Game-by-Game Predictions for Philadelphia 76ers’ December

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Nov 282012
 

The Philadelphia 76ers are closing in on the month of December and they have a chance of making strides in the standings.

After opening the season with presentable 9-6 record, it can be said that they slowly but surely establishing themselves as a playoff team.

Thus far, Philadelphia ranks 7th in the league in points allowed per game (93.4). However, they have struggled to consistently produce offensively, ranking just 26th in the league in points per game (92.2).

Despite their stellar defense, they evidently need to put it together offensively. With guys like Jrue Holiday, averaging over 18 and 9 assists per game, and Evan Turner, averaging over 12 and seven boards,  exceeding expectations, it can be said that there is certainly capability.

The month of December is a great time for them to tie things together and consistently produce. Along the way they have favorable matchups, but at the same time there will the inevitable losses. 

Let’s take a look at their December schedule in more depth…

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Which Wing Player Should the Philadelphia 76ers Rely on the Most?

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Nov 092012
 

The Philadelphia 76ers have a plethora of solid wing players on their 2012-2013 team. However, the team has yet to find out which one is best suited to take on a bigger role in the offense. 

The Sixers allowed Lou Williams, Jodie Meeks and Andre Iguodala to walk last offseason, so they will need to find a guy to replace their production. Last season, Doug Collins relied on both Iguodala and Williams to take crucial shots, so he will need to look for someone for this year’s team who can assume that duty. Typically, the guy who takes the last shot is a wing player, as they are better free throw shooters and have an easier time of getting their own shots off the dribble.

The Sixers’ options are Evan Turner, Nick Young, Jason Richardson and Dorell Wright.

The following information will prove that the Sixers should rely on Dorell Wright more than any other wing player on the current roster:

 

1. His Shooting Ability

Dorell Wright led the league in three-pointers made two seasons ago, so he is clearly an elite shooter. In fact, Wright’s 2011-201 true shooting percentage, 55.3, is higher than any player from last year’s Sixers’ team. 

Wright’s ability to make three-pointers isn’t the only benefit of his shooting prowess for the Sixers—his shooting ability also forces defenses to play tight on him, which opens up the floor for other players. Here is a video of Dorell Wright’s highlights from a game in which he made nine three-pointers for the Golden State Warriors.

As you can see in this video, the Minnesota Timberwolves clearly did not make good adjustments throughout that game. In this game, Michael Beasley is constantly trying to play help defense, which left Wright open, and he made the Timberwolves pay. 

 

So, by Wright making these shots, a team that makes good in-game adjustments will be forced to play less help defense. This lack of help defense will allow other Sixers’ players to penetrate the lane without too many defenders collapsing on them.

 

2. His Ability to Drive to the Basket

Although people think of Wright as a shooter, he can actually drive to the basket as well. Wright was actually seventh in the league in field goal percentage at the rim among all small forwards.

Attached is a video of Wright’s preseason highlights against the Brooklyn Nets in a game in which he scored 18 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

Dorell shows off his ability to do multiple things on the basketball court to help a team win. Throughout his career, Wright has demonstrated an ability to play a multifaceted game. 

 

3. His Rebounding Ability

Wright is an above average rebounder for his position. In fact, Wright’s total rebounding percentage, 9.6, was one of the highest in the league among small forwards last season. Attached is a video of Wright showing the Sixers his rebounding ability.

Although this video does not focus too much on his rebounds, it still shows his rebounding ability and potential. If Wright can continue to rebound efficiently, the Sixers could have guys at all five positions who can hold their own on the glass. If the Sixers play the lineup of Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Dorell Wright, Spencer Hawes and Andrew Bynum, not only will all of those players be above 6’4”, but they all rebound at an above average rate for their respective positions. 

Although the Sixers were fourth in defensive rebounding percentage last season, they can always improve in one of the most important parts of the game of basketball.

 

4. His Height and Length

Wright measures in at 6’9”, which is above average for a small forward. In addition, Wright’s wingspan is around seven feet, which is very good for a small forward. 

