CelticsBlog: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
New Blog: Anonymous Eagle covering Marquette!

Previewing the Atlantic Division: Philadelphia 76ers Edition

2008 Record: 40-42

Playoffs?: Eliminated by the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of the First Round

2008 Record Vs. the Celtics: 1-3

Departures: Kyle Korver, Rodney Carney, Gordon Giricek, Louis Amundsom, Calvin Booth

20080710_366308_01_medium

via file.shanghaidaily.com

Star-divide

Additions*: Elton Brand, Donyell Marshall, Theo Ratliff, Royal Ivey, Kareem Rush, Herbert Hill, Marreese Speights

Key Story Heading into Camp:
Yes Louis Williams and Andre Iguodala got paid. But it has to be about Elton Brand. He'll turn 30 in March, is coming off a season in which he only played 8 games, and is supposed to be 100%. I'm not sure what to say about him. He's one of the most consistent players in all of the NBA. In fact Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Shaq are the only other current players averaging 20+ points and 10+ rebounds for their careers. At the same time he's only been to 2 All Star Games. I realize that's not the best way to evaluate a player. But it matters to a degree. Regardless the 76ers are convinced that Brand is an excellent fit:

"We fully believe that his considerable talent, wealth of experience and proven leadership will mesh very well with the style of play of this team and he will be valuable member of this organization for years to come." Ed Stefanski, 76ers President and General Manager

X-Factor: I sat court side for Philadelphia's only victory over Boston last season. Granted the C's offense was dreadful over the final 1/3 of the game and the W meant a lot more to the 76ers than it would have to Boston. But Philly ran the Celtics off the court. There's something to be said for Williams, Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, and company. In fact more than a few people have wondered what Josh Smith would have done with those guys. Obviously a moot point. However, one looming question remains. Who does Philly lean on in crunch time? I liked ClipperSteve's recent take on this:

"If Brand were number 2 in the Philly Big Three, this wouldn't really be a problem.  But unfortunately for Sixer fans, Andre Iguodala would seem to have a very similar problem - he's a phenomenal athlete, he works hard every game, he does many things very well on the basketball court - and he's not particularly good at getting his own shot. 

As for Dalembert... puh-leeze. Sam Dalembert would be the third best big on the Clippers.  Maybe.

All of which leaves the Sixers with over $40M in 2010-2011 salary committed to three guys, none of whom is really  a 'go to' scorer and Elton Brand as their best player.  No offense, but in nine NBA seasons, teams with Elton Brand as their best player have made the playoffs once." - ClipperSteve

View From the The Other Side: I caught up with jsams from Sixersoul and asked him what fans of the NBA had to know about the 76ers. His response:

"I'd have to say, look for our two young stars, Iguodala and Lou-Will to take the proverbial "next step". Reports are Iguodala's been working extra hard on his jumper this off-season. The addition of Elton Brand should help free things up for the both of them.

Also, there's a possibility rookie, Mo Speights could play a similar role to the team that Thaddeus Young did last year. Many Sixer fans, including me, think he'll emerge as the steal of the draft."

Random Point of Information: Elton Brand shared his Rookie of the Year Award with, wait for it, wait for it...Steve Francis. Not sure what to say about that.

*Philadelphia's roster currently lists 17 players. I'd guess that Kevin Ollie, Herbert Hill, and Shavlik Randolph are on thin ice.

0 recs  |  Comment 4 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

More from CelticsBlog

Deadline Leftovers

Feb 2010 by Jeff Clark - 174 comments

Nate To Boston "Done" ...Or Not

Feb 2010 by Jeff Clark - 295 comments

Danny Coming Up Empty So Far

Feb 2010 by Jeff Clark - 130 comments

A Godfather Proposal

Feb 2010 by Jeff Clark - 117 comments

Breaking Down The Sweep

Jan 2010 by Greg Payne - 46 comments

Comments

Display:

nice blog now that i'm reading it

i gotta keep speaking and i apologize if it’s too much.
but the sixers look rock solid to me. no glaring weaknesses, and brand is so good its hard to handle. also- brand and dalmbert are perenial blocked shots league leaders. the two of them together is sorta unfair. plus brand tends to play higher up than dalmbert, so they won’t even bump into eachother. brand doesn’t need the ball to be effective, so he won’t interfere with anyone, he goes to work, and he works hard.

not for nothin but the clippers are almost as disfunctional as the knicks, and over time are actually MORE disfunctional. so take that for what its worth.

by stingy d on Sep 24, 2008 11:03 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Crunch time scorer

They have a bunch of guys who can score in transition and will get theirs in the flow of the game. But I’m not sure who they’ll turn to when the defense cranks it up and makes it a half court game. Although on paper they’re a force. I’m sold on them improving, but I’m not convinced they’re elite in the East.

Green Bandwagon: Repeat in '09 or bust. Are you on the bandwagon?

by Jim Weeks on Sep 25, 2008 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

i mean

i’d say they are match up based when its down to the wire. i look at them and say… easily top three in the east. and detroit is laughable when it comes to motivation. if the standings allow it, i bet we see philadelphia and boston in the eastern conference finals. i bet philadelphia gets out to a fast start this year.

by stingy d on Sep 25, 2008 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fair enough

They could benefit from the same type of prove everyone wrong mentality that the Celtics had last year, particularly out of the gates. Although it’s a fairly young team. Actually now that I look at the roster the 76ers are a lot older than I thought. Still Iguodala, Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young are by no means in their prime.

Green Bandwagon: Repeat in '09 or bust. Are you on the bandwagon?

by Jim Weeks on Sep 26, 2008 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

CelticsBlog is a growing interactive community dedicated to providing fresh, comprehensive coverage of the Boston Celtics.
Start posting about the Celtics »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Small
Lets be realistic
Small
Doc apparently gets it
Leon_powe_small
One Fan's Thoughts on the Celts
Small
what next!!!
Small
Understanding Rebounds and the Celtics
Small
To all the peeps who Booed
Celtic_pride_small
An Outright Disgrace!
Small
Rebounding, Rebounding, Rebounding!!
Small
Are we the fans, perhaps spoiled a bit?
Small
How can we Help?

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Sponsors


Managers

Shamrock-blk-trans_small Jeff Clark

Editors

Hoosiers-dvdcover_small Roy_Hobbs

Leon_powe_small Green17

Ud_small indeedproceed

300h_small Wide Load

Celtics_shirt_small Greg Payne

Authors

Photo_14_small Steve Weinman

1_koolaid_avi_small FLCeltsFan

Po3_small Master Po

Images_small Bent

Small tenaciousT

Big_4_small Jimmy Toscano

Small Fafnir