Just when you thought the Sixers' growing pains were over, they go and drop a game to Orlando then lay a total egg in Boston. I watched the Orlando game and watching Andre Miller hoist a three from 40 feet out with 3 seconds on the clock was just maddening. I must say that I don't think that what we're seeing is simply growing pains. The roster is simply missing certain pieces and will eventually be in need of a minor renovation.
I know that it sounds like I'm just being a typical negadelphian, trashing on a team with hot young talent and a splashy new free agent that has simply not yet gelled. But watching this team--not the results, but the play of the team--it's pretty clear that, in the least, it's in need of a legitimate 3-point shooter whose name isn't Kareem Rush or Willie Green. With a player like Brand who gets double teamed in the high post so much having good shooters is essential. The fact that the 80 million dollar man Iguodala looks like Darius Miles out on the perimeter bricking open 3 after open 3 is cause for concern. Iguodala is not a shooter, never was, may never be. But his game is looking woefully lacking after four years of looking like an uber-stud.
My main feeling is that there's too much duplication on the Sixers roster and some key elements missing. For one, I'm in agreement with my main man Licky Boom that the team has clearly veered away from what made it successful last year: an aggressive fast-break style of basketball.
The team has sadly become a halfcourt team wherein, at best, Andre Miller feeds it to Brand for a 15-footer and, at worst, Brand gets doubled and kicks it out to Iguodala for a high-arching brick-of-a-3 complete with a scissor kick. But there's more than style to the problems; though I do agree that a change in style would solve a lot.
The other issue seems to be personnel. Either we don't have the right mix of players or Mo Cheeks isn't using the players we have correctly. For example, let's look at our vaunted starting line-up. Dalembert and Brand both try to scoop rebounds, block shots, and play 10-feet from the basket. Brand is much more skilled and mobile; but they do seem to be getting mixed up in each other's business. Then you've got Young and Iguodala, neither of whom can shoot particularly well, both of whom would like to take it to the rack, and both of whom are about the same size with similar games (though, yes, Young is oozing with potential and Iggy should be the team's defensive stopper). Finally, there's Andre Miller, who I'm down on lately. He is a solid point who can definitely feed the post and make good decisions. But, he's just not making good choices lately. He shoots way too much. He's a slower, more steady PG than you want on a running team--I think he'd fit Indiana's style better--and, along with everyone else, he likes shooting from 15-feet-and-in. In light of no one being able to shoot from far and Brand being an excellent post player that demands double teams, Mo has moved to using Willie Green and Kareem Rush as the teams three-point-specialists, when really Rush should be playing only a bit part and Green is better served as being a change-of-pace 1 or 2. Lou Williams and Marreese Speights, two guys with great promise, largely duplicate what's already there. Speights is a great back-up 4 and Williams is a decent ball-hog-ish 1/2 with the ability to drive to the hole.
Watching a team like Orlando with Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis raining 3s made me wonder at the brilliance of the Magic GM... he actually put together some pieces that work together. Ed Stefanski has given us some great players... and I think this team as is still has great potential. But I don't think the future of this team should include Andre Miller at the PG. Lou or Willie Green, though I'm not the biggest fan of either, would be better for the pace that the team wants to go in and if we could swap Andre for maybe another Miller named Mike, we'd have a much better-looking offense.
Of course, we could all hold our collective breath and wait for Thaddeus Young to heat up again, Sam Dalembert to start blocking shots like a madman, Elton Brand to hit his stride, Andre Miller '08 to become Andre Miller '07, and Andre Iguodala to live up to his huge contract. It could happen. It does take time for teams to gel. But 7-9 is 7-9. For a team with expectations, last place in a division that includes the Knicks and the Nets shouldn't invite complacency. In the least the starting line-up needs to be shaken up. Perhaps Young should come off the bench and Green should start. Or Dalembert should sit in favor of a leaner, meaner 5 comprised of Miller, Green/Williams, Iggy, Young, and Brand. Or maybe it should be Green, Iguodala, Young, Speights, and Brand. Or maybe just maybe we need to make a deal.
Lou Williams dumps it into Elton Brand who dishes to Thaddeus Young who makes the extra pass to.... Mike Miller for a big 3. Sounds nice, doesn't it?
4 comments:
I agree and think that we need to bring Young off the bench. He and Iguodala are just too similar - they have the same strength and weaknesses. I see Lou Williams developing into a Ben Gordon type player. Obviously this could pose a problem defensively, but if Lou could become a better shooter he could start alongside Andre Miller and move Iguodala to SF.
If you're suggesting switching out Miller for Lou or Willie to run the point, I must disagree. I like Lou and i'd rather have him running point than Willie, but he's not ready and you know this. And Willie's not quick enough. Are either known for their passing game? Are you mad? Yes, this team needs to run again and they need legitimate, reliable perimeter shooting. Mike Miller would be fantastic! Iggy is obviously not a shooter and NEVER will be. We are super young and athletic -- let's not trap ourselves in a half-court offense -- it doesn't play to our strengths. It's obvious this should be a running team, but we need a speedy, savvy, penetrating PG. I agree that Andre Miller is not the answer. I like KYLE LOWRY (yes, i'm serious) from Grizzlies -- they have a glut of guards. RUN, RUN, RUN! PUSH THE PACE! Lowry and Mike Miller would fill out this team nicely... and that's not asking too much.
I'm all in favor of moving Dalembert to the bench - his decision making is terrible. No matter how many jeff rulands/moses malones they bring in they'll never make him into a basketball player. Yes, Iguodala is shooting for shit and turning the ball over left and right, but let's hope it's just a slump. I think by allstar break he might get back on track. Pulling Thad for Lou Will is an interesting thought, but considering Thad is pretty much our best player right now, it's hard to justify pulling him. Yes, clearly we need a shooter. Ironic that dealing Kyle Korver got the team going and now it'd be nice to have him back. Lets get Doniel Marshall in there!
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