The 76ers: 2007-08 [4-4] Sadly, errored and over. See my Orl

[joeygraham]

King sent packing

January 17. Mark that day down Philadelphia fans. With the Chris Webber buyout complete and Allen Iverson already established in Colorado, GM Billy King resigned his post and bid his employment in the NBA a probable adieu. Replacing him will be upstart Koop Terug, matching the youth movement on the roster with a young employer in management. Mr. Terug has worked within the college system for a couple of years now and is noted for his keen eye in evaluating talent. He will assume control of the listless 76ers immediately and will look to shake things up. Having an asset in Andre Miller, another trade is likely on the horizon but no guarantees. Terug is of a defensive school which values inside presence and smart playmaking. He could not be reached for an interview at this time.

As a note, I will be simming the season up till the 17th then sporadically play 4th quarters for this season. I am using the recent NLSC roster so Iverson will play the entire season with the Nuggets. Webber will be benched until he is cut. I won't touch a thing and let the simulation run as though I was not with the organization until the above date. I will also try to acquire some picks as should be due to the 76ers from the Iverson trade. As that does not seem to be working through some teams.dbf editting (if someone knows how to do it, please share), I will have to take the players in the off-season. I will not be using real prospects; most stuff will happen starting the offseason of the following year.

Additionally, I hope to be able to engage the readers and get you to help work out reasonable trades. If I am going to trade Miller, I am not going to try to get players teams would not realistically trade away (i.e. Josh Smith on the Hawks). I look to you to look from the standpoint of opposing GMs and assess the deals.

[joeygraham]

Schedule Type: NBA
Season Length: 82 Gamess
Sim Quarter Length: 12 minutes
Playoff Length: 7-7-7-7
Simulation Injuries: Yes
Fantasy Draft: No
Simulation Type: Intervention
Level: Superstar
Quarter Length: 12 minutes

Games I play I will enter in the fourth quarter. I will sim the game so that my opponents' score is no greater than 15 points more than mine, and that mine is no more than 5 points greater than their score.

[joeygraham]

Roster

The Starting Five



Samuel Dalembert C 6-11 250 1981 Seton Hall 5
Benedict Nikolaev F-C 7-1 246 1984 Russia R
Rodney Carney SF 6-7 205 1984 Memphis 1
Andre Iguodala F-G 6-6 207 1984 Arizona 3
Declan Parker G 6-1 208 1983 Fresno State R


The Bench




Willie Green G 6-3 201 1981 Detroit Mercy 4
Darrell Armstrong PG 6-1 130 1968 Fayetteville State 13
Kyle Korver G-F 6-7 210 1981 Creighton 4
Adrian Cedric G 6-6 223 1984 Memphis R
Anderson Varejao F-C 6-10 240 1982 Brazil 3
Steven Hunter C-F 7-0 240 1981 DePaul 6
Shavlik Randolph F-C 6-10 240 1983 Duke 2


The Injury Reserve



Erwin Johnson F 6-7 253 1984 Western Carolina R
Louis Williams G 6-1 175 1986 South Gwinnett HS (Snellville, GA) 2
Kevin Ollie PG 6-3 195 1972 Connecticut 10


Here is the playing rotation, updated as it changes:

[joeygraham]

Season Standings and Awards

The standings will be updated occasionally. Refer to the title for the up-to-date Philadelphia 76ers' record.

Standings

Eastern Conference


Western Conference


There is currently no Power Ranking

Player Awards

November

East Player of the Month -
West Player of the Month -
East Rookie of the Month -
West Rookie of the Month -

December

East Player of the Month -
West Player of the Month -
East Rookie of the Month -
West Rookie of the Month -

January

East Player of the Month -
West Player of the Month -
East Rookie of the Month -
West Rookie of the Month -

February

East Player of the Month -
West Player of the Month -
East Rookie of the Month -
West Rookie of the Month -

March

East Player of the Month -
West Player of the Month -
East Rookie of the Month -
West Rookie of the Month -

[joeygraham]

Around the League


October Transactions
None


November Transactions
Washington signs SG Jared Caballero (Wake Forest) for 412K for 1 year
New York signs C-F Dakota Lamont (Purdue) for 411K for 1 year
Los Angeles (Lakers) sign F Wayne Hadson (Miami (OH)) for 412K for 1 year
Miami signs F-C Basel Emmet (LSU) for 412K for 1 year
Detroit signs G Cassius White (SMU) for 412K for 1 year
Seattle signs F Pedrag Vujanovic (Serbia-Montenegro) for 412K for 1 year
New Jersey signs G David Cortes (Central Michigan) for 412 for 1 year


December Transactions



January Transactions



February Transactions

[joeygraham]

Player Statistics Through January 17, 2007



Samuel Dalembert
He is supposed to be our defensive rock and the numbers just aren’t reflecting that. 5.7 defensive rebounds is good for best on our squad, but narrowly. Again, while second on our team for block, his 1.58 should easily be higher. Offensively he is producing more than expected, which is phenomenal to see that we might have a low post presence. He will continue to get minutes and starts, mostly because he is largely uncontested, but also because he is to be our defensive man in the middle, akin to Ben Wallace wherever he may be: not so much focused on offence but expected to expend tremendous energy on defence.

Grade: B
Anticipated output: 12 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2 blocks

Joe Smith
Realizing he is a very temporary piece of the ultimate plan due to his expiring contract, his role will likely see a sharp decrease; problem is there is no one really behind him on the depth chart that is a foreseeable factor. His stats, for a starter, are hardly laudable but Smith is largely considered a bust and realizes he is only here for his expiring contract. At least he has been hitting the offensive glass; it shows admirable tenacity but he is not a two-way player and that is putting more pressure on the other four players on the floor. I hope to see more of Shavlik Randolph, provided he can produce, but this is a glaring hole. Smith will continue to be a role player on this squad but can expect to see his minutes shrink.

