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| The Sixers should seriously explore trading Andre Iguodala for Monta Ellis |
The Anomaly of Andre Iguodala
For those of you who follow me on Twitter, you are very well aware of my hatred of what Iguodala brings for the Sixers on a play-by-play basis. As a basketball fan in general, I really appreciate and enjoy watching players like Thaddeus Young, Nik Vucevic, Spencer Hawes, Steve Nash, Dirk, and even Jeremy Lin who BRING IT on 98% of every play they are in the game. These types of players fight on every possession (both offensive and defensive) and try to make every one of their decisions and actions have a positive affect on their team. Iguodala doesn’t have that in his DNA. He takes many plays off on defense (Like when he allowed himself to be screened away from Deron Willions with 30 seconds left in the 4th Quarter by Kris Humpheries to let Jodie Meeks cover the All-Start point guard instead) and doesn’t understand good shot selection on offense. Unofficially, Iguodala chucks up 4 fade-a-way jump shots a game from either the elbow extended or beyond. These shots also always come early into the shot-clock or after he stopped the balls rotation throughout the offense. He’s getting paid $13 million to put up 16 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists a night. But, this season, he’s only averaging 12 points, 5 boards and 6 assists while also shooting an abysmal 62% from the foul line. Yet, he’s an All-Star? I simply just don’t get it. If the NBA coaches decided that the Sixers deserved to have one player represent them in the All-Star game, it honestly should have been a guy who fills his role more sufficiently like Lou Williams or Thad. Iguodala’s national acclaim is nothing but an anomaly to me. I just hope it’s only a matter of time, and a few upcoming nationally televised games, that the truth about this overpaid player is revealed to all.
The Weird Frontcourt Situation
The Sixers frontcourt this season has been nothing short of weird. First, Spencer Hawes started off the year as the front-runner for the Most Improved Player award. But, that was his nagging back, strained Achilles tendon and some guy named Jeremy Lin. This opened the door for Nik Vucevic (my boyfriend) to develop into a solid rookie, Elton Brand to turn into a shot-blocker and interior-defending beast (before his right thumb injury) and the birth of Lavoy Allen’s professional basketball career! But now, Hawes has been sidelined for the last 9 games, fans are rumbling for a trade, and Collins refuses to take Allen out of the lineup for a more productive Vucevic or Thad Young. What’s weird about these bigs, is that the team is blessed with 4 solid big guys that would most likely make any NBA roster, but they’re not all totally effective together on the floor. For example, Elton Brand and Lavoy Allen don’t mesh defensively or really offensively. They both like to float between the elbows and the block and shoot spot-up jumpers and Lavoy can’t cover opposing big men who wander outside the lane while Brand controls the paint. And, even when Hawes wasn’t injured, the team’s best offensive lineup included Thad and Vucevic up front, but that led to some clear defensive struggles. The weirdest thing of all is that the Sixer’s bigs have done so many great and unexpected things during the first half of the season, but that production has still, unfortunately, not been enough on many nights to get W’s over the past two weeks.
The Sixers frontcourt this season has been nothing short of weird. First, Spencer Hawes started off the year as the front-runner for the Most Improved Player award. But, that was his nagging back, strained Achilles tendon and some guy named Jeremy Lin. This opened the door for Nik Vucevic (my boyfriend) to develop into a solid rookie, Elton Brand to turn into a shot-blocker and interior-defending beast (before his right thumb injury) and the birth of Lavoy Allen’s professional basketball career! But now, Hawes has been sidelined for the last 9 games, fans are rumbling for a trade, and Collins refuses to take Allen out of the lineup for a more productive Vucevic or Thad Young. What’s weird about these bigs, is that the team is blessed with 4 solid big guys that would most likely make any NBA roster, but they’re not all totally effective together on the floor. For example, Elton Brand and Lavoy Allen don’t mesh defensively or really offensively. They both like to float between the elbows and the block and shoot spot-up jumpers and Lavoy can’t cover opposing big men who wander outside the lane while Brand controls the paint. And, even when Hawes wasn’t injured, the team’s best offensive lineup included Thad and Vucevic up front, but that led to some clear defensive struggles. The weirdest thing of all is that the Sixer’s bigs have done so many great and unexpected things during the first half of the season, but that production has still, unfortunately, not been enough on many nights to get W’s over the past two weeks.
The Evan Turner Dilemma
Evan Turner hasn’t played like a Number 2 Overall Draft Pick during his first season and a half as a professional. Now, I’m gonna tell you why. Evan Turner is a POINT GUARD. He played as a distributor in college at The Ohio State University. He thrives when he has the ball in his hands and is able to create for himself and his teammates. Some of my favorite moments of this season have came when Turner skied for a defensive rebound, immediately took off down the floor and fired a 35-foot-pass, right on the money, to his teammate for an easy fast break layup. What’s holding Turner back you may ask? Jrue Holiday. Jrue’s playing point on offense, but he can barely distribute and prefers to score than drive and kick. He also severely struggles covering opposing Point Guards on defense. Turner can actually defend point guards. He shut down Deron Willions for a solid 2 minutes late in the 4th Quarter of the team’s 97 to 90 OT loss to the Nets. Turner will only be truly successful in this League as a Point Guard or Point Forward. Mark my words.
