Throughout the week, basketball writers from the major sites have a number of chats and run rumor columns. Every once in a while, they actually talk about the Sixers. In this column, GoSixers has aggregated the relevant stuff from the chats. You'll see stuff in here that will make you scratch your head, but keep in mind, these guys are experts.
CHATS
Placido Domingo in NJ:
Looking back at last years draft, if it was held today, who would top five picks be?
Anthony Macri:
Off the top of my head, it would be:
1.) Wall
2.) Cousins
3.) Monroe
4.) Favors
5.) Davis
and I would have Fields as a potential guy who could go fourth or fifth depending on team needs. I am also open to moving Monroe ahead of Cousins depending on if I have a coach that can handle what Cousins brings to the table.
poop in f:
how good can deandre jordan be? tyson chandler good?
Anthony Macri:
I think Tyson Chandler is a pretty good comparison. I tend to think he has a little bit of young Stoudemire in him than Chandler, both for good and for bad. Maybe some combination of Chandler and Stoudemire, but the poor man's version. If he could develop and mature to be as good as Chandler, that would be music to Clipper fans ears!
Josh S. (Philly)
Which of the bottom playoff teams would the Celtics least want to play come first round?
Chris Forsberg
I've maintained that it's Philly (though New York is certainly no picnic, particularly if they get out of their own funk). The 76ers have taken Boston to the wire three times and they'd make the Celtics work harder than they want in the first round. Again, I still see the top four seeds in the East winning in the first round, but you gotta watch that energy gauge with some brutal conference semifinal matchups looming (especially if Boston had to go on the road to Miami).
Fernando (Riviera Beach FL)
who is a better match up for the heat in the first round; Knicks or 76'rs?
Tom Haberstroh
Knicks. Feb. 27 loss has fluke written all over it.
John (Austin, TX)
Thorpe, What in the world happened to Maurice Speights? Two years ago I thought he looked like a terrific young post player with possible All-Star potential. Now he's averaging 11 minutes, 5 points and 0.3 blocks per game. I know he never played any D, but now he even seems lost on offense . What do you see with him?Thanks,
David Thorpe
I think he has a focus/motor problem.
The Sane Madman (Bulls Nation) [via mobile]
Two questions, neither involves my nation. 1. Do you agree with my assessment of The Hangover > Superbad and it's by a wide margin? 2. Do you agree with my assessment that if the 76ers grabbed Cousins instead of Evan Turner that they would be a 4th seed? This team is not shabby and has great parts.
David Thorpe
Totally agree with first one-I did not like Superbad much. I don't enjoy cruel people. Cousins is such a handful off the court and on it, in terms of coaching, that we can't predict how he would have impacted their chemistry.
JimmyZ (PHX, AZ)
Of the probable playoff teams, is there a worse closer than andre iguodala at the end of games?
David Thorpe
I hate that term. But yes, Iggy's shooting troubles make him problematic to take big shots.
Freddy (Los Angeles)
Should the Kings continue to build their team around DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans, or does one of the two have to go?
David Thorpe
Too early to say, but the word I'm hearing isn't good.
MM in LA:
What do the Clippers value more in a SF, 3pt shooting(Granger), or play making(Iguodala)?
Eric Pincus:
Probably Granger but you've got to get to the summer and see who is available. The Sixers seem awfully fond of Iguodala right now. Given that the Pacers are hanging in the playoff race, perhaps the Pacers hold on to Danny.
Regardless, moving forward the Clippers are going to need shooters to help spread the floor for Griffin (and Gordon).
Brad (Cleveland)
How possible is it that the heat lose in the first round of the playoffs, on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being a great chance?
Chad Ford
Sixers would pose the biggest threat ... but I'd say 2.
Show Ya Luv! (Philly)
Doug Collins = COY, right? What coach has done more with less talent, no all-star considerations?
John Hollinger
He'll be in the running, but in all honesty I think he's benefiting in part from something called "Not Being Eddie Jordan." Thibodeau has to be first for how he has the Bulls playing, although VDN should get a cut of his trophy, and I'd put Popovich and George Karl ahead of Collins right now too.
