Guys to keep the great conversation going while I research and write some other Sixers posts I figured I share this Elton Brand related link. Followed by a survey question.
How Good Will the Sixers be with Elton Brand Next Season?
The guys over at Accuscore put their vast statistical analysis tools to work to answer that exact question. Basically they estimate with the addition of Brand how the Sixers will fair against the top 4 teams in the Eastern Conference. While I don’t really agree with everything they say in their analysis the data is very interesting.
The chart below shows the Sixers’ simulation winning percentage against the Top 4 Eastern Conference teams from last season (Boston, Detroit, Orlando, Cleveland). Brand improved the Sixers’ winning percentage by an average of 19 percentage points. When you extrapolate 19 percentage points over 82 games it translates to nearly 16 additional wins. - Accuscore
| SIXERS | BOS | @BOS | DET | @DET | ORL | @ORL | CLE | @CLE | AVG |
| NO BRAND | 41% | 17% | 41% | 17% | 48% | 25% | 67% | 27% | 35% |
| WITH BRAND | 61% | 34% | 63% | 37% | 69% | 44% | 83% | 46% | 55% |
| IMPROVEMENT | 20% | 17% | 22% | 20% | 21% | 19% | 16% | 19% | 19% |
56 wins. That is a monster increase and I know we will all gladly take it. But realistically what do you guys think about next season? How far do you think this team can go as is and with the addition of a shooter?
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What Elton Brand are we getting is the first and last question. A healthy Brand and 56 wins is about a lock, a subpar Brand and we aren’t getting much better at all.
Still it’s exciting.
they might just win that much depends on how all fits in. i dont think there are too many health worries though. its not like it’s his knee or sumthin. i guess trading andre miller goes out the window now. heck if it goes very well they might even re-sign him with hopes of making a run. well those are all best scenarios anyway let’s see ‘em take the court first.
Not exactly sure why people think we aren’t getting a healthy Elton Brand who is still in the prime of his career. He is 29-years old, he had an Achilles injury which from my understanding isn’t like a knee or back that has flare ups and becomes chronic unless he develops tendinitis in the area. He has an unbelievable work ethic which has eases my mind about his health going forward. He has only played less than 74 games 3 times (one of which was 69 games) in his 9-year career that isn’t injury prone in my book.
Dannie, totally agree, its like they want him to fail. I was concerned about how to fill out our roster, but our top 8, rotation, matches up with anybody. We could lock teams down defensively when Iggy resigns.
Suede - I have been reading SO MUCH CRAP about sign and trading Iguodala and Iguodala hate. I am not a huge Iguodala fan but I know what he brings to the team. I am in the process of researching and writing a post in defense of Iguodala playing the shooting guard. Since many people don’t believe he is capable.
Oh by the way here is another positive way to look at season long injuries - Elton Brand only really has 8 years of NBA wear and tear since he sat out last season. That bodes well for his knees and back not having the pounding of an 82+ game season last year. He should be fresh and back very strong. The Sixers gain that extra year in my book.
Well, I think 56 is a good estimate. I thought we were going to be a mid to high 40 win team without him and I think he adds about 10 wins himself. 56 looks solid to me. I have been leaning at 58 personally.
Good find Dannie.
I am not concerned with his health at all, at least not like I was webber. The man came back for the last 8 games last season for a team that had no chance of making the playoffs and played 35 min a game. If he did that 3 mos ago im sure hell be perfect come Nov. 1. I am just worried Ed may try to get a little too creative and do something with IGG, I was watching vids of him all last night and he may be the most fun player to watch in the Nba aside from LJ and KB, not to mention his numbers and how solid he is defensively.
Joe, agree totally, I think we can be a team that is better than the “sum of its parts”. Dannie, I remember last year I ggy being asked the difference between the 2 and 3 spots, to paraphrase, not any different down the offensive end.
@Dannie I agree with you, there has been so much IGG hating since the end of the season. Get over it people, it was one bad series, what did he do all year long, has everyone forgotten already? The kid is younger than most people posting on here, he hes been better every season thats going to keep happening. His game and effort is the reason e did so well last year, replace him with any all star sg/sf last year and we wouldnt have accomplished anything. I would rather keep our team from last year than sign EB and lose AI
Found another article that looks to predict the Sixers wins next season. But this analysis is much much better from highly regarded Kevin Pelton over at Basketball Prospectus.
Basically the Sixers have a chance to be the most well-balanced team in the entire league because of the overall talent they have. We only have two current players who performed below replacement player level. That is impressive.
@Dannie
Another nice one. Before I read it, I said to myself… definitely Willie and Jason Smith as the below replaceable player lol. Smith will improve above 0. Book it. I think Willie goes up to the -1 to 0 range as well. This team is looking really balanced in every way inside the 3 point line. Our 2nd worst midrange shooting starter is probably Iggy and he really isn’t bad in that category.
