<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Whittaker: Sixers still a long way from NBA Finals Saturday, June 19, 2005 By CELESTE E. WHITTAKER Courier-Post Staff You wonder when, and if, the Sixers will get back to the NBA Finals. I know it's exciting for fans that former standout guard Maurice Cheeks is now the team's head coach, and there have been reports that his former backcourt mate, Andrew Toney, will be one of his assistants. And, of course, the Sixers have Allen Iverson, who is probably the toughest player in the league. They also have Chris Webber, who even if he is playing on a bad knee still is capable of putting up numbers. They also have a nice crop of young players in Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver, Samuel Dalembert and Willie Green. I just don't think that they are currently constructed to get to the Finals. I don't know if they can play good enough defense. I don't know if they have the all-important role players to pull it off either. When they went to the Finals four years ago, they had Tyrone Hill, George Lynch, Eric Snow and an Aaron McKie who was playing at a high level. Those role players were instrumental in the Sixers' success that season. Iverson was the league's MVP that year, but McKie was also the Sixth Man Award winner. Dikembe Mutombo was the Defensive Player of the Year. And the Sixers were a great defensive team.</div> <div align="center">Full Story</div> It's a pretty good article. It basically says that titles are won by good coaching and defense. So, do you guys think we have a good enough team to win the finals?
I have said this before and I'll say it again they need one or two more guys who can come in and play a role. The 76ers need guys like Robert Horry, a couple of good role players would add the piece to the puzzle the 76ers need to be a complete team.
Robert Horry is good, but I highly doubt we could snag him. Well to be honest, I agree with B-22, and I think the 76ers are just a few players away from being championship contenders. The way I see it, we're just a Tayshaun Prince like player short. Having a player similar to Prince in thes starting line-up would be a major upgrade. Korver is not starting material if you want a championship and also we need a bonafied big man off our bench and that's when I think Donyell Marshall can come in and be the final peice to our puzzle. We already have a solid foundation of Sammy, C-Webb and AI and role players such as Jackson, Korver, Iguodala, so if we can get just two additional players that can vill in the void (Starting SF, Bench) the Pistons and Heat better beware.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">Robert Horry is good, but I highly doubt we could snag him. Well to be honest, I agree with B-22, and I think the 76ers are just a few players away from being championship contenders. The way I see it, we're just a Tayshaun Prince like player short. Having a player similar to Prince in thes starting line-up would be a major upgrade. Korver is not starting material if you want a championship and also we need a bonafied big man off our bench and that's when I think Donyell Marshall can come in and be the final peice to our puzzle. We already have a solid foundation of Sammy, C-Webb and AI and role players such as Jackson, Korver, Iguodala, so if we can get just two additional players that can vill in the void (Starting SF, Bench) the Pistons and Heat better beware.</div> yeah, and remember, chris webber's knee will be rehabbed, so if we had a tashaun prince? then this will probably happen
Im surprised people are saying we need a Prince type player. Well I think Igoudala can be our "Prince player". He plays good defense just like Prince. Only thing I believe Prince currently has over Igoudala is the more consistant three point shot between the two. One thing I do think we need is more hard nosed players. Both Allen Iverson, and Igoudala are top ten in the league in steals per game. However, in Allen's case most of his steals come off double teams, and pressure defense. I think he needs to improve his one on one defense a bit. Samuel Dalembert is another player I believe has the potential to be a good defensive player for us. Although, unlike some people I do not think he has reached that level yet. He needs to gain more knowledge of the game. He goaltends (sp?) the basket to much. Though he is a good shot blocker often times his aggressiveness gets the best of him. Now the two big needs I believe we need to become championship contenders is a player like Robert Horry (like mentioned earlier) who has ice water in his vains, and does not feel any pressure. KK is great, but his youth does cause him to feel pressure a lot like shown in the playoffs. Another big need I believe is more depth, and experence on the bench. Mckie use to be great, but he is not the same player he was in 2001 after all the surgeries (and I know we all know this just saying). Cheeks should keep him around for vetern advice, but not play him as many minutes as JO did he has a good shot, but I think he needs to be used in the same role Lindsey Hunter is used in Detroit. A player who comes in when the situation suites it not a everyday guy in the rotation, and if he is not as many minutes. John Salmons, Willie Green, Kyle Korver, Sam Dalembert, Andre Igoudala. Five guys who with the exception of Salmons and Green (who is probably going to be active in our rotation next year) were consistant in our rotation this year, and out of them not one had over three seasons of experence. Considering Dalembert missed his entire rookie season. Bring in a couple veterns such as Barry from the Rockets possibly and the players will develope quicker.