John (FL)
Who cares about MVP? Let's talk playoffs! Can Boston pull themselves together in time to stop the Bulls (or even the Heat)?
John Hollinger
Think you might want to focus on the Sixers before you start pondering later rounds ... Philly has played well of late and they've done very well against Boston this year -- a -2 margin in three meetings, with the fourth on Tuesday in Beantown. I'm very worried about the Cs right now but will get an up close look at them in the ATL tomorrow.
joe (maine)
do u think the 76ers will upset da heat in the 1st rd?
Ric Bucher
No. I was surprised to Chris Webber hint last night that it's not beyond the realm of possibility.
Steve (Philly)
Who do you think the better sixth man is: Lou Williams or Thaddeus Young? Should either of them be starting?
Ric Bucher
I can see Thaddeus as a starter. I believe Lou is a tweener guard and thereby much better coming off the bench. FWIW: I feel the same way about Steph Curry. On a really good team, he's your sixth man. I'm not equating Curry and Lou on talent, just role.
Billy (NYC)
So what do you make of Spencer Hawes? A big tease or a solid nba starte/player? Thanks!
Ric Bucher
Big tease to me. I was a believer early on, but I've had a lot of people run him down. That, though, is the danger of feedback - it tends to be more negative than positive and a lot of people like to bury guys. I'm not giving up on him, but I'm not counting on him. How's that?
Austin E (Mooresville, NC)
Don't you think if the Sixers would add Dwight Howard and keep the rest of their team in tact (maybe a few subtractions) that it would immediately make them a Championship Contender? They get their two things they need (a superstar and a center) in one. What do you think?
Ric Bucher
I believe adding Dwight to most teams would make them an instant contender. (See? I do like Dwight.)
Lawrence (Toronto)
Is Thibodeau a shoe in for Coach of the Year? Or does Collins have a chance?
Ric Bucher
i expect it to be very close. I'm wondering if Popovich, the third guy in the battle, will fall out if they don't have the best record. I'm not sure he should.
rick in in GA:
whats the reason u think Louis Williams slip in the draft in 2005 becaues he was out of highshool or what. He had the talent there i would have taken him 28 in that draft at least he frist round to me
Yannis Koutroupis:
First, he was really underdeveloped physically with just a scorer's mentality. Pair that up with being extremely turnover prone and it just scared teams away because it was clear that he was going to have to become a point guard. Now and days I'd be a big proponet of guards his size showing off their playmaking skills in high school moreso than their scoring ability because being able to run a team is what's most important.
RANKING
NBCSports.com - Kurt Hellin
12th (12th previously) There was a time a couple weeks ago when the Sixers looked like a dangerous team in the first round. Not so much any more.
ESPN.com - Marc Stein
15th (15th previously) Something tells me Philly, after feeling sneaky good about the potential Miami matchup in Round 1, wouldn't mind seeing the Heat move up to No. 2 after surrendering 71 points to LeBron and D-Wade on Friday night.
Foxsports.com - Zac Jackson
12th (14th previously) A group of players went to a Lil' Wayne concert Saturday night, then the Sixers lost a Sunday matinee to the lowly Kings. It does say a lot about the leadership that 30 hours later this group went to Chicago and won. They aren't serious contenders in the playoffs, but they could be a serious headache.
CBSSports.com - Dave Del Grande
15th (16th previously) March wins over Celtics, Hawks and Bulls demonstrate this isn't a team you want to run into in Eastern first round.
SI.cnn.com - Britt Robson
12th (12th previously) The Sixers have ambushed a lot of opponents with their small lineup, but there are signs that teams are adjusting. A faster pace has become less user-friendly for Philadelphia, which is yielding seven more points per game in March than it did in February. The increase results in part from a tougher schedule, with opponents having increased their rebounding, free-throw attempts and shooting percentage. Meanwhile, the Sixers are attempting six more shots per game and reaping fewer than one extra basket this month. In response, coach Doug Collins is relying more on 7-footer Spencer Hawes to guard big men and also bring them away from the basket by taking mid-range jumpers. Hawes has scored in double figures a season-high four consecutive games, and he also seems more energized on defense.