Grade: C
Anticipated output: 8 points, 5.5 rebounds

Andre Iguodala
AI2 now becomes our AI and our keystone to success. Defensively he is a gem leading the team in steals and blocks. Offensively, he could use some work on his distributing since carrying the team on his 17.5 ppg is not a recipe for success. He will others to establish themselves as viable second, and if possible, third options. While capable of putting up 30 points in a night, he will offset that with a poor night and no one will be of any assistance. He plays both ends of the court with vigour and is capable of holding off the opponent’s top wingman but we will need to find him a suitable sidekick. He will be turned more as the season progresses and allowed more control on the court.

Grade: A
Anticipated output: 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.75 steals, 1.75 blocks

Willie Green
Coming off an injury that sidelined him for a year, Green is doing a spot up job at the two. Though he is the starter he is getting fewer minutes than Kyle Korver at shooting guard but Korver’s minutes have been warranted. Keeping Korver as the sixth man has made Green the starter but really he is suited for the role of substitute. Capable of manning the one and create mismatches with his height, Green has to maintain his shot to continue getting minutes. There are a lot of wingmen on this team and a few bad performances could wind one up on the far end of the bench. That being said, Green has performed well enough to likely keep him the starter or at least an immediate substitute at either guard position, though he will need to prove himself as a confident passer, even from the wing, to cut into the rotation at point guard when everyone is healthy; he just needs to stay out of a suit jacket himself given his history and the fact that he is currently nursing an injury.

Grade: C+
Anticipated output: 11 points, 3.5 assists, 1.25 steals

Andre Miller
Miller has certainly asserted himself as a force for the 76ers, but he is more prized for his playmaking than his shooting. His hustle on the offensive end has effected a rise in his stock for a team seeking a veteran starting point guard, but his hard work and the team’s lack of a possible replacement may cause him to stick around for a little while. He is second on the team in steals and points and handily leads the squad in assists at 6.2. He is certainly a valuable commodity and there is no hurry to ship him out but if the right offer came along we will part ways. He is meeting all expected goals and will not see his minutes compromised.

Grade: B+
Anticipated output: 16.5 points, 6.5 assists, 1.75 steals

Kyle Korver
Korver has been an offensive sparkplug off the bench and that is exactly what he needs to continue to be. Initially cut in minutes with Green performing well, Korver’s playing time has dramatically increased with his posting of numerous 20-point games when Green suffered a minor injury. While his offensive output should increase, he is contributing in other areas which is quite a nice surprise: he is one of three players averaging over a steal a game; averages the second-most assists per game; and is grabbing an offensive board a game, which is shocking given his tendency to hang around behind the three point arc. As long as his shot stays true and his shot selection is efficient he will have all the minutes he can use effectively.

Grade: B+
Anticipated output: 16 points, 1 steal

Rodney Carney
He has been solid as Iguodala’s backup; problem is he is suited for small forward and really only there. He is an intriguing talent with the ability to score and move but without a shifting of positions will remain a benchplayer taking minutes from Iggy. His numbers are respectable but should see improvement if line-ups are shaken up, freeing more time at SF, which is a distinct possibility. In the meantime, however, he will not get the chances we hope will be afforded to him soon.

Grade: C+
Anticipated output: 5 points, 2.5 rebounds

Steven Hunter
Hunter is pulling down the minutes at centre behind Dalembert remarkably, averaging almost a block a game and coming in at fourth in terms of rebounds. He is a solid defensive post player and will be looked upon to continue to perform in this role.

Grade: C+
Anticipated output: 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1.25 blocks

Alan Henderson
Henderson is an expiring contract and a veteran presence who has been quietly pulling his weight, given then dearth at power forward. He can stand to contribute a couple more points and a rebound or so more but he is hardly a part of the team’s future and is a bit role player and mentor.

Grade: C
Anticipated output: 4 points, 4 rebounds

Kevin Ollie
Ollie is a veteran point guard who is really struggling to produce in his limited minutes. A capable floor leader who has not shown his ability to pass, leaving him with just 1.8 assists averaged. The organization is not expecting too much of Ollie in the remainder of the season, instead looking to possibly confer point guard duties to Louis Williams. He should still maintain his current averages.

Grade D+
Anticipated output: 4 points, 2 assists

Shavlik Randolph
Thus far he has been almost ineffective even though he has been limited in playing time. Management is hoping giving him more time will see him increasing production significantly and perhaps he will be, similar to David Lee of the Knicks, a solid rebounder and scorer, but nothing spectacular. It has yet to be seen how well he can adapt to a larger role.

Grade: D+
Anticipated output: 6 points, 6 rebounds

Louis Williams
Another intriguing talent that has been sitting at the end of the bench has been given a few minutes here and there due to Willie Green’s injury. He is small so he can, in the mould of Allen Iverson, be a scoring point guard. He should see more floor time in the upcoming months and see his averages rise. We would like to see his passing abilities on display to test his competency at the 1. His ceiling, or floor even, has yet to be seen.

Grade: C-
Anticipated output: 6 points, 2 assists, 0.75 steals

Carlos Delfino
Possibly a contributor he has expressed a desire to abandon the NBA altogether. His attitude has relegated him to a suit and jacket come game time but he has shown in the past that he can shoot.

