LEARNING FROM HISTORY

Posted by: Jake Fischer
04/26/13 9:54 am EST

Growing up in the late 90s and early 00s, I developed an affinity for the Cartoon Network program, Ed, Edd n Eddy. The animated show featured three boys who wrecked havoc on their parents and really just lived their daily lives in their cul-de-sac kooky pandemonium.

Thus, when the 76ers, who were then led by Chairman Ed Snider and General Manager Ed Stefanski, fired former head coach Eddie Jordan, I wrote a crafty blog post that constructed a conspiracy on how Ed Stefanski and Eddie Jordan in 2010 (who had been friends from their days with the New Jersey Nets) worked to derail this dilapidated organization.

Now, looking back on my adolescence, and knowing what I now know about the NBA, I realize that the only legitimate conspiracies in the League only involve officiating and injuries. However, I still truthfully believe that the Ed, Ed and Eddie era of the Sixers set back this organization to where they are now.

TOP PRIORITY: A GM

Posted by: Jake Fischer
04/22/13 11:17 am EST

If there is anything the eight Game 1s of the 2013 NBA Playoffs taught us, besides that home court actually does matter in the NBA, it’s that whichever team has the better players wins. It’s a simple as that. Thus, it make sense for the 76ers to start their rebuilding process by focusing their attention on getting the best players on the court, right?

Wrong.

This, if anything, the troublesome Sixers ownership and management group must start this off-season by making key off-the-court decisions before they can start looking to solve their on-the-court issues. The Sixers brass must find a smart general manager who can run this franchise correctly.

Recent NBA history has proven this method can be very successful.

THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER

Posted by: Jake Fischer
04/18/13 2:09 pm EST

All good things must come to an end.

But, unfortunately for the 76ers organization and its fans, their immaculate 2012-2013 season came to an end before it ever began.

In August, the Sixers introduced their addition of Andrew Bynum — and, oh yeah, Jason Richardson — at the Constitution Center in front of a raucous crowd. But, before Bynum could even get through hinting at signing a 5-year max extension, he stopped in his tracks.

Then, as all of Philadunkia was imagining Bynum backing down the likes of Roy Hibbert, Joakim Noah and Tyson Chandler before turning them into a poster, the team announced that Bynum would be undergoing surgery on his knees and going to Germany.

We all know he would go on to never suit up in a Sixers uniform outside of a photo shoot. We all know he participated in less practices than his jersey number, 33. We all remember his parade of ridiculous hairdos and his romantic long walks on a freakishly expensive anti-gravity treadmill. His season, and maybe his career in Philly, was over before it even had a chance to commence.

TONIGHT IS THE END MY FRIEND

Posted by: C. Smith
04/17/13 10:27 am EST

On Monday night after the 76ers had lost their 48th game of the year, Spencer “Double-Double” Hawes was asked by the Sixers beat media about the final game of the season tonight in Indianapolis.

Hawes said, “It is just going to be good to get it over with. With all the expectations we had coming in and then the way the season has gone it will be nice to take the positives going forward and flush the rest of it. It was a tough year on everybody; us; the fans, anyone involved with the organization.”

Here at Philadunkia, we couldn’t agree more with Spence’s words and after the jump I compiled a list of items from the 2012-13 season that I am happy to see coming to an end.

FORMER SIXERS UNITE

Posted by: Steve Toll
04/16/13 2:52 pm EST

How good would a team comprised of former 76ers players currently active in the NBA be?

It’s an interesting question in what has been an interesting season to say the least. So, let’s take a look at the possibilities.

We will use the current salaries of every player and keep under $60,000,000. Elton Brand will not be included because he was amnestied and would prefer jail in Siberia to being on a hypothetical former 76ers roster. Each player would essentially be a clone of himself and injuries are a part of things in this exercise.

Head Coach: Aaron McKie

Asst Coach: Eric Snow

PG: Lou Williams, Andre Miller; $10,000,000

SG: Thabo Sefolosha, Kyle Korver, Jodie Meeks; $10,100,000

SF: Andre Iguodala, Matt Barnes, Mo Harkless; $17,900,000

PF: Marreese Speights, Reggie Evans; $5,800,000

C: Nik Vucevic, Samuel Dalembert; $8,400,000

BYE, BYE DOUG

Posted by: Philadunkia
04/15/13 11:57 am EST

In addition to winning back-to-back games and further damaging the franchise’s 2013 NBA Draft Lottery position, the Sixers also stirred up a bunch of drama over the weekend.

First their were the reports based on “sources” that the 76ers ownership group was eager to have head coach Doug Collins simply walk away at the end of this season. Of course those rumors / reports were later denied and discounted by other reports from “sources” within the Sixers organization. Adam Aron stated that the Sixers wanted Collins back in 2013-14. Collins himself refused to comment on any of the reports when pressed on the topic on Friday night in Washington, DC.

Then late last night, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports “broke” the worst kept secret in Philadelphia when he reported that Doug has informed Sixers ownership that he in fact intends to resign at the end of this season. Yahoo is also noting that the Sixers ownership group and Doug’s lawyers are working on a buyout for the final year of DC’s contract.

So, DC is out of here. Which is something we said weeks ago would happen at the end of this season.

Our opinions on the decision after the jump.