BBR.com schedule adjusted rankings (14th)
Articles
ESPN Heat Index - Look at potential Sixers/Heat Playoff Matchup
SportnigNews.com -Sixers coach Doug Collins eschews calls for rebuilding, instead focuses on winning
Dimemag.com - 'Real' Rookie Awards
CBSSports.com - Sixers Coming Together Just in Time For Playoff Run
Hoopsworld.com - Dreaded First Round Opponents
Basketball Prospectus: The Clipboard: The (Thaddeus) Young & Improving (Subscription for whole article)
ThreeSecondViolation.com - Warming up with Mareese Speights
SI.com - Say Hello to the Jodie Meeks All-Stars
but in all honesty I think he's benefiting in part from something called "Not Being Eddie Jordan."
my favorite quote
+1. And I think Collins should be taking heat for the recent 7-7 puttering along. Several bad losses in that bunch.
Collins is doing with this level of talent what most real coaches would do with it I think. We're just used to incompetents like Maurice Cheeks and Eddie Jordan so Collins looks like Phil Jackson.
Not exactly an original idea - at least around here
Not original, but the last time it was mentioned, I think it was you and me getting criticized pretty hard for it.
I've been saying it for a while - and I usually get criticized pretty hard until the rest of the world comes around - trailblazers always suffer the slings and arrows ;)
But as so many have pointed out, Spencer Hawes is not Dalembert, and actually, Jrue Holiday, whatever his future may be, isn't yet the player that Andre Miller was with us. On the plus side for Collins in terms of talent he has to work with vs. what Cheeks or DiLeo had, there's Brand's health, and Meeks, I guess. Brand's health shouldn't be underestimated as a major factor in our return to respectability, but I don't know that it compensates for the Dalembert/Hawes and Miller/Jrue downgrades.
Your input, as always - is useless
Williams is sidelined with strained hamstring:
http://ow.ly/4sh2c
Kate Fagan with a good article on what should Iguodala do in crunch time:
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20110403_Inside_the_Sixers___Iguodala_doesn_t_have_to_take_the_last_shot.html
Not that Holiday did much better in Milwaukee...
I don't see any real solution for this HUGE issue until we get a real closer or some of the young guys becomes one.
Until then, I would try to draw some plays to get Meeks an open look, or feed Brand/Thad in the low post: anything else (Ig/Lou isolations, etc etc), we have already tried it, and it's not working well...
Actually what needs to happen is people need to remove their heads from their rectums with the whole concept of the closer, and stop coaching basketball differently the last two minutes when you're winning a different way the first 46 minutes.
Kobe's supposedly a 'closer' and his numbers aren't good in the 'clutch' moments at the end of the game.
I purposely don't post any articles from philly writers, and I stopped reading Fagan months ago after her BS Iguodala article
I think you should just relax, have a cup of tea and choose different words to express your thoughts, unless you want to sound like a 13 y/o.
My head firmly rests on my guido shoulders and not in anybody's rectum, don't worry. I never mentioned Kobe. Feel free to substitute the word "closer" with anything u like more, the concept remains the same
Good choice by ignoring what Sixers beat writers say about our team, also... the reason is they wrote something u didn't like, so you are censoring them? LMAO
Yes, taking pride in being a guido and your constant ignorant opinions give you strength.
I have my reasons for not posting what the beat writers write, (And I've stated it before) but you obviously already know why it is so why should I bother to explain to you, yet again, why you're a feckless fool?
Ricky lives in Italy and writes a Sixers blog. The "guido" part is self effacing and funny IMO.
I find many things funny - ricky's never been one of the things I've found funny - be he italian or a guy who keeps sneaking back on to realgm.com (but not getting banned :) )
Not the same Ricky.
yes, thank you for telling me what I already knew and hadn't implied. Appreciate the fact.
