Jeff Ruland ... wasn't he that guy who ...

The Sixers Hired Jeff Ruland Friday.

It was day in June of 1986. Jeff Ruland would rue this day for the rest of his career ... ah well ... that wasn't very long (cut short by injury). Well the 76ers have not recovered from the events of that June day. I still meet people that tell me it was the last straw. They had had it with Harold Katz and the 76ers after the day we traded Moses Malone!

We did what?

In some circles you can still hear it referred to as "the trade".

We just traded Moses Malone for who? Yes, for Cliff Robinson and Jeff Ruland.

We did what?

And the #1 overall draft pick to Cleveland ... for What? Roy Hinson.

It was a real low moment in Sixers history. The Sixers have been trying to recover every sense. No longer the elite, but the "storied" franchises of the NBA. Translation 'they won the title once, but its been awhile'. Not since .... Moses. Who would have thunk it would be this long for the 76ers to win another title? Perhaps the trade was a curse and Jeff Ruland's return is the anti-venom.

I guess you could spin it that way. Through-out his tenure here, Moe Cheeks' coaching staff has been made up of flashbacks of Sixers history. Ruland replaces ex-Sixers Henry Bibby. The mighty Moses is on the staff. It's supposed to be contagious ... being around players from the glory past. But Ruland doesn't quite fit the mold.

Some folks have not forgotten the past he represents.

Smith tears ACL ... Ooh that hurts

I blame myself for this. I mentioned last week my outlook on the coming season was one of nervous enthusiasm. In doing so I noted injury as one of potential impediments to success. Injuries are part of the game, but should never be spoken of.

Now the news that Jason Smith has torn his left ACL. Done for the season is the most likely prognosis.

Jon and the rest of the Sixers blogger community are already talking about how the Sixers will replace him. As I see it, this means more opportunity for Mo Speights, Reggie Evans and perhaps Herbert Hill. Again chemistry is a big part of the Sixers success. Adding more players from the outside could disrupt that.

The injury to Smith hurts ... no matter how you look at it. No way to replace his combination of height, length, energy and eagerness to learn. He contributed in almost every game last year and appeared poised to contribute even more this year. (sigh) But he is young and its is not as uncommon to recover from a torn ACL as it once was.

But still .... I blame myself ... injuries are bad karma .... my BAD.

What was he doing?

So I'm watching the Olympic games opening ceremony last night, but Bob Costas gets to me after a while and the endless procession and trivia references gets a bit boring. So I'm flippin' thru the photos of the USA Olympic Men Basketball team and come across this photo on Lebron James a tune up against Turkey.

What's going on here? A better question is who thought this picture was flattering enough to post on the web?

Sixers off-season nearly complete ... looking ahead

With the Sixers' Williams ready to sign officially next week | Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/02/2008 the off-season is nearly complete. Yes, Iggy still needs to be signed and ... no I don't wish to weigh in on whether he's worth the MAX or weather he will every get any better. Nor do I care about your arguments as to whether he's really a 2 guard or if his outside J will every improve.

I am taking it for granted the 76ers will resign Andre Igoudala ... for better or worse.

After the signing of Elton Brand, Royal Ivey, Kadeem Rush and the impending Williams signing, I think Stefanski's about done. There's the knee jerk tendency to want to fix everything that ails the 76ers in a single off-season. But to do so would change much of the team chemistry that has fueled this gang of over achievers.

Andre Igoudala is a significant part of that team chemistry. So the deal will get done ... for better or worse.

Looking ahead ... expectations have been raised. For everyone .... the GM, head coach, Brand, Iggy, Williams et al. They must improve over last years record. They will be expected to be competitive in November not March. They will be expected to put an exclamation point of their "new" style of play.

But things change when you are expected to do well. Teams won't be flat or play down to your level anymore. The Sixers have come a long way these last few years. But I fear they will find it more difficult to advance further or ... perhaps (worse) backslide because of injury or bad chemistry (sigh).

Last year I was cautiously optimistic ... this year it's more like .... nervous enthusiasm.