This size allows Wright to shoot over defenders, which is key for a shooter like him. Wright will also almost never be smaller than the player that he is guarding, which is a key defensively for coach Doug Collins.

Also, Wright’s size allows Evan Turner to move back to playing shooting guard. Although Turner’s game is not suited for the shooting guard role, his height prevents him from being an effective defender at the small forward position. That being said, Wright will play a shooting guard role on offense while Turner will guard the shooting guards on defense. This will allow the Sixers to get the most out of Evan Turner.

When Coach Doug Collins considers these four factors, there is no question who he should rely on the most. Although Evan Turner and Nick Young may be more talented than Wright, neither of them has the basketball IQ that Wright possesses. 

Overall, Wright has a very underrated all-around game, and hopefully Doug Collins will allow him to put his array of talents on full display this season.

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How Life Without Andrew Bynum Is Turning Jrue Holiday into an All-Star

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Nov 082012
 

Without Andrew Bynum, the Philadelphia 76ers aren’t an NBA powerhouse, but Jrue Holiday himself is.

It’s easy to exude pessimism when the Sixers’ supposed franchise cornerstone remains on the sidelines without a concrete timetable for his return, yet while Philadelphia is far from a superteam without Bynum, they are a postseason-bound one.

Because of Holiday.

Though the regular season is still young, the point guard is already on pace to have a career year. He’s averaging 18 points, 9.5 assists and four rebounds per game while shooting 44.4 percent from beyond the arc—all career highs. His assist totals are also currently the fourth most in the NBA and he’s on pace to post the loftiest PER of his career as well.

But does that alone make Holiday a superstar? Are his stats alone the reason why we have a future All-Star in our midst?

Absolutely not. Holiday’s career numbers are an integral part of his evolution as a star, but they’re not everything.

His ability to lead the Sixers in Bynum’s absence, however, is.

Though the 22-year-old continues to struggle with his ball-protection—he’s committing five turnovers per contest—he has served as a dependable two-way pillar at a time when this could be considered Philadelphia’s darkest hour.

He not only leads the team in points and assists per game, but he’s setting the tone defensively as well, swiping a team high 1.5 steals per bout. Holiday has also been the team’s playmaking end-all; his 9.5 dimes per game account for 55 percent of the team’s total assists and are 6.5 more than the team’s second leading facilitator in Evan Turner.

This means something. It all means something.

At only 22, Holiday has been tasked with running an offense without a dominant scorer, been asked to lead a team that is nearly void of experience.

And he’s delivered, both statistically and emotionally.

Sure the Sixers will continue to fight to stay at or above .500, but for a team that bet it all on an injury-prone, currently shelved center, that’s not bad. In fact, it’s pretty damn good.

To still have playoff aspirations despite being down your “best” player is no easy feat. It’s one that usually takes an abundance of depth and a plethora of proven talent.

Philadelphia is not a poster-team for the latter, though. It has a surplus of budding young talent, but it was supposed to lack leadership in Bynum’s absence.

But it hasn’t. Holiday has run the offense efficiently, exuded competency on defense and despite two discouraging losses to the New York Knicks, has done whatever it takes to keep the Sixers relevant early on.

If they need him to score, he’ll score. If his shots aren’t falling and he’s not scoring, he’ll use his crafty ball-handling skills and superior court vision to make sure others do.

Simply put, he’s been sensational in the early going.

And it’s not going to stop here. Holiday is still developing, still coming into his own. Knowing that he is posting the sixth highest PER of players 22 or under who average at least 20 minutes per game is certainly comforting, but not in a complacent sense.

Because Holiday is going to continue to improve. He’s become a household force overnight simply by assuming a more prominent role; there’s still plenty more to come.

So while Bynum’s absence is far from ideal, the worst of times, the most winding of roads is known to bring out the best in certain athletes.

Holiday is one of those athletes.

He has thrived in the face of adversity, embraced his role as a leader and, most importantly, given the Bynum-less Sixers something to play for.

Forget that Philadelphia is averaging a league worst 83.25 points per contest. Forget that the team is dishing out the third-lowest amount of assists in the league. Forget it all.