Grade: D
Anticipated output: none

Bobby Jones
He has been given little time and will only see minutes if there is a rash of injuries to small forwards.

Grade: D
Anticipated output: none

All in all we have a decent squad, save someone to play power forward. I will be attending the home games and give my feedback upon watching the actual live play. We will likely see some different line-ups and minutes will fluctuate initially. Players might also be sent packing, which is why I need to stay in Philadelphia for the first little while, to look at any deals to be made.

[joeygraham]

76ers Fall in First Game in King-less Era

Miami 92 | Philadelphia 82

January 19
The 76ers played hard but came up 11 points shy of a victory against the visiting 21-17 Miami Heat in the first game since Koop Terug took over as GM. Facing a scare early in the game with Andre Iguodala suffering a minor injury, the 76ers still managed to keep it close, trailing 69-66 going into the final frame. Kyle Korver had managed the bulk of the scoring, with 19 to that point, and Andre Miller provided another 13. The real surprise was the efficiency with which Rodney Carney filled in for AI2, recording 6 points, 5 rebounds and a team-high 4 assists along with a block and a steal; still no defensive whiz like Iguodala who posted, in spite of playing just 11 minutes thus far, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Having to play without starting shooting guard Willie Green and a less-than-full-strength Samuel Dalembert hurt the 76ers odds, but they remained resilient.

The gap only widened insurmountably with under 4 minutes to play when the score was 87-80 with 3:14 left to play. The numerous turnovers committed and lack of shooting touch by Iguodala and Miller, combined with an exhausted pair at centre unable to fend off Shaquille O'Neal's relentlessness on the boards, seeing him earn Player of the Game honors with a 30 point, 14 rebound effort. The 76ers tied it at 74 with just under 8 minutes to play on a Korver trey but it would be his only one of the quarter. From there, a series of bad passes, a pair by Steven Hunter, took scoring chances away from the home team and gave Miami fast break opportunities, which fortunately they did not perfectly convert. The 76ers seemed a step slow on defence as evidenced by the fast breaks. One example near the end of the game saw an indecisive 76er offence run the shot clock down and Carney fire a deep three-pointer which was promptly recovered by James Posey who then ran the floor and went up for the lay-up, only to be fouled hard by Carney and injured. All-in-all though the squad seems like once all its starters return to health will fare a little better now that the locker room is, save all the complaints about losing, gripe-free. Dalembert should be better by next game and Willie Green should be back within the next three games, though not at full strength. The 76ers play host to the San Antonio Spurs on the 21st.

I did not take any pictures during this game but rest assured there will be for future contests.

[joeygraham]

Barry, Spurs Bury 76ers

San Antonio 110 | Philadelphia 103

January 21
The 29-12 San Antonio Spurs rolled into down and steamrolled over the 76ers in a decisive 110-103 victory. Both teams were missing starting men in their backcourts, with the Spurs' playing sans Tony Parker and the 76ers without Willie Green again, and things became a little scarier for the Spurs when Emanuel Ginobili went down with an injury early in the fourth, though still comfortable leading 91-77. Prior to the final quarter it was guard Andre Miller who was almost singlehandedly keeping the game somewhat close with his team-high 24 points and 4 assists. Iguodala was also in fine form having recorded 3 steals and 2 blocks to go with his 16 points. On the other page of the stat sheet, Brent Barry, who was named Player of the Game, surpassed his guarded opponent with 28 points of his own and 3 steals, though he would be shut out in the fourth quarter.

Trailing by 11 after surrendering an ungodly 48 third quarter points, the Spurs went on a 17-6 run that spanned over the first half of the quarter. Again hurt by carelessness with the ball, Philadelphia had 5 turnovers in that period and saw Miller get yanked for a few minutes after missing two shots and having two passes picked off. Iguodala again seemed to struggle to find his shot against the tough Spurs' defence, especially against Bruce Bowen. Even with Ginobili leaving the game just minutes into the quarter, the Spurs, now with a more-than-just-competent Michael Finley at the 2. The 76ers then went on to outscore the visitors 20-5 over the next 6 minutes but it was garbage time for the Spurs who only fielded two starters. Philadelphia fans did have occasion to rise to their feet during the comeback attempt when the deficit was cut to 9 with under two minutes and Rodney Carney, who again had an impressive fourth quarter, fouled Tim Duncan to send him to line, but Duncan made one of his free throws and Korver miseed a three point attempt and the 76ers' fate was sealed. The 76ers seek their first win with the new management on the 23rd against the New Orleans Hornets.

Images from the Game

Top left: Duncan dunkin' Top Right: Iguodala struggling for position Bottom left: Iguodala dunking on the fast break

[joeygraham]

