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Thursday, October 15, 2009
What's It Mean To Be 4-0?

The 76ers have won their first four preseason games for the fifth time since 1963. As they prepare for a pair of weekend games against the Phoenix Suns, is that enough for you to begin to hope and dream about the coming season? Is it even enough to get a feel for what the season might be like?

Don't go off the deep end yet with Eddie Jordan and his Princeton offense, but here's what history says about the Sixers winning at least their first four preseason games--

1967-68: They swept their first six in a 7-2 preseason. Powered by Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer and Billy Cunningham, they went 62-20.

1968-69: They took their first five in a 12-game preaseason (7-5), then went 55-27 behind Cunningham, Greer and Chet Walker.

1975-76: They won their first four in the preseason, finishing 6-2. With George McGinnis, Doug Collins, Fred Carter and Steve Mix (not to mention young Lloyd Free and Joe Bryant), they were 46-36.

1978-79: They won their first four in a 7-1 preseason. Led by Julius Erving, Collins, Darryl Dawkins, Henry Bibby and Maurice Cheeks, they went 47-35.

What, if anything, does that mean in reference to this season?

Not a clue.

Just offering a dollop of Sixerville in the midst of the Phillies' run.

 

 

Posted by Phil Jasner @ 4:26 PM  Permalink | 15 comments
15
Comments   
Posted 07:27 PM, 10/15/2009
Nothing but the truth
What's It Mean To Be 4-0? I'll tell you what it means, it means that the whole NBA better watch out! They will have scoring at all 5 positions with that awesome Princeton offense. I'm predicting 25-5 out the gate and another banner for the rafters once the season ends. This young stud team with a mix of veterans is ready to explode on the scene. I going to make sure that I clear out my schedule for the months of May and June for when this team get the 1st of many championships!
Posted 07:53 PM, 10/15/2009
jrwoznicki
I need a little of what you are smokin', Nothing but the Truth. Although there might be some improvement from last year, my guess would be no more than + 5 games, max, and that is given no major injuries and Brand back to some semblance of his former self.
Posted 10:58 PM, 10/15/2009
JonKap
Considering no team in NBA history has ever won a title without a top superstar, it means nothing.
Posted 11:58 PM, 10/15/2009
BlairW
It's the preseason. It means nothing yet.
Posted 12:19 AM, 10/16/2009
JSaq
It means squat.
Posted 04:57 AM, 10/16/2009
himills
4-0 means EVERYTHING. The Detroit Lions football team went 4-0 last year (2008) in their own preseason ... and then of course went 0-16 during the regular season. From an undefeated preseason to a defeated regular season.
Posted 06:26 AM, 10/16/2009
Panthro22
PLEASE! Are y'all crazy or something? 4-0 in the preseason means jack squat! The Detroit Lions is a football team. This is basketball! With this team, it doesn't mean a thing because we still have a star that doesn't know how to be SUPER, we have a stiff at center and we still don't kow how the former Clipper will mesh with this offense. No need to pay attention to these bums until the baseball and football seasons are over.
Posted 07:17 AM, 10/16/2009
spizz
The answer is it probably does not count for much, but it's still encouraging- for both the team and the fans. You play to win the games.
Posted 08:37 AM, 10/16/2009
perezme
Well it means alot because the sixers are trying to win our hearts back especially now that the eagles are doing good the flyers are looking better and of course the phillies are the kings of the city. Let just hope for a healthy season and get to the playoffs and then anything can happen.
Posted 08:40 AM, 10/16/2009
jss31
It means the teams that they played probably aren't too good.
Posted 09:27 AM, 10/16/2009
phightingreen
jonkap - didnt the detroit pistions will recently without a bonafide superstar? they won with team ball and it appears the 76 are heading that way. but yeah i agree it doesnt mean much and the teams they are playing are weak. never the less a wins a win and thats what wins
Posted 09:33 AM, 10/16/2009
ricky
jss31 has it right. The Sixers are still learning the Princeton, which is intended to give them good looks when their individual one-on-one game isn't working. The team still hasn't learned it yet, and even abandoned it against the Knicks, since of few of them played for Jordan and knew it better. The Sixers were a .500 team last season without Brand and his 20-19 game. Lou Williams is a quicker guard than Andre Miller and should do more for the teams offense and defense. With the improvement expected from Thad, Lou and Andre, plus Speights and hopefully Jason Smith and Jrue Holiday, we should see marked improvement, It's no surprise they were able to beat Toronto without it's two best players, and the Nets and Knicks. I'm not even sure the Suns are a good team this season. When they outplay a good team or an above average team then we'll know a lot more about how they will do. I'm expecting a 50 win season, but it could be better or worse. Put it this way, it's better than 4 losses!
Posted 09:41 AM, 10/16/2009
Delaware Mike
All I can say it means is that it's better than going 0-4. I think winning can only help but we can't put too much stock into pre-season. Winning is still winning...
Posted 10:52 AM, 10/16/2009
FetchDixon
I'll tell you what it means... GET Sammy D the ball down on the Block!! The Haitian Sensation is an All Star in the making!! Remember when he led Seton Hall over Temple in the dance? He's a money player baby!!!
Posted 11:56 AM, 10/16/2009
rayzoe
What's It Mean To Be 4-0? Jack! I like what "truth" said, good one T.
About Sixerville Blog
Phil Jasner joined the staff of the Daily News in 1972. He has covered the 76ers and the NBA on a full-time basis since 1981. He won the 2004 Curt Gowdy Media Award, presented by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions to the sport during his career; he was a finalist for the award in 2001, when he also received a lifetime achievement award from the Professional Basketball Writers Association during the NBA Finals. He is a past president of the Professional Basketball Writers Association and the Philadelphia College Basketball Writers Association. Along the way, he has covered high school sports, the Big 5, the Eagles and the NFL, the World Football League, the North American Soccer League and what was then the Major Indoor Soccer League. He is a proud graduate of Temple University, and spent his early professional days at the Pottstown (Pa.) Mercury, Montgomery Newspapers (Fort Washington, Pa.), the Norristown (Pa.) Times-Herald and the Trentonian.

Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for almost 20 years, working in the sports department the past 12 years. This is his first season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he has been the La Salle beat writer for the past six seasons.

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