But remember the Sixers were supposed to break, were supposed to crumble under the weight of Bynum’s absence.

Then remember that they haven’t.

Because of Holiday.

 

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Doug Collins’ search for ways to ‘unlock’ Evan Turner has turned spiritual, fictional, ‘Fresh Prince’-ual (Ball Don’t Lie)

 LA Lakers  No Responses »
Nov 052012
 

With incumbent small forward Andre Iguodala off to Denver, a starting swing spot open and plenty of playing time available, Philadelphia 76ers fans entered the season hopeful that young forward Evan Turner — the 2010 National Player of the Year at Ohio State and the 2010 NBA draft’s No. 2 overall pick — would take a great leap forward in his third NBA season. But through two games — which, if Los Angeles Lakers fans have taught us anything, is a sample size more than large enough to justify panic — Philly’s new starting three has struggled quite a bit.
Turner has missed 12 of his 16 field goal attempts on the young season, turning it over on nearly 21 percent of his plays and scoring only 16 points in just under 66 minutes of work. Philadunkia’s Tom Sunnergren termed Turner’s first game of the season “a dud [in which he] disappeared for stretches,” and Andrew Unterberger of The Basketball Jones called the performance that Turner and teammate Nick Young turned in against the New York Knicks on Sunday “some of the most hideous wing play you’ll ever see on a basketball court.” If the likes of us bloggin’ types are seeing the slow start, then it stands to reason that Sixers coach Doug Collins is aware of it, too.
Collins has spent the past two seasons trying to figure out how to translate the jack-of-all-trades game that Turner showcased in college to the pro level, and has mostly been unsuccessful. But the coach isn’t licked yet — he might not be the biggest fan of advanced statistics , but he does, apparently, find value in coaching resources perhaps even more arcane and surprising. Like, for example, film adaptations of novels about golf loosely based on the Bhagavad Gita . From John Finger of CSNPhilly.com :
A couple of weeks ago, Sixers coach Doug Collins was watching the movie “The Legend of Bagger Vance” and it immediately put his mind in motion.
Collins thought, what if he could mentor third-year guard Evan Turner and help him get “unlocked” the way Will Smith’s character, Bagger Vance, worked with golfer Rannulph Junuh, played by Matt Damon.
Once a great golfer, Junuh returned home to Georgia from World War I only to suffer from post-war stress. Only when Junuh returned to playing golf with Bagger Vance, honing his mental game, could he again regain his personal glory.
Now this isn’t to say Turner is a down-and-out basketball pro in need of Svengali pulling the strings behind the scenes, but going into his third year as an NBA player, the former No. 2 overall pick has only shown glimpses of his potential.

Why Andrew Bynum’s Knee Problems Pose Huge Risk to 76ers’ Playoff Hopes

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Oct 302012
 

When the Philadelphia 76ers flipped Andre Iguodala and some spare parts for Andrew Bynum, there was praise all around for their ingenuity and the attempt to grab themselves a player who could lead a team to a championship.

There’s proof on both sides of the argument as to whether or not Bynum is a franchise player, but at least there’s an argument going on.

Last season Bynum showed that he’s got the potential to be a franchise player based on his double-double, efficient post-play and his improving, albeit still pick-and-roll ignorant, defense.

There’s a flip-side to Bynum’s success story of a season ago, however.

Last season was Bynum’s first as a full-time starter when he ended up missing fewer than 10 games. He played in all 82 games in his second year in the league, but he only started 53 games that year. Needless to say, Bynum has had injury problems throughout his career.

That’s why there’s a lot of concern surrounding Bynum’s ailing knee, especially since it’s not the first time that he’s had knee problems. Bynum has gone under the knife at least once with some sort of problem in each knee, whether it be cleaning it out or rebuilding it.

What Bynum is going through right now has only been called “knee discomfort,” the extent of which is known really only to Bynum and his doctors, but it’s his right knee, in which he has torn his MCL previously.

Bynum didn’t play a single preseason game for the Sixers, has rarely practiced and is only just now going through low-impact conditioning.

