Sunday Morning Dimes

• LeBron James has helped the Cavs win 9 of their last 10 games, propelling their record to 10-3. The Cavaliers hold the second best record in the East, behind Boston’s 12-2 record. ‘Bron leads the league in scoring with 29.5 points a game.
• OKC Thunder have lost 11 in a row and their recent firing of coach Carlesimo only expresses the unavoidable frustration in this rebuilding stage. On the bright side, Durant continues doing his thing (21 ppg.) and Russell Westbrook is having a great rookie season, averaging 12 points and 3 assists per game while playing just under 25 minutes a night.
• Shaquille O’Neal lead an impressive night for the Suns tonight in their win. 19 points and 17 boards is great production coming from the big man. But is it really necessary watching this dude Try and dive into the fans for a loose ball with a 11 point lead and less than three mins left in the game? How in God’s name is 325 pounds of force viciously slamming into a bunch sitting, clueless set of people any more dangerous than Artest fleeing into the stands to snuff one particular Detroit fan? That’s kind of an extreme comparison, but wait ’til Shaq KO’s that two thousand dollar suit-wearing season ticket holder, or some flimsy girl, an 8 year old, a celebrity. I’m going too far, but it’d be fitting for the Suns to have a sturdy, bulky, ring of temperate glass surrounding the court to help prevent any lawsuits or numerous replays on ESPN every two months of a +300 pound, seven-footer failing to realize, “Yo, I’m not fit for this one.” I think GM, Steve Kerr, Terry Porter and the rest of the Suns already get the point that he’s hustling or that he can at least still hustle for the most part. And that whole talk about never ruling out Shaq reuniting with the Lakers is absurd. As much as I love that ‘99-’03 Lakers era, Shaq has 16 years under his belt, bro. Lakers have overcome the bullshit after O’Neal’s departure and are right where they want to be. Two wins away from a Championship last season, Kobe in his prime, Bynum evolving as the team’s center. No more distractions are needed or expected coming from the Lakers in the near future.
• Despite the cringing lack of consistency, the Pistons are officially one of the sexiest teams in the NBA.
• Hornets aren’t flossing as high as I expected them to this season, running with a 7-5 record. CP3 and West are having stellar seasons regardless. In their recent dismantling of the OKC Thunder, West had a game high with 33 points while Paul stuck 29 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds.
• There was no excuse for missing Vince Carter’s latest homecoming game against the Raptors.
• QRich was just two three-pointers shy of the franchise record tonight. Nevertheless, Richardson nailed 7 three’s in his 34 point night. The Knicks recent garbage dump of Crawford and Randolph has set off all the nerves of speculation for 2010. While both Crawford and Randolph are talented players, they were never fit for the Knicks success, their absence won’t be felt, nah. 
• Speaking of absence felt, the Wiz dropped to 1-10 recently. Come on Gil, I know it hurts, but Christ Almighty. 
• The Lakers are 10-1, the Clippers are 2-11.
• Dallas is starting to get back on track, their four-game-winning streak has them at 6-7. 
• The Spurs sit at a steady 6-6, but humbly expect their star, Manu Ginobili to return sometime next week. 

 

