Archive for the '76ers' Category

Sixers no free agent players - might be a good thing

Two Sixers posts in a row - is this how bad things are with the Phillies?

Despite the awful product that is the NBA, there’s a considerable buzz on the possible destinations of some of basketball’s top names.

The King, D-Wade, Bosh, Dirk, and Booz could all be switching jerseys this off-season in a free agent frenzy never seen before in NBA history. Already Atlanta’s Joe Johnson is going to accept an insane 6-year, $121 million offer from the Hawks. Joe Freakin’ Johnson. Did they watch him against Orlando in the playoffs this year?

Anyway, for Sixers fans this is going to be a quiet couple of weeks as far as free agents go. The Sixers are all spent out, with guys like Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand sucking the life out of them fiscally. But maybe that’s a good thing, because recent history shows the Sixers are just no good when they do get a couple of bucks in their pocket.

Let’s take a look at some of the worst Sixers forays into free agency over the past 15 years.

Charles Shackleford - C- 1991 (Gene Shue - GM)

With Mike Gminski traded and Rick Mahorn fading the Sixers saw Shackleford as an answer to their starting center prayers. After playing only two mediocre seasons in the NBA with the Nets, the NC State star shuffled off to Italy for the 1990-91 season before making his return. To clear $1.3M in salary room to sign Shackleford the Sixers released the popular Mahorn in the off-season. Shackleford, best known for being a main figure in a college point-shaving scandal and this quote - “Left hand, right hand, it doesn’t matter. I’m amphibious.”- made over $3 million in the two miserable seasons he spent with the Sixers, averaging 5.5 ppg and 5.1 rpg. He was released in the summer of 1993. He went on to lead the Euroleague in rebounding in 1995-96, and won the Korac Cup title playing in Greece in 1997.

Continue reading ‘Sixers no free agent players - might be a good thing’

Published
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Jared
on July 2, 2010
in 76ers
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NBA Mock Draft - why not?

It wouldn’t be a Philly sports blog without an NBA Mock Draft:

  1. Washington - John Wall, G, Kentucky - Speed is the name of the game here
  2. Philadelphia - Evan Turner, G/F, Ohio State - Please Ed, don’t outthink yourself here
  3. New Jersey - Wesley Johnson, F, Syracuse - Versatile and athletic
  4. Minnesota - DeMarcus Cousins, C, Kentucky - Trade Al Jefferson for some shooting
  5. Sacramento - Derrick Favors, PF, Georgia Tech - Not buying the hype on this guy
  6. Golden State - Greg Monroe, PF, Georgetown - A bit of a wuss, but he can really pass
  7. Detroit - Ekpe Udoh, PF, Baylor - The next Theo Ratliff
  8. LA Clippers - Al-Farouq Aminu, F, Wake Forest - Versatile and good defender
  9. Utah - Gordon Hayward, G/F, Butler - Harpring. Korver. Now Hayward.
  10. Indiana - Ed Davis, PF, North Carolina - Lots of potential here
  11. New Orleans - Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas - They need size badly
  12. Memphis - Luke Babbit, SF, Nevada - Lights out shooter
  13. Toronto - Larry Sanders, C/PF, VCU - Desperate to replace Chris Bosh
  14. Houston - Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky - More beef up front
  15. Milwaukee - Paul George, SG, Fresno State - Michael Redd’s successor
  16. Minnesota - Xavier Henry, SG, Kansas - Long-range shooting for the T-Wolves
  17. Chicago - Eric Bledsoe, G, Kentucky - Best still available
  18. Oklahoma City - Daniel Orton, C, Kentucky - Size worth the reach here
  19. Boston - James Anderson, G, Oklahoma State - Gives C’s some more scoring punch
  20. San Antonio - Kevin Seraphin, F, France - Spurs love drafting talented Euros late
  21. Oklahoma City - Damion James, F, Texas - Gives Thunder added toughness
  22. Portland - Solomon Alabi, C, Florida State - Insurance against another Oden injury
  23. Minnesota - Quincy Pondexter, G/F, Washington - A poor man’s Brandon Roy?
  24. Atlanta - Jordan Crawford, G, Xavier - More scoring for the Hawks
  25. Memphis - Avery Bradley, PG, Texas - Still not sold on Mike Conley
  26. Oklahoma City - Hassan Whiteside, C, Marshall - Another high-risk/high-reward type
  27. New Jersey - Dominique Jones, G, South Florida - Athletic scorer
  28. Memphis - Craig Brackins, F, Iowa State - Big scorer and rebounder
  29. Orlando - Devin Ebanks, F, West Virginia - Big-time defender
  30. Washington - Gani Lawal, F, Georgia Tech - High energy big man
Published
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Jared
on June 24, 2010
in 2010 NBA Draft and 76ers
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Bol - A 76er Philly should always remember

