Of the Sixers’ top 20 lineups in offensive possessions played, these are their top 5, according to basketballvalue.com’s “Overall Rating”:

1) Brand, Carney, Kapono, Smith, Williams / rtg 111.11 / 9 poss
2) Carney, Green, Holiday, Smith, Speights / rtg 72.22 / 10 poss
3) Dalembert, Green, Iguodala, Williams, Young / rtg 67.62 / 14 poss
4) Brand, Iguodala, Kapono, Speights, Williams / rtg 65.38 / 14 poss
5) Dalembert, Green, Iguodala, Speights, Young / rtg 62.18 / 12 poss

General note - each lineup has rebounding

0n 1) Brand, Carney, Kapono, Smith, Williams  – This was the 4th quarter garbage time lineup in the first ORL game.  But given its success, I think coach EJ should give a couple more tries to see if there’s something there.

on 2) Carney, Green, Holiday, Smith, Speights  – It’s youthful, athletic and energetic lineup (Carney, Holiday, Smith, Speights) guided by a steady vet hand (Green, a la Andre Miller and Kevin Ollie).  I think it’s a lineup Mo Cheeks would’ve loved trotting out there, and would be a great bench crew.  The instructions, only one - get out there and cause havoc, young ‘uns!

on 3) Dalembert, Green, Iguodala, Williams, Young – This was our main starting lineup over the past two seasons with Lou Williams taking over for Andre Miller.  Fact: According to 82games.com, Andre Iguodala w/ Thaddeus Young was one of the top 20 tandems in the league over the past two years with Iggy primarily at the SF and Thad at the PF.  I still think it was unwise to mess with that winning formula.  Mr. Stefanski you are unwise.

on 4) Brand, Iguodala, Kapono, Speights, Williams – You got me, though Brand + Speights is a very effective frontcourt.  This is the starting lineup if you replaced Sam and Thad with Kapono and Speights, which means you’d bring them off the bench…  Actually, I like this… Sam would be at C, Thad goes back to his more successful position at PF, and don’t play Jason Smith.

on 5) Dalembert, Green, Iguodala, Speights, Young – I don’t know what to make of this lineup’s success, either.  More evidence that Willie as the point guard works?  More signs that you should put Sam and Speights together, or Brand and Speights, but definitely not Sam and Brand?  This is clutching at straws – it’s similar to lineup 2) in that Mr. Green is surrounded by a bunch of young athletic guys.  Maybe that’s it, maybe this group is strong defensively.

When I have time I’ll look at the worst lineups.

I’d rather watch Chris Paul play 1 on 5 than watch the current Sixers team.  And I don’t think it’s completely out of the realm of possibility that Chris Paul, Scott with a bunch of filler players could probably compete at the level the Sixers are right now – AND give us a brighter future.

Sad.

Speights has to grab offensive rebounds with 2 hands.  The spectacular 1 handed slam is only spectacular when finished.

Back in 2007-2008, somehow, Jason Smith was part of a 2nd quarter bench crew that always kept the game close, something that Speights, an obviously more talented player, can’t claim.  For some reason, when Speights is out there, we’re much more susceptible to debilitating runs by the other team.

Agreed.  Thad seems to be in too much of a hurry to make his move/get a shot, his footwork gets messed up in the process, and  awkwardness results.  Looked to me like he walked on a couple of those spin moves last night.  He needs to slow down a tick and gain a bit more control.