Dated November 23rd, 2008

Saturday Dimes

Bullets for Saturday, Nov. 1st, 2008

• Behind Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, Atlanta’s rally over Philadelphia was just disrespectful. Johnson supplied the scoring, but Smith touched all bases with his numbers. Smith had 14 points, 11 boards, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks tonight. This team continues to show to the league that last year wasn’t a fluke, as they slide to 2-0.
• Dalembert and Brand are absorbing the glass for Philadelphia, tonight they combined for 27 total rebounds. But Philly’s recent loss is already bringing concern, especially on the defensive side. 
• Basketball is back in Indiana. A toothless Danny Granger lost his front two teeth tonight but not the game. The Pacers collectively showed up tonight against the Champion Celtics. The final score wasn’t even close at 79-95. 
• In points, Hedo had 21, Lewis hung 26, Howard slammed 29, Pietrus stuck 20 to the face of Sacramento. The Kings dropped to 0-3 in a 103-121 final. Dwight also nabbed 14 boards and 5 blocks.
• Gerald Wallace stat line: 34 points, 3 assists, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.
• As expected, the Hornets are coasting through their first week in the regular season. Chris Paul hung 24 points and dished 15 assists to drive the Hornets past the Cavaliers.
• LeBron dished out 13 dimes of his own against the Hornets.
• Jason Kidd hauled 9 boards tonight while also having 7 assists and 4 steals. Dirk scored 21 and the Mavs picked up their first win of the season, leaving them at 1-1.
• Derrick Rose appears to of gotten the gist of the NBA speed. Rose scored 26 points and had 6 rebounds to help Chicago get past Memphis tonight. Gooden cleaned the glass with 20 rebounds.
• Calderon scored a career-high 25 points for the Raptors tonight. He’ll be sure to set plenty of new career highs this season in Toronto. Bosh scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds. 
• Carmelo struggled in his season debut, shooting 5/15 for 13 points. He also debuted his ban of the braids. Kobe’s 33 points helped the Lakers get past the Nuggets though.
• A.I.’s numbers are dropping. 13 points and 7 dimes tonight.
• Without Baron Davis and Marcus Camby, the Clippers dropped to 0-3 after losing to Utah. 
• Amare Stoudemire exploded for 23 points and 13 boards and the Blazers weren’t able to hold off the Suns. 
• 3-0 teams: Toronto, LA Lakers, New Orleans and Houston
• Winless teams: Washington, Oklahoma City, LA Clippers, Sacramento and San Antonio (!).

Wednesday Dimes

Bullets for Wednesday, Oct. 30th, 2008

• Kevin Love’s NBA debut: 18 min., 12 points (5/8), 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and a steal. Efficiency? check.
• Dalembert lead the league in boards tonight with 17. Chris Bosh scored 27 points behind 4 assists and 11 rebounds, while helping his Raptors win 95-84. Philly’s leading scorer tonight? Lou Williams with 16. So much for Brand’s debut.
• Udonis Haslem, Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion and rookie, Mario Chalmers all had respectful performances for Miami tonight. Second round pick, Michael Beasley struggled, shooting 4/14 for 9 points. 
• The Knicks swung their uppercut tonight against Miami though, the reckless jacker, Jamal Crawford was on tonight and we all know when he’s on, he’s on. Jamal had 29 points, shooting 9/19. Players such as David Lee, Wilson Chandler, NateRob and Zach Randolph put forth an amazing effort to make D’Antoni a winner in his New York debut.
• Danny Granger is blossoming. 33 points, 5 rebounds. The team isn’t quite there yet, Indy lost 94-100 to Detroit.
• As expected, Phoenix and San Antonio shared a close game tonight. Duncan looked flawless. Parker started off slow, scoring his first points in the second quarter, but both players had 32 points tonight. 
• Shaquille O’Neal went 5-8 from the free-throw line tonight, that hack-a-shaq strategy will never fade. 15 points, 13 boards and 2 blocks for the Big Cactus though. Nashy also proved he hasn’t slipped a step, 13 points and assists.
• Hornets slipped past the Warriors tonight. Without Monta Ellis, both Maggette and Jackson shared most of the scoring, while Biedrins put up 12 points and 14 rebounds.
• CP3’s line- 21 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals. Oh, and a block. 
• Main concern for Mayo? Shot selection. O.J. shot 5/20 tonight, ouch. Marc Gasol put work tonight though, 12 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks.
• Lakers out-rebounded the Clippers 51 to 32. Baron Davis was electric in the first quarter in front of his Grandmama, but the Lakers easily slowed all the Clipper hype down immediately after the first quarter, 117-79.

Division Previews: Pacific

Pacific Division

The Overview

Heading into the post season, both the Lakers and Suns made blockbuster trades to have the upper hand in the playoffs. The Lakers turned out to have the more sensible trade with Pau Gasol filling in their front court for that strong run into the Finals. The Suns on the other hand, went all in by nabbing Shaquille O’Neal for their post season run. The Suns miserably failed with a first round exit against the Spurs. Remaining teams, Golden State, Sacramento and the L.A. Clippers didn’t make the playoffs, but underwent serious reconstruction over the summer. It should be an excellent season for the the Atlantic division. The Lakers will have a chance to come out in full force with Bynum back in their line-up, after missing the young center with a late injury in the season. The Suns are looking to push for a successful season behind Shaquille O’Neal, who ended the regular season with a 18-11 record as a Sun.

