Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 2:18 PM | 23 comments |
 

Young chosen for Rookie Challenge
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Sixers play the Houston Rockets tonight in the second game of this very tough two-game swing. We'll be chatting today at 3:30 p.m. If you have a few minutes, click here: Sixers Chat.

Since the 76ers left Philadelphia, it's been an interesting 48 hours. A few observations, things of note, and potential Live Chat topics:

1.) Elton Brand. If you're a Sixers fan, you've already heard what Chad Ford said yesterday on his ESPN chat. Basically, he said his NBA sources have told him that the Sixers have made Brand available. This isn't earth-shattering news because most NBA players are available -- for the right offer. But one would think if Ford's people are telling him the Sixers have made Brand available, then it seems the Sixers have specifically made Brand available (rather than so-and-so team going to the New Orleans Hornets and offering their entire starting lineup plus nine future first-round picks in exchange for Chris Paul). This leads to two questions: 1.) What could the Sixers actually get for Brand? Or must they be willing to take back an undesirable contract of their own. The truth is that Brand's stock has plummeted since his free-agent signing. And trading him right now would be a clear-cut admission that his signing was a mistake. 2.) Should the Sixers trade Brand? I think it's too early. I think it's too early in his return from the injury. I think -- at the very least -- he needs until the All-Star break to see how he may or may not respond. Everything I've heard leads me to believe that the Sixers will not make a move before the break, which is obviously also around the trade deadline (3 p.m. EST, Feb. 19).

2.) More Brand talk: Let's get back to his actual on-court play. I understand the necessity to get him minutes right now. Obviously, you have to give him an opportunity to find a rhythm and work back from the injury. But Tony DiLeo made it clear they would not sacrifice games to bring him along. Well, at this point, not playing Marreese Speights is a negative impact on this team. Speights played only 3 minutes against the New Orleans Hornets. I understand he's the odd man out in this campaign to reacclimate Brand. But he needs to play at least 12 minutes a game. Okay, so that point wasn't actually "More Brand talk" but rather "More Brand talk plus Marreese Speights."

3.) Tonight's game: This game is really important. Not only is it the last very tough challenge (the Sixers next two games are at home against the Wizards and the Nets) until Feb. 3, but the Sixers have already beaten this team. And that was without Brand. Could we have a clearer picture of his impact? The Sixers beat Houston earlier this month. They outscored them on fast break points 29-9. There are two X factors: This game is in Houston, and the Rockets were missing Ron Artest last game. But if the Rockets were missing Artest and the Sixers were missing Brand, then this should be an even matchup. Also, that New Orleans game on Monday wasn't very good. The Sixers can't take another step backwards. They need to plant their feet tonight.

4.) Thaddeus Young. He was chosen to compete for the sophomore team in the 2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge at All-Star weekend.  It looks as if he will be the only Sixer in Phoenix for All-Star weekend. The game is Feb. 13.

