The man that was given a chance

[is1531]

John Nash never made a lot of good moves for the 76ers , but in 1988 he drafted Hersey Hawkins and picked up a sleeper from the Pacers named Ron Anderson. You have to understand that Anderson came to the NBA from a grocery store. He played very little for the Pacers and Cavs.

The previous season the 76ers came off a non- playoff season winning just 36 games. The 76ers were willing to allow Ron Anderson be a major component of the 76ers, based upon his scoring in practice. From the first day of the season to the last, Anderson had the fans drooling every time he took a shot. Bear in mind, he very rarely took a shot from Happyland, since that was not his fortay. However, Anderson could hit the corner baseline shot better than anybody in the league. Once in awhile he took a drive to the hoop which usually banked out at the last second.

Anderson was an undersized 6ft 5" SF, who was limited on defense. but could light teams up like a torch. In his first 4 seasons with the 76ers as a back up SF he averaged 14.5 points per game on 47% shooting. You have to realize it was all outside shooting. He averaged 13.3 in the 3 years the 76ers made the playoffs.



In his first season with the 76ers, the 76ers went from 36 wins to 46 wins. The next year the 76ers won the division with 53 wins. The 76ers took a chance on a grocery store player and a rookie to win 10 more games in a era where basketball had the greatest players of all time.

In today's era, where their is less talent, especially in the east, theirs is not only plenty of room for Elton Brand to dominate the east, but their is plenty of room for a rookie like Marreese Speights to back up Elton Brand. All he needs is a chance, which we will get. Remember the 76ers won 40 games, which is only 4 more games than than the 1987 76ers, who played in a better era. The 76ers must give Speights the same chance Anderson got back in 1988. It would make our team a lot better. Show no fear!

[geiger]

Hersey Hawkins was a terrible pick. First off, we didn't draft Hersey Hawkins - the Clippers did. We drafted Charles Smith and got Hawkins in a draft day trade. We had the 3rd pick and got Smith and then dealt him for the 6th pick, Hawkins. Guess who went 5th that year? Mitch Richmond. It was a terrible, terrible move. Had we taken Richmond, he and Barkley together might have won a title.

[is1531]

Hersey Hawkins was a terrible pick. First off, we didn't draft Hersey Hawkins - the Clippers did. We drafted Charles Smith and got Hawkins in a draft day trade. We had the 3rd pick and got Smith and then dealt him for the 6th pick, Hawkins. Guess who went 5th that year? Mitch Richmond. It was a terrible, terrible move. Had we taken Richmond, he and Barkley together might have won a title.

The 76ers planned to take Hawkins all along. The trade was only made to get an extra ist round pick. The 76ers at no time were seriously considering Charles Smith. Hindsight is 20/ 20, but at the time Hawkins was considered a great pick coming out of college. Most people did not know Mitch Richmond was going to be that good. It turned out he had the better career than Hawkins, but Hawkins had a good career for the 76ers. The 76ers kept losing because of the ill effect of the 1986 trades and then poison came along in the form of Armon Gilliam and Kenny Payne and the sick adventures of the 76ers would continue.

Geiger, I do not think you get the gist of my story. I am trying to expalain to to you when you give a young player a chance that good things can happen, provided that your not scared. You can not succeed in anything if you are scared.

[Skates]

The terrible move was using that first extra round pick to grab Kenny Payne.

[The Guilty Party]

In today's era, where their is less talent, especially in the east, theirs is not only plenty of room for Elton Brand to dominate the east, but their is plenty of room for a rookie like Marreese Speights to back up Elton Brand. All he needs is a chance, which we will get. Remember the 76ers won 40 games, which is only 4 more games than than the 1987 76ers, who played in a better era. The 76ers must give Speights the same chance Anderson got back in 1988. It would make our team a lot better. Show no fear!

Wait... did I miss something or did this current Sixers' regime start a 19 year old at PF last season for a playoff team? I don't have any fear about this coaching staff and GM playing the young man if he's ready.