We are comparing favorably to the Pistons with Big Ben and the Spurs championship teams imo.
Trading Iguodala now, having just acquired Brand, would be absolutely foolish. No reason Stefanski should even be thinking about it.
I just have to say again that DEFENSIVELY is where I am really excited with this team. Obviously it takes a while for defensive chemistry to grow in actual games…but on paper, we really have collected a unit of some of the best individual one on one defenders in the league. I’d say our 8 main rotation players right now (Andre Miller, Iguodala, Thad, Brand, Dalembert, Lou, Willie, Reggie Evans) are all, if not great defenders, above average or busting their butts to try to be great.
If the Celtics can do what they just did defensively…where they really started one guy that has always SUCKED at defense (Ray) and one guy who was average (Pierce) and lock down on teams like they did…I cannot imagine how good our team can be defensively as a unit with this many good individual defenders. Given the fact that we play a running game…this is going to lead to so many easy buckets it’s not even funny.
We are going to be able to play the Phoenix & Warriors style basketball…with amazing defense leading to countless turnovers…with amazing young athletes…and with an actual post presence. I could not possibly be any more pumped. We will be one of the top 4-5 most exciting teams to watch in the league and get lots of national exposure, this will be great for Philly.
Dannie, good article; how about Youngs effect on this team last year. The suggestion to move Spieghts made me think of another way to acquire a shooter, if we become as good as we think next year, do we consider packaging Willie or Reggie with a #1 pick [#20 to #30 in the draft probably] if there is a young shooter available that can grow with us as we are currently constructed?
DANNIE: Great work. What do you think about the statement at the end about dealing Speights for a shooter? I’m thinking that would be a last resort kind of thing, right? Most likely, ES would start by seeing who we could get with the money we have. If that’s not good enough, he would then start climbing the ladder in putting offers together, beginning with Willie, then Reggie, then Jason before he would even think about Speights.
Yeah I wouldn’t move Speights before you see what he can do. Learning from Brand he could turn into a very good player in short time.
But like everything it is about the strategy you take. In the NBA there are no tomorrows. Nothing is guaranteed which is why I think getting Brand was a better option than Smith. Guys get hurt, start to suck, don’t realize their potential all time. If Stefanski was trying to make a serious run to win a title next season trading Speights wouldn’t really be that big a stretch if you feel the team is that close already and doing so gets you that needed last piece.
Like both Suede and bski said you start at the bottom of the ladder of guys perceived to be more expendable before you get to Speights I think. Do you trade Speights and another player for a Kapono, Carroll (Matt - we already have our hands on Pat) or Vujucic if it meant really putting the Sixers in contention for a ring?
I need to see Speights play in summer league but in terms of winning now I still wish we got my dude Mario Chalmers (17ppg, 7 apg and 2.7spg in 3 summer league games so far - not to mention locked up Derrick Rose in the first game). Killing it right now.
Dannie, love Chalmers; when they tried to get a 2nd rounder for Jordan, I wish it was Chalmers instead. “Try to be creative”; in the world of protected draft picks it is possible to give up a #1 that won!t be top 20 for a player. Ex: Willie and [top 20 protected #1] for Reddick and a #2. Does Charlotte need Morrison and M.Carroll?
suede, I’m surprised you haven’t taken that trading Speights idea and run with it. Jason Smith or Speights for one of the following:
Javaris Crittenton
Kyle Lowry
Thabo Sefolosha
Nick Young
Sergio Rodriguez
Am I missing an option? BTW, Nick Young shot 40% on 3’s last year!
Zack - I think we need a shooter before we need a back-up PG.
Crittenton and Lowry can’t shoot right now and wouldn’t trade Speights or Smith for them right now.
Nick Young only shot 1.3 three pointers per game are you confident that 40% would hold with more attempts? Also doesn’t he play more of a scoring guard than point anyway? We have Lou and Willie Green for that already, right?
The other guys I don’t know much about except they can’t really shoot either.
Zack, a bird in the hand or something like that; would move a future pick, Willie or Reggie, but not much else.I think Jason had a bigger adjustment than most playing where he played and who he played against in college, I think having a high post backup 5 [Jason], and 2 low post 4!s [Elton and Maurice] is a perfect setup for the future and if Sammy could hit the foul line jumper consistantly we would really be set.Love “THE OTHER YOUNG” but doubt he is gettable. Not that concerned with p.g., still believe L.Will.,when told to run the team rather than look to score first, will be fine. As an Ollie replacement would inquire about Ivey, a 6!4″ defender that is an okay shooter . As Blski said I offer Willie first along with a pick if need be and go from there. By the way, I thought Charlotte overpayed for Carroll but his contract drops to about 2.5 mill. by the end.
