Liberty Ballers: FanPosts

SB Nation Survey + Chance to donate $500 to a charity of this community's choice

2010-03-20T00:47:57Z

>> Take SB Nation Survey

Hello sports fans! We're always striving to provide you with the best experience possible and it's been quite some time since we checked in with you.

So we're rolling out this survey to learn more about you and your sports world. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete.

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LibertyBallers March Madness Trash-Talk page

2010-03-19T14:45:28Z

I figured there should be some place here for us to marvel over all the upsets, complain about how all of our brackets are now busted, and talk trash if somehow they aren't, or if all of these 10-and-lower-seeds lose and thus salvage them. So here's a place to do that.

via www.montecarlo-restoration.com

Also, a link to the Liberty Ballers bracket pool page if you've lost yours: http://libertyballers.mayhem.cbssports.com/e

Not tanking

2010-03-16T22:22:44Z

The term "tank" and all other forms of the word are being thrown around a lot. I just wanted to get my mind right regarding the whole situation. John Wall is very good, we all know that. But the sixers arent tanking. no team in the NBA is tanking (well purposely tanking...some GMs and coaches are so bad its almost like tanking).

So i cant figure out whether everyone uses this term lightly as like "we're tanking te-he...cuz we're so bad" or "we're deliberately losing to get a better chance at a higher pick tankity tank tank." TAFKAMB used the term in a post and uses it frequently. i dont know what he thinks about the situation, but i hope he doesnt believe we're actually tanking. We're just very bad. And the coaching is almost irrelavent. If Red Auerbach, John Wooden, and Gregg Popovich morphed into one supercoach and ran the Sixers, He (capitalized for hypothetical greatness) couldnt make winners out of this team and difference in wins would be negligible. The pieces to the puzzle are round and dont fit together.

I guess i just wanted to see if i have it straight about the use of the term "tanking" or if people actually think we/any other team is tanking. Id like to see evidence based research if u truly believe so.

just for my own comfort, ill say that i wish we would lose every game the rest of the season. i wanted us to go 0-82 this year. its just better for the team.

SixersBeat Radio Show

2010-03-12T00:09:07Z

Every week Brian and I host a 76ers Radio Show, SixersBeat. Feel free to listen live, call-in to get on the air, or download and Listen afterwards.

Links

Listen Live
Call-in Number: (917) 889-3649
Listen to previous shows

Feel free to list topics below that we'll try to touch on during the show.

Tankapalooza '10:

2010-03-11T02:29:42Z

Six Teams clustered between 21-23 wins. Given they have for the season won between 32-36% of their games, its impressive how well they have managed to tank.

Recent records:

Sixers: Lost 6 of 7

Knicks: Lost 3 of 4

Pistons: Lost 6 of 7

Wiz: Lost last 4

Pacers: Lost 4 of 5

Kings: Lost 4 of 5

Combined: 27L and 5W = 16%Winning percentage...or 2X as many losses as you would expect...if they were not tanking.

Eskin: per 76ers Jordan will not coach next year!!!

2010-03-08T05:00:52Z

Howard Eskin, tonight on NBC10 stated that his inside sources the above. They seriously considered firing Jordan now but thought why bother. So, his inside source stated they will fire Jordan at end of year. They have labeled 4 new coach canidates for next year!

Per Eskin, the 4 canidates the 76ers have listed:

Jay Wright

Jeff VanGundy

Doug Collins

Avery Johnson

My pick is Doug Collins. And from what I have heard, he is interested. Pick yours below:

Poll

Per Eskin, from the 76ers list, who is your choice for head coach:

Holiday Bursts Through Infamous Rookie Wall?

2010-03-08T03:58:59Z

I read the following article that stated the above. Very nice article. Not so sure that he has burst through that wall yet but I hope it is true. I personally believe he would be much farther along IF we had a coach. Anyway, article after the jump! BTW, Jrue is my favorite 76er now.

While most of the rookies around the NBA are being stopped in their tracks by the notorious rookie wall, Philadelphia’s rookie point guard Jrue Holiday is crashing through it. Last month he averaged an impressive 27.5 minutes per game and he’s showing no signs of slowing down as he’s scored more than 20 points in two of Philadelphia’s last four games.

This afternoon Holiday continued to up the ante by combining his scoring exploits (21 points) with seven rebounds and six dimes.

After the game when reporters asked him if he’s over being called a rookie he grinned before responding, “I’ve been over that for a minute.”

Some of the proof he’s close to shedding his label as a rookie came with how he was his able to deal with some adversity late in the game. In the final minutes of the fourth quarter he committed what looked to be a costly tough turnover that would have gotten most rookies benched or would have hurt their confidence.

