Last year the Sixers averaged 93.64 PPG and gave up 89.39 PPG in the regular season (+4.25).

In the playoffs, those numbers were 85.69 and 86.92 (-1.23).

So In the offseason we lost Andre Igoudala's defense (top 5 IMO) and Elton Brand's D (I thought he was one of our tougher defenders). I see the the team having a better offense next year and slightly worse defense. This is probably a necessity to take that next step, but we do have some question marks.

Who guards the opposing teams' top offensive playmakers next year? I think Evan Turner is going to have to step up here. But he can't do it alone.

I see these players from last year having improved defense this year.

Evan Turner (has potential, but how much?)

Jrue Holiday (has become a good defender, but can he continue improving?)

Lavoy Allen (showed his ability in the playoffs; I expect him to be great on D this year)

I feel like Thadeus Young is what he is on D, as is Spencer Hawes, but Hawes will be able to play within himself more this year. Kwame Brown is an improvement over Tony Battie.

So who do you guys think is going to pick up the slack? Is Dorell Wright good on D? Will Jason Richardson be able to hold his own against the better guards in the league? Nick Young seems like a Lou Williams-type on D but with more length.

I think Andrew Bynum has the potential to be the rock we need in the paint, but from what I've heard, right now his offensive game is much better than his defense.

I see this team playing good team defense in Micheal Curry's system, but I don't know how we're going to fare against the top offensive players in the league. Some of you know a lot more about defense than I do, and I don't know that much about the defensive games of the players coming in.

Our D basically brought us success last year because it was top-5 in the league. How do you see our points scored versus points allowed stat shaking out?