Doug Collins, the next Sixer Coach?

According to a source: Doug Collins has offered his name up for the vacant Philadelphia 76ers Head Coaching position.  He specifically said that ‘Yes’ he would coach the Sixers if the job was indeed available (we all think it is) and they offered him the position.

Well heck Doug, let me toss my name out there too to be in the running.  Hey Ed Stefanski, Ed Snyder, I will also take the job if it is available and you offer it to me, and for way cheaper then what Doug Collins wants.

Anywaaaaayyy, I think Jimmy Lynam gets the gig.  He was basically calling all the plays anyway.

But really, Ed and Ed, this is for you.  Hire me.  I’ll gladly accept and work these boys to the bone.  Bring this great city a real championship, a BASKETBALL championship.  Put Philly Ball back on the map BAY BAY.

Dwight Howard Out for Game 6

After what was a blatant elbow and a bullshit game 5 thanks to the referee’s and their love for the home team Magic, the NBA has finally handed down the correct punishment in the form of a Game 6 suspension for Magic center Dwight Howard.  Early in the game while tangled with Slammin’ Sammy Dalembert, Dwight became a little unruly and swung a vicious right elbow connecting with the back of Sammy’s noggin.

The refs at the time called a technical, meaning that they did indeed see the play, but decided not to call the required flagrant foul and ejection from the game for any contact above the shoulders.   This is what the rulebook says (bolded):

k. A technical foul, unsportsmanlike act or flagrant foul must be called for a participant to be ejected. A player, coach or trainer may be ejected for:
(1) An elbow foul which makes contact shoulder level or below
(2) Any unsportsmanlike conduct where a technical foul is assessed
(3) A flagrant foul where unnecessary and/or excessive contact occurs
EXCEPTION: Rule 12A–Section V–l(5)
l. A player, coach or trainer must be ejected for:
(1) A punching foul
(2) A fighting foul
(3) An elbow foul which makes contact above shoulder level

Pretty happy the league stepped in here and made the correct call. I’m almost certain the Sixers would have won Game 5 had Dwight Howard been ejected early on. Magic swingman Courtney Lee will also be out for Game 6 after receiving another bow from his own teammate Dwight Howard later in the game.

Damn Dwight, keep dem bows to yourself homie.

Slammin’ Sammy Dalembert, Helping Team the Only Way He Knows How

Bitch Slapping Dwight Howard in the eye that’s how!  

Magic center Dwight Howard said he will visit an eye doctor later today to examine his right eye but he doesn’t expect his vision issues to cost him any game or practice time.

Howard was eye raked across both eyes while soaring for a loose ball with Samuel Dalembert.  Sammy, obviously knowing he was not going to grab the rebound over the Magic’s beast in the middle, took the cheap way out and performed his best wrestling move.  Sammy used the eye-rake which was made famous a ways back my Mankind, aka Dude Love, and went right for Superman’s only penetrable body part, his eye socket.

Howard Dwight told the Daily News that he suffered no pain or blurriness in either eye but was seeing spots in front of his right eye when he closed it.

Just when I close it, it’s a whole bunch of flashing lights and stuff.  I’m not worried.

After a light practice shooting free throws with assistant Patrick Ewing, Howard said he doesn’t expect to miss any practice or game time. The teams meet again in Orlando Wednesday night where the Sixers look to shock the world.

So You’re Sayin’ There’s a Chance

An amazing comeback, injecting faith into a city, and a superstar FINALLY starts taking steps in full realizing that expectation.  The Sixers came back from an 18 point second half deficit to literally steal game one from the Orlando Magic Sunday night in Orlando.

Andre Iguoladala, who has never been fully accepted as the true superstar status that was projected on him when the other A.I left and he signed the big money contract, finally had his defining moment as the Sixers number one man, hit the game-winning fade away jumper with 2.2 seconds to go, a mere minute after Iggy missed two clutch free throws that would’ve then given the Sixers they’re first lead of the second half, as well as adding more fuel to the fire of doubt that Sixers fans have had since Iggy signed the big money contract.

“We discuss this all the time: We think Andre is a very, very good basketball player, knocking at the door of the All-Star Game,” general manager Ed Stefanski said. “I don’t think the people have embraced him as that kind of player.”

A.I and the Sixers get back to action Wednesday night at 7pm in Orlando for game 2 of the best of seven series.

