Back to The Sixth Man

| PDF version

Elton Brand Andre Miller Lou Williams Feeling Good in Philadelphia

Written by: Joseph Caporoso - I am a full time student at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania where I play Division 3 football. I have been covering basketball and football since I was 16. Unfortunately, I am a (...) More

Philadelphia Sixers

The Sixth Man (most popular)
Ranking the Western Conference

The Lakers Have That Look

Sorting Out the Eastern Conference

more...

Feeling Good in Philadelphia

By Joseph Caporoso
10.8.2008 - Updated on 10.8.2008

Last year when living in Washington DC, I attended a Wizards/Sixers game. Despite going to catch a glimpse at a recently returned Gilbert Arenas, the thing I noticed most from the game was the energy and talent of the 76ers. I wasn’t surprised when they had the Pistons on the ropes in the first round and knew they were close to being an elite team in the Eastern Conference. In the off-season, they made the move they needed to make to become serious contenders by bringing in Elton Brand to play power forward. Obviously, Boston is the clear cut favorite in the Atlantic Division but don’t be surprised to see the Sixers give them a run for their money.

Andre Miller is no longer a piece in ongoing trade talks. He has settled in as a Sixer and become a leader, while being one of the league’s best at his position. Andre Iguodala joins him in the backcourt. After a rough post-season, when he struggled as the team’s go to guy, Iguodala no longer faces the pressure of being the constant #1 option thanks to the addition of Brand. He is one of the most athletic guards in the league and is an excellent defender. The depth in the backcourt is excellent. Louis Williams is one of the better young guards in the league and is the eventual successor to Miller at the point guard position. Willie Green is a talented swingman who can score in bunches.

Thaddeus Young had a strong rookie campaign and is very quietly one of the best young forwards in basketball. Elton Brand was a needed addition in order to compete in the half-court against the Celtics and Raptors. He should provide the Sixers with a legit go to guy on a consistent basis, which is something Iguodala couldn’t do. Samuel Dalembert is an athletic big man who is improving every year, and is one of the better centers in the NBA. Off the bench, Kareem Rush and Donyell Marshall provide much needed outside shooting, while Reggie Evans and Theo Ratliff provide defense and size.

The Sixers are a deep team, and arguably the most athletic one in the Eastern Conference. They aren’t up to the Celtics level yet, but aren’t too far off. Philly should be a 50 win team and make a strong run for the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamabarns/5783298/

9 Comments: Feeling Good in Philadelphia

Posted by
gloryhole.com
on 10.9.2008

I think it’s great that he’s writing about Philly’s potential. .

Posted by

on 10.9.2008

Free Gucci.. No he’s not suppose to hype them up. He’s suppose to write about them, he is a writer not a marketer. .

Posted by
*igga Please
on 10.9.2008

I can’t wait until the same players get injuries and the 76ers don’t deliver as promised. I guarantee it happens by January. Stop hyping these busters up. .

Posted by
valadis
on 10.9.2008

yeah!!!!! go 6ers!!!!! this season is ours! we ll dominate !!!! seriously i barelly remember such a good roster in philla in the modern history of the club! the most important thing , is to module the team , to make a team!maurice cheeks is gonna have a lot of work to do! we ll see but not from the first match against the greens, the team must role for a while, chemistry!6ers oeoeoeoe! .

Posted by
Slow Down
on 10.8.2008

How they so good when they barely made the playoffs last year. They picked up quality guys, but they get hurt often. SO until this team actually proves it on the court, not names and stats on paper, then they are being over hyped. I’ll give them all the props in the world if they pull it off, but until then, not happening and everyone else shouldn’t be either. Talk about the teams that have been proven and legit, and let this team earn the right to be talked about. The writer has to be bias somewhat .

Posted by
free gucci
on 10.8.2008

hyping them up what is he suppose to do talk bad about the team??? this team will be real good and up there in the east and capable of beating anyone on any night, a lot of teams wont want to run with them at there speed and they have quite few players that can put up points in a hurry, williams i say being #1, brand obvisouly, iguodala, green, miller...there the most atheltic in the east...outside shooting should be a lot better with rush and williams with more playing time, and altho iguodala isnt the greatest shooter 32 times last year he had at least two 3s in a game, i think it will be interesting to see what they do in the playoffs saying no injuries or nothing bad happens...and im not biased at all towards this team i just like watching young talented teams with the sixers being one of them .

Posted by
overrated
on 10.8.2008

I agree with the no-name poster, this guy only writes about NY/NJ, PA areas. Until these teams have proven something, quit hyping them up .

Posted by

on 10.8.2008

You are way to biased. Why do they publish articles like this? It’s really quite terrible journalism. Everyone who follows their own team believes their young players are some of the best in the game. The Sixers are now a top five team; in the East that is. The have one gaping hole that keeps them from being on par with say the Pistons and Celtics, Outside shooting. Kyle Korver would be an amazing fit back here now. There will be times when the offense stalls and they will have difficulty spreading the floor. .

Posted by
Jack
on 10.8.2008

All the Sixers really needed was someone to take the heat off AI, as he’s not quite a solo #1 option, he needs a co-star. There is no1 better they could have got than Elton Brand. He is exactly what they needed, nothing less. .

Post your comment:

No profanity or inaproppriate remarks. All i.p. addresses will be saved and abuse/hate posts will be reported to providers and authorities as part of the anti-spam act of 2003, thank you for posting comments on the articles only.