76ers: Who Stays, Who Goes?
76ers, BREAKING NEWS, News Wednesday, May 30th, 2012
Well it was fun while it lasted. This team has its flaws, but they had the heart and grit to push the Boston Celtics to Game 7, and had a realistic shot at winning it. When I saw Paul Pierce foul out on an offensive foul with about four and a half minutes left in the game with the Sixers where just down five I thought to myself , ‘Man, we can do this.”Then Rajon Rondo decided to take over, outscoring the Sixers by himself 10-2 down the stretch. I have finally moved on from that, and decided who stays/who goes. There are likely no untouchables on this team, with the possible exceptions of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner. I say that with a big maybe, But let’s play with the roster anyway.
Who Stays
Jrue Holiday: Jrue had an up and down regular season. He would start a game fast, then fade second half. That had more to do with Doug Collins going to Lou Williams and Andre Iguodala a lot during fourth quarters earlier in the season. Holiday had a very good playoff run, He led the Sixers scoring, and was more aggressive going to the hoop, displaying an ability to finish with either hand. In these playoffs we learned that Jrue is not afraid or fazed by any situation. He is 21, and it seems like he will be here for a long time.
Evan Turner: Nobody had more of a roller coaster season than him. We were ready to see that back-court of Jrue/Evan grow together from the beginning, but it took a little longer than expected. Early on ET was stuck behind Collins’ love-child Jodie Meeks for some odd reason. All jokes aside Doug held Evan back. Turner had a tendency to mope at times, though he made great strides in the playoffs. He seemed to enjoy being Public Enemy #1 in Chicago, and was unfazed by the boos he received. Like Jrue, he seemed not to be scared of any situation. Still needs to work on that jumper. He and Jrue should be the back-court for a long time one would think.
Thaddeus Young: He is the heart and soul of this team. He always sacrifices his body to help the cause. Overall, Thad had very good season. His mid-range jumper got better, which enabled him to get to the lane more. His jumper did seem to disappear late in the season and playoffs because of fatigue. Constantly going up against the bigger, stronger power forwards finally wore him down. Thad really does not have a position. He doesn’t have good enough handle to be a starting small forward, and isn’t strong enough to be a starting at the four. When Thad is going, he is matchup nightmare for opposing teams. Like Doug said, he needs to add about ten pounds of muscle, and improve his jumper even more.
Nikola Vucevic/Lavoy Allen – I will start with Vuch. He showed that he has soft hands, and a nice little jumper. He was willing to bang with the big-men down low, but he would get pushed around at times. He needs to get stronger. Collins lost confidence in him when he hit the “rookie wall”. I would have played him through it.
Lavoy my man, where did you come from? He had a couple decent showings in the regular season, but who knew this was coming. Allen showed that he can be a force offensively and defensively as well. He made Kevin Garnett work for every inch on the court. What remains to be seen is if he can do it consistently. If he does, the Sixers have found a diamond in the rough. The Sixers have made a qualifying offer to Lavoy for $900,000. They will likely have to pay more than that.
Who Goes
Elton Brand: I love the way he plays. He showed his true toughness in the postseason by basically playing with one shoulder. To me at least, it seemed like he took Lavoy under his wing. Brand didn’t have much left, but what ever he had left he gave to the Sixers. True professional. Sixers will most likely amnesty him. He is going into his last year of his contract at $18 million. Interesting thought here, the Sixers could hold on to him until the trade deadline if they don’t like the way the offseason is shaking out. We all know how the NBA loves their expiring contracts. Who knows if the owners are willing to eat his contract.
Lou Williams: He finished second in the 6th man voting. He had solid year, but his style of play hurt the Sixers as much as he helped them. He was a one trick pony. If he wasn’t scoring he did nothing else. Doug is to be blamed a little for this as well for thinking Lou was the only option at the end of games. That act got old real quick. Lou struggles creating for others. He has a player option for next year at $ 6 million. Everyone seems to think he will opt out. I am hoping he does just that.
Spencer Hawes: Hawes teased the team with a number of double-doubles early in the season. He spent most of the year trying to get healthy, and then was hit or miss in the playoffs. He’s a soft defensive presence, and the Sixers will let someone else pay him big money.
