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Philadelphia 76ers / zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

« on: March 05, 2010, 01:59:45 PM »

Man, you know the Sixers have lost their fan-base when they don't even generate ONE new Sixer-related post in, what, weeks??  On a Board that WANTS to talk Sixers?

Even with AI in the news and the Celtics coming to town?



What a sorry, sorry time in Sixers franchise history.

Disgusting.

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Philadelphia 76ers / I cannot believe I'm writing this.

« on: January 22, 2010, 12:22:48 PM »

No other fan in Philadelphia immediately comes to mind - ahead of me - when one thinks historic Sam-bashing.

I have done everything in my vocal power (and significant writing talents) to get this guy canned.  Year in, year out I have beat the drum about Sam's off-season (lack of preparation)...his mind-boggling inability to improve from season to season...his incredibly stupid play...

But this needs to be said:

Sam belongs in the all star game this year.

Back up and read that again; I'll wait.



Consider his competition:

I give you Howard; he should and will start.

But in the east, the center inventory is very suspect (ie. David Lee?  c'mon, he's no center.  What's that guy, 6-foot-8?  Joakim Noah?  On a team with Brad Miller?  He's the quintessential power forward.)  Indeed - Sam is, this year, an all star.:

-Among centers who've played 40 games this year, only Howard has more rebounds-per-40.  And he beats Sam by less than ONE.

-Sam is second in the league in blocks* (second in centers, too)...only .2 behind Howard.

Incredibly (and I'm not even sure I believe this stat), Sam is TWELFTH in turnovers among centers.  Indeed he has less than half of Howard's total.

And while he's only 9th in double doubles for centers, Sam plays FAR fewer minutes than do those ahead of him in this category.  In fact if anything keeps him out this year, it's his minutes played.  WAY LOW for a center of his sudden standing. 

I'll even go out on a limb and say that Sam should now be discussed in the same conversations involving the Al Jefferson's of the world.  After all, Sam is a far better rebounder (same amount in EIGHT less min's played); 2-3 TIMES the blocker; much better % shooter.  Al kills him in points, but not much else.

Anyway - there.

I said it.

Mark today's date.


*It's only fair that I point out that I am also the fan leader on the stance that blocks are overrated.  Not entirely insignificant...but vastly overrated.  BUT this is certainly a stat associated with centers, and plays a role in their all star selection.

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Philadelphia 76ers / Ed, Ed, Ed.

« on: January 20, 2010, 08:57:16 AM »

Which Ed is the worst at his particular job?  Which Ed is best?  And the biggie: Which of the three Eds should go first?  (Do any of the three deserve to stay?)

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Philadelphia 76ers / Tonight?

« on: January 11, 2010, 06:12:54 PM »

Chance to go 5-3 in our last 8.

Gotta play Holiday much more tonight (for obvious - defensive - reasons).  And take advantage of the Hornets propensity to play down to their opponents and keeping games closer than they should be.

Sure would like to see AI play.

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Philadelphia 76ers / Any LaSalle High Alum Here?

« on: December 15, 2009, 03:59:40 PM »

I never introduce unrelated topics, so forgive me...but anyone following LaSalle this year?  Big state championship game this Saturday against State College High School!

(We beat the crap out of that "scrappy, tough" Ridley team last week! )

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Philadelphia 76ers / Eddie Jordan Stinks.

« on: November 12, 2009, 10:31:47 AM »

Mind you, as a Philadelphian, I find anything 'mediocre' to be unacceptable.  And so, to that end, I cannot tolerate our new head coach - Eddie Jordan.  Mr. not-even-mediocre.

The Sixers have been completely average these last two seasons.  Get excited all you want about Lou Will's offense; Speights' highlights (on offense); flashes of Iggy, etc etc  You're still left with mediocrity.

Ok.  That we all know.

But what we DO have is youth, energy, athleticism.  It is those qualities that he needed to come in here and harness and use to our advantage.  "Make the most of what you got", as they say. 