If you look at it like Dannie said, which is there are no tomorrows and nothing is guaranteed, then maybe you get to the point where it makes sense to take a shot and trade Speights. If you know you are re-signing Iguodala and Williams and extending Miller, you are setting yourself up for a 4 to 5 year window where you can be very good. If you want to give yourself every opportunity to win a championship within that window, maybe you do decide to trade for a bona fide, knock down 3 pt shooter that will be here for several years instead of taking a chance and waiting an undetermined amount of time to see if and how far Speights develops. Like I said before, I wouldn’t start with Speights on the trading block, but I could see how he might end up there.
Hey guys, by the way, we have already addressed our shooting to a degree. Brand and Spieghts both have very good jumpshots, [Reggie and Calvin?].
@suede
We kinda have as you say. Everyone on this team can hit a midrange shot besides Lou and Sammy. Over time, Lou may develop that aspect as well. We do, however, need someone, like Carney ironically, who can break a zone and try to be “the shooter” for this team while simultaneously not sacrificing defense.
Gonna be hard to find.
Joe, Houston has Novak and drafted D.Green and M.Leuen, hopefully one will be released; liked Leuen at Oregon, a 6!8″ shooter. A foriegn guy, Damjan Rudez did well in workouts and was thought of as a possible 2nd rounder at 6!10″ and a small forward but did not get drafted. Lakers drafted J.Crawford, a 6!4″ shooter and him or Karl may become available. Been looking everywhere.
Hey guys (and gals), I’m seeing a ton of trade talk for a “shooter” and that’s fine but…
Korver was a “shooter” ONLY when Iverson was here. After AI was traded KK’s numbers took a hit correct me if I’m wrong. Someone has mentioned earlier that with Brand down low getting double teamed, the rest of the team will see more open looks. Kover could not create his own shot and became trade bait. Now he’s doing really well in Utah.
I think we can find a guy for spot up three’s, ala Damon Jones (not Jones per se but what he did for Miami), without detroying our depth or disrupting our bench. Remember Cheeks like to go with an 8-9 man rotation (Lou, Reggie, and Willie).
Brand helps this team in many ways. Against Detroit, scoring in the half court and defensive rebounding really hurt this team. EB kills 2 birds with one stone.
Brand is one of the BEST post players in the league. He automatically becomes the best post player in the east. His presence down low creates better looks for the perimeter players, so look for their %’s and confidence to go up.
This signing also strengthens our bench. Evans and Green both move to the bench with this move. On the bench, we have scoring (Williams and Green), rebounding (Evans and Smith) and perimter shooting (Green,Smith and Williams).
While considering the FA signing of Brand, we tend to forget that our young players will be even more improved. With a veteran PG and PF to lead this team, the sky MAY be the limit.
Consider this: a 7 game series with the Celtics. We have Young to match up with Pierce, Brand with KG ( a perimter player anyhow) and Iguodala with Allen. Brand and Dalembert are also 2 strong shotblockers at the net.
With that, like the Celtics, this team will only get to where it wants to go thanks to defense. Brand is strong player on D as well.
PG- Miller… the ultimate leader
SG- Iguodala…fills the box scores; great on D; our Pippen????
SF- Young… the sky is the limit. Athletic, can hit the open J and drive
PF- Brand… great post;great D; a leader
C- Dalembert…athlete; an eraser; finally got his bruising PF
Bench-
combo guard- Williams…our Vinnie Johnson-lite
SG- Willie Green… inconsistent, but can have his nights
PF- Evans- strong reb’er; high on energy, low on offense
C- Smith- young; can hit the open J and rebound
PG- Ollie????- veteran depth; won’t hurt ya
PF/C- Speights- will learn a lot behind Brand and Evans. Could he join the rotation?
This team looks solid!!!!
I like how all of a sudden Carney was our shooter last year???????
@Llyoyd Braun
He was down the stretch and that is for damn sure. He shot like 42% in the last couple months from downtown.
Maybe some of you don’t realize there are only 10 players left on this roster after adding EB and Speights. They have to add someone to fill out a 12 man team. Question is what players on the vegas summer team have a real shot at making the team?
Good point Joe, Carney did average over a 3 per game and about 7 ppg over March and April, but that production should/needs to surpassed by the shooter coming in if we want to advance in the playoffs.
I want a more consistent player than Carney. Hopefully he will get a chance to shine on that crowded roster in Minny.