More #Sixers: #Bynum ‘has already commenced low impact conditioning & will be re-evaluated by medical personnel on a continuous basis.’

— Tom Moore (@tmoorepburbs) October 30, 2012

 

If that doesn’t concern the good people of Philadelphia, it certainly should.

What the 76ers have in the short-term is a team without the guy who is supposed to be their hammer down low. They’ve yet to completely work him into the flow of the team and they’re still trying to figure their team out.

Normally I wouldn’t be so concerned about the impact of one player missing from a team, but in this case, it seems like it’s extremely important for Bynum to play early and often.

The biggest concern in Philly without Bynum’s injury has to be how this team will play defensively. Philly is without Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala, two guys who were the anchor for the team’s defense last season.

Now they’re hoping that the combination of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner can play good enough defense on the perimeter and Bynum can make the strides necessary to better defend the post. The task is a big one, and it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to live up to last year’s team defensively.

The 76ers saving grace was supposed to be their new scoring threat in the post, who is now fighting yet another knee injury.

There’s a bit of acceptance that needs to happen in Philadelphia. Without Bynum, this team is not a playoff team. With just half a season from Bynum, this team is not a playoff team. The part that’s going to be hard to figure out is just how much Bynum has to play in order for Philly to win enough games in the East (which should be between 42 and 44) to grab a playoff spot.

It’s not the fact that Bynum’s knee is sore that concerns me, it’s the fact that it’s a problem that has only been prescribed ”rest.” Maybe it’s not a recurring thing, but it certainly seems to be problematic.

It’s going to be extremely difficult for the 76ers to make their way into the playoffs if Bynum is on and off throughout the season.

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Andrew Bynum Injury: Could Sixers Survive 2012-13 Season Without Star Center?

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Oct 302012
 

There’s nothing more dangerous in the NBA than resting the hopes of an entire team on one man’s shoulders.

Enter Andrew Bynum, the Philadelphia 76ers‘ supposed lifeline.

When the Sixers acquired the league’s second best center from the Los Angeles Lakers, championship contention suddenly fell within reach. 

The big man was coming off the best season of his tumultuous career, posting averages of 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per contest. The Sixers were coming off a postseason that saw them nearly push past the Boston Celtics and into the Eastern Conference Finals.

Yet something was missing on both sides.

Bynum was never given the unconditional green light in Los Angeles. He constantly took a backseat to Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, and his shortcomings as both a player and maturing man-child were under constant scrutiny.

Then you had the Sixers, a team who hadn’t tasted the sweet reality of title contention since the days of Allen Iverson and struggled to find an identity under the versatile talents of Andre Iguodala.

But, after this trade, everything would change.

Bynum would continue on his path of superstardom, fully realize his potential and proceed to actualize it. Philadelphia would follow suit, joining the ranks of the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder and Lakers themselves as championship contenders. 

However, as quickly as this long overdue reassurance came, it went. Bynum started to develop problems in his knee. Again.

At 24, the center has not only had surgery on both of his knees, but was forced to undergo a non-invasive procedure this past summer that was supposed to provide some temporary relief.

Apparently, it didn’t. Bynum has yet to play in a preseason game, and according to Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com, he continues to sit out of practice.

Bynum did not practice with right knee discomfort. DiLeo to talk to media.

— Tom Moore (@tmoorepburbs) October 24, 2012

Though setbacks are often unavoidable, Bynum’s is especially complex and disconcerting. 

Centers—courtesy of the banging they do in the post—are susceptible to knee injures more than any other players in the league. After a report by Moore that revealed Bynum needed another two shots in knees, the concern surrounding his health is at an all-time high.

Bynum had two shots Monday in knees. ‘If this team feels like we can’t win without him, we’re not going to win,’ Collins said.

— Tom Moore (@tmoorepburbs) October 24, 2012

Those concerns are sure to stem plenty of doubts moving forward. 

Did the Sixers bite off more than they could chew with Bynum? Did they just trade away a franchise pillar in Iguodala for an injury-prone athlete who will never make the contributions he’s expected to? And, most importantly, is Philadelphia’s season over, even before it officially starts?