The NBA is famous for tolerating overpaid, pampered, offense-only-minded "talent".  And so when you are lucky enough to oversee a team with all that youth and energy, the logical approach - in my mind - is to play more ferociously on defense than every other team out there.  Crash the boards with urgency.  Hustle plays that the other teams' vets just aren't willing to make.

That's the ONLY way we win with a team like ours.  We don't have half the talent necessary to compete otherwise.  And no other team plays the way I describe for 82; they just don't.

So what have we here?  What wise, veteran coach can we bring in here to implement such an obvious game plan?  Hmmm...hey, I know!  How 'bout EDDIE JORDAN?  He of the 230-288 career record!  HE can do it!!

Okee doke.  So let's see what we've got.

Well, he spent the entire training camp 'perfecting' the Princeton offense.  Ok, I said at the time, I'll buy in.  Why not.  Get everyone involved...keep moving...use that athleticism.  Fine.

But what was he doing to prepare his eager squad for the other 70% of the game?  Ya know, rebounding and defense?

And this is where I have issues. 

Big ones.

Night in and night out I find myself yelling, "WHY DO WE HAVE NO REBOUNDERS IN THE GAME???"  What jackass would leave us exposed like that?  Jesus - I want TWO rebounders in there at all times.  Yet, I'm forever seeing a combo of, like, Speights and Thad in there as our "Bigs".  Maybe even Kapono.  NO WONDER OUR LEADING REBOUNDER AVERAGES 7 REBOUNDS PER GAME!!

Eddie: get your head out of your ass.  THE most important thing in basketball is HAVING the ball.  NOTHING is more important than rebounding.  It ends the other team?s possession, and begins our own. 

1.  We are giving up FIVE more points per game than we did last year.
2.  Opponents FG% is up from last year.
3.  We are grabbing 1.5 less boards and giving up 1 more.  Our offensive rebounds are down 2.5!  (Inexcusable for a team with such youthful, athletic energy)
4.  Your ingenious Princeton offense scores one single basket more than we did last year.  Two.  Points.  (It's actually yielding one less shot attempt.)

Goddamn Carney shoots 35% and grabs pretty much no rebounds.  Yet I seem to see him in there all the time.  You sit ELTON GODDAMN BRAND for entire quarters.  He's a 20/10 guy, for Christ sake!  (Is he still?  I dunno.  How can anyone know with those minutes played.)

We struggled to beat the Nets last week; and eked one out against them again last night.  You had to know it killed Eddie to go to Sam in the 4th when Lopez - of all people - was destroying us (23/14 on the night for a 13/8 career guy).  It almost looked to me like Sam was thinking, "Yeah?  Ya want me to go in there to stop that guy?  Screw you a-hole.  You made this bed, YOU sleep in it."

But Sam (whom I've never been a fan of, as you know) went in...and with almost no effort righted the Sixers on to a victory.  Easy peasy.

Will Eddie Jordan stop trying to force-fit our team to fit HIS 230-288 style?  I sure hope so.  Because this team remains mediocre right now, at best.  It just accomplishes that distinction in a slightly different way this year is all.

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Philadelphia 76ers / I'll Tell Ya...We Get No Respect...

« on: September 28, 2009, 08:30:39 AM »

http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5800031147

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090713194145AARK5iP



I see no one having us higher than 7th in the East...many say 8th...17th in the NBA...some have us no where to be seen.


I'm guessing most here will say we'll end up in 5th and maybe win a round?  I think we'll be battling mostly with Toronto and Atlanta for position in the 5-7 spots.

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Philadelphia 76ers / Bring Back Iverson. Who's With Me!

« on: September 05, 2009, 02:19:07 PM »

I know...I know...'it's time to move on, yada yada yada...'

