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

[joeygraham]

Lakers Pour in Points Against 76ers

Los Angeles Lakers 109 | Philadelphia 103

March 9
Kobe Bryant led 34-28 Los Angeles Lakers and led them to a 109-103 victory in Philadelphia. Led by Kyle Korver, WIllie Green and Andre Igudala, who had 16, 13, and 10 points respectively, the Sixers held a slim 82-80 lead going into the fourth. The fact that every 76er who had entered the game, save Steven Hunter, had accumulated at least 5 points coupled with a solid defensive job limiting Bryant to 17 points on 5-of-14 shooting and 4 assists was the key to their lead.

The Lakers cut away the lead just minutes into the quarter, equalizing the score at 84 on a Bryant field goal. The score continued to go back and forth from a tied state to a minimal Sixer lead until Radmonovic hit his sole connection in the quarter, a three pointer, to give LA a 95-94 lead with just over 4 minutes to play. After Shavlik Randolph gave the home team the lead again hitting his two free throws, he gave Philly a chance to strengthen their hold on the game, blocking an attempted Luke Walton lay-up, but after back-to-back turnovers, Bryant threw down a dunk and collected a foul, finishing the three-point play. The next few possessions saw the Lakers bolster their lead, going on a short 6-2 run over the next minute and a half. The six-point lead was halved on a John Lucas III clutch trey but Walton responded with a two-pointer, bringing the lead back to five. The game was sealed when Lucas attempted to find Korver on the wing only to see the ball end up in Bryant's hands and 14 seconds on the clock. A few foul shots later and the game was a 109-103 victory for the visitors. Kobe Bryant was named Player of the Game for his 26 point, 6 rebound, 4 steal and 2 block performance. He was assisted mightily in his endeavour with five other Lakers reaching double figures in scoring, including Kwame Brown who had 15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Lamar Odom quietly put together a nice game, ending with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. The Sixers were lead by an impressive performance by Randolph who tallied 12 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in 28 minutes off the bench. Iggy finished with just 14 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks while Rodney Carney had 8 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal and block a piece in his 24 minutes of play. The point guard duties fell mostly to Willie Green who finished with 13 points and 3 assists but the impressive play of starter and rookie Brian Chase has completely run dry and in his 17 minutes he was limited to 8 points, though on 3-of-3 shooting including a trey, and 3 assists. Lucas, the other pure point guard on the Sixer squad finished with 10 points hitting 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and 4-of-4 from the line, a steal and 2 assists in 18 minutes. He has scored 10 or more points in six of the nine games since the All-Star Break. The 76ers take their show on the road after a disappointing 1-5 homestand, heading to Indiana to battle the 22-38 Pacers on March 10.


Images from the Game


Left: Lucas firing a three pointer Right: Bryant dribbling past Green

[diddy]

joeygraham, man, s** happens! but what's up with your graphics??

[joeygraham]

joeygraham, man, s** happens! but what's up with your graphics??

Yeah, so as we've established, my graphics card is not up to the task of the crisp, vivid images found in other dynasties, or likely how EA even intended it to appear. If you know how to improve the graphics, by all means suggest something. I'm now limiting pictures to those with the purest of graphics, but even those are a far cry from great.

[joeygraham]

76ers Split Road Games

Philadelphia 91 | Indiana 87
Philadelphia 85 | Atlanta 119

The 76ers broke a 3 game losing skid with a 91-87 victory in Indiana over the Pacers, who are dwelling in the cellar of the East just above Philadelphia. The Pacers were led by Jamaal Tinsley's 21 points and 5 assists, while also getting contributions from Jermaine O'Neal, who had 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks, and Danny Granger, who had 11 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. The 76ers' win was fronted by Player of the Game Andre Iguodala who had 15 points and 13 rebounds. He led five other players in double-digit scoring, inlcuding Samuel Dalembert, who also had 10 rebounds, Willie Green and Brian Chase, who had no reached 10 points in the five previous games.

Against Atlanta, the site of a previous defeat, the 76ers hope to continue their impressive play on the road but fell short, 119-85. Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 20 points, 9 assists and 3 steals, earning Player of the Game honours. Tyronn Lue outscored starter Speedy Claxton with 25 points off the bench on 10-of-12 shooting, but Claxton posted 18 points, 6 assists and 7 rebounds of his own. Kyle Korver led the Sixers with 19 points before leaving the game with a lower body injury. Iguodala had an unspectacular 14 points and 3 steals while Anderson Varejao recorded 7 points, a team-high 10 rebounds, a block and 2 steals. On the road swing, Shavlik Randolph had 20 points and 6 rebounds off the bench. The 76ers return home for a match with the Chicago Bulls on March 14.

While Joe Smith is slated to return, though not at full health, for the next game, Korver will be on the shelf with a leg injury for the next three weeks.

Here is the rotation with Smith back and Korver out:

[Gator]

Man, I am really feeling this dynasty. Good Job...

[joeygraham]

Bulls Run Over Sixers

Chicago 108 | Philadelphia 96

March 14
The 35-31 Chicago Bulls downed a shorthanded 76er squad 108-96. Playing without Kyle Korver for the first time in what should be three weeks, and with Joe Smith recently activated and not yet at full strength, Philly was looking to control the game using a more athletic and defensive line-up, inlcuding the first career start for John Lucas III. After three quarters the Bulls were ahead 79-72 powered by Andres Nocioni's 17 points and Big Ben Wallace's 11 points, 12 rebounds and 3 steals. Even getting contributions off the bench in the form of Swiss rookie Thabo Sefolosha, who was traded draft day for Rodney Carney, adding 12 points. For the home team, Andre Iguodala surprised fans with his most explosive offensive performance of the year, having 31 points to that point. Lucas had recorded 14 points and 5 assists, while Carney, the only other Sixer to have reached the double-digit plateau by the time, had 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Philadelphia could not seem to find a way of containing Chicago, and with every double team, an open man was found. At least the scoring machine, Iguodala, was dropping shots and making a break for the basket, scooting by Ben Gordon, his defender, time and time again. With just over 5 minutes to play the home team pulled within 3 points on a Shavlik Randolph tip-in, but the Bulls proceeded on a 11-0 run to put the game out of reach, ultimately taking it as they dribbled the ball over the halfcourt. Andres Nocioni quietly racked up 30 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks to earn the honour of Player of the Game. He was complemented by Gordon's 23 points. Unfortunately it was in a losing effort but Andre Iguodala posted a career-high 47 points on 19-of-32 shooting, including 4-of-9 from beyond the arc while also posting 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. Lucas also put up an impressive performance finishing with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, but 5 turnovers in the final quarter. Louis Williams earned some burn with Korver in a suit but failed to record a point in 10 minutes of play. The 22-43 76ers host the sub-.500 Utah Jazz on March 16.