Though we’re less than six months into the Bynum experiment, those are a series of legitimate questions.

Bynum was brought into redirect Philadelphia’s fortunes, to shift the tide in the franchise’s favor for a change. But here the team is, preparing for the start of the 2012-13 season, and Bynum is on the sidelines, his return to the court more uncertain than ever.

Because, as Sixers General Manager Tony DiLeo admits (via Moore), with each passing day that Bynum remains a bystander, the less likely it is that he will be ready for Philadelphia’s regular season opener versus the Denver Nuggets. The closer that comes to being a reality, the more likely it is the big man’s return is continuously delayed.

#Sixers Dileo: Every day Bynum misses makes it less likely he plays in Oct. 31 season opener.

— Tom Moore (@tmoorepburbs) October 24, 2012

So yes, it’s fair to question if the Sixers’ season is already over. Their primary pillar is on the shelf and his return is as uncertain as Rajon Rondo’s jump shot.

If he winds up missing extensive time, how is Philadelphia supposed to cope, how is the team supposed to stay in the playoff hunt? Surely the Sixers cannot remain relevant. 

Except that they can.

Even without Bynum, the Sixers are a good team—a versatile unit capable causing matchup headaches.

Are they contenders? Absolutely not, but Bynum has to return some time and Philadelphia is equipped to handle his absence in the interim.

While I could tell you this is because the Sixers have posted a 6-1 preseason record without him or because you need to believe in their youthful core, I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t go beyond that.

For the past two years, I’ve watched Philadelphia from afar. I’ve seen what this largely still intact group can do, saw what they were capable of when Iguodala wasn’t on point. Most notably, I’ve watched their young guns—even the newest ones—evolve right before our very eyes.

Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young are all versatile athletes capable of making a two-way impact; each of them have shown glimpses of star potential. The impact of Lavoy Allen, Spencer Hawes and Jason Richardson remain underrated and even Nick Young has displayed a penchant for selflessness in Philadelphia that we have never seen before.

This is a good team—they just have to remember that.

In the age of super teams, there’s no greater peril than building a championship cause around one player. Just look at where the Dallas Mavericks are at right now.

This is why the Sixers cannot panic; they cannot already deem a season that has yet to begin a lost cause. They can, however, combat the enemy that has become Bynum’s health, weathering the storm that is their best player’s durability.

They can overcome this latest setback of Bynum’s and they can overcome the one Moore reveals will come months from now when he receives two more of the same shots.

#Sixers #Bynum had Synvisc-One shots in both knees Monday and plans to have two more over all-star break. 3rd year in a row he’s done this.

— Tom Moore (@tmoorepburbs) October 24, 2012

Why? Because they’re deep enough, diverse enough, balanced enough and young enough to put up a superstar-less fight.

We watched the Denver Nuggets navigate the minefield that is the Western Conference without an All-Star for the better part of two years, so why not the Sixers? Why not this team? Why can’t they hold it together in the wide-open Eastern Conference?

Those are exactly the types of questions this team needs to ask themselves. After all, as head coach Doug Collins admits (via Moore), even when Bynum returns, there is no telling how long it will take for him to regain his form.

#Sixers Collins: ‘I have no idea how long it will take (to get Bynun ready once he gets on court.’

— Tom Moore (@tmoorepburbs) October 24, 2012

So now is not a time to doubt in the Sixers, or for them to doubt in their own, Bynum-less potential. Now is a time for them to decide what type of team they want to be.

Do they want to go as far as Bynum alone can take them or are they prepared to establish an identity outside of their superstar center? Is Jrue Holiday prepared to run this offense? Are Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner and Holiday ready to carry the scoring burden? Will Allen and Hawes step up defensively? Will this team stay the course and continue to fight for a playoff spot, with or without Bynum?

You see, it’s not a question, or series of questions, of “can” they, it’s one of “will” they.

The Sixers can survive without Bynum, but only if they believe they can.  As Collins said, “If this team feels like we can’t win without him, we’re not going to win.”