[is1531]

The terrible move was using that first extra round pick to grab Kenny Payne.

I wanted them to take Clifford Robinson, who had a great career with Portland and Phoenix. Payne did not have a game. I think John Nash was living too good off the Hawkins move and the Anderson pick up. If they drafted Robinson, I doubt if they would have traded Barkley. Barkley saw the writing on the wall. He had enough of all these stiffs the 76ers were brining in. Barkley played with the wrong Robinson. Cliff Robinson, a player the 76ers picked up in the Ruland trade, was another player that sent the 76ers to the back of the bus.

[is1531]

In today's era, where their is less talent, especially in the east, theirs is not only plenty of room for Elton Brand to dominate the east, but their is plenty of room for a rookie like Marreese Speights to back up Elton Brand. All he needs is a chance, which we will get. Remember the 76ers won 40 games, which is only 4 more games than than the 1987 76ers, who played in a better era. The 76ers must give Speights the same chance Anderson got back in 1988. It would make our team a lot better. Show no fear!

Wait... did I miss something or did this current Sixers' regime start a 19 year old at PF last season for a playoff team? I don't have any fear about this coaching staff and GM playing the young man if he's ready.

Somehow it happened after captain Ed arrived. The Hawkins and Anderson stories unfolded from day 1. I think Mo will follow the same trend that Ed started when Ed took the reins of GM. I do not think Mo Joe and Billy Queen would have given Thad the same minutes. It's no secret I am a big fan of Speights and only a small fan of Joker Evans.

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

Lets thank captain ED, without him we probably would've had a top lottery selection and as a result, no shot at EB

[is1531]

Lets thank captain ED, without him we probably would've had a top lottery selection and as a result, no shot at EB

Brand was monitoring the 76ers late in the season and in the playoffs. He thought they were an up an coming team, but they needed a scorer. Ed is only 2 years younger than me, but we both come from the same town and understand our city. We bleed winning for the 76ers. Anything less is unacceptable. We may not win a title this year, but we are going to give teams hell. Right now, I am ready to rock and roll with our 76ers.

[geiger]

Young guys who deserve to play do so. Iverson started from day 1. Stackhouse started from day 1. Barkley started. We let second round picks like Green and Korver get major minutes by their second seasons. It will depend on Speights being able to play and not on the coaches not wanting Speights to play because he's young.

On a different note, I did love Ron Anderson on that 1990 Atlantic Division winners team as our 6th man - loved Derrick Smith too when he could suit up. Great mid-range jumper that Anderson had. Not a very good defender and could do nothing else but shoot that mid-range jumper, but man, could he ever stroke that bad boy.

[is1531]

Cheeks did not coach those teams where Barkley, Stackhouse and Iverson became starters. I am talking about now and I am talking about when Cheeks is coaching. If Speights outplays Evans in practice and in pre-season he should get the nod over Joker Evans. You put your best talent on the court. The 76ers can not afford to get off to a slow start, so Mo Joe will want to get the rotation in perpetual motion.

[corwin]

[

Somehow it happened after captain Ed arrived. The Hawkins and Anderson stories unfolded from day 1. I think Mo will follow the same trend that Ed started when Ed took the reins of GM. I do not think Mo Joe and Billy Queen would have given Thad the same minutes. It's no secret I am a big fan of Speights and only a small fan of Joker Evans.

Thanks for reminding us about Ron Anderson & Hershey Hawkins & emphasizing that the coach/gm need to give a young guy a chance. Hawkins was a great player for the Sixers even though he did not have the career Richmond had. He'd look pretty good on the current squad. In terms of playing Speights, I'm not confident he'll get much burn. The situations is different from last year since Ed was evaluating last year & Mo was under evaluation as well. I think they expect to compete for the Eastern Conference Finals which makes it more of a "win now" situation this year. Speights will also be playing behind 2 solid veterans (3 if you put TY at PF for some minutes). I don't think they'll put him at the C spot & I don't expect him to play in specific situations calling for a pick & pop shooter when Jason Smith would have played. I expect them to grab another FA for that role, i.e. Croshere, Fazekas, or perhaps the next Ron Anderson.