Not Holiday.

Instead, he rallied around his mental miscue and was a big reason why Philadelphia was able to escape Toronto with a big road win.

“After he made the turnover at half court he knew he made a bad play,” Eddie Jordan told the media after the game. “He stepped up, cleared his head and he attacked when he had to. That’s what we need him to do.”

Attack could be a bit of an understatement.

With Toronto clawing back to within eight late in the fourth quarter most coaches would yank a rookie when he committed a mental mistake late in a close game. Jordan, however, stuck with his rookie and Holiday rewarded him by scoring five straight points to ignite a late surge which gave Philly a 107-84 advantage.

Throw in an assist on Thaddeus Young’s three-pointer on the following possession and Holiday’s imprint on the end of the game was easy to see.

After a season with minimal attention from the media, following the game Holiday was taking his time getting changed before he could escape the locker room and jump on the teams bus. Which is fair, because it would be easy to assume the media would want to chat with Marresse Speights about the injury to his knee, Young about his career-high 32 points or get the two faces of the franchise – Andre Igoudala and Elton Brand – to provide quotes to fill up game recaps.

However, the focus of the media tonight was easily Holiday and how he’s able to cap off an impressive rookie season by playing some of his best basketball when his peers are fading.

Needless to say the modest Holiday was in for a pleasant surprise when a huge horde of media was patiently waiting for him at his locker. When he spotted the group of media waiting for him first his eyes widened in shock and then a huge smile stretched across his face.

While the brief moment of modesty was refreshing, if Holiday continues to play inspired ball like he did this afternoon he can expect to get a lot more attention from the media.

Here’s to hoping this is one aspect of the NBA that Holiday doesn’t adapt to because modesty while dealing with the media was almost as impressive as what he did on the court this afternoon.

link: http://www.hoopsaddict.com/holiday-bursts-through-infamous-rookie-wall/

Poll

Holiday Bursts Through Infamous Rookie Wall? Yes or No?

Iverson's Wife Files for Divorce

2010-03-04T23:37:09Z

source: Slamonline.com

Article link: http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2010/03/allen-iversons-wife-has-filed-for-divorce/

It hasn’t been the greatest week in A.I.’s life. The AJC has the latest: “A week after the Philadelphia 76ers’ Allen Iverson announced he was leaving basketball for the rest of the season to be with his sick 4-year-old daughter, the star’s wife filed for divorce in Fulton County Superior Court. In the divorce petition filed on Tuesday, Tawanna Iverson said her 8 ½-year-long marriage to the guard was ‘irretrievably broken.’ In the petition, Tawanna Iverson asked for temporary and permanent custody of their five children as well as child support and alimony. She did not ask for a specific dollar amount. The children range in ages from 17 months to 15 years.”

Couldn't A.I.'s wife waited at least a couple on months to divorce him? A.I.'s daughter is terribly sick and everything, now his wife is going to divorce him? Wow Just Wow. How is this going to make things better?

The upcoming week in the lottery (3/1-3/7)

2010-02-28T23:04:40Z

So, let's be realistic. The playoffs are a pipe dream, 500 most likely gets it in the east and the sixers aren't even close. They have to play at an obscene level to even finish at 500 and their coach is a putz who isn't getting fired.

So, what we have to 'look forward to' is the lottery, and positioning. As of this morning, the sixers are '9th' in the lottery. Assuming that the top 3 are 'locks' cause they are so bad (New Jersey, Minnesota, Golden State), and assuming that the sixers will finish no worse than 9 (just to avoid dealing with so many teams), here's a quick glimpse into the upcoming week of the teams the sixers are 'battling' for lottery position.

Two notes relevant for the upcoming wee

Chris Bosh will return to the line up Friday
Tyler Hansborough done for the season

One note - not so relevant - but indication of how stupid a human being is

Al Jeff was arrested sunday in Minnesota for suspected DUI

Ok, on to the relevant stuff.

I'm going to present some numbers that I'll explain - these are my own calculations as of February 28th at 2:30 Pacific according to Yahoo:

RSOS - Strength of Schedule based purely on opponent overall record
ASOS - Strength of Schedule based on opponent record home or away - which ever relevant to said game.