The Ranks

1. Phoenix Suns
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. Golden State Warriors
5. Sacramento Kings

 

The Previews

1. Phoenix Suns (55-27)

The Suns brought their high-octane offense once again last season but shifted it all into a different gear when they traded away Shawn Marion for Shaquille O’Neal. The Diesel’s impact to the team became immediate, from hustle plays to powerful finishes. It was said the motive of bringing O’Neal to Phoenix was to help slow down Tim Duncan if there to meet up in the post season. As expected, the Suns met the Spurs but Shaq’s presence made no difference, Duncan tallied 40 points in Game 1. The Suns lost the series 1-4. This season, behind team captains Grant Hill, Steve Nash and Shaq, the Suns are aiming to strain a stronger defense behind new coach, Terry Porter. The Suns also happily welcome young talents, Goran Dragic, Sean Singletary and Robin Lopez to the team, all are young players that carry intense potential behind them. The 34-year-old, Nash returns for his fifth season in Phoenix to try and ignite this team’s ranging possibilities. It should be a big year for Phoenix, players like O’Neal and Nash carry endless experience behind themselves and want to end their careers in the near future with a championship in Phoenix.

Finals Odds: 87%

Player Spotlight: Boris Diaw

Everyone remembers Diaw from the his 2006 season with the Suns. With Stoudemire gone for 59 games that season, Diaw stepped in to be the team’s low post menace. At 6′8”, the small forward played power forward and center that season, averaging 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game on his way to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. His nickname “3D” couldn’t of fit him any better, as he did end up supplying drives, dishes and defense. In the playoffs that season, Diaw turned in 18.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. He’s made it clear to Phoenix that he can easily step in to provide plenty of numbers for the team. With Shaq and Amare set to go this season, Diaw should expect to be the leader of the team’s offensive surge off the bench.  

Why they will be NBA Champions.

One of the leagues best offenses. The Suns are combining a unique mix of all kinds with the lengthy, athletic players they have. Phoenix has a variety of weapons all across the roster, players that could easily player bigger roles on other teams are sitting pretty on the bench for this team. Everyone raves about Chris Paul and Deron Williams, but Nash remains as one of the most complete point guards in the league today. 

Why they won’t be NBA Champions.

The Mike D’Antoni era is over, all that run and gun offense isn’t over, but it could slow down at times. If Porter’s gameplan backfires and the winning flow gets disrupted, the Suns could find themselves seeing early playoff elimination like last year. 

 

2. Los Angeles Lakers (57-25)

League MVP, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are set to destroy whoever steps in front of them. A bulkier, stronger Bynum is back into the roster and the team is now complete and ready for a definite championship push. Last year brought fourth many positives for the Lakers. Kobe’s now staying put in Los Angeles without any questions asked, mainly because their chance at helping him win another ring is there. The Lakers put up a really strong season, achieving 15 more wins than what they had the previous year. The addition of Gasol for their final 27 games of the regular season gave the Lakers a huge advantage over the other teams in their conference. Gasol averaged 18.8 points along with 7.8 rebounds per game while playing for the Lakers last season. Bryant had his best all-around season since 2003. The 29-year-old Kobe averaged 5.2 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game. With B.ynum gone, Lamar Odom averaged a career high in rebounding with 10.6 boards a night. All together, the Lakers balled themselves into the Finals behind Kobe. It was unfortunate to not have Bynum in the post season where the Lakers could’ve put up a closer series against the Celtics.

Finals Odds: 88%

Player Spotlight: Jordan Farmar

Farmar blossomed as one of the best 2nd-year players this season. After a solid rookie campaign for the Lakers, Farmar went on to fulfill his role as an energetic substitute for the veteran, Derek Fisher. The former UCLA Bruin, averaged 9.1 points and 2.7 assists while coming off the bench in his second year with the Lakers. Farmer brings a smart leadership and a shooter’s touch when coming off the bench, making sure the Lakers don’t give up a surging run while the starters are taking a breath. Once Fisher is gone, you best bet Jordan Farmar’s future with the Lakers is radiant.

Why they will be NBA Champions.

The Lakers made their way into the Finals behind Kobe, Odom and Gasol. This year they possess a jacked Bynum to help out their front court even more. Their starting line-up is scary. They possess the best player in the league in Kobe, while owning one of the most clutch players in Fisher. It’s going to be nearly impossible for teams to contain both Gasol and Bynum down low while Bryant continues to kill the perimeter.

