GM 10: RAPID REACTS

Posted by: Tom Sunnergren
11/18/12 9:18 pm EST

Cleveland Cavaliers

Philadelphia 76ers

	Thaddeus Young, SF 37 MIN \| 3-9 FG \| 1-2 FT \| 6 REB \| 0 AST \| 7 PTS \| +1 Thad had his hands full with Anderson Varejao and was invisible for most of the night. Next to Detroit, his worst performance so far.
	Evan Turner, SG 40 MIN \| 8-12 FG \| 2-2 FT \| 6 REB \| 9 AST \| 19 PTS \| +10 Wow. Just a superlative performance by ET. His shot was falling early (he was 5-of-7 at the half ), and as it often does, it galvanized him. He chipped in six rebounds (all in the second half) and a career high nine-assists.
	Kwame Brown, C 9 MIN \| 0-0 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 0 REB \| 0 AST \| 0 PTS \| -8 “Kwame Brown is just a big body” I think I remember Mark Zumoff tossing off at some point. That was the best you could say about him tonight.
	Jrue Holiday, PG 37 MIN \| 6-14 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 4 REB \| 9 AST \| 14 PTS \| +5 From the first quarter onward, Jrue scored 11 points with six assists against a single turnover and held Kyrie Irving to two points on 1-of-8 shooting. He was, obviously, tremendous defensively. His strip of Kyrie with 1:50 left was the icing on the cake.
	Jason Richardson, SG 34 MIN \| 5-14 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 9 REB \| 3 AST \| 12 PTS \| +5 Another very good, very balanced performance by the guy who’s been, so far, the best piece the Sixers landed in the Iguodala trade. Feels like it’s been ages since the Sixers had a consistent veteran perimeter threat, doesn’t it?
	Lavoy Allen, PF 22 MIN \| 0-5 FG \| 2-2 FT \| 3 REB \| 3 AST \| 2 PTS \| +12 After a pair of encouraging performances against the Pistons and Jazz (24 points and 14 rebounds in total) LA returned to form against the Cavs.
	Dorell Wright, SF 12 MIN \| 1-4 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 4 REB \| 1 AST \| 3 PTS \| -7 After an occasionally terrific start to the season (better than advertised defensively; intermittently explosive on O) Wright seems to have found his way back into Doug Collins’ doghouse. He’s played just 17 minutes combined the last two games after never playing fewer than 20 in the first eight. Someone please explain this to me.
	Spencer Hawes, C 28 MIN \| 5-13 FG \| 3-4 FT \| 9 REB \| 1 AST \| 14 PTS \| +9 Spence was an assassin down the stretch on Sunday, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter with a pair of blocked shots and a 3-pointer for good measure. Each time the Cavs threatened, he did something improbable and helpful.
	Royal Ivey, PG 6 MIN \| 1-3 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 0 REB \| 1 AST \| 2 PTS \| +3 Everyone’s least favorite backup point guard scored just a bucket, but it was a big one. With the Cavs charging early in the fourth he scored a layup off an Evan Turner assist to push the Sixer lead back to seven.
	Nick Young, SG 16 MIN \| 5-6 FG \| 1-2 FT \| 0 REB \| 0 AST \| 13 PTS \| +5 It was falling tonight. Swaggy was in the midst of his best performance of the season until what’s been reported as a “dizzy” spell took him from the game. He scored ten of his 13 in 11 very good first half minutes.

KNEE JERK REACTS

Posted by: Philadunkia
11/16/12 1:32 pm EST

Earlier this week the 76ers announced that Andrew Bynum’s debut will not occur until January as Bynum continues to recover from a bone bruise in his right knee. The 7-6’s medical staff is taking a very cautious approach to his recovery and is hoping that he can begin practicing in December and the finally see game action in the middle of January.

As we all know, Bynum was acquired by the Sixers in a four-team deal this past summer, but has yet to even practice with the team because of his knee issues. The lingering knee problem Bynum is experiencing has a been a big topic of discussion here at the Philadunkia offices for weeks and this latest news has only fueled our fears that Bynum is not remotely close to taking the floor.

So, we decided to assemble some of our thoughts on Bynum’s knee into a post and vent them to you the readers after the jump.