R.Rose, its actually 15 but carry 12 at least. I like J.Gordon, the Div.2 kid, and maybe Carroll to make the 15 but 2 more free agents, hopefully can be added. Josh Davis is in the summer league, seems like 10 years ago he was here.
@Lloyd Braun:
You listed Willie Green as giving us “shooting” off the bench. I wouldn’t necessarily say that lol. Love how he attacks the basket, and I like his defense, but I think it’s safe to say none of us want Willie Green bombing from 3 point range regularly. I think we’re all agreed when we mean “shooting” we don’t mean 16-18 footers…we mean we need help from deep to punish teams for double teaming in the post and on the drive.
@Suede:
J. Gordon was a great college player, but I’m 50/50 on if he’s be a good fit for our team as a deep bench guy. He’s pretty much a clone of John Salmons, which has it’s positives and negatives. Jamont is a great ball handler, played point-forward in college, an excellent defender, very good passer, and is one of those “crafty scorers” like CDR. Was a top 5 SEC player the last two years running.
He would be an automatic lottery pick…except his shooting is ATROCIOUS…I mean long range, mid range…this guy’s jumpshot is flat out terrible, and it will limit his impact on the court in the NBA, unlike college. So if we want a Boris Diaw/John Salmons type of versatile all around athletic talent…he’d be great, but Jamont Gordon wouldn’t address our shooting needs in the slightest.
Lloyd, good description; actually saw someone compare him to E.Snow, but I don!t see him as a scorer, more of a creator and defender alongside L.Will. and if his shot can be rebuilt he could be a real find.
Rockets just signed Brent Barry to a two year deal. Damnit.
iggy at the 2-guard spot is awesome on both ends, he could be an all star at that spot but why is thad in the starting five? is he ready to play 3 yet? does anyone remember his handles (terrible - carney-like) he cant put it on the floor. that has to change before he can start. i dunno meen might be seeing willie g again for another season or half (lmao), for real though its very possible.
Roger Mason signed with the Spurs, so he’s off the list as well.
We had no chance of getting Mason. He signed a 2-year $7.5M deal. Sixers are limited.
Dave, as I posted earlier the Barry signing may help us, does Houston have room for everybody. JKay, baptism by fire for Thad, could Carney handle it ,no!!, but until Thad becomes a good 3, we are not ready to win a championship. He improved in every way by the end of last year and seems to not try to over do things with the ball. Throw him to the wolves!!! No, not the TYimberwolves.
@suede I knew about the 15 roster players but 12 being game time players. I actually think Ed should pursue Bostjan Nachbar. He can swing between SF and SG and hits the 3. Ed should have a good feel for his game at this point.
@rrose
I believe Nachbar got a 2 year offer from the Nets. The Nets just signed someone to fill his role. I can’t imagine he is going to be iwlling to take the minimum.
The shooter need is likely to be out there for most of the summer. Players are feeling out their worth. Not many are doing to jump at the chance to come to a young team for the minimum, when there is a chance they could go elsewhere for more money and to a similar caliber team.
The Sixers can’t trump any offer, so it is just going to be a waiting game.
R.Rose, sorry; Joe, unless it is a trade you are right; probably get whatever is left. Read on summer league sight that Brice Taylor is probably headed to Europe, wouldn!t it be nice to add one young and one old shooter.
Guys, wanted to watch Sixers on the net but not sure how,4p.m.; any help would be appreciated!!
I believe NBA.com is webcasting all summer league games. Try this link.
Dannie, thank you VERY much!!!
Apparently the announcers doing the internet live-feed games are supposed to be great…real quirky & funny, and they read emails from users during the games. Let us know how the webcasts work out Suede!
@Dave T.
I think those guys only do the Orlando summerleague games. They are pretty hilarious though and they don’t get paid to do it. Pretty funny.
Anyone that wants to hear just how polite, funny, and genuinely a good and likable guy Elton Brand is (*cough* minus just having stabbed Clipper nation in the back) check out his interview on the Dan Patrick Show yesterday:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/interviews/
It’s under “Thursday”. Obviously everyone knows Dan Patrick, but if people haven’t heard DP’s show on SI…and formerly his podcasts on ESPN…they are absolutely awesome. He really makes everything laid back, funny, light, witty, and gets athletes comfortable enough to open up and show their real personality. He usually has about 2-4 a day, all very short, about 7-10 minutes usually. He also has his good buddy Reggie Miller on to talk hoops once a week.
@Joe:
Didn’t realize that those guys only did Orlando, thanks for the info!
