a Mascot
Hip-Hop is dead, and the Sixers have been patiently, carefully deciding which mascot will be the new NBA's Worst Mascot. Between a bridge, a dog, and a moose, there's really no way they can go right here. Who's excited?!
The Draft
Always my favorite part of the year, the 2012 NBA Draft figures to be one of the best in a long time, even if the Sixers do pick in the mid-teens. Getting that high-upside big man is too appealing to ignore, even in the cold winds of January. Patric Young? Tyler Zeller? Thomas Robinson? I'm already salivating.
Not Locking Out
The entire 2011 season was marred by the impending lockout. Now that that's out of the way, we won't have to worry about it until the end of the decade! And I could be dead by then! Are you just so excited for basketball that one of the worst starting 2-guards in the league and minimal cap flexibility can't even bring you down?
53 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I thought they decided to scrap all those mascot ideas since they were terrible.. or is that just wishful thinking?
Follow @PhillyFollower
Writer at Iggles Nest
#HireSpags
by PhiladelphiaEagles on Jan 2, 2012 2:16 PM PST reply actions
I still think the chances are less than 50-50 that they win a playoff series, but if it is destined to happen then I’m by far most excited for that.
Well they’ve got to avoid the Bulls or Heat obviously. The rest of the Eagles at least isn’t invincible.
Follow Bleeding Green Nation on Twitter & Facebook.
You guys are going to hate me for this but with the way he’s played I think it’s more likely Turner gets traded then Dre.
Anyways I look forward to finally winning a playoff series with the draft a close second(Patric Young tops my wishlist right now)
The Legend
the way he’s played
We must be watching a different player. Besides the game where he could not hit a shot I think he has played very well. Even when he was not making the shots he was still aggressive on the boards. He also does not look as passive as he did last season.
Some guy at PSU Hershey Med Center just discovered a virus that eats cancer. Where were the CNN trucks for that? THON will probably break $10 mil this year. Put that on "Outside the Lines".
I took it to mean the way Iguodala has played, not Turner.
by Michael Levin on Jan 2, 2012 4:14 PM PST up reply actions
Ah, my bad. Question, how did you end up being a Philly fan when you grew up in Oregon?
Some guy at PSU Hershey Med Center just discovered a virus that eats cancer. Where were the CNN trucks for that? THON will probably break $10 mil this year. Put that on "Outside the Lines".
If it means anything, I know a guy who grew up outside of Philly but is a Blazers fan. Yes, I’m talking about you, E-money.
"If Iguodala were a legitimate "true" 17 PPG scorer, we’d be a better team. When at least 8 of those points come off the fast break, his true offensive production is a reality: 8-11 PPG." - LeQuan Glover
I was just curious. I am a Philly sports fan because I grew up outside of Harrisburg and there games were always on.
Some guy at PSU Hershey Med Center just discovered a virus that eats cancer. Where were the CNN trucks for that? THON will probably break $10 mil this year. Put that on "Outside the Lines".
GO AWAY IGUODALA!
I. AM. SOO. EXCITED. TO. HAVE. THAT. GOOD. FOR. NOTHING. PIECE. OF. CRAP. GONE. !!! ANDRE IGUODALA IS THE WORST/MOST FRUSTRATING PLAYER IN THE ENTIRE MAJOR LEAGUE BASKETBALL LEAGUE!!!! LOU WILLIAMS IS THE BEST!!!! (And he’s the highest scorer ever (proven fact (this year))).
"Shoutout to Lebron, d-Wade, Joe Johnson, and chris bosh for trying to create a NBA2k team. Lol. (they would win 80 games)" - Louis Williams
PARANTHESCEPTION
(Parantheses within ((Parantheses))
Follow @PhillyFollower
Writer at Iggles Nest
#HireSpags
by PhiladelphiaEagles on Jan 2, 2012 4:17 PM PST up reply actions
This season? I think it decreases a lot. He is by far our best defender.
Some guy at PSU Hershey Med Center just discovered a virus that eats cancer. Where were the CNN trucks for that? THON will probably break $10 mil this year. Put that on "Outside the Lines".
This season? I think it decreases a lot. He is by far our best player.
Fixed that for you.
by yosoysean on Jan 2, 2012 10:45 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
I am just excited for whatever happens. I will believe there will be a good draft when I see it. I don’t want them trading Iguodala midseason if they are still in it. The only way I think the Sixers can make it past the first round is as a 4/5 seed. I think this covers everything.
"Great, I got that "excited/scared" feeling. Like 98% excited, 2% scared. Or maybe it's more - It could be two - it could be 98% scared, 2% excited but that's what makes it so intense."
-Armageddon
by flyrman57 on Jan 2, 2012 6:21 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I think if the team trades Iguodala mid-season we are destined for a low-teen lottery pick. Trade him or not, our draft choice will not exactly be favorable. I don’t think he’ll pick up his player option, so I think the best time to trade him is next year. That is, if the best option is to trade him. Impatience makes not for wise decisions.
"If Iguodala were a legitimate "true" 17 PPG scorer, we’d be a better team. When at least 8 of those points come off the fast break, his true offensive production is a reality: 8-11 PPG." - LeQuan Glover
My thing about trading him mid-season for me is the way Doug Collins has been speaking about being competitve and wanting to win this season, and the way managment has talked, if we are in it at the deadline which we most likely will, it sends the wrong message to the team to trade away one of our best players.
"Great, I got that "excited/scared" feeling. Like 98% excited, 2% scared. Or maybe it's more - It could be two - it could be 98% scared, 2% excited but that's what makes it so intense."
