Philadelphia 76ers: 30 Teams in 30 Days

2008 Statistics

Finished 41-41, second in Atlantic Division and sixth in Eastern Conference

Postseason

First Round: Lost to Orlando Magic 4-2

Key Additions

Jrue Holiday via draft, Primoz Brezec via free agency, Jason Kapono via trade

Key Losses

Andre Miller via free agency, Reggie Evans via trade, Theo Ratliff via free agency

Over the past few years, the Philadelphia 76ers have emerged as a .500 team—nothing more and nothing less.

With the moves they've made this offseason, it looks like another .500 year, which is just not going to cut it anymore in a stacked Eastern Conference.

Teams are getting better and .500 is not going to get you a sixth seed.

Since the 2004-05 season, the 76ers haven't finished more than four games over .500 or eight games under .500.

Philly does have some of the best talent in the East, but there are a few circumstances that could be holding the team back from a legitimate postseason run.

The 76ers brought in Elton Brand for the sole reason of elevating the team past average to become a contender.

What the 76ers don't realize is that Brand is very injury-prone and is coming off of an injury that only allowed him to play eight games in the season prior to his arrival.

Brand only played in 29 games, averaging 14 points and nine rebounds before sitting out the remainder of the season.

When healthy, Brand is one of the top forwards in the league and hit career highs only four years ago when he averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds.

If the 76ers can harness that energy, Philly could avoid having another .500 team and vault themselves to a top seed.

When Brand left, it appeared Philadelphia was approaching a below-average season until a veteran point guard rallied the team and eventually led them to a postseason appearance.

Andre Miller had two of the best years of his career playing for Philly, averaging 16 points, seven assists, and five rebounds per game.

But without Miller on the team, the 76ers lose one of their team leaders and will now have a lot of youth at the spot with Louis Williams as the possible starter, with rookie Jrue Holiday out of UCLA as his backup.

Holiday is a 19-year-old point guard who averaged nine points, four rebounds and four assists in his only year at the collegiate level.

Holiday was an excellent passer in college, played great defense, and created his own shots. He'll likely find trouble with his three-point shooting and inexperience.

y playing only one year, Jrue might have entered the draft too soon and could be too young for NBA-level competition.

The team will continue to be led by