Sixers Lose 4th Straight

So the game on Wednesday night was pretty sicko sitting in my girlfriends luxury box and it was one hell of a game.  Dwight Howard did not dissappoint as he is a manchild and Elton had flashes of excellence as well.  Too bad Rashard Lewis had to bang that 3 ball from the corner in the final few seconds to give Orlando the victory.

And on to Sunday’s loss.

Ben Gordon scored 21 points, Drew Gooden had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and the Chicago Bulls rallied from an early deficit for a 103-92 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.

Bulls number one pick Derrick Rose contributed 18 points and 10 assists and reached double figures in assists for the first time in his young career. Former Sixer Larry Hughes had 16 points for the Bulls (8-9), who won for only the third time in 10 games on the road.

Elton Brand had 21 points and 12 boards, and Thaddeus Young added 17 points for the Sixers, who have lost four straight to fall to 7-10. Andre Miller had 15 points and 10 assists, and Willie Green chipped in with 12 .

Philadelphia scored a season low 78 points in a 24 point loss at Boston on Friday and has been held below the 100-point mark in seven straight games.  Next up for the Sixers are the Chicago Bulls again tomorrow night from Chicago.

Sixers Snap Skid

YOUR Philadelphia 76ers put together one of their best performance of this short season so far on Wednesday night in Toronto.

Elton Brand scored a season-high 25 points, Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala each had 18 and the 76er’s snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Raptors 106-96 in the Air Canada Centre.

Willie Green scored 17 points and Marreese Speights had 12 for the 76ers, who won for the first time in four tries away from home

Chris Bosh had 30 points and 12 rebounds, but Toronto still lost for the fourth time in five games after starting the season 3-0. Jermaine O’Neal added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and reserve Andrea Bargnani scored 15 for the Raptors.

Next up for the Sixers are the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

Sixers Blow Out Kings

The Sixers might have found their answer(s) to last seasons 3 point shooting woes.  New Sixers Kareem Rush and Donyell Marshall went a combined 6-for-7 from 3-point range and combined for 22 points last night against the Kings.  Thaddeus Young scored 18 points, Lou Williams had 17 and the 76ers led by as many as 40 points in a 125-91 rout of the winless Sacramento on Monday night.

Willie Green scored 16 points and Elton Brand had 15 for the Sixers, who were up 20 points at halftime.

Jason Thompson scored 17 points and Spencer Hawes had 15 for the Kings (0-4), who can’t wait to head home after a dreary season-opening road trip.

The Kings, off to their worst start since 1997-98, open a four-game homestand on Wednesday against Memphis.  Philadelphia travels to Miami where they will face the Heat on Wednesday night.

Sixers get ‘Poison’ Ivey

The Sixers reached an agreement with journeyman Royal Ivey for the minimum contract. The 6′4″ guard will join Willie Green and Louis Williams as combo guards coming off the bench for the new-look Sixers next season.

Ivey, 26, spent last year with the Milwaukee Bucks averaging 5.6 points and 2.1 assists in 75 games.

Royal Ivey

Offense isn’t his forte but he prides himself on defense.

I know the Sixers had to sign somebody since they only have 9 players under contract, but I hope management has their priorities straight. Signing Iguodala and Lou Will have to get done or this offseason tastes a little less sweet. We had a little scare with Lou Will, but the Warriors opted to go with Marcus Williams. Hopefully, Louis doesn’t take note of other signings and get any ideas of raising his asking price. My question is, were there no guards that could shoot that were cheap?

Sixers Humiliate Knicks

  84       

  124

40! Enough said.

No, seriously though, did anyone actually keep Comcast on and watch this game?  I watched the first and second quarters and some parts of the second half.  The first quarter was absolutely ridiculous, the Sixers scored a season high 37 points in the first, and Iggy didn’t even have a bucket.  It was up and down, run and gun, exciting basketball, that was actually fun to watch.  Iggy steal here, Dalembert block there, Willie Green “in rhythm for two”.  Calvin Booth even had a monster jam off an Iggy steal and assist.   They finished the half on a tear ending with a season high 72 points, doubling up their counterpart who went into the locker room down 36.

Oh and Thaddeus Young, Rookie of the Year candidate as of last night.  He is playing incredible basketball, and had a sick dunk last night, in the second quarter I believe, off of a Lou Will steal that he muscled away from Fred Jones (? – I think).  Thad finished the game with 20 points on 8-11 shooting from the field and added 8 boards.