Sixers (4 games, RSOS .617, ASOS .667) The sixers play 4 of the top 5 in the east this week, after a west coast swing they play:

Orlando (H)
Atlanta (A)
Boston (H)
Toronto (A)

There are no back to backs, the sixers are just bad, at home, away, but curiosly the sixers are 5-5 against the Atlantic this year. Orlando is coming off a back to back against the Heat on National TV (tonight) but really the sixers have no business winning any of these games this week, and the teams they are playing, if they are serious about playoffs, have no business losing to the sixers. The Raptors game is Bosh's second game back, and I wonder if they'll have trouble integrating him back in, but they shouldn't. Prediction for the Week 0-4

TV Note - Mondays Sixers/Magic game is on NBA TV for out of market folk

Knicks (4 games, RSOS .444, ASOS, .433) The Knicks numbers brought down by playing the Nets This Week

Cleveland (A)
Detroit (H)
Toronto (A)
New Jersey (H)

As previously stated, Bosh comes back this week, his first game back is in Toronto against the Knicks, which is a nice team to come back against cause defense isn't a priority. Cleveland is still shooting for best record in the league, but integrating Jamison. Shaq might not play, but against the Knicks that's not such a huge deal cause the knicks starting center is a weak euro who likes the perimeter. The Knicks get Detroit and New Jersey at home, the Nets Game is going to be a back to back for the Knicks but also for the Nets so fatigue should be equally bad for both. Prediction for the week 2-2

Wizards (3 games RSOS .555, ASOS .541) Wizards the only team with only 3 games this week:

Milwaukee (A)
Milwaukee (H)
Boston (A)

As you can see, the wiz and milwaukee do the home & home dance this week, but with a day off in between. No back to backs for the wizards this week, but they are playing all playoff teams right now. The Wizards are playing better since they traded Jamison and Butler, but history says that won't last. The Bucks are 'pushing' for the playoffs now that they have obtained savior John Salmons and Andre Bogut is playing like a #1 pick should. The celtics at home are allowed to play much more aggressive defense. Prediction for the week 1-2

Pistons (4 games RSOS .562, ASOS .583):

Boston (H)
New York (A)
Cleveland (A)
Houston (H)

The Boston / New York combo is a back to back for the pistons while the Knicks do have the day before off the game. Since I already predicted that New York would win 2 games this week (one of them against the Pistons) I think the pistons might have a bad week as well. Houston is a 500 team and 500 teams often have sub 500 road records, Houston is 13-16 as of today on the road, but I still think they can take the pistons who are just a mess. Prediction for week 0-4

Pacers (RSOS .649, ASOS .744) - West coast road trip.

Los Angeles Lakers (A)
Portland (A)
Denver (A)
Phoenix (A)

The pacers are the only team with a crapper looking schedule this week than the sixers (and they are a crappier team). As stated above, they lost Hansborough for the season officially but a quick look at his game log indicates he's been out for the past 20 games or so so it's not like he's been helpful recently. Again, much like the sixers schedule for the week, the pacers have no reason beating any of these teams and the teams they are playing have no business losing to the pacers at home. To add insult to injury the first two games are a back to back and the second two are a back to back, so any hope they would have against 'weaker' competition in Portland and Phoenix is negated by having to get walloped the night before by the two best teams (in my opinion) in the NBA. Prediction for week 0-4

Kings (RSOS .584, ASOS .605)

While not as crappy a week as the sixers or the pacers. the kings week is no walk in the park either. All playoff teams on their schedule:

Oklahome City (A)
Houston (A)
Dallas (A)
Oklahoma City (H)

The Oklahoma City Houston games are a back to back Tuesday/Wednesday. Oklahoma City is a strong team this year and it's chic to love them, they are pretty equal on the road and at home (17-11H and 17-12A as of right now). The kings traded away their 'best' player and are integrating what they got back (is carl landry that good really?) plus they have some strife in big man land - Hawes was sent to the bench but then Thompson hurt himself and could be out for 2 weeks. The 'feel good' story that was in the playoff hunt for a couple weeks, but they're just bad. They were bad without Kevin Martin and they were bad with Kevin Marting but they got rid of Kevin Martin so now they're 'better' right? I don't think so. There's no reason they SHOULD win a game this week, but i'm going to predict that they win one they shouldn't, lets say the OKC game on the 7th cause it's my birthday - Prediction for week 1-3

Summary of Predictions for Upcoming Week

Sixers - 0-4

Knicks - 2-2

Wizards - 1-2

Pistons - 0-4

Pacers - 0-4

Kings1-3

If these predictions hold true the sixers would 'pass' the wizards by half a game and be tied with the knicks, but detroit would also slide 'ahead' of the knicks for the week as well. Basically I predict the sixers will be '12th' in the east by the end of next Sunday, the Pistons in 13th, and the Pacers/Nets not moving anywhere.

Who you got?