Images from the Game



Top : Varejao knocks the ball out of Nocioni's hands Second: Lucas going up for a lay-up Third: Iguodala throwing down a one-handed dunk Bottom : Gordon laying it up around Carney

[joeygraham]

Jazz Have Sixers Singing the Blues

Utah 97 | Philadelphia 90

March 16
The 26-39 Utah Jazz were given a fourth quarter fight but ultimately they won 97-90. The fourth began with a 66-58 Jazz lead fueled by Gordan Giricek and Carlos Boozer who had 19 and 17 points, respectively. Fresh off his incredible offensive display, Andre Iguodala had 13 points and 10 rebounds while Willie Green and Samuel Dalembert each had also reached the double-digit plateau.

The fourth quarter scoring opened up with Andrei Kirilenko collecting a double-double on a massive dunk. Scoring went back and forth, until the Jazz went on a 9-0 run to extend their lead to 18. The 76ers fought back and with a stroke of fortune as Deron Williams exitted the game nursing an injury clawed back to a respectable 91-85 deficit on a Green three-pointer. With just under a minute to play and Utah only holding on to a 7-point lead, Brian Chase hit a walk-on three-pointer to cut the lead to 4. Derek Fisher was subsequently fouled and hit both free throws, giving the Mormon state team a 96-90 edge. When Giricek intercepted the inbound pass with 16 seconds to play, the game was known to be over and as Kirilenko sank a meaningless free throw, fans began emptying the building, grimacing at another loss. Gordan Giricek very sneakily collected 7 points in the quarter and finished with 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting and 2 treys, 6 assists and 3 steals and the Player of the Game honours. Despite leaving early, Deron Williams finished with 11 points, 9 assists and 4 steals. For the home team, Samuel Dalembert finished with a massive 16 point, 12 rebound double-double, while Iggy was 2 assists shy of a triple-double himself. The big surprise was Willie Green who scored 9 points on 4-of-6 shooting in the fourth, finishing with 21. The 76ers have one more home game of this stand, before fighting airport security traveling back and forth for a few games, on March 18 against the 40-26 Houston Rockets whom the 76ers defeated just before the All-Star Break.

Images from the Game



Top Left: Williams hits a short jumper Top Right: Dalembert hanging on the rim Bottom: Iguodala spinning around Okur

[Lamrock]

Well, you might as well sim your way to the lottery... It seems like you are cursed at home. I wish they would incorporate a feature that makes teams on the road play worse because I do better on the road also because of the pleasant chance of scenery. Anyway, props for keeping this going. This is truly a top-tier dynasty here.

[joeygraham]

Well, you might as well sim your way to the lottery... It seems like you are cursed at home. I wish they would incorporate a feature that makes teams on the road play worse because I do better on the road also because of the pleasant chance of scenery. Anyway, props for keeping this going. This is truly a top-tier dynasty here.

Thank you for the compliments Lamrock13. I should remark though that I am simming all away games so my terrible home record is all me (at least for the fourth quarter). I am about to expedite to the end of the season as I've already simmed through March now (save one more game update). My excuse for simming a couple of the home games, the GM is away scouting.

Keep an eye out as I start to unfold the off-season a little prematurely (it's April and I'm going to be posting the rookie class and free agent crop).

[joeygraham]

Sixers End Home Stand with Win

Houston 103 | Philadelphia 106

March 18
The 76ers ended a three-game skid with a win over the best team they have faced over that period of time. The 40-26 Houston Rockets, who were defeated by the 76ers in their last meeting, fell victim to the strong play of the Philly backcourt. Tied at 74 going into the final frame, Andre Iguodala, John Lucas III and Willie Green had combined for 44 of the total points, with another 14 coming from Samuel Dalembert. The Sixers had done a good job on defence limiting Tracy McGrady to just 8 points. Shane Battier led the team with 20 points and a pair of blocks and steals, while Yao Ming and Rafer Alston each had 13 points.

The fourth quarter started out strong for the 76ers who forced turnovers on the first two plays and capitalized on the steals. The Rockets forced a couple of bad shots and evened the score at 80. The game stayed close, never straying beyond a 3 point lead. Whenever the Sixers had an opportunity to take a bigger lead, as on one of the 5 steals they recorded in the final 9 minutes, Yao Ming was there with a block saving Houston from having to play catch-up. Fast forward to the final minute where, up 98-95 Lucas picked off a halfcourt inbound pass and fed Shavlik Randolph for a contested dunk, only to see his teammate fouled hard and sent sprawling in pain in what was diagnosed as a torn achilles tendon that will sideline him the remainder of the season. Joe Smith came into the game, sank two free throws and put his team up by 5. Battier cut the lead to a pair but an Iguodala field goal and a couple of Lucas free throws sealed the deal. McGrady hit a three-pointer as time expired, cutting the final difference to 3 points. Yao Ming kept his team in the game on the defensive end and finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 5 blocks. He got offensive help from McGrady who came alive and scored 12 points in the final frame to finish with 20, while Battier ended with 25 points, 4 steals and 2 blocks. For the victors, they won the game, but lost Shavlik Randolph who had emerged as a solid role player in the power forward slot. Dalembert finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists while his point guard ended with 18 points and 7 assists. The Player of the Game went to the 76ers' star Iguodala who had 28 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. The Sixers hit the road against the 40-25 Detroit Pistons on March 20 before returning home three days later to battle the 30-40 Charlotte Bobcats.

With the 76ers days away from being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, GM Koop Terug will leave the team and head out on a scouting mission, both of potential free agents and of college players for a until the end of the season.

Image from the Game

[joeygraham]

Season Recap and a Look Towards Next Season

The season is finished and when all was said and done, the Detroit Pistons were the surprising NBA champions, defeating the Phoenix Suns in the finals.
Eastern Conference Final Standings
Western Conference Final Standings
First round of playoffs
Second round of playoffs
Conference finals
NBA Finals

Rasheed Wallace was named NBA Finals MVP.

