Chosen One Update

James had 31 points, eight rebounds and four assists in another dominating performance as the Cavs rolled to their 8th straight win with a 106-82 decision over the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night.  Oh, Jay Z was in attendance, courtside none the less.

76ers Showed Some Flashes

They made a very nice run in the third quarter to take the lead back after being down as many as 11 at one point.  Andre Iguodala was looking very good out there.  A few nice dunks and some very nice crossovers on a few defenders.

Then came the 4th quarter.

With the Cavaliers benching their franchise player in LeBron James to give way to scrub time, the Cleveland bench rose to the occasion and quickly took back the lead and never looked back… AGAINST OUR STARTERS.  It was pathetic.

Oh and Mareese Speights; I noted a while back that I thought he could be a star in the making, well that was in Summer league, and I was way off after watching last night.  He was the most laxadazical NBA player I have ever seen.  Walking up and down the court, barely concentrating at the line and jacking his 2nd FT after BARELY making the first and getting the roll.  It was very frustrating to watch, especially as he was getting owned on the glass at every end by Sasha Pavlovic and Anderson Varejao.

The Chosen One in 3 qtrs of play: 20 points  8 rebounds and looking meaner then ever.

With the loss the Sixers fall to 3-3 in the preseason with one game left to play against division rival, New Jersey Nets tonight.

Sixers vs LeBron Tonight

YOUR Philadelphia 76ers will host the Chosen One and the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight from the Wachovia Center.  Tune your television dials to Comcast Sportsnet at 7:00 PM ET for the high-flying action.

I will sure be watching.

Delonte West is Moody

Cleveland Cavaliers guard and St Joe’s alum Delonte West  says he left the team’s training camp earlier this month to seek help for depression and “a mood disorder” he has been battling his entire life.

West said Friday that he removed himself from the team to “get my thoughts back together.” He is taking medication for his illness and has been attending therapy sessions.

Sixers 8th in ESPN’s Power Rankings

Marc Stein of ESPN.com has ranked YOUR Philadelphia 76ers 8th in the NBA in the pre-season Power Rankings.  This is probably the highest the Sixers have ever been on Marc Stein’s over-hyped ranking system, but you know, I’ll take it.

I am a diehard Sixer fan, probably one of the few Philadelphia sports fans where the Sixers are my favorite over the Eagles, Phillies and Flyers (which would be the order of importance to me).  I have never been more pumped for the start of an NBA season then I am for this upcoming season.  The Sixers were hands down the outright winners of the offeason and the team they are about to trot onto the hardwood could be the best in years.  The run and gun style combined with a true post presence really gives me goosebumps when I think of the potential this team possesses.

Mr. Stein ranked us 8th in the NBA, but behind fellow Eastern Conference mates: Boston (1), Cleveland (6) and Detroit (7).  He had this to say about our franchise heading into the 2008/2009 NBA season.

The Sixers were undisputed champs of the offseason, but it’s also true that Mr. Brand might lift last season’s No. 7s only one spot. Philly can finish anywhere from No. 2 to No. 6, like Cleveland, Detroit, Orlando and Toronto.

I think Mr. Elton Brand will indeed lift us higher then then 7th seed in the East.  I’m predicting a 3 seed (behind Boston and Detroit), it’s bold, it’s a tad high, but who ever said lofty expectations were bad.   I think Mr. Brand is the best pickup we possibly could have made.  Not only was he the best FA out there, but he also filled our biggest need at a true Power Forward.

Things are looking bright Sixer Fans and I’m jumping on the bandwagon now, wait, I was always on the Sixer bandwagon… anyway, see you on opening night.

Classic Don-Yay

This was sent in from a reader, Kobe Giant.  Hilarious, I remember this, had to post it.  Good find Kobe.

Sixers Sign Veteran Marshall

Donyell Marshall and the Philadelphia 76ers agreed to a one-year contract on Tuesday.

Marshall is scheduled to meet with management on Tuesday and sign a contract by week’s end, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. The deal is likely to be for $1.26 million, the veterans’ minimum.

The 6-foot-9 Marshall averaged 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 11 seasons. Donyell’s most famous feat regarding the 76ers was when he tied the NBA record for 3-pointers in a game with 12 against the Sixers in 2005.

LeBron to Miss US Exhibition

After making a dramatic guarantee a few days back, LeBron looks to be out of the lineup indefinitely for the US Mens team’s first game of exhibition play against the Canadian National team.

According to US coach Mike Krzyzewski, ‘LeBron James is a 95 percent no-go for Friday’s exhibition against Canada.’

I think it wont really matter that much as the Canadians are no match for the superior talent of Team USA.   Tune your television dials to ESPN at 8:00 pm ET for the tip, as Team USA makes its way towards Olympic Gold.

WITNESS this KG

This is a sweet video of the dunk.  Its the TOP 10 Camera Angles of the Dunk.  Take a peak.  YouTube in HD.

Kevin Garnett the NBA Defensive Player of Year had no reponse for this statement.

“He can dunk. Especially if you give him a running start at the basket. It’s probably going to be a pretty good dunk and he’s so darn powerful that once he gets up there, there’s not a lot you can do. I hate the fact that he got to the basket.”

— Celtics coach Doc Rivers on LeBron James’ powerful dunk late in the fourth quarter.

AI’s Return – Top 10 Countdown: #2

No. 2 — “MVP, MVP, MVP”

Our number 2 moment in the Answer’s top 10 moments in a 76er uniform comes once again from the memorable 2000-2001 season’s run to the NBA Finals. Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semi’s, series tied 2-2. In the pre-game ceremony Allen Iverson was given his Most Valuable Player award for his 42 minutes a night (league leader), 31.1 points per game (league leader), 2.5 steals per game (league leader), and 4.6 assists per game season, while leading the 76ers to the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

After accepting the MVP trophy, the Answer delivered on cue.  The NBA’s Most Valuable Player scored 52 points, including 29 in the first half, and poured in eight 3-pointers, a team playoff-record. The 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 121-88 to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series. The Answer was the second player to score 50 or more points twice in a series; Michael Jordan is the only other player to do so, against Cleveland in 1988.

The number 2 moment, Allen Iverson, the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player.