First things first, I must apologize to Mo Cheeks about my prior post.  He did a great job last night; keeping the tempo up, managing to get 9 players at least 20 minutes each, and really confusing Isiah Thomas with his defensive game-plan. Congrats on the big win, on the eve of your new contract.   

Tough few games coming up on the schedule.  The 76ers get to face Orlando two of the next three games with a “should” win game at Miami in between.  After that they hit the road for three tough games; at Golden State, at Phoenix, and at the Clippers (easy). 

Keep it up boys.  I wouldn’t mind attending a playoff game from the box. 

Trade Deadline Looming

With the trade deadline only 36 hours away the Sixers could still be poised to make a monumental move.

Yesterday, 610 WIP broke the news that the Denver Nuggets, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Houston Rockets are all seriously interested in trying to acquire the 76ers PG Andre Miller. It’s no surprise that Andre wants to get out of Philly, and who can blame him. The Sixers might be in the hunt for the final playoff spot, but they are nowhere near they need to be to make a run at a title shot anytime soon.

So I took some time and visited the old ESPN Trade Machine to see what we could work out with the three teams mentioned as having interest in Andre Miller.

Nuggets: Obviously we are not going to get A.I. back for Miller, but the Nuggets could be the best for the Sixers in terms of getting some talent back. Using the trade machine, I proposed Andre and Willie Green for Nene Hilario and JR Smith. This worked out for both teams as the salary numbers came very close and it’s something I can see both teams being interested in. Denver gets Miller and can move A.I. to shooting guard. Nene who is overcoming some health issues, could be seen as expendable on a Nuggets team that has seen improved inside play from Marcus Camby (phenomenal season) and Kenyon Martin (seems to back from his knee injury).

As a Sixer fan, I truly dislike Willie Green, not to mention his contract, which has him locked up for four more years. I would love to get rid of him in any trade and I feel JR Smith in return for Green, is a definite upgrade. Given the opportunity to receive more PT and take more shots (which he does not get in Denver) JR Smith could be a serious player. Who knows, maybe get a pick back in this deal as well.

Cavaliers: Chris came up with this trade between the two teams via the trade machine. Andre Miller to the Cavs and in return the Sixers would receive Boobie Gibson (only brightspot), Damon Jones, and Donyell Marshell. Personally, I dont like it at all, and dont know why the Sixers would do this trade. Damon Jones and Donyell Marshall are washed up and Boobie for Andre isnt exactly equal in my book.

The trade that I came up with and would go for in a heartbeat would be as follows; Andre for Drew Gooden, Boobie Gibson, and Ira Newble. Ira Newble makes or breaks this deal for me. HAA, kidding, he sucks, BIGTIME, but needed him in there to match up salaries. Obviously the Cavs need a PG so the 76ers need to take control and be in the drivers seat in this deal, or any for that matter involving Andre. I will not be happy if we give him away for nothing and get shafted like we usually do in every transaction we made (at least under Billy King, Stefanski – your on a short leash). Newble however, does have an expiring contract, and Drew Gooden is a very solid bigman. Well, a definite upgrade from Reggie Evans in my mind at the 4 spot. This is a trade I would condone as a fan and would actually be happy with.  Boobie “has tremendous upside” (always wanted to say that) and could be a great 2 guard in a few years.  Sam-U-EL, Drew Gooden, Iggy, Carney/Gibson, and Lou Will ain’t a bad starting five.

Rockets: Judging by my troubles getting a decent deal done on the trade machine, Houston looks to be the worst team to try and make a deal with for the Sixers. I don’t really like that many players on this team, especially in exchange for Andre. The best deal I could come up with was Andre and Willie for Luis Scola (PF), Shane Battier (SF), and Skip to My Lou, Rafer Alston (PG). I’d be very surprised if Houston would bite on this deal though. The only way I would consider doing a deal with the Rockets would be if we could dump a few contracts (Willie Green included) and we would have to receive picks in return.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Andre a lot and with the departure of Jason Kidd to the West, he could be the second best (active) PG in the East behind Chauncey Billups (Gilbert Arenas is better, but injured). Andre has been a team player and has played his heart out for this team but it is a fact he wants out, and it’s most likely in the best interest of the team.  

So the questions remain: 

What should the Sixers do with Andre Miller?

What do you think the Sixers will actually do?