2010-02-21T19:58:07Z

I saw this post on mavsmoneyball and I am going around sbnation to see who sbnation thinks is better.

http://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2010/2/20/1319763/who-you-got

"We have all heard this question before LeBron or Kobe. Obviously both are great and I think the general public is split on who is better, similar to Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. But we are not the general public, since we know more about the NBA. I want to see which side the hard core fans are on. Which hall of fame player do you want on your team, King James or The Black Mamba?"

Cast your vote.

Absolute Upside

2010-02-19T18:59:09Z

So, after my depressing diatribe (and with lots of words) yesterday, I know there are still people who are optimistic about the future of this franchise / roster. So lets see how optimistic you really are, and you can be anonymous about it, so no one has to know how you truly feel. The poll below is the best wording I can come up with to determine what one thinks the 'Pollyanna' upside of this team is.

I agree that this team with the right coach IS a playoff team in the east, a 500 team, but for me - they would never have a shot at winning the eastern conference, so why bother maintaining mediocrity when the point is to win a title?

Have at it

Poll

If all things go the right way, what is the best future outcome you see for the sixers as currently constructed?

Consistent Playoff appearances - never get out of the first round

19 votes

Consistent Playoff appearances - get out of the first round every once in a while

28 votes

Make it to the ECF a few times - never win

6 votes

Make it to the NBA finals at least once - never win

1 votes

At least one NBA Championship

3 votes

57 votes | Poll has closed

Post Trade Deadline Post Mortem

2010-02-19T00:17:15Z

So the trade deadline is over, and debating about Jodie Meeks is kind of like debating the merits of the original Melrose Place vs the new Melrose Place - they're both garbage - just different versions of garbage. (No I'm not saying Jodie Meeks is garbage, I'm saying he's insignificant to the long term success of this team compared to other major issues)

Tom Moore reported a rumor over on the places he posted that the sixers were, at the last minute, trying to trade Jason Kapono for an expiring contract (and giving up a first most likely to do it in my opinion). Not sure why they waited until the last minute, as it's rather common knowledge that with the lowering salary cap the sixers will be in luxury land, and it's rather obvious that Comcast will not pay the luxury tax if they can help it (so much so that a one year deal was all Andre Miller got offered from the sixers

So, we can't talk about Amare any more, or getting beasley or turning Andre/Brand into the expiring contracts from Dallas Mavericks, that's no longer possible. There are 29 games left and then there's the off season, so what is there left to talk about.

The sixers obtained another shooting guard today, his numbers in the NBA are godawful but he had a good year at UK (I"m told) and the sixers were 'hot' for him draft night but couldn't buy their way into the second round before Milwaukee took him (I haven't looked by the way - who owned the sixers 2009 second round pick, who did they take and why did the sixers trade it away again?).

The sixers now have one actual point guard on the roster, but another 'young guard who shoots' that coach Eie Joran seems to love. How will this impact the playing time of my favorite player not making over 10 million dollars a year on the sixers, Jrue Holiday? History, and our coach, indicate that it won't be good for young Mr Holiday as coach now has ANOTHER scorer to put in his place, and we know how coach loves him some points. Who needs defense when you can get points?

The sixers are still coached by, politley, an utter moron, the forrest gump of basketball coaches with out the unintentional genius that happens (shirt idea, the 'it happens' shirt from forrest gump by with eddie jordan as alfred e neuman - who he looks llike already). Sometime recently the sixers GM was quoted as saying defense is very important, defense is the most important thing. I'm not sure how he says that with a straight face and keeps Eie Joran employed.

The sixers are STILL taxed out for 2011, everyone knows it, and everyone knows that Comcast wants under it by hook or by crook. Because of his determination to follow the 'pistons method' Ed Stefanski held firm in his determination to not take back just expirings and supposedly turned down deals that would have netted the sixers Amare and Jason Richardson OR T-Mac and Chase Budinger. RIghtly or wrongly, it doesn't matter, he said no, they aren't possible any more, and Stefanski seems to believe that this roster can win an ECF - or why keep it together.

There's still a lot of young guys on this team who need development, many of whom seem allergic to defense (passing and rebounding) and aren't coached by anyone who cares about those things if you're getting points.

The sixers are 22-30. The past few years they've made a 'run' in the second half of the season to secure a playoff birth and gain valuable experience losing in the first round and having the 15th pick in the draft. I must say, that thrilled me, and I was so looking forward to that thrilling ass whooping by the cavs this year.

At this point however - the sixers are close to 14th (2 games) in the east than they are to 8th (6.5) even though they are in '10th' place in the east. The 9th place team (the bucks) make a move to try and bolster their guard depth and the 8th place team added Tyrus Thomas. The 7th place team did nothing and is built around Dwyane Wade who shockingly got injured last night, I have no idea how serious that injury was.