My dad was an ad exec in Philadelphia who’s biggest client was the 76ers. Because of that he would occasionally get wind of a rumor or two before the press. I remember him telling me the summer before my freshman year of college that the Sixers were going to make a splash by making a move for a big name center, but he didn’t know who yet. My imagination went wild thinking of who it could possibly be. Kevin Duckworth? Hakeem? Are we finally getting Brad Daugherty?

Alas, it turned out to be Manute Bol - traded to Philly by the Warriors for the 16th-overall pick in 1991 (Chris Gatling).

Continue reading ‘Bol - A 76er Philly should always remember’

Published
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Jared
on June 20, 2010
in 76ers
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Is Derrick Favors the 76ers’ man at No. 2?

According to ESPN.com’s Chad Ford, a credible source close to new Sxers coach Doug Collins has persuaded him that they will pass on Ohio State’s Evan Turner and go with Georgia Tech PF Derrick Favors.

Per Ford:

Analysis: I’ve heard various sources make pretty forceful arguments that three different players are second on the 76ers’ board: Evan Turner, DeMarcus Cousins and Derrick Favors. At times, I’ve been persuaded by all three. But now it looks like the Sixers are leaning toward Favors, according to what I was told on Monday by a credible source familiar with coach Doug Collins’ thinking.

Turner isn’t a great fit next to Andre Iguodala. And while Cousins is a perfect fit in the middle, the team has some concerns about his on-court attitude. That leaves Favors, who has as much upside as any player in the draft.

His measurements out of Chicago are virtually identical to Dwight Howard’s — which means he should be just fine playing center. All of this can change once players undergo individual workouts and interviews, but from what I can gather, Favors has the lead if the Sixers decide to keep the pick.

The name of the game here is upside. Turner may be essentially a finished product at this point, but he’s the most NBA-ready player in the draft and could help the Sixers win some ball games in 2010. With ball hogs like Andre Iguodala, Lou Williams and Mareese Speights on the floor Favors, and his raw offensive game, won’t get much chance to develop.

I watched a ton of ACC games down here in Virginia last season, including a whole of Tech’s games. Favors was certainly athletic, but he hardly stood out most days. He’s going to have be a whole lot more assertive in the pros.

It come down to whether the Sixers feel they owe the few remaining fans some extra wins in 2010-11, or do they go with the guy who potentially could be really good three or four years down the line?

Published
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Jared
on May 26, 2010
in 2010 NBA Draft and 76ers
. 2 Comments

A look at Evan Turner - the next great 76er

The 76ers lucked out last night and secured the second overall pick in the NBA draft. With Kentucky PG John Wall the most likely first pick to the Washington Wizards the Sixers have the opportunity to finally select a capable of playing the two.

Turner has great size (6-7, 205) for a shooting guard, plays strong around the basket, and can stroke the jumper. While his size seems like a duplicate of former first rounders Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young, his game is much more suited for playing the two and his basketball skills, even at this point, are more refined. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Sixers try and ship either Iggy or Thaddeus out in a trade to try to pick up a young big man this off-season.

in 2009-2010 Turner, a junior, averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebound, and 6 assists per game. This despite breaking two vertabraes after landing on his back after a dunk (video). The initial diagnosis was Turner would miss at least 8 weeks to the injury, but Turner miraculously returned after only missing six games and led Ohio State to the Big 10 championship.

Published
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Jared
on May 19, 2010
in 2010 NBA Draft and 76ers
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Iverson’s return about more than wins and losses

The Sixers’ decision to bring back Allen Iverson has created a buzz in Philadelphia that this organization hasn’t experienced since the 2001 season. NBA basketball in his town had become about as irrelevant as Philadelphia’s lingerie football team.

Love him or hate him, Iverson has a way of finding himself at the center of attention. And let’s face it—the Sixers need as much attention as they can get.

It’s not about him taking minutes away from Jrue Holiday or who will start once Lou Williams comes back. This team isn’t winning anything anytime soon. LeBron James isn’t sitting out there as the prize for team with the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft. Losing to acquire a better draft slot was always a weak argument to me anyway.