Evan Turner hasn’t played like a Number 2 Overall Draft Pick during his first season and a half as a professional. Now, I’m gonna tell you why. Evan Turner is a POINT GUARD. He played as a distributor in college at The Ohio State University. He thrives when he has the ball in his hands and is able to create for himself and his teammates. Some of my favorite moments of this season have came when Turner skied for a defensive rebound, immediately took off down the floor and fired a 35-foot-pass, right on the money, to his teammate for an easy fast break layup. What’s holding Turner back you may ask? Jrue Holiday. Jrue’s playing point on offense, but he can barely distribute and prefers to score than drive and kick. He also severely struggles covering opposing Point Guards on defense. Turner can actually defend point guards. He shut down Deron Willions for a solid 2 minutes late in the 4th Quarter of the team’s 97 to 90 OT loss to the Nets. Turner will only be truly successful in this League as a Point Guard or Point Forward. Mark my words.
The Positives and Negatives of Coach Collins
When I found out the Sixers signed Doug Collins to be their next head coach two summers ago, I was a disappointed. I knew the Sixers were rebuilding. I knew they were overpaying two players and I knew not to expect anything big from the Sixers in a while. That’s why I wanted the team to promote Assistant Coach Aaron McKie and have their players grow with a young guy they could relate too. I was wrong about Collins. He really knows how to teach these young players to play tough, inspired and determined team basketball and defense. Under Collins, they have the sole lead of the Atlantic Division. But Collins does have some extreme coaching flaws. He severely lacks the competence of putting his players in position to succeed in the 4th Quarter. He also has struggles to make in-game decisions and matchup changes in a timely manner. For him to truly deserve to be in the Coach of The Year discussion, he needs to “teach” his team the great value of getting layups and attacking the basket late in games. Collins is a good teacher of the game of basketball and a great motivator. But I think he lacks the mental toughness and collectedness to be a coach that can help his team win games they really shouldn’t be winning.
Trade Deadline Drama
Of course, with every NBA All-Star Weekend come the imminent mysteries of the looming Trade Deadline. This year, the deadline is March 15, which leaves NBA teams with approximately 3 weeks to assess their rosters and attempt to improve them before the playoffs. For the Sixers, their roster is really only missing a scorer that can get to the line or score baskets almost every time he touches the ball in the 4th Quarter and a big man that you can dump the ball into in the post and commands a double team or can make a move for a clean easy layup. In the Second Quarter of their game against the Lakers on February 6th, the Lakers fed Andrew Bynum inside on every play and their offense was very effective. Similarly Dwight Howard forced the entire Sixers D to collapse around him in Orlando on Feb , which resulted in a 3-point party for the Magic Guards. On a different note, the Sixers are once again amidst rumors of dealing for high-scoring and clutch Warriors guard, Monta Ellis. Right now, since it is very unlikely that Howard would stay in Philly after being traded here, I’d really like to see the Sixers make a deal essentially based on swapping Iguodala for Ellis, while maybe including Jrue in the deal and sliding Turner into the starting lineup. With their Mareese Speights trade earlier in the season, the front office allowed themselves to have a multi-million dollar trade exception that would allow them to take back more money than they give in a trade. With that move, I’m very excited to say that for the first time in a long time, the Sixers should be doing some work at the deadline this season. But, as always, my fingers are always crossed wit a slight dubious feeling deep in my gut.
When I found out the Sixers signed Doug Collins to be their next head coach two summers ago, I was a disappointed. I knew the Sixers were rebuilding. I knew they were overpaying two players and I knew not to expect anything big from the Sixers in a while. That’s why I wanted the team to promote Assistant Coach Aaron McKie and have their players grow with a young guy they could relate too. I was wrong about Collins. He really knows how to teach these young players to play tough, inspired and determined team basketball and defense. Under Collins, they have the sole lead of the Atlantic Division. But Collins does have some extreme coaching flaws. He severely lacks the competence of putting his players in position to succeed in the 4th Quarter. He also has struggles to make in-game decisions and matchup changes in a timely manner. For him to truly deserve to be in the Coach of The Year discussion, he needs to “teach” his team the great value of getting layups and attacking the basket late in games. Collins is a good teacher of the game of basketball and a great motivator. But I think he lacks the mental toughness and collectedness to be a coach that can help his team win games they really shouldn’t be winning.
Trade Deadline Drama
Of course, with every NBA All-Star Weekend come the imminent mysteries of the looming Trade Deadline. This year, the deadline is March 15, which leaves NBA teams with approximately 3 weeks to assess their rosters and attempt to improve them before the playoffs. For the Sixers, their roster is really only missing a scorer that can get to the line or score baskets almost every time he touches the ball in the 4th Quarter and a big man that you can dump the ball into in the post and commands a double team or can make a move for a clean easy layup. In the Second Quarter of their game against the Lakers on February 6th, the Lakers fed Andrew Bynum inside on every play and their offense was very effective. Similarly Dwight Howard forced the entire Sixers D to collapse around him in Orlando on Feb , which resulted in a 3-point party for the Magic Guards. On a different note, the Sixers are once again amidst rumors of dealing for high-scoring and clutch Warriors guard, Monta Ellis. Right now, since it is very unlikely that Howard would stay in Philly after being traded here, I’d really like to see the Sixers make a deal essentially based on swapping Iguodala for Ellis, while maybe including Jrue in the deal and sliding Turner into the starting lineup. With their Mareese Speights trade earlier in the season, the front office allowed themselves to have a multi-million dollar trade exception that would allow them to take back more money than they give in a trade. With that move, I’m very excited to say that for the first time in a long time, the Sixers should be doing some work at the deadline this season. But, as always, my fingers are always crossed wit a slight dubious feeling deep in my gut.
