It was a tough end to the Orland Pro Summer League for the 76ers, who lost their fourth game of the week to the Detroit Pistons 71-67 this afternoon.

The Sixers were once again led by big man Devin Searcy who recorded his second straight double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

It was a total team effort early on for the 7-6, with seven different players scoring in a first quarter that had the Sixers leading 24-18.  The full effort was epitomized by coach Aaron McKie’s five-man rotation.

“We just wanted to even the minutes out,” McKie said.  “I wasn’t going to sit over there and wreck my brain.  Towards the end of the week guys start to get tired, and they try to tell you they’re good but I can see out on the floor they’re not.”

Lavoy Allen got off to a nice start for the Sixers and finished with six points and four rebounds.  Justin Holiday only had two points in the first half and finished with five for the game on a tough 1-8 shooting performance.  It was clear that some players were losing their legs a bit.

After a wonderful performance yesterday Searcy once again made his best pitch for the 76ers roster.  The former Dayton Flyer not only recorded a double-double but added three blocks while playing good defense against Andre Drummond, the ninth overall pick in this year’s Draft.

 
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Eight years ago, the Orlando Pro Summer League was created as a chance for rookie draft picks to get acclimated to their new NBA setting.  Over time the summer league evolved into redemption ground for once successful college players who had become overseas journeymen.  Today I would argue that summer league is suited best for second year NBA players looking to improve their game.  These participants were normally reserves in their rookie season in the League and spent most of last year trying to adjust to the pro level.  Therefore, at an event like the Orlando Pro Summer League, second year NBA players are ready to dominate as their year of seasoning gives them an advantage over most international players and certainly over the NBA rookies who are just tipping off their adjustment period.  

After a week of watching the action in Orlando, I have composed a power rankings list of the best five players from the OPSL and as you will see, my list is heavy on second year NBA guys.

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After a week of summer league basketball in Orlando, the Philadelphia 76ers have a better understanding of where they stand – sort of.  

The 76ers saw some progression in it’s current roster players and got some live action practicing head coach Doug Collins philosophies.  But the Sixers top pick Evan Turner was average — that’s being extremely nice — and no one on Philadelphia’s bench really proved worthy of a training camp invite.  As a result, the Sixers finished 2-3 during the week. 

If Sixers fans didn’t realize the potential of Jrue Holiday, they do now.  Philadelphia’s 20-year-old point guard proved to Coach Doug Collins that he can be “the quarterback of the offense.”  Holiday played in just three games during the week but averaged 19.3 ppg, 6 assists per game and only 2 turnovers per contest.  Holiday started to turn the corner in the second half last season and it’s always encouraging when a second year player is able to have his way against summer league competition.  Holiday won’t be asked to score as much in the regular season but it was good to see him shoot 47.4% on 38 shots. Jrue routinely was able to get to the basket and will be starting for the Sixers from day one in 2010-11.

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It’s hard to judge a basketball team playing a 10 AM game with just 8 active guys on the roster, but the 76ers looked rather sloppy in their 29 point defeat (88-59) Friday morning which was the Sixers final game of the 2010 OPSL.  It was the squad’s third straight loss. 

For the first time all week though, Evan Turner was the Sixers leading scorer with 13 points and 6 rebounds.  Turner was 4-of-10 from the field and was often handling the ball as a point guard in the second half.  Turner admittedly had a frustrating week, and he wore those emotions on his sleeve.

“This was the best eight days of Evan’s life because he understands the level now that you have to be at competitively and in shape to play this game.  He’ll go from here until the end of September to do what’s necessary.” said Collins.

Collins all week analyzed why some lottery picks—like Derrick Rose a few years back—struggle in the summer league.  Collins said that agents go out of their way to make sure players don’t get hurt, mainly by limiting their client from playing five-on-five.  “He’s 90 days behind in his conditioning, he’ll catch up and he’ll be fine.”

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The Thunder built a big lead in the first half, then held on late and in the end handed the 76ers their first loss of the week (89-80).  The Thunder took advantage of their opportunities from the charity stripe, especially in the first half when they knocked down 20 free throws to the 76ers seven.