GM Koop Terug offers some courtside notes

Granted Samuel Dalembert was not at 100% health, he has not been the defensive stalwart we had hoped. Offensively, has not had the ball in his hands…Perhaps our expectations for Andre Iguodala were set too high offensively. He has yet to discover his shot and most of his points have come off of dunks. He was nowhere to be seen on the offensive boards allowing Miami’s James Posey to rebound and run at will…Korver has been showing hustle, doing more than just hit shots. He should have the ball in his hands for a quick shot, especially near the end of the shot clock countdown…Andre Miller has a very slow first step and was completely outrun by Miami’s Jason Williams. He is 1-of-7 in the fourth quarter. Defensively he has not been bad though, helping in shutting out San Antonio’s Brent Barry and Beno Udrih…Rodney Carney has been a stud and has certainly earned more burn, hitting shots, rebounding and passing (note his stat line against Miami); problem is whose time suffers? Iguodala can play shooting guard but then we lack a real shooter on the wing, like Green or Korver, so unless he can establish himself as a capable outside shooter, he likely won’t get more than 12-18 minutes a night…Steven Hunter has a nice shot and is more offensively inclined than Dalembert but he certainly is not a better player. Perhaps he can spend some time at the 4 and form a very tough interior pairing, but another centre would be needed to bail out Dalembert from fatigue…Louis Williams has been playing mostly shooting guard and has seen his stats fluctuate. He has the best first step of all the current point guards on the roster but he seems to lack the passing and stealing I’d like to see in our point…Shavlik Randolph did not get the ball in his hands when he was on the floor but I can see him being a poor man’s Udonis Haslem, which is saying he is ultimately a bench player at best. He should be getting more playing time, perhaps some at centre, but expectations for him will be lowered. Getting a better-than-decent power forward is a necessity, be it through the draft or hopefully through a trade.

Speaking of trades, I’ve been busy gauging interest in Andre Miller around the league. There are a few suitor with some interesting parts. Here are some of the options around the league, looking from most plausible to least:

To Cleveland:
Cleveland has the most interest in Miller and they also have one of the most intriguing players in Anderson Varejao. The Cavs are looking to win now and have capable scorers and can use someone who is best utilized as a distributor. They also have Dwayne Jones and Daniel Gibson, two young players with upside. To match salaries, Cleveland has Scot Pollard’s large expiring contract. I feel like this could be the deal we make, but would need to include some sort of other addition to counterbalance taking a potential star-in-the-making in Varejao away.

To Indiana:
With Jamaal Tinsley as their starting point guard and knowing his injury history, Miller could be a key player in a Pacer run. Their recent acquisition of Ike Diogu is an attractive player to our organization but they lack expiring contracts to balance with Miller’s so we would have to take on a player for a couple of years at least.

To Memphis:
With their decision to run-and-gun and start their youth movement this trade now looks like it is not going to happen, though Memphis shows almost as much interest in upgrading at point guard as does Cleveland. Memphis’ roster is full of desirable players and contracts: Alexander Johnson, Lawrence Roberts, Hakim Warrick and Kyle Lowry talent-wise; Chucky Atkins and Eddie Jones for their expiring contracts. Making a deal with Memphis would require sacrificing something big on our part so it is highly unlikely that a deal will send Miller to the Grizzlies.

To Los Angeles Lakers:
Also not likely with the triangle offence in place in Tinsel Town, the Lakers have an expiring contracts in Aaron McKie and Chris Mihm and young guys in Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic that the 76ers could certainly use. Again, this deal is likely dead barring an injury to Jordan Farmar or Smush Parker.

Also showing some (though limited) interest in Miller which are: New York, Houston, Minnesota, Sacramento and Washington.

We also have an extra roster spot that we can fill and though I’d like to sign a power forward there are not too many available and certainly no real quality ones. There are a number of point guard available to sign, though.

Now that everyone is healthy, here is what the rotation will be:

[joeygraham]

I realize it has only been one day that this dynasty has been present, but I'm impatient and would like to see some people get involved, or at least post something to say hello or ask if I have any knowledge of theoretical physics, to which the answer is a definite no.

[joeygraham]

76ers Suffer Stinging Defeat by Hornets

New Orleans 108 | Philadelphia 105

January 23
The 16-23 New Orleans Hornets flew into Philadelphia offering a good chance for the 76ers to post a victory after a series of losses. That, however, was not to be. Philadelphia held a slim 84-82 lead going into the final frame but could not contain Chris Paul, later named Player of the Game for his 24-point, 6-rebound, 5-assist and 4-steal performance. Philadelphia seemed to catch a break when David West collected his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter and took a seat on the bench, but Marc Jackson played superbly in place and West needn't leave his seat for the the remainder of the game. Going into the fourth the Hornets had been very starter-heavy in terms of point production, with each starter save Desmond Mason scoring in double-digits, lead by Peja Stojakovic's 21. Philly, on the other hand, was led by Kyle Korver's incredible shooting touch, leaving him with 22 points to that point on 8-of-14 shooting, notably 5-of-8 from three-point range.

The fourth quarter did not see any break away in the scoring, with the largest lead being 4 points early in the quarter. Chris Paul proved too quick for Andre Miller, which seems to be a recurring problem, and neeted 8 points while missing a couple of should-be gimmes. Iguodala stepped up his defensive play, messing with a couple of shots, picking off two passes and after missing a lay up, proceeded to strip Tyson Chandler after he rebounded the ball. It was recovered by Samuel Dalembert, who slammed it down for 2 of his 4 fourth-quarter points. The drama was heavy as with just 29 seconds remaining and the score sitting at 106-105 after a Rodney Carney dunk, the Hornets brought the ball upcourt. After passing around for 18 seconds, Tyson Chandler, standing at the top of the key, fired a pass to Peja Stojakovic in the corner, only to have it intercepted by an eager Willie Green. With only ten seconds on the clock and looking at a possible fast break opportunity, the 76ers did not call a timeout and started to run down the floor; however, in his hurry, Green lost control of the ball and ended up hurling it down court and out of bounds. The 76ers fouled Paul, bringing him to the line with 6 seconds to go. He hit both free throws giving his Hornets a 3 point lead. After a quick timeout, Carney fired an inbound pass to Green, manning the point after Miller fouled out, who, with 3 seconds left, gave it to Korver behind the arc. He fired a shot up, but to no avail as it bounced off the rim as time expired. The 76ers will head to Cleveland to play a home-and-home pair of games next.