Guys, good things from 1st summer league game; 1] Thad dribble driving constantly to the hoop; 2] M.Speights diving on the floor for a loose ball,[double-double]; J.Gordon playing under control at the point, [5 ass.,3 turn.]; J.Smith almost getting triple double, [11 pts., 9 reb., 11 fouls]; OOHS AND AHS: Thad outside the elbow and either crossing over or between the legs [tough to tell on small screen] driving in and J.Gordon recieving inbounds pass and stuffing from a standing jump. Guys, Thad is unbelievable, the coaches had to tell him to work on his handling; every time he caught the ball he was looking to drive it!!! Ex.] At top of the key, jab step and drive to the rim, off. foul, but who cares; Funniest line from announcer:” stick around after the game for an autograph from former U.N.L.V. star and current Warrior L.Amundson.
Now all we need is to make a move for JJ Reddick. I know how hated he is but hes backed up on the Magic bench and we could definetely use him.
Stive, Carroll hit two deep three!s but not the athlete Reddick is, would love him here.
Orlando is actively looking to trade Redick because they have too many wings now and he isn’t very happy there. They drafted Lee and signed Pietrus. Orlando wants a point guard and they have interest in Jason Williams who wants to go to Orlando because he lives there in the off-season. Williams isn’t a veteran minimum player so Orlando needs to free up some cap space to sign Williams. The Sixers can’t just incur Redicks $2M contract so we would have to give a player back and that doesn’t help Orlando since we have no point guards to give.
Lets help Orlando out, an Evans and future #1 for Reddick and B.Cook trade frees up 1 mill. of cap money for them [towards a J.Williams deal] and gives us 2 very good 3 pt. shooters, one in the frontcourt and one in the backcourt. I like Reggie, but he becomes a 5 to 10 minute guy this year unless Jason and Maurice ride the pine.
seude: i cant believe it, thad’s improved handles? i dunno, i gotta see video myself, heck it took iggy 2yrs to polish his and he had a head start. hey maybe it might not be the willie g show part deux after all.
i dont think its wise to make any trades yet. before everyone gets a chance to count all the championship rings we can win, lets let them play first and see how good they are and can be, from there you can talk trades. personally i dont even think Ed re-signs andre miller yet until he knows just how good they are and whether they are ready to make that run. so lets not talk like they are ready now. its still just paper… but a very fine looking paper it is though. cant wait for oktober!
JJ Reddick is not worth a #1 pick no matter how much we need a shooter.
I think we could afford to wait like jkay said:
If we Ed can’t get who he wants on his terms I think he’ll target the trade deadline to make a “major” move. Remember our team his young, really young, and should be better shooting the ball from 18 feet in. The 3pt shot will come along with all the open looks Brand and Sammy will create with teams forced to collapse down low. Iggy and Thad WILL be better with dribble drive opportunities as well.
The only problem I see is that team will play more zone against us now and we better be ready to make them pay.
Dannie and Pete, time for a new Sixers topic, my head is spinning with all the trade talk. Thanks,
Dre, I just wonder about Reggies previous situations, especially Denver. After he left and came here he looked like a guy they could have used, yet they moved him. Last year he had no competition for minutes, now everybody is taking for granted that he will be a good influence on Spreights, a guy that will be taking his minutes, not sure of that. Plus when a team has no cap room, like us now, the last pieces to add are the toughest. Reddick? If you play at Duke you have to at least try to defend and at 6!4″ he is a good sized 2 guard for off the bench. He was worth a top 12 pick when he came into the league and our #1!s for now on should be in the 20 to 30 range. Trade deadline moves generally take time for the team to adjust, offseason moves allow a team to get used to each other. The stakes are higher now, we can get to the eastern finals this year if things fall into place and ,say, BNoston incurs an injury or something, does a 700 thousand dollar shooter help us get there, I don!t think so. Just an opinion.
suede,
I hear you and understand where you’re coming from, but, using a future #1 on a 10-15 minute a game guy that couldn’t get off the bench in Orlando is too much for me.
Trade deadline additions to the bench are easier transitions imo. Teams have fallen in love with the three point shot, therefore tend to overpay for shooters.
Reggie has to make a decision with regards to attitude and such, if he’s committed to the team he’ll be fine that way he can parlay a good work ethic into his next situation if he became trade bait. A team like Golden State or Denver could use his toughness for a final push at the deadline.
We know what it’s like to have few draft picks from the BK era and I’ll be reluctant to just “give” them away. We still need another PG either to groom to start or back-up Lou Will after Miller’s run is over.
Dre, good points, I hope A.Miller finishes his career here now if the money is right, for some reason,I!m not a Duke fan, I think Orlando is making a big mistake on Reddick, just a feeling; Reggie? With Mo liking to go small a lot I could see Thad still getting time next to Iggy at the 4 with Brand at the 5 and with 96 minutes available at the 4 and 5, minute distribution is gonna be tough. And Dre, my biggest problem with Reggie is Sam, it seems so hard to ever have them on the court together because of the 3 on 5 offensive situation; it can work during the year against weaker teams but in the playoffs, I don!t know.
suede -
I agree completly so have Reggie in with Brand and Smith in with Sammy in both situations you can keep Thad or Iggy in at the three.