The 76ers placed a player on a first or second team in all three categories and took home two pieces of personal hardware:

Coach of the Year - Greg Poppovich, San Antonio
Most Valuable Player - Chris Bosh, Toronto
Most Improved Player- Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia
Defensive Player of the Year - Andrei Kirilenko, Utah
Rookie of the Year - Adam Morrison, Charlotte
Sixth Man - Kyle Korver, Philadelphia

All-NBA Team, First Team
Paul Gasol, Memphis Chris Bosh, Toronto Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers Allen Iverson, Denver
All-NBA Team, Second Team
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia Tracy McGrady, Houston Jason Kidd, New Jersey
All-Defensive Team, First Team
Marcus Camby, Denver Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Andrei Kirilenko, Utah Dwayne Wade, Miami Jason Kidd, New Jersey
All-Defensive Team, Second Team
Ben Wallace, Chicago Shawn Marion, Phoenix Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia Larry Hughes, Cleveland Gilbert Arenas, Washington
All-Rookie Team, First Team
Adam Morrison, Charlotte Randy Foye, Minnesota Rudy Gay, Memphis Brandon Roy, Portland Rodney Carney, Philadelphia
All-Rookie Team, Second Team
Andrea Bargnani, Toronto Marcus Williams, New Jersey Jorge Garbajosa, Toronto Walter Hermann, Charlotte Tyrus Thomas, Chicago

Here are the end-of-year statistics for the 76ers' players:



The season was not a resounding success, particularly not in second half as hoped. Anderson Varejao did not produce as anticipated, though John Lucas III was very good and earned the starting spot. Kyle Korver was hit or miss in spite of being recognized as the Sixth Man. Andre Iguodala was stellar and is worth building a franchise around, to say the very least.

[Lamrock]

Can't wait. Are you using real rookies? If so, I would recommend trading your valuable pick for a really good point guard, because there are none in this draft and that is the position you are weakest at. Also, you could sign a decent FA PG and draft a good PF or C in Hasheem Thabeet (SP), Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Brandan Wright or Joakim Noah.

[joeygraham]

Can't wait. Are you using real rookies? If so, I would recommend trading your valuable pick for a really good point guard, because there are none in this draft and that is the position you are weakest at. Also, you could sign a decent FA PG and draft a good PF or C in Hasheem Thabeet (SP), Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Brandan Wright or Joakim Noah.

No real rookies, but I will talk about the rookies I scouted and also post 2 mock drafts, one at the end of the season and one after the private workouts.

Stay tuned!

[joeygraham]

In a draft full of tweeners, there were a few players who stood out to GM Koop Terug as potential players to draft.

Zachary Ford SF Duke Junior

Ford is the most complete player of draft. He can shoot, save from the free throw line where he is almost Shaq-like, but can hit the trey with a man in his face. Most impressively, he can rebound the ball as well as a centre and is a terror on defence. Despite being just 21, he has shown an unwillingness to learn and is unlikely to improve much in the coming years. He can stand to improve his speed and quickness but covers up for his athletic deficiencies with his smart play. He has consistently been projected to be the 1st overall pick.

Keon Battie SG North Carolina Senior

Battie is a physical specimen almost in a class of his own in spite of his poor offensive capabilities. He is killer from the charity line and loves to drive straight to the hoop to pick up the foul. Defensively he is capable but not outstanding. His upside is limited especially if he cannot improve his offence. He has consistently been projected in the top 3.

Benedict Nikolaev PF Russia 1984

A sweet shooting big man, standing tall at 7’1, who can also play with his back to the basket. He tends to be a little soft and porous on defence and is not likely be a force on either set of boards. He is fleet-footed for a player his size and can stay on the floor for long stretches of time. His shooting range is his best asset, but it is not only that he can make shots, but he has the ability to make big shots. He potentially could be great, but improvement will be slower. He has consistently been projected in the top 5.

Quint Wilkins C St. Joseph’s Junior

The big junior led his team with solid rebounding and steady play. He has a good upside and room for improvement, especially athletically. He gets by on being big and being a force to reckon with in the paint. Defensively he has a mastery of the fundamentals but his execution is sometimes off. He has consistently been projected in the top 5.

Eric Vesper SG Fordham Senior

Vesper is the best shooter in the draft, no questions about it, especially in the clutch. On top of it, he is excellent defensively, capable of picking off almost any pass. He is hampered by a stubbornness to learn and has a very limited chance of improving beyond where he is now. He can handle the ball as well as almost every point guard in the draft, which would make him a viable option to go big, except he lacks the foot speed to keep up at the 1. He has been consistently been projected in the top 6.

Lee Barker PF LSU Senior

Barker has unparalleled awareness on both ends of the court and, even though he played four years of college ball, is still expected to have high potential. He does not have the prettiest game but can find the basket when called upon and can pull down the difficult rebound every now and then. It is his IQ and his knack for clutch performances that make him a lottery selection as he is unspectacular across the board otherwise. He has consistently been projected to be selected between the 8th and 15th pick.

Habib McLoughlin PG Georgia Tech Sophomore

McLoughlin is the highest-rated point guard in the draft and after just 2 years at LSU has the skills to run an NBA team. Most impressively are his good potential, well above-average shooting from all places on the court and pin-point passing. He is not fast and will be outrun by quicker point guards but has a basketball IQ on both ends of the court similar to someone with years of experience. He has consistently been projected to be selected between the 10th and 16th picks.

Sylvester Ryan PG Valparaiso Junior

A point guard with range, a quick hand and good court awareness, Ryan is also one of the most anticipated players to see blossom with excellent potential. He is fast and can create his own shot, and make it too. Negatively, he is turnover prone especially when pressured and hard-pressed to score if he is not fouled inside. He has consistently been projected as a late 1st round to early 2nd round draft pick.

Kenneth Fischer PG Germany 1987

The second-best thing to come out of Germany is the dynamic Fischer who plays heads up defence while having the ability to maintain an offence. He is not much of a shooter but is automatic from the line. His size, listed at 5’10, can be detrimental, but with the influx of smaller guards it may not be so bad. There is almost no limit to his potential and if he develops more of a shooting stroke and gains a little better and faster footwork, he will have the capacity to dictate a game on both ends. He has consistently been projected as a late 1st round to early 2nd round draft pick.

Keith Cunningham PF Alabama-Birmingham Sophomore

Cunningham is a shooting power forward who is a problem to defend as he hits three pointers with ease but also is aggressive at getting to the basket and can finish mightily. His free throw shooting leaves much to be desired but he still will make most of his attempts. He is an above average defender who will get blocks and steals, but is weak on the glass. He cannot be trusted to have the ball in his hands for too long else the possession arrow is likely to flip rather quickly. While he has a vast amount of potential, he needs to work on his athletics and especially his stamina if he wants to earn a regular spot in a rotation. He has been consistently projected as a mid 2nd round draft pick.


Adrian Cedric PG Memphis Senior

Cedric is rare commodity as a 6’6 point guard with strong passing instincts but also a great outside shot. He struggles mightily from the free throw line but tends to stay outside of the paint and avoids scoring from inside. Most impressively is his speed, registering as one of the fastest players in the draft in terms of quickness and speed. He also has very quick hands, leading to many turnovers by his opposition. On the downside, he cannot rebound and sometimes loses his dribble. He also is expected to have little growth and development beyond the level at which he is currently playing. He has been consistently projected as a mid to late 2nd round draft pick.