What the Sixers need most is to recapture their place on the Philadelphia sports map.

Unless you are the most ardent die-hard, the Sixers have provided very little reason to watch their games. Walking around the city, it’s rare to see anyone wearing Sixers gear. The Wachovia Center is a cold, quiet and empty place these days during NBA games.

Earlier this year, the Celtics came to town and the arena was easily less than half-full. Many in the crowd were rooting for the hated C’s, and as a Sixer fan, it was hard for me to say anything to them. That’s how sad it’s become.

Which brings us back to AI. It doesn’t matter if this decision was more for business than wins and losses. The return of “The Answer” has people talking and thinking about Sixers basketball again. Monday’s game against Denver is an expected sellout, something that even a visit by the Cavs or Lakers probably wouldn’t generate.

Thursday’s press conference had me excited to be a Sixers fan again. I got choked up when AI did and got chills thinking about the memories he helped make and the prospect of a new beginning. To me, that afternoon alone made it worth signing him.

Who knows how long the buzz will last or how many more additional tickets will be sold. Is this a playoff team or still just an afterthought in an already watered-down league? Doesn’t really matter because the Sixers, for now, are no longer out of sight, out of mind.

You have to start somewhere….

Published
by
Bill
on December 6, 2009
in 76ers
. 0 Comments

Iverson retiring per Stephen A.

Stephen A. Smith called into Chris Myers and Steve Hartman on AM570 KLAC/ FOX Sports Radio to let them know that Allen Iverson is calling it quits. Smith’s announcement is right here.

After a mere five games with the Memphis Grizzlies The Answer quickly saw this was no way for him to spend the end of his NBA life. When he wasn’t signed by the Knicks and got little or no interest from anyone else he felt this was his only alternative. Listen to Stephen A. here.

Of course Stephen A. made sure to let us know AI reached out to him to let him know about the impending announcement. Hate to take away from Iverson’s greatness and what he did for the Sixers, but man, Stephen A. is, and always will be, a douche.

Published
by
Jared
on November 25, 2009
in 76ers
. 0 Comments

Iggy’s trick shot

If only Andre’s jump shot was this pure…

Published
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Jared
on November 8, 2009
in 76ers
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Eddie Jordan’s commitment to defense pays off…oh wait

Let’s be honest. Only six people saw the Sixers lose (read: get killed) to the Orlando Magic tonight. They suck.

No defense. Not one natural scorer over 6′1″ (and isn’t the point guard). No hope.

OK - gotta get back to the game.

Published
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Jared
on October 28, 2009
in 76ers
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Flyers’ Game 3 Observations and Notes

The Flyers clawed their way back into the series with a 6-3 win over the Penguins in Game Three Sunday afternoon.

Even during warm-aups the Wachovia Center was in a frenzy, and the energy never waned. Pittsburgh actually came out strong to start the game, with much of the early play spent in the Flyers zone. But despite being outshot 9-to-2 twelve minutes into the game the home team made the most of their chances, and the scoreboard had the Flyers leading 2-0.

Getting Away With It
Late in the first period, the Flyers were looking to take a 2-0 lead into the dressing room before Evgeni Malkin struck with only 12 seconds remaining. Usually those late goals are killers and the reason teams stress never giving up goals in the first or last minute of a period. Well, the Pens stormed out and tied the score 13 seconds into period two. In basically 25 seconds of playing time, Pittsburgh erased a two-goal deficit and the Flyers had broken two cardinal sins by allowing goals in the first and last minutes. It’s not often a team can do that and live to tell about it.

The Refs
As was the case in Game One, the referees disrupted the flow of the game. Marc Joannette must have had a quota on the number of penalties to call because he was brutal. It was tough to figure what the refs, and Joannette in particular, had in mind. Numerous non-calls had the fans and players frustrated while calls like Mike Richards’ hold on Evgeni Malkin and Jeff Carter’s slash on Jordan Staal were questionable at best in a playoff game. To be fair, after Carter’s slash, Malkin was charged with a cheap hooking call as an even-up 14 seconds later.
This is the Stanley Cup Playoffs between two good teams and bitter rivals. Let them play and put the whistles away! The NHL has to let the players decide the series, not the zebras.

Claude Giroux
The 21-year old may have had the best game of his brief NHL career. After picking up the slashing penalty on Chris Kunitz which gave Pittsburgh a two-man advantage in OT Friday, Giroux redeemed himself in Game Three. He picked up a huge goal to regain momentum for the Flyers after the Pens had tied it at two, and set up a beautiful shorthanded goal by Simon Gagne, which turned out to be the game-winner.

