The Clippers better off than the Sixers?

Well, I know if you read this blog, your probably an Eagles fan too. I know this is a Sixers blog, but I have to start the post with this. I apologize in advance for the following.



That is all. If you want to talk about the amazing game last night, feel free to in the comments. Now on to the Sixers.

Here's the first link that caught my eye. It was posted by ClipperSteve over at ClipsNation. In his post titled, "Is Elton Brand right? Are the Sixers the Team of the Future?" he pretty much bashes the team in every way shape and form. Don't get me wrong, he does it in a very classy way, but I still consider it bashing. As a die-hard Clippers fan, I'm sure he's bitter about the way things went down with Elton, but let's not kid ourselves. For him to argue that staying with the Clippers was a better basketball move than coming to Philly just isn't right in my mind.

Here are the statements in his post that I don't agree with:

Because in many ways, when I look at the Sixers' roster, I think they are in terrible shape - destined for mediocrity, with little hope of rising above it.

Granted, a lot depends on the likes of Iguodala, Lou and Thad improving; mediocrity is far from the word I'd use to describe the Sixers future. I hate the word potential, so I'll use the word "Developing". The Sixers have a ton of young talent a long way from being fully developed. Iguodala has improved each NBA season and has a track record of working extremely hard. He should continue to improve, especially with Brand taking some of the scoring pressure off him. Lou showed signs of greatness last year in limited minutes. Not to mention that he's only 21 years old. Thad's 20 and wasn't handed anything his rookie season. He forced his way into the rotation and eventually the starting lineup. He has a lot to work on, but there's also a couple of things he's already well beyond his years in (defense and finishing around the rim). Jason Smith should be a solid contributor when he's fully recovered and even though he's a few years away, Mo Speights could turn out to be an absolute stud.

If Brand were number 2 in the Philly Big Three, this wouldn't really be a problem. But unfortunately for Sixer fans, Andre Iguodala would seem to have a very similar problem - he's a phenomenal athlete, he works hard every game, he does many things very well on the basketball court - and he's not particularly good at getting his own shot.

We all know Iguodala had a horrendous time creating his own shot against Prince, but there were times where he absolutely took games over last year (vs. Celts, with Pierce guarding him). If you watched that Celtics game you know Iggy has it in him.

As for Dalembert...puh-leeze. Sam Dalembert would be the third best big on the Clippers. Maybe.

Dalembert's severely underrated. He has some flaws (mental toughness, finishing and catching), but he's a defensive and rebounding force. And there's no way he's considered part of "The Big 3". It's clearly Brand, Iggy and Miller.

No offense, but in nine NBA seasons, teams with Elton Brand as their best player have made the playoffs once.

Umm, no offense, but the Clippers never really set the world on fire without him.

But the real question about how you feel about Philly's future comes down to the young guys on the roster. The team won't have the cap space to add a piece through free agency until after Dalembert's deal expires in 2011 (at which point Thaddeus Young will need to be re-signed if he's as good as they think he is). And a mid-40's win total dictates draft picks in the late teens, early 20s - unlikely to produce a star. So, is Andre Iguodala getting a lot better? I wouldn't bet the farm on that one. And it would be ill-advised to continue waiting for Dalembert to develop an offensive game.

I just don't like this, "If he's as good as they think he is." Who's "they" and I haven't heard any Sixer fan proclaim Thad the next big thing. As of right now he's a solid contributor, who gained valuable experience last season, with a lot of room to grow.

But at only 3.2 assists per game last season (fewer than 5 per 36 minutes), he's not really looking like an NBA point guard so far, while at his size (6'2") it's his only option. As for Young, the guy just turned 20. He could be great - he had a solid rookie season. But the league is littered with guys who showed potential as very young rookies, but never really figured out the NBA. And don't forget that most of his minutes last season came at power forward in a very fast lineup. With Elton Brand in town, Young has to slide over to the 3. It may be his more natural position, but it's not the position he played last year, when he enjoyed a quickness advantage on a nightly basis.

First, Lou played a lot of shooting guard last season, alongside Miller at the point. And point guard is definitely his only option because he's never succeeded at shooting guard and no player 6'2'' has ever played shooting guard in the NBA.

Second, as a Sixer fan it's unfair to bank on Thad being a star in this league, but it's just as unfair to predict him to be a "guy who showed potential, but never really figured out the NBA."

The Sixers do have one very important asset in their hands right now: Andre Miller's $10M expiring contract. If they're going to have significance in the playoffs, I think they need to get something out of Miller before the trade deadline. Letting that deal expire doesn't get them under the cap any time soon, and re-signing Miller next summer (at 33) just seals their fate as a first round playoff team. If Ed Stefanski is as good as Sixer fans think he is, Andre Miller will be gone by the trade deadline. And if that happens, then I may have to change my opinion.

"If Ed Stefanski is as good as Sixer fans think he is."

I'd really like to know how trading Miller at the deadline would help the Sixers playoff chances, unless Stefanski pulls off a Miller-for-CP3 trade it's not going to help us go farther in the playoffs.

Guys, I'd love to hear you take on the topic in the comments. Am I the only one who thinks the Sixers present a better opportunity than the Clippers? (Obviously Elton agrees).

Here's some more links.

Speights could have been a lottery pick.

Two "experts" voted Philly for Eastern Conference Champs.

Jason Smith is scheduled for surgery.

And

Tom McGinnis tells us to circle 10 games on our calendar.