76ers' Mid-season Review

All-Star Weekend marks the unofficial “half-way point” for the NBA season. Ok, maybe it’s not even close to the halfway point of an 82 game season, but it’s a good time to reflect on an underwhelming season for the 76ers. The preseason blockbuster trade that sent Andre Iguodala to the Nuggets and that acquired Andrew Bynum from the Lakers seemed to mark a new era for the Sixers, one where they could build around an All-Star center. Hopes were high that the Sixers could solidify a playoff spot for the third straight year. However, sticking with the theme of ‘disappointment’ in Philadelphia sports this year, things have not gone according to plan. Bynum has yet to play a game and through 51 games the Sixers stand at 22-29, not currently holding a playoff berth. 

Positives:

Jrue Holiday- The young point guard has had a breakout season so far and was named a first time all-star. Jrue has been proven himself as the best player on the roster and has been producing career highs in points, rebounds, and assists per game. He is also shooting a healthy 45% from the field and has already recorded 14 double-doubles and his second career triple-double. Luckily for Sixers fans, the 22-year-old signed four year extension with the team earlier this season and should be a star for years to come.

Thad Young-The sixth year forward has had a great season leading the team with 7.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. Although the rotation was in question before the season, Thad has solidified himself as the starting power forward and should remain so if/when Bynum returns. The only downfall of Young’s play this season has been his decline in free throw percentage (57%, down from his career average of 70%). Recently, Thad has been sidelined with a hamstring injury but should return within the next two weeks and re-energize the team.

Negatives:  

            Injuries- The 76ers have been injury-plagued all season and it has certainly hurt their performance. Their once hoped-to-be franchise center has yet to play because of nagging knee injuries and has since suffered countless setbacks (...from bowling). At first Andrew Bynum was set to miss only a few weeks, then return in January, then return before the All-Star break, but each return date came and went with nothing to show except progressively stranger Bynum hairstyles. Knee injuries have also ended Jason Richardson’s season. The former Slam Dunk champ, bothered by injuries all year, was not the scorer they thought he would be when the team acquired him in the Bynum trade. And recently, Thaddeus Young has been out with a hamstring issue for a few weeks; however he should not be sidelined for much longer.

            

            Tough Division- Although starting out strong, the Sixers have fallen behind in their division and now are fourth in the Atlantic division, 10.5 games behind the first place Knicks and only 2 games in front of the last place Raptors. The Atlantic division has been particularly competitive this season with the Knicks off to a surprisingly dominant start, the Nets continuing to improve after firing Avery Johnson, and the Celtics playing well recently even after losing Rajon Rondo to a partially torn ACL. Even the Raptors have been making noise winning 7 of 9 after the Rudy Gay trade.

           

           Road Woes- The 76ers have been awful on the road, winning only 6 of 22. On the other hand, they are 16-13 at the Wells Fargo Center. Unfortunately, only 12 of the remaining 31 games will be played at home. Coach Collins needs to find a way to motivate his young team to elevate their play when away from Philly.   

            

           Blake Posterizing Spencer Hawes Last Week- Ouch… it was bound to happen to somebody. Maybe with Bynum in the paint that wouldn't happen… 

       The second half of the season for the Sixers starts February 20^th in Minnesota against the equally injured depleted Timberwolves. The remaining 31 games include 4 against divisional rivals and 3 against the reigning champion Heat. The Sixers are 4 games out of the 8^th seed, currently held by the Bucks, and 5.5 games behind the 7^th seeded Celtics. Hopefully the return of Thad and (cross your fingers) Bynum can spark the Sixers to catch up. Otherwise, the Sixers could be caught in the awkward spot of missing the playoffs and not owning a high enough draft pick to make an impact for next year.