Image from the Game

Green stealing Chandler's pass with 10 seconds left in the game

[joeygraham]

Possible trades

With the team out of town for a couple of days, GM Koop Terug was busy discussing possible trade scenarios with numerous teams. Offers that are currently on the table are:

To Cleveland:_________________________________To Philadelphia:
PG Andre Miller________________________________C-F Anderson Varejao
SF Bobby Jones_______________________________C Scot Pollard (expiring)

To Cleveland:_________________________________To Philadelphia:
PG Andre Miller________________________________C-F Anderson Varejao
SF Bobby Jones_______________________________C Scot Pollard (expiring)
G-F Carlos Delfino_____________________________PF Dwayne Jones or PG Daniel Gibson

To Los Angeles Lakers:_________________________To Philadelphia:
PG Andre Miller________________________________G Aaron McKie (expiring)
SF Bobby Jones_______________________________C-F Chris Mihm (expiring)
G-F Carlos Delfino_____________________________PF Ronny Turiaf or G Sasha Vujacic

To Indiana:__________________________________To Philadelphia:
PG Andre Mille________________________________F-C Ike Diogu
G-F Carlos Delfino_____________________________C Jeff Foster

To Memphis:_________________________________To Philadelphia:
PG Andre Miller_______________________________G-F Eddie Jones (expiring)
SF Bobby Jones_______________________________PG Kyle Lowry
PF Joe Smith_________________________________PF Lawrence Roberts

I have also been trying to work out a possible multi-team trade involving Houston to acquire G-F Bonzi Wells (expiring) and PG John Lucas III.
(All the above deals will work cap-wise and will be accepted by the computer)

[diddy]

i don't know bout that offers, but i'm 100% sure there all sucks! u need a young playas, and u need more guns at offence! try to trade miller+dalembert + ... for curry and crawford or robinson! or try to trade miller+sm playa for delonte west+allen or green! or take a look at utah! deron williams is pretty cool!

[joeygraham]

i don't know bout that offers, but i'm 100% sure there all sucks! u need a young playas, and u need more guns at offence! try to trade miller+dalembert + ... for curry and crawford or robinson! or try to trade miller+sm playa for delonte west+allen or green! or take a look at utah! deron williams is pretty cool!

Diddy, if you were the GM of Utah, would you ever consider parting with Deron Williams and especially for an older PG like Miller? Same goes for Boston, who cannot win now so they are undergoing a youth movement. New York would be possible for Crawford perhaps, but Curry is the cornerstone of the offence and why would they need yet another PG in the mix? Though it does give me the idea of perhaps picking off a player who is buried in a rotation and is hardly getting minutes (as might be the case with West, though I would need to look at that) .The proposed trades above, while not phenomenal, are, in my mind, at least plausible were I on the other side of the trade scenario.

But thank you for being the first poster in my dynasty who isn't me.

[joeygraham]

76ers and Cavs Both Win on the Road in Home-and-Home Stand

Philadelphia 106 | Cleveland 99 in OT
Cleveland 109 | Philadelphia 102 in OT

January 26
Fresh off of collecting their first win with GM Koop Terug in a thrilling overtime 106-99 victory in Cleveland, the 30-12 Cavaliers headed to Philadelphia along with the hometown Cavs for what turned out to be another thrilling game, only with a different result. The 76ers were riding the momentum of the previous game, leading 69-67 going into the fourth. After harsh criticism from the new GM, Samuel Dalembert had turned his play right around, averaging 11 point and 10 rebounds over the past two games. Tonight, he already had 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks by the end of 36 minutes. Iggy, fresh off a 26 point, 12 rebound performance, had a team high 12 rebounds but a lacklustre 11 points, fourth on the team.

Coach Maurice Cheeks opted to start the third quarter with the two key shooters, Willie Green and Kyle Korver, on the bench, instead going with the defensive pairing of Iguodala and rookie Rodney Carney on the wing. Perhaps it was the lack of a shooter late in the shot clock or bad decision making, but two straight possessions were lost to time limits, prompting Cheeks to yank Andre Miller in favour of youngster Louis Williams. This, even with the exit of LeBron James, could not stop the Cavs from beginning to roll, lead by a seemingly unstoppable, and offensively surprising, Eric Snow, giving them a slim lead. The saviour of the quarter for the 76ers was the Haitian Sensation though: off a Carney miss, Dalembert grabbed the offensive rebound and hastily stuffed it down, drawing a foul by and injuring Zydrunas Iglauskas. Fast forward to 3 minutes left to play and, following a Larry Hughes dunk, an 88-83 deficit for the 76ers. In a desperate attempt to even the score, Kyle Korver beings jacking up treys, connecting with 2 of 3 attempts and the lone miss in this stretch being put back in by Dalembert, who added a free throw on the play. Korver's shooting touch led the 76ers to what appeared to be a safe victory, in spite of a missed FT attempt that would have sealed the deal and put Philly up by 4 with 3 seconds to play. Instead, Larry Hughes fired a deep, fade-away three-pointer which connected, tying the game and sending it into overtime. Overtime was dominated by the Cavaliers from the Nick Collison, a recent acquisition, winning the tip off. The 76ers were held scoreless for 3 minutes and even Ira Newble, substituted for a foul-laden James, was offensively potent for the Cavs. The 76ers tried to rally with a minute to play, but the 9 point deficit was ultimately too much as even when the Cavaliers were being intentionally fouled and missing free throws, Player of the Game Donyell Marshall was there to put back offensive rebounds. The Philadelphia 76ers now head on the road to visit the 17-25 Atlanta Hawks, then fly to play games in Houston and New Orleans.


