While you were sleeping, the Sixers moved to within 1.5 games of the 5th-worst record in the league. Baron Davis and the hapless Clippers were demolished by the Sacramento Kings. They're now only one win behind both the Pistons and Sactown.
I cannot possibly stress enough how important losing out is at this point. The Clippers have completely imploded, lost 7 straight games and look just horrible on the floor. They're only a half game back of the Sixers. With one win not only can you forget about improving our odds in the lottery, there's a very good chance we're talking about a tie for the 8th-worst record in the league. Win two and we're probably sitting in 9th.
On the flip side, the Clippers play their next game against the Warriors. A win for Golden State, coupled two Sixer losses would move the Sixers a game and a half closer to another team. The Pistons have two very winnable games remaining, the Wizards finish the season with the Knicks and the Pacers. Stranger things have happened than a win or two from these terrible teams, all the Sixers need to do is extend this losing streak one game at a time.
Here's hoping for nothing.
Any chance we can trade down?
Any chance we can trade down?
I'm sure there is - but why - you just reduce your pool of available talent and have a bunch of holes
The only one they have a decent chance to win is Orlando since they will just be playing their scrubs to get some extra rest for the playoffs that sat/sun. Time for Meeks/Kapono/Smith to start playing 40 min a night.
Sadly Smith would foul out at 25 minutes if given the chance.
I think the Sixers have a good shot in all of the next 4 games. I'd love to see them lose out, but when has this Sixer team done anything to make us happy?
What is the tiebreaker if the Sixers/Sacto/Detroit all end up with the same record? The lottery odds are even, correct? But past that?
They split the odds evenly - if none pop in the top 3 i believe a coin flip decides the order of picking..
(personally i'd have a mini lottery if none pop into the top 3 - adds some intrigue)
Yep, this is right. They do the coin flip prior to the lottery, I believe. It's also used to decide who gets the extra ping pong ball if it's an odd number (two-team tie) or an even number (three-team tie).
Kate Fagan is reporting Francisco Elson will be available for tonight's game, and will probably see some action. I hope he sucks as much as Smith.
Not sure I agree with that statement. IF he looks better than Smith, that should (when do the sixers ever do what they should, you say?) put Smith out to pasture. I have NEVER seen a worse tall player in many years.
Can we cut Smith? Hoopshype indicates that his contract next year is guaranteed, but I always though rookies only have 3 years guaranteed.
The main benefit of dumping Smith is that a vet minimum replacement would not count against the tax.
Brian seems to think the sixers can let smith go after this season (see his luxury tax post from yesterddy)
No, I think they picked up his option for next season already. After next season, though, they can cut just cut him loose instead of making a qualifying offer.
Yeah, here's the story. What I was saying is that Smith is essentially an expiring contract ($2.1M), and they should be able to move that to a team w/ cap space if they need to trim some salary.
Because the salary is under $3M, they could trade him to someone for a conditional 2nd-round pick (with some kind of absurd protections that expire after a couple years if need be) and they could send along enough cash to pay his contract as well. Make sense?
Ok - i get it now
Honestly in terms of expiring deals i believe the 'perception' would give willie green more value :)
Elson's gone after this season, I don't think his play means anything one way or the other.
I have NEVER seen a worse tall player in many years.
Well, there was Bob Thornton, who played a major role on the 89-90 Sixers. More recently, Todd MacCulloch was probably less athletic than Jason Smith but had a decent low post game.
Todd Macullouch was a better player than Jason Smith - he didn't say unathletic - he just said terrible player
A Thunder Bob sighting!
Tell me again, did we really defeat MIL and ATL a few weeks back? aarrrrggggghhhhh...........!
I actually was hoping the Clippers won that game last night. I just don't think it's possible to catch the Kings. But it is likely that we catch and pass the Clips though. (and maybe the Knicks too)
I'm pretty sure the Knicks will pick up at least one more win (they have WAS left on the sched). We'd have to finish 3-1 to catch them, if that's the case. LAC is the team that really worries me. I've seen them a couple times in the past week and they just look like the worst basketball team I've ever seen.
So going by your observations, we want LAC to beat GSW then right? Because chances are slim that we catch GS?
Even when I'm being pessimistic, I'm a hopeless optimist. If the Sixers take care of their own business and lose out, it doesn't matter what the Clippers do, so if the Sixers haven't won a game yet when the Clips play the Warriors, I'm rooting for the Warriors on the outside shot we can catch them too. If the Sixers win tonight, the game turns into rooting hard for the Clippers and the Knicks the rest of the way.
When exactly is the draft lottery?
Mid-late May, I believe. Can't seem to find an exact date. Last year it was May 19th.
Over at LB someone said they found the 18th as the date
It looks as if all the major prospects will be declaring. Just looked at LB site and saw this
jemagee
joined May 13, 2008
posts 119
comments 19714
Attaboy John, good luck on reaching 20,000 posts before your 2 year anniversary. You poppa must be proud.
You're better than that, aren't you?
Let's just stick to hoops, or what passes for hoops in this city these days, huh.
Your right Brian, just figured I would give him a taste of his own medicine. Just hoops from now on.
Yes because until now you've been the soul of courtesy haven't you?
Enough. Hoops.