Line-up (Brand re-integration)

[tk76-]

Should be an interesting month running up to the trade deadline.  Its Brand/Sixers 2.0 (or would this be 1.5?)

There is the question of the starting line-up, and then the rotations later in the game.

Should Brand play more PF or C?
Should Thad/Iguodala be on the floor more as PF/SF or SF/SG?
Can we eliminate the bulk of WG's minutes?
How to maximize Speights Minutes/progression?

This is from http://www.depressedfan.com/basketball/sixers/the-ablatross.php :

    *  Per 48 minutes when Iggy and Thad are on the floor together, the Sixers outscore their opponents by 6.31 points.
    * Per 48 minutes when Iggy and Thad are not on the floor together, their opponents outscore them by 17.56 points.

Those are some unbelievable numbers...

[rickortreat]

Now THAT was a fascinating stat!  IMO, you drop Willie Green from the starting lineup and let Brand play the 4, with Thad and Andre I. playing the three and two spots.  Having Brand should offset Dalembert's limitations on offense, and having him as an outlet passer allows Sam to get out on the break for some easy baskets.

In the meantime, I would like to see Brand take his time and continue to come off the bench for a while.  I want to see Brand and Speights be successful on the court together, along with Lou Williams. They had a rough start against the Knicks, and it's important for them to figure out how to play effectively.  They should have a good chance against the Hornets tonight, who will be missing at least two of their players.

I think the tougher of the two teams right now is Houston, so it is important that the Sixers go into New Orleans and win. The real difference between the good teams and the also rans, is that the elite teams win on the road, and even outplay good teams in their own building. This could be big for the Sixers confidence.

So far DiLeo is undefeated with Brand in the lineup.

[anklebreaker]

While I wouldn't mind seeing small ball with Brand at C and That at PF, I'd like to see more of Thad at SF with Iguodala at SG, since that still is the plan long term.  Speights should always be the first big off the bench to replace Sam and allow some time for Brand and Speights to get some minutes together. 

[tk76-]

This is my theory about Thads recent offensive explosion:

I think Thad is running the plays at PF that DiLeo wants for Brand when is ready to start.  The offense may not be 'running through Thad', but the last 2 games Thad has gotten a lot of looks in the high post and a lot of low post looks.  He has responded with efficient scoring (but still needs to draw some fouls.) 

His game is reminding me of some old time F scorers, just can't put my finger on it... Dantley?, Wilkes?, Worthy?  Granted, I don't remember those guys that clearly.

All of those guys were thin, crafty, high percentage shooting F's who could score inside against much stronger men.

[Skates]

He has some attributes from all of them, but doesn't remind me of one in particular.  Dantley used a big butt and tons of fakes and other moves to get open.  He and Thad share that innate ability to get their shot off against and between the bigs without it being blocked, plus the ball seems to go into the basket no matter what weird arm angle he uses to shoot/toss/push the ball at the basket.  He uses his length well like Worthy did, but is a little smaller.  His drop and pop shots from about five feet remind me of a few players.  I am not sure he reminds me as much of Wilkes as the others.  He is definitely developing nicely that part of his game and his outside shot has returned, a matter of confidence and maybe some work on mechanics I think.

[tk76-]

He uses his length well like Worthy did, but is a little smaller. 

Worthy was listed at Height: 6-9,  225 lbs.   Maybe he was an inch taller than Thad, but similar build.  When Worthy played PF he was 2 steps faster doown the floor than everyone.  That's what I see in common with Thad.  Worthy was smoother out there (esp finishing on the break), where Thad has a bit more herky jerky in his moves. 

[Derek Bodner]

I think Worthy's the guy that has kinda reminded me of that  Not a perfect fit, but probably better than any current player.  Jamison's been used as the current guy, but Jamison's put on a bit of weight since he came into the league, and are different players defensively.

[tk76-]

Jamison has similar post moves (at least a good hook and spin.)  Otherwise, I agree their games are not that similar.  Thad is much more of a greyhound, Jamison has always been more of a jumpshooter.  Jamison also is a better rebounder but a less active defender.

[carolina blue]

Jamison played a little differently when he was younger (and I believe that he's had a knee injury since he entered the league).

When he was Thad's age he was very much a slasher-type scorer who pounded the offensive glass - he has improved his jumper by leaps and bounds since entering the league.

[tk76-]

Found this a reclinergm:

Ryan F 01.27.09 at 1:36 pm

    I dont want to get anyone?s head spinning with rumors so ill just paste the 3 questions he decided to respond to.

    Patrick (Miami): Where does Marion end up Chad? Can the Heat get something better for him than O?Neal? Or do they hold on to him and then go after Boozer again this summer?

    Chad Ford: (1:18 PM ET ) I think they have to see whether they can pry Boozer or Elton Brand for Marion. I think both are possible and both are better long term fits than O?Neal. The one positive for O?Neal is that he?s off the books in 2010. That gives the Heat LOTS of cap space in the summer of 2010. Of all the markets trying to clear cap ? Miami is one of the most desirable for NBA free agents. The fact that Wade and Michael Beasley are there won?t hurt recruiting either.

    Wannabe GM (Philly): C-Ford, considering how well the Sixers have played without Brand, both during their current 10-game stretch and towards the end of last year, do you think it may behove them to explore trading him either closer to the trade deadline or during the offseason? After hearing Tony DiLeo say that he does not plan to force feed EB the ball in the post and that he envisions him being a great trailer on the break, seems to me that they?ve committed A LOT of cap space for a ?trailer?. Maybe the could get nice pick in this years draft (pick up Harden) or get an established SG from someone?

