Apparently it is a moral and quasi-legal requirement for every sports blog to dedicate an article to all things Linsanity... so I figured why not compare Lin's incredibly small sample size but huge usage rate to our own resident Boss of Philly. If eligible, Lin would have the 5th highest usage rate in the NBA- right between Mellow and DWade, so who better to compare him to on the Sixers than the Boss who uses more than any man in Philly?

More importantly, I wanted a post where people can go on the record with their projections for Lin so that we can look back and praise (mock) them for their prescience. So I am simply going to present the numbers an you all can share your wisdom and eye for the future where the Knicks are suddenly relevant and Lingit contenders ...

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Six Teams clustered between 21-23 wins.  Given they have for the season won between 32-36% of their games, its impressive how well they have managed to tank.

Recent records:

Sixers:  Lost 6 of 7

Knicks: Lost 3 of 4

Pistons:  Lost 6 of 7

Wiz:  Lost last 4

Pacers:  Lost 4 of 5

Kings:  Lost 4 of 5

Combined:  27L and 5W = 16%Winning percentage...or 2X as many losses as you would expect...if they were not tanking.

From Philyarena

Good to see the Sixers get their legs back under them with a few solid wins heading into a difficult Western trip... but excuse us for not getting our hopes up for a momentous run.  This team is dangerous when they are on, but they are nothing if not streaky and mediocre.  Looking beyond these few games, let's tak about the organization.

Person #1: Is it BK or ES?

He becomes Sixers GM after several years as the #2 man for a high profile team that lost in the finals a few years ago, but now is declining.  The guy is clearly bright, passionate about the Sixers and well spoken and follicular challenged.  He seems to want to make the right moves, but the moves he makes end up leaving the team financially hamstrung with ill fitting parts.  The teams have guards who are low percentae outside shooters and big men who can't score inside.

Out the gate he resigns his own players to seemingly above market value, including a long term slightly less ten MLE level signing of an undersized SG with chucking tendencies and the inabilty to play PG or hit 3's (WG and Lou Williams.)

His big move is to add to an athletic team a nearly 30 year old former 20/10/2 PF who is recovering from a major leg injury.  The guy has a huge salary, and a high BB IQ, but seems like more of an elbow jump shooter than the low post presence the team needed.

The GM hires a head coach with no prior head coaching experience. He quickly gets the team up against the tax, and yet has a hard time getting people in the seats.
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Person #2:  Is it Mo or DiLeo?

A likable, soft spoken head coach who has a longstanding relationship with many of the team's players.  He seems a bit uncomfortable in the spotlight, and not a obvious take charge leader.  Rarely emotional in games, and almost never takes a technical or vocally stands up for his players.

His teams rely heavily on small ball.  Often goes to high energy but offensively challenged line-up sporting 2-3 players who shoot less than 40% but have good intangibles.  Their teams can't hit threes and tend to over-commit on defense- leaving open shooters.  They also tend to go away from scorers afyer they have a good quarter.  They lean heavily on limited vets like Evans and Green, but their teams tend to be sparked by a raw, athletic rookie who surprises with his ability to score inside and effect the game with their athleticism. 

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The more some things change, the more they stay the same.

FU-Andre-Miller-Trades,-the-Cap-and-Luxury-Tax.

Full text below:

I want to follow up on my Jan 8th post Andre-Miller-Trades,-the-Cap-and-Luxury-Tax. Now that they have failed to unload Sam, Evans or Green, and have kept Miller, they are in a bit of a financial pickle for the next 2 years.

The next 2 summers the Sixers have 59M and 57M committed (without Miller and including #1 picks.) That puts them up near the cap. That leaves these options:

1. Resign Miller. This means no space under the tax for MLE signings of free agents for the next 2 summers. It means you go forward with the current roster + picks, min contract guys. Maybe you can unload Sam/Evans/Green for some shooting help... but I doubt it.

2. Let Miller walk. Now you are still against the cap, but at least have space under the tax to use the MLE each summer. That still means only one major addition a year, and they would have to start with a PG signing this summer.

3. Sign and trade Miller. If there is a team at the cap who wants to offer Miller more than the MLE, the Sixers could get something back for him. They would get back equal salary, allowing them to get someone back who makes more than the MLE... I doubt this works out well, because that would again put them back at the Tax threshold, and then who plays PG (unless you are swapping PG's.)

4. Make a move to dump a bad salary- which unfortunately would mean either taking back garbage, or sending away one of the young core or a #1 as sweetener. Ed has stated he wants to keep the young guys intact, so this fortunately is unlikely.

...This brings us back to the trading deadline. The biggest reason to trade Miller was to try and get someone to take on one of our bad contracts. None of those guys fits into the future of this team, so the sooner they can get off the books the better. I don't see another chance in the next 2 years to unload these guys without sacrificing one of the young guys in the process. So Ed missed a golden opportunity. He stated he was not looking to make a move for financial reasons- and I fault him for this.

From RealGM on 2/14:

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=878425&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=105#p18597675

 

A Saturday morning trade rumor for you....was told this last night.

Sam Dalembert and Willie Green for Tyson Chandler and Rasual Butler. We may also have to send a pick.....Green and Butler were filler...could also be 1 for 1-Dalembert for Chandler.

We are trying to get Devin Brown in the deal...willing to move Jason Smith if that happens.

They will talk more leading into deadline. But this one actually has a chance guys..stay tuned.

Not a fan of this proposed move.

Reposted from Phillyphan.com

Punksatony Phil saw his shadow, so I guess that means 16 more days of Andre Miller trade rumors.  Things heated up a bit 2 days ago over at http://www.theknicksblog.com, talking about a Philly/Portland three-way bringing Miller to the Rose City.

Today the unsubstantiated rumor got some fresh legs when the notorious Sixerfan1976 chimed in at RealGM.com:

The deal being talked about is Miller, Rush and Evans for Sergio, Outlaw, LaFrentz and maybe a conditional pick.....he wasnt sure about the pick

That's all I know...but its very much in play at this point from what I am told.

 ...dont think Miller wants to come back...thats a combo of my personal opinion plus what I was told."

My Take:  I guess this has to fall in the 'where there is smoke there must be fire' category.  None of these rumors are from credible sources, but they do sound plausible.  If Miller is not going to re-sign then the team needs to deal him before the deadline.  Otherwise his expiring deal will leave them nothing more than some breathing room under the tax with only the MLE left to find a replacement PG and a shooter.

The key to the Sixerfan1976 deal is flipping Evans bad contract for Outlaws good contract and Spanish Chocolate.  Sergio might be worth acquiring for that nickname alone...

 PhillyArena link:

The NBA has announced the reserves for the All Star game:

Devin Harris, Danny Granger, Jameer Nelson, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Rashard Lewis and Paul Pierce.

Apparently, it helps to play for a winner, especially one in Orlando.  All of the borderline choices were Magic or Celtics.

My take:  not a surprise.  Players are rewarded for playing for winners because they tend to be higher profile.  It draws fans not only for the All Star game, but gives those players a higher stature when the playoffs come around.  No reason to showcase a known star like VC if that team will be one and done in the playoffs.  Harris and Bosh on the other hand are no brainers.

I don't think Iguodala was robbed, but I do think its a bit of a farce to reward Jameer for playing a few good months.  He was in many ways a below average NBA PG heading into this season.  Give him Most Improved Player, but don't tell me he is an All Star based on a few good months.  Lewis is equally questionable.