GM 1: (NOT SO) RAPID REACT

Posted by: Tom Sunnergren
11/01/12 4:24 pm EST

Denver Nuggets

FinalRecap | Box Score

Philadelphia 76ers

	Lavoy Allen, PF 17 MIN \| 1-5 FG \| 1-2 FT \| 4 REB \| 0 AST \| 3 PTS \| -1Disappointing start to his sophomore season. After a very solid rookie season and an even better postseason run, LA was invisible for most of Wednesday’s opener.
	Thaddeus Young, SF 36 MIN \| 6-12 FG \| 1-3 FT \| 5 REB \| 1 AST \| 13 PTS \| +18Thad, in the starting role he’s been clamoring for, played capably. He stayed around the basket and was, in the context of a game where less than 160 points were scored, a playmaker on the offensive end.
	Jrue Holiday, PG 41 MIN \| 5-16 FG \| 4-5 FT \| 6 REB \| 11 AST \| 14 PTS \| +8Jrue, rewarded after the game with a 4-year $41-million contract extension, played capable quarterback against a point guard that many (okay, me) wished the Sixers had drafted ahead of him. He had 11 dimes against just three turnovers and, with the Sixers lead down to 71-70 mid fourth period, made a three-point-pay that bulwarked the Denver charge.
	Jason Richardson, SG 37 MIN \| 4-13 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 4 REB \| 2 AST \| 10 PTS \| +7While, after a pair of early 3-pointers, his stroke was off, Richardson played sound, surprisingly so, defense.
	Evan Turner, SF 28 MIN \| 2-7 FG \| 1-1 FT \| 6 REB \| 2 AST \| 5 PTS \| +10The Kid, in a season where he has a lot on the line, financially and professionally, got off to a dud of a start. He disappeared for stretches, and when he reappeared it didn’t mark an improvement. He was 0-for-5 in shots that he took more than three feet away from the bucket.
	Spencer Hawes, PF 31 MIN \| 6-11 FG \| 2-2 FT \| 12 REB \| 2 AST \| 16 PTS \| +10Spence was simply a revelation. Looking like Pau Gasol 2.0, the recently benched big—mullet flowing gloriously behind him (business in the front, Tea Party in the back)—was superb inside and outside. He blocked five shots (!?!), buried a pair of 3-pointers (he’s now one shy of matching last season’s total) and was pinpoint from midrange. Seeing him play alongside Bynum is going to be fun.
	Dorell Wright, SF 28 MIN \| 3-12 FG \| 6-6 FT \| 7 REB \| 0 AST \| 14 PTS \| -1I thought he was fantastic. Though his shot tapered off as the game wore on, he got to the line and played great help defense. He also made a fantastic hustle play, stripping Corey Brewer from behind while he galloped toward an unguarded hoop. Rumor has it he was in Collins’ dog house during camp. Looks like Collins’ dog can start sleeping in his own bed again.
	Nick Young, SG 19 MIN \| 3-9 FG \| 2-2 FT \| 3 REB \| 0 AST \| 9 PTS \| -6Swaggy P brought a little too much swag and not quite enough P to the floor last night (P stands for “prudence” right?). He was as advertised. Energy: high. Shots: wild. Fro: glorious.

3 THINGS TO WATCH TONIGHT

Posted by: Matt Swiman
10/15/12 3:44 pm EST

Tonight the 76ers (1-1) will hit the hardwood down at the Wells Fargo Center for the first time this pre-season as they take on the Boston Celtics in their 3^rd preseason game. Personally, I’d like to see the Sixers bounce back from their overtime loss to the Nets and the lackluster performance against a bad Orlando team with a big W tonight.

However in the pre-season certain things are more importnat than wins and losses. So with an eye on the start of the regular season and the eventual return of Andrew Bynum, I will be taking notes on three items with this 76ers roster tonight.

1) Seeing what Moultrie can do with extended mintues.

Rumor has it that rookie Arnett Moultrie (pic at left) will be getting the start tonight for the 7-6. This makes sense especially because earlier in the day the 76ers tweeted that Kwame Brown will not be active tonight. Also Kevin Garnett will more than likely according to Doc Rivers not play tonight, which means Moultrie should put up some big numbers and get some confidence flowing. With only two points on Saturday against the Nets in 11 minutes of action I’d like to see Arnett get plenty of burn and be more aggressive in attacking the rim.

LEARNING CURVE HAS BEGUN

Posted by: Jeff McMenamin
10/12/12 10:41 am EST

It seems like just yesterday Andre Iguodala was sinking a free throw to send the Sixers to the Eastern Conference Semi-finals. A few months earlier, Lou Williams showed off his best Allen Iverson impression, scoring 14 points (including the last 10) in a 4^th quarter comeback to stun the Lakers at home for a monumental victory.