I say, 'when you got lemons, make lemonade.'  This team stinks.:


1.  We have no personality whatsoever.  None.  Dullsville.  zzzzzzzzzzzzz

2.  We have no crowd.

3.  We have no one capable of running away with a game; let alone anyone capable of averaging 24 PPG.  (Scratch that.  No one we have should average 24.)

4.  We keep getting "younger! younger!"  Yet we have no "winner!  winner!"  This whole team is a deer in the headlights come playoff time.  Give me the assassin instead!

5.  We have no PG.  (Not that AI is one either.  But he's the best available.)

6.  AI would be perfect in the Princeton offense.  It's all about motion, passing and basket-attacking. 

So, no, we don't go anywhere with or without AI.  But I'd buy more tickets!  And, to management...that's all that matters.   

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Philadelphia 76ers / Willie Should Start at PG Over Lou Will

« on: July 25, 2009, 05:46:23 AM »

First let me say that NEITHER of these two make for a good PG.  And that going into the season without a legit PG on the entire roster is like going into a football season without a fullback.  Wait a minute--

Anyway...Lou isn't a PG.  Simple as that.  That's one...  Plus, Willie has far better size than Williams.  That's another.  But here are three even better reasons:

1.  Willie is a far superior defender than is Lou.  And this team has actually developed a reputation as a pretty good defensive team.  With so little offensive weaponry, I say limit opponents' scoring.

2.  Willie is a far better shooter than is Lou.

3.  Lou Will is better off the bench than Willie.  Lou's energy can be contagious, but more than that - he presents terrible match-up problems for opponents' second string guys.  In fact, I can't get very excited by our bench WITHOUT him on it.

Maybe another I'd throw in is that Willie is older (in a good way) and might have a better (and more mature) temperament for the job.

So there you have it: two lousy options for PG.  I'm choosing the less lousy one.

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Philadelphia 76ers / Uh oh, fellow Sixers fans: We got problems.

« on: May 06, 2009, 09:41:00 PM »

It occurs to me as I watch these remaining playoff teams, just how far away we are from a ring.

I know, I know...we all agree there are issues.  But I'm thinking that some here think we are a "tweak" or two away.

Consider the Celtics (more teams to follow if this thread attracts any attention)

Pierce >> Iggy (not close)
Ray Allen >> Green (please)
Garnett >> Young (ugh)
Rondo > Miller (I love Miller more than most; but man can that kid defend and create havoc)
Perkins >> Sam (the number aren't overwhelming, but this guy is solid, while Sam is....uh....not)

Davis >>> Reggie (Like Reggie more than most; but 17/6 in the playoffs?)
Eddie House > Williams (He's a winner.  I'd take him in 2-seconds)
Scalabrini > Speights (Yeah, he looks goofy, but that guy is smart...a workhorse...and you know what you got)

Doc >>> Tony (No need for comment here)

Ok, so this one is easy; the Cetics won a ring last year.  But this is EVERY GUY.  To a MAN they are better.  How do you compete with that anytime soon?

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Philadelphia 76ers / We're Philly. Gotta Blame Someone.

« on: April 30, 2009, 09:54:07 PM »

Who sucked more.  Any one of them...or all?

Young (Unreal; was embarrassed for him.)
Lou Will (Came up tiny in this series.  Teeny Tiny.)
Iggy (Top 10?  Eh....nah.)
Speights (Worst defender since Glen Robinson)
DiLeo (Hoofa.  To be schooled by VAN GUNDY?  Ya know it's a rough night.)

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Philadelphia 76ers / My Big Night With The Sixer(s).

« on: February 27, 2009, 03:37:25 PM »

As some of you may know (from other Boards), I've been working in New York for many years; in fact, lived here for about 12...where my wife and I raised our children.  Recently we moved back to the Philly area - where my family continues to be rabid Sixers fans.

While living in NYC we bought TV packages every year and watched all 82 Sixers games, as most of you do...often went to the Garden to watch them play the Knicks...  We were not very popular amongst our fellow NYers, as you can imagine.