The knicks are the 11th place team only one game worse than the sixers and made so many moves that I have no clue who is on their roster right now, but T-Mac might be able to play - bring some minutes - to earn one more contract (3-4 mil per year) from some idiot GM this year...think Pedro Martinez for the phillies this year - healthy for brief periods with rest because he didn't play all year. At one point T-Mac was supposedly a pretty good basketball player. I have no idea who is left to play with him, but Nate is gone, and that can only be good for the Knicks, but not that idiot Frazier.

Then you've got the pistons, pacers, wizards, and nets. Unless the sixers actively tank - I don't think they can 'catch' any of those teams - they are terrible teams - the wizards just got rid of their two best players (even if arenas was allowed to play) and that team is poised to rebuild and have cap space and a high draft pick (Maybe i should become a wizards fan, i'll decide after they get new ownership and rid of Areanas I guess), something the sixers feel isn't necessary cause they must be 'close' to something.

So - 'draft pick folks' - i don't see the sixers being worse than 11th place in the east - and with various deadline moves i honestly think that sacramento and the clippers are now worse than the sixers...along with GSW and minneosta.

You know what that equals - that equals 10th pick in the draft - unless the lottery REALLY screws them over or they get really lucky. Sure it's better than 15th, but who is psyched for the 10th pick in the draft...i'm not.

So the 2008/09 sixers were a low playoff team that played good defense but struggled in the offense when they weren't in transition. The sixers, in hiring a new coach, hired an 'offensive wiz', which many of us (wrongly) figured was a good thing because the defense would still be good and the offense would be better. Eie Joran is smart and will figure out how to make these disparate pieces work and the defense will still be good. Ed Stefanski (primary motivation is defense, remember that) has a four hour chalk talk and is wowed by Joran and makes him an offer. It has nothing to do with the fact that Joran and Stef know each other from new jersey and that the sixers can lowball him because the wiz are still paying him (and the sixers are still paying mo for a year I believe).

The 2009/10 sixers probably will miss the playoffs, have regressed defensively and the offense is, politely, a festering pile of poo that even the most smelly new born baby thinks is disgusting. The sixers have regressed, at both ends of the court, burgeoning star Thaddeus Young seems to have forgotten most things he knew about basketball when he entered the league, Lou Williams as 'point guard' seemed to work for a while, but Lou regressed to what Lou is. Mareese Speights seemed to show no interest in the off season in improving his weaknesses (passing, rebounding and defense) and the new coach hates the only real point guard the sixers have. Elton Brand is back, Elton Brand is healthy, the coach hates him, AND even healthy, he's not the guy he was in Los ANgeles before the Achilles injury and probably never will be again. So that seems like a bad signing (and one the sixers would love to get rid of but can't). Even with all these 'issues' - there's very few people out there who think Eie Joran has done a good coaching job this season who aren't related to him, so he'll get fired right? Well you'd hope.

The sixers are owned by Comcast, Comcast is a corporation and a publicly traded company. Comcast answers to share holders who don't care about anything more than EPS and PE ratios. (If you don't know what those are, look em up and look up EBIDTA for extra credit). My opinions on corporate ownership in professional sports (it should be illegal) aside, the owners of the sixers are in a recession and only care about one thing...the bottom line, profits, more and more money coming in versus money going out. And Comcast is trying to buy NBC Universal so saving a few million here and there might be a good idea for them.

Why, you ask, should that matter to the sixers and the future of Eie Joran? I'm glad you asked. I don't know why, but much like NBA contracts (negotiated by the CBA), coaching contacts seem to be GUARANTEED (raise your hand if you have a job where you could suck at it - get fired and still get paid for the next few years the full amount you make now), and the sixers gave Eie Joran a 4 year deal. If the sixers fire Eie Joran they still have to pay him, and they have to pay the new coach AND they have to pay mo cheeks for at least one more year. Now, what kind of economic sense does it make to the comcast shareholders who only care about the bottom line (and can vote out the board members if they want and can marshall enough votes) to be paying THREE people when only one of them is actually working for the organization/franchise/corporation? It doesn't does it. It seem they'll accept paying two, but not three, which means to me that Eie Joran will coach the sixers next year for some portion before he's fired so that they can put in an interim pay them beans and not have to hire a NEW head coach until they stop paying mo Cheeks (whenever that is, i think it's next season)

So - no new coach to look forward to.