    Chad Ford: (1:23 PM ET ) Yes ? from what my sources around the league are saying, Brand is available. The question is, given how poorly he?s played this year and his huge contract, does anyone want him?

    Chad Ford: (1:24 PM ET ) I?ve wondered about a Rasheed Wallace for Brand swap but doubt Joe D wants to invest that much money right now on Brand

    Dick (NY): How about Brand returning to Chicago? Any chance?

    Chad Ford: (1:30 PM ET ) Sure. If the Sixers would take back Larry Hughes as part of the deal. It would give them long term cap relief, but that would be a huge admission that they screwed up signing Brand. I?m sure Chicago would throw either Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah in the deal.

    I just found it bizarre that he would take the time to mention Brand so much.

[anklebreaker]

Found this a reclinergm:

Ryan F 01.27.09 at 1:36 pm

    I dont want to get anyone?s head spinning with rumors so ill just paste the 3 questions he decided to respond to.

    Patrick (Miami): Where does Marion end up Chad? Can the Heat get something better for him than O?Neal? Or do they hold on to him and then go after Boozer again this summer?

    Chad Ford: (1:18 PM ET ) I think they have to see whether they can pry Boozer or Elton Brand for Marion. I think both are possible and both are better long term fits than O?Neal. The one positive for O?Neal is that he?s off the books in 2010. That gives the Heat LOTS of cap space in the summer of 2010. Of all the markets trying to clear cap ? Miami is one of the most desirable for NBA free agents. The fact that Wade and Michael Beasley are there won?t hurt recruiting either.

    Wannabe GM (Philly): C-Ford, considering how well the Sixers have played without Brand, both during their current 10-game stretch and towards the end of last year, do you think it may behove them to explore trading him either closer to the trade deadline or during the offseason? After hearing Tony DiLeo say that he does not plan to force feed EB the ball in the post and that he envisions him being a great trailer on the break, seems to me that they?ve committed A LOT of cap space for a ?trailer?. Maybe the could get nice pick in this years draft (pick up Harden) or get an established SG from someone?

    Chad Ford: (1:23 PM ET ) Yes ? from what my sources around the league are saying, Brand is available. The question is, given how poorly he?s played this year and his huge contract, does anyone want him?

    Chad Ford: (1:24 PM ET ) I?ve wondered about a Rasheed Wallace for Brand swap but doubt Joe D wants to invest that much money right now on Brand

    Dick (NY): How about Brand returning to Chicago? Any chance?

    Chad Ford: (1:30 PM ET ) Sure. If the Sixers would take back Larry Hughes as part of the deal. It would give them long term cap relief, but that would be a huge admission that they screwed up signing Brand. I?m sure Chicago would throw either Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah in the deal.

    I just found it bizarre that he would take the time to mention Brand so much.

That's interesting, considering I haven't heard Brand's name involved in trade rumors prior to this.  Don't like the Chicago deal. 

[anklebreaker]

How do you feel about the idea of a Marion/Brand trade?  It's intriguing, but I'm not sure that I like it. 

[Skates]

First, I think that if we trade Brand it is as much about Speights potential as it is about Brand not fitting.  Second, I am not sure that Brand won't fit at all.  Ford's characterization of Brand was way off.  Did DiLeo say they would not force feed him down low?  Yes, this is no swipe at Brand, he is not a pure low-post player on any team, the pick and pop or roll is his bread and butter.  Can he be a trailer on the break?  Easily, he was often out on the break itself early in the season, not necessarily just as a trailer.

If he goes do we simply make a salary dump for Marion?  Where does that get us next summer cap wise (about $14 million under IF we don't re-sign Miller)?  Brand and Marion don't have matching salaries, will they take WG or Reggie too?  Anyone else coming back?

The Chicago deal is even worse, you get a piece of turd in Hughes, a role playing big and no cap space til 2010 when you get to compete with everyone else for the FA class that may not be as full if some guys re-sign before then.

What other team might want him?  Hmmm, intriguing, but I wonder if Chad is just making this crap up.

[anklebreaker]

Well, we'd have a decent evaluation period with Marion to figure out whether or not we would want to dump him after this season.  If we did get him, we'd be running small A LOT with Marion and Young sharing minutes at PF along with Speights.  Marion did play that role extremely well that year when Stoudemire was out and him and Diaw interchanged at SF and PF, while playing in an uptempo offense with a pass first point guard.  The idea of Miller running the break with Iguodala, Young, and Marion is a little intriguing.  It would be even more intriguing if this information was coming from someone other than Chad Ford. 

[Derek Bodner]

How do you feel about the idea of a Marion/Brand trade?  It's intriguing, but I'm not sure that I like it. 

don't like it at all.  marion's older, a worse fit, and is going to want a long term deal that will likely take him into age 36-37 seasons.

Yes, I said a worse fit.  there's this notion that we can only get fast break players.  We need someone who can defend in the half court, force turnovers, get defensive boards, get offensive rebounds, take advantage of mismatches in the post, and open up the lane with his midrange game.

Rather than continue to abandon the half-court, we need to continue to get better.  Marion is a step in the WRONG direction, even if he panders to this team current strenghts.