-Armageddon
by flyrman57 on Jan 3, 2012 4:17 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Call me crazy but I think we can win the Atlantic. Boston has been struggling, I’d like to see how those knees will hold up 50 games from now after all of those back to back to backs. I’m also curious to see how NY’s 3 man roster will hold up in April.
If we trade Iguodala, I’m hoping we can draft either John Henson or Michael Gilchrist
I wouldn’t mind trading Lou Williams. I know he’s been playing well recently, but he has a player option that he’ll most likely decline. If Marcus Thornton can get 8million/season I don’t want to know how much Lou will get paid.
I’m also curious to see how NY’s 3 man roster will hold up in April.
It’s not even holding up now, so I doubt it will hold up in April.
"If Iguodala were a legitimate "true" 17 PPG scorer, we’d be a better team. When at least 8 of those points come off the fast break, his true offensive production is a reality: 8-11 PPG." - LeQuan Glover
typical negative from Levin
its a shame you have to be so flippant and negative about a team you purportedly like. Anyway, trading Dre is a bad move. They should move Turner instead. Then when they get rid of the Nocioni and Brand contracts…that is when they make a move.
by Dan Pearson on Jan 2, 2012 9:22 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
If you haven’t noticed Levin is ALWAYS negative. He walks around wth a storm cloud over his head every day. As a child growning up he never learned how to smile./s
"Great, I got that "excited/scared" feeling. Like 98% excited, 2% scared. Or maybe it's more - It could be two - it could be 98% scared, 2% excited but that's what makes it so intense."
-Armageddon
by flyrman57 on Jan 3, 2012 4:13 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I’m actually a Knicks spy here to bash the Sixers into them actually doing badly because the things I write make a difference in how the team plays.
by Michael Levin on Jan 3, 2012 11:01 AM PST up reply actions
I knew it!
"Great, I got that "excited/scared" feeling. Like 98% excited, 2% scared. Or maybe it's more - It could be two - it could be 98% scared, 2% excited but that's what makes it so intense."
-Armageddon
by flyrman57 on Jan 3, 2012 1:15 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Greatest. Sarcastic. Post. Ever.
by Blunt Philly Guy on Jan 4, 2012 5:51 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
I'm excited to see how Jrue and ET grow this year
So far Jrue has been a little disappointing. Maybe I should hold off my judgment since they have only played 4 games, but the fact that he has 11 assists and 12 turnovers is not good. I’m sure he’ll get things straight soon. Also would like to see him attack the basket more.
formerly jdcvr6
"When I'm dead and buried, and my time here has passed. I want them to bury me upside down, so my critics can kiss my ass." - Bob Knight
BUST!!!!!
I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, there will be no trade for Monta!
If the first 4 games were any indication, operation tank 2012 is off
So lets win a GDMF’n playoff series
Its all about the []_[]
#FirePaulHolmgren
Your hometown 76ers: the 2012 Atlantic Division Champions
Let’s remind ourselves that the division champ is guaranteed a top 3 seed. We always tend to focus on the Eastern Conference, but forget the blessing of playing in a Bush League division.
We won’t compete for an NBA title for an absolute minimum of 8 years, so let’s enjoy rooting for a team that could easily win a series against a 6 seed (especially since we’ll have home court advantage), and play into the second round. They’ll lose to
Chicago in 5 or 6 games, but we’ll have plenty of fun sixers action along the way.
Of course, if you trade Iggy, opposing quality athletic swingmen (which are a dime a dozen these days) will run rampant on us. Iggy plays isolation D against these pseudo-stars every night Without a powerful opposing big man, this feisty Doug Collins D would fold like a house of cards as teammates would have to abandon their own assignments to help double team opposing swingmen. Invariably, Thad would get revealed as a defensive-liabilty tweener, and I shutter to think what would happen with Thad, EB, and Hawes in foul trouble. (pick your poison: Speights, Brackins,…)
by Blunt Philly Guy on Jan 4, 2012 6:08 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions
Because Thad and Hawes are such brilliant defenders to begin with :)
I suppose if Hawes gets into foul trouble, we would get a steady diet of NIIIIIICOOOOLLAAAAAA…which I vastly prefer to Speezy. The Kraken is a small forward or maybe a “stretch” 4. Different role. If he’s playing minutes at center, we have big, BIG problems…(pun sort of intended)
I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, there will be no trade for Monta!
I was a little vague. I meant we’d have to release the Kraken at the 4 to sub in for a few minutes for Thad, anytime when either Hawes or EB are in foul trouble because EB wouldn’t be able to rotate into the 4
Slot…either that or we unplug Battie’s life support apparatus and trick him into thinking he’s being brought into an alumni game (because I can’t count on a foreign rookie to single-handedly be the backup at Center.
It seems like Collins would rather give up a kidney than give Nocioni any playing time.
by Blunt Philly Guy on Jan 4, 2012 11:56 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Props on the hilarious post. A Ricola inference and a Clash of the Titans reference…and someone actually using a pun without then following it with “no pun intended” (when they clearly intended it). For your response: Sir, I am in your debt.
by Blunt Philly Guy on Jan 4, 2012 12:00 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
NBA Playoffs Content Module
Related FanPosts on Liberty Ballers
Related FanShots on Liberty Ballers
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Shaquille O’Neal is in a Chinese beer commercial, too (VIDEO)
- ‘Deep Thoughts’ and Cheap Thoughts: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
- C-a-C: This is probably as close to LeBron James working with John Waters as we’ll ever get
- Dwyane Wade’s hot pink pants: The kind of thing you can get away with when you drop 41
- Lamar Odom to New York? Dwight Howard on the move? For now, it’s all talk