Jodie Meeks: Yes, when Jodie is on he can really make an impact on a game. Though such impacts would happen only once a month or so. He probably was Doug’s favorite player on this team. All honestly, maybe he could fit on this team as a 8th or 9th man coming of the bench. Though he is not consistent enough with his jumper. He seems unlikely to return.
Craig Brackins/Sam Young/Tony Battie - Well, Brack at least you have a nice Fo-Hawk. Later.
Sam I actually like your game. I saw what you brought to Memphis last year when Gay got hurt. He didn’t get a chance here and it seems like he will be gone.
Tony, can we name you an assistant coach already?
Stuck in the Middle
Andre Iguodala: He had his best overall year in his Sixers career. He has become a top-three wing defensive player. It still is a flat-out joke that he didn’t even make second team all defensive. He has become the player he has always should have been: defense first, offense second. Iggy is a good all-around player. He even developed a solid three-point shot when he is set. He was clutch in the playoffs too. He has changed some people’s minds about him with his play. He might be the piece that could help the Sixers get a big-man. If they are able to get that for him I am all for it. I wouldn’t move just to move him.
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Posted by Joe Hickman Jr.
on May 30 2012. Filed under 76ers, BREAKING NEWS, News.
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I also like the Pacers GM who may be replaced soon, Kevin Pritchard who has done a very good job of putting that playoff team together and gave the heat a run for there money..
Jon, you ain’t saying anything that we all didn’t know already. I said a thousand times on here, that they pu$$!ed out on the Stinky for Ellis trade. You don’t have any sources you deranged imbecile. We all know how to read other sites. You bring ZERO to the table. STFU, & go root for your girlfriend Bron-Bron. You ain’t no Sixer fan, you annoying fraud.
Celts Big 3 are similar to the Phils with their Big 4 and now Big 3 Pitchers which have failed to win anything since they were brought together..
At least the Celts won 1 Championship with the Big 3
Where have you gone Lidge, Madson,Eyre,Durbin, Tom Gordon, Rudy Seaenz, Clay Condrey,Jamie Moyer, Adam Eaton & JA Happ..
I wouldnt compare the two teams paul being that this is year 2 of 3 of that pitching group not year 5 like the Celtics. Weve run into some injuries right now with Doc and noone can tell me Lee is 100% healthy he has something wrong there and on top of that his confidence is bruised which may be worst than the injury i believe he has.
My phillies point-I always felt that Ruben was spending too much money on pitching and put too much emphasis on pitching when there are other positions of importance. We need a bat or 2, a 3rd baseman an outfielder.. I think ruben becoming gm was a gift and a curse. A gift because we have a gm in there that takes chances and will go out and get the guy we need. A curse because he spends too much money and over spends for pitching. Like paul mentioned we won a championship with with Cole Hamels and a bunch of stiffs. This is rubens fault. But we still have time to get this team on track. NL east is unattainable they just gotta hope they can get a wildcard..
I think you have to build your Roster around your Ball Park too..
SInce CBP is a hitters Park, then maybe you want to have a few more bopper in your line-up .. Play in San Diego, Los Angeles, then the small-ball type of Roster workd better …
So true paul, this bp is for hitters another reason why i blame ruben because hes had plenty of opportunities to bring one in and dont give me the pence trade… also and lets not forget about the lack of production from RHoward ChaseUtley and JRoll who are a shell of themselves since the 08′ championship year. This team seems incapable of playing small ball too.. That 08′ team wasnt even a great one but they had heart and did what it took to win the games. This year has been such a disappointment. We can only hope we get a healthy Doc back and howard who i know wont be healthy and may need to shut it down for this year and utley and make the call for Dom Brown, may even have to try and trade Lee with that ridiculously huge contract that no teams want a part of.. i still think hes injured though. They need a bat the most.
**More Sixers News and Other**
The Sixers are willing to trade out of the 1st round for a veteran player according to JH source. Position wasnt mentioned..
