The Sixers must stop winning

Why?

Because they have found a way to win lately and head coach Maurice Cheeks has no interest in bagging the season for a sexy lottery pick. Well, that’s a poor philosophy since the Sixers have no shot at the playoffs and are in desperate need of a big body inside. Ohio State’s Oden would fill that void if the Sixers finish poorly, and he decides to enter the NBA Draft.

Durant is a nice choice too, but the Sixers already have a few players much like the Texas freshman. Andre Iguodala and Rodney Carney didn’t create the type of hype Durant has when they were in college, but the two can sure play. Iguodala has started/played in every game in his career (209 games).

After the Sixers dealt future Hall of Fame guard Allen Iverson, the mentality has been to rebuild and give the younger guys more looks for the future. But if the future starts now, then Philly must pull a Bill Fitch and try to lose out for the No. 1 overall pick in this summer’s draft.

Cheeks, though, will not take that route and wants to prove he can coach at the NBA level. He will never be a Hall of Famer and shouldn’t have to try and coach like one. With Larry Brown now on board as an executive vice president Cheeks may be on the way out anyway.

The Oden/Durant sweepstakes is still at large and the Sixers, who have won four of their last six games, have a chance to sabotage the remaining two contests of a three-game road trip. After the trip, Philadelphia will begin a seven-game homestand. The road odds are good since the 76ers are 7-20 as the visitor this season, but a 7-11 home mark is what will hurt their draft status.

As of Sunday, only Memphis (11-34) and Boston (12-30) are having a more dreadful season than the Sixers (14-31). But Atlanta and Charlotte are right behind with just 15 wins apiece.