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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Usually on nights following  an epic collapse, the 76ers would struggle out of the opening gates, forcing up shots and playing sluggish defense.  But Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center was a different story.  The 76ers scored 32 first quarter points, never came close to relinquishing the lead and defeated the Bobcats 109-91 for Philadelphia’s third win in their last four games.

You mean to tell me the 76ers actually held onto a halftime lead?!  Yes, yes they did.  Philadelphia’s superb help defense, protecting the basketball (only 11 turnovers) and spreading of the rock (23 assists to Charlotte’s 16) helped nearly every 76er get involved in the action.  But all of these components of Saturday night’s winning formula have to take a backseat to the 76ers new starting shooting guard.

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What do you do when you’ve just wrapped up your worst season in a decade, fired your head coach, and traded your starting center for two guys with tons of “upside”?          

You throw a Beach Party of course!          

On Saturday, July 31^st at Jack’s Place in Avalon the Sixers hosted the 2010 version of their annual Beach Bash.         

Here was the scene: A bar/restaurant in one corner, a parking lot with a signing tent and stage and a few inflatable-bounce-pits in the other.  It was really hot and Evan Turner was in the house.          

The attention of the crowd was heavily focused on Turner and everybody cheered loudly when the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 Draft was introduced.  All-in-all a pretty exciting moment.  After allowing him a beat to soak in some adulation (which I think contains Vitamin D), his handlers led him to the autograph table and he went to work at the small-ball of fan pleasing, signing and smiling.  And stayed at it.  Patient guy.          

While I was angling to talk to Turner, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren took the podium and addressed the crowd.  He shared with them some specifics on the Flyers and some platitudes about building a winner. I turned around to see if Ed Stefanski was listening.  He wasn’t.          

When Holmgren was through, I asked him a few Sixers questions while a PR rep looked at us quizzically.  He expects 31 wins for the Sixers this year, 17 ppg for Evan Turner, and thinks AI9 will finish the year in a Sixers uniform.  Write it down.           

But back to the order of the day.  After Turner shot a Kia commercial, signed more autographs, and shook hands with all the people his handlers gently demanded he shake hands with, I got a chance to talk for a few minutes with the belle of the ball.          

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Yesterday, 76ers General Manager Ed Stefanski called into the Tony Bruno & Harry Mayes Show on 97.5 “The Fanatic”.   It’s the first time Ed has addressed the state of the franchise as a whole in a very long time and he had some interesting things to say, so we though we would provide you with a little recap.

To be honest Bruno & Mayes dropped the ball big time in this interview.  It’s obvious that neither of “The Fanatic” hosts have a deep knowledge of the current state of the 76ers as they didn’t know that the Stefanski has the $5 million mid level exception available to him so he has the ability to add a free agent to the roster for 2010-11.  Additionally, Bruno & Mayes asked to many “national” questions including several on the Lebron James to Miami drama and did not keep the interview focused on the 2010-11 Sixers, a topic on which we could have interviewed Ed on for hours.    

After the jump is a breakdown of Ed’s answers to Bruno & Mayes questions.   

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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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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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Philadelphia shooting guard Jodie Meeks was consistently scoring all night; ending with 18 points and helping his Sixers coast past Boston by 17 points (86-69).

“I’ve been getting in a rhythm and playing my game.  I’m not focusing all on scoring this week, but just getting better as a whole.” Meeks said.  Meeks added 2 steals and after two games is the 76ers leading scorer with an 18 ppg.

“Jodie could be a very explosive player off the bench for us.  The way we’re playing defensively really suits his style. He has very good instincts, he closes out very well and he disrupts passing lanes,” said a pleased Philadelphia head coach Doug Collins.  “I told Jodie that coming off the bench you have to be a high percentage shooter and you have to make minimal mistakes.  Those are things he does.”

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The matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Nets was the game many NBA experts had pegged as the must see matchup from the 2010 Orlando Pro Summer League.

The game had quite a few different storylines.  First and foremost it was the debut of Sixers guard Evan Turner and Nets forward Derrick Favors, both top three picks.  Of course both teams also made coaching changes, both hiring former television analysts; Doug Collins (TNT) to Philadelphia and Avery Johnson (ESPN) to New Jersey.

 But instead it was Philadelphia point guard Jrue Holiday who stole the show Monday night, scoring 23 points and dishing out 8 assists.

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The 76ers announced yesterday that they have added five players to their 2010 Orlando Pro Summer League roster.  Among the additions were two former NBA Draft picks: Ndudi (“Indy”) Ebi (pic at left), a first-round draft choice of the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2003 and Trent Plaisted, a 6-11 second-round pick in 2008 by the franchise formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics. 

Rounding out the roster are three prospects with local ties : former Xavier big man Jason Love who played his high school ball at Abington Friends; former Temple scoring machine Ryan Brooks and LaSalle’s Vernon Goodridge.

More details and a few comments after the jump.

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