Oh and in case you happened to miss the final few minutes, Youtube always has us covered, enjoy.

Sixers Magic Playoff Preview

After winning in overtime last night against the Cleveland Cavaliers “B” squad, combined with the Bulls losing to Toronto, yourrrr Seventy Sixers clinched the Eastern Conference’s six seed and a first round match up with the Orlando Magic.

The Sixers lost all three matchups versus the Magic this season and going into this series, there isn’t much that indicates the Sixers have a chance. But I feel the Sixers could make a series out of this. I’m not calling an upset, cause of seven words; Samuel Dalembert will be covering Dwight Howard, so unless Howard can do us a favor and get Dalembert into foul trouble early, he should dominate from opening tip of game 1 through the entire series, and he will be the deciding factor.

But with the return of Thaddeus Young to the lineup for the final two games will help him get his rhythm going into the playoffs and he will provide a boost and a spark that was missing during his injury. The Sixers will steal a couple games and make it a series, but I’ll take the Magic in 6.

Sixers Get Embarrassed

VC scored 15 points and the Nets kept their playoff hopes alive for a couple more days by handing the Philadelphia 76ers their worst loss of the season, 96-67 Sunday night.

Lou Will had 14 points to lead the Sixers. The 76ers had no other players in double figures in shooting 35 percent from the floor. Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller combined for 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting.

The 67 points were a season low for Philadelphia and the 29-point loss was the worst defeat.  With the loss the Sixers fall into the 6th spot in the East and a 1/2 game behind the Heat for that coveted 5th seed.   The fifth seed will probably play Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs and the sixth will get either Boston or Orlando.

Thad Out 2 – 3 Weeks

Thaddeus Young could miss the start of the playoffs. Thad injured his right ankle in the first quarter of Tuesday’s 98-85 win over the Hawks. A team doctor said Young has a sprain and bone bruise and is expected to miss two to three weeks.

With nine games remaining in the regular season, the 76ers are sixth in the East.  These last few games are crucial with the Sixers so close to getting that 5th spot from Miami.  Hopefully the team can pick up where Thad has left off.  Royal Ivey, Andre Iguodala, Reggie Ev, and Mo Speights are going to have to pick up their games if this team wants to have any shot of carrying momentum into the post season.

Young is averaging 15.2 points and five boards a game.

Sixers Win Despite Terrible Start

With the 5th seed in sight, the Sixers took on the Minnesota Timberwolves last night at the Wach. DEspite only scoring 37 points in the first half and finding themselves down by 6 at the break, the Sixers were able to take control in the 4th and ride the young buck, Thaddeus Young to victory.   A tale of two halves if you will.

Young scored 29 points and Andre Miller had 15 to lead the 76ers to a 96-88 win over the revamped Timberwolves on Wednesday night.  Revamped meaning that Kevin McHale decided it would be a good idea to get some of his bench guys a start.  He sat the entire starting 5 and went with an unusual starting five in; Brian Cardinal, Rodney Carney, Craig Smith, Kevin Ollie, and Bobby Brown.

With the win the Sixers (37-33) pulled within a half-game of the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference standings. The Heat lost 90-88 at Indiana on Wednesday.

Sixers Get Robbed in Dirty Jerz

Ok so Devon Harris didn’t walk (since when is 5 steps legal), or a self pass (loses it mid air, lands, grabs it again and shoots), or is the clock operator getting paid to fix this game, CRIPES.  In the longest 1.8 seconds known to man, Devon Harris does the unthinkable… Have a look for yourself:

From a friend of a friend:
I just watched the replay on ESPN; there’s NO way he was able to do all that in 1.8; he definitely traveled, too. Do the refs have their own time kept? Nothing the Sixers can do; hope that doesn’t come back to haunt them later in the season.

Elton Brand to Return to the Sixers on Saturday

Elton Brand’s long-awaited return to the Philadelphia 76ers will be on hold until at least Saturday.

Brand dislocated his right shoulder December 17th and worked out on the court before Monday’s game against Dallas. He was placed on the inactive list for the 16th consecutive game. Coach Tony DiLeo said Brand most likely will play Saturday against the New York Knicks.

The 76ers are 9-6 without Brand and have won a season-best seven straight games entering Monday. They were 11-14 when the 6-foot-8 forward was sidelined.