Here is a breakdown of the draft by position, school years and school:

By natural position:
PG – 23
SG – 26
SF – 17
PF – 14
C – 10

By age:
Freshman (1987-88) – 13
Sophomore (1986) – 20
Junior (1985) – 19
Senior (1983-84) – 38

Schools with more than one player in draft:
Arizona State (C Austin Worthy, PG Dennis Mason)
California (PF Michael Rivera, SG Blaise Higgins)
Connecticut (C Mario Moyar, SG Joey O’Neal)
DePaul (SG Eldridge Vincett, PG Joey Stuart)
Duke (SF Zachary Ford, SG Carlos Vega)
Georgia Tech (PG Habib McLoughin, SF Clement Anderson)
Indiana (PF Noah Romero, PF Armon White)
Iowa (SG Tony Butler, PG Luther Robinson)
LSU (PF Lee Barker, PF James Doyle, SG Basel Emmet)
North Carolina (SF Keon Battie, SG Desmond Flanagan, PG Ben Jones)
North Carolina State (PG Lucas Clarke, C Armando Alvarez)
Ohio State (PG Reynaldo Coleman, PG Jeffrey Curry)
Purdue (SG Andrew Juror, C Dakota Lamont)
St. Joseph’s (C Quint Wilkins, SG Hamid Roper)
Wake Forest (SF Asa Smith, SG Jerald Caballero)

Foreign-born players’ nationalities:
Germany (PG Kenneth Fischer)
Greece (PG Stavros Gocek)
Latvia (SF Sacha Kovalev)
Lebanon (C Khalid Abdul Karim)
Russia (PF Benedict Nikolaev)
Serbia-Montenegro (PF Tomislav Broz, SF Pedrag Vujanovic)
Slovakia (SG Nach Becker, SF Janko Reis, PG Zoran Jelacic)
Taiwan (C Yat-sen Lai)
Ukraine (SG Maxim Belyakov, PG Ruslan Golubev)

Here is a look at two sets of mock drafts, one from the end of April, the other just after the lottery was run.
End of April 1st Round | End of April 2nd Round
Offseason 1st Round | Offseason 2nd Round

The picks highlighted in red are those held by Philadelphia

Additionally, here is the list of players who are retiring in the offseason. Among the notable retirees are Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Grant Hill, Michael Finley, Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen and Dikembe Mutombo. Not all of those who are retiring are indeed quitting playing basketball; rather, some players like Walter Hermann, Zarko Cabarkapa and Jason Hart are taking their skills elsewhere. In any event, these players will not be heard from again:

[Jing]

Superb job on the analysis of the mock draft board man. As a matter of fact, your writing makes up for your lackluster images. I applaud you.

[joeygraham]

Superb job on the analysis of the mock draft board man. As a matter of fact, your writing makes up for your lackluster images. I applaud you.

This is why I like the dynasty mode: I like rookies, to see where they come from and what they do. I'm debating posting the draft results right away as they are already done, as are the off-season moves including a couple of big trades. I want to hold off to give people some time to see and tell me what I should do/should have done, but at the same time I want to move ahead and start playing already!

[joeygraham]

Offseason Signings

Most of the 2003 draft class remained on their respective teams and no franchise players defected. The major offseason move was Jason Terry up and leaving the Dallas Mavericks in favour of the Charlotte Bobcats. Atlanta won the Paul Millsap sweepstakes, netting his services for the next 4 years while Detroit and Houston made quiet splashes in their acquisitions of Luke Walton and Brian Cook, respectively. The worst signing has to be Boston's unprecedented payout to Devin Brown, somewhere in the neighbourhood of 8 million a year for 2 years.

Atlanta signs G Ronald Murray for 7.68M for 3 years
Atlanta signs PF Paul Millsap for 10.19M for 4 years
Atlanta signs PG Will Blalock for 3.76M for 2 years

Boston re-signs F-G Paul Piece for 81.34M for 5 years
Boston re-signs C-F Kendrick Perkins for 645K for 1 year
Boston signs G Devin Brown for 16.43M for 2 years

Charlotte signs C Mario Kasun for 744K 1 year
Charlotte signs G Jason Terry for 40.67M for 3 years
Charlotte signs F-G Ruben Patterson for 6.30M for 1 year
Charlotte signs G-F Stephen Graham for 4.91M for 3 years
Charlotte signs F Jared Jeffries for 8.97M for 5 years
Charlotte signs C-F Jarron Collins for 932K for 1 year

Chicago re-signs G Kirk Hinrich for 34.26M for 4 years
Chicago signs F-C Tony Battie for 1.18M for 1 year
Chicago sings PG Andre Barrett for 5.39M for 3 years
Chicago re-signs F-C Mike Sweetney for 8.75M for 4 years
Chicago re-signs F Andres Nocioni for 53.34M for 5 years

Cleveland re-signs C-F Nick Collison for 24.32M for 5 years
Cleveland re-signs PF Drew Gooden for 32.66M for 5 years
Cleveland re-signs F-G LeBron James for 94.39M for 5 years
Cleveland releases PG Daniel Gibson

Dallas re-signs SF Josh Howard for 52.46M for 5 years
Dallas signs F-C Jamal Sampson for 865K for 1 year
Dallas signs PG Robert Hite for 412K for 1 year
Dallas signs F-G Zoran Planinic for 5.61M for 3 years
Dallas re-signs F-G Jerry Stackhouse for 49.45M for 5 years

Denver re-signs SG Desmon Farmer for 664K for 1 year
Denver re-signs SF Carmelo Anthony for 86.33M for 5 years
Denver signs F-G Ime Udoka for 745K for 1 year

Detroit re-signs C-F Chris Webber for 9.77M for 1 year
Detroit signs G-F Sergei Monia for 744K for 1 year
Detroit signs F Luke Walton for 30.25M for 5 years
Detroit signs C Peter John Ramos for 744K for 1 year

Golden State re-signs F Al Harrington for 50.21M for 5 years
Golden State re-signs G-F Mikael Pietrus for 24.43M for 5 years

Houston re-signs G-F Bonzi Wells for 15.18M for 2 years
Houston signs F-G Jason Kopono for 798K for 1 year
Houston PF Leon Powe for 664K for 1 year
Houston signs PG Daniel Gibson for 687K for 1 year
Houston signs C-F Calvin Booth for 1.07M for 1 year
Houston signs F-C Brian Cook for 14.00M for 4 years

