Comments on: Do You Care About the Sixers Right Now?

By: Ryan F

Ryan F — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 20:12:21 +0000

Its funny I had a conversation about this topic last night. There hasn’t been a game in 4 days and not once have I thought to myself “damn, I wish there were a sixers game on tonight.” That is sad, I havent felt this way in a while.

By: Sixers: Recreating Last Year’s Playoff Run and Excitement

Sixers: Recreating Last Year’s Playoff Run and Excitement — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:48:08 +0000

[...] I wrote the post asking if anyone cares about the Sixers right now. I think I need to clear something up on that. The purpose of the post was to openly take the [...]

By: Dannie

Dannie — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:46:19 +0000

Suede – Henderson is not a three point shooter right now. He hasn’t proven to be a good college three point shooter let along have NBA range. Everyone has Henderson as the better overall prospect because of his physique, athletic ability and potential to be a do-it-all shooting guard in the league.

Ellington is a three point shooter and in the NBA I think that would be his niche role. A spot up shooter. He has good size at 6-4 / 6-5 so he wouldn’t be another undersized shooter.

I’ve played against both guys. The impression I got at the time was Wayne was the more polished player, better shooter, better ball handler and Gerald had the higher ceiling.

The ability to shoot the ball as evidenced by our Sixers is always needed. Gerald has always been a good defender, rebounder from the wing and a team player. But he hasn’t shown enough versatility on offense and scoring ability until this season, particularly as of late.

Staying in the Duke family Henderson could end up being similar to Dahntay Jones on the low end and Grant Hill on the highest end (with lesser assist making ability).

By: deepsixersuede

deepsixersuede — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:26:36 +0000

Dannie, I like Green also, if he slides to the second round he could be a Chalmers like steal. I have to ask you, is Henderson a better 3 pt. threat than Ellington? I think he is flat out the better player but I always thought of him as a more midrange kinda guy.

By: Duracorr

Duracorr — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:09:01 +0000

Back to your point about caring about the Sixers. I am a committed fan. I watch almost every game on TV. Right now I’m very disappointed in their shooting and their 3-pt defense. I’m encouraged that Thad is working on his shot. I seem to disagree with the majority on Sam D. I think the Sixers are better when he plays more because they can defend the perimeter better when he is behind them. (if only he wouldn’t try to shoot the ball). I’d like to see Speights start some games at PF and see if he can fit the role intended for Brand. I’d like to see Low W spend some time at the point with the first team to see if he really can be a PG. But most of all, I wish they could hit open 3-pt shots like everybody else.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:00:42 +0000

Zack - You know what most of my UNC-fandom is expressed offline. I talk a lot with Pete about college basketball in general (a lot about Nova, ND and UNC) and a few other buddies. Last year I actually wrote more college basketball stuff on the blog than I have this season. We do a ton of NBA draft coverage once the season ends though. Interesting you mention Danny Green. Love his game. In a starting role he has improved his numbers in nearly every area most notably his shooting. I actually have him targeted as a player the Sixers should take a long, hard look at. Everyone that liked Rodney Carney this would be a better replacement in the role everyone wanted him to play. That lockdown perimeter defender/shooter/hustle and energy wing player. Green is already a strong defender and is shooting the ball extremely well this season and has shown NBA range. Right now:

DraftExpress has him as the 96 ranked player and a mid second round pick.
NBAdraft.net has him going 43rd
ESPN has him at 56 in the top 100 and a late first round to early second round prospect.

Anytime you or anyone want to talk college hoops let me or Pete know we are all for it.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:41:28 +0000

Dean H – Everyone’s thoughts are always welcome here and I really hope you haven’t been given the impression that not to be the case. With that said…

The attitude on the blog isn’t a deliberately fictitious aura I made up. The comments above yours suggest it’s the overall pulse of Sixers fans at the moment based on their results on the court, the expectations (just or not) coming into the season and the immediate outlook beyond this season.

You are down at the Wach every game, what do you feel in the building? I know what I see, hear and feel and that is what I express when I write. I am not a warm and fluffy kind of guy generally so when things are going bad that’s what I say. When things are going good I say that too. All while adding my own flavor and outlook. What else can I do?

Pete and I never said or sought out to be everything to all people. All we do is call it like we see and believe it to be to us and encourage any other viewpoint and opinion. Over time we’ve found there to be quite a few people that one way or another found what we say interesting, enjoyable, objectionable enough to hang around to disagree with us and genuinely worth their time.

By: Zack

Zack — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:27:04 +0000

Dannie – sorry, I missed it, I’ve always found it hard to catch those TNT NBA broadcasts. But what you described, just flat-out great basketball play (Elite NBA Streetball in this case), just doesn’t happen often with the Sixers.

For me, the closest any Sixer comes is when Sam decides to play water-tight interior defense, and then he becomes like Dhalsim from Street Figher on a pogo stick, with arms coming out of nowhere to knock balls out of the air and alter all sorts of shots, from any angle. He’s gotten so much better since the Larry Brown year. I still stand by what I said before – the Sixers should make him captain of the team; it’s not like he’s leading them into mortal kombat or anything.

BTW, is there some UNC blog that you go to to talk about the Tar Heels? If you do, do you use some sort of screen name? I’d like to read what you write about them. I haven’t seen them this year, but the guy who impressed me the most in the tourney last year was Danny Green, as far as NBA potential goes. I might try to catch the Duke game this Sunday.

By: Dean H

Dean H — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:50:35 +0000

Dannie,
Not sure you want my thoughts but will give them since you asked. I am turning less and less to your blog due to the overall attitude about the sixers on this blog and less about them. Yes, they have their problems but repeating it over and over only makes it worse. I am a season ticket holder (1st year) and at this moment, do not plan on renewing. They are very inconsistent, and have loss way to many close games.
But, hopefully, they will turn it around this month. And, yes, Ed is going to have to do some miracles if we are going to compete next year. He made it clear he is not paying the luxery tax next year and every successful team pays it from what I can tell. So, that speaks loudly.

By: jjg

jjg — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:50:27 +0000

food for thought: 1. Who is responsible for getting them into the "unenviable spot"? Don't say fate ... that's too easy ... Brand was a risk on his signing day, and though he appears like a warrior/stud, brings with him the whiff of a loser. 2. Is there a need for personnel consequence of any sort, management or player level? 3. How does the organization go forward and move away from that spot? Veteran additions and emphasis? Or move Miller and stick with youth direction/belief and its investments? 4. Are the present decision-makers (Snider, Lukko, Stefanski, Dileo & staff) likeminded and capable of building an NBA championship team? What playoff-successful identity is actually being formulated? 5. How much upside do development-hopefuls Iguodala, Williams, Young and Speights actually, as opposed to dreamingly, have? 6. Has the present constitution of the 76ers earned fan loyalty?