76ers Deserve Our Attention

02/06/2011

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Doug Collins Doing It Again
By Kevin K

Doug Collins has been known as some type of a miracle worker when it comes to basketball organizations. Collins' coaching career included three full seasons in Chicago, two-and-a-half in Detroit and two in Washington, all in which he made into Championship teams.

Currently Collins is working with the 76ers and he is doing a great job with it. The 76ers currently sit at 7th in the Eastern Conference and have 6 wins in their last 7 games (not including Sundays game vs the Knicks).

The Sixers have played good basketball as of late and are deserving of some more attention than they have been getting as of late. The have a good core of young players like Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young, Jodie Meeks, and rookie Evan Turner (who is starting to get more playing time as of late). Add them in with the veteran Elton Brand, who is finally playing the way the 76ers need him to play after signing a big contract a few years ago.

The Sixers still have some weaknesses in their game, but the team is starting to play smart, work hard, and play defense. They are starting to listen more to the game plan of Doug Collins and their energy is showing that.

The 76ers may not be a serious contender for the NBA Championship, but they do continue to play strong basketball and should get more attention from Philly Phans, including me.


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SIXERS RUN PAST PACERS FOR FIRST WIN

11/03/2010

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SIXERS RUN PAST PACERS FOR FIRST WIN
By Damian S

The Sixers entered Wednesday nights game searching for their first win after starting off to a slow 0-4. They got that win. The Sixers bounced back from a gut wrenching overtime loss to the Washington Wizards last night to come out on top 101-75 against the Indiana Pacers. This is the second time the 76ers have played the Pacers in this early season. The prior match the Pacers dealt a loss to the Sixers defeating them 99-86 in Indiana's home opener.

Tonight we got a sneak peak at what the Sixers can do. It is still early in the season and this team is full of young talent that when they gel could really develop into a contender. However tonight, the veteran Elton Brand carried a majority of the load. Brand lead the team in points and rebounds with 25 and 12 respectively. It was a strong team effort across the board. Rookie Evan Turner had 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal in tonights win. He is starting to look more comfortable on the court even though he had 3 turnovers tonight. However he is a rookie and people need to remember that he will continue to learn as the season progresses. Andre Iguodala showed up big over his 40 minutes defensively with 4 blocks and 9 rebounds. The bench contributed to 41 of the Sixers 101 points. This was also the first win under new head coach Doug Collins who left the game due to vertigo like dizzy spells. His Sixers already had it locked up for their coach though not letting up. 

The teams next game is Friday against the 1-3 Cleveland Cavaliers. It should be a good match up for this young team. As Turner develops off the bench if the Sixers can continue to share the ball and play like a team like they did tonight, they could surprise a lot of us. Only time will tell though. As they say, take it one game at a time. I'll take tonight's win, that's for sure.
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Evan Turner Officially Signed

07/14/2010

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Turner Signs
By Kevin K

The 76ers announced today the signing of first round pick, Evan Turner.

Turner was the second overall pick to the 76ers and is very excited to play for the team.

You can follow Evan Turner on Twitter (@thekidet)
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With the Second Pick of the 2010 Draft the 76ers Select .....

06/24/2010

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Evan Turner
By Kevin K

There was little surprise today when the name Evan Turner was announced as the second overall selection by the 76ers.

His selection came to the sounds of cheers today as the 76ers sure up their guard position to help Jrue Holiday for years to come.

Going into the draft, Evan Turner was said to be the most NBA ready player, now he is a 76er.

"From the first minute we worked him out (last Thursday), we basically knew that’s who we were going to take,” coach Doug Collins said.

Turner wasn't only the choice of Collins and Stefanski, but the choice of the fans. Turner is already loved in Philadelphia (coming from the love he has received from our facebook group) and everyone seems to be looked on the Evan Turner band wagon.

With the move, Turner is the obvious #2 on the team. This move allows Andre Iguodala to be in his his natural small forward position and makes this 76ers team better. Turner is ready to play and ready to start now.

He was the man in Ohio State and now becomes the man in Philadelphia.

We would like to welcome Evan Turner, an already loved athlete here.

Evan Turner is on Twitter: follow him @thekidet

Quotes from CSNphilly.com
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76ers Draft Options

06/23/2010

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76ers Draft Options
By Kevin K

The NBA Draft is a day away and it is now time to look at the 76ers Options, and improbable option.

There are four big names in the draft that the 76ers are looking at and can draft.

The improbable option is that the Wizards pass over the best pick in the draft and do NOT select John Wall. Wall is the best player in the draft and plays Point Guard. The Odds that the Wizards do not select him are slim to none.