The best thing about getting Brand is the flexibility it presents in the line-up. We can dictate the tempo and the other teams line-up from start to finish.
The regular season is used to set-up the playoff rotation and to find out who works well with whom. With a huge lead in any given regular season game we could then showcase our bench for the trade deadline.
Speights had like 22 points and 13 rebounds I’m def gonna try and catch the webcast of tonights game.
Dont really like Reddick, also read on hoopshype that the magic are not gonna trade him. I would really like to work something out for Marco Bellinelli (prob spelled that wrong) But would give up Willie Green and a pick. I think warriors would be willing to move him he barely got off the bench last year. I dont wanna trade Reggie Evans he is the exact type of player you need in the playoffs. I also think he had a great impact on Sam who seemed way tougher and more focused this year than in the past.
2 on 5, Would love to use Willie but his value is less than Reggie; if Ellis becomes a p.g., which G.St. is leaning towards, Bellinini gets minutes opened up for him. Don!t want Reggie moved, but in the cap filled world you can!t afford a luxury when a need can be addressed.Two words come to my mind when I think of Reggie, toughness and energy; Brand should supply the 1st and Smith should supply the 2nd. Now if they feel Spieghts isn!t ready, then keep Reggie and let Spieghts play a year in the D league but I!m hoping that doesn!t happen.
This is what im talking about. It comes down to people not liking Reddick, or hating Duke. People who say “I dont want a guy that could not get off the bench or Orlando” He is getting screwed over their and everyone knows it. We dont need 4 PF’s so we should trade one of them in my opinon for Reddick. Get your Duke hatred out of you and see the situation for which it really is.
Stive, I don!t think it is Duke or Reddick, I think it is people wanting to keep together what we started last year and see what happens. I!m by nature an impatient person, so I want everything put in place NOW. But I!m probably wrong here; E.S. is probably going to do what Dre said, and see what happens this year and go from there.
Stive - we just got Elton Brand and everyone is going crazy so I am pretty sure it isn’t Duke hatred (which I have as a UNC fan). You think he is getting screwed, but I just think he can’t do anything but catch and shoot wide-open shots. He brings nothing else to the table in terms of defense, passing or ball-handling.
Besides that, we don’t have anything to offer Orlando like I said in my previous comment. They want a point guard or cap flexibility to sign a point guard not a PF and we have neither to offer.
By most considerations, 40-42 Sixers were 2 or 3 pieces away; have added 1, but lost speed/athleticism & streaky (budding?) shooter in Carney and humble, contagious professionalism in Booth. Have claimed a miles-worn horse on the blocks with a “repaired” achilles tendon, along with organizational marketing punch. Question: Have any players in the history of the game improved their performance after such an injury? Confident, unscientific answer: No. And wait till Brand gets a load of Dalembert’s hardwood cunning, Iggy’s offensive precision, Evans’ foul shooting, Williams’ myopia and Smith’s indecisive haze; may rue decision to jump coasts, 82 million times. Brand: the Stefanski-promised upgrade (with injury asterisk). Still needed to compare with the elite: a smart shooter, a backcourt defensive specialist, a young backup PG/distributor, additional inside offense.
Jumpin, good to hear from you, hold it I gotta go jump off that bridge; just kiddin!!!
suede, when I saw you swimmin’ over, had no choice but to follow in your wake!
Jumpin, glass 1/2 full outlook; J.Gordon in 2 years becomes defensive, distributing off the bench p.g.; Spieghts in 2 years gives us a low post option on the court at all times[2nd inside score] ; Thad becomes the athletic, less streaky?, shooter at the 3; a spot up shooter is added; and Sammy gets the right mindset [stay out of the way and hit the offensive boards(Silas?)] You know me, the eternal optomist.
jjg -
I don’t know if you’re playing devil’s advocate or if you really believe what you posted, but, you have to admit that the signing of Brand is like getting two pieces.
1. the stud PF we knew we needed to command double teams and free people up and
2. the #1 option we kept saying Iggy wasn’t ready to be.
Basketball is about spacing and a grown man down low creates just that.
Remember when Dalembert said he wasn’t happy that he didn’t have a big man to work with on a consistent basis? He has officially run out of excuses, he now have a guy in Brand that can make him an Eastern Conference All-Star Center. Howard gets one spot and the other spot is a toss up.
