Sixers are Just Bad

A season that began with high hopes has now deteriorated into damage control. Elton Brand is out for a few weeks. Mo Cheeks is out for good. The ball won't go in the hole. The team isn't in sync. Last year's team that exceeded low expectations has been replaced by a squad that can't meet high ones.

What went wrong? What needs to be changed?

There are 3 schools on the subject:

1. The first school holds that the team just needs time to acquaint itself with Elton Brand. Like last year, it needs to adjust midseason, learn how to run, and then it will once again become a force. If you adhere to this school you see a lot of promise in outlet passes by Brand and Dalembert leading to Young and Iguodala and Williams dunks. You also have to be hoping that the Sixers D will improve.

2. The second school--held by most fans I've encountered--states that the Sixers are a good squad in desperate need of a shooter or two. Add a bit of an outside threat to the present mix and you'll have a solid playoff team. Plug in Wally Szczerbiak or Daniel Gibson instead of Kareem Rush and Donyell Marshall, and you've got a much-improved team. Many who adhere to this view see Andre Iguodala as a 3, who should slide over when the shooter-whose-better-than-Willie-Green joins the team to play the 2. The big problem with this scenario is: where does Thaddeus Young play? The best answer: he plays the 4 and Brand slides to the 5 while Dalembert comes off the bench. Alternatively, Young could back-up both forward positions.

3. The third school is the most truly negadelphian. It says that the Sixers--despite having a roster full of promise--are poorly composed and poorly assembled. Andre Iguodala is not a shooting guard in any way. It was a big mistake to give him a huge contract in the summer. Andre Miller is not the point guard of the future. Pieces like Brand, Dalembert, and Miller don't fit with pieces like Young and Williams. There's too much duplication on the roster: Brand-Dalembert-Speights give you the same thing. Iguodala and Young give you the same thing. And why does a team need two undersized two guards (Green and Williams) coming off the bench--with a third (Rush) waiting in the wings while a fourth (Ivey) sits? The extra baggage needs to be cleaned out so that the team will be more dynamic and versatile. Keep Young, Speights, and Williams. Keep Brand. Get rid of Iguodala, Dalembert, Rush, Green, and potentially Miller. That would mean some serious house-cleaning and definitely taking a big step back (losing vets like Iggy and Dalembert would make the team very young) before any forward-steps could be taken.

Those are the 3 schools......we'll have to see what happens next....

Mo Needs To Find A Way To Get Donyell Marshall Some Consistent Minutes

One good thing came out of Elton Brand's two game stint on the inactive list: Donyell Marshall. Because Brand was out, Mo Cheeks was forced to take Donyell, the Reading native, off of the inactive list and give him some minutes. Donyell didn't disappoint. The reason why: he's a lights out shooter, one of the things the Sixers have been sorely missing this year. He is the only player on this team that can hit a three point shot on a consistent basis. Kareem Rush shot the ball well last year, but there was a reason he played in Turkey two years ago - he' s not consistent. Willie Green has been stroking the ball real well early and Thaddeus' outside shot has been developing (recently, however, we've seen that he needs about another offseason to really perfect the long distance shot). But, Donyell is the only player on this team who has consistently hit the outside shot during his fifteen year career. Therefore, it is imperative that he gets some run once Brand comes back to the lineup (he is expected back on Tuesday agains the Cavs). Marshall needs play when Brand is in the game. Brand sees a ton of double teams and Marshall can be the beneficiary of some wide open looks with good ball movement and decision making (we've seen that Andre Igoudala can' hit this shot on a consistent basis, so let's try something new). I'm not talking about thirty minutes a game, but he should see about ten to twenty minutes. Now, you might be asking how he'll fit into the lineup. He's 6'9" and normally plays the 4 (though he has seen some time at the 3 during his career), which might cause some problems, especially when Brand is on the floor. But I think that Mo, with a little creativity, can easily get Marshall into the lineup and put him in situations where he can effectively contribute by doing what he does, shoot the rock. Consider this lineup: either Miller/Williams at the 1, Iggy at the 2, Thad at the 3, and Brand and Marshall at the 4/5. I know he's not a center, but Marshall has shown that he's an adequate defender and he's got enough size. to play the majority of post players in the east. Plus, the NBA is becoming a small ball type league. This lineup will also allow the Sixes to do what they do best, push the ball up floor and play transition basketball Sure, Marshall is a bit slow, but he can trail the break and be open for secondary break threes. On the other hand, when the game slows down and becoms a half court battle having Marshall open beyond the ac will be more beneficial than having Sammy Dalembert taking fifteen to twenty foot jumpers, Until he can prove that he's worthy of the minutes, Dalembert should be on the bench more often than not. Let's face it, the Sixers have sucked through the early part of the season and its worth it to shake things up and try some new things. Plus, it's fun to watch a guy who can really shoot.
-The Rave

