2008-2009 Philadelphia 76ers Season Thread

[Rome]

The Sixers will win the title some day.  I can feel it.

[The BIGSTUD]

Yeah youre right Beasley is soft---just stands around and shoot jumpers

I cant think of a reason why hes even on the court...jesus christ

I never said he sucks. He's a good scorer, but he lacks the toughness and physical presence to be a true star in the NBA. In college he stood outside around the perimeter a hell of a lot, and that was then. Speights is going to be a better all around player than Beasley. He'll put up points, and he'll put up some good numbers. He'll be a good NBA player, but he's missing elements that will make him an elite player.

[reese125]

you know that Ive been praising Speights right from the gip, but I see alot more promise from Beasley to make it to the next level.

and stop thinking Speights is this big banger inside. He doesnt have a banger mentality as well. He plays much longer than Beasley--relys on his reach for tips and blocks underneath the basket and plays offense outside of the box as well

whatever...this debate is boring me..reach for the stars

[ice grillin you]

this would be a disgusting loss

[reese125]

Im stuck in Arlington watching this shtein on espn.com

im guessing they are getting out-hustled big time on loose balls if Conley and Greg friggin Buckner have 7 boards a piece

[MDS]

man youre really stingy keeping these multiple personalities going

[ice grillin you]

holy shtein the godfather at the rim

[ice grillin you]

iguodala with a monster bucket and even better defense to win the game...that play by the godfather tho might have been the play of the year

i want to be mad but i cant...good win playing the entire game with one foot in the all star break

[The BIGSTUD]

crunch time=iguodala time

[ice grillin you]

excellent jasner iguodala article from yesterday......hi haterz!

All-Star turn is likely only a year off for Sixers' Iguodala
By PHIL JASNER
Philadelphia Daily News

As Andre Iguodala left practice yesterday, somebody suggested that he should enjoy the Bahamas or wherever he might be going during the NBA's All-Star Weekend break.

"I'm not going anywhere," the 76ers' leading scorer said.

Maybe not now.

"I told Andre to enjoy this break, because this will be [his] last break at All-Star weekend," coach Tony DiLeo said. "I firmly believe it.

"He didn't have a great start and maybe the team didn't have a great start, but if he and the team continue to play like this going into next year, he has to be an All-Star."

Going into tonight's seven-game homestand finale against the re-energized Memphis Grizzlies, Iguodala is averaging 17.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.74 steals. He has already accounted for nine double-doubles, one more than all of last season. Among statistical qualifiers, Iguodala and Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James are the only players in the league averaging at least 12 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5 assists.

He is playing arguably the best basketball of his career, maintaining his penchant for filling up several columns in his box-score line and still drawing the opponent's best wing player as a defensive assignment.

Given all of that, he didn't show up among the top 10 vote-getters at his position in the fans' All-Star balloting, which may have been a function of his moving from shooting guard to small forward because of the injury to Elton Brand. At the same time, he wasn't selected as a reserve by the Eastern Conference coaches, either.

"He's one of the best in the league at getting a rebound or an outlet pass and just driving it up the floor and either finishing or making a pass," DiLeo said. "The people we talk to [in the league] really like him, appreciate what he does. I'm not sure how the average fan or people from other cities really look at him, but he's at a different level now than he was to start the season."

So, of course, is the team, which started 9-14 but has won 17 of 27 since DiLeo, who remains as senior vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager, came out of the front office to succeed the fired Maurice Cheeks. They're 17-3 when scoring at least 100 points, as they did in Monday night's 108-91 rout of the Phoenix Suns, and they have been leading the league in fastbreak points, with roughly 18 a game.

Of players leading their teams in scoring, only the Charlotte Bobcats' Gerald Wallace (16.4) has a lower average. But Iguodala has been climbing the charts in versatility and in leadership areas. If the team goals are to reach - and succeed in - the playoffs, Iguodala attaining All-Star status is becoming more and more realistic. The last Sixer other than Allen Iverson to be chosen was Dikembe Mutombo in 2002.

"I expect it from myself as well," Iguodala said. "I'm going to enjoy [this break]. It just lets me know my position on this team. I think I'm playing at a high level, but there's also room for improvement, things to still work on. This year [it would have taken] just getting of to a better start, and that was it."

At 26-24, the Sixers are two games over. 500 for the first time all season; they haven't been three over .500 since starting the 2006-07 season with victories in the season's first three games.

"We're right in the middle of the pack," Iguodala said of the team's attempt to qualify for the postseason. "I think we're the only team in playoff position without an All-Star."

The balance, though, has been steadily developing. They placed seven men in double scoring figures for the second time this season in Saturday's victory over the Miami Heat. They had three men score at least 22 Monday night - Thaddeus Young 25, Marreese Speights 24 and Iguodala 22. They scored 25 points off 18 turnovers by the Suns, and gave up just 13 on their 10 errors.

As they have begun to win more frequently, Iguodala has found it less difficult to get good shots.

"The nights I don't score 20, I try and make sure we get that win," he said. "The nights I score 20 and we lose, I [ask] what I could have done differently. I don't try and put a major emphasis on [scoring]; I try and lead by example, to show guys there are things other than scoring.

"I try and be a guy who can do a lot of things on the court, and we're winning [so] why change anything? Why try to be a 30-point scorer? If we were losing, it would be a different situation."

[PhillyPhreak54]

My only question with him, well two actually, are can he hit his outside shot consistently and can he step it up in the playoffs. He was terrible against Detroit last year because they focused on him and shut down his driving game.

[SD_Eagle5]

My only question with him, well two actually, are can he hit his outside shot consistently and can he step it up in the playoffs. He was terrible against Detroit last year because they focused on him and shut down his driving game.

His outside shot has improved but he's still a fastbreak player. He'll never have a great jump shot because he doesn't have a quick release. Any half ass team will do what Detroit did last season, take away his lanes, slow the game down, and make the Sixers beat them with outside shots. The fast break may win them a series against a zesty team but vs. any decent team it may win them 1 or 2 games. This is a 2nd round and out team if I've ever seen one.

[reese125]

I dont think it has anything to do with his release SD, hes been wide open on plenty of shots and just flat out misses. Hes just not consistent, never has been.

Like you said before, he would much rather drive the lane and get to the basket for a lay-up or dunk. That should be his second option rather than his first when playing SG. If he could create space somehow off the dribble and pull up for 10 footers consistently his game would be sick...but that entails a much better handle than he has

[ice grillin you]

he cock deisel built like adonis and has long arms...people like that arent ever good shooters....see bron bron

[The BIGSTUD]

Yeah, it isn't his release. You either got a jumper or you don't. Some people are just born with better touch and a sense of accuracy than others. You can still work and improve your jumper, but it doesn't matter if Iguodala shot 50,000 jump shots a day. He'd still never be able to shoot like say Reggie Miller does. He just doesn't have it in him.