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Welcome to another edition of the Liberty Links Lounge!
Quick things:
- The mission to get to LB Facebook page up to 1000 likes continues. We currently have 984. Hopefully we can get there before the New Year! Thanks for all the support!
- Don't forget to follow all of our wonderful writers on Twitter:
Mike Levin (@Michael_Levin)
Tanner Steidel (@tsteidel)
Derek Bodner (@derekbodner)
Dave Rueter (@wheresbenrivera)
Justin F. (JFSportsFan)
Brandon Lee (@PhillyFollower)
Roy Burton (@TheBSLine)
Rich Hofmann Jr. (@rich_hofmann)
Mike Baumann (@MJ_Baumann)
Kami Mattioli (@kmattio) - Game Thread stats have moved to special project status. You'll just have to wait, sorry.
Best of Liberty Ballers:
Remember This Guy: Eric Leckner
The Sixers plucked center, Eric Leckner, from the Italian League in 1993. Now, Leckner wasn't the first big man we found roaming the streets in Italy. Just a few years prior, ownership fell in love with half-man, half-Amphibian, Charles Shackleford, who swam across the pond to join the Sixers in ‘91. The Italy to Philadelphia pipeline was a hot bed of player movement: give us your weak, your tired, and especially your defensive-minded.
On Andrew Bynum and Believing in Something
The day the Sixers traded for Andrew Bynum is the best day of my Sixers fan life. It was equal parts unexpected, ballsy, and perfect. It was the day the franchise would forever change, that Mediocracy would not rule the days ahead but contention and relevance. The fate of my own ambitions were tied with those of this ratcheted-together beautiful work of basketball art-to-be. Things have not gone according to plan.
76ers Sunday Morning Shootaround: The Benihana Edition
On this edition of the Sunday Morning Shootaround, we have Pacquiao Photoshops, a return to Benihana, and a true definition of the word swag. Enjoy...
VIDEO: State of the Sixers: An Existential Google Hangout
I used to listen to Mike (Golic) and Mike (Greenberg) in the morning on my way to high school with my dad. This is Mike (Baumann) and Mike (me) at night. Neither of us are in high school. Neither of us are my dad. This is pretty unrelated, all things considered.
SIXERS LINKS:
Could These Guys Be Traded? - Grantland
Half the roster becomes trade-eligible Saturday on mid-tier or cheap salaries. The bigger names are Nick Young (shooting 38 percent and recovering from a toe injury) and a brigade of centers that has been so ineffective the Sixers will be in the market for a big man once trading season heats up. Kwame Brown almost never plays, Lavoy Allen's offense has regressed, and Spencer Hawes is no longer providing enough scoring/passing punch to make up for his shaky post defense. The Evan Turner/Jrue Holiday/Thaddeus Young core is basically set in stone here, and Jason Richardson's shooting has been helpful; the Sixers have outscored opponents by a robust 6.3 points per 100 possessions when those four play together, per NBA.com. Everything else, including Andrew Bynum's future, is up in the air.
Where's the Respect? - Depressed Fan
Typically, in this league made for TV, production equals respect. I'm not talking about respect from the national media, or respect from the fans, I'm talking about respect from the refs. When you're an unknown rookie, you don't get the borderline whistles. When you're mostly a jump shooter who rarely ventures into the lane, you don't get the borderline whistles. When you're a finesse player who shies away from contact, you don't get the borderline whistles. Jrue is none of those things anymore, and it's about time he started getting the benefit of the doubt.
Sixers’ Bynum plans to play this season, offers worrisome injury clarification - SI.com
Andrew Bynum "update", yada yada yada
A Bulls Fan Was Apparently Shot Over Argument with Sixers Fans - The 700 Level
A Bulls-Sixers game in mid-December is a pretty dumb thing to get shot over. And Philadelphia's serious gun issues continue.
The night Erving and Bird went to war - literally - philly.com
Went to a basketball game at the Boston Garden and a hockey game broke out.
Injuries making it tough for Sixers to gel - CSN Philly
Gel.
NBA RELATED LINKS:
Shooting for perfection - SB Nation (Longform piece)
Basketball legend Rick Barry was virtually flawless shooting the underhand free throw. Why won’t anyone give it a try?
Metta World drops the 'Peace' in exclusive video interview from bed - SB Nation
Can you say "awkward tension"?
VIDEO: Happy Hanukkah from the Rockets - The Basketball Jones
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REMINDER - RULES OF THE THREAD: As long as you keep it clean (no cursing and please remember to bathe before threading) and avoid touchy subjects like religion/politics/etc, it's fair game. It's your thread - use it as you see fit.
Now, discuss! Happy Friday!