Or what about Elton Brand? From being lost in the shadows of the 2010-11 season, to shifting gears and having one of the best defensive seasons in his NBA career while vocally willing the Sixers to one of their most successful seasons of the past decade.

The memories are hard to forget. And, without a doubt every last one of them deserves credit for putting on their uniform every day and fighting for this organization.

You see, regardless of how ‘Dre has acted towards the Sixer coaching staff and its fans the past week, let’s take a moment and reflect on what these three men have given you all. A franchise that is relevant again. Other talented players did help out along the way, but through all the doubters (myself included towards the end of last season) these three fought night after night and gave this city and its fans a reason to believe.

The Sixers are more relevant than ever, but the current roster isn’t filled with the same familiar faces you’ve seen in the past. It’s truly hard to believe that the Sixers team which is about to embark on the 2012-13 NBA season holds only 5 of the 12 players who made their stamp in the history books last season. Everything you used to know and were used to seeing as a Sixers fan is about to change for good.

In comes a brand new game plan on both offense and defense, but with only a short month to master everything. Not only that, but there’s a huge piece missing to the puzzle. Unless you’ve fallen into a deep depression watching the Washington Nationals beat out the Phillies for a playoff spot this fall, then you should have heard that Andrew Bynum will most likely sit out all of preseason to recover from the knee “procedure” he had in Germany back in September.

This kind of a roster shakeup creates a lot of adjustments which need to be facilitated and we got our first look at how the players are adapting to those adjustments last night.

10 KEYS TO 2012-13

Posted by: Steve Toll
10/10/12 10:37 am EST

The 2012-13 season is nearly upon us and nobody has been more critical of the moves made by the 7-6′s front office this summer than myself. That being said, I believe that this team can certainly end up being a top 4 playoff seed at the end of the regular season.

In this post I will detail the 10 keys to maximizing the team’s success in 2012-13. The closer these 10 things come to happening, the better chance this team has to be elite this season. One overlooked part of the Bynum trade was how the potential minute distribution was so positively affected. Many of the keys to the season have already been detailed on this site and some are new thoughts about a successful 2013 season.

After the jump, my 10 keys to a successful 2012-13 season for the new look 76ers…

3 KEYS FOR THE KID

Posted by: Matt Swiman
09/06/12 9:42 am EST

Evan Turner the versatile, 6’7 small forward for our Philadelphia 76ers is now two years removed from the star studded career at Ohio State which enabled him to become the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. Unfortunately in his first two seasons with the Sixers Turner has not produced the star type numbers many had been expecting.

Yes we have seen flashes of brilliance, but his overall averages are actually pretty weak — 8.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. The only positive way to look at that stat line is to keep in mind that Doug Collins has only played ET and average of 24.5 minutes a game for the past two seasons. And if we are totally honest, we should also note that Collins has not done a great job of managing the still developing Turner as the coach has frequently toyed with the kid’s minutes and mind.

Year three will be a crucial season for Turner. With Andre Iguodala now in Denver, ET will have an opportunity to win a spot in the first-five for the Sixers and hopefully put together a breakout season that will be the spring board for a great NBA career. For that breakout season to happen in 2012-13 there are three things that Evan Turner needs to do this year.

RANK ‘EM

Posted by: Jeff McMenamin
09/05/12 9:37 am EST

Earlier this week, ESPN.com released players #181-200 from their rankings of the 500 NBA players (The exercise is titled #NBArank) who are most valuable to their team for the 2012-13 season. One hundred and four different basketball experts ranked the players based on a scale of 0-to-10. Some of you may remember that prior to last season these same “experts” ranked Sixers forward Lavoy Allen as the very worst player in the NBA (#500), only to apologize to Lavoy during his incredible playoff performance against Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics.

With ESPN.com’s #NBA rank receiving a great deal of attention in its second year, we thought it would be a good idea to look at where some of the 76ers have appeared in the ranking so far and make a few predictions for where the remaining members of the 7-6 will be popping up on the list.

Below are the rankings for the Sixers players who have already appeared on the 2012-13 #NBArank list:

#182 – Forward, Dorell Wright, 30 spot dip from last year’s rankings

#232 – Forward, Lavoy Allen, 268 spot leap from last year’s rankings

#332 – Center, Kwame Brown, 28 spot dip from last year’s rankings

#375 – Guard, Royal Ivey, 43 spot leap from last year’s rankings

#400 – Forward, Arnett Moultrie, first year in the rankings

PASSIONATE. INTENSE. PROUD.

