31 games to go

Stretch. Run.

There isn't much time left. Just 31 games remain in the 2008-09 NBA season, and in those 31 games, a lot can go right, or wrong.

At this point last season, Sixers fans were worrying whether or not this was a playoff team. Their 23-30 record was an abomination for those who though the team would take another step forward. Last year's squad used the All-Star break as launching pad, and the Sixers finished out their final 29 games with a 17-12 record. Overall, 40-42 is not normally a positive sign. But a playoff berth in the weak Eastern Conference set them up with the Pistons in round one, where an upset brewed.

This season, things were certainly different heading to the break.

The Sixers sit three games over-.500 (27-24) and are vying for the fourth position in the East. It's a progression that has been one year in the making, but hasn't come without the bumps in the raod. The team was supposed to be in this position, or an even better one than 27-24, after the acquisition of Elton Brand. Needless to say, everyone knows how Year 1 of the Brand Project turned out.

Without Brand's help, the Sixers must focus on the checkered flag at the end of the course. That flag is less than two months away, and waiting for them is yet another step forward.

There is plenty still left to be accomplished by this team. The main objective is to secure a playoff spot, however, that's not thinking big enough for this team. This is basically the same Sixers club that took the Pistons to six games in round one last season, so they are chomping at the bit once again to get back there and make more noise.

In their sights is Atlanta, just three-and-a-half up in the standings, clinging to a small lead over the fifth seeded Miami Heat. The #4 seed is #1 right now for the 76ers. With no shot at the top three positions, they would be wise to make a move north in the standings, so as not to deal with Boston, Cleveland, or Orlando in the opening round. It is certainly possible.

The priority of this team is defense. Through 51 games, the Sixers have struck fear into their opponents by swarming to the ball, causing turnovers at an alarming rate, and quickly turning those mistakes into points. It is the essence of this ball club, and to lose sight of that would be inexcuseable. The 76ers are what we think they are; a group of long-armed, quick-footed workers who tirelessly come after you every possession, every quarter, every game.

Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller are the stalwarts and will be looked upon for guidance down the stretch. Iguodala wants to show the world he is a superstar and belongs on the same court as LeBron, Pierce, and Wade. There is no better time to prove it than now.

Miller believes he still has fuel left in the tank, and not just for this season, but for a few more following. The veteran point guard has been a lead-by-example player, and his quiet motivation has not ben mistaken for weakness by teammates. Everyone on the Sixers understands the value that Miller brings to the table. He is their rallying point.

Sammy D needs to bring just that. And Thad Young and Willie Green need to be their shooters unless a marksman is brought in pre-deadline.

The Sixers bench has been outstanding as of late, with rookie Marreese Speights turning the corner quicker than anyone expected. But what was once unexpected is no required, and this team knows that they need outstanding play from Speights off the pine. Along with Speights, Reggie Evans will continue to bring passion and a fervency that won't even be asked. He simply brings it every night. Lou Williams has to take a step forward too, giving good minutes as a backup to Miller.

If the Sixers keep the pace with which they are at, a 17-14 finish would be respectable. But to reach the next level, they must outdo Miami and Atlanta ahead of them, and stave off Detroit and others lurking in the rear veiw.

It won't be an easy challenge either, as 18 of their final 31 are on the road. And still to come away from the Wachovia Center are visits to Miami, Los Angeles (Lakers), Phoenix, Golden State, Portland, Detroit, New Jersey, and Cleveland, among others. That's a tough road ahead, and in their way is a ton of desperation. Miami is fending off the Sixers, Phoenix is trying to turn their fortunes around, Portland wants to move higher in the West, and Detroit and New Jersey want to overtake the Sixers and their sixth spot. A lot of animosity is on the way.

It's that time of year again and the Sixers still have proving to do. But this time, they are prepared for things to go their way.

Sixers first half review

It's actually not the end of the first half, since most teams are 50-plus games in already. The All-Star break is a nice defined line though that splits up the season and helps us decipher a beginning and end to the NBA year.

The 76ers began the year on a down note. They came out of the gate 9-14, Mo Cheeks lost his job, and Elton Brand began his Sixers career floundering. Tony DiLeo took over; the former Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager, and the team took off with him. Since his inception, the Sixers have gone 18-10 and now sit in the sixth position in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. Nice turnaround, I'd say.

While things haven't always been pretty, DiLeo has made it a priority to run more than they had through the first 25 games, and he has also implemented the three-ball into the game plan. The Sixers still rank dead last in three-point percentage, but it's a work in progress.

