Philadelphia's Top Three Players to Watch
3. Elton Brand - By all accounts he should be the #1 guy on this list. However, we already know what to expect from him. If healthy Brand is about as reliable as they come. And ultimately, much like Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and KG last season, Brand will be judged for what his team does in the spring. Although his debut will make it even less weird that this guy is gone:
via www.allen-iverson.org
Catch the rest of the 76ers and the Celtics after the jump...
Lou Williams - I just like watching Lou Williams play.
Marreese Speights/Thaddeus Young - 76ers fans love these guys.
Bonus Point: Don't worry I didn't forget about Andre Iguodala. He's similar to Brand in the sense that it's all about the playoffs for him. But If he shows up with a reliable jump shot everything I've written until this point is moot. Meanwhile, check out Sixersoul. Turns out Philly ended camp early too.
Boston's Top Three Players to Watch
3. Gabe Pruitt - He does have another year on his contract. So this isn't exactly a make or break season. Furthermore, his competitors for the back up spot - Eddie House and Sam Cassell - are by no means youngsters. Still, Pruitt be 23 in April and has to establish himself as a legitimate NBA player. As a side note Rajon Rondo is roughly 2 months older. That makes me feel slightly worse about Pruitt's progression as a pro.
2. Bill "freaking Walker - All of the reports so far have been glowing. Granted he's still learning the system. But he's coachable and attacks the rim. That's a winning combination. In fact he's the guy I'm most excited to see. However, his position prevented him from holding down the #1 spot. And even though I've watched this clip 100 times (and loved it every time), the Gerald Green era painfully reminded me that NBA players have to understand basketball.
1. Patrick O'Bryant - If he can emerge as a legitimate NBA big the rich get richer. And by "the rich" I mean the Celtics organization. I don't mean Boston's center position. There is not a lot of depth there.
Bonus Point - The game is at the Mullins Center. Lou Roe is not walking through that door! Tyrone Weeks in not walking through that door! Dana Dingle is not walking through that door! Edgar Padilla and Carmelo Travieso are not walking through that door! Donta Bright is not walking through that door! Hypothetically Marcus Camby could walk through that door. But the LA Clippers are not in town! The point is they'd be old and gray. The negativity in this town sucks and it stinks.
For the record that Rick Pitino rant is funnier now that the C's have won a title. More importantly I loved that UMass team. And yes Roe wasn't on it, but I had to mention him. I was a huge fan back in the day and he kind of reminds me of Leon Powe.
via umasshoops.com
