76ers Offseason Gameplan Part 2: NBA Draft

Could Terrence Jones be the Sixers selection at 15? He averaged 12 points and seven rebounds for Kentucky last season.

The order in which teams draft is solely based on the regular season standings. Despite the Sixers’ playoff run, the team finished the regular season as the worst team to make the playoffs record wise. Therefore, they will select 15th in the draft, just one pick shy of the lottery. The consensus is essentially the same no matter who you talk to. The Sixers most apparent need is a big man. The Sixers have been searching for a solid option at center since the last time Dikembe Mutombo suited up. Samuel Dalembert never reached the full potential that many (mostly Billy King) thought he would. It is also apparent that Spencer Hawes may be a solid player, but an upgrade would certainly be nice.

Despite the obvious need for a center, considering this particular rookie class, the Sixers may be better served going in a different direction. It may be time to select the next power forward.

76ers Offseason Gameplan Part 1: Free Agency

Doug Collins and Rod Thorn will have an interesting off season in Philadelphia.

It’s been about three days since the Sixers season came to an end at the hands of the Boston Celtics. The team clearly overachieved this past season. They got off to an impressive 20-9 start. They led the Atlantic Division for the majority of the season. They defeated the number one seed Chicago Bulls and took the Celtics to a seventh game. The day after the final game of the season, Doug Collins said that it was nice to overachieve, but that championship teams don’t overachieve. Collins and GM Rod Thorn will have to get the roster to a point where they do not have to overachieve to reach their goals.

Sixers Playoff Run Comes to an End: What Does it All Mean?

Rajon Rondo scored 11 points late in the fourth quarter to propel his team to the Eastern Conference Finals.

I chose to wait a night before writing about the Sixers loss to the Boston Celtics. I wanted to take a few hours to internalize everything that happened and I did not want to rush to my computer without having something to say that was well conceived and fully thought out. I spoke with several friends and family members following last night’s 85-75 loss. I heard several ideas about what the Sixers must do in the offseason, and who they should let go and target, and where they go from here. I promise, that article will come, but I do not want to be the type who gives you my ”if I were GM” offseason plan without sitting back, looking at the season as a whole, including the playoffs, and thus coming up with a well thought out and realistic strategy.

In the meantime, I want to discuss what the playoff run meant for this Sixers team. The biggest thing that the organization takes away from this playoff run is pure knowledge.

Sixers vs. Celtics Game 7: Keys to the Game

Andre Iguodala records this and one slam on Paul Pierce in Game 6.

The Philadelphia 76ers were able to successfully hold off elimination on Wednesday night. They were able to defeat the Celtics 82-75 to force a Game 7 in a series that has gone back and forth constantly. No team has been able to put together consecutive wins and that is what the 76ers will have to do to move on and face the Miami Heat. The Eastern Conference Finals awaits the winner of tomorrow night’s game.

Tomorrow night could be the final game for the Celtics’ Big 3 of Garnett, Pierce and Allen.

For the Celtics, moving on would symbolize a ray of hope for a team to have one more chance to win it all, knowing they will inevitably be split up in the off season. For the Sixers, moving on symbolizes growth and will be another opportunity for Doug Collins to teach his team valuable lessons. It would also be a chance for the Sixers to get a shot at the Heat, who knocked them out of the playoffs in the first round last season.

Both teams have displayed their strengths in victories and their weaknesses in defeat. Tomorrow night will come down to which team brings their A game. If they both do, there will be certain keys to victory for both sides.

NBA Fan’s Delight: OKC vs. San Antonio

Tim Duncan and the Spurs have to get through the Thunder to get to the NBA Finals.

If you are an NBA basketball fan, you say your prayers hoping for series like this one to occur. The clear cut, hands down, two best teams in the Western Conference, and perhaps the NBA, will be squaring off for a trip to the Finals. You could not write a better script.

Sixers on Brink of Elimination Following Game 5 Loss

Doug Collins and the Sixers will have to win two games in a row to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff run is now just one loss away from being over. The Boston Celtics took a 3-2 series lead with a 101-85 win last night in Boston. The game followed the trend of the majority of the contests in this series. One team led for the majority of the game (Sixers), while the other found a way to piece it together in the second half en route to the win (Celtics). The Sixers will now have to win two consecutive games to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Sixers Stage Big Comeback to Win Game 4, Series Tied 2-2

Andre Iguodala and the Sixers came back from 18 down to steal Game 3 from Doc Rivers and the Celtics.

Just when it looked like it was time to make plans for the Sixers’ offseason, the scrappy bunch once again shocked the world. The Sixers overcame an 18 point deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics 92-83. The combination of an embarrassing Game 3 loss, and a horrible first half in Game 4, made it look like the Sixers were clearly in over their heads. The response by the Sixers put that notion to rest and now the Sixers have new life in this series.

The Sixers kept an important streak going with last night’s win. They have still not lost consecutive games in the playoffs and they only have one lose at the Wells Fargo Center.

Sixers lose BIG in Game 3, Boston leads 2-1

Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala and Spencer Hawes look on as the Celtics defeated the Sixers in Game 3.

The Philadelphia 76ers undefeated streak at home in the playoffs is over. The Sixers failed to keep the streak alive as they fell in Game 3, 107-91. The Boston Celtics played their most complete game of the series to this point. They continued to play impressive defense and finally woke up on the offensive end of the floor. The Celtics had 81 points in Game 2. They eclipsed that mark midway through the third quarter in Game 3.

Sixers Edge Out Celtics to tie Series

Andre Iguodala recorded 13 points, seven assists, and six rebounds to lead the Sixers to a Game 2 win.

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics last night, 82-81 to tie the series at a game a piece. The Celtics managed to edge out the Sixers by the same margin in the series opener. The Sixers got their revenge last night and head back to Philly for Game 3 with home-court advantage on their side. The Sixers went to Boston, took a game, and now return to the Wells Fargo Center where they have yet to lose in these playoffs.

BLS SERIES KEYS

Last night’s game wasn’t pretty, but ugly games have become a trend for the Sixers throughout this postseason. They have relied on staunch defense and timely buckets to keep them in games and both of those things were on full display last night. The Celtics averaged 91 ppg during the regular season and the Sixers did a good job of keeping them off that number in Game 2.

Ilya Bryzgalov Montage

Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov certainly had an interesting first season in Philadelphia.

Fellow Temple Owl and current Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic Video Editor, Shaun Gallagher, emailed me a tremendous link today to share with the Brotherly Love Sports readership. He put together a montage to sum up his feelings on Ilya Bryzgalov. This montage piece is all about the $51 million man’s first season in orange and black.  Bryz was certainly inconsistent to say the least throughout this season. He was either great or horrible in net. He was either sticking his foot in his mouth in interviews, or not talking at all, or he was either talking about hockey or the universe. Whatever Bryzgalov we received on any given night, much like Shaun’s video, he was always entertaining to watch.

Please Enjoy:

Video Courtesy of Shaun Gallagher, CSN Mid Atlantic