So what's next? Well how about the 2010 "Free Agency bonanza" - oh wait - we don't want expiring deals - the sixers have no cap (or tax) room and they can't sign anybody - so we can't be a player in that, or can we. (Yes I'm using we, get over it, sometime i just like to pick on people)

A lot of teams are clearing cap space to make a run at less 'good players' than there are teams. I personally think the 'prize' of free agnecy in terms of switching teams is going to be Chris Bosh. Lebron won't go anywhere, I don't think Wade will and if the rumors are true, the suns and Stoudemire probably will work out an extension where netierh gets exactly what they want but steve nash stays happy. So that leaves 'second tier' guys like Joe JOhnson, David Lee, Rudy Gay (restricted, but does anyone think memphis will match?) and probably some others. New York will over pay at least two of these guys, they'll have to or their fanbase will riot. They have bird rights on Lee (if they don't renounce them), and I predict Joe Johnson reunites with his fave coach in Phoenix.

So why is this relevant you say? Well, you'll still hve a lot of teams out there with a lot of cap space looking to spend it. That means teams can absorb salary without making it work completely under the salary cap. Which means the sixers might find a taker for a bad contract and only have to give up a draft pick. Which I predict will happen, one of these 3 Lou/Willie/Kapono will be traded for a future first (with limited protection) to get the sixers under the tax. Oh joy - Comcast doesn't have to pay a penalty and gets some money back for not paying the luxury tax. Their bottom line is better. Isn't everyone happy?

So what about the left over free agents - won't they sign for the MLE with a team that offers it to them if they think they have a chance of winning you ask? Well see, if you have read this far you'll know there are two issues with that. Issue 1): If you believe Eie Joran can coach a team to an NBA finals - stop doing drugs. Issue 2, and I could be wrong here, if i am i'm sorry, my memory is bad, while you can sign players using the MLE if you're over the salary cap - their salary still applies to the luxury tax line, and the sixers are probably giving away at least a first round draft pick this off season to get UNDER the luxury tax line (remember, comcast, corporation, shareholders) so why in gods name would they offer an MLE contract that puts them back over the luxury tax line after all that work. So, not going to happen.

So - here's what I think we have to look forward to as sixer fans going forward.

1. The 10th pick in the NBA Draft

2. No roster additions via free agency and one player of some value (or not depending on who) traded away WITH a draft pick to get under the luxury tax

3. The same head coach to start the season

4. The same GM (yeah I know I didn't talk about him, but I already wrote enough words about this without getting into his 'pistons model idiocy' didn't I?)

I have been posting on various Philadlephia sports boards for many years and many of you have read my words and think that i'm just inherently negative and will find the negative in anything, but it's not true, when the phillies got cliff lee it was awesome, sure they still make dumb moves and i worry about things but the phillies are the best eam in the NL right now and the favorite for a third straight world series appearance, it's awesome to be a phillies fan right now.

It hasn't been awesome, or even good, to me, to be a sixers fan since the end of the 2001-2002 season. It's not about losing in the playoffs, it's about believing your team is building towards contending for a title (it doesn't always work, but at least it looks like they have a plan), and I haven't had faith in the people running the sixers having a plan since the end of the 2001-2002 season. I had a glimmer of hope when they signed Elton Brand but that backfired and now I think (as you may have read) that this roster is mired in mediocrity (at best) and I don't think much is going to change any time soon.

I want to be a sixers fan, I know I'll probably never stop, but right now it's very difficult to have any hope for the future of this franchise, for the reasons I spelled out above (and more - but i've gone on too long)

So feel free to comment, agree, disagree, bash, insult, whatever...have at it.

Cavs fan inquireing about Iguodala trades

2010-02-15T05:09:46Z

Hey guys, I was wondering what you guys thought of this trade:

Sixers get:
Wally Sczekrhjrzwrwrbiak (sign & trade about $16 million expiring)
Anthony Parker (2 years @ $2.6 million a year)
Leon Powe (only 26 and due $866,000 expiring)

2012 first round draft pick and

Christian Eyenga (cavs 2009 first round draft pick)

Cavs get:
Samuel Dalembert
Andre Iguodala

with JJ hickson and Z hopefully headed to phoenix, is that enough cap relief, youth and talent to pique your interest?

Poll

Is this trade something you wouldn't mind seeing the sixers think about?

Yeah, if we're serious about cutting costs this isn't that bad.

15 votes

Nope, you're a cavs homer, this trade sucks.

41 votes

56 votes | Poll has closed

T-Mac Would 'Love' To Play For 76ers

2010-02-08T22:28:43Z

T-Mac Would 'Love' To Play For 76ers Tracy McGrady would love to play for the 76ers, according to Stephen A. Smith. Smith wrote a column in the Philadelphia Inquirer on the status of the 76ers, saying they should focus on a high draft pick and forget about winning this season. "I'd love to finish this season in Philadelphia," McGrady told Smith.

