State of the Philadelphia 76ers
By: Luke Byrnes Last Updated: 8/5/09 4:45 PM ET | 1972 times read
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After a slow start to the 2007-08 NBA season the Philadelphia 76ers finished strong, advancing to the 2008 NBA Playoffs as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Philly continued its surprising play into the postseason, taking a 2-1 lead in the team's series with the Detroit Pistons before falling in game six. In the Summer of 2008, the Sixers signed free agent power forward Elton Brand, who brought career averages of better than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game with him to Philadelphia.
The experiment didn't exactly go as planned, however, and the Sixers saw just a one-game improvement (to 41-41) with the two-time All-Star on their roster. Brand, in fact, played in just 29 games for Philadelphia and his effect was nowhere near expectations as the Sixers were 13-16 in games Brand played and 28-25 without the former Duke star.
The Sixers went into this offseason with question marks surrounding the team's future. After replacing Head Coach Maurice Cheeks 23 games into last season, the brass in Philadelphia came into the summer in search of someone to take over for Interim Head Coach Tony Di Leo and with starting point guard Andre Miller entering free agency.
On June 1, 2009, the 76ers officially named former Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards Head Coach Eddie Jordan to the same post in the City of Brotherly Love. Jordan is one of the game's brightest offensive minds and led the Wizards to four straight playoff appearances - despite his teams suffering a rash of injuries - before being fired just eleven games into last season.
Miller's time in Philadelphia, however, came to end this summer. The former NBA assist leader was not re-signed by the team after leading the Sixers to the playoffs in each of his two full seasons with the club. The loss of Miller leaves a glaring hole to be filled, at least up to this point, with youth, inexperience and raw talent.
In the 2009 NBA Draft, Sixers General Manager Ed Stefanski picked up Jrue Holiday, a 19-year old point guard out of UCLA. Holiday lacks experience as a point guard but brings a very well-rounded skill set to the franchise.
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During his one season in Westwood, Holiday shared time in the backcourt with Darren Collison, who was made the 21st overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets. Due to the logjam at the point guard position, and his versatility, Holiday was forced to play off the ball where the 6'3" guard is equally capable. Collison's presence on campus at UCLA, however, stunted Holiday's growth as a floor leader.
Holiday's toughness, basketball I.Q. and wingspan make him a nightmare on the defensive end of the floor and unselfishness, court vision and passing ability make him a bright young point guard prospect. At this point, however, Holiday will experience some growing pains at the NBA level as he acclimates himself to playing against a higher level of competition and running a team full-time. In the Orlando Pro Summer League Holiday showed flashes of brilliance but had an assist-to-turnover ratio slightly worse than one-to-one while scoring 8.6 points per game on .385 shooting.
Philadelphia has a talented young squad surrounding Holiday and Brand that should help ease the former Bruin's transition to the professional level. Swingman Andre Iguodala averaged 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.6 steals for the Sixers last year, further establishing himself as one of the NBA's best all-around players. Thaddeus Young nearly doubled his scoring average last season, his second in the NBA, to 15.3 points per game while posting career-highs in nearly every statistical category. Combo guard Louis Williams also proved himself as a capable role player, averaging a career-high in points last season, and center Samuel Dalembert remains one of the game's premier rebounders and shot blockers.
The 76ers have certainly taken a step (or two) backward with the loss of Miller - who was critical to the team's offensive success in the half court - and the playoffs may be out of the picture, but Philadelphia has several bright young building blocks around which the team can build. Eddie Jordan will have a tall task in front of him, but with the help of Iguodala, Brand and an emerging Young, the Sixers have a bright future.
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