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Reality for Sixers falls far short of hope

HOUSTON - Well, this certainly isn't where the 76ers expected to be at the All-Star break.

Think back to the summer, when the sun was hot and expectations for the Sixers were, also. Remember talk of 60 wins? Of a possible matchup in the Eastern Conference finals with the Miami Heat? Of the franchise being not only significant again but perhaps on the cusp of, dare we say, years of winning basketball?

But that was then and this is now. That was speculation and in 6 short months, reality has set in, and that reality is that with no Andrew Bynum, the team is mired in mediocrity yet again.

Here's a look, player by player, at what was expected of them before Bynum's knees changed the landscape of the team and what this year has been.

Andrew Bynum

The Hope: The biggest acquisition by the club in many, many years, Bynum was coming off his best season in the NBA, in which he averaged 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, shot 55.8 percent and played in 60 of 66 games in the lockout-shortened season at a 35.2-minute-a-game clip. At 7-foot and 295 pounds and only 24, he was the foundation on which this franchise was going to build over the next 4 years or so. Doesn't that gathering at the Convention Center seem like a lifetime ago?

The Reality: Bynum hasn't seen the court with his new teammates, in workouts, practices or games, as he injured his right knee before training camp. As that was recovering, Bynum decided to kill some time bowling, and that tweaked his left knee. He says that he is improving now, that the right knee is great and the left still bothersome. Uneducated guess as to when he returns this season is that he won't. If surgery is indeed needed on one or both knees, isn't it better to get it done ASAP? Whatever happens, the Sixers have a huge decision ahead of them on what to do with Bynum.

Jrue Holiday

The Hope: When Doug Collins took over the team in May 2010, he said he envisioned Holiday becoming a premier NBA point guard in a few years. With Bynum, visions of Holiday averaging double-digit assists while also adding a strong scoring touch were bantered about. He seemed to be the perfect complement and would have been the biggest beneficiary of Bynum's joining the Sixers.

The Reality: Holiday is making his first All-Star appearance this weekend in Houston, and it's much deserved, as he is averaging 19 points and 8.9 assists. He is the heart and soul of the team right now, and Collins has entrusted him as such. That is both a good and bad thing. It's good in that for Holiday to reach elite status, he must be a team leader and earn the respect of his teammates. It is bad in that he is only 22 and his youth shows in his play at times, with bad turnovers and questionable shot selection. Still, if there is a piece to build with, he is it.

Thaddeus Young

The Hope: In Young, the Sixers have a player who will bring every ounce of energy he has in his body every game. The problem is that there really isn't a position for him to bring it to. He bulked up during the offseason per the organization's instructions, as it saw him playing mostly power forward.

The Reality: Until his recent hamstring injury, Young, whom Collins described as the team's most important player, was the only real inside "threat" the team had. He was scoring inside with pure quickness, not strength, and got his team-leading 7.4 rebounds the same way.

Evan Turner

The Hope: This was supposed to be the year everything came together for Turner. This was going to be the year that he could spell Holiday at point guard, rebound the basketball consistenly, and score via fastbreaks and by his bread-and-butter midrange game. If he could produce similar numbers as departed Andre Iguodala - say 15 points, six to seven rebounds and about four or five assists, people would forget about him being the "bust at No. 2" in favor of being a valuable contributor to a top-tier team.

The Reality: While Turner started the season posting the above numbers for the most part, he hasn't had those types of numbers consistently. He is still struggling to find himself in the offense, openly griping at times about his lack of shots. His body language when things go bad has gotten better, but is still bothersome. He appears to contribute best when he lets the game come to him. Sometimes that may mean 15 shots, other nights maybe only five. That certainly doesn't sit well with him. He has been the subject of trade rumors, and a move might be in his best interest.

Jason Richardson

The Hope: Bringing in the veteran shooter was supposed to provide a piece to a large puzzle, a guy who could drain open jumpers that were going to be plentiful, with Bynum in the middle. He also would bring a much-needed veteran voice to a team full of young players.

The Reality: Richardson really was never healthy all season, particularly after spraning an ankle early in the season. Now he is recovering from knee surgery that could take up to a year to heal and may derail his career.

Spencer Hawes

The Hope: When Bynum was acquired, Collins envisioned Hawes playing small forward and benefiting offensively from the big man down low. His defensive liabilities against power forwards, it was hoped, would be masked by Bynum swatting shots behind him.

The Reality: Like it or not, Hawes is playing to what he is - a softer big man who can shoot and pass, but at times struggles with rebounding. He is his own worst enemy when times are going bad, much like Turner.

Nick Young

and Dorell Wright

The Hope: Two more shooters who would be the spark off the bench that Collins so enjoys. With Lou Williams moving to Atlanta, the team appeared to have corraled not one but two players who could make up for that loss. It was also intriguing that the 6-7 Young and 6-9 Wright were much bigger than the 6-1 Williams.

The Reality: Both have been shuffled in and out of the starting lineup all season because of injuries and Collins' hope for a spark. Both have fallen out of the rotation at times and both have thrived in their roles at times. Kind of sums up the inconsistency of the team.

Lavoy Allen

The Hope: After an eye-opening performance in last year's playoffs, the ideas was to have Allen come off the bench to provide strong defense when Bynum sat and give them a little offensive spark with his outside shooting.

The Reality: The motor that has so often been questioned throughout his career has seemed to be idling a lot for Allen this season. There have been flashes, such as the 22-rebound effort recently against the Charlotte Bobcats, but more often than not, it's just been a wait-and-hope situation with him.

Kwame Brown

and Arnett Moultrie

The Hope: When Bynum was acquired, Collins envisioned Brown as another physical low-post presence that could give him solid defense down there for maybe 12 or so minutes a game. Moultrie wasn't counted on for much, as he suffered a bad ankle injury just before the draft.

The Reality: Brown has struggled with injuries, attitude and conditioning, and hasn't gained Collins' trust; nor has Moultrie, who is really just getting into NBA shape now.

Royal Ivey, Maalik Wayns

and Jeremy Pargo

The Hope: Ivey was another veteran who could lend leadership in the locker room and maybe spare Holiday a few minutes of rest every once in a while. Backup point guard was a weakness of the team going into the season.

The Reality: Backup point guard continues to be a weakness for this team.

So what happens from here is anyone's guess. Bynum's getting onto the court at any time seems slim. There are some other expiring contracts (Nick Young and Wright), which will give the team some money with which to play next season, but whatever decisions general manager Tony DiLeo and company make, it will be another rebuilding year.

And will Collins want to be back for that?

Hope and reality for the Sixers this season couldn't be further apart.

Email: cooneyb@phillynews.com

" @BobCooney76

Blog: philly.com/Sixerville