http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/marcus_hayes RSS Feed for DN Col Marcus Hayes en-us Wed, 30 May 2012 13:17:34 GMT http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/marcus_hayes/20120530_Marcus_Hayes__Holiday_close_to_being_the_star_Sixers_need.html IT WAS SUNDAY, locker cleanout day, and Elton Brand, the franchise's spokesman, looked sharp. He wore a white, checked shirt, bespoke, casually elegant. Brand knew he would be asked to stand in front of the microphones and review the Sixers' season. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/marcus_hayes/20120529_Marcus_Hayes__Sixers_following_Phils____Flyers__footsteps.html A BAND OF unremarkable players, poorly matched and destined for disbandment, wheezed into the NBA playoffs at the end of a freakish season. The injury fairies smiled on them and cursed their opposition. These unremarkable players then beat the best team in their bracket, then nearly upset their division champion. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/marcus_hayes/20120524_Marcus_Hayes__Sixers_veterans_came_to_play.html ELTON BRAND strode through the corridors of TD Garden dressed like a stockbroker, as amiable as a preacher. A security guard congratulated Brand on his exceptional effort in a losing cause. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/marcus_hayes/20120523_Sixers_should_leave_fear_behind_for_Game_6.html IT COULDN’T last. Not for the Sixers. The beauty of the game played by both teams Monday lay in the abandon with which each passed and caught and shot the basketball. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/marcus_hayes/20120522_Marcus_Hayes__Rest_recharged_the_weary_Celtics.html BOSTON - So, after 69 hours of rest, the Celtics yawned, stretched, applied a coating of liniment, or pixie dust, or whatever it is they use, and put a beating on the overmatched Sixers. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/marcus_hayes/20120521_Days_off_a_blessing_for_old_Celtics.html ALL THIS rest might kill the Sixers. Tied at 2 in their Eastern Conference semifinal, the Celtics own homecourt advantage. Both Celtics home games come off 2 days of rest. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/marcus_hayes/20120518_Marcus_Hayes__Boston_evolving__on_the_rise.html BOSTON - Boston should be burning. The Patriots cannot win the Big One, the Bruins got dumped in the first round and the Celtics are a series from being dismantled. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/marcus_hayes/20120517_Marcus_Hayes__Celtics_tap_into_fountain_of_youth.html NOBODY PLAYS perfect, lockdown defense every night. It is unlikely, against any combination of competition. It is impossible in the playoffs, against a team as talented, as professional and as well-coached as the Boston Celtics. http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/marcus_hayes/20120515_Marcus_Hayes__Sixers__ugly_win__Roll_over__Herb_Magee.html BOSTON - Doug Collins, basketball professor, loves to wax educational when his teams play poorly. So, what's the lesson this time? http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/marcus_hayes/20120514_Marcus_Hayes__Sixers_need_a_few_more_pros_to_beat_Celtics.html BOSTON - There are basketball players. There are basketball professionals. One day, perhaps soon, the Sixers might grow to be the latter.