According to JH source they “would not be least bit suprised” to see the Kings shopping Marcus Thorton or Tyreke Evans along with that 5th overall pick to see what they could get.
My Thoughts: Before i made my news post about the sixers i was going to say i wouldnt be surprised to see the sixers go after Tyreke Evans as Dre’s replacement. Tyreke can play 3 positions. I would rather have him over evan turner to be honest. Hes a good player playing on a horrible team. But he has a winners mentality and it would be great for him to return back to philly. I would not be surprised to see him playing for the sixers come next season..
Problem with Tyreke Evans is that he’s another player who does not shoot the ball that well, h’s a gooive player and more of a driver,slasher on Offense and the 76ers have enough of those type of players already.. Get some Shooters Rudy Gay, George Hill Brandon Bass would be my preference..
Paul were on the same page with them picking up brandon bass but he has already come out and said he expects to be signing back with the celtics.. Humphris is a possibility for us. But like the report said there trying to trade out of the first round for a vet player idk what position, im thinking either shooting guard or center. Rudy gay can shoot but hes another one that just averages 19 a game. We need someone that will put up 20 or more every night. Tyreke can do that. Hes a natural scorer thats ready to be the face of a franchise. Imagine how much buzz would be around this team and city if they bring Tyreke back home? I hope they can pull off a trade to bring him here. I also think they will be shopping evan turner on the low. I like george hill too, a ton of talent, stong, fearless and can really fill it up but will be back with the pacers.. they wont let him walk
What’s the matter Jon, no pom-poms, no talk about your boy toy Bron-Bron?!? 1 down, 3 to go, you fraud! Durant is a freaking beast. I love that kid. If Westbrook, wasn’t shooting like Ray Charles, the Heat would have gotten blasted off of the court. No chest pumping tonight, huh fraud?!? Now you’re on the 76ers kick again. You are a bandwagon hoping, front running, fraud!!!!
Tyreke Evans is a solid, all around player, & is no better of a shooter, than Stinkadala. No Thanks! Give me either Josh Smith (who has demanded a trade), Rudy Gay, or Al Jefferson. You to either get a good shooter, or a good big man, in return for Stinkadala. Brandon Bass, is a one hit wonder! He is a veteran, journeymen. I don’t want any more, undersized, freaking players, playing at their positions. Give me 6’11″- 7’1″ Athletic, rebounding Centers; 6’10″ PF; 6’7″- 6’8″ scoring, SG. No more undersized, freaking swing-men, multi-positioned players, with no true position. Didn’t you guys have enough, eith Thad, Stinky, ET, Jrue & Lou Will, playing out of position all year. I’M SICK OF IT! If you can get Smith, for Stinky, do all you can to sign Javalle McGee, Courtney Lee, Jason Terry, & Reggie Evans. If you get Rudy Gay for Stinky, sign McGee, Lee & Jason Thompson/ Ryan Anderson/ Ersan Ilyasova & Terry. Highly doubt Indiana lets Hibbert go. So that’s just a pipe dream.
Very Very sad day. After watching OKC and Miami it really dawned on me that it really doesnt matter. If we don t have a Durant and Westbrook a Lebron and Wade, a Derrick Rose or Dirk Nowvitski nothing really matters. We will never even compete for anything. Its hopeless and useless. LoL I read all the posts with Rudy Gay, Tyreke Evans etc etc etc. It really doesnt matter. What do players like that do against Lebron and Kobe and Durant? We dont even have anyone as good as Carmelo and Stoudemiere. Its hopeless in the NBA.
So dagg, what do you want them to do, take their balls & go home, or disband the organization?!? They have to rebuild, & rebuild with people capable of doing their jobs. Not the inept, bunch of f^#@ing idiots, that we have had, for the last 30 years. We caught lightning in the bottle in 2001. Other than AI, that team was a bunch of nobodies, in which he carried, all of the way to the finals. Would you rather have Stinkadala, or Gay? Would you rather have Hawes, or McGee? Would you rather have Brand, or Smith? So it does matter who we get. You don’t have to have, a superstar, to win a Championship. You can have a team of good- great players, & win. That’s the problem, we have a bunch of mediocre players, at best!