Author Topic: Philly is just gross!  (Read 13796 times)

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Re: Philly is just gross!
« Reply #60 on: March 30, 2014, 04:02:32 PM »

Offline HomerSapien

  • Jaylen Brown
  • Posts: 657
  • Tommy Points: 43
In my opinion, the Sixers are a team with a sound long-term plan.  Whether it works or not remains to be seen, but I applaud them for trying to exploit the rules of the system they are working under to their advantage, thinking long-term, and not worrying about what makes people warm and cuddly tomorrow.  Yeah, it is risky, but American sports only care about the one champion each year, so 76ers ownership thinks this approach gives them the best chance at building a champion.

Clearly their strategy relies on the assumption that they can a) identify NBA caliber talent in the draft, and b) do a good job of developing that talent into NBA players.

Going back to last year’s draft, the only really good asset they had was Jrue Holiday.  He was developing into a real talent at the PG position, but they didn’t have much around him.  Hypothetically, in last year’s “bad” draft they viewed Nerlens Noel as someone who will develop as a difference maker at the F/C position long-term, and maybe from the crop of Trey Burke, MCW, and Dennis Schroeder they were confident they could get a starter level PG with their own pick to replace Holiday PLUS another lottery pick in the much more talent rich 2014 draft from the trade with NO.

Fast forward to this year.  I love that they sat Nerlens Noel for the entire 2014 season.  He was drafted as a high potential project, and where is the rule that says guys have to play in the NBA from day 1?  Nerlens was a bean pole and also recovering from serious injury, and I like that they took the pressure off and decided that 2014 would be a year for him to focus on working towards having an NBA body, and letting his knee heal.  I imagine he is also working on big man fundamentals in practice so that when he finally does hit the court 4/4/14, or this fall he will be more prepared for the challenge he will face on court.

Also this year they must think very highly of the talent in the 2014 draft.  Dumping Evan Turner and Hawes, two players Phily wanted NO part of after this season, for “nothing” (2nd round picks are not nothing) helps get them one of the 4 highest potential players in this draft thanks to the NBAs flawed lottery system, plus adds more assets to use to move up, or just straight draft guys.  The 76ers have 7 picks this season.  Based on the returns of 2014 draft early entry, this draft is going to be really deep.  With guys like Zach Levine, and Dario Saric declaring and Kentucky’s entire starting lineup potentially playing their way into the draft in the NCAA tournament the talent pool should be loaded.  If all those picks net them some combination of Wiggins/Parker/Exum/Embiid, another starter with the 2nd lottery pick, a couple of high potential Int’l players to stash or bring over, plus one or two high potential draft sliders such as Zach Levine, a Harrison, etc. or maybe a lower ceiling Sr. like Lamar Patterson that’s a nice haul.  Alternatively, they trade picks in exchange for established talent instead.

After this draft they are left with a young core of MCW, Noel, Wiggins/Parker/Exum/Embiid, 2014 lottery pick #2, plus a war chest full of other young players, picks, and a boatload of cap space to acquire/retain talent going forward.  That team is still a long way away from winning anything, but it will be loaded with assets that can be developed or packaged for a finished product, and there will be plenty of “hope” to sell to 76ers fans come next October.
« Last Edit: March 30, 2014, 04:10:50 PM by HomerSapien »

Re: Philly is just gross!
« Reply #61 on: April 03, 2014, 09:01:52 AM »

Offline The One

  • Bailey Howell
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  • Posts: 2017
  • Tommy Points: 203
Great start to the month of April!

Getting blown out by 30...on your home court.

Chew on this...

"Philadelphia ranks last in the league in field goal percentage (42.7), three-point field-goal percentage (30.7), turnovers per game (17.2) and blocks against (7.1), according to NBA.com/stats. The 76ers also rank last in opponents’ effective field goal percentage (52.4) and 27th in opponents’ free throw attempt rate (.318), meaning teams are getting to the foul line often for easy scoring opportunities."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/wp/2014/03/28/a-closer-look-at-the-philadelphia-76ers-historic-losing-streak/