76ers at the All-Star Game break: Better than expected
By Marc Narducci
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Few teams have gone farther under the Philadelphia sports radar than this season's 76ers. The Sixers have played before small home crowds and received scant media attention compared to the other professional teams in the city.
But, at the NBA All-Star Game break, with only 29 games left in the regular season, the Sixers - surprise, surprise - are still very much in playoff contention.
A big part of that is due to the lack of quality teams in the Eastern Conference, where the battle cry may be, "First team five games under .500 qualifies."
With a 23-30 record that includes a current five-game winning streak, the Sixers have overachieved to a degree so far. One national pundit predicted before the season that the Sixers would win 20 games the entire season.
So, while the Sixers have exceeded that expectation, they can't become comfortable with the current situation. After all, the Sixers could also finish in the bottom five of the league.
The major question in the second half is: Will the young players be able to withstand the pressure of fighting for a playoff berth when each of the final 29 games might have the feel of a postseason contest?
Lose a game in November, and it's not considered a big deal. Now? The playoff run will be a daily reminder to the players.
Through the first 53 games, the Sixers have shown their share of positives and negatives. Here is a look at both as the team takes a breather during All-Star Game weekend:
Biggest positive
The play of the point guard Andre Miller.
After a fine preseason, Miller and the team both got off to a slow start and the two were related. During the first eight games, when the Sixers were 2-6, Miller averaged 14 points and had 36 turnovers and 23 assists, less than a two-to-one ratio. He is currently averaging 16.6 points 6.6 assists, 2.7 turnovers, 4.0 rebounds and is shooting a career-best 49.3 percent from the field. It could be the best season of his nine-year career.
While he's not a great ball defender, virtually everything else Miller has brought to the team, including his quiet but steady leadership, has made a major impact. Miller continues to be the subject of trade speculation, but the best team he appears suited for is the Sixers.
"What's impressed me about him is his ability to take over games," Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "We saw last year toward the end of last year when we needed a basket, and he did it several times. This year, he has done it a little bit more in terms of trying to score the ball."
Other positives
The consistency of Samuel Dalembert.
The Sixers center is averaging 11.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and is playing the most consistent basketball of his six seasons. Last season, he fouled out of nine games and this year has only fouled out twice. Dalembert has been a defensive force, averaging 2.5 blocked shots. The next step in his development is to become a low post offensive option. He has been working on a jump hook, a shot that continues to need refinement.
Production from Andre Iguodala.
While fans may be down on him for turning down a $57 million extension, Iguodala (19.4 ppg.) has enjoyed a productive season. The most underrated aspect of his game is his defense, where each night he constantly gets the toughest assignment. Iguodala has shown more confidence in his outside shot but still must drive to the basket more. While Iguodala hasn't totally won over the fans, he is a vital part of the team's present and future and, it says here, a future all-star.
The fast break.
The Sixers have outscored teams, 875-522, in fast break points. They are averaging 16.5 per game compared to 9.8 for their opponents. With a young athletic team, a transition game favors the Sixers.
Expectations met
There have been many suggestions that guard Willie Green isn't a starter n the NBA. But on this team, that is his role. The Sixers would be a better team if they could bring a player such as Green off the bench. But he has provided scoring, (12.6 ppg.) and is another character veteran that the young players look up to.
Lou Williams is averaging 10.8 points off the bench, giving the Sixers the offense they expected from the third-year guard. He has been inconsistent at times, especially when he was playing with a non-displaced fracture of his big toe. There are still questions as to whether he is the Sixers' starting point guard of the future, but there is no doubt that he can have a major impact on the team even if he continues to come off the bench.
Most pleasant surprise
This one is easy. It's the development of forward Thaddeus Young. When the 19-year-old rookie was chosen by the Sixers, the prevailing thought was that he would need a year to get his feet wet. And when he didn't play in eight of the first 18 games, nobody blinked an eye.