After ragging the puck in the Pens zone in an attempt to kill time, he found Gagne alone in front for a 4-2 lead.  The line of Giroux, Danny Briere and Darroll Powe was outstanding once again. I think Bob Clarke knows the kids name now, unlike when we drafted him in 2006.

Crosby
As is usually the case in Philadelphia, Sid the Kid was serenaded with “Crosby Sucks” chants all day long. It’s hard to imagine a visiting player currently more vilified in any city or sport than Crosby is in Philly right now. Despite picking up two assists, Sid was fairly quiet in Game Three. He was not nearly as noticeable as Malkin, and finished the day with four shots on goal and a minus-one. He did continue his domination in the faceoff circle though, winning 14-of-20.

Faceoffs

The Flyers continue to improve in the circle. Pittsburgh did win 29 of 55 (53%) draws, but unlike the first two games the orange and black were able to avoid being hurt by losing critical faceoffs in the defensive zone.
Late in the second period a kid who couldn’t have been more than 10 years old screamed out “Come on Carter, start winning some faceoffs!” Only in Philly….

Carter did have his first strong game in the circle, winning 8 of 15, including going 5-and-1 vs Staal - a complete reversal from Games One and Two.

Lauren Hart Does It Again
The Flyers had Hart sing ‘God Bless America’ along with a recording of Kate Smith. In all of sports, there is nobody better than Lauren Hart…anywhere. Most nights, if they sent you home after watching her sing, it would still be worth the price of admission, and Sunday was no exception. Just fantastic. Why TV networks don’t show the anthems anymore is beyond me.

Classic Jerseys
Big games in Philly always mean the fans will bust out some great jerseys. Spotted in the crowd today were some classics: Rick Tocchet, Bobby Clarke, Brian Boucher, Gary Dornhoefer, Ed Van Impe, Brad McCrimmon (don’t think I’ve ever seen one of those before), Mikael Renberg, Danny Markov, Jeff Hackett, Dale Hawerchuk, Dan McGillis, multiple Jeremy Roenicks, Bill Barber, Bernie Parent, Dainius Zubrus, Tim Kerr, Dave Poulin, and Dave Brown.

On The Fly

  • The Flyers outscored Pittsburgh 2-1 in each of the three periods.
  • For the first time in the series, Kimmo Timonen led the Flyers in ice time with 26:36. Twenty-nine seconds more than Braydon Coburn.
  • The Flyers outhit the Pens 29-18…Dan Carcillo, Darroll Powe and Andrew Alberts led the way with four each.
  • In only eight shifts and 6:37 of ice time, Alabama native Jared Ross scored his first NHL goal and was 5-and-1 on faceoffs.
  • Evgeni Malkin now has seven points (4-3) in the series after his two goal performance Sunday.
  • After being credited with 14 hits in Game 2, Brooks Orpik was not awarded any in Game 3.

Big Day in Philly
Aside from the Flyers win, Raul Ibanez’ 2-run walk-off lifted the Phils to a much-needed win, and the Sixers rallied from 18 down to beat Orlando 100-98 in Game One. A beautiful spring Sunday to be a fan in Philly…

Published
by
Bill
on April 19, 2009
in 76ers, Flyers and Phillies
. 0 Comments

The perfect way to say Goodbye to the Spectrum

The Sixers put on a tremendous show as they played their final game at the Spectrum Friday night.

It was a reminder of all that was great about being a Sixers fan in the 70s and 80s. The intimate setting of the old barn. The classic red, white and blue unis. No useless music blaring during play. Dave Zinkoff.

The 76ers theme song (click here to listen) that always sounded so good when they played it on the organ as the game was winding down towards yet another Sixers win.

Clap your hands everybody
For Philadelphia 76ers
Stomp your feet, everybody
For Philadelphia 76ers
Here they come, Philadelphia
On the run, Stand up and cheer
#1, Philadelphia
Here they come, team of the year
On the run, Stand up and cheer
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Sixers
10, 9, 8, 76ers

The Doctor was there, along with Bobby Jones, Moses, Earl Cureton, Franklin Edwards, Clemon Johnson, Marc Iavaroni and Wali Jones. Sure, plenty of names were not present: Mo Cheeks, Andrew Toney, Billy C., Charles….but they were certainly there in spirit.

The team brought back a Zinkoff impersonator and the memories came rushing back at how a PA announcer could be such a big part of any game. Booosstonn calllllss tiimmmeeooutt!!!

