John Miller: The 2010 Sixers A To Z
For the first time in a couple years, the Sixers have some interesting things happening – a new, high-energy coach, a rebuilt front office and youth in the backcourt. This has been an offseason of change, and while contending for a title is not in the cards this year, there are some Things You Need To Know as the season tips off.
Therefore, as a public service, here is your A to Z Guide to this year’s Sixers:
A – Albatross. That is to say, Elton Brand’s contract. It still has three years and $51 million to go. It’s shocking that this has worked out so poorly for both the Sixers and Brand. He needs to try to reinvent himself as a hard-working scrapper. He won’t be worth the contract, but he’ll be a useful part.
B – Bigs, lack of. The Sixers’ lack of a defensive presence inside looks like it is going to be a gargantuan problem. Spencer Hawes and Marreese Speights are not the most physical defenders in the world, and Brand just isn’t big enough.
C – Coach Collins. His hiring this summer was a sign that the team is headed in the right direction. He brings old-school values to the team and will stress discipline and defense. It’s what the fans want and it’s what wins. But he has his work cut out for him.
D – Stands for D, as in defense. Collins will talk about it every day this season. Theoretically, it will begin to sink in.
E – Evan Turner. The second overall pick is unlikely to start at the beginning of the season. That is not an auspicious start for someone who was deemed “the most NBA-ready” in last June’s draft. The Sixers are preaching patience; national media are whispering “bust” – fortunately for the Sixers, the national media are almost never right.
F – Favors, Derrick. He was the third overall pick in the draft, taken by New Jersey right behind Turner. A lot of people think the Sixers should’ve selected Favors. The draft night buzz was that Collins wanted Favors. Let the comparisons begin.
G – Green, Willie. He’s not here anymore.
H – Hawes, Spencer. The center acquired from Sacramento in the Dalembert deal is a skilled big man who doesn’t bring much defense to the table.
I – Iguodala, Andre. The Sixers’ best all-around player, but not a top notch superstar. It’s not his fault. His summer experience with the gold medal-winning world championship team should help him, but a bum wrist to start the season will make his already balky jump shot even shakier.
J – Jrue. The second year point guard is reason for hope. But Collins’ assertion that he’ll be a top-five point guard by season’s end is a bit much.
K – Kapono, Jason. Looks like he might be a starter, folks. And that’s not all bad, because the dude can shoot the deep ball better than just about anyone in the Association.
L –Lottery. Sorry.
M – Midnight Express. Is anyone else worried about Allen Iverson having a Midnight Express moment in Turkey?
N – Nocioni, Andres. Not great, but I think you’ll like him, mostly because he’s the type of player who other teams don’t like. That is to say, he’s a wee bit of a dirty player.
O – Optimism. Collins has buckets of it.
P – Ping pong balls. Sorry. Also, Perry Jones, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound freshman power forward at Baylor who could be the top pick in the 2011 draft.
Q – Questions. I apologize for so many of these entries being questions rather than answers. But, hey, this is a team with a lot of questions.
R – Rebounding. See Bigs, Lack of. Retrieving errant shots will be a weakness for this team.
S – Sammy, as in Dalembert. He’s gone because the Sixers tried for years to get rid of him and finally were successful. Now, it looks like they miss him. No, really, they do.
T – Trading deadline. Feb. 24, 2011 could be a big day for your team, your town, your Sixers.
U – Unattainable. Apparently, that’s what the very-much-on-the-market Carmelo Anthony is for the Sixers. Because Anthony has given everyone the very strong impression that he’ll only sign a long-term contract in L.A., New York, or Chicago.
V – Victories, 33 of ’em. That’s what I’m saying, based largely on faith in Collins. Two months ago I would’ve said 40, but I’m shaken by Turner’s lack of impact so far and a very lackluster preseason by everyone else.
W – Williams, Sweet Lou. He’s probably the best scorer on the team (from our Damning With Faint Praise Department), but it’s still hard to see how he fits in. For now, he probably teams in the second-team backcourt with Turner.
X – X-factor. That’d be Rod Thorn. It’s his job to wheel-and-deal the Sixers to a brighter future.
Y – Young, Thaddeus. A make or break season for him. Is he the next Shawn Marion, or the next Jamario Moon? And, by the way, why can’t he play defense?
Z – Zumoff, Marc. The Sixers play-by-play announcer has a new partner this year – Eric Snow (the Sixers have had almost as much trouble replacing Steve Mix as they’ve had replacing Larry Brown). Sixers fans fervent hope is that Zumoff gets to scream YESSSS! a little more this season than he did last year.
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