Why Philadelphia 76ers' Louis Williams Deserves to Win the Sixth Man of the Year

The 2011-12 Philadelphia 76ers are off to their best start in 10 years, going 13-6 through their first 19 games of the season.

It has been a rejuvenated year for the club, partly because of the youth on the team and experienced core, but another in large part to the play of Louis Williams.

"Lou Will" or "Sweet Lou"—as he is affectionately called by Sixers fans—is in his seventh season in the NBA since coming straight out of high school in Georgia.

Williams has never really been a starter in his career, his only starts coming in the 2009-10 season when he started 38 games due to injuries in the lineup.

Other than that, Lou has played his entire career as a role player, a guy who will come off the bench and provide his team with an added energy boost, but most importantly, scoring.

For the past four seasons, Williams has averaged double-digit points off the bench for the 76ers.

However, this season, Williams has been superb, averaging 15.6 points per game through 19 contests, a career high.

That statistic, as well as the Sixers' resurgence in 2012 alone, has Louis Williams at the top of the list for Sixth Man of the Year in the NBA this season.

Williams' points have been the cure not only on the stat sheet, but in the way he gets them in the bigger picture of the game . He frequently has hit many big shots late in games and at the end of quarters this season (would have had a game-winner as recently as Wednesday against the Nets had Deron Williams missed his final attempt in regulation), and is being known for hitting several shots in succession once he gets into a game.

The Sixers haven't been relevant in Philly since 2001 when Allen Iverson won the MVP and led his team to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty.

The team has not had a winning record since 2004-05 and has not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since the end of the 2003 season.

That being said, this season has a great outlook and if the team keeps winning they way they are, then there is no question that Lou Will deserves top contention for Sixth Man of the Year this season.