Posted by: Jeff McMenamin
08/16/12 1:29 pm EST

It’s a fitting charge for an organization who has struggled with its identity over the past 25 years. Sure there have been some fine moments over that time period. Charles Barkley’s rise to stardom, Allen Iverson’s arrival, Iverson’s 2000-01 MVP season where the unlikeliest of Sixers team made a run to the NBA finals, to Andre Iguodala’s arrival. But it wasn’t until October 18^th, 2011 that the Sixers truly made their transition back to what it is the six letters read on their jerseys.

You see, this day was the first day of a new era in Sixers basketball. It was the first press conference for the teams new owners group (Joshua Harris, Adam Aron, David Blitzer, Jason Levien, Art Wrubel, Erick Thohir, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Michael G. Rubin) and it was being held at the “Cathedral of Basketball”, The Palestra. The two names out of this group that are truly responsible for all that’s happened over this ten months are Harris and Aron. Yesterday, coach Doug Collins had plenty of nice things to say about the two owners who have given this organization new life once again.

“He’s(Adam’s) reaching out to our fans. He’s got that twitter going. He’s selling more tickets. He’s finding ways to get even more fans to games by creating a great team and Josh, those two guys what they’ve meant to me has just been how special it is to be a part of this and really watch it grow.” said coach Collins. “Just seeing Josh’s face light up there today was a great thing because I remember Josh’s press conference up at the Palestra and how shy he was. You know I don’t think you realize how shy he was and kind of got up there and tried to feel it all out. “

“When he was standing up there today and you could feel how proud he was. He was saying you know ‘we are the Sixers’ and I was telling Adam the first time I met him the same thing, ‘we are the Sixers’. This is a proud franchise. We don’t need to bow our head down or hang our heads to anybody. We’re the Sixers.”

AN ODE TO DRE

Posted by: Steve Toll
08/13/12 11:59 am EST

Words don’t do justice when speaking about great players. Andre Iguodala is a player who knows that as well as any. He is going to be in the basketball Hall of Fame someday. Basketball is about production and few players in NBA history have produced like Andre Iguodala through 8 seasons.

Dre spent years here playing for fans who didn’t appreciate his on court ability and called him overpaid. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Andre you were the most under appreciated player in franchise history. You deserve to be mentioned with Chamberlain, Malone, Barkley, Dr. J and Iverson. Unfortunately, you were stuck with teammates, haters, owners and front office guys who didn’t live up to their end of the bargain while you gave it your all for 8 seasons.

The words don’t do you justice but the numbers certainly do.

	Thaddeus Young, SF 37 MIN \| 3-9 FG \| 1-2 FT \| 6 REB \| 0 AST \| 7 PTS \| +1 Thad had his hands full with Anderson Varejao and was invisible for most of the night. Next to Detroit, his worst performance so far.
	Evan Turner, SG 40 MIN \| 8-12 FG \| 2-2 FT \| 6 REB \| 9 AST \| 19 PTS \| +10 Wow. Just a superlative performance by ET. His shot was falling early (he was 5-of-7 at the half ), and as it often does, it galvanized him. He chipped in six rebounds (all in the second half) and a career high nine-assists.
	Kwame Brown, C 9 MIN \| 0-0 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 0 REB \| 0 AST \| 0 PTS \| -8 “Kwame Brown is just a big body” I think I remember Mark Zumoff tossing off at some point. That was the best you could say about him tonight.
	Jrue Holiday, PG 37 MIN \| 6-14 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 4 REB \| 9 AST \| 14 PTS \| +5 From the first quarter onward, Jrue scored 11 points with six assists against a single turnover and held Kyrie Irving to two points on 1-of-8 shooting. He was, obviously, tremendous defensively. His strip of Kyrie with 1:50 left was the icing on the cake.
	Jason Richardson, SG 34 MIN \| 5-14 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 9 REB \| 3 AST \| 12 PTS \| +5 Another very good, very balanced performance by the guy who’s been, so far, the best piece the Sixers landed in the Iguodala trade. Feels like it’s been ages since the Sixers had a consistent veteran perimeter threat, doesn’t it?
	Lavoy Allen, PF 22 MIN \| 0-5 FG \| 2-2 FT \| 3 REB \| 3 AST \| 2 PTS \| +12 After a pair of encouraging performances against the Pistons and Jazz (24 points and 14 rebounds in total) LA returned to form against the Cavs.
	Dorell Wright, SF 12 MIN \| 1-4 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 4 REB \| 1 AST \| 3 PTS \| -7 After an occasionally terrific start to the season (better than advertised defensively; intermittently explosive on O) Wright seems to have found his way back into Doug Collins’ doghouse. He’s played just 17 minutes combined the last two games after never playing fewer than 20 in the first eight. Someone please explain this to me.
	Spencer Hawes, C 28 MIN \| 5-13 FG \| 3-4 FT \| 9 REB \| 1 AST \| 14 PTS \| +9 Spence was an assassin down the stretch on Sunday, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter with a pair of blocked shots and a 3-pointer for good measure. Each time the Cavs threatened, he did something improbable and helpful.
	Royal Ivey, PG 6 MIN \| 1-3 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 0 REB \| 1 AST \| 2 PTS \| +3 Everyone’s least favorite backup point guard scored just a bucket, but it was a big one. With the Cavs charging early in the fourth he scored a layup off an Evan Turner assist to push the Sixer lead back to seven.
	Nick Young, SG 16 MIN \| 5-6 FG \| 1-2 FT \| 0 REB \| 0 AST \| 13 PTS \| +5 It was falling tonight. Swaggy was in the midst of his best performance of the season until what’s been reported as a “dizzy” spell took him from the game. He scored ten of his 13 in 11 very good first half minutes.

