Last game. No one cares and there really isn’t any reason to. Iguodala is not playing again, resting up for the Heat. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sixers lose this game. Overlooking the Pistons into the playoffs and the Heat is inevitable and natural.
I’ll have two posts up going into the playoffs.
This is your game thread.
I wanted to give a review of the regular season before the playoffs started: boring.
I really tried to get myself up for the games, for cheering for the team and hoping for wins and getting excited for the players, but I couldn’t. Why? Several reasons:
One, we don’t have a strength that another team can’t do better. I’m sure if you look at the stats it shows how good we were on the break, but I’ve seen other teams that were better on breaks - it’s just that we were more consistent with it. There are better point guards than Jrue Holiday, like Andre Miller. Iguodala’s defense? Just effort and concentration, to make up for his lack of natural basketball talent; give me any number of determined wing players over Iguodala when it matters. Thaddeus comes close to being something I got excited about, but he still can’t go right and nothing has changed since his rookie year.
Two, I think Collins’ coaching was just average and his talent development really disappointed me. One thing I liked about the Eddie Jordan hire was that at least it was a challenge to the players. Collins just moved the players around until he found just the right roles for them, and for me, that’s expected, any good coach should be able to do that (Popovich). There were no new ideas with the team this year, and I hope that changes in the offseason. I’m still hopeful that something cool and unexpected will come from the Heat series, but I doubt it.
Three, I’m tired of Iguodala being the centerpiece of this team. If it weren’t for the Eddie Jordan debacle, we would be on pace now for our 4th straight 1st round exit with him as the core of the team. You could make the argument that he’s Kevin Garnett in Minnesota again, with advanced stats saying he’s a great player and that Philadelphia has failed to properly build around him, but having watched him play for a few seasons now I feel confident in saying that he’s no Garnett; he’s not even a Pau Gasol (but we should shop him around as if he were Pau Gasol or Garnett).
I think the worst thing they did this year was do nothing inspired with Evan Turner. Let’s just slip him into the SG role! As dull as an Elton Brand jumpshot, and a total waste of the opportunity that the #2 pick gave us. I wish we’d gotten the 3rd pick and were forced to draft Favors or Cousins; we might have done better by not landing in the top 3.
Did you seriously expect better from a team coming off of a 27 win season whose core rotation includes guys age 20.22.22.22.24? Young teams don’t do much in the NBA. Especially ones without superstars. So considering, I thought this season was pretty encouraging. The coach got the most out of his players and they are all improving. You can’t expect more given the talent in place.
Why trade a player for not being a centerpiece when he isn’t paid like one and shouldn’t be expected to play like one?
I’ve never understood the urge of Sixers fans to want to trade Andre.
What more do you want from the guy? We would be a horrible team without him.
I understand in the past he was way too selfish and arrogant, but he took a couple steps forward this season doing the exact things we needed him to do (still thinks he’s better than he is).
If anyone thought he was going to be our version of a young KG, then I certainly understand why they are disappointed. KG was an MVP, never expected that from Andre.
Pau Gasol is the 2nd best player on a championship team, I never expected that from Andre either.
I think he is a 3rd banana on a championship team, and from my understanding, so do a lot of Sixers fans. Who are we going to get back that can provide the things that Iguodala does for this team?
Once I hear a name, then I would be interested. Until then we should deal with being an average team and hope some of our young players develop into something worth keeping.