Images from the Game


Top Left: Korver hits a three-pointer in the 4th quarter Top Right: Larry Hughes lay-up Bottom Left: Dalembert hanging on the rim

[joeygraham]

76ers Prove to be Road Warriors

Philadelphia 89 | Atlanta 108
Philadelphia 84 | Houston 80
Philadelphia 97 | New Orleans 79

Jan 31
Taking their show on the road, the 2nd worse franchise in the league at the moment looked sharp winning two of three games of their swing. Initially looking rather unimpressive the 76ers lost 108-89 to the 17-25 Atlanta Hawks. Attempting to shuffle the minutes, coach Maurice Cheeks benched veteran forward Alan Henderson, giving his minutes to Steven Hunter and Shavlik Randolph. As well, starter Willie Green's minutes at shooting guard were drastically cut for Andre Iguodala to shift over from his natural small forward position and thus creating more playing time for rookie Rodney Carney. The strategy did not seem to pay off as Carney posted just 4 points, as did Hunter, and Randolph did not manage a single point. On top of that, Samuel Dalembert reverted back to his sluggish ways, recording just 6 rebounds in 33 minutes and getting completely destroyed by reserve centre Lorenzen Wright who, in just 9 minutes, scored 15 points and added 2 blocks. The clear player of the game was Joe Johnson who scored a game-high 39 points on 17-of-25 shooting, and added 4 treys, 8 assists, 4 rebounds and a steal and block.

For the next contest, in Houston against the 27-16 Rockets, the 76ers seemed a bit more prepared, though the same changes that proved ineffective in the loss in Atlanta still did not yield results. Fortunately, the Rockets were without starting PF Juwan Howard, leaving a wide gap of about equal size at the position on both squads and the 76ers were able claim a 84-80 victory. The game was close through and through, with Philadelphia taking a marginal 6 point lead into the fourth quarter. Andre Iguodala's stellar defence on Tracy McGrady and Shane Battier led to the W and to garnering him with player of the game honours for his full stat line: 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 2 three pointers, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocks.

Two days and finally the team are playing well with the new playing assignments, edging the 18-28 New Orleans Hornets 97-79. While Kyle Korver shot the lights out, netting 25 points on 50% shooting, he earned player of the game for his 6 assists, 3 rebounds, steal and block. While not quite the defensive presence of AI2, who again astounded the home team with ridiculous defensive numbers, 4 steals and 3 blocks, Korver's shooting touch seemed to be missing the last couple of games and it was reassuring to see him perform well in the one dimension he is called on to excel. Rodney Carney finally showed why he was given more minutes, adding 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals in 17 minutes and Steven Hunter scored in double digits for the first time in over two weeks. Samuel Dalembert recorded a double-double, his fourth in six games, asserting his role as the centre of this team. The key to victory was limiting superstar point guard Chris Paul to just 15 points and 3 assists and shutting down sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic who finished with 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting and 0-of-5 from beyond the arc.

The 17-30 76ers return home to face 18-28 Golden State and will see Al Harrington in a Warriors' uniform for the first time on February 2nd.

[joeygraham]

Outrun and Outmatched, 76ers Fall to Warriors

Golden State 90 | Philadelphia 88

February 2
The 18-28 Golden State Warriors came to town and then went to town in a decisive fourth quarter 35-25 romping, leading them to a 90-88 victory. Philadelphia had built up a comportable 63-55 lead going into the fourth on Kyle Korver's and Andre Miller's 14 points a piece to add to recently named East Player of the Month Andre Iguodala's 11 point, 10 rebound, 3 steal and 2 block performance to that point. The key to victory was to contain the slew of guards that Golden State had to throw around, chiefly Baron Davis and Jason Richardson.

The fourth quarter saw the early exit of Al Harrington who left the game less than a minute into the fourth quarter taking his 15 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists out of the game to be replaced by the versatile G-F Matt Barnes. The 76ers maintained their control for the first half, but with the removal of Iggy, Miller and Dalembert, the defence crumbled and allowed an 8-4 run for the Warriors to take the lead. With 30 seconds to go, Baron Davis hit a deep three pointer to give the Warriors an 88-85 lead. Kyle Korver took a couple of errant treys, ultimately leading to Davis to shoot free throws, giving the visitors a 5-point lead with 10 seconds to play. Korver finally connected from beyond the arc, but Davis escaped being fouled as time expired. It turned out to be a need to control Davis and wingman Stephen Jackson, who together combined for 21 points in the fourth quarter, and Davis' final 29 points on 8-of-19 shooting, including 6 treys, 7 assists and 4 steals earned him Player of the Game. While the first game of a six game homestand before the All-Star Weekend was a loss, Philadelphia looks for a home victory against the 31-17 New Jersey Nets in three days time.


Image from the Game

Biedrins dunking after an offensive rebound

[joeygraham]

76ers Add Chase




With the up-tempo style many teams are employing around the NBA, a quick point guard is required to keep up. Looking at how the game against the Warriors played out, it seemed necessary to add a fleet-footed guard to the roster. With many viable options in Anthony Goldwire, Anthony Roberson, Kevin Burleson, the organization decided to gamble on undrafted rookie point guard Brian Chase. At only 25, this playmaker is as fast as they come, consistent from the line and plays intelligently on both ends of the court. While his passing skills are not as sharp as one would hope for in a guard and his size, listed at 5-10, is on the short side, he compensates for that with his quick hands and dribbling skills. He will join the team in time for the game against the Nets.

