Philadelphia 76ers Weekly: Back To Reality
Just like all good things, the Philadelphia 76ers’ unbeaten run had to come to an end.
On Monday, the Golden State Warriors dismantled the Sixers 110-90 in a game that was never close. Former Sixer Andre Iguodala poured in 32 points in just 33 minutes, while Steph Curry recorded a triple double (18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds) in just 29 minutes. It looked a lot more like the team (and the Michael Carter-Williams) we expected to see.
The 76ers then hosted the revenge-seeking Washington Wizards. They got their revenge over the Sixers team that embarrassed them in their home opener, and then some. The Wiz hit 18 three point shots and won the game 116-102.
So, yeah. The Sixers are going to be fine. By fine I mean bad, obviously. Bad enough to land a top-three lottery pick, hopefully. The calls for Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner to be immediately traded after the 3-0 start were way off the mark. This team won’t win three games in a row for the rest of the season; the mind-blowingly crazy start was just that: mind-blowingly crazy.
A dose of reality for Michael Carter-Williams this week, as he falls to two defeats
(NBA.com photo)
Michael Carter-Williams Might Not Be The MVP
The semi-serious Michael Carter-Williams MVP campaign fell by the wayside with the two defeats, after defenses starting honing in on the former Syracuse guard. Despite this, MCW is still averaging 19 points and 7 assists. Not a bad return for a guy that was seen as a possible bust. Now, it’s about lowering expectations and really settling in for the poor team season. Let’s hope that whatever record the 76ers put up, Michael Carter-Williams’ production remains consistent.
I put a question mark after his name as I’m still not wholly convinced that the players I’m seeing is the same player that has frustrated me for years and years. Hawes is averaging 17 points per game, as well as shooting 50 percent from 3. Fifty percent!
His trade value will continue to rise if Hawes keeps it up, so it really is a win-win situation for Sam Hinkie and the Sixers.
Hawes looks like a completelty different player without the shackles of
Doug CollinsPhoto Credit: Keith Allison, Flickr.com
Other Notes
- The Philadelphia 76ers have a back-to-back against the Cleveland Cavaliers this weekend, and Andrew Bynum is expected to play at the Wells Fargo Ctr. That one could be feisty.
- Andre Iguodala hit seven threes against the Sixers. He’s shooting 47.8% from downtown this year. Compare that with his time in Philly, Iggy never shot better than 40%. The value of being on a good team, ey?
- Nerlens Noel’s jumpshot is set to be completely re-tooled. Which is probably a good thing. The Sixers have a year off to work with the former Kentucky big man, so why not work on something that won’t take too much out of him physically, yet has the ability to add some much to his offensive game. If Noel is to have any hope of being a legit two-way threat, that 19-footer will have to be makeable sometime in the future. If not his ceiling will simply be another Larry Sanders. Sort his jumpshot and postgame out however, and his ceiling is as high as say, Kevin Garnett. Big difference.
Weekly Awards
Player of the week: Spencer Hawes. Like seriously, I never thought I would give this to him. But here you go Spence.
Worst player of the week: Kwame Brown. When all else fails – or you can’t think of anything that deserves the award – give it to Kwame.
"Quote of the week: “Every game I try to prove that I could’ve been the No. 1 pick,” Carter-Williams told Yahoo! Sports’ Marc J. Spears recently."
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