[is1531]

[

Somehow it happened after captain Ed arrived. The Hawkins and Anderson stories unfolded from day 1. I think Mo will follow the same trend that Ed started when Ed took the reins of GM. I do not think Mo Joe and Billy Queen would have given Thad the same minutes. It's no secret I am a big fan of Speights and only a small fan of Joker Evans.

Thanks for reminding us about Ron Anderson & Hershey Hawkins & emphasizing that the coach/gm need to give a young guy a chance. Hawkins was a great player for the Sixers even though he did not have the career Richmond had. He'd look pretty good on the current squad. In terms of playing Speights, I'm not confident he'll get much burn. The situations is different from last year since Ed was evaluating last year & Mo was under evaluation as well. I think they expect to compete for the Eastern Conference Finals which makes it more of a "win now" situation this year. Speights will also be playing behind 2 solid veterans (3 if you put TY at PF for some minutes). I don't think they'll put him at the C spot & I don't expect him to play in specific situations calling for a pick & pop shooter when Jason Smith would have played. I expect them to grab another FA for that role, i.e. Croshere, Fazekas, or perhaps the next Ron Anderson.

I watched a lot of Warriors games this past season and Austin Croshere did not play well. It's a shame we have very little money to play with in picking up a free agent.

[HoopsMaven]

I surely remember Ron Anderson and his "living room" - that space on the floor, as named by Zumoff as I recall, where he nearly never missed. Was also stellar at offensive putbacks.

I was also at the Spectrum for the draft party where the Sixers selected Kenny Payne over the likes of Clifford Robinson (fan favorite) and Vlade Divac. The crowd booed the selection and Jimmy Lynam came out to address the fans. Well, yell at the fans was more like it. He said that if we liked Ron Anderson then we would love Kenny Payne. He was actually angry at the fans for not applauding the Payne pick.

History shows who the better picks were...

Sixers actually have a long history of giving folks a chance, but unfortunately many of these opportunities came during the lean years of Harold Katz ownership. Remember the chances given to Lanard Copeland, Jim Rowiniski, Tharon Mayes and Andre Turner?

[corwin]

I watched a lot of Warriors games this past season and Austin Croshere did not play well. It's a shame we have very little money to play with in picking up a free agent.

Too bad. I was able to watch his college career at PC & have always considered him to be a capable shooter with some size & a good feel for the game. I'd bet that he can still rebound. However, if he can't guard his man, he won't be played. Looks like this is one more situation where DiLeo's knowledge of the game will be valuable.

[is1531]

I surely remember Ron Anderson and his "living room" - that space on the floor, as named by Zumoff as I recall, where he nearly never missed. Was also stellar at offensive putbacks.

I was also at the Spectrum for the draft party where the Sixers selected Kenny Payne over the likes of Clifford Robinson (fan favorite) and Vlade Divac. The crowd booed the selection and Jimmy Lynam came out to address the fans. Well, yell at the fans was more like it. He said that if we liked Ron Anderson then we would love Kenny Payne. He was actually angry at the fans for not applauding the Payne pick.

History shows who the better picks were...

Sixers actually have a long history of giving folks a chance, but unfortunately many of these opportunities came during the lean years of Harold Katz ownership. Remember the chances given to Lanard Copeland, Jim Rowiniski, Tharon Mayes and Andre Turner?

Copeland was an incredible practice shooter. He would hit shots from the coaches bench in practice, but he was a terrible game player. I thnk it was Tharon Mays was the small guard who averaged around 25 points a game in pre- season, but was gone before the ist ten games were played. Lynam was awful as a GM. We drafted Shawn Bradley thanks to Lynam and the advice of Jeff Ruland.