Well Harry we disagree, people are starting to listen.
Let us rephrase... the Sixers are now 7-2 on the season (assuming we hang on in this nail biter versus the Kings tonight) and in first place in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.
To be clear: this could be the first time since the early 2000s that we could actually be a relevant team in the NBA and some people in "the media" are even beginning to notice the Sixers. We may still be a couple steps behind the Heat and the Bulls in the Eastern Conference (Debatable) but we are looking like we could be right up there with some of the best talents in the Association. John Hollinger has even marked the Sixers as #1 in his latest power rankings... Yeah, we said right #1. If you read SI.com, Doug Collins' boys are #4 in the entire league. Let's average the two different rankings... we become 2.5 in the NBA... WOW. In the past 5 or 6 years, actually, ever since we lost the 'Iverson Era' if we were in the top 15 teams in the NBA, we were ecstatic. The PTI guys even mentioned us on "The Big Finish". They were gracious enough to give the Sixers 15 seconds so that Wilbon could tell Cornheiser and Realli that he called at the beginning of the year this team would win the Atlantic Division. The team has done so many things right up to this point in the season and in the recent past that it is paying dividends in a big way on the court.
The first thing that this team did right was hire Doug Collins.
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| They should make him wear these shorts after every loss. Talk about motivation. |
This is obvious, but this guy brings so much passion and excitement to the team. He has the young guys buying into his system. That system includes constant defense (As poor Marreese Speights learned) and a team first offensive approach in which our leading scorer is a sixth man and our team MVP is a bench player. A team in which every player has the availability to drop double digits on any given night. This is the team that Ed Snider envisioned a couple years ago when he started cleaning house and bringing in the best coach in the game: Doug Collins. Thanks to his leadership, the 76ers are right where they are supposed to be.
Another characteristic that has helped this team is the development of its young talent. With all of the high draft picks we had over numerous years, you had to assume that at some point, some of it was going to come around. The only thing the GMs didn't anticipate was it all coming together at the exact same time. Jrue Holiday is starting to become one hell of a young PG in the league. He knows how to dish it, and the more shots he takes, the more confidence he is gaining as they start to fall. He has been taking good care of the ball which is something he is learning well from his ole ball coach. Lou Williams could always score, but he found his niche with this team as the sixth man. He comes in the game, drops a ton of points, and leads his team each night. There are numerous examples such as Evan Turner who early last year was thought to be a waste of a 2nd overall pick, but since Collins started molding him to the NBA game, he looks like a guy that may have been worth that pick after all. Finally, the most important development with this team has been in the man of Spencer Hawes. It is almost as though the Sixers signed a new player in the offseason and he is starting at Center this year. Spencer has been a whole new player this year. He is a monster on the boards, he looks like Vlad Divac with his wonderful assists and he has a post game all of a sudden leading to offense. Spencer at one point in the season was third in the league in rebounds per game, but since his playing time has been slimmed down due to injury, he has dropped to sixth in the NBA. Pretty pathetic, right? Lets run him out of town for only being sixth in the NBA in rebounds per game. Oh, and when Hawes isn't healthy, just insert one of the best rookies in the game, Vucevic. This kid is only a rookie from USC, but man he is smart and looks like a real player early. With a little more practice under this great coaching staff, I am scared to see what he may become. The biggest piece in all this hasn't even been mentioned: Thaddeus Young. His athleticism, hustle, defense, and energy are irreplaceable on the team. Without him coming off the bench, who knows where this team might be. He is a bench player, but he is more important than any starter on the floor. If this team is going to go anywhere, it is up the leadership and talent of Thaddeus Young. That being said, all of these young players are performing above expectations and driving this team to victory.
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| Yeah, he doesn't look like much, but so far he's getting the job done. |
The final change that has really affected the team is the ownership. This ownership group led by Josh Harris has taken over and made our Philadelphia 76ers exciting again. They have done everything to get the fans on board and in the seats to watch this team. The only real mistake that they have made so far is getting rid of Hip Hop, and we may never forgive them for that, but what they have done has been wonderful so far. The team has a sense of pride and the city will hopefully soon follow suit. The ownership group spent a lot of money to improve the conditions for the fans, the city, and its players and the excitement is fueling this young team.
Jump on the bandwagon early, because it is going to fill up quickly and you don't want to be the one thats left out. This team is built to win and mark our words: We will win the Atlantic Division.
Tomorrow night is a true test so tune in to the Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks and see where our boys stand on the young season.
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| We're gonna wipe that smile right off your face you no hack, couldn't cut it in Denver, clown. Even TEBOW can cut it in a small market town like Denver. Well, you guys do have one thing in common, neither of you play defense. |
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