The floor used during the magical ‘82-’83 season was refurbished and brought back for one more night on display.

Oh yeah, the game. The Sixers and Bulls put on a performance that I’m willing to bet wouldn’t have been nearly as entertaining or intense if it were across the lot at the Center.

I can’t believe how old I sound when I say I loved everything about Friday’s game. It reminded me once again how great sports can be when everything isn’t about money. The Spectrum was a true home court advantage. The fans were on top of you. No luxury boxes, Lexus clubs or cigar bars to distract you from the game. The hallways, locker rooms and press box were tiny. Now every city has its own ‘center’ that’s sponsored by some bank and all of them look alike. How many of today’s arenas can you say are a true advantage on their own merit? I can’t think of one. There are no more Boston Gardens, Fabulous Forums or Chicago Stadiums and it’s depressing.

I was at the game Wednesday night against Toronto and it wasn’t much fun. There were 30 people in the building for the start of the game, and that included the players. The constant music and sponsored gimmicks were nauseating. The current Sixer unis (can we get rid of those please?) remain an eyesore. Friday night’s game couldn’t have been the same team or league that I witnessed on Wednesday, could it? There was no comparison.

I know all good things must come to an end and change is the only constant we know. But for one night, I was reminded why I became a sports fan and why the Spectrum used to be the happiest place on earth for me.

Published
by
Bill
on March 14, 2009
in 76ers and Flyers
. 0 Comments

Is Thaddeus Young Our Danny Granger?

I happen to have Indiana’s Danny Granger on my fantasy basketball team this season and it’s working out quite well. The Pacer star is averaging 26.4 ppg and 5.4 rpg, and can stroke the 3 - a blossoming offense force.

Honestly though, before this season I knew very little about how Granger had progressed since being drafted out of New Mexico in 2005. I guess that’s what happens when you play in Indiana. But after checking out his stats and measurables, and studying his game I couldn’t help but see the stunning similarities between the sure-fire All-Star Granger and the Sixers’ young forward Thaddeus Young.

Take a look at their stats:

Rookie Season

Granger Young
MPG 22.6 21.0
FGA 6.1 6.6
3P% 32.3% 31.6%
FT% 77.7% 77.7%
FG% 46.2% 53.9%
PPG 7.5 8.2
TRB 4.9 4.2
AST 1.2 0.8


2nd Season

Granger Young
MPG 34.0 33.1
FGA 10.6 11.4
3P% 38.2% 36.0%
FT% 80.3% 71.2%
FG% 45.9% 48.1%
PPG 13.9 13.2
TRB 4.6 4.9
AST 1.4 1.1

Both guys are 6-8/220 and very athletic. Whether or not Young becomes the 3-point shooter Granger has developed into is questionable, but the similarities in their size, game, and early statistics bodes well for Young and Sixer fans. Just something to think about as the season progresses.

Published
by
Jared
on January 16, 2009
in 76ers
. 0 Comments

5 Things I’d Rather do Than Watch Sixers-Warriors.

In what may be tantamount to a human rights violation, 13,000-plus people were herded into the Wachovia Center last night and subjected to nearly 3 hours of “professional” basketball.

The 76ers, a team several preseason publications had as a possible challenger for the Eastern Conference crown, and the always moribund LA Clippers, treated the crowd to 42 turnovers, 39 assists, and a combined 43.3% from the field in an 89-88 Sixers win.

Ahhh, NBA basketball at its finest.

Here are 5 things I’d rather do than pay $50 to watch the Sixers play the Golden State Warriors (now featuring Jamal Crawford!) on Sunday.

  1. To steal a line from the Weird Al song “One More Minute” I’d rather clean all the bathroom’s in Grand Central Station with my tongue.
  2. Go to an ATM in East St. Louis at 3AM and loudly say “Gee, I hope there isn’t a limit on how much I can take out in one day!”.
  3. Sit on the hood of a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser and play some real loud European techno music - all while yelling at guys in the parking lot of a Ford truck plant during a shift change that if they made better cars we wouldn’t have to bail their asses out.
  4. Watch a Gilmore Girls marathon on that Oprah channel.
  5. Become a Detroit Shock season ticket holder. I think you can become one for $50, and large women with prison tattoos and cornrows are sexy!
Published
by
Jared
on November 22, 2008
in 76ers
. 0 Comments

Are the Sixers Still Relevant in Philadelphia?