Los Angeles (Clippers) re-signs C Chris Kaman for 30.54M for 4 years

Los Angeles (Lakers) re-signs G Smush Parker for 23.95M for 5 years
Los Angeles (Lakers) sign PG Dee Brown for 664K for 1 year
Los Angeles (Lakers) sign F-G Donta Smith for 771K for 1 year

Memphis signs F-G Jarvis Hayes for 2.42M for 1 year
Memphis signs G Kelanna Azubuike for 664K for 1 year
Memphis signs C-F Michael Ruffin for 998K for 1 year
Memphis signs G Jannero Pargo for 12.76M for 5 years
Memphis signs G-F Rasual Butler for 6.53M for 4 years

Miami re-signs F-G James Posey for 10.18M for 2 years
Miami re-signs G Dwayne Wade for 88.94M for 5 years
Miami signs SG Tarence Kinsey for 3.76M for 2 years
Miami signs G-F Devean George for 7.03M for 1 year
Miami signs G Keith McLeod for 798K for 1 year
Miami signs C-F Jahidi White for 998K for 1 year

Milwaukee re-signs G Maurice Williams for 11.90M for 2 years

New Jersey re-signs G-F Vince Carter for 31.18M for 2 years
New Jersey re-signs SG Hassan Adams for 5.50M for 3 years

New Orleans re-signs G Bobby Jackson for 15.44M for 2 years
New Orleans re-signs F David West for 37.00M for 5 years
New Orleans signs C Lorenzen Wright for 7.30M for 2 years
New Orleans signs F Steve Novak for 9.58M for 5 years
New Orleans signs C-F Francisco Elson for 5.87M for 4 years
New Orleans signs SG Mike Gansey for 664K for 1 year
New Orleans signs PF Alexander Johnson for 664K for 1 year
New Orleans re-signs G-F Desmond Mason for 45.59M for 5 years

Orlando re-signs C-F Darko Milicic for 19.15M for 5 years

Philadelphia signs PG Darrell Armstrong for 2.00M for 1 year
Philadelphia re-signs F-C Anderson Varejao for 5.67M for 3 years

Phoenix re-signs G Leandro Barbosa for 11.80M for 2 years
Phoenix signs PG Jose Juan Barea for 664K for 1 year
Phoenix signs F-C Maciej Lampe for 798K for 1 year
Phoenix re-signs F Boris Diaw for 53.59M for 5 years

Portland re-signs F Travis Outlaw for 12.50M for 3 years
Portland re-signs C Jamaal Magloire for 41.89M for 5 years

Sacramento re-signs G Ronnie Price for 528K for 1 year
Sacramento re-signs C-F Justin Williams for 504K for 1 year

San Antonio signs C-F Chris Mihm for 4.90M for 2 years
San Antonio signs SG Andre Owens for 5.54M for 3 years
San Antonio signs PF Craig Smith for 9.93M for 4 years
San Antonio signs G-F Andre Emmett for 664K for 1 year
San Antonio signs SF Marcus Vinicius for 664K for 1 year

Seattle re-signs PG Luke Ridnour for 20.18M for 3 years
Seattle re-signs F-C Chris Wilcox for 33.89M for 5 years
Seattle signs G Blaise Higgins for 412K for 1 year
Seattle signs F-C Uros Slokar for 412K for 1 year

Toronto re-signs PG TJ Ford for 38.64M for 5 years
Toronto re-signs F-C Chris Bosh for 91.02M for 5 years
Toronto signs C-F Loren Woods for 865K for 1 year
Toronto signs G DeShawn Stevenson for 7.75M for 3 years

Utah signs PF Chuck Hayes for 744K for 1 year

Washington signs C-F Jake Tsakalidis for 998K for 1 year
Washington signs F-G Bernard Robinson for 771K for 1 year
Washington signs PG Chris Quinn for 644K for 1 year
Washington signs SG CJ Miles for 744K for 1 year
Washington re-signs F-G Morris Peterson for 19.18M for 3 years

[pacers4eva]

pictures arent flashy, writing sure as hell is!
looks like u puttin a lotta time & effort into this. good job

[joeygraham]

The Draft and Trades



Team Draft Rankings

Atlanta
SG Keon Battie (5), PG Kenneth Fischer (34)
ESPN Draft Grade: C+
My draft grade: C+
Atlanta filled the void at PG with Fischer but while Battie was one of the top prospects, Atlanta has a glut of wingmen already.

Boston
C Tanner Gibson (7), Eldridge Vincett (37)
ESPN Draft Grade: B-
My draft grade: B-
Boston added another young centre to compete with Kendrick Perkins while also picking up the best player in the second round, despite their depth in the backcourt.

Charlotte
SF Asa Smith (11), PF Michael Rivera (41)
ESPN Draft Grade: B
My draft grade: B+
Charlotte added a sensational player in Smith, giving them an offensive weapon at SF, and solidified their big man rotation with Rivera.

Chicago
C Mario Moyar (21), C Khalid Abdul Karim (51)
ESPN Draft Grade: B+
My draft grade: A
Chicago picked up a big man to complement Ben Wallace in the front court while drafting a young admired project in the second round and turning that into a college shooting star, SG Bert Hart.

Cleveland
SF Demetrius Jefferson (29), SG Andrew Juror (59)
ESPN Draft Grade: C+
My draft grade: C-
Cleveland did not address their need for a young centre to replace Zydrunas Ilgauskas but did add dependable reserves to spell LeBron James and Larry Hughes.

Dallas
SG Raphael Harrison (28), SG Felix Rodriguez (SG)
ESPN Draft Grade: C-
My draft grade: B+
Dallas parlayed Jerry Stackhouse and the 28th overall selection into Jason Richardson to replace the lost Jason Terry at SG. Rodriguez is a nice reserve but is not expected to jump in and be a major contributor any time soon.

Denver
SF Wyatt O’Dwyer (52)
ESPN Draft Grade: D-
My draft grade: C-
No major holes to fill since the addition of Iverson, which is the cause of the lost first round pick. O’Dwyer has upside but will not usurp Carmelo Anthony in this lifetime.

Detroit
PG Angelo Fenwick (56)
ESPN Draft Grade: D-
My draft grade: D-
If you only have one pick and are going to use it on someone who wasn’t expected to be drafted, why wouldn’t you look to fill the void at centre once Chris Webber retires? Their first pick went to Philadelphia but it would not have done them much good in improving upon their championship-winning squad.

Golden State
C Austin Worthy (10), C Yat-sen Lai (40)
ESPN Draft Grade: A-
My draft grade: A-
Big men are a precious commodity in the NBA and Golden State added two more to their fleet. Not so great for playing up-tempo but it is likely their weakest position and hopefully Worthy and Lai can emerge as presences on the court. They also added SG Raphael Harrison in the Jason Richardson trade, giving then a great scorer at the 2.