	Lavoy Allen, PF 17 MIN \| 1-5 FG \| 1-2 FT \| 4 REB \| 0 AST \| 3 PTS \| -1Disappointing start to his sophomore season. After a very solid rookie season and an even better postseason run, LA was invisible for most of Wednesday’s opener.
	Thaddeus Young, SF 36 MIN \| 6-12 FG \| 1-3 FT \| 5 REB \| 1 AST \| 13 PTS \| +18Thad, in the starting role he’s been clamoring for, played capably. He stayed around the basket and was, in the context of a game where less than 160 points were scored, a playmaker on the offensive end.
	Jrue Holiday, PG 41 MIN \| 5-16 FG \| 4-5 FT \| 6 REB \| 11 AST \| 14 PTS \| +8Jrue, rewarded after the game with a 4-year $41-million contract extension, played capable quarterback against a point guard that many (okay, me) wished the Sixers had drafted ahead of him. He had 11 dimes against just three turnovers and, with the Sixers lead down to 71-70 mid fourth period, made a three-point-pay that bulwarked the Denver charge.
	Jason Richardson, SG 37 MIN \| 4-13 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 4 REB \| 2 AST \| 10 PTS \| +7While, after a pair of early 3-pointers, his stroke was off, Richardson played sound, surprisingly so, defense.
	Evan Turner, SF 28 MIN \| 2-7 FG \| 1-1 FT \| 6 REB \| 2 AST \| 5 PTS \| +10The Kid, in a season where he has a lot on the line, financially and professionally, got off to a dud of a start. He disappeared for stretches, and when he reappeared it didn’t mark an improvement. He was 0-for-5 in shots that he took more than three feet away from the bucket.
	Spencer Hawes, PF 31 MIN \| 6-11 FG \| 2-2 FT \| 12 REB \| 2 AST \| 16 PTS \| +10Spence was simply a revelation. Looking like Pau Gasol 2.0, the recently benched big—mullet flowing gloriously behind him (business in the front, Tea Party in the back)—was superb inside and outside. He blocked five shots (!?!), buried a pair of 3-pointers (he’s now one shy of matching last season’s total) and was pinpoint from midrange. Seeing him play alongside Bynum is going to be fun.
	Dorell Wright, SF 28 MIN \| 3-12 FG \| 6-6 FT \| 7 REB \| 0 AST \| 14 PTS \| -1I thought he was fantastic. Though his shot tapered off as the game wore on, he got to the line and played great help defense. He also made a fantastic hustle play, stripping Corey Brewer from behind while he galloped toward an unguarded hoop. Rumor has it he was in Collins’ dog house during camp. Looks like Collins’ dog can start sleeping in his own bed again.
	Nick Young, SG 19 MIN \| 3-9 FG \| 2-2 FT \| 3 REB \| 0 AST \| 9 PTS \| -6Swaggy P brought a little too much swag and not quite enough P to the floor last night (P stands for “prudence” right?). He was as advertised. Energy: high. Shots: wild. Fro: glorious.