The game got off to a slow start as five minutes into the game each team had only scored six points.  Giving the Thunder a huge lift in the 1^stquarter was Latavious Williams.  Williams finished with seven points and a blocked shot in the first quarter, en route to a ten point, five rebound, three blocked shot performance for the Thunder.  Williams, who was the first NBA Development League player to be drafted out of high school, impressed many in Orlando with the energy he brings off the bench.  The Texas native has a real chance to make a NBA roster, with his athleticism (as you can see by the dunk he threw down last night), ability to fill the stat sheet and affect games in so many areas.

Evan Turner continued to struggle for the 76ers.  The second overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft was held scoreless in the first half and only finished with four points.  The former Ohio State Buckeye did have an impact on the game in other areas, hauling in eight rebounds and handing out two assists.  Through three games in the OPSL, Turner is averaging a mere 9.7 points a game while shooting 35 percent from the field (8 of 23).  Before Phillaunkia nation starts freaking out over Turner’s slow start, head coach Doug Collins tells fans to be patient with the rookie.

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No Lebron?  No Wade? Not Even Amare or Bosh?  Unlike Eastern Conference foes Miami, Chicago and the New York Knicks, our Philadelphia 76ers do not have the luxury of cap space [$64.3 million owed; which is currently over the projected $56.1 million luxury tax cap].

So instead of acquiring a big name free agent, the Sixers must utilize the mid-level exception to help bolster a frontcourt that is in desperate need of a rebounding and shot-blocking presence.

Just a couple of days before the 2010 NBA Draft, general manager Ed Stefanski pulled the trigger on a deal that sent starting center Samuel Dalmbert to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for small forward Andres Nocioni and 7-foot-1 center Spencer Hawes.  Most fans were giddy about trading the whining, under performing center because of deficiencies on the offensive end and his general demeanor about being a 76er.  However the trade punched a big whole in the Sixers frontcourt.

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While Ed Stefanski searches the Las Vegas desert for players to fill out the Sixers roster, the rumor mill is alive with moves the Sixres may or may not be considering.

Most of the rumors involve who will play point guard for the Sixers in 2009-10 or at least who will back up Louis Williams.  One name we are not hearing that we’d like to see given some attention is former UConn star and current NBA disappointment Marcus Williams who just got finished tearing up the NBA Summer League.  Also we are not hearing Ramon Sessions name connected with rumors surrounding the Sixers and that’s very disappointing as well.

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When it comes to the 2008-09 Philadelphia 76ers, one of the biggest mysteries for us here at Philadunkia is NOT the head coaching change or the stubborn commitment to play Andre Iguodala at the 2-spot or the enigma that is Samuel Dalembert.

 No for us one of the biggest eyebrow raisers from the Sixers last season is the Kareem Rush saga.  And by “saga” what we bluntly mean to say is, “What the hell happened with Kareem Rush last season?”

 Well, Philadunkia contributor James Kaikis caught up with Rush at the NBA Summer League out in Las Vegas and here’s what Rush had to say on the topic.

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Since the 76ers only have 10 players under contract and they usually carry 14 players, Ed Stefanski admitted that he is in the market for “a guard, a swingman, and two bigs” .  Now we don’t know whether Stefanski classifies the 2-spot as a swingman or a guard, but we’ll assume that either way he realizes we need to find someone to compete with Jason Kapono and Willie Green for the starting shooting guard spot.

The pool of available veteran free agent shooting guards has dwindled to the point that names like Eddie House, Juan Dixon, Devean George and Quinton Richardson are the headliners.  Now we realize that both Von Wafer (HOU) and Ronald “Flip” Murray (ATL) are two more attractive names that are also out there, but our sources tell us they are unlikely to leave the teams the ran with last season, thus we removed them from the conversation. So it looks as though bringing in a veteran NBA 2-guard here to Philadelphia for next year is not going to happen.

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The Sixers/Nets dropped to 0-5 in the OPSL as the Boston Celtics picked up the victory, 92-79, behind strong play from Nick Fazekas.

There were significantly less people at Friday’s contest compared to the rest of the week; not only onlookers, but players too.

With only seven players dressed for the “Scrapple” (see yesterday’s recap in case you missed the name change) and eight available for the Celtics, all the players still here in Florida got plenty of playing time.

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