Health is not a concern at this time, one (major) injury does not make you injury prone. Jordan broke his foot in his second year and he did just fine when he recovered.
suede, I appreciate your positivity but keep the pom-poms boxed for now. Have no problem with counting on Young at 3, and if J. Gordon can be had in future and will defend and distribute - great. But banking on Sam & Sam II is a dubious investment from here. Sam is closer to Leroy Ellis or Luther Rackley than he is to Paul Silas or Bill Bridges; problem is, he doesn’t know it.
jjg: Good to hear from you. Philly.com stinks, don’t be a stranger here.
Of course, you remain the eternal Phila. optimist! “Humble contagious professionalism” is certainly damning Booth with faint praise. I certainly would have rather kept Carney than Green, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Mo mentioned Dominique returning to all star status after an achilles injury. From everything I’ve read this is not a chronic condition like a knee or back problem. As for age, I didn’t see any problems with Garnett at 32, or Shaq at 34(?) winning championships. You complained all season about the team being youngsters, and now we added some veteran experience.
Bottom line, we just replaced Reggie Evans and Willie Green in the starting lineup with Elton Brand and Andre Igoudala, sounds pretty pretty good to me. We do need a deeper and better bench, but all things in good time. Most likely we will have to address it next summer with the mid-level exception.
The team won 40 games last year with gaping holes at the PF and SG positions, so now having filled those holes, I’d say 50 wins is a reasonable expectation. Enjoy!
From wikipedia about Dominique Wilkins: “Many thought Wilkins would retire after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon midway through the 1991–92 season. That just made him more determined to come back—and he did, with one of the best seasons of his 11-year career. For his efforts, Wilkins was honored by several sports publications as the NBA Comeback Player of the Year. Showing no traces of the injury, Wilkins blazed to an average of 27.7 points per game in the first month of the season. He then suffered a setback when he fractured the ring finger on his right hand on December 15, sitting out the next 11 games. But Wilkins returned to rack up 29.4 points per game on .487 shooting in January, then added 31.5 points per game on .519 shooting in February. By the end of the season, his scoring average was up to 29.9, second in the league behind Michael Jordan’s 32.6. When Wilkins scored his 31st point in a February 2 game against the Seattle SuperSonics, he broke Bob Pettit’s franchise scoring record of 20,880 points. He had developed into a full-fledged three-point threat, hitting 120 of 316 attempts from long range to shatter his previous career bests. Wilkins’s remarkable comeback was acknowledged with a selection to the All-NBA Second Team.
Wilkins showed no signs of fading in his 12th NBA campaign, even after a tumultuous midseason trade.”
Morty, 2 good things from that story, #1] you can comeback from that injury; #2] an athletic freak [Iggy] can become a better 3 pt. shooter as his career goes on.
Now we’re on the same page!!
Sammy- 14ppg, 11rpg
Brand - 24.5ppg , 12reb, 4apg
Thad - 14ppg, 6rpg, 4apg
Iggy - 22ppg, 6rpg, 6apg
Miller - 13ppg, 11apg
I can see it, what do you guys think? Three guy averaging a double-double.
dre, I don’t doubt Brand’s high-quality NBA play to date, though I’ve never yet - college or pro - seen the dominance that is supposed to be his. And yes, using his bulk, fundamentals and shooting ability down low, I assume he’s a good #1 option and will create space/gaps for the other 4 Sixers. 2 problems: (1) his 2 left achilles tendon pieces that were sown together by expert attention (and resultant post-surgery decline in quickness and height of jump–I don’t believe reports of “as good as new”) (2) the other 4 Sixers: their adaptation. I agree with you that 1 injury doesn’t make you injury-prone - but feel that very big tendon, imagine it exploding into 2 pieces, and remember how often (and with what force) its optimal function is needed to excel on the court. I’ve seen up close the inhibiting results of such an injury, therefore, I am truly skeptical of Brand’s future and long-term performance as a Sixer.
Philly.com’s blog is terrible now. I signed up but then didn’t confirm my email addr so I couldn’t post comments plus you get a bunch of comments from people who don’t really follow the sixers and post all kinds of stupid stuff.
Yesterday On ESPN when they were discussing Elton Brand they said that his contract with the sixers was for 79.5 million. Now when the initial signing happened all reports had to preface the signing with estimated, but is it poss that they restructured the contract slightly to allow the sixers to try and go out and get a shooter.
For the record I root against Duke and NC in college, but dont root against thier players in the NBA. I dont think Reddick has a good attitude. I remember him complaining during the draft when his stock fell. He also whines about not getting mins in Orlando.
I cant believe I’m about to write this but after watching Eddie House play for the Celtics in the finals I think he would be great. If the Sixers can only offer a min contract I dont think he comes here, but he did handle the ball and hit big shots on the biggest stage in basketball.