Spitzer v. Rave: Round 3 (Spitzer's Take)

First off, when I said the Sixers should model themselves after the Celtics, I didn't mean they ARE the Celtics. What I meant was that their only shot of winning a championship in the next few years is if they model themselves after Boston, in a sense that they make "the big splash" in terms of player movement and free agency over one summer, a la Boston in 2007. My point was that, considering their cap situation, the only way they (or any other team in the NBA is concerned nowadays) can get much better is by sacrificing the future somewhat and going for the 'ship right now (see Boston trading Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Telfair, Ryan Gomes, Delonte West, Sczcerbiak's contract, and several draft picks for Garnett and Allen).

The Sixers have a lot of tradeable pieces on this team. I know Rave won't want to hear this, but if the Sixers keep floundering this year, I would trade Andre Miller in a heartbeat to a contending team in need of a true point guard (Portland, Miami, Houston, Lakers), in return for young talent and/or draft picks in return.
Lou Will has been struggling for the most part this year, as it doesn't seem like he's grown as a player at all. He makes horrible decisions with the ball, and looks out-of-control when bringing up the rock on offense. I think some of that has to do with who he's paired with on the floor, as it seems like he usually finds himself flanked by some combination of Willie Green, Reggie Evans, Speights, Thaddeus, Iguodala, etc. My point being he rarely plays with Andre Miller and Elton Brand, the two proven veterans who can make others look better on the floor with their passing ability in Miller's case, and their post-up and attracting the double-team ability in Brand's case. There is something to be said, however, for a player that consistently shoots under 40% from the field, as his shot selection needs to improve.

As it has been alluded to, Iguodala is completely miscast as a shooting guard. I'm willing to allow him some more time to get used to his new job, but it's a very awkward situation in Philly as it is clear to every single fan that Iggy doesn't look comfortable in the least bit as a 2. Albeit he can't hit a shot consistently to save his life, I still have a lot of hope for him given his athleticism, his defense, and his rebounding and passing abilities. He's also only 24! People forget that even though he's been in the league for four years, he still is very young and should get better.

Thaddeus is very good. Again, it may have been unclear in my earlier analogy, but in no way did I mean to say I equate James Posey to Thaddeus Young. It was an incredibly rough analogy between the Sixers and Celtics, and that was the closest match I could find (although Thad could become a Pierce with steady improvement). That being said, Sixers fans as a whole are blowing Thaddeus's early production out of proportion. I have been very impressed with his output thus far - his shooting especially has dazzled me. Yet if you watch how he plays, he is still VERY raw and inexperienced. He is a little out of control on offense and is somewhat weak on defense and rebounding. He also is the 4th or 5th option on offense, so while he's on the court with Iggy, Brand, and Miller, he is an afterthought of the opposing defenses, and for better or worse he is benefiting from that. Eventually, when opposing coaches gameplan defensively more for Thad, however, that's hopefully going to free Iguodala up for more production and you'll see Thad's numbers decline slightly. My main point with Thad is that he has really impressed me, but to say that he's already our best all-around player (which many Sixers fans have tried to argue) is a little preemptive, as I'd like to see a little more consistency before anointing him the next savior of our squad. He probably needs to keep starting at this point, although I wouldn't be opposed to seeing the Sixers deal him over the off-season in a trade that would catapult us immediately to the class of the East (similar to Boston with Al Jefferson in the Garnett deal).