[joeygraham]

76ers, Chase Score Win Over Nets

New Jersey 85 | Philadelphia 92

February 5
The 31-17 New Jersey Nets came to visit and, without superstar Vince Carter, served Philadelphia with their first home victory with new GM Koop Terug. In a surprising line-up shake up, newly signed point guard Brian Chase started ahead of Andre Miller. This move only added to the speculation that Miller will be traded sooner rather than later, but ultimately proved a successful tactic. Chase had 13 points and 6 assists three quarters through his NBA debut, trailing on Andre Iguodala's 16 points for team-high, helping the 76ers to a 66-59 third quarter lead. Miller, on the other hand, had no points to his credit but an impressive 7 rebounds, 4 coming on the offensive end. With Antione Wright starting in place of the injured Carter, the Nets were clearly missing his scoring touch, though Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson both had 18 points to that point.

The Nets pulled within two points with 5:31 to play after Kidd picked off Kyle Korver's pass and took it downcourt for a lay-up, but Philadelphia proceeded to go on an 11-5 run to take the score almost out of reach on a succession of field goals, including a three-pointer by Korver. To add insult to injury, Wright pulled up lame after contact on a lay-up attempt and had to leave the game being replaced by third-string shooting guard Hassan Adams. While Kidd and Jefferson combined for 17 points in the final frame, the rest of the team was shut down and as a whole, shot under 50% from the field. Chase added 2 assists in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with a game-high 8. Flying under the radar, Rodney Carney finished with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting and added 3 assists and a steal. Korver put his shooting woes behind him and went off for 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-6 from three-point range. The undisputed player of the game, however, was the undisputed captain of the team, Andre Iguodala, who again stuffed the stat sheet full of goodness: 23 points, 3 treys, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. The 76ers look to turn this win into a streak February 7 against the lowly Charlotte Hornets who trail the 76ers by half a game in the Eastern Conference.

[Gundy]

Nice idea for a dynasty. It might not be all flashy like other people's dynasties but your recaps are good and it looks like you've put solid time in it. Good work.

[joeygraham]

Nice idea for a dynasty. It might not be all flashy like other people's dynasties but your recaps are good and it looks like you've put solid time in it. Good work.

Thanks Gundy. I'm more a substance guy; my work should reflect that.

[joeygraham]

76ers Win but Lose Smith

Charlotte 118 | Philadelphia 114 in OT

February 7
The 18-32 Bobcats came into town, hoping to hand the distinction of worst record in the Eastern conference back to the 76ers. They came, but cold not accomplish what they set out to do, even with the home team giving them all sorts of help: Andre Iguodala had recorded 17 points, 3 blocks, 2 steals and 5 fouls, forcing him to start the fourth quarter on the bench; Kyle Korver had only taken 1 shot the entire game thus far; and the 76ers had a slim 79-76 lead.

The Bobcats did pounce on the lack of the team captain, Iguodala, on the floor, scoring two quick baskets and making it 80-79 and only losing the lead twice through the first 10 minutes of the quarter. With 1:14 left and trailing by four, Joe Smith went up for a lay-up, scored up, picked up the foul, but came down clearly in pain and had Alan Henderson come in to take the extra free throw for him. Junking the free throw, the Bobcats rushed downcourt, only to miss from the field and watch as Brian Chase fed Steven Hunter for a monstrous dunk. After another stop, Rodney Carney gave his team the lead with a nice shot from the field. Looking to solidify a win, Iguodala stripped rookie Adam Morrison and Chase picked up the loose ball only to miss the lay-up at the other end. With 26 seconds left on the clock, Primoz Brezec hit a short field goal to tie it up. Going back the other way, Chase showed his immaturity, firing a poor percentage shot up with 9 seconds left. The 'Cats rushed it downcourt but Gerald Wallace could not convert at the buzzer sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, each Philadelphia basket was met with an opposing score until just under a minute when Dalembert put back a missed Carney lay-up to give the home team a 112-108 lead. Meanwhile, Joe Smith returned to the court, shrugging off his earlier injury, which would prove to be a costly mistake. After a couple of missed shots, Raymond Felton netted 2 of his game-high 36 points, bringing Charlotte within a basket. With the score 114-112 for the 76ers, Emeka Okafor, fouled by Miller, missed his free throws and gave the 76ers the means to extend their lead to 4 points, which ended up being the difference. While Iguodala garnered Player of the Game honours with his 19 point, 5 rebound, 4 assist, 3 block and 3 steal game, it was the combined effort of the team, with six other players reaching double digits in scoring. Notably, Rodney Carney finished with 15 points and 2 steals and free agent pick-up Brian Chase had another great game with 14 points, 9 assists and 2 steals.

As an unfortunate side, Joe Smith will be sidelined for 6 weeks. While not a huge force, the former first overall pick has averaged 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in 26.8 minutes since Koop Terug took over as general manager. Shavlik Randolph figures to gain the most from Smith's injury as in a weak frontcourt he holds the most upside.


Images from the Game


Top Left: Felton's shot disrupted by Dalembert Top Right: Dalembert hanging on the rim after giving the 76ers a 108-112 lead Middle: Korver blocks Felton's lay-up Bottom: New player rotation with Smith's injury

[joeygraham]

Los Angeles Sails Past 76ers

LA Clippers 102 | Philadelphia 77

February 9
The 28-21 Clippers put a quick stop to Philadelphia's two game winning streak, beating the lowly home team from the outset of the fourth quarter. Shavlik Randolph replaced the injured Joe Smith in the starting line-up and dominated the board, collecting 9 rebounds. More impressively was his ability to play at both ends, with 6 offensive rebounds, 3 steals and a block. Andre Miller started the game and posted 8 points and 3 assists in the first three quarters but was outplayed by now-reserve Brian Chase who had 11 points and a matching 3 assists. The Clippers' 68-60 lead was mostly fueled by Cuttino Mobley, with his 16 points, and Elton Brand, who had 15 points and 12 rebounds going into the fourth.