Why they won’t be NBA Champions.

Injuries can slow this team down, just how it can slow any other team. But losing a player through injury can hurt the Lakers the most, especially since their time is now. Bryant and Gasol are in their prime and the players are all there for this team to earn a ring. 

 

3. Los Angeles Clippers (23-59)

A team with a .280 winning percentage isn’t pretty, neither is a team led by Corey Maggette and rookie, Al Thornton. The Clippers underwent a frustrating season without their true centerpiece, Elton Brand. With Brand out for 74 games last season, the Clippers could do nothing but watch Al Thornton blossom and Maggette raise his free agent stock. This summer a change was expected, but not as drastic as Elton Brand being gone. Baron Davis is the new head honcho now and the Clippers have brought in Camby, Ricky Davis, Eric Gordon, Brian Skinner and DeAndre Jordon to completely swipe the face of the franchise. The new mix only draws numerous predictions and wonders for this season.

Finals Odds: 63%

Player Spotlight: Al Thornton

Al Thornton flourished immediately after college. Coming out of Florida State University as one of the team’s best players, Thornton made himself comfortable in a Clippers jersey early. The 6′8” forward scored a total of 1,005 points in his pro rookie season in the NBA, something rare among rookies unless they’re destined to be noticeably great. The absence of a player of a caliber as Elton Brand has led to open spots for player such as Al Thornton to step up, and that he did last season. While starting 31 games last season, Thornton went on to average 12.7 points along with 4.5 rebounds per game, leaving him to become one of the best rookies the Clippers have drafted since Livingston. With all the player arrangements, Thornton remains at a dependable spot in the line-up due to his flexibility to play different postions. 

Why they will be NBA Champions.

Behind Baron Davis, the Clippers could erupt into a more fast paced team with a stronger and more athletic front court. Baron Davis, Marcus Camby and Al Thornton should be players to watch, but with great role players in Skinner, Tim Thomas and Ricky Davis, the Clips could try testing their luck into a fast-paced offense. 

Why they won’t be NBA Champions.

Overshadowed by the other team in Los Angeles, the Clippers just needed one more big time player to help Baron Davis and the Clippers make some noise in the NBA. It will take more than a season for this team to get it together and figure out a winning formula, therefore this season won’t be the easiest.

 

4. Golden State Warriors (48-34)

Surprisingly, the Warriors had a much better season then they did the year before last season when they made it into the Semifinals. Last season the Warriors capped a 48-win season while not banking a playoff berth, it definitely hurt the locker room and organization. Baron Davis played and started a full 82 games for the Warriors, alongside Monta Ellis. Ellis grew into a 20 points per game threat for the team, while only being 22 years old. His play earned him  a beefy contract extension this summer. Monta averaged 20.2 points, 1.5 steals, 3.9 assists and 5 rebounds a game for the Warriors. Still, the Warriors were just two losses short from seeing the playoffs last season and the end result was changes to the core of the team. With Baron Davis gone, the Warriors have set the stage for young, Monta Ellis to help lead this scoring-hungry team into a playoff berth. That is, after his 30-game suspension.

Finals Odds: 64%

Player Spotlight: Corey Maggette

Newly acquired, Corey Maggette is set to make a difference into this Golden State team. Most may not remember, but Corey began is pro career in Orlando, averaging 8.4 points per game. After being traded, Maggette went on to play eight seasons with the Clippers, his physical play earned him many opportunities into the free throw line. Maggette grew into a reliable 20 point-per-game scorer for the Cippers and averaged 22.1 points per game last season with Brand gone. He can also rebound the ball too, averaging nearly six boards per game last season. Corey’s only 28 years old and 9 years deep into the league, his presence into the Warriors line-up will be tremendous.

Why they will be NBA Champions.

The Warriors slid their way into recognition two seasons ago through their unstoppable, relentless and loose offense. Their offense basically looked like what you would see at a outdoor pick-up game, expect these players could drain their shots respectively. Belinelli, Ellis, Jackson, Biedrins and Maggette can all do it for the Warriors if they can find that same rhythm from two seasons ago. Give them a couple of teams that take their playoff seeds for granted and there could be pending upsets this season.

Why they won’t be NBA Champions.

While exciting the Warriors gameplan does have its downside in sloppy play. Nelson isn’t your best defensive coach in the league and if teams can lock down the Warriors’ offense, this team isn’t going to see any success.