Also I think it is a forgone conclusion that the Sixers are going back to the old uniforms (couldn’t be happier). Not only because Elton Brand had the jersey at his press conference. But I saw the bit comcast did on the Josh Smith visit and they showed the jumbotron clip that the sixers played for Josh Smith and the Sixers were using the old 76ers logo on the player intro.
Wish the season started tomorrow.
Dre, Going back to just being a p.g. may add 2 years to A.Miller!s career; I!m hoping that tired look at the end of the Piston!s series was from just plain having to do tomuch!! As for your numbers, don!t mind Elton giving his normal 20, Sam 12, Iggy 20,Thad!s look dead on;and Jason [same minutes(7 and 4) instead of (5 and 3)]. My vision: Sam and Elton on the opposite low blocks with Elton ALWAYS rotating to the strong side and Thad and Iggy hitting just enough jumpers to keep the defense honest and blowing by when they get a chance.
dre:
Sammy: 12 and 10 rpg 3 bpg
Brand: 20 and 9 rpg 3 apg 2 bpg
Thad: 13 and 6 rpg 3 apg
Igoudala: 22 and 5 rpg 6 apg
Miller: 14 and 9 apg
Lou: 13 and 5 apg
Green: 7 ppg
Evans: 4 ppg and 5 rpg
Smith: 4 ppg and 4 rpg
Bonus: Igoudala shoots 47% from the field and 37% from 3.
2on5, also think there is more to the Reddick situation than meets the eye. Hope your right, if Iggy, Brand and L.Will. all give a little, a lot can be gained. Jumpin, Leroy would be a 16 and 10 guy in today!s league, wish Sam had his offensive game; I meant Silas!s mindset, not game.
Hey Morty, good to hear from ya! As to your Philly.com sentiment: I second the motion. You’re probably right, I should be more joyously hallucinative about Sixers in July and enjoy the no-cost honeymoon and hoopla. Interesting excerpt on Wilkins; forgot he went through it. I don’t know that it matters, but Brand is in the trenches, hits the heavy bag repeatedly so to speak. More of a toll? Is he an old 29? Was but a 2 yr. Dukie. You’re right: I was clamoring for veteran wisdom all last year. We now have 2 in that category - Brand & Miller. And your favorite, Willie G, is knockin’ on that door!
jjg: Brand’s number last year when he came back were virtually identical to his career numbers (points, offensive and defensive rebounds, steals, blocks, FT attempts, turnovers, assists, etc.) with the exception of his FG% which is probably attributable to rust, and even on that metric he was less than 1 made shot per game away from hitting his average.
You’re right, Willie is getting long in tooth, time to put him out to pasture!
Another “joyously hallucinative” spin on Brand’s injury is that it saved him a year of pounding in the trenches.
The honeymoon has a couple months to go, we can return to natural Phila. optimism anytime, complete money back guarantee!
Morty, watched a Clipper game late last year,”it wasn!t easy”, and was impressed with how vocal he was on the floor,his intangebles can!t be overlooked plus Kamen was out when he came back so that affected his numbers.
Morty, this is Willie!s last stand; my Willie numbers for this year: 16 min., 8 pts.,45 %f.g., 32% 3pts. Morty, call me crazy but in a reduced role where Mo can pull him quick I think he gets better. And I know you will call me crazy!!!
suede, you’re right. Leroy could score a little. Saw him as a Laker rookie w/Elgin & Jerry at Convention Hall doubleheader vs. Syracuse Nats, and later suffering as a helping hand on 9-73 Sixers. (Knicks-Warriors - w/”the Big Dipper” & Guy Rodgers - was the nitecap.)
As for the present, if Sam doesn’t shine with Brand next to him, he’ll never get “it.”
Morty & suede, Sky’s the limit - checkin’ out.
Suede: from the game you watched, anything to report beyond the numbers?
My prediction on next years starting lineup.
Sammy- 12ppg, 10.5rpg
Brand - 21.5ppg , 11reb, 4apg
Thad - 16ppg, 6rpg, 4apg
Iggy - 20ppg, 5rpg, 6apg
Miller - 14.5ppg, 9.5apg
Excellent coverage of the summer league at this guy Jordan’s “sixersoul” website.
Zack - good lookin out with the link. Jordan has some good insight (except the being a Cowboys fan, lol)you two made a good team.
Summer League is what it is but to hear about a lack of hustle (interest) from Speights plays into his pre-draft write ups. He had better correct that NOW.
Watched 2nd game this morning, real happy with J.Gordon; he is playing under control and could fill the combo guard roll next to L.Will. A prediction; along with Chalmers in a year people will look back at him as another steal in this draft.Thad is being very aggressive, looking to score.