The final quarter was a blowout from the outset with the offence and defence looking lost, with the lone bright spot being Andre Iguodala's seconds steal of the game followed by a huge dunk. Still, with just half a quarter left the 76ers trailed 85-70 on a series of turnovers and bad shots. Finding little success with any combination and the score far too out of reach, coach Maurice Cheeks employed starting shooting guard at point guard. He maintained his composure and demonstrated a high IQ, prompting a possible switch in positions, sources say. In the end, Los Angeles confidently displayed its reserves who still managed to outscore Philadelphia in the final minutes. Elton Brand's 21 points and 15 rebounds earned his Player of the Game distinctions, but he was well assisted by Mobley's final 25 points and Chris Kaman's 15-point and 12-rebound performance. In a game void of bright spots, there were a couple not-as-dull points for the 76ers: Randolph's final stat line of 5 points, 12 rebounds including 8 offensive boards, 3 steals and 1 block; Iguodala's 15 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals; Willie Green's 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 2-of-3 from behind the arc; and unheralded Brian Chase's 14 points and 4 assists. The 76ers look to redeem themselves February 11 against the 32-18 Dallas Mavericks.

[joeygraham]

Miller Destined to Be a Cavalier

With Joe Smith out and a void to be filled at power forward combined with the emergence of recently-signed rookie Brian Chase, veteran point guard Andre Miller found his services required somewhere else and Cleveland's asking price was high enough for Philadelphia GM Koop Terug to bite. The exact breakdown of the trade is as follows:

To Cleveland:


PG Andre Miller
SF Bobby Jones
G-F Carlos Delfino

To Philadelphia:


F-C Anderson Varejao
F-C Scot Pollard
F-C Dwayne Jones

Andre Miller will be hard to replace, especially with few proven point guards on the roster and worse yet, no good point guard high draft picks, but with Joe Smith's and now Scot Pollard's contracts coming off the books this off-season, a point guard can be acquired through free agency. Since the new GM stepped into office, rumours about the point guard's departure were abundant. In spite of constantly being bombarded by the media, Miller posted 15.5 points, 5.3 assists and 3.75 rebounds in the twleve games. Of the other players heading to Cleveland, the Cavaliers demanded the inclusion of Jones, while Delfino was a spare part, spending his time with the 76ers on the bench.

Coming to Philadelphia is a bright young power forward from Brazil with loads of upside. He can be a menace on the boards but his offensive game needs some polish. Accompanying him and Pollard is another young big man, Dwayne Jones, a St. Joseph's alumnus with one year's experience in the league. Varejao was the man the organization coveted and despite the dearth at point guard now, the front line is much more solidified, both for now and, hopefully, the future.

Here is the current rotation factoring in the trade and Joe Smith's injury:



Additionally, GM Koop Terug turned down a trade shortly after completing the trade for Varejao coming from Indiana. The Pacers offered F-C Ike Diogu for G Willie Green but with an already thin backcourt GM Koop Terug felt it unwise to weaken it further despite getting a solid player with tremendous talent.

[joeygraham]

Mavs Score Routine Win, Cook 76ers' Goose

Dallas 111 | Philadelphia 86

February 11
The 32-18 Dallas Mavericks came to win and unlike a character portrayed by Tom Cruise, did not lose their cool or the game. Starting the fourth quarter up 81-72 on Dirk Nowitizki, Jason Terry and Devin Harris' 20, 14 and 18 points, respectively, the visitors maintained their level of play and cruised to an easy 111-86 victory. Employing a starting line-up featuring a new face and a new starter, coach Maurice Cheeks tried to stifle the Mavs with Rodney Carney and Andre Iguodala on the wing. The recently acquired Anderson Varejao was the new face, and recorded 6 rebounds but no points. The bright spot was Kyle Korver who, when Cheeks realized the need for a shooter on the floor, stepped in and netted 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three-point territory.

The fourth quarter begun with a scare as Iguodala was knocked harshly to the ground by Mavs' Josh Howard and left the game and headed for the locker room. Losing by 11 already and now missing the franchise player, the 76ers dug themselves into an insurmountable hole quickly, soon finding themselves trailing 102-84. In an effort to see what the young guys could do, the ball was turned over to Varejao, Carney, Green, Korver and Chase who, unfortunately combined for a pathetic 3 field goals on 23 shots in the quarter. Also hoping to make an impression was recen acquisition Dwayne Jones who posted two rebounds, a block and a point in his 10 minutes. Varejao ended the game with 4 points and 10 rebounds, including 6 offensive boards, while frontcourt-mate Samuel Dalembert finished with 8 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. Andre Iguodala posted 8 points, his first time scoring in single digits since the management coup, 7 rebounds, a steal and 2 blocks in 26 minutes. Brian Chase recorded 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, but just 5 points, his lowest thus far. In the end of the romp, Dirk Nowitzki took home Player of the Game honours, ending the game with 26 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 5 blocks. The 76ers look for a W against the lowly 18-31 Washington Wizards in three days time.


Images from the Game


Left: Dalembert rebounding Right: Varejao nets his first basket as a 76er