Sixers Suck to Watch

WOW….

So I’m all excited about A.I.’s return and I finally sit down to watch a full game and Jesus Christ, this is brutal to watch. Kevin Durant just blew by Elton Brand and made him look silly. Thaddeus looks like a deer in the headlights out there. Sammy D hasn’t had a rebound in the second half I think. Awful…

And they hired Eddie Jordan to DO THIS. Gimme a freaking break.

Bill Green is absolutely awful by the way. Why is everyone in the national media talking about Lou Williams being replaced by A.I. yada yada yada? Bill Green is the one that needs replacin’. He is absolutely terrible. He plays no defense, sets phantom screens (the ones where you act like you’re going too and make no physical contact with the opponent your apparently screening) and shoots way too much.

So hey, why dont we sign A.I. and sit Bill Green and give his shots to A.I. Then when Lou Will comes back our starting five will look like this:

PG – Lou Williams
SG – Allen Iverson
SF – Andre Iguodala
PF – Thaddeus Young
C – Elton Brand

Obviously going small but that should be somewhat formidable in the East. At least to make the playoffs.

Ohh. PS. I had the privilege of meeting the Sixers at North Bowl for their annual meet and greet with the team. Jason Smith is a huge tool. Over and out.

PS squared – Does Eddie Jordan have braces??

Marc Zumoff – A Class Act

I had the pleasure of attending the Sixers Celtics game on Tuesday night to take in my first live action of the 2009 NBA season. I was brought by Chris actually, the other writer of this site.

We sat in a pretty decent club box roughly at center court and had a great view for this battle of Atlantic division rivals. Although I really didnt expect much of a battle, as the Celtics are sporting one of the most ridiculous starting 5s in NBA history. Its like a late 90s – early 2000s All-Star lineup.

So I grab a beer for my girlfriend and myself and we take out seats and say hello, yada yada yada. Finally get settled and Chris points out that we are directly behind the local press row and the 76ers television announcer himself, Mr. Marc Zumoff.

Zumoff is a local hero of sorts, as he is the only voice I have ever heard call 76er games, since I can ever remember. Ok so it was only since 1994, but in my life, more then half of it has been listening to this man call basketball games. His patented sayings, better known as Zumoffisms, bring life and excitement to what others would describe brutal or lackluster seasons, to which many of us Sixer fans can attest to.

So back to the Celtics game… Halftime came and I was able to catch Mr. Zumoff exiting press row to catch a stretch. I spoke up and cracked a quick joke mentioning how he’s getting screwed as management has recently moved him up from courtside and he’s sitting back with all of us.

He smiled and kept the joke going.

As he was returning to his seat to get ready for the second half I was heading back the aisle to grab a fresh beverage and was able to make eye contact with Mr. Zumoff. I told him I was a long time listener and a huge fan of his work.

I wanted to write this becauase this man was nice enough to take the time out of his short halftime break (20 mins) to chat with me and that he appreciated the kind words.

A great man, a great announcer, a class act in my book.

Keep the Zumoffisms coming Marc. If you see this and get a minute, check out the comments on the link above on Zumoffisms. Your fans have spoken.

Carlos Ruiz – Sprained Wrist

Rotoworld is reporting that:

Carlos Ruiz was pulled from Friday’s game with a sprained left wrist.

Paul Bako stepped in behind the plate. Ruiz was 0-for-1 with a walk before exiting and is likely to need a few days off.

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.

Eagles Draft Recap

Not only did the Eagles make a first round pick for the first time in three years, according to all sources, and my opinion, made the steal of the draft, getting a top 10 talent, Jeremy Maclin.  Not only was Maclin a top 10 talent, he was the number one rated WR on over half of the NFL teams draft boards.  Getting him at 19 was the steal of the draft weekend.  Now we are always leery of first round WR choices, but Maclin’s run after catch ability should fit perfectly into the Eagles west coast offense immediately.  If Maclin develops into what he is projected, the Eagles could potentially have the best, WR duo paired together for the next ten years.

In the second round, the Eagles pounced on former Pitt standout RB, LeSean McCoy.  Again, hats off the Eagles for another solid selection. McCoy has been compared to Brian Westbrook, will be great compliment to BWest.  McCoy was regarded as the best pass catching RB in the draft. So he should step in instantly as well, granted that he works on his glaring weakness, pass blocking.

After the Eagles traded out of the 3rd round, the 5th they made even more noise, with a few more solid solid moves.  They drafted Cornelius Ingram, a solid TE out of University of Florida who was out all of ’08 with an ACL injury.  Granted the knee is healthy, this is ANOTHER steal in the 5th round.   The Eagles then drafted Va. Tech DB, Victor “Macho” Harris, who will come right out of Beamer Ball at Virginia Tech and should have an immediate impact on the Eagles special teams unit.

THEN, to cap it off, the Eagles traded a pair of 5th round picks, for a solid starting Defensive Back, Ellis Hobbs.  Hobbs has started all 16 games the past two seasons and is re-united with former Super Bowl starting duo Asante Samuels, and just adds even stronger depth, and potentially opening the door for Sheldon Brown’s move to either safety OR to another team.

Counting the acquisition of Jason Peters, for their other first round pick, the Eagles had an amazing week.  And thankfully I am going to have amazing football betting opportunities this season. It’s amazing too me, how much they’ve rebuilt the offense this off-season. Not just adding bodies, but adding former Pro Bowlers (Peters, Weaver) and highly rated rookies (Macklin, McCoy, Ingram) to go with young and should-be-improved talent (Jackson and Celek).  Not to mention should-be-healthy veterans (McNabb, Curtis and Westbrook). If everything goes according to plan, and the team stays healthy, 2009 should be a very, very good year.

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.

Phils Get Their Bling, I Mean Ring

Led by a motorcade, the rings arrived in a white van that circled around the warning track. Former general manager Pat Gillick, who retired after last season, was the first to receive his ring during a lengthy pregame ceremony.

An emotional Gillick cried after team president David Montgomery handed him his ring. Manager Charlie Manuel came next, and he was greeted by chants of “Charlie! Charlie!” by the sellout crowd.

Former Phillies Pat Burrell, Geoff Jenkins and Adam Eaton took part in the ceremony. Burrell got a rousing ovation before heading off to Boston to play a night game for Tampa Bay. Eaton, who was left off the postseason roster, was booed.

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.