As you already know from reading some of my previous post I tend to develop a “man crush” time to time. Really don’t know why I do but I just do. The reason probably is that I am a psychotic Philly sports fan. That is the only reason I can think of. Right now, I see myself slowly developing one on Jrue Holiday. Man, I just love the way he approaches the game.
Holiday who is only 21 years old was drafted out of UCLA in the first round in 2009 draft. At one time Jrue was ranked number 2 in the nation for recruits by rivals.com. The Sixers took him with 17th overall pick. He could have easily been a lottery pick. The reasoning he was not was that he played out of position in college. UCLA played him at the two-guard position along side of Indiana Pacers guard Darren Collison.
He was actually on the UCLA team that Villanova smoked while on there way to the final four. In his rookie season 2009-2010 season he was more of the last guy on the bench until the Sixers started to lose a ton of games. Thanks to our favorite coach Eddie Jordan. Dude, do you know that he is coaching a high school team right now for about 3 million dollars because the Sixers are still paying him. Damn. Jrue took over the starting point guard from Lou Williams late in that season.
That is when I first noticed a 19-year old at that time this kid can play little bit. Enter 2010-2011 season. BOOM. Under Doug Collins teaching right from the start you could notice that he had something special. What impressed me the most was his basketball IQ and the way he handle himself on the court. Man, the kid was 20 years old and he was playing like a veteran out their. He kind of reminds me of Chauncey Billups just more athletic than Billups.
We saw him average in his first full season as a starter 14 points 6.5 assists and 4 rebounds to go along with shooting .446 percent from the field. I had to keep telling myself he was only 20-years old last season. The “man crush” was beginning. Then we watch him played well in his first playoff 
series against LeBron’s day care.
Watching him and sweet Lou knocking down big shots in the final minute of game 5 against Miami was the past feeling I had in years for the Sixers. Just got me thinking even more how special of a player he could be. Even in a preseason game the other night. He has clear layup but decided to pull the ball out to run the clock. Ok, the ‘man crush” is in full effect now.
Jrue is a very good defender. Sees the floor well and can finish with either hand at the basket. As he continues to develop he will be able to post up smaller guards also. Once he develops more of a consistent jumper watch out boys and girls. His shot really is not that bad anyway. People we might be watching a star be born.
Chase Utley you should be jealous right now. About my man crush that is.
As long as this team has Igoudala & Brands contracts, it doesn’t matter. This team is the same mediocre team as last year. They just signed Thadd to all that $$$ to start on the bench. If not Turner sits & loses out on progression. That’s why Igoudala should have been traded already. Absolutely ridiculous, that he is still here. He must have pornographic pictures of someone. Because he is a overrated, f^#@ing bum.
I’ll watch & maybe go to a few, but I can’t get all chunked up about this team. Does anyone really think we have a shot to beat Chicago, Miami, Knicks, Atlanta, Orlando, L.A Clips, L.A. Lakers, Mavs, Oklahoma City, Memphis?
The answer is NO!!! We should be rebuilding around the young talent we have, not hanging onto false hopes. Jrue will be a stud for a long time. Maybe not a superstar, but a stud. Gotta surround him better players, not all of the tweeners & overrated stiffs we have. Turner is still a big???? Iggy blows! Brand is almost fini! Thadd & Williams are paid to be a starters, & right now they aren’t. Also all of big men, Hawes, Speights, Vucevic, are all soft.
You make fair points DCar, but this team plays hard and thanks to Collins they play the right way. I got back into the NBA last year because of them. The fact that they won’t win a title is the same problem that about all but 4-5 teams in the NBA are facing. No reason to stop watching.
Whats up guys. I have a 12 Man NBA Fantasy league with 3 more spots open. If anyone is interested in joining reply to this post here or email me at vricchini at yahoo dot com. Thanks
East Dcar,
This Team has been so bad for so long, with a lot of questionable signings and drafting and now there is some Light at the end of the Tunnell with some great young Talent and a solid Coach in Collins who will maximize his players Talent’s and have this team competing on a consistent basis…
Are the 76ers going to contend for the Eastern Conference Championship this Season, probably not, but they are an improving team and have brought energy and excitment back to Philly about Professional Basketball again so let’s support them as they continue to improve and move up the ladder.
Dcar – how do you know Vucevoc is soft – dude is a rooke with 0 seconds of NBA regular season experience. Is 2012 a shitty year?