--Kate
Posted by Kate Fagan @ 2:18 PM  Permalink | 23 comments
23
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:01 PM, 01/28/2009
    Hi Kate, forgot to mention that I enjoyed your New Orleans photos. Very interesting about Brand. I went back to the Chad Ford chat and he mentioned two names: Rasheed Wallace and Shawn Marion. Rasheed's salary matches almost exactly with Brand's, but Detroit would have to risk 4 more years of Brand. Even giving up 5 years in age, I would do that trade, because Rasheed is still one of the premier defenders in the league at PF. For Marion, the Sixers would have to package Willie Green or Reggie Evans with Brand to make the salaries work, and I'm again not sure Miami would do that deal. But Marion (at least the Marion of old -- I haven't seen him much this year) would thrive in the up-tempo game the Sixers prefer, and he's also a premier defender. Regarding Speights, I'm totally in agreement with you (and so is seemingly every other Sixer blogger): he can't be the one whose minutes are squeezed. One could make a strong argument that the Brand-Evans combo, which was on the court during Peja's barrage at the start of the 4th, was what lost the game. If you look at the Sixers' play-by-play during that time, pretty much only Lou Williams did anything (4 pts, 2 turnovers, 1 miss) -- mainly because the Hornets did not regard Evans as a threat and Brand was stationary. If Speights is in during that time, you wonder if he would have contributed a basket here, an offensive rebound there. All conjecture, of course. I'll be interested to see what happens tonight. If Brand slows down the game, that plays right into the style Houston wants to play.
    — Statman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:34 PM, 01/28/2009
    how do get in on the chat
    — ccutter50
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:37 PM, 01/28/2009
    Speights should be there for the Rookie squad. He's legit.
    — McRocks33
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:18 PM, 01/28/2009
    Thaddeus Young and Marreese Speights are the future of the Sixers. You could trade the rest of the team. Bring in a point guard who can shoot like Williams in Cleveland did the other night, and a shooting guard who can light it up. We need to simply build a team around these two young players and compliment them. That is all that makes sense for the Sixers. If we bought in Rasheed Wallace to play power forward, or Shawn Marion then that means that Speights is our center. That means Dalembert is on the block because Jason Smith will be back next year. That means a front line of Young, Speights and Wallace/Marion. That works for me.
    — Horlet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:59 PM, 01/28/2009
    We need time - a year or so, to make this work or fall on its face. Remember - last yr's team could not produce if you played half-court. And in the playoffs, you will be playing half-court. SO - it is WAY to early to say bye - and we need to be patient. Cuz - this team w/o Brand is a good regular season team - but in a series where you adjust constantly - we would turn into Houston. So, let's see.
    — AllDawk_AllTheTime
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:06 PM, 01/28/2009
    If Brand goes, do we get Mo back with an apology, 'oops, our bad?'
    — pog
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:15 PM, 01/28/2009
    Great post Pog!
    — JBP
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:32 PM, 01/28/2009
    You do a great job, Kate. It's a rare pleasure to see such balance in a Philly sports page.
    — Bake McBride
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:16 PM, 01/28/2009
    Iguodala is not a keeper. Watch him disappear when the going gets tough. Having said that, it is doubtful that anyone will take him, so Young and Speights as a core will be spoiled by rotten apples on the team.
    — eaglephanatic
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:39 PM, 01/28/2009
    Iguodala is a 24 yr old stud. He is unselfish, plays both ends of the court, and wants to win. He works on his game and works to make others better. He is no Lebron, but he is in that mold. You can win with him.
    — JBP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:04 PM, 01/28/2009
    eaglephanatic: even though you are a charter member of the I-haters club, it's amazing that you have anything negative to say about Iguodala after the superb month that he's had. Far from being spoiled by Iguodala, if Young and Speights pay attention to how Iguodala plays, they will learn how to pass unselfishly, play defense tenaciously, and box out (all things that both of them lack right now). Whether Young will ever be able to dribble as well as Iguodala remains to be seen (I'm hopeful).
    — Statman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:09 PM, 01/28/2009
    If someone is a hater for telling the truth, what do you call someone who will not face up to it? Sucker comes to mind. Keep dreaming and spending, the Sixers need you to pay for their mistakes.
    — eaglephanatic
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:09 PM, 01/28/2009
    drnnat, I did not leave out Iguodala. I would trade him in immediately. He can't shoot, Thaddeus is our small forward and Speights is our power forward and center. Iguodala is not a shooting guard and he is holding up the progress of Thaddeus Young. We need a 2 guard and Iguodala can't be that. Thaddeus is our small forward. That is how we move forward.
    — Horlet
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:07 PM, 01/28/2009
    Elton Brand - vs. Houston - 25 minutes: 6/10 FG, 14 points, seven rebounds, seven blocks. Oh god! He's terrible; he's terrible! Let's trade him! Let's overreact! No All-Star PF should be given more than thirty games to adapt to a new team! Trade him! Trade him! We're cranky Philly fans, and we're overreacting! That's what we do! Right, Kate? I mean, you did write that article about how Brand wouldn't work out? Yeah... the Sixers don't need a low post guy. Right?
    — Oliver


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About John Mitchell
John Mitchell is in his first 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.

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