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Bring in a couple veterns such as Barry from the Hawks possibly and the players will develope quicker.</div> Jon Barry's with Houston now and actually continue playing there or else, he plans on retiring from reports I've been hearing. The only things keeping Sixers away from the finals are experience, a playmaker, and a legit powerforward or center. A lot of our guys are simply too young to make too much of an impact in the post season- take a look at Iguodala and Korver in the series against the Pistons. They looked completely overwhelmed on the court and couldn't get their game together. The reason why I think we need a playmaker is that the team looks completely lost when Iverson is out on the court. No offense or defense seems to be going on. Sure, this is only a few minutes, but a playmaker would also dramatically impact even when Iverson's in. He would be able to set up teammates instead of the entire team just setting up isolation plays for Allen and then looking lost. However, the most important aspect Sixers need to make a legit run at the finals is a powerforward or big man. Rodney Rogers simply is not going to do the trick and since he's a free agent this offseason, it would be good to look at other powerforwards out there. Even though Webber might be able to rehabilitate his knee, we still need a player that can consistently bring down boards for the team and do some rebounding for us. Jackson and Webber shy away from the basket too much while Dalembert gets into foul trouble alot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">Robert Horry is good, but I highly doubt we could snag him. Well to be honest, I agree with B-22, and I think the 76ers are just a few players away from being championship contenders. The way I see it, we're just a Tayshaun Prince like player short. Having a player similar to Prince in thes starting line-up would be a major upgrade. Korver is not starting material if you want a championship and also we need a bonafied big man off our bench and that's when I think Donyell Marshall can come in and be the final peice to our puzzle. We already have a solid foundation of Sammy, C-Webb and AI and role players such as Jackson, Korver, Iguodala, so if we can get just two additional players that can vill in the void (Starting SF, Bench) the Pistons and Heat better beware.</div> shareef abdur rahim is my choice i been saying this for weeks now,a deal could definitly be done and he is available,put him the starting lineup and you contend for ECF at least iverson igoudala abdur rahim webber dalambert
The bottom line is the 76er?s need a player capable of playing a role at the small forward spot. At the same time their options are kind of slim. Free agency is tough because the 76ers don't really have the cap space. I also don't see the 76ers drafting a player at the 45 pick that can have an immediate impact on this team. Philly might have to trade for somebody or they might just have to not resign some players. But names out there are Donyell Marshall, Rahim, and others. Hopefully Billy King can make something happen.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Terminator-X:</div><div class="quote_post">shareef abdur rahim is my choice i been saying this for weeks now,a deal could definitly be done and he is available,put him the starting lineup and you contend for ECF at least iverson igoudala abdur rahim webber dalambert</div> shareef plays small forward? i thought he played power forward?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting yao ming:</div><div class="quote_post">shareef plays small forward? i thought he played power forward?</div> He can play either forward spot.
Hmmm....so we're going to have to pay around 50 million just for three players(AI, Webb, Rahim)? Doesn't sound very smart to me......Our best bet is Donyell Marshall, he is really the only option out there to have an immediate impact.
The 76ers need about 2 role players and has many others have said Donyel Marshal would be great for philly.
Yeah, to the above comment about Rodney Rogers. I hate to say it because he's been such a hard worker and developed a tremendous outside shot 5 years ago to carve a spot on several teams, and he's never been able to play for a title team, but his shooting percentage is down and he does need alot of minutes to be effective; and that's not going to happen. But he's been a good pro and I hope he can catch on somewhere next year.
I agree that Donyel Marshall would be a perfect fit.. He could be that Robert Horry type player and could also help out when CWebb is having bad games All you would need then is for the youth to mature.. Dalembert becoming that Mutombo type defender.. Igoudala also with his defense and improving shot, and if Korver could become a more clutch player then i could see you guys headed for the finals in the next 2 -3 years.. Hopefully
