where would the sixers be with this squad today?

[jwin]

YEAR PICK NAME GP % PPG RPG APG
2002 26 John Salmons 85.2 4.1 1.8 1.3
2001 26 Samuel Dalembert 47.0 6.1 6.0 0.2
2000 20 Speedy Claxton 47.2 8.2 2.4 3.4
1998 8 Larry Hughes 83.0 14.1 4.4 3.1
1997 2 Keith Van Horn 84.2 17.5 7.4 1.7
1996 1 Allen Iverson 85.1 27.0 4.1 5.7
1995 3 Jerry Stackhouse 86.0 20.9 3.7 4.1

[matmat8]

I dont think that's good
They could have made some better trades though

[Riot]

Hughes, Stack, Van Horn and AI on the same team

[jwin]

but could you imagine how much hustle that team would have, they'd all play ferocious defense, go after every loose ball, crash the boards on every play ( which with the leaping ability you'd have there would be fun to watch all by itself), and that's just from trying to be the one to get the ball all the time. throw in some plays, and some bonus cash for assists so they might pass sometimes and that could be a dynasty.

[Riot]

keyword: sometimes and cash

[.]

I dont think they would turn out being a great team because Iverson couldnt really play with those players like Van Horn, Hughes and Stackhouse.

[hmm]

.

[Ben-le-ouf]

Hughes, Stack & Iverson.... it's not a team.

[fgrep15]

Even without Hughes, Stack and Iverson?
Both low percentage scorers that need shots and trips to the free throw line to score?
Yea sure.....

[Full Surface]

AI's ball hogging (back then) definitely wouldn't have suited well with Hughes or Stackhouse.

[Andrew]

There's no true point guard on that squad. Iverson is the closest thing to a true point, but he's better off as the number one option playing alongside a point guard who is willing to give up the ball. Stack and AI couldn't play together, and Hughes certainly doesn't seem too interested in sharing the ball.

The team would look pretty good on paper, but ultimately they wouldn't be able to get it done on the court without some major attitude adjustments; and that would have been pretty unlikely.

[Fresh8]

There are many teams which have good 'on-paper' rosters...not many play well!

[Andrew]

There are many teams which have good 'on-paper' rosters...not many play well!

Absolutely. I sometimes wonder why teams continue to stock up on name talent when the best formula appears to be a star or two (or at least a player who is at worst an average defender and reliable scorer), some solid key role players (the third and fourth players) who can do the necessary things, and role players who can fill in with a talent or two whenever necessary. These teams seem to be play better team ball, yet some GMs keep stocking their rosters with depth that just won't gel.

[Fresh8]

I think it's that GM's look at rputation and believe that if they can get guys who averaged 25 ppg last season..they could do it the next season

Plus, big names sell tickets!

[benji]

but could you imagine how much hustle that team would have, they'd all play ferocious defense, go after every loose ball, crash the boards on every play

I hope you're joking.

Salmons - only plays defense when games aren't televised.
Dalembert - helpsider, would probably reject 6 shots a game since so many people would be driving.
Claxton - defensive stopper, but coming off the bench likely.
Hughes - won't play defense coming off the bench, even when he does it's mearly average
Van Horn - defense?
Iverson - ball hawk yes, but not a good defender
Stackhouse - see Hughes

Hustle? Ferocious Defense? How much would they have?

None.

[fgrep15]

but could you imagine how much hustle that team would have, they'd all play ferocious defense, go after every loose ball, crash the boards on every play

I hope you're joking.

Salmons - only plays defense when games aren't televised.
Dalembert - helpsider, would probably reject 6 shots a game since so many people would be driving.
Claxton - defensive stopper, but coming off the bench likely.
Hughes - won't play defense coming off the bench, even when he does it's mearly average
Van Horn - defense?
Iverson - ball hawk yes, but not a good defender
Stackhouse - see Hughes

Hustle? Ferocious Defense? How much would they have?

None.

Exactly lol I don't know where that Hustle and Ferocious defense came from.

Iverson - Good at picking passing lanes and has quick hands, but his actual one on one defense isn't good.

Stackhouse - He has no defensive talent, he's a horrible defender, doesn't get steals, doesn't rebound, nothing, just bad

Hughes - Average defender, but very small and will be easily outmuscled and outmatched, he's 6'5 180 something pounds, I think 182 lbs.

Dalmbert - Great shot blocker, but not a great defender, their's a difference, if you block 2 shots but your man scores the next three then you didn't do anything.

Van Horn - He's in the same place as Stackhouse in defense, worse one on one defender, but his height can get him maybe one block

Claxton - Great defender, very quick, quick hands and all, but yea he won't play enough for it to matter.

[magius]

hey! its dallas!

[jwin]

yes it was a joke, that with all the ball hogging going on, everyone would be doing anything they could just to get their hands on the ball without actually having to take it from each other.

(btw and off topic but has anyone else ever played with someone who hogged so much that you actually snuck up on them and took the ball away?)

as far as being good on paper, i know that team wouldn't have worked realistically going by the careers each had, but had those players all had better attitudes about playing team ball that could have been a pretty decent team today. but the emphasis is on IF. also if sharone wright hadn't had his career cut short, and b.j. tyler stayed healthy and developed into a true point i think the bench could have been a strength for them also.

as a sixers fan, looking at what detroit did this year just made me think about all the potential that philly COULD have had at this point, i mean if you throw in joe smith and tim thomas and maybe even bradley, for shot blocking purposes only of course, there aren't many teams that have had that many SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN top tier players that could still be together now. but even with all that talent passing through it's a contrast to detroit making moves that were the best fit for the team, and not just trying to put the best players together.