Houston
SF Janko Reis (25), PG Joey Stuart (55)
ESPN Draft Grade: B
My draft grade: D
Sure Houston acquired some good players but they did not address their need of a power forward, instead picking up reserves, though Stuart could take the reigns of this organization from Rafer Alston sooner than you think.

Indiana
C Quint Wilkins (1), SF Sacha Kovalev (17), SG Joey O’Neal
ESPN Draft Grade: C+
My draft grade: B
Indiana may have found their answer at the centre position in Wilkins, while O’Neal adds a needed body and shooting touch at SG. Indiana is definitely looking towards the future in dealing Kovalev and Ike Diogu away for Beno Udrih, Emery Connors, Ben Jones and a future 2nd rounder, but the Pacers now have a glut of players in the backcourt and at least one of them should emerge as a legitimate option.

Los Angeles (Clippers)
SG Nach Becker (20), SG Bert Hart (50)
ESPN Draft Grade: C
My draft grade: B
The Clippers addressed the need to find a replacement for the aging Cuttino Mobley and may have done so. Trading down to acquire C Khalid Abdul Karim was unnecessary but they did get a potential star at centre, but then emptied their standing at SF when they traded away Corey Maggette for Joey Graham and Jorge Garbajosa.

Los Angeles (Lakers)
SG Rob Scot (19), PF Marcos Roman (49)
ESPN Draft Grade: B
My draft grade: C-
The Lakers picked up two good players but they probably would have been better served drafting a centre or a point guard, or even a small forward to replace the departed Luke Walton.

Memphis
PG Habib McLoughlin (13), PF Julius Mitchell (44)
ESPN Draft Grade: C
My draft grade: B+
Memphis gets my grade simply for taking McLoughlin, the only point guard selected in the top 25. The selection of Mitchell over a shooting guard like Roman Sampson or Bert Hart is not a great choice but he still can be a good role player.

Miami
PF Noah Romero (24), PG Lucas Clarke (54)
ESPN Draft Grade: C+
My draft grade: A
Given the trading of Romero and PG Jason Williams to Portland for a viable centre in Jamaal Magloire after the retirement of Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning, drafting Lucas Clarke seems ingenious. Miami passed on some big man talent with their first pick but parlayed it into a former All-Star centre.

Milwaukee
SF Todd Pastor (16), PG Reynaldo Coleman (45)
ESPN Draft Grade: C+
My draft grade: C
Milwaukee selected someone to push Bobby Simmons for the small forward position, though the selection of Pastor over the small forward selected after him will be questioned. Coleman is a solid guard who will struggle to find minutes behind Earl Boykins and Maurice Williams.

Minnesota
PF Lee Barker (14), SG Roman Sampson (47)
ESPN Draft Grade: B-
My draft grade: D+
The selection of Barker guaranteed Minnesota a non-failing grade but he is behind Kevin Garnett and will not move him, so Barker’s playing time will have to come unnaturally at centre. Sampson gives the Wolves another shooting guard who can go smaller, but what they really needed was a small forward to boot Ricky Davis from the line-up.

New Jersey
PF Tomislav Broz (23), PF Tanner Medina (53)
ESPN Draft Grade: C
My draft grade: B+
New Jersey drafted two power forwards to fill a position in which they have no players. Hopefully one or both of them will become a threat in the post.

New Orleans
SF Jarobi Jackson (9), SG Desmond Flanagan (39)
ESPN Draft Grade: B
My draft grade: A-
New Orleans just has to put the pieces together to win; they have it all there already. Adding Jackson was brilliant, giving them another scorer behind Peja Stojakovic and Flanagan will likely hold the bench stable behind Desmond Mason and a couple of other guards.

New York
SF Travis Arias (15), PF Keith Cunningham (43)
ESPN Draft Grade: C+
My draft grade: B+
Nothing wrong with these picks but Arias is one of the many players at small forward now. Cunningham is good and will be a dependable back-up to Channing Frye.

Orlando
SF Zachary Ford (6), PF Robert Fuentes (35)
ESPN Draft Grade: C-
My draft grade: A
Orlando got the best player of the draft, and outside of the top 5, in Ford. The question is can his work ethic be overcome and allow him to fully replace the retired Grant Hill. Fuentes adds another big body capable of doing lots of things to a position that is relatively weak. Another team with heaps of potential, for the Magic it is just a matter of piecing the pieces together.

Philadelphia
PF Benedict Nikolaev (2), SF Erwin Johnson (22), PG Declan Parker (26), PG Adrian Cedric (33)
ESPN Draft Grade: D+
My draft grade: B+
We got one of the men we wanted in Nikolaev, finally giving us a scorer in the front court. Johnson is a freak athlete and can play bigger than his size indicates, allowing us to go with three natural small forwards on the floor if we are so inclined. While we were looking to use the 22nd and 26th picks to trade up and grab Habib McLoughlin, having Declan Parker fall to us at 26 is truly a gift. Parker, while having limited potential, can shoot, pass and defend and while his footwork could use some improvement, he is an absolutely clutch player. The selection of Cedric admittedly came too soon, but we coveted him high enough to take him ahead of point guards Kenneth Fischer and Reynaldo Coleman, both who initially drew our interest. We addressed our needs at the point, added another athletic wingman, which was not really necessary but could be helpful, and most importantly, added a scorer up front.

Phoenix
SF Tyrone Williams (27), SG Maxim Belyakov (57)
ESPN Draft Grade: C+
My draft grade: D+
An instance of a team with talent who does not really need to improve upon its strengths, but does so anyways. Phoenix’s roster is full of 2s and 3s and needed more big men and possibly an heir to Steve Nash.

Portland
SF Daniel Pereira (4), PG Sylvester Ryan (32)
ESPN Draft Grade: C+
My draft grade: C
Both players are unquestionably very good, but it was a matter of addressing a greater need of a big man to complement LaMarcus Aldridge in the future. They did acquire PF Noah Romero in moving Jamaal Magloire but the 4th overall pick had options of Tanner Gibosn, Austin Worthy, Lee Barker and Willis Kelly still on the board. Ryan does address a young backcourt and can emerge as a starter, competing against Jarrett Jack.

Sacramento
SF Mamoun Stearn (18), PF Russell Lake (48)
ESPN Draft Grade: D-
My draft grade: D+
Stearn is a great player and with Sacramento looking to rebuild and dismantle, he could potentially be starting if Ron Artest is moved. Lake as well could step into a larger role with two veterans in the front court in Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Kenny Thomas. With Mario Moyar still on the board, he would have been a better pick, and also finding a replacement for Mike Bibby would have been wise in this draft.

