It’s Jodie Meeks’ Night As Sixers Roll Over Wizards, But What Lies Ahead

I was really thinking about this as I watched the Sixers cruise past the Wizards for a 120-89 victory. I was thinking to myself that I always like to put numbers on guys in the beginning of a season. Like Holiday, I  thought to myself 17 points and 7 assists this year for him, Turner 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and Brand 12 points, 8 rebounds and Lou 14 points, 3 assists. The more and more I thought about it, you cannot put a number on any individual on this team. You just can’t.

They put the team first before anything by putting their personal goals aside. Elton Brand said it best the other night after he dropped 21 points and 10 rebounds against the Kings. He said that they have a different guy stepping up every night. Sometimes it is him or Thad or even Jrue. The most important thing he mentioned was that it is about “US” meaning them as a team. You hear professional players say that stuff all the time. I put my team first and they really don’t. This is what I love about this team. They say it is about them as a team and they back it up. This team has no egos.

Only one time this season have they had a guy leading them in scoring in back to back games. Iggy did it against the Raptors and the Pacers with 14 points and 20 points respectively. They have had only two guys score 25 points or more, that being Lou and Meeks. They have had five guys in double figures in points in every game this year except for one game. They have actually had six guys in double figures four times and they have had seven guys in double figures twice.

Listen, before anyone jumps down my throat like I said before they are not going to win the title this year. The Bulls and the Heat are in a class by themselves. All I am saying is just enjoy the ride and the growth of this team. I know I sound like a broken recorded here. I just want people to take this team for what they are.

The best example of this team I can give so far this season is the Knicks game. They were playing their third game in as many nights and their fifth game in six days. They were down 17 points with 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter. They could have easily just said this is not our night and let the Knicks blow them out. Not this team.

With nothing really going their way all night long this team fought tooth and nail to be down just 4 points with 30 seconds left and with the ball in their hands. I am not trying to glorify this team, I am telling you what they are. They are a fun, gritty, blue-collar team. That is what Philly loves right?

This team will likely have to make a couple moves down the line to get to the next level obviously. The one name I keep hearing people talking about is Dwight Howard. I would love to get Howard. I am a little weary of giving up our future in the deal though.

Thad, Holiday and Turner are who the Magic would likely want in return for him. Personally I do not think they would want Iggy in the deal. Though to have the money match-up right, it would seem if he would have to be in it. Usually when a team trades their Superstar they want a ton of young talent back in return instead of high price vets.

Howard can be a free agent at the end of this year because he has a player option for next season. Do you think he would come here? Sixers have $49 million against the cap next year with the cap likely being around $58 mill to $60 mill next season according to HoopsHype.com. Brand will be in his last year of his contract at 18 mill next year. That has amnesty clause written all over it. So that would leave them $31 mill against the cap.

Obviously they might sign some other free agents so that money would move some. It is really that crazy to think Howard would come here? The Lakers are getting older. The Nets have D-Will but that is it and he’s scheduled to be a free agent as well. He really does not seem to be happy in New Jersey. Boston is even older than the Lakers. Maybe Dallas? They have a lot of high priced vets and likely cannot afford him. The Knicks have Chandler and Amare. They would have to trade Amare to make room. The Heat are tied up with Wade, LeBron and Bosh for a while.

This whole thing does not seem that crazy to me. It all depends on how Howard feels about the Sixers. If the Sixers can keep  winning games and even maybe win a round in the playoffs they might look attractive to him. Obviously I am thinking off the top of my head here and maybe it’s the homer in me talking. Though it is fun as hell just thinking about it. Just saying..