Archive: August, 2012
LEXINGTON, KY -- Doug Collins is always excited by another basketball season but the 76ers coach has even more enthusiasm going into this year.
The Sixers have revamped a unit that took the Boston Celtics to a seventh game in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Obviously the Sixers did get a break when Derrick Rose was injured in the first playoff game against the Chicago Bulls and then later center Joakim Noah was sidelined.
Still, the Sixers won that series and extended a Boston team to the limit. That's a Celtics squad that that took NBA champion Miami to a seventh game of the Eastern Conference finals.
The feeling around the NBA was that the Sixers probably got as far as they could with last year’s roster and apparently the team felt that way as well. That is why the Sixers made so many changes.
Just since that final game with the Celtics, the Sixers are bringing in veterans Andrew Bynum, Kwame Brown, Jason Richardson, Dorell Wright, Nick Young, and Royal Ivey, and rookie Arnett Moultrie.
Pair that with projected rotation players, Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, Thaddeus Young and Lavoy Allen, and the Sixers appear to be a much deeper team than last year. In Bynum, they have a viable all-star capable of impacting the game at both ends of the court.
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Philadelphia 76ers announced their 2012 preseason today, with two games at Wells Fargo Center on Monday, October 15 vs. Boston and Wednesday, October 17 vs. Cleveland. The Sixers will also host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, October 13 at a location yet to be announced.
The Sixers will open the preseason at Orlando on Thursday, October 11 and close out the schedule with road games against Brooklyn on Friday, October 19 and Boston on Sunday, October 21.
Below is the Sixers 2012 preseason schedule (all times Eastern):
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
If the latest 76ers press conference to introduce their newest players – Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson – is any indication, the Sixers, who have been hitting homers all summer, may have smacked a grand slam today in the atrium of the National Constitution Center.
If you weren’t one of the at least 2,000 fans who showed up with signs, painted faces in some cases and lungs ready to serenade the new Sixers, you should be advised that it was so good and positive that the Sixers – the team currying all the good favor in this city this summer – probably would have been justified charging admission to the free event.
At least 15 minutes before Bynum, Richardson, majority owner Joshua Harris, CEO Adam Aron and president Rod Thorn ascended the podium in the sprawling, gorgeous atrium, the crowd was working itself into a frenzy. Sixers coach Doug Collins, fresh off his stint as a basketball analyst, sat in the front row, smiling from ear to ear.
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
New Sixers center Andrew Bynum will head to Germany in early September to have the same experimental procedure on his knee that Kobe Bryant, Grant Hill and Alex Rodriguez have undergone, according to a West Coast source with knowledge of the situation.
Bynum has had surgery on both of his knees. It is unknown whether the procedure will be performed on the one knee or both. According to the source, Bynum’s knees are fine and the procedure is non- surgical.
The procedure, known as Orthokine/Regenokine, will be performed by Dr. Peter Wehling. Bryant initially underwent the procedure to prevent the inevitable wearing down of his knee cartilage. The procedure is a derivation of platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP. The procedure, which is not yet performed in the United States, is less invasive than many, if not all, other forms of knee surgeries presently used.
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
It’s official.
Earlier today the Sixers announced that the team’s acquisition of Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum and guard Jason Richardson of the Orlando Magic – key parts in the four-team mega deal that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers – was ratified by the league.
"We are very excited to welcome Andrew Bynum, one of the league's best, young centers, and Jason Richardson, a proven, respected veteran, to the Philadelphia 76ers," said Managing Owner Josh Harris. "As we stated from the outset, our ownership group is committed to exploring every option available to us in order to improve our team. This trade is the culmination of a very active off-season, one that we believe positions the Sixers for success this season and for many years to come."
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
Sixers coach Doug Collins, in London carrying out his broadcast duties for the Olympics, has already commented on the deal that landed Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson on the Sixers 2012-13 roster. The Sixers confirmed the trade Friday afternoon in a press release.
Collins also comments on the departure of forward Andre Iguodala.
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Sixers are involved in trade talks concerning a deal that could see them deal all-star forward and Olympian Andre Iguodala and receive Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum.
According to a report that first appeared on Yahoo!, the Sixers have been engaged for a few days in talks about a possible four team deal that also includes the Denver Nuggets and the Orlando Magic.
Reached for comment on Wednesday, Sixers CEO and minority owner Adam Aron, as is the team’s policy, did not comment on the talks.
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.