GM 80: (B2B W’s) RAPID REACTS

Posted by: Jake Fischer
04/14/13 8:08 pm EST

Cleveland Cavaliers

FinalRecap | Box Score

Philadelphia 76ers

	Thaddeus Young, SF 33 MIN \| 5-11 FG \| 4-6 FT \| 9 REB \| 4 AST \| 3 STL \| 0 BLK \| 2 TO \| 14 PTS \| +22Another game, more hustle and effectiveness out of Thad. This guy just competes every single night and every single play. While he’s undersized at the PF, his heart lets him play like he’s three inches taller. This guy should be a starter in Philadelphia until he retires.
	Evan Turner, SF 31 MIN \| 3-10 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 6 REB \| 4 AST \| 0 STL \| 1 BLK \| 1 TO \| 7 PTS \| +18Turner did a great job rebounding the ball today, but he again put up another dreadful shooting performance. At this point of the season, you would think Turner would be balling out to try and spark a contract extension discussion. But, that’s just not happening.
	Spencer Hawes, C 36 MIN \| 6-11 FG \| 1-2 FT \| 5 REB \| 6 AST \| 2 STL \| 4 BLK \| 2 TO \| 14 PTS \| +20Spence had a solid game offensively, but he was seemingly nowhere to be found on the glass. Of the 76ers’ 39 team rebounds, Hawes only had 5 and he’s by far the tallest on the roster.
	Jrue Holiday, PG 32 MIN \| 6-17 FG \| 1-1 FT \| 5 REB \| 4 AST \| 1 STL \| 0 BLK \| 2 TO \| 14 PTS \| +21Jrue continues to struggle shooting the ball, but I’m giving him an A+ for being the only Sixer to recognize the need to tank! With each missed shot, it’s as if Jrue is screaming, “I need some help! Give me a high pick!”
	Damien Wilkins, SG 30 MIN \| 5-9 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 4 REB \| 2 AST \| 1 STL \| 0 BLK \| 0 TO \| 11 PTS \| +10At 33 years old, for Wilkins to go out and play 30 min, shoot 56.5 percent from the field and hit the glass is phenomenal. We all know this Sixers team needs a veteran locker room presence with their large crop of young players. Adam Aron should really think about retaining this savvy vet.
	Arnett Moultrie, PF 24 MIN \| 5-6 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 6 REB \| 0 AST \| 0 STL \| 0 BLK \| 3 TO \| 10 PTS \| -10With more minutes comes more production from Moultrie. This young man knows how to play around the basket and plays hard. He had three offensive rebounds and also was extremely efficient. But, he does need to keep the turnovers down.
	Dorell Wright, SF 25 MIN \| 6-13 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 2 REB \| 4 AST \| 1 STL \| 1 BLK \| 1 TO \| 15 PTS \| -4Is Wright playing for a new contract? Over his last five games, the sharpshooter is averaging 11.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game — both well above his season averages. This team needs efficient role players and he could potentially be one.
	Lavoy Allen, C 4 MIN \| 0-2 FG \| 0-0 FT \| 1 REB \| 0 AST \| 0 STL \| 1 BLK \| 0 TO \| 0 PTS \| -4He said he didn’t learn anything during his first two seasons under Doug Collins. Maybe he learned something while he was sitting on the bench.
	Justin Holiday, SG 26 MIN \| 2-7 FG \| 1-2 FT \| 1 REB \| 3 AST \| 1 STL \| 2 BLK \| 1 TO \| 6 PTS \| -3Justin went out there and had fun. You can tell he’s trying to make the most of his opportunity with this franchise and he’s bringing great energy. That’s all you could ask for from a guy in his situation.
	Kwame Brown, C DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN \| FG \| FT \| REB \| AST \| STL \| BLK \| TO \| PTS \| Great hustle out there, big guy!
	Charles Jenkins, PG DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN \| FG \| FT \| REB \| AST \| STL \| BLK \| TO \| PTS \| In a blowout game this late in the season, you would have liked to see Jenkins get some run here. But this is clearly a Holiday town.
	Royal Ivey, PG DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN \| FG \| FT \| REB \| AST \| STL \| BLK \| TO \| PTS \| Ivey has now played 3 minutes in the past 4 games. He’s come along way from throwing the game-ending turnover against Milwaukee back in February.
	Nick Young, SG DNP COACH’S DECISION MIN \| FG \| FT \| REB \| AST \| STL \| BLK \| TO \| PTS \| Swaggy P has just dealt with injuries all season long. Hopefully he can get healthy over this summer and prove to another team he’s worthy of a contract.
	Doug Collins He played both Moultrie and Holiday (the younger half) for at least half of the game. He also has handled the pressure and rumors of his fate with this team very well. For that, I’m giving old Collins his first A from me…. ever.

IS the WIZ’S FUTURE BRIGHTER??

Posted by: Steve Toll
04/12/13 5:22 pm EST

Heading into tonight’s game, the 76ers face a Washington Wizards team that has a similar record and future outlook going forward, if you are only looking at things on the surface.

As you peek down the rabbit hole, that judgement seems wrong. It also depends on how you are looking at things as well as your opinion on what you want out of a bright future.

Since it seems obvious that the 76ers aren’t going to tank in 2013-14 for Wiggins, there is no doubt that Washington is right now in a better place than the 76ers.

D…C-YA

Posted by: Jake Fischer
04/11/13 1:16 pm EST

According to an online report today, citing multiple league sources, the 76ers organization privately hopes that coach Doug Collins decides not to return for the 2013-14 season and, regardless of his decision, it does not intend to extend his contract – which has one year remaining, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported late Wednesday morning.

Thus, the Sixers are hoping that Collins, who has never lasted more than three seasons at the helm of an NBA franchise, walks away from the organization all on his own.

And, boy, would many dedicated and knowledgeable fans in Philadunkia be more than eager to throw him a retirement party down South Street.

GM 78: (B2B TANKS) RAPID REACTS

Posted by: C. Smith
04/11/13 9:31 am EST

Atlanta Hawks

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