In breaking down the Sixers first half of the season, I will use General Manager and General Bad ass Ed Stefanski as a meter to guide you. With one Stefanski Head being bad, and five Stefanski Heads being downright awesome, let's breakdown the team through 51 games.

Offense:
-The offense gets 3 out of 5 Stefanski because it is still not where it needs to be. The shooting from the outside is horrendous, though the Sixers say they have outside shooters in Willie Green and Lou Williams. This is not a perimeter oriented squad; they are built to attack the basket and run out on the break. Their quickness has been exceptional, especially using defense as a starting point for the offense. They normally turn those turnovers in to points, which makes the offense look efficient.

Speaking of efficient, the most productive rookie so far this season has been Marreese Speights. No, he hasn't put up the same numbers as Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook or O.J. Mayo, but when he is given playing time, he certainly uses it to his advantage. Speights' game has soared in the last few weeks, culminating with a 24-point, seven rebound performance against the Suns in just 24 minutes of action. His PER (player efficiency rating) is through the roof at over 21. His true shooting percentage is also a paltry 57 percent, fifth for rookies. Needless to say, when DiLeo puts him out there, Speights rarely disappoints.

The stalwarts of the offense have been Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller. Iggy and the Stooges, as I like to call this team, have been able to make teams cower to them when they run the break, and that is predicated on these two gentlemen leading the charge. Miller is still putting together fabulous numbers at this stage of his career, posting, by far, a career high from behind the arc. His .333 percentage betters his previous high by about eight percent. He has the green light now, as do all of the Sixers, from the perimeter.

Iguodala has been on a tear since beginning the season with no 20-point performances through the first 17 games. Iguodala played the first few weeks with Elton Brand and seemed out of sorts. He figured it out once Brand his the injured list and hasn't looked back since. He's not up to 18 points per game and his peripheral stats are looking fine as well. Iggy is shooting 47% from the field, a career high, and 6.1 rebounds per game is also a career-best.

Other Sixers that have played well are Thad Young and Sam Dalembert. Sammy D leads the charge defensively, as the anchor in the front court. It's not always pretty with Sam on offense, as he still needs work on his post moves. He does have fairly reliable mid-range game though, but it's better that he doesn't put the ball on the floor, as it usually means turnovers.

Young is picking up where he left off as a rookie. His sophomore season is going exceptionally well, with his points per game jumping to 13.7 this season from 8.2 last. Young's newly found outside game has also been a blessing for this perimeter disoriented team. Not a bad first 50 though for these two front court mates.

Lou Williams has provided some pop off the bench, and Reggie Evans has given the team heart-pumping minutes. Willie Green can be special at times, but lacks a consistent outside jumper.

Overall, the Sixers still lack that shooter that could help space the floor. In many games early on, they have not seen consistent jump shooting, which could take them from average to above-average quickly. Still, with all of the trouble surrounding Elton Brand and his season-ending shoulder injury, the Sixers have stuck to their guns and gotten back to what they do best.

Defense:
-The defense is so good, they get four Stefanski's! The Sixers are holding their opponents to 95 points per game, on par with defensive elitists San Antonio, Houston, and Detroit. Forcing turnovers is their forte, pressuring the opposition into 16 per game, second best in the NBA. Another telling stat for this defense has been opponents shooting percentage, which is seventh best in the league at 45 percent.

Andre Iguodala and Thad Young lead the charge in forcing teams into giving up the basketball due to their length and quickness. Sam Dalembert gives them the anchor in the front court that can bang with the big guys. Dalembert is adept at shutting down some of the best, including Yao and Shaquille O'Neal recently. His penchant for blocked shots and timely rebounds makes him an interior presence that the Sixers cannot do without. Miller and Green do a fine job of taking on guard opposite them, using their size to their advantage.

Evans bench play usually brings people out of their seats and provides an unreal spark for the second unit. Through the first 50 games, Evans has seen himself in some big defensive positions, normally put up against the other teams power forward. And in the Atlantic Division, that means Chris Bosh, David Lee, and Kevin Garnett. Evans gets a A+ and five Stefanski's for his effort.

Coaching:
-I can't say I wasn't upset when the Sixers let Mo Cheeks go after just 25 games. I felt like he didn't have enough time to get this team in position to win, especially after trying to incorporate Elton Brand's different style in with the running team that defines the Sixers. Cheeks was let go, and the Sixers went on a tear up until the break. Whether DiLeo deserves all the credit is still up for discussion. DiLeo worked mostly without Brand, which seemed to be the problem. Cheeks failed at making Brand the focus of the offense, something that DiLeo did not have to do.

Overall the coaching between the two garners three Stefanski's out of five. DiLeo deserves credit for the turnaround, but Cheeks had little room for error, which was unfair.