I was a child of the 80’s. I hated Ricky Schroder because he had that train in this living room and that awesome race car bed on Silver Spoons. I rode my Huffy Wrangler around Wyncote and Glenside. And I still actually cared about the 76ers.

I went to a lot of Sixers games back in the early 80’s, and man was it great. The Spectrum was electric, and you felt like you were seeing something special every night. Erving, Cheeks, Dawkins, Malone, and Toney were all special players. No tattoos. No thug-life. No piped in hip-hop music trying to make you feel like the game was more exciting than it was. It was just hard-nosed basketball, Dave Zinkoff, high socks, and most importantly, winning. The Sixers were a part of the Philadelphia fabric.

But what happened? How did it all slip away? Was it a cultural shift? Did the street culture of basketball that began creeping into NBA arenas in the late 80’s turn away the blue collar Sixers fan? Was it those horrific starred unis the introduced in 1991? Or was it just all the losing they did for almost a decade between Barkley and Iverson? Probably a nice mixture of all three.

The Sixers never had the hard core fan base the Flyers enjoy, and who show up regardless of how putrid the product is on the ice. From their inception, the Flyers had been woven into the city’s DNA with their guts and knuckles style of play. And regardless of how the team was doing fans could relate to guys like Kevin Dineen, Rick Tocchet, and Mike Ricci. Not to guys like Shawn Bradley, Sharone Wright, and Andrew Lang.

For one improbable season, AI and a bunch of role players got the city to recognize that pro basketball still existed in this town. They played hard, and the city ate it up. But even that was a mirage. The true fan base was still minimal, and the bandwagoneers that crept into the First Union Center that season would soon slither back out.

The Sixers ticket office doesn’t market the Sixers themselves to fans, they market players on other teams. Come see Kobe, LeBron, Howard, and Duncan!. This is the one of the fundamental differences between the NBA and NHL, and maybe a reason Philly doesn’t embrace this team like the others. The difference between the NBA and NHL is that basketball markets players and not teams. Hockey is the opposite way. For sports fans I think the NHL way is better, for casual fans, the NBA way seems to work. A couple of years ago Paul Holmgren said Flyers fans don’t come to the Wachovia Center to see the other team. They always come to see THEIR Flyers, regardless of who they are playing.That’s why on a Tuesday night the Flyers will sell out a game against the Phoenix Coyotes, while on the same night a Sixers-Thunder game will draw 6,000.

I guess this just isn’t a pro basketball town. And it’s not because Philadelphians don’t like the sport. College basketball is still alive and well. You’d be hard pressed to find a Sixers game that can out draw a Villanova-Georgetown match up.

It’s sad really. The Sixers were once a point of pride in the city - every game an event. These days spectators (can you really refer to them as fans anymore?) treat the Sixers like the Washington Generals. They’re just the team that happens to be playing Allen Iverson that night.

Published
by
Bill
on November 6, 2008
in 76ers and Flyers
. 1 Comment

Wednesday Morning Tidbits

Eagles Spurn Lito Trade Offer?
According to WIP Radio the Birds apparently turned down an offer for CB Lito Sheppard. Of course no details were included (go figure) regarding who made the offer, for what, etc….

A word to Andy Reid - just keep him! You have a small window here big guy. Keep the malcontent around for the season. He should be motivated to bust his injury-riddled butt every time he gets on the field so he can get PAID - either by the Eagles or some other team.

UPDATE: Now Sheppard’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is claiming the same thing. From the Philadelphia Daily News:

At least one team has made a recent trade proposal to the Eagles,” Rosenhaus wrote in an e-mail. “The Eagles didn’t like the compensation and turned it down. I will not identify the team at this time. I think there is a very good chance Lito gets traded in the next few weeks.”

ESPN’s Early Eastern Conference Predictions
ESPN got a group of 25 “experts” to lay down some early NBA predictions for how the Eastern Conference will pan out. They had the Sixers in 5th-place, behind the Celtics, Pistons, Cavaliers, and Magic.

Philly flipped from feeble to phenomenal in a few months last season, and the Elton Brand acquisition appears to have accelerated the Sixers’ progress. But they need further growth from Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams, plus another strong year from Andre Miller.

Hard to disagree with, but if everyone stays healthy, this team is definitely more talented - top to bottom - than the Cavs, and can run the aging Pistons out of the building on any given night. Then again, it’s only September and this is kinda silly.

Published
by
Jared
on September 2, 2008
in 76ers, Eagles and Tidbits
. 0 Comments