IS GLAD SPRING TRAINING IS FINALLY HERE
After their win over the Celtics last week, the Sixers had an opportunity to build some confidence and put together some wins going into 2010.
However, losses to the Clippers and Wizards put them at 7-21 overall. Next up is a five-game west coast swing, starting with the Jazz Saturday.
The national outlook for the Sixers hasn’t changed too much this week. But the win over the Celtics gave some of the media pundits hope for the Sixers.
Here’s Pattison Ave.’s weekly round-up:
With the return of Lou Williams and Marreese Speights to the lineup, ESPN.com believes there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, bumping them up from 29 to 26 this week.
The Sixers can (probably) live with the loss to the Clips and A.I.'s injury because last week was their best week in ages, thanks to the returns of Lou Williams and Speights and a win in Boston no one saw coming.
NBA.com’s John Schuhmann gives the Sixers a little bump in his rankings this week, moving them from 28th to 26th. Schuhmann hopes Williams’ return can provide a spark for a lifeless team.
After a comeback in Boston, the Sixers' first win over a winning team, Lou Williams returned five weeks early and Andre Iguodala hit the game-winner Saturday. But replay showed the shot was a hair too late. Five minutes later, it's a home loss to the Clippers.
FOXSports.com’s John Galinsky doesn’t see any positives for the Sixers to keep Allen Iverson around now that Williams came back five weeks early from a broken jaw he suffered on Nov. 24. Galinsky didn’t move Philadelphia anywhere from a week ago, keeping the Sixers at 27.
Now that Lou Williams is back five weeks early, is there any point keeping Iverson around?
CBSsports.com doesn’t see the benefit of Iverson's return, especially with his arthritic knee forcing him out of the line-up until Dec. 29th. But they gave the Sixers a little respect this week, bumping them up two slots from 27th to 25th:
Overrated? Brand's game-winning tip-in caps 23-point night in win over Celtics. ... Five games into homecoming, Allen Iverson benched with aching knee.
The Sixers have a tough road trip ahead, with games against Utah, Portland, Sacramento, LA Clippers and Denver. Those five teams have a combined home record of 51-21.
