John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
CHARLOTTE – Were the Charlotte Bobcats responsible for Jrue Holiday’s historically bad shooting performance? Or was it a case of Holiday being off.
Way off.
Holiday finished with just five points. His 2-for-24 shooting represented the fewest number of made field goals by a player attempting at least 24 shots in the last 25 years.
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
CHARLOTTE – The agent for Andrew Bynum says that the player has not ruled out signing a contract with the 76ers once free agency begins July 1.
“I don’t see why not,” Bynum’s agent, David Lee, said Wednesday morning when asked whether or not Bynum would consider signing an extension with the 76ers this summer. “I still feel like the ball is in their court.”
Bynum will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He had arthroscopic surgery on both knees last month to remove debris. Teams can begin signing free agents on July 1.
By now, most sports fans have heard about Kevin Ware’s gruesome injury. The Louisville guard snapped his leg in the first half of Sunday’s 85-63 Midwest Regional final victory over Duke in Indianapolis.
Doug Collins, the 76ers coach, attended the game. His son, Chris, was on the Duke bench for the final time as the associated head coach. The younger Collins will become Northwestern’s head coach next season.
Doug Collins and Sixers players Jrue Holiday and Thaddeus Young talked about Ware’s injury after Monday’s practice.
Without a doubt, Jrue Holiday is the 76ers’ best player.
But is the NBA all-star point guard the best athlete in his own family?
“It probably is my sister,” he said of Lauren Holiday, a freshman guard at UCLA. “ I think my sister can pretty much do anything.”
The 76ers waived guard Jeremy Pargo to make room on the roster for Justin Holiday, the older brother of Sixers’ standout Jrue Holiday.
Pargo averaged 4.9 points, two assists, 1.2 rebounds and 14.9 minutes in 14 games played with the Sixers.
The Sixers confirmed Monday morning that they called up guard Justin Holiday from Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League. Holiday, a 6-foot-6 guard, averaged 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.43 steals and 1.17 blocks for the Stampede.
John Mitchell of the Inquirer reports from the Wells Fargo Center where the Sixers honored the beloved Allen Iverson on the night where the team gave a bobblehead in his likeness.
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
SACRAMENTO - After blowing an eight-point lead late in the fourth quarter against Denver on Thursday, the 76ers (26-42) will attempt to end their 15-game road losing streak against a Sacramento (25-45) team that, unfortunately for the Sixers, has been playing better lately.
Like the Sixers, Sacramento is out of the playoff race. However, the Kings are playing better than the 76ers, the lowest-scoring team (92.4) in the league coming into Sunday’s game.
“We’re really not focusing on the losing streak,” guard Jrue Holiday said at the Sixers morning shootaround at Sleep Train Arena. “No one discusses it. We’re concentrating on closing out games better.”
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
Whenever you see Spencer Hawes turn in the type performance such as the one he authored against Indiana – his 18-point, 16-rebound, eight-assist, seven-block effort was the finest single game by any Sixer this season – you understand why the Sixers were so anxious t pair this guy alongside Andrew Bynum.
Sure, Hawes has those nights when he’s as invisible as any 7-foooter can possibly be – his scoreless, 0-for-9 shooting performance in a victory against Golden State earlier this month immediately comes to mind – but alongside Bynum and playing t power forward would make performances like this far less frequent.
So, if “Plan A” doesn’t work out for the Sixers, what is the best possible option at center?
Watch: The 76ers & Pacers battled for three quarters, but Spencer Hawes' career night, including seven blocks helped Philadelphia stun Indiana, 98-91. The Inquirer's John Mitchell reports.
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
Unfortunately for the 76ers, one of the names that is going to be bandied about when the never-ending trade rumors start to fly this summer is going to be that of 24-year-old Thaddeus Young.
Think about it.
If there is one player on the roster that the Sixers are committed to it’s Jrue Holiday. An all-star, Holiday, though he has shown some signs of wear and tear as of late, is the closest thing to an untouchable on this roster.
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