John Wall Strengths from NBADraft.org: One of the most electrifying players to come out of the college ranks in years ... Has an heir of supremacy/confidence that only the truly great ones possess ... His speed in the open floor and first step blow by ability is absolutely jaw dropping ... His body control and ability to make plays around the rim as well as find teammates with passes while playing at such a break neck speed is what sets him apart. At first you think he's out of control but he actually makes great decisions while playing at such a fast pace ... Fearless attacking the basket off the dribble and seems to find a space in the defense when it isn't there ... His ability to contort his body and finish from all angles around the basket with both hands borders on the absurd ... There is a ton of room for growth and improvement, and his style of play (SPEED) is tailor made for the NBA level

Weaknesses: Similar to Derrick Rose entering the league, Wall's jumpshot is a work in progress ... Shooting is the easiest skill to improve upon in the league and Wall's shooting form is not horrible, but it will require some tweaking and hard work (repetition) in the gym to become a real strength to his game ... Wall is not a good set shooter, preferring to create a rhythm using the bounce. His shot lacks great lift and is a little slow to get off. His form and release are decent, but should look to get a little more trajectory ... At times it appears Wall is too caught up in impressing instead of focusing on the ultimate goal of winning ... More comfortable operating in the open floor than in the half court ... Will need to hone his pick and roll skills and half court command of the game

The best option for the 76ers in the Draft is Evan Turner the Shooting Guard from Ohio State. Last week the 76ers jumped the gun on their website, where in a picture it said that Turner was picked second overall. Even Turner thinks that he will be drafted by the 76ers, as he told ESPN.

Strengths from NBAdraft.net: Big combo guard with great versatility and a tremendous feel for the game ... Extremely smooth with the ball in his hands and has a bag of tricks offensively ... His handles are that of a point guards and he has a terrific ability of getting to the basket ... Has supreme confidence with the ball in his hands, excellent handle and a nasty crossover ... Slick mid-range game with the ability to change directions and get defenders off balance to create looks ... Good upperbody strength allows him to absorb contact and make plays at the rim ... Strong finisher. Very adept at finishing after contact. Also utilizes the glass effectively ... Has a nifty runner when he meets up with shot blockers in the paint.

Weaknesses: Not a freak athlete, but above average by NBA standards with great length ... At times appears to be susceptible to being thrown off his game by physical play ... A better scorer than shooter, while Turner shot 44% from 3 as a sophomore it was on a low volume of shots ... Should look to improve his catch and shoot ability and expand his range and consistency from the perimeter ... His effectiveness going towards the basket with the ball probably keeps him from polishing his outside game, but with such efficiency driving it's hard to ask him to shoot more from the perimeter

Another option for the 76ers is Derrick Favors. Favors is a 6 foot 10 inch Power Forward who is explosive and quick.

Strengths from NBADraft.org: Explosive athlete with unique combination of power and quickness ... Possesses an extraordinary wingspan, with Georgia Tech official website claiming a 9-1 standing reach ... Tremendous leaping ability ... Frequent target of the alley-oop pass and seemingly nothing is out of reach. Soft hands allow him to corral passes most bigs would muff ... Runs the floor like a gazelle showing great speed from baseline to baseline ... Finishes with power around the rim - a dunking machine ... Has made dramatic advancements in his post game repertoire and footwork ... Features a drop step into the lane for a mini right hook and quick spins to either side of the floor ... Cat quick in the post.

Weaknesses: Has done a good job adding bulk to his frame, but needs to continue to get stronger ... Needs to increase trajectory on his jumper and increasing his range would be beneficial ... Ball handling is decent for a big, but must be improved to augment his face up game ... Continued advancement of his footwork and comfort level in the post ... Seems to predetermine moves rather than reacting to the defense ... Does not handle double teams well

Another option for the 76ers is DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is a 6 Foot 11 Inch Center/Power Forward. Cousins is an underrated athlete and has the possibility of being a steal in the Draft. Strengths from NBADraft.org: A physical mismatch in almost every sense. Cousins' size, power, length and reflexes give him the ability to do things even when he's not in position to do them ... An underrated athlete, despite lacking great explosiveness, he's extremely nimble and dexterous for such a huge man ... His great hands and soft touch, along with his monstrous (7-foot-6) wingspan, allow him to finish easily around the rim ... His feet are very quick for a player with so much weight allowing him to react to plays very well ... Has a diverse skill set offensively, to go along with great footwork in the paint that makes him much more than just a big body ... Extremely adept at finishing after contact ... Feels he can score almost every time he gets the ball in the post. He can create for himself with a variety of offensive moves whether its facing up or with his back to the basket

Weaknesses: Cousins' lack of maturity and mental focus is evident in his negative body language and lack of composure ... He tends to lose his head, looking disinterested or frustrated if things don't go his way. Also does not appear receptive to coaching, tuning out his coaches when they attempt to give him advice on the bench ...  The big question is whether it's merely a lack of maturity due to age or something deeper ... To his credit he made it through the entire season without any suspensions or ejections. However, there were a few times (flagrant fouls) where he may have deserved to be ... Free throw shooting, while showing solid form, goes through bouts of inconsistency due to lack of focus.(appears to decrease as games progress)

My Pick: Evan Turner. Turner is already loved in Philadelphia before he is even drafted. He is the best option for the 76ers in the draft, even a better option then John Wall (who could be traded if drafted by the 76ers). Turner will be a great teammate for Point Guard Jrue Holiday, and can open up the 76ers scoring options during the season.

Source: http://www.nbadraft.net/
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