San Antonio
SG Emery Connors (30), PG Ben Jones (60)
ESPN Draft Grade: C+
My draft grade: B-
San Antonio dealt both picks to Indiana for the 17th overall selection SF Sacha Kovalev and PF Ike Diogu. With Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry and Robert Horry all calling it quits, it left a gaping hole at both forward positions. The trade helps them immediately fill them, but the question remains if both young players are capable of contributing right away.

Seattle
SG Eric Vesper (3), C Shawn Leon (31)
ESPN Draft Grade: B-
My draft grade: B-
Seattle needed help up front and got it with Leon, but it was more the power forward position that needed an upgrade over Chris Wilcox. Vesper is a great player but will not be able to make an immediate impact behind Ray Allen.

Toronto
PG Elliot Myers (46)
ESPN Draft Grade: B-
My draft grade: D
Toronto needed better wingmen to run their run-and-gun offence better which is why they traded their first round pick to Indiana for SG Shawne Williams. With two point guards on the roster, Myers should not see much playing time unless he passes Jose Manuel Calderon on the depth chart.

Utah
SG Sylvester Barnes (8), SG Carlos Vega (38)
ESPN Draft Grade: D
My draft grade: B+
Barnes and Vega are two good shooting guards and that is exactly the need Utah had.

Washington
PF Willis Kelly (12), SG Levar Sewell (42)
ESPN Draft Grade: B
My draft grade: C+
Washington’s main holes were at centre and shooting guard. They still sort of are, but Sewell can ball and is serviceable while Kelly is a phenomenal player who can also cover minutes at centre.

Trades

Chicago trades C Khlaid Abdul Karim to Los Angeles (Clippers) for G Bert Hart
Dallas trades F-G Jerry Stackhouse, G Raphael Harrison and a 2008 1st round draft pick to Golden State for G-F Jason Richardson and a 2008 2nd round draft pick
Portland trades C Jamaal Magloire and PG Dan Dickau for G Jason Williams, PF Noah Romero and a 2008 1st round draft pick
Indiana trades PF Ike Diogu and F Sacha Kovalev to San Antonio for PG Beno Udrih, G Emery Connors, G Ben Jones and a 2008 2nd round draft pick
Los Angeles (Clippers) trade F-G Corey Maggette and F-G Yaroslav Korolev to Toronto for F Jorge Garbajosa, F-G Joey Graham and F Kris Humphries

[joeygraham]

Now to start the 2007-08 season. Refer to the first page for the current standings, transactions and line-up. Updates will be a little more succint and likely combine a few games into one recap. I will be simming all games till the third quarter before intervening.

Enjoy!

[diddy]

glad that u sign in the first round Russian big man! hope he'll be one of the leaders!

[joeygraham]

glad that u sign in the first round Russian big man! hope he'll be one of the leaders!

Yeah, ever since I began scouting him he was the guy I wanted. Also McLoughlin but you can't always get everything you want. Nikolaev is great to play with, Nowitzki-eque player but a little weak on the boards. I'll be updating shortly once I finish the week's worth of games.

Thanks for your post!

[BASiC]

I can't believe I haven't spotted your dynasty before..man it's looking good! I really like the writing and the in depth analysis. Keep up the good work.

[joeygraham]

I can't believe I haven't spotted your dynasty before..man it's looking good! I really like the writing and the in depth analysis. Keep up the good work.

Thanks BASiC. I'm not a graphics guy, so when the writing and analysis are complimented, it's particularly rewarding.

Stay tuned - the first two weeks of the season shall be recapped soon!

[joeygraham]

Recap October 28 - November 10

Snapshot
Philadelphia goes 1-4 on the road, with the lone win coming in Portland.
Samuel Dalembert records four double-doubles.
The rookies play well and Benedict Nikolaev named Player of the Game in win.
Opposing point guards driving and kicking the ball out with too much success.
Philadelphia almost takes down undefeated Phoenix.
Rodney Carney moves back into the starting line-up while Andre Iguodala shifts permanently to shooting guard.
Philadelphia ranked 29th in the league, 15th in the Eastern Conference, ahead of 0-8 Washington.
Six teams signed free agents, all undrafted rookies from the 2007 draft (see transactions on the first page)

(0-0) Philadelphia 101 | (0-0) Charlotte 111
Player of the Game: Jason Terry 31 PTS (10-18 FG, 7-9 3PT, 1-4 FT), 2 REB, 5 AST, 4 STL, 1 BLK
Sixer of the Game: Declan Parker 23 PTS (8-18 FG, 2-3 3PT, 5-6 FT), 4 REB (1 OFF), 6 AST, 3 STL

October 29- Brevin Knight to Jason Terry for the three, the few words to sum up the final quarter in which Knight recorded 8 points and 5 assists, while Terry racked up 14 points 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Benedict Nikolaev and Declan Parker both had strong debuts, combining for 35 points. Andre Iguodala has a full stat line recording 19 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal and a block. Samuel Dalembert recorded a double-double along with 2 blocks.

(0-1) Philadelphia 103 | (0-1) Indiana 118
Player of the Game: Jermaine O'Neal 29 PTS (12-22 FG, 5-5 FT), 13 REB (5 OFF), 3 AST, 1 STL, 3 BLK
Sixer of the Game: Andre Iguodala 20 PTS (5-10 FG, 1-1 3PT, 9-10 FT), 8 REB (2 OFF), 4 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK

November 1- Philadelphia squandered a six-point lead going into the fourth quarter on 9 turnovers in the frame and allowing Indiana to go on an 11-4 run off the bat. This game was the first meeting between the top two overall picks in the 2007 draft and both players performed very nicely, both dropping at least 20 points. Jamaal Tinsley took control in the end, posting 5 points and 6 assists, feeding Mike Dunleavy, Jr. for 12 points, to lead his team to a 38-point quarter. Samuel Dalembert had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks while Declan Parker had 21 points.

(0-2) Philadelphia 84 | (1-2) Milwaukee 103
Player of the Game: Bobby Simmons 18 PTS (8-19 FG, 1-2 3PT, 1-2 FT), 12 REB (2 OFF), 2 AST, 4 STL
Sixer of the Game: Rodney Carney 18 PTS (8-13 FG, 2-3 FT), 10 REB (6 OFF), 4 AST, 1 BLK

November 3- Bobby Simmons and Michael Redd combined for 18 points in a 30-point fourth quarter to lead the Bucks to a decisive victory. With Charlie Villanueva riding pine for most of the game, Brian Skinner did a masterful job filling in with 14 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks. Similarly, Andre Iguodala was given some rest, recording a season-low 26 minutes in the loss, and only posted 6 points on a horrid 1-of-11 shooting. Samuel Dalembert posted his third straight double-double. Benedict Nikolaev showed why he was the second overall pick, totalling 18 points, 6 rebounds, steals and 3 blocks, with the 3 swats all coming in the final frame.