All of this being said, I am sick and tired of the Dalembert defenders. He is an absolute liability out there, there's no two ways about it. He either refuses to listen to coaches who tell him not to shoot from the outside, or the coaches are too stupid and haven't yet told him not to step outside his range (which is another issue completely: coaching). Dalembert repeatedly finds himself in compromising situations with the ball 20 feet away from the basket, which leads to an inordinate amount of turnovers from bad passes or attempting to dribble his way out of trouble. The only thing he does well which Rave alluded to - weak-side defense and blocking - isn't that hard for a guy who's 7 feet tall. He doesn't even do it THAT well - he STILL goaltends a couple times per game, and he's so block-happy that he flies in the air for every pump-fake that's sent in his direction.

Honestly, saying a 7 foot athletic big-man is impressive because he's a good weak-side shot-blocker is like saying a Jewish kid is impressive because he's smart. Granted like being Jewish, being a 7 footer is pretty rare, but I'd be willing to bet that almost every single big man in the NBA could do Dalembert's job almost as well - and without the plethora of undisciplined goaltends to boot. I'm definitely not lobbying to start Theo, as after I watched him in the Bulls game on Sunday I wanted him to hang up his sneakers immediately, but many other big men could do the same rebounding and shot-blocking job that Dalembert does.

Lastly, Mo Cheeks's run in Philadelphia may just about be over. What he did with the squad last year was impressive, getting a bad Sixers team to the post-season and stealing a couple games against Detroit. Nevertheless, this team looks stale, boring, lifeless, and mediocre to throw out a few words, thus far this season. It may not be all his fault, but this team needs a shot in the arm, and more than anything else as a coach who can divvy up minutes responsibly, actually draw up a couple offensive plays that run through Thaddeus, and finally get adequate spacing on the court so opposing teams will have to cover Brand with only one defender.

Rave's Take on the Sixers

Contrary to one recent post on here, the Sixers have not (and should not) modeled themselves after the current Boston Celtics. The Sixers are actually modeled after the 2004 Detroit Pistons championship team. Billy King started to break down the Allen Iverson led Sixers after he saw what the Pistons could do and attempted to get five cohesive players that played as a team – all of whom who could play “D” and shoulder their fair share of the offensive burden when called upon. The key to this Sixers team is that they do not have one super superstar. They have five good players who, if they ever get the feel of each other, could do some very good things. I’m not sure if this team – as currently constructed – can win a championship. The Celtics and Cavs are too good right now. And that is just the Eastern Conference. Position by position, on pure paper, this team looks like they can compete with anybody. However, right now, the pieces are not fitting together as they should.

Let’s start with the good. At power forward, they have EB. Brand is a very very good player. He is not great. He can carry a team at times, but not on a night to night basis. This was never more evident during the 2004 Clipper season when he had a healthy Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley to help him shoulder the burden. The Sixers and Mo Cheeks – who is a good player’s coach and not a great X and O guy (which has led to some early losses) – need, and are starting to get Elton the ball in positions where he is comfortable, and more importantly, effective. This is the pick and pop game and the mid post. While he was touted by Eddie Stefanski as a great low post presence, it is just not the case. Elton has never been a great back to the basket player. He’s undersized at 6’9” – although he does have a very large wingspan which helps him to overcome his lack of size – and when he goes up against some of the taller power forwards in the game, he has a tough time getting his shot off in the low post. He has a great 16 to 18 foot jumper and he has a very good first step to drive by opposing power forwards. Elton is real nice fit on this team. He can get out and be effective in the running game. More importantly he’s great in the half court – which is important at winning time and playoff time.