Next time I'll go with Ricky martin - maybe it will confuse you less
No, any reasonable reader would think you were talking about the same Ricky, and possibly speculating as to whether or not he was really Italian. No one would think that you were saying you find all Rickies unamusing.
As usual, you inadvertently prove my point while reinforcing my theory
Calling names and spreading BS (I confirm I am NOT the Ricky from Real GM, something that all other posters here already understood by themselves)
I'll get back to you when you'll turn 14, in the meantime have fun
Hours later, and you haven't ready everything written or you would have known that was not my intention though it seems many people here have problems comprehending the English language enough to realize that wasn't what I was saying.
If you go back to the beginning my young guido, you'll see that this was instigated by you feeling the need to tell me how to behave on a blog that isn't yours. You inferred (incorrectly, but since you did it again this morning why should I be surprise) incorrectly from what I wrote and then felt the need to be snide and insulting and yet when I respond in kind you are somehow 'offended'.
If you can't stand the heat stay out of the kitchen
You are so off the mark is ridiculous and every post is getting weaker and weaker
"this was instigated by you feeling the need to tell me how to behave on a blog that isn't yours"
Too bad I posted a link to an article, for everybody to read (=it was not directed at you), and you replied to my comment starting with "head in rectum" and other childish expressions.
Then I (politely) replied to you and you replied again talking about "ignorant comments" and calling me a "feckless fool". You must be a really tough guy, I'm impressed, wow...
I never said how you should behave, I never insulted you (nor anyone else), I was never "snide" or insulting and by simply reading the comments above anybody could see who is trying to spread bs. Finally, I am not offended either, sorry to disappoint you, I simply don't care.
I'm not gonna waste my time responding to you again.
I like Iguodala as much as the next guy, but I don't feel comfortable with him having the ball in the final seconds. He takes too many ineffective fade away jump shots. I would honestly rather let Lou have the ball.
Where did I say give it to Iguodala, what I said was stop with the idiotic iso's.
You just suggest doing them with Lou - which is silly too - cause Lou don't pass
Yeah, go to Brand/Thad unless someone else has a really hot hand. That should be the plan for all 48 minutes really.
Teams don't run the offense at the end of games out of feat of a turnover.. if a coach loses a game because his best player missed a shot, it's no skin off his back.. if they turn the ball over or a lesser player ends up missing the shot, he's getting criticized.
fear of a turnover*
Have you read scorecasting?
have not.. just googled it, sounds like a good read- will check it out sometime
I like meeks having the ball in the last 2 minutes. Jrue should be handling it to set up a play. Jrue should be the first option trying to create something. Second option should be meeks coming off a screen. Then i like our chances with thad having the ball.
LeBron had another ho-hum, 31/11/7 effort, making 13 of his 18 shots. Since the All-Star break, he's shot 57% from the field. It's strange that, in the past couple months, Rose went from front-runner to lock even as he played his worst ball of the season and LeBron played his best. As for my obligatory Cousins check-in, today he had 17, 9, 6 and 5 steals on 13 shots, but also 5 turnovers and 6 fouls. The game before he had 10, 8 and 5, but was 3-15 from the field. A strange, strange player.
LeBron is more deserving of Rose without question in my opinion. Chicago wins on defense and Rose is hardly their key defensive contributor. Maybe Howard is more deserving than LeBron because Howard carries a talentless team, but it's gotta be between those two in my opinion. Kobe third, maybe finally Rose 4th.
Agree that the anointing of Rose was ridiculous. Hopefully the writers show some backbone in their votes.
Dwight Howard is more deserving than either if anyone bothered to notice that the rest of the Magic couldn't play defense even with cue cards
I wonder if Howard is a little overrated defensively.
so antonio daniels hasn't played in the nba in almost 2 years? Awesome!
Well the other option is signing some D-Leaguer who's never been there, or been there for long anyway.
was it necessary to sign someone? couldn't we just give lou's minutes to ET?