(0-3) Philadelphia 102 | (3-0) Phoenix 104
Player of the Game: Steve Nash 26 PTS (12-18 FG, 1-1 3PT, 1-1 FT), 4 REB (2 OFF), 9 AST, 2 STL
Sixer of the Game: Andre Iguodala 32 PTS (13-19 FG, 5-5 3PT, 1-1 FT), 3 REB, 1 AST, 3 STL, 2 BLK

November 6- The 76ers showed their first signs of life against the perfect Suns, ultimately losing in the final seconds of the game. Phoenix tore out of the gates in the fourth quarter, going on a 16-5 run, capped by a massive Amare Stoudemire dunk. The Suns cooled off immediately, however, and Philadelphia mounted its own 13-6 run to pull within a basket. With just over a minute, Benedict Nikolaev fed the ball to the perimeter and Iguodala responded with his fourth trey of night to give his team a 95-94 edge. After hitting his fifth with under 30 seconds to tie the game at 102, Stoudemire held the ball in the post and manoeuvered to the basket, emphatically scoring the the final two of his 22 points with 3 seconds remaining. From half court, following a timeout, the ball was inbounded and given to the capable hands of Iguodala, but his game-tying shot at the buzzer clanged off the rim. Boris Diaw was Mr. Everything as usual, finishing with a modest 10 points, held to 25% shooting in the fourth quarter, but had 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals and 5 blocks. Shawn Marion quietly put together a 24 point, 10 rebound performance, while Stoudemire went 6-of-7 in the final quarter and finished with 7 rebounds. Samuel Dalembert's double-double streak was ended but he still managed 11 rebounds. Declan Parker had 22 points, including 3 three pointers, 4 assists and 3 steals while his fellow rookie and point guard Adrian Cedric had his best game, and his most minutes, totalling 9 points, 3 assists and a steal. Fellow rookie Nikolaev had a team-high 6 assists to go along with his 5 rebounds, 3 blocks and 17 points.

(0-4) Philadelphia 110 | (2-4) Portland 102
Player of the Game: Benedict Nikolaev 25 PTS (12-22 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT), 9 REB (3 OFF), 3 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK
Blazer of the Game: Jason Williams 41 PTS (14-26 FG, 6-12 3PT, 7-7 FT), 7 AST, 1 STL

November 9- A game after showing a competitive spirit but coming up short, the 76ers finally converted their energy into a win, topping the rebuilding Trailblazers. With their young core led by veterans Zach Randolph and the newly acquired Williams at point, Portland hoped to improve upon their finish one slot below the 76ers in last year standings. The lead was cut to 4 on a 10-2 run to start the quarter but Nikolaev hit three field goals and picked off a pass to help Philadelphia reassert their lead. After Williams led a Blazer charge, again it was Nikolaev who had the steady hand, widening the lead to a comfortable 6 and forcing the home team to begin fouling. Declan Parker hit his four free throws which sealed the game. Samuel Dalembert collected his fourth double-double in five games with 11 points and 11 boards, also adding 3 blocks and a steal. Andre Iguodala continued to put points on the board, finishing with 24 on 10-of-14 shooting and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, but put up sub-par, for him at least, numbers in the other stats columns. Parker finished with 22 points and 6 assists. Daniel Perriera, the fourth overall pick, had 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals before hitting the bench in foul trouble. Randolph collected 16 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Statistics for the two week period:
Samuel Dalembert 11.8 PTS (38% FG, 43% FT), 10.4 REB (4.0 OFF) ,1.6 AST, 0.8 STL, 2.2 BLK, 3.0 TO
Benedict Nikolaev 18.6 PTS (49% FG, 85% FT), 5.8 REB (2.0 OFF), 3.2 AST, 1.0 STL, 2.2 BLK, 2.8 TO
Rodney Carney 9.4 PTS (50% FG, 50% 3PT, 75% FT), 4.8 REB (1.8 OFF), 3.0 AST, 0.4 STL, 1.2 BLK, 3.2 TO
Andre Iguodala 20.2 PTS (55% FG, 67% 3PT, 85% FT), 5.0 REB (0.4 OFF), 3.0 AST, 1.8 STL, 1.0 BLK, 3.8 TO
Declan Parker 20.2 PTS (51% FG, 62% 3PT, 95% FT), 2.0 REB (0.8 OFF), 4.4 AST, 2.0 STL, 0.4 BLK, 2.2 TO

Images
Charlotte - Parker passing around Knight | Iguodala dunking over Gerald Wallace
Indiana - Nikolaev and Wilkins, the first two overall picks
Milwaukee - Cedric laying in the ball after a steal | Carney spinning around Maurice Williams | Nikolaev blocking a Williams lay-up attempt
Phoenix - Iguodala pumping mid-flight | Diaw with a more conventional dunk
Portland - Iguodala dunking after passing Brandon Roy | Nikolaev shooting a deep two

Odds and Ends
Despite being a brilliant three-point shooter in Europe, Nikolaev has yet to hit a shot behind the arc though he has attempted 4...After playing an entire season at shooting guard, Iguodala is finally registered at that position primarily, while Kyle Korver switched to a small forward...Nikolaev playing away from the basket has opened up the paint for Dalembert to grab more offensive rebounds, especially in the fourth quarter in which he is averaging 2...Iguodala is scoring more, especially from three-point range, but his rebounding, blocks and steals have all drastically fallen, with him averaging a steal and block less than last year; perhaps it is the recent benching with games out of hand or perhaps it is attibutable to the more complete change of position...Korver is shooting 32% from the field; as solely a shooter, he will, and has, found himself on the bench if he cannot convert. The same goes for Willie Green who has yet to hit a three-pointer...Parker is great offensively, but matched against passing point guards, as in the first two games, he needs help and frees up a man. Cedric, who stands at 6'6 and possesses incredible foot speed may become more of a defensive stopper at the one...Erwin Johnson, the 23rd overall selection, is still on the injured reserve. He is an athletic specimen but too similar to Carney and Iguodala to play behind them at small forward and with many options already at power forward, he is unlikely to find time there as well...Philadelphia needs to take better care of the ball. They are averaging 19 turnovers per contests and 6 in the fourth quarter...The 76ers have four more road games before coming home for a 13-game home stretch.