The second best player on this team is Thaddeus Young. He is a rising star, an absolute stud. The Sixers never call plays for him, yet he is second on the team in scoring. He can basically do it all and he fits in well with Brand, in the half court, and the running game. His outside jumper has improved as is evident by his increased ability to shoot from distance. He’s an absolute thoroughbred in the open floor and is one of the reasons why the Sixers are such a good fast break team. He’s constantly around the ball and really has a nose for the game. This guy just has a knack for scoring and making the right play at the right time. He is an effective rebounder, gets out in the passing game and is a lockdown defender. Contrary to another post on this site, he SHOULD NEVER come off the bench is about twenty times better than James Posey – there is absolutely no comparison. Posey has been a complimentary bench player, albeit a very good one, in this league his whole career. In a year Thaddeus will be the Sixers best player and I predict in two or three years he is going to be one of the top ten players in the league.

While Thaddues and Brand are the best players on the team this year, Andre Miller held that title last year. However, this year, he is having a tough time finding his game and his role on this team. In order for the Sixers to do anything he needs to find that role and his game quick. He is a deceptively quick player and can be a very effective distributor when he wants to be. However, too many games in the early going he has looked for his shot more than trying to get the ball to his scorers. The Sixers will not win many games if he is their leading scorer. Miller needs to be an effective floor leader in both the fast break game and the half court, both of which he can do and has done throughout his career. In order for the Sixers to go places, their point guard play has got to improve. Miller needs to concentrate less on his scoring and more on getting his scorers the ball in spots where they are comfortable (Brand pick and pop, Dalembert on lobs, Thaddeus on cuts to the hoop, Iggy shots in rhythym and under control). I agree Miller is not a great shooter, but I disagree that Miller needs to go. In fact, I think he needs to stay. Bringing in a Kyle Lowry type is not going to help this team. Sure, Lowry can push the rock, but he can’t shoot a lick, and he’s not as good a floor leader as Miller. If they could somehow swing getting a point guard with a little bit of size (6’4” and up) who looks to pass first, yet can hit the outside jumper, they will do well. That’s not going to happen. Let’s face it, Miller can be extremely effective in the half court (he was our best post up player last year) and the run game. Sure, you can run all you want in the regular season, but you’re never going to win a championship doing it.

Off the bench, Willie Green has been really surprising. I’ve never been a big fan of his because he’s a 6’2” shooting guard, who shoots a low percentage, doesn’t play great “D” and makes terrible decisions…or at least that was Willie Green last year. I actually made a bet over the summer that he was going to be cut. Well, I’m the first one to admit that I was totally wrong and I only hope he can keep it up. He’s getting consistent minutes off the bench and has really shown his value. He’s a microwave-type scorer, somebody who can come cold off the bench and can heat it up quickly. He’s never had a conscience, which has worked against him the past. This year its working to his advantage. He’s shooting extremely well and I have no problems with his play off the bench. Kareem Rush, Royal Ivey and the rest of the gluttony of guards on the bench haven’t got enough time to merit a statement of their worth. But I would like to say that Ivey should get more playing time. He’s a lock down defender and showed last year that he can actually hit an open three. He just needs minutes.

One bench player that has caught my eye is Marreese Speights. I was ecstatic when they drafted him and he has disappointed in the limited run he has gotten off the bench. He has great touch from 16 to 18 feet, is a big body and will be a force when he learns to play in the NBA. I actually think that he can be a very good rookie this year (he has the highest PER in the rookie class as of right now) and later on in the season he will become a nice contributor, especially against shorter teams, against whom I’d like to see him take the majority of Sammy D’s minutes.