Last night I got stuck in the city and so my wife came up to spend the evening with me.  We checked into a nice hotel at about 7:30...on 51st and Madison...and made plans to eat at an upscale steak house on 45th.

Imagine our surprise when - who walks into our hotel - but the entire Sixers squad.  Coaching staff...players...administrators.  Everyone. 

Over the years and coincidentally, I've spotted teams traveling from time to time.  I've shared hotels with the Rockets, Lakers and Spurs...to name a few.  My business also dictates that I work with celebrities.  George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Jude Law, etc etc etc

But I've never been so star struck as I was last night.

One after the next, each player entered the hotel - unknown to every other person in the lobby...except to my wife and me.  They each stopped, signed an autograph for our kids, several even stopped to chat.  We must have hung out with them for a good 15-20 minutes...ultimately spending a fair amount of time with Andre Miller, Willie Green and Sam Dalembert.  We also chatted at length with Reggie Evans and Lou Williams.  A thrill.

So we head up to our room to freshen up for dinner (sharing the elevator with Miller and Sam) and return to the lobby.  As we head toward the door...we overhear one of the (higher profile) players discussing dinner options with the consierge.  He's alone and being directed to "Dallas BBQ", which I know to be a rather lousy chicken and rib joint.  And so, jokingly, I ask him to join my wife and me.

To my surprise and genuine delight - he tells us he'd love to.  "That'll be fun," he says.  And so off we go... the three of us...

I have to say that, when you see these guys in situations like this, you come to realize that - despite their being paid millions, and generally living an incredible lifestyle - all that traveling seems awfully lonely for these guys.  They all seemed...I dunno...vulnerable.

Anyway, long story short, we three enjoy a fantastic dinner and chit chat for almost 2 hours, and then return to the hotel where we spot a couple of the players again.  They treated us like old friends.

It's in that spirit that I choose, by the way, not to name our dinner guest.  He was so nice and genuine that I'd feel less than gentlemanly if I were to divulge his identity.  There's no reason for me to.  Suffice to say, we got to know one another quite well and I expect to stay in touch with him.

But we'll never forget our night with the Sixers.  Good guys all.  Just regular folk it turns out. 

I know we'll continue to be gigantic Sixers fans from here on out.  But now...maybe in a slightly different way.

By the way - they say they expect to kick the Knicks ass tonight.

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Philadelphia 76ers / An Open Letter From Sam Dalembert

« on: February 25, 2009, 01:48:53 PM »

Dear Philly Arena Faithful:

I've been reading a lot about me in the - how you say "rags" and I feel the need to offer-up MY side of the story, once and for it. 

Being an icon is not all it's cracked-up to be, let me tell you one time.  The lights, cameras, paparazzi (that's French, ya know); it's a lot, even for a Haitian-Canadian-American.  Make ONE little prediction and it gets all blown out of whacks.  Now, while it is true I said before the season I'd be an All Star this year, I did not say an All Star of which league, now did I.  Follow me?   

Had the dopes on the Canadian national team not acted so hastily - they'd know what you Philadelphians have always known: That The Haitian Sensation would have brought them to the promised land.  Guaranteed. 

And so it is in that same Sammy Spirit that I plan to ask the Sixers front office to indeed trade me:  To the Haitian Hurricanes, where I can add both a ring and some All Star swag to my mantle.

Yes, I am signed here through the 2011 season.  But this just isn't working out. My coach claims that, well, my minutes are down 25% this year; FG% down; offensive boards are down; defensive boards? Down. Assists, steals, blocks - down as well.  "Oh yeah, Tony!  You bug-eyed wimp!  Pick some stats that MATTER!"  Know-nothing.