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/64553/20100208/t_mac_would_love_to_play_for_76ers/ filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler filler

Possible Iguodala Trade, Whats your take?

2010-02-07T04:12:03Z

I was checking out the ESPN NBA trade machine, and I saw a couple Iggy trades that caught my eye.

Option 1

Option 2

I know the sixers are trying to free up cap space for this summer bonanza so a trade that eliminates nearly $40 million from next season's books is nothing to sneeze at. We could get rid of the salaries for Delembert and Iggy and get Shaq's $21 million expiring contract and perhaps some younger cheaper talent in return. Shaq obviously doesn't want to play for this team so I assume a buyout could be reached so he could return to the cavs for the rest of the season.

I know the cavs are really pushing all in to win it this year, so I've got to assume that they would be willing to toss out cash and draft picks if we were to make a trade like this. This much cap relief is really really big right now with the free agents available next year, so don't overlook that either.

What do you guys think? Something along these lines reasonable?

Feel free to post some alternate routes the sixers could go that you think are more reasonable.

Poll

Should the sixers be interested in this trade?

Yes

12 votes

No

25 votes

37 votes | Poll has closed

Trade Proposal from a Timberwolves fan.

2010-02-05T23:31:27Z

The trade is:

Philadelphia receives- Damien Wilkins, Josh Powell

Philadelphia trades- Jason Kapono

Minnesota receives- Jason Kapono, Shannon Brown

Minnesota trades- Ramon Sessions, Damien Wilkins

Los Angeles Lakers receives- Ramon Sessions

Los Angeles Lakers trade- Shannon Brown, Josh Powell

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yz93rye

The Sixers get a solid SF in Damien and an average backup C in Powell. The Wolves get a good 3-pt shooter in Jason Kapono and gain salary space for the following seasons. The Lakers get a very smart backup/starting PG in Ramon without giving up too much.

Poll

How do you like this trade as a Sixers fan?

A: I would do this trade in a heartbeat!

9 votes

B: It's a good trade and improves are team.

10 votes

C: So-so. Not great, but not that bad.

21 votes

D: No. This makes our team much worse.

6 votes

F: ARE YOU CRAZY? If we make this trade, I'll never watch a Sixers game again!

11 votes

57 votes | Poll has closed

What do the sixers NEED?

2010-02-04T20:38:06Z

Ok, so the sixers beat the bulls last night, Iverson didn't play, Holiday and Brand got substantial minutes in ways that Brace Face hardly ever hands to them. Rotations have changed, feelings have been hurt, and trade rumors are everywhere, but I'm looking at something else.

Let's live in 'fantasy land' for a bit. Let's assume the sixers fire Eie Joran immediately, don't trade anyone significant (Willie Green isn't significant), and head into the off season committed to getting better ON the court - luxury tax be damned.

What do the sixers need from the roster and from players?

They need a shooting guard, a good one, a guy who can score, with some range, because as much as I am loathe to admit it, Iguodala is a 3 and Thaddeus Young doesn't look like an NBA starter any more. He's regressed so much now, all I can see him as is points off the bench at the three - so you got one bench guy at the 3 who can score - and do little else
They need a 3 point threat - a serious one - not a broken down Jason Kapono - and coincidentally - Kyle Korver is a free agent this off season - and there's not a single sixer fan who can tell me (rationally) that they don't miss Korver.
They need a defensive stopper off the bench, someone to come in and stop guys, right now they have none of that and lou williams is the thaddeus young of guards, he's scoring and little else

Those are the roster additions - what else do I think they need from the existing roster?

Sam Dalembert - yes he's played very well recently, but he's played very well in the past (and it turns out he's playing with pain) and then gone back to being, well, Sam. This needs to maintain, for whatever reason, Sam needs to put forth an entire season of what he's done recently
Jrue Holiday needs to focus this off season on his shooting and his off bal defending, go down to IMG and work with your boys - put in the time and you'll get better
Mareese Speights needs to learn to pass and defend better...his offensive game is the big man Allen Iverson never had...imagine Speights drawing a double team and passing to a wide open Kyle Korver with his goofy 'jump' when he shoots...it would be quite pretty
Elton Brand needs to stay healthy, and maybe pass a bit more (0 assists last night)
Andre Iguodala needs to accept his game, what it is and isn't, and improve his shooting as much as possible (including FT's) but try not to take so many 3's (and fans and sixers front office also have to realize what Iguodala is and isn't and that he's not over paid at 14 mil but that's not the point right now)
Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams - Thad, I love ya (Lou, meh) - but you are both bench players, you are both single note players who would need to show massive improvement in the off season in various things (though Lou, I'm not sure you can make yourself taller) for me to think of you as anything more than 10-15 minute players when offense is needed.
Willie Green - please retire

That's what I have for now, just trying to spur a little more non trade non iguodala bashing debate
Excelsior!