DiLeo has allowed the team to unleash their perimeter game, no matter how sorry it is. That kind of thinking has given the Sixers confidence in that aspect of their game. They did not have a green light under Cheeks, which could have pressured them into make more plays inside the arc.

Although Cheeks did not get it done, he still should be praised for the job last season. Had he been in the same situation DiLeo was put in, he may have succeeded. The players have surprisingly taken to DiLeo's tactics and seems to be behind their new head coach 110 percent. All hands are on deck, which is vital for a young team still clawing for elite status.

Overall:
-The Sixers get three Stefanski's as they enter the break 27-24. They have played aggressive defense, which allows their offense to work freely through the fast break. It's clear the Sixers need to find a new shooter, and that could come at the deadline. However, their experiment with Brand went south quickly, and that was accelerated by his injury. We will have to wait until 2009-10 to see if Brand can connect with this group.

One negative has been the turnout at the Wachovia Center. The average attendance through 51 games is just 14, 747. This exciting team is not receiving the attention is should, but there are several factors that could be causing this downturn. Obviously the economy both nationwide and here in Philadelphia is a reason. People just don't have the money to come to an NBA game and spend $200 on tickets, drinks, food, and merch. It's no longer in the budget for most. Philadelphia may also still be riding high from the Phillies World Series title, as well as the Eagles run to the NFC Championship game. Whatever the case, go out and see these guys!

As it stands, the Sixers are making a run to the four seed in the East, something that seemed like a pipe dream in early December. The focus for the second half still has to be defense and intensity for 48 minutes. This team has talent, but they don't have the superstar that can put them over the edge in tight situations like a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, or even a Paul Pierce. Andre Iguodala is blossoming into a fine player, and he may very well be the biggest key to success as we hit the end in April.

I just threw up in my mouth, thanks Ray Allen

Jesus kills. And I mean that in the most figurative sense.

Jesus Shuttlesworth, aka Ray Allen, hit two threes in the final 31 seconds, including the shank in the side with .5 seconds remaining to give the Celtics their 12th straight win. It was like popping a balloon and watching the air quickly leave it. But that's what happens when you leave one of the greatest three-point shooters open for a split second.

A triumphant comeback by the Sixers after a brutal opening quarter turned this into an amazing game from the second quarter on. In the end though, it was a breakdown on defense that led to the loss.

The defense had been stellar all night, pestering the Kevin Garnett-less Celtics into 21 turnovers and turning those into 30 points.

Here are some negative notes:
-The Sixers somehow left Ray Allen wide open. Whatever the case may be, under no circumstance is this allowed. He has hit the most three's per game in NBA history. That's a nice lesson.

-Three-point shooting continues to be an ongoing process. The Sixers shot just 1-of-8 from downtown on the night. The three-ball has been more prevalent lately under DiLeo, but that doesn't mean its been all good. Sixers need a shooter to step up.

-Elton Brand needs to shut it down. He is hurting this team when he is on the floor and he is hurting himself, literally, by playing on a bum shoulder. He should shut it down, learn from the team during his time off, and start afresh next season. It's really the only option left in the bag.

-I continue to harass Sam Dalembert, even though he had a decent game. He just doesn't look like the same player to me that averaged a double-double last season. He should play no part on offense unless that entails grabbing an offensive rebound or two and the occasional dunk.

-Letting the opponent shoot 54 percent = not so good. Lucky they were even in this game.

A few positives:
-What a comeback! After the first quarter I was ready to write some downright mean things about how ugly it is watching this team, and how they can't hand with the C's. Boy was I wrong. They made a valiant comeback in the second quarter after being completely blown away in the first. It's games like this that build character, and even though they lost, they should be proud of the job they did in even being in this game.

-Andre Iguodala hit a huge shot down the stretch, and played pretty well overall. He continues to flourish without Elton Brand, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing, or a bad thing. His 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists show he is involved in every facet of the game. But the question begs asking: can they win with him being "the man"?

-Reggie Evans is a monster. He came off the bench for 24 energetic, pulse-pumping minutes, giving the crowd something to cheer for all night. They even chanted his name a time or two. He finished with eight points, 10 boards, two steals and was a +14 on the night, meaning they played their best ball with him on the court. Every game needs to be like this when Evans is on the court. It shows you how some people can just turn a game around on their own, even if they are not a special talent.

-Mo Speights continues to play decent basketball, when he is in the lineup of course. He played just six minutes, but had a couple of dunks, played some spirited ball, and was quickly taken out. Not sure what his role is, and I'm not sure Tony DiLeo knows either.

Next: vs. Indiana, Thursday 7pm.