Posted: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 8:34 PM | 13 comments |
 

Remembering Reggie
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Reggie Evans did exactly what he was asked to do:

Block out around the basket.

Go hard after rebounds.

Provide a defensive presence in the post.

He wasn't going to dazzle anyone with his limited offensive skills, but he could draw fouls and he could create mayhem. When Maurice Cheeks was coaching the 76ers, Evans had the clearance to press and trap at virtually any time and any place on the court. And he often did.

He was also the guy waiting to greet every starter as they were introduced at the beginning of games.

If you want to remember his limitations, feel free. I'll remember May 1, 2008, when the Sixers were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs by the Detroit Pistons. The Sixers had played well down the homestretch of the season to reach the post-season and, to some degree, had caught the imagination of their hard-core fans. None of them were thinking about a championship, but they were appreciative of the team's hustle and grit.

And when that last game in the Wachovia Center ended, Evans--instead of just going directly to the locker-room--impulsively took off his shoes and tossed them into the stands. A bunch of his teammates followed his lead.

''I just wanted to show my appreciation,'' Evans said then. ''They've been wonderful.''

His role was reduced this season, and--with the return of Elton Brand and Jason Smith from injuries--he was suddenly facing a logjam at the power forward/center positions. The Sixers needed a perimeter scorer a lot more than they needed a spare banger, which helped precipitate the trade that has sent Evans to the Toronto Raptors for Jason Kapono.

There will be more about that in tomorrow's Daily News.
Posted by Phil Jasner @ 8:34 PM  Permalink | 13 comments
13
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:59 PM, 06/09/2009
    Will miss him...but this was still a great deal...
    — Israel is my home
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:19 PM, 06/09/2009
    when reggie stepped on the floor you knew that you were gonna get nothing but 110% effort...cant say that about the rest of the team
    — Dawk20
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:25 PM, 06/09/2009
    Reggie brought intensity and effort every time he was on the court. Each championship team needs a guy like him but we need a shooter first and this deal makes sense. He will bother us next year in a Raptor uni.
    — foment3
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:39 PM, 06/09/2009
    reggie is a true sixer in my mind. he was just begining to learn how to shoot. our luck he will be an allstar
    — maximus
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:35 AM, 06/10/2009
    He "brought his lunch pale" every game. But this trade is really good. The 2nd highest 3p % in history? This guy would of added 5 wins to the sixers season last year.
    — johnnysanz3
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:44 AM, 06/10/2009
    Hey langx - have you even looked at his numbers from this past season? He shot 43 percent from 3, averaging 8 a game. Pretty good numbers for a guy you can bring off the bench and let fire away. For his career, he's tied with Steve Kerr for most accurate in history: .454.
    — toph7
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:08 AM, 06/10/2009
    Evans was the worst offensive player I have ever seen good riddance.
    — arocketsa
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:56 AM, 06/10/2009
    Langx, you obviously have no idea what you are talking about. The last two playoff series, Iguodala has faced double teams and/or loaded defenses quite regularly, with teams daring the Sixers to make them pay for it. Kapono can do that. So, the Sixers are far closer to Miami, given how teams love to collapse defensively against them, then the Raptors, who lack any penetrators from any spots. You would know that, if your game knowledge matched the vehemence of your comments.
    — rswknight
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:11 AM, 06/10/2009
    The team still is not good. I like the people, but this does not make the team much better. Remember, we heard this last year when we got those other guys in. Do something that makes them better. Perhaps removing Stefansky would help.
    — freyday17
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:44 AM, 06/10/2009
    Reggie "Windex" Evans will be missed. Can't blame them for getting a shooter that was much needed. Maybe Kapono can teach Iggy to shoot?
    — harry & whitey


13 comments
About Bob Cooney
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.

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