As such, the season ahead is only as lost as the Sixers make it to be.

 

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Why Philadelphia 76ers Must Pay Jrue Holiday Like a Star Point Guard

 Philadelphia  No Responses »
Oct 262012
 

Jrue Holiday may not be an All-Star, but the Philadelphia 76ers need to pay him like one.

Now.

The essential combo guard is set to become a restricted free agent next summer, and though Philadelphia will have the right to match any offer that is thrown his way, it is far better for the team to lock him up before then.

Especially considering Holiday doesn’t want to go anywhere else.

According to Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com, when news broke that the Sixers had picked up Evan Turner’s option, Holiday re-affirmed his affinity for playing in Philadelphia:

“I definitely want an extension,” Holiday said after Thursday’s two-hour practice. “I want to play here. I feel comfortable. It’s like family to me. But it’s kind of out of my hands. I’ve just got to go out and play every day.”

Agent Tony Dutt and Holiday are believed to be seeking a four- or five-year deal (which the Sixers could only give Holiday if they use the one-time designated player exception) starting at close to the maximum allowable $13.6 million.

The Sixers have reportedly offered a pact beginning closer to $9 million.

Just like it always does, it seems Holiday’s future with the Sixers will come down to dollars and cents.

He and Philadelphia seem to be about $4 million apart annually, so some middle ground must be established for this extension to be ironed out.

And for the Sixers’ sake, they cannot afford to not find that middle ground. Heck, they can’t afford to not offer him the $13-plus million he’s seeking a year if that’s what it comes to.

But why? After all, Holiday isn’t an All-Star, so why pay him like one?

That’s correct, he’s not an All-Star.

Yet.

Holiday is only 22, but he has taken great strides toward improving his game every year. 

Though his averages of 13.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds on 43.2 percent shooting last season were a slight drop from his totals during 2010-11, he did improve his defensive execution (career-high 1.6 steals per game) and ball protection (career-low 2.1 turnovers a night).

Let’s also not forget that Holiday wasn’t the primary ball-handler, either. Andre Iguodala handled it most of the time, forcing Holiday to play off the ball.

However, I will admit his regular-season performance—excuses and all—is hardly enough to warrant $13 million or even close to $13 million annually.

So how about his postseason excursion?

Last spring, Holiday helped propel the Sixers to an impressive playoff performance and near Eastern Conference finals berth. He led the team in scoring, dishing, steals and three-point efficiency per game, totaling 15.8 points, 5.2 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 swipes per postseason contest.

While that 13-game span is a small sample size, it still means a great deal.

He stepped up his game when it mattered most, emerging as a two-way leader that Philadelphia could rely on, just as much as Iguodala.

And you know what? With Andrew Bynum still watching from the sidelines, he’ll step up his game to meet the needs of the team yet again.

No one is sure when Bynum is going to return, nor can anyone in Philadelphia guarantee he’ll return to form once he does.

Which leaves the Sixers in need of a leader, both statistically and emotionally. A leader who can inspire them to play postseason-caliber basketball in Bynum’s absence. A leader who has historically stepped up his performance when the situation called for it.

A leader who is up for a contract extension this season.

A leader who deserves to get paid like a star, because he is one.

That’s Holiday.

We can argue that he isn’t an All-Star until we’re blue, purple or green in the face, but truth be told, his league-wide status has almost nothing to do with his value to Philly.

One day, he may be an All-Star, but today, more so than ever, he is already a star, a vital cog in a playoff-hopeful machine for the Sixers.

Yes, he has plenty left to prove. Yet, at 22, after just three years in the league, he has also already proven so much.

Which is why the Sixers cannot let him get away, or even give him the opportunity to explore the open market. Why drag out the negotiating process when they’re going to have to line his pockets one way or another?

Even in a market laden with star-esque point guards, there will be a team that gives Holiday the money he wants.

And with Bynum’s future in Philadelphia anything but certain, it would be wise for the Sixers to make themselves that team now.

Or run the risk of losing their second in command and current MVP later.

 

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