Since then, he has been performing well beyond his years. The most impressive thing has been Young's attitude. Even while not playing, he stayed long after practice to work on his game. His athletic ability is off the charts. To take it to the next level he will have to improve his jumper and his handle, but Young has given the Sixers a burst of energy and excitement.
"He's been great and his grasp of the game for such a young guy is really impressive," Cheeks said.
Biggest disappointment
Calvin Booth was signed to be a backup to Dalembert and give the Sixers about 10 to 15 minutes a night off the bench. Booth struggled both offensively and defensively in the preseason and has never gotten extended minutes this season. To his credit, Booth has lived up to his reputation as one of the top positive locker room presences. The players have continually referred to the great attitude of veterans such as Booth and Kevin Ollie, who never pout about lack of playing time and continue to put the extra work during practice.
Biggest negatives
The inability to defend dribble penetration and the three-pointer. The two are intertwined. Guards have constantly beaten the Sixers off the dribble and forced double teams that have led to wide open threes. Opponents are shooting 35.5 percent from beyond the arc against the Sixers. During the Sixers five-game win streak, teams are shooting just 26.3 percent from beyond the arc, a sign of improvement.
The inability to be consistent in the half-court offense is an issue. The Sixers are shooting 31.5 percent from beyond the arc, which is last in the NBA. When teams stop the Sixers' transition game, they have struggled in half-court sets.
Coach's critique
Around the NBA, players, coaches and scouts have repeatedly mentioned how hard the Sixers play on a nightly basis, and they give Cheeks credit for this.
Despite being in the final year of his contract, Cheeks has not allowed that to be an issue or a distraction. Cheeks has earned an extension, but it can't be seen as a positive sign that he hasn't received one yet. There have been some coaching flaws, such as the team's inability to adapt to zone defenses and difficulty guarding the three-point shot. But even those areas have shown recent improvement. Most of all, Cheeks has kept this team together though the good and difficult times.
"Coach has always remained positive," Dalembert said. "That has been very important."
Best move
Making Reggie Evans a reserve.
Evans plays as hard as anybody in the NBA, although sometimes that energy could be channeled in a better way. He's a dominant rebounder (8.1 per game) and, despite his offensive deficiencies, is a good upgrade over Steven Hunter, for whom he was traded. The Sixers are 7-2 since Evans has been coming off the bench.
Unanswered question
Will the Sixers make a move by Thursday's trade deadline? All indications are that the Sixers are more likely to stand pat. But anything is possible in the crazy climate of the NBA.
Incomplete conclusion
The trade of Kyle Korver to Utah for Gordan Giricek's expiring $4 million contract and a future first-round pick has worked out well for the Jazz. Korver is averaging 10.8 points in 21 games for Utah, which is 18-3 with him in the lineup. The Sixers won't know how it turns out for them until the summer when they have a chance to make deals or sign a free agent by taking advantage of the extra cap room.
One other thing to keep in mind: If Korver were still here, it would be cutting into the minutes of Young and the suddenly resurgent Rodney Carney. Both of these players have been developing well, and that only happens by receiving minutes.
The final push
Don't pop the corks just yet on a potential playoff berth.
The Sixers play 14 games against teams with a winning record and 15 that are sub .500 in the final 29 games. That doesn't sound too bad, but it's more difficult than it appears.
That's because of the sub .500 teams, the Sixers have two games each with New Jersey and Atlanta and one with Indiana. The Sixers are 0-6 against those teams this season.
There will be 13 games at home and 16 on the road for the Sixers.
One would have to think the Sixers would have to go at least 15-14 in the final 29 games to earn a berth in the watered-down Eastern Conference.
It won't be easy, but the fact that we're even talking about it at this late stage has the Sixers in a position that few thought they would enjoy at the All-Star Game break.
I agree with almost everything with this article and it was well written. Hoepfully Sixers can do good this second half and make the playoffs!