Sixers Trade Thread

2010-01-21T23:30:06Z

The Andre Iguodala trade rumors are gaining some steam. Here are excerpts from Chad Ford and Marc Stein's latest trade columns.

Ford

For the past several weeks, I've dismissed the idea that the 76ers, even if they are desperate to reduce payroll, would give away Iguodala for the expiring contract of Tracy McGrady. But after talking with a number of people close to the situation, I think it's plausible.

A deal of Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert for McGrady would work under terms of the collective bargaining agreement. While it would eat up any cap space the Rockets might have this summer, if Iguodala is the prize, who cares?

So what's the holdup? A couple of things. From Houston's point of view, Dalembert's 15 percent trade kicker would be a bitter pill. And from Philadelphia's perspective, it's important to get back an asset for a building block like Iguodala. While the Sixers love the idea of getting his long-term salary and Dalembert's off the books, they want something in return. The Rockets could offer Trevor Ariza or Aaron Brooks to sweeten the deal, but it sounds as though talks haven't gotten that far yet.

I love me some Aaron Brooks, but I think Jrue is the point guard of the future. And Trevor Ariza is basically a poor man's Iguodala. I'll pass on both of them. I just want to get Iguodala's contract off the books.

Stein

The Sixers are only growing more determined to make a deal before the deadline. I've heard that in strong terms from three different sources this week already.

Which tells me we should expect to keep hearing more trade scenarios that include Andre Iguodala's name.

Foiled in its longstanding attempts to move Samuel Dalembert and/or Elton Brand, Philly has apparently come to realize that its best shot at a shake-it-up move is convincing one of the risk-taking/big-spending teams out there - such Houston, Dallas and Cleveland - to absorb the four years and $56.3 million remaining on Iguodala's contract after this season.

Use this thread to post any fake Sixers trades. Try to be as realistic as possible and use the Trade Machine to make sure it works under the cap. I want to see some cool proposals. The goal is to get Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand off the books so we can move forward as a franchise with the few assets we have, which hopefully includes a top 5 pick in this year's draft.

Here's my favorite trade:

Dallas Mavericks receive

Andre Iguodala
Elton Brand

Sixers receive

Erick Damiper
Josh Howard
Rodrigue Beaubois
2010 1st round pick

Iggy to Boston?

2010-02-03T00:53:36Z

Let me start by saying I have no source to support this whatsoever, it came totally from my brain.

That said, I think Boston could be a potential landing spot for Iggy. The Celts are (according to yahoo, http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/post/Celtics-dealing-Ray-Allen-?urn=nba,217085#comments) considering dealing Ray Allen and his $20 million EC. According to the link, they want a younger guard (Iggy) and an another EC(likely Kapono).

This really gets us nothing but money. I be would totally against this ever happening because Iggy should never be involved in a straight salary dump, but my guess is that if the Sixers get desperate, they might play around with this idea.

Is this the sixers next coach?

2010-02-02T16:01:44Z

Travis Heath works for Hoopsworld. he does a weekly chat and honestly he looks like a bartender as far as I'm concerned, so I don't know if his sources have any reliability or who he knows or his history of reliability.

But he posted a comment on twitter in the past 24 hours that affects the sixers and I'm sure people will have an opinion about.

Who is this coach you say? Keep going gentle reader.

Little birdie currently employed by a NBA team just whispered in my ear that he expects Byron Scott to eventually be head coach of 76ers.

So, according to this unsubstantiated rumor, the sixers already know who their next coach is. And hey look, he has a connection to Ed Stefanski. (Now that could be why this source thinks B Scott will be the next coach, who knows).

He's a retread, he's a guy who has already burned out in two separate jobs, the sixers wouldn't be doing a real job search. I have no idea how Scott feels about defense, but I know Chris Paul misses him. But this is just a contrary move to how I think things should be done. If this pans out after Eie Joran is fired (come on it's inevitable and everyone knows it) that Scott is the sixers 'pre-picked' head coach, i'll be annoyed AND it'll probably mean stefanski keeps his job (Look Mr Snider, Byron is who I really wanted, but he wasn't available, and we had to hire someone)

Something to discuss instead of god awful games and where Iguodala might be traded.