Man, your statements really verify those of Jimmy Rollins – you’re a classis front runner.
Guys thanks for checking out my articles! I love talking basketball. Good stuff fellas! Paulman to answer your question. I do have couple of man crushes. LOL
Schiller, you & Rollins can go f^#@ yourselves, & you can go back under the rock in which you came. How do I know he is soft, because I have eye’s, a brain & know sports!? Do you even know anything about Basketball? If you don’t know what you are talking about, don’t make comments about other peoples opinions. I watch college basketball & football even more than the pro-levels, so I know what I’m talking about, when I make comments, I don’t talk out of my @$$. BTW, how am I a front runner by criticizing players play & talent? Did I say I am not routing for them because they stink? NO!! Didn’t I say I would go to some games & watch? YES!!! Did I say I can’t get all chunked up (Which means get excited, in case your are too stupid to understand) over them? YES!! So read slowly, next time, before making your stupid clueless comments to me, bunghole! You know nothing about everything. You just come on here to irritate & to get under everyones skin. At least Navy has the balls & brains to except things for what they are. Dude you don’t have a f^#@ing clue. Like I said before don’t make $#!t up that isn’t there, & if you don’t like what I say, don’t read it. Too bad if you don’t. What you think is meaningless to me anyways, because you are delusional, clueless, cut off from reality, & basically don’t know what you are talking about.
Happy Holidays to all!!!
I must be losing touch with the current lango but i thought a stud player was someone who was a superstar or close to being one. Not just player with potential. But we havent had a point guard in this town like him in a long time.A.I wasnt a pg he was a sg all the way. And if you have a very good point guard then you will be in the playoffs. If you notice around the league all the great teams have wonderful point guards. The sixers are right on the same road now. They have a not good but a very good point guard that is only 21 years old. He actually reminds me of chris paul. Hes obviously not as good as him yet but he reminds me of him. And billups too like you said Joe. But the sixers have a chance to really take this league by storm. There solid at every position. They play very good defense. Can score the ball. They have a post presence if they need one in brand and hawes. Theyre not wear they need to be just yet but i see them winning 40 games this year. They have youth on there side as well as continuity, chemistry, they have leadership, and theyre identity is begining to show more and more led by the young superstar Jrue Holiday…
D – my comment was in reference to your general gist – that you’re just not convinced that the team will contend, and therefore, you seem to not care much. My understanding of a ‘front runner’ is a fan who only really invests interest in a team when they’re one of the best and likely to win a championship. You said “As long as this team has Igoudala & Brands contracts, it doesn’t matter. This team is the same mediocre team as last year.” Basically, you’re saying that you know how they’ll end up and you don’t care about following the team that much because you’re convinced that they won’t have great success. Just saying, you sound an awful lot like a front runner – you’re only interested in A or A+ success, not the progression from c- level play to b/b+.
Schiller.I agree with your last points. There are too many front runners that call themselves philly sports fans. They cant even respect the fact that the sixers are trying to do this from the ground up. Through all the bad contracts of A.I and Cwebb and SDalembert, Ebrand and Iggy theyve struggled to acquire talent in free agency. But now theyre drafting very well and this has allowed them to develop within especially now that they have a superb coach in Doug Collins who could have gotten coach of the year with the great job he did in his first year.. But i say to all who call themselves sixers fans be patient with this team and chill with all the comparisons to the elites because this team isnt elite and thats obvious but what they are is hard working and can play some great defense and can play with any team in the league because of the way they play the game and because of how they are coached.. but all that nonsense about them not being this team or that team is bologna.. be patient and enjoy the process.. every team that is elite had to develop just like we are right now.. but this could be the year the sixers take the next step..
**40 wins**
66 Game Schedule — I am calling for a 37-29 Record and a #4 to#5 Seed
behind the Bulls,Heat, Pacers, and in the mix with Celts/Knicks/Hawks
Watch out for my Pacers with made some nice aquisitions
Starting Line-up
Center – Roy Hibbert (Back-up Jeff FOster)
PF – David West (Back-Up Tyler Hansbrough)
SF – Danny Granger (one of the most underrated players in the NBA) then Point Guard – Darren Collison (Back up AJ Wright)
SG – Paul George (Back-up George Hill – another underrated player)
PAcers are my Dark Horse team in the Eastern COnference