Well... the politically correct answer regarding Turner is that you need Daniels for depth. What if Turner gets hurt? Teams do that sort of thing all the time; your back-up point guard gets hurt, so you sign Sundiata Gaines. Perhaps that's all this is. The reality, of course, may be that they don't trust Turner and think Daniels is a vet. One thing about Daniels, always, was that he didn't turn the ball over.
I give Collins all the credit in the world for turning this team around but he is really really close to ruining Turner. First replacing him in the lineup with Nocioni then signing a guy who plays the same position as him.
I don't think even the most ardent Turner supporter would say that Collins is responsible for this disastorous season. It's all on Turner. Now is about putting the team in the best position for the playoffs, and ET is not it.
Daniels is roster fodder. In the playoffs, coaches run shorter rotations anyway don't they?
This is the same coach that tried to squeeze meaningful minutes out of Darius Songalia earlier this year, against the Spurs no less.
Would you really be that surprised to see Daniels get minutes?
Collins surprises me sometimes. I was surprised to see Speights get any meaningful burn last night at all (Maybe battie can't handle back to backs - old bones and all?)
I don't really think of Daniels (or Nocioni) as vital parts of the playoff roster, nor do I think Daniels (or Nocioni) would make the difference between winning and losing in the first round.
Right now - my only concern is that Lamarcus Aldridge sticks at 2 assists so I can make it to the finals :)
I can see Daniels taking Lou's minutes until he returns, meaning Turner continues his DNP run.
That's unconscionable. Daniels wasn't an NBA-level player in his prime. He's just completely terrible.
If he's taking Lou's minutes, his addition has no impact or relevance to Turner anyway does it.
I'm curios how this affects the sixers luxury cap situation actually :)
Lou's injury is worrisome - if he can't have some good playoffs - he won't have as strong a trade value this off season
10-day contract won't affect the LT, I don't believe. And if they wait until tomorrow or the next day, 10-day contract takes them through the regular season.
Tone down the name calling, btw. This goes for everyone.
Of course Daniels addition has relevance to Turner. Daniels taking Lou's minutes means Turner doesn't take Lou's minutes.
He was a disappointment, but I definitely think he was an NBA player. At times he provided some reasonably efficient scoring punch and, despite not being much of a point guard, he routinely was among the league's A/TO leaders. I thought in his Spurs years he was quite alright. Remember that back then, if you came off the bench and averaged 9 points a game, that was decent production.
"That's unconscionable. Daniels wasn't an NBA-level player in his prime. He's just completely terrible."
And with this line, you have foreshadowed what will be spoken about Turner 10 years from now. Brilliant.
Lou's injury is an opportunity for Jrue. It's a big one, at a key time. I'm hopeful he'll take advantage and show Doug (and Rod) how expendable Lou is.
turner at backup point for a few games?
Highly Highly unlikely.
What I think this will mean is that Jrue and Andre will play unhealthy amounts of minutes or the sixers will concede sixth to the Knicks.
I think he'll give ET a chance,but with an unbelievably short leash. As in one bad turnover, or one play that Doug isn't a fan of, and the experiment is over.
Antonio Daniels? So Turner really has taken the moniker of Garbage Time from Willie Green, huh?
From Evanordinary!
to
Garbage Time Turner!
Really, maybe he can get a few important minutes so fans can see how much Lou REALLY means to this team in the role he plays and plays well. I would expect Turner to come up midget-like if Doug were to try to use him like Lou, which I'm almost sure he will not. Dude can't get his own shot or shoot a three or get to the line with regularity.
Poor Evan...I really feel sorry for all the Turner-lovers out there too. Fitting ending to an uneventful season I guess...the #4 pick from a draft held 14 years ago? Signed because the #2 pick from the most recent draft isn't capable? wow
GoSixers, you oscillate from having great comments to coming off like a real ass. You go from best the poster not named Brian to a jerk in 1 post. Go Sixers.