I know it's getting later and later to do these new year's things but the Sixers are actually worth writing about at this point in time. After their blowout win on the road against Atlanta last night, 117-83 to be exact, the Sixers stand at 24-27. That record is good enough for the seventh spot in the East. Although 24-27 may not be impressive to many viewers, remember this team began this season 3-13. Stingy defense and a more consistent offensive attack has been the reason for the recent success and is making this Sixers squad more exciting to watch. Winners of seven of the last nine, the Sixers are rolling right along. What is it they have to keep doing to stay on track though. Here are my interpretation of their New Years Resolutions from a team and fan standpoint.
1. Bury the Iguodala trade talk: For the past 2 seasons and this season, the hype surrounding the Sixers has been how Andre Iguodala has not lived up to expectation and needs to be dealt. Whether you want to believe it or not, I think this has been cause for distraction. When fans view the game, they pay most attention to the scoring aspect. I do that too. You also have to pay attention to the defensive side of the ball. Iggy may not put up consistent offensive numbers, but his defense is spectacular and is proving to be a leader for young guys like Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner. Andre has not been shown any love since he started playing here. Given, he has to live up to being the star in a very tough city. Remember, Allen Iverson was the big name for the Sixers when Iggy first got drafted and he never got the chance to adjust and sharpen his game before Iverson was dealt. He was shoved into the spotlight because management didn't want to deal with Iverson anymore. Iggy was not quite ready to take the reigns but has shown signs of a superstar player before. The combo of Andre and Elton Brand is finally starting to work and now that younger players are beginning to take their role, the team is starting to click. If this keeps up, expect the Sixers to end up anywhere from fifth to seventh in the East.
2. Give Evan Turner some time: As I mentioned before, Iggy was put into the spotlight in a very tough city to win over quickly. Because the staggering Sixers fan base is getting impatient, they are getting tired of seeing the #2 pick in the draft go through his ups and downs. With an average of 7.4 points per game, Turner has yet to really "WOW" the fans in Philly but I think the guy just needs a year under his belt to adjust. On nights when his shooting is off, he helps out with rebounds. On nights his defense is a little sluggish, he will rack up the assists. It seems coach Doug Collins has been putting Turner into more situational plays to get his confidence up. As a young player in the league, it is tough to stay confident is you have three or four bad games in a row. In the last three games, he has shot 9-for-15 from the floor and looks to be getting into a good shooting groove. He has a great chance to prove his worth here in the next two games as the Sixers will play host to the Magic (33-20) and the NBA leading Spurs (43-8).
3. Make the playoffs: This one is obvious for anyone on the team. I am using this as one to focus more on the fans. I have found that a lot of fans that do not follow the team as much anymore would rather the team lose and get a better draft pick. I think that is a horrible idea. As a dedicated Philly fan, I cannot stand to see a team lose, whether I pay attention to them or not. The fact is that first round knockout or not, the Sixers need some postseason experience to get better. With the speedy, defensive squad they have now, they may be able to take down a team like the Hawks or the Magic. What do they have to lose? We got Evan Turner at #2 and he hasn't really done too much. Players like Thaddeus Young have contributed a lot and are picked in the middle of the first round. There is still a chance of securing a good pick even if the Sixers make the postseason. They have played top teams very hard and there is no reason anyone should think that they can't put on a good show in the postseason. I am not saying they are going to win the Finals, but they definitely have the opportunity to win a few games in the first round to advance if it's the right matchup.
The bottom line for the Sixers is this. They aren't very good recordwise so not many people give them too much attention. At 24-27 I can't blame some people. Avid Sixers fans such as myself should be excited they are playing well at this point in the year. They should not throw their season away for a draft pick, they should try and make the playoffs to get the experience they need. They aren't selling out but there is still time to jump on the bandwagon for those who are thinking about it.
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