 

5. Sacramento Kings (38-44)

Reggie Theus’ first outing as a professional basketball coach wasn’t such a bad one, the losses came of course, but the future seems brighter for this team. A team led by the young Kevin Martin, who averaged 23.7 points per game last season was everything this organization needed. Martin is just simply a scorer for this team and plans to be for the next few years. Ron Artest and Mike Bibby are gone, but Donte Green and Jason Thompson could spark intense progression for this team. Now if only they could find Brad Miller’s true successor and a point guard. The Kings aren’t in anybody’s radar really when it comes to championship talk. Everyone knows it, fans can only hope for the best. Unless they build a new stadium in Sacramento, the Kings are one of the few franchises that could relocate. The Las Vegas Kings sounds fitting, but that doesn’t relate to anything that’s current. The Kings can only hope this rebuilding stage goes smoothly.

Finals Odds: 33%

Player Spotlight: Beno Udrih

The lefty, Beno Udrih came from Slovenia to succeed his game into the NBA. Udrih began his NBA career with the untouchable Spurs of 2005, who went on to win the Finals in his rookie season. Udrih already has two championship rings on his hand and carries a unique talent at the guard spot. At a young 26-years of age, Udrih took full advantage of his oppurtunity to step up for Sacramento last season in the absence of Mike Bibby. His 12.8 points and 4.3 assists per game aren’t gasping, but it was sufficient enough for a 5-year contract extension. Beno brings a great basketball IQ and shooting touch to his game. Udrih is the young point guard of Sac-Town’s near future, alongside the scoring machine, Kevin Martin, Udrih’s low assists per game should improve significantly this season.

Why they will be NBA Champions.

Realistically, it’s just not there yet. There is some talent in this team, especially in Martin, Moore, Garcia and their new rookie, Donte Greene. The Kings would have heavily rely on three things. One, Bobby Jackson and Brad Miller’s playoff experience. Two, Moore’s flexibility to move the ball around at a quick pace in their half court offense to create open looks. Three, their great perimeter shooting.

Why they won’t be NBA Champions.

Like many other unfortunate squads, not enough talent to match up with the rest. Like it was said before, the league is all about match ups and from what it looks like, the King’s roster doesn’t match up against the skill level other teams will bring to the court.

J-Will Retires

After recently signing with the Clippers in August, Jason Williams, the risky, flashy guard who primarily possessed the nickname, “White Chocolate,” has called it quits. The 32-year-old Williams had an entertaining 10 years in the league, from mouth-opening dishes to deadly ball-handling. His streetball style stretched his fundamental game throughout his career, resulting in a wide fan base and a bad assist/turnover ratio.

Williams made his first stamp into the league when he was drafted by the Sacramento Kings. His early companions consisting of a young Chris Webber and Vlade Divac spurned a great highlight reel for followers. After having his best season with Sacramento in 2001, J-Dub was traded to Memphis for Mike Bibby. Williams’ pairing with Pau Gasol and other Grizz turned out to mesh well under coach, Hubie Brown’s system. Under Brown, Williams’ flashy style of playing was toned down a bit. In the 2003-2004 season, Williams and the team secured their first playoff berth for the franchises history.

In 2005, Williams was traded to the Miami Heat. In his first year in Miami, Jason averaged 12.3 points and 4.9 assists per game. Williams’ also became an NBA Champion in his first year, alongside players Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal.

Williams’ career will forever be tattooed with his jazzy style and dangerous looks. Though it may only hit a few, his presence will be greatly missed by those who craved the dicey a guard with no concern over the basics. His departure from the league will personally sting, for he was one of the select players in history who I would easily classify as an innovator to the game.

Brand New

It’s official. After seven years, the Philadelphia 76ers are once again a force to be recognized. The words, “Elton Brand” will flood the streets of Philadelphia for the rest of this summer until tip-off, when the packed Wachovia Center will be speechless until Brand nets his first bucket as a Sixer. This is it. The Sixers front office and Ed Stefanski strike gold in a move to force the organization to shine a light on what was once a poorly faithful bunch of ballers. After the departure of Philadelphia’s complete heart, Allen Iverson, the Sixers bring home a prime superstar ball player in Elton Brand.