No, I plan on ripping it up for the Haitian Hurricanes instead.  After all, you think being 24th in rebounding is some ACCIDENT?!  Why, I'm 10th in blocks for goodness sake!  I LEAD THE LEAGUE IN GOALTENDS you moron!  And I average one quarter of a block more than your precious Elton Brand!  You heard me!  A quarter of a block - which, in four games, translates into....into....er.......more blocks than him.  I'm .72 BPG ahead of that geiser Theo (who's played 1,075 less minutes than me).  How do you like me THEN, Tony, hmmm?!

Speaking of Tony, can you believe some people still think Tony Parker would have been a better pick than me in 2001?  Tony Parker!

Look, hows about we just rip up that laughable, paltry contract and call it a day - shall we?  And I just quietly return to my homeland with my career 8/8.  There I'll settle down, have my 4.79 children (we have a lot of kids here in Haiti), coach a neighborhood kiddie team (as long as my wife agrees to having an additional .21 of a child) and teach those underprivileged rugrats a thing or two about fundamentals.  Like ball-handling, outside shooting and underhanded-outletting.

Who knows.  Someday I may return to the bright lights and superstar status here in the States.  Of course, then, I'll be considered an export of Haiti.  Much like oil, mangoes, coffee and cocaine are now.

Until then, adios.  (Also French.  I think.)


Yours truly,


Sweet Swattin' Sammy

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Philadelphia 76ers / Now Here's an All-Star-Squad Sam WOULD Start For...

« on: February 12, 2009, 02:42:39 PM »

From this blog:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/paul_forrester/02/11/anti.stars/index.html

...comes this:

C: Samuel Dalembert, Sixers
Before the season, Dalembert said, "Personally, I expect to be an All-Star this year." Nice sentiment, but the inconsistent 7-footer hasn't measured up: He is averaging 6.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks and playing nearly nine fewer minutes than last season (down to 24.6 from 33.2) . Dalembert struggled right from the start as he and the 76ers adjusted to power forward Elton Brand's arrival. But with Brand now out for the season, there is more room to operate for Dalembert, who responded last week with 18 points and 20 rebounds against Indiana -- an All-Star-type performance, at least for one game.

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Philadelphia 76ers / "Sixers...Sixers...no, never heard of 'em"

« on: February 12, 2009, 10:33:12 AM »

Pardon me whilst I bitch a bit.

Walked into Modell's the other day.  Huge store.  Gotta have 7,000 square feet, this Modell's does.  One of the larger sporting goods stores I've ever seen in my life.  Needed to buy some gifts and thought the recipient would appreciate some Eagles paraphernalia and some Sixers stuff, too.

Have you guys been IN a Modell's recently?  Ya know...the sporting goods super store?  Giant facilities...tens of thousands of items...?  Or am I the last to know that they carry NO Sixers swag?  At all.  None.

By the way, when I say "none" I don't refer to a small selection...or a lame-o inventory.  They carry NOTHING SIXERS.

Want Dallas Fu**ing Cowboys sh*t?  You've come to the right place.  FLYERS?  You got it..."big orange section right over there".

I couldn't find a goddamn WRISTBAND with the Sixer logo on it.  And a jersey?  Jacket?  Sweatshirt?  Pfffft.  You kidding?


Am I missing something or should a Modell's carry at least SOME Sixers stuff, no matter what?  Add to that fact that our team is one of the hottest in the NBA (what are we, 14-4 for Christ sake?) - right up there with Cleveland, San Antonio and Dallas in our last 10...a buzzer beater or two (or three) away from the likes of the Lakers and Celtics in terms of recent success.

CARRY AT LEAST ONE GODDAMN RACK OF SIXERS GEAR!  Wouldya, please?




A disgrace.




This, from their website:

"Modells...offers a large collection of products from top name brands in the sporting goods and apparel business.  ...the name Modell's Sporting Goods means many things. It means shopping from the oldest and one of the most trusted names in the industry. It means selection..."


Selection?  SELECTION? 


Screw you Morris Modell, you dead loser.