The real problems with this team are Andre Igoudala, Sammy D and Lou Williams. Iggy just does not fit. He’s an excellent open court player. But he’s a below average shooter – and I predict that, even with a lot of practice, he’s not going to get much better – just look at his form and the trajectory of his shot, there’s a total lack of rotation on the ball. He was touted as good ball handler coming out of college, but that has never panned out. He’s turning the ball over left and right. Granted, I’m not and really have never been a big fan of his. He never should have got the amount of money he did this summer and two years from now the Sixers could be kicking themselves for giving him such a max contract. He’s never going to be a number 1 and is proving to be a below average number 2. He’s best suited to be an excellent number 3, which could work out later in the season when Thaddeus cements himself into his role as the second best player on the team. But I just don’t think that Iggy works on this team. His skill set just doesn’t fit what the Sixers so desperately need. The position is SHOOTING guard – somebody who can shoot out of the double teams that Brand receives. This is especially true if Andre Miller is your point guard, because we all know he’s a terrible shooter from distance (save his two late game threes in the past week). I’d trade him for Rip Hamilton in a heartbeat, but Joe Dumars is not an idiot, and he’d never do that. But I do agree that we could trade him for a Mike Miller type, who has size and can shoot the lights out (50% FG and 40% 3PFG). We’d give a little up on the defensive end, but I actually think that Iggy is an overrated defender. He gets in the passing game and a lot of steals, but after watching Allen Iverson for many years we all know that the number of steals one gets is not a good barometer of defensive prowess.. Contrary to popular belief, Igoudala is not a lock down defender. He too often gets burned by his opponents and never really can clamp down on opposing superstar. Just because he has the body of a good defender doesn’t mean that he is.

As far as Lou Williams, he needs to calm down a bit and start playing within himself. I don’t think he should start on this team and I don’t think that he’s ever going to be a starter on this team as its currently constructed. He’s a shoot first, 6’1” combo guard who is making terrible basketball decisions. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen him come down the court on a three on two and NOT STOP the foul line and distribute the ball or take what the defensive is giving him. Instead, you see him either take a terrible floater in the lane, or turn it over. Even a white jew from the suburbs who played competitive basketball over ten years ago know that is not the right way to play. I’m okay with him thinking shot first because that’s his game. He’s lightning quick and has the potential to be an above average shooter. But needs to know when to shoot and when to give it up. I can live with some bad shots, but not a bad shot fifty percent of the time. With Lou Williams, Willie Green and Marreese Speights off the bench the Sixers have the potential to have a great eight man rotation.

Sammy D is not playing great. However, I think that he needs to stay on this team. While he doesn’t have great hands, he’s a very good rebounder and an excellent weak side shot blocker. Defensively, against the bigger teams in the league we are going to need him. Plus, because Elton is a great on the ball defender (most of his blocked shots come one on one), Sammy and Elton can be a very effective defensive combination. A lot of it is going to have to come with learning how each other play. Plus, if Sammy concentrates only on defense and rebounding he will become a much better player and the Sixers will become a much better team. I’m sick and tired of him shooting jumpers and fadeaways. While he says he is given the green light to make those shots, which do go in sometimes (even though its excruciating to watch), Mo needs to instruct him never to shoot unless its within 5 feet of the hoop. The only offensive shots he should ever get are put back dunks and lobs from Andre Miller, the best “lob guy” in the game. As stated above, against smaller teams, Sammy should see less playing time and Speights should see more – or the Sixers can put Brand at center, run Thaddeus at the four, Iggy at the three (his more natural position) and either Lou Will or Willie Green at the two with Miller at the point.

All in all, I think that the Sixers should either stay put, or try and trade Iggy for a lights out shooting guard with some size. Trading Andre Miller is not the answer, unless you can get Chauncy Billups or the equivalent thereof. Most of all, the Sixers are not, and will never be like the Celtics. The Celtics have three future hall of famers and they were all superstars in their own right at one time in their careers. The Sixers have one player who was an arguable superstar (for one year – 2004) in Brand. They are more of a five man team, with interchangeable parts in the spirit of the 2004 Pistons. Stay put Eddie, and don’t make any trades (unless its getting rid of Igoudala).

Yao Brady by David Jung