Elton Brand is the forgotten superstar, more so, one of the most slept-on 20-10 guys the League has. Elton Brand’s exposure has been stabbed with his humble personality along with his dreary team, the Clippers. The 2-time All Star finally helped make some noise for the Clippers back in the 2006 playoffs, when they were one win away from advancing to the Conference Finals. Even after that, Brand was dealt the respect and attention he well deserved after many seasons. His NBA career began during Chicago’s rebuilding era. The 98-99 Bulls were then a team struggling to find wins with a record of 13-37 during NBA’s lockout season.

The horrible record landed Chicago the number one draft pick in the 1999 Draft, where they picked Brand. Brand quickly averaged 20.1 points per game, 10 rebounds per game and 1.6 blocks per game in 80 games as a rookie, earning himself the Co-Rookie of the Year award. Playing alongside aging players such as Toni Kukoc, Hersey Hawkins, Randy Brown and a 20-year-old Ron Artest, the Bulls stunk a 17-65 record. The following season brought forth the same results, a 15-67 record with Brand freakishly averaging the same amount of points, blocks and rebounds while bringing his assists per game up from 1.9 to 3.2. Elton was then traded to the Clippers in 2001 for Brian Skinner and Tyson Chandler. His arrival in the L.A. Clippers was apprehended as one of the three fan-favorite baller trio’s consisting of Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles. The Clippers blossomed with quality players to accompany Brand such as Corey Maggette, Andre Miller and Lamar Odom but the groups never stirred together to form as a playoff contender. While averaging impressive stats, Brand was cursed with overwhelmingly mediocure seasons with the Clippers for five seasons. In 2006, after the Clippers got eliminated from the playoffs after a valiant effort, Brand was set to take his team farther the following season, but failed to do so after missing the playoffs. Elton Brand’s 07-08 season became a disappointment for the power forward, after he suffered a critical Achilles injury he was sidelined for a total of 74 games. Brand showed great signs of recovery for the Clippers late in the season and played solid in a few games to give Clippers fans a positive energy for the following season if he came back the following season. The word “if” stemmed from the fact that Brand was to become an unrestricted free agent in the off season, allowing him to opt out of his contact with the Clippers. The front office for the Clippers made the big moves to attract Brand to come back, drafting shining rookies, Eric Gordon and DeAndre Jordan. Clips weren’t done yet, to promise a bigger chance at being a true contender in the West, the Clippers signed Baron Davis, making it nearly impossible for Elton Brand to turn down his future with the L.A. Clippers.

But impossible is a word that is stretched and bent in the world of sports. Tuesday afternoon when the word came in that Philadelphia has traded away a young Rodney Carney, along with Calvin Booth and a draft pick to Minnesota for a draft pick and most importantly, some cap room, it was apparent that Philadelphia had Brand in its cross hairs. But nothing was assuring until Brand accepted the 5-year deal, worth 82 million, leaving the Clippers with their jaws dropped.

There will be plenty of new Sixers fans, haters, predictions and wonders now that Brand is in the Sixers’ front line. His presence was something the team of Philadelphia fell absent to for many years, with many years being the Charles Barkley years (Sorry, Coleman and Mutombo don’t count). Guards, excluding the Bryant and LeBron tier, will think twice about taking the ball into Philly’s big men. The move sits Reggie Evans back in the bench, where he belongs. Evan’s spark off the bench, along with Lou Williams’ scoring will give Cheeks the comfort to flex his minutes. We also can’t forget the young rookie, Marreese Speights a 6′10”, 250 pound low-post banger. Philadelphia’s starting line-up looks relatively talented as it may be, Andre Miller, Willie Green, Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert. The Sixers are finally a legit playoff contender for a set of years to come. They could easily become a title contender with another move or two done by the Sixers’ front office, but that’s to be seen.

Philadelphia’s chase for Atlanta’s Josh Smith will regretfully be dimmed due to this big move. It’s not good to count anything out yet, but only to be realistic. Josh Smith’s explosiveness will be the biggest thing missed by Philadelphia that the young power forward offered. With Elton Brand, the Sixers have a better power forward who has his own set of moves down low, a good rebound sense and who owns a much better jump shot. Brand is an undersized power forward that uses his wide body to become one of the best rebounders, he has great defensive play that produces blocks and a variety of contested shots for his opponent. Elton has easily become a 20 and 10 player for many seasons, in Philadelphia it will only expand. Brand will share his ground with Samuel Dalembert, who has a complete opposite make-up, being lengthy and slim but who’s also become a fiend for boards and blocks in this league. When it comes to the post-season, Philadelphia saw their star Iguoodala struggle when they needed him the most. They will now have another player to turn to with Brand when the big games come around, Brand put up 25 ppg., 10rpg. and 4 apg.

The city of Philadelphia and all its fans now have another reason to cheer for their 76ers this season. Being blessed with talented, humble players that are on the team to get the job done and get back into the NBA Finals after being carried there five years ago by a lonesome killer. The Sixers have an ultimate mix of youth and veterans in their line-up for the set of years to come. The Brand deal put the final stamp on the reality that their Allen Iverson is really gone. The Sixers have one of the four active players that average 20 and 10 in the league. Brand will face all the lights in his first year in Philadelphia, the Sixers have a tendency to bring home a big name during their downward spiral of their career, from Glenn Robinson to Chris Webber. Brand is still just 29 and has plenty left in his tank to pour some glory for Philadelphia before it’s too late. This is the breaking point for Brand, when it comes to being recognized as a reliable leader, with the ultimate help from another pioneer with former teammate Andre Miller, Brand and the Sixers could take the East by storm if Stefanski continues to play the cards right.

The fastbreak finishes by Iguodala, defense by Dalembert and Brand and the zip passes by Miller could be the complete remedy Philadelphia needs to make them a higher seed in the playoffs after being 7th last season. Betting on another move by Stefanski can be classified as an act of selfishness. But it’s completely understandable with Willie Green filling the starting two guard spot. GM, Ed Stefanski has proved to be one of the smarter managers the city of Philadelphia heavily needed and we are beginning to see why. It only to wonder what would’ve Stefanski would’ve done before Billy King lost his mind and threw away Iverson. But that’s the past, the future is labeled “Brand New” with the trio of Elton Brand, Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller leading the Philadelphia 76ers’ circuit.

Money Talks

Wash Wizards to strike Gilbert Arenas with a 6-year $126 Mil deal.

126 Mil? Yikes. Agent Zero will be seeing nothing but a bunch of zero’s behind that “$126.” The deadly free agent from the Wizards dealt his way to stay in Washington for a fat deal, while successfully keeping Jamison in the bunch for four years, worth $50 Million. After the deal Jamison received a text message from Gil saying he’s “confident” that he’ll return to Washington. Sad news for Philadelphia fans, since it was rumored that Philadelphia was ready to offer Jamison $11 million in the salary cap space they had available for the following season.

Baron Davis to stay in Cali for five more years, worth $65 mil.

The homegrown point guard out of LA has reached a verbal agreement with the Los Angeles Clippers to sign the five year contract. This couldn’t be a sexier team for BDiddy to express his skills. The Clips ended up in last place in their division, with a record of 23-59. Behind such point guards as Dan Dickau and Brevin Knight after letting go of Cassell, the Clippers were due for a prime point guard. While difficult, if the Clippers manage to keep both Brand and Maggette, expect a tight race for the 8th playoff spot for the Clippers next season.

Philly still on hold regarding Free Agency, add two players to Summer League team.

After losing their chances at Jamison and possibly Brand soon. It appears Philadelphia might be aiming at Jose Calderon, Josh Childress, Josh Smith or Corey Maggette. To be more resourceful, it is expected that Philadelphia will meet with Josh Smith today, Wednesday, to try and haul in the 6′9” forward. Even though the Hawks already expressed the fact that they’ll match any offer, it will be difficult for Atlanta to do while trying to keep Childress and facing Philly’s 11 million cap space to fight for Smith. Regarding the summer league team, it has already been said Philadelphia will add Pat Carrol. The other player added was Arizona guard, Jawann McClellan. Here’s a nifty clip of McClellan ripping the court. (Don’t get too excited though, it’s only a pickup game.)

Mavs sign Gerald Green in first day of Free Agency

After going from Slam Dunk champ to being cut from the Houston Rockets, Gerald Green’s NBA hopes remain alive after agreeing to a 1-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks. The 22-year-old swingman, was the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Champion. After being traded from the T’Wolves to the Rockets, Houston let go of Green. Gerald has averaged 8.1 ppg and 2.2 rpg. throughout his whole career. He only played one game for Houston for four minutes and scored 6 points. Green’s career has been marked with lack of intensity. His skill will be tested in Dallas’ high-octane offense this season for a year.