Spurs win 2nd game on the road against the Suns

It is too late for me to prognosticate the Spurs vs the Pistons in the NBA finals? Yes, it true. It has been my belief from the start. I said at the season's offset that Detroit's championship was a good thing for the NBA. Watching the Lakers spank the eastern conference champion each year suxs for ratings.

But out of the Lakers ashes a pheonix was born. The sudden rise of the Suns had to be a welcome surprise to the NBA. Could this style of basketball really win a championship? Alas, this is not the NFL where rags to riches stories are commonplace. It takes defense to win in the playoffs and the last team standing is rarely a surprise. That's why I see San Antonio and Detroit in the finals. If either team wins another championship no one will be shocked.

Season's Report Card - Starters

Okay, before we get too overwhelmed with the coaching changes, the NBA finals, the NBA draft or most importantly the collective bargaining agreement; let's take an objective look at the 2004-05 season. First the starters;
Name: Allen Iverson

Grade: A

Comments: This was arguabley on of the best seasons ever for AI. He answered the bell when many doubted that a man of his size would be the same after the number of days lost to injury the previous season. This years accomplishments include; Eastern conference player of the week or player of the month countless times. His 4th NBA scoring title. His 2nd NBA All-Star game MVP award, a 60 point game and couple of 50 point games. Always talkin' about team. I am sure there are some of you out there in neverland that thinks this one player could have done more, but not I. The reality of it all is that it's still a team game. AI gets that. It's reality that it takes more than one player (not matter the might of his will) to win consistently in the NBA.

Name: Chris Webber

Grade: Incomplete

Comments: Given how late he was acquired and the Sixers inability to use his strengths, I don't think its far to judge C.Webb. Don't get me wrong. I like what he brings to the team. I think many are expecting too much of him. He's not gonna be the final piece to the puzzle to get us over the top (that was Moses Malone, some of you may be old enough to remember that ). But he can be a vital cog in the wheel. The one that makes things go. Others just don't like the man. For whatever reason ... the fab five attitude ... his infamous perjury case ... his failings in Sacramento ... what ever. Yo! the man's got skills ... wait 'til next year.

Name: Samuel Dalmbert

Grade: C-

Comments: The wunderkind. Sammy continues to play below his potential. I would have ventured to say the he slipped this year, but for his awakening in the playoffs. We all saw it ... that glimpse of talent about to bloom, then the total mental breakdown of all common basketball sense. Sammy is a restricted free agent this year, which means someone has to pay a lotta dough for the Sixers not to match it. As I always say, being tall and the ability to walk and chew gum at the same time is a skillset in the NBA. There are plenty of teams willing to take the chance that he will blossom, but not at any price. Bigs can take 4-5 years to really develop in the NBA. He'll be back with the Sixers, but next year is critical to his career. If he doesn't get it, he never will.

Name: Andre Iguodala

Grade: B

Comments: Iggy is the most exciting Sixers rookie to come along in years, bar none! The defense, good by veteran standards, but tremendous for a rookie. The Igoudala slam dunk ... worth the price of admission. Countless times this season I turned to the person next to me to say 'Did you Cee That!' He has a great attitude and professional demeanor. So why only a 'B'. Its the offensive part of his game. While the assists where good to see, he needed to be more aggressive about scoring. He passed up too many shots. He needed to drive more and he needs to work on the mid-range jumper. All these things can be fixed.

Name: Kyle Korver

Grade: C

Comments:It was a roller coaster season for K² more that anyone on the team. To his credit, he began to assert himself at the 3 point line. More surprisingly his hustle, his passing and team defense were superb! But (ya know there'sa but when the guy gets a 'C') he struggled with one-on-one match-ups. Opposing coach's would go after 'em (usually with a more physical player) and Kyle failed to make his challenger pay. His game became small when it mattered. Yes, he did hit a game winner early in the season, but he became a liability at crunch time as the season went on. In the 4th period, Kyle would have mental lapses, turn overs, and he stopped looking for his shot. He let himself be defined as a 3 point specialist. He needs to take that step inside the 3 and bury it. As much as I like 'em, I am on the fence about Kyle's future with the 76ers. By the 3rd year, guards will show you what to expect for the remainder of their career. The Sixers need a point guard. Kyle could be fodder for a trade ...But K² would be back next year if it were up to me.

So there you have it; A,B,C,C- and an incomplete. Better than average, but just barely. The starters must improve next year, but the starters are not the weakest link. We'll look at the bench score card soon.

Philly is once again Mo-town

Mo Cheeks is Back - It's hard to argue with this move by the Sixers. I am on record as saying that Mo is one of my favorites. But the jaded Philly fan in my can't help but wonder if Mo's talents are enough. At least he will be here long enough to find out. We are applauding Billy King for the guts to dump O'Brien in favor of a fan favorite, but can we ignore that previous selections. Randy Ayers was not prepared to be a head coach, but it was a easy way to continue the Larry Brown tradition. King never dug enough to uncover O'Brien's personality short comings (or perhaps he choose not to see it). Could King be attempting to hide his mis-steps behind a Philly friendly choice?

O'Brien fired; Cheeks returns to coach Sixers

O'Brien fired; Cheeks returns to coach Sixers I can't say that this was a surprise. I was certainly unhappy with Coach OB's performance this year. Some players expressed their displeasure. But nothin' was heard from Billy King until yesterday. O'Brien couldn't (or more succinctly "wouldn't") adjust to the situation at hand. It was one thing to have a plan. It is quite another to stick with when the situation changes. As friend of mine put it best, "there's a reason the tenure at his last job was so short".

King and the Sixers organization continue to make the statement that they are about winning a championship, not just about having a good team. Three head coaches in three years is a testament to that. It would have been easy to say that O'Brien won 10 more games (than last year), he made the play-off, AI had perhaps his best year as a pro, lets give 'em another year. But King was not havin it. I tip my hat to him.

I think Larry Brown showed us that the right coach can make a difference in the NBA. The 64,000 dollar question is; Which coach is right for the Sixers? After 3 coaches in 3 years, is Cheeks the right one. I don't know, but he appears to have been the best available.

Sixers Season a Success?

I know many of you have been wondering about my silence in the play-offs this year ... Well don't worry, I have not committed suicide because the Sixers lost to the Pistons. A little thing called life has gotten in the way. I will be back soon with the full analysis of the season and the projections for next year.

So what do ya think? Did the Sixers have a good year? Even the most jaded fan would have to admit that making the play-offs was much better than the previous season. What about you losers who wanted the Sixers to tank the season to get a 1st round draft pick? You won't be happy until the top ten draftees become superstars and you can say I told ya so. Fat chance of that happening.

So stay tuned ... The Sixers final report card is coming. With each Sixer's grade we'll talk about where they will be next year. We might talk about whatz happening in the NBA playoffs. No surprises so far ... Come now, that Boston team collapse is not a surprise. Nor was the Wizards win over the Bulls. The Wiz and da Bulls made the playoffs after years of bad teams. They're playing with house money.

As for the current series ... I see the Pistons and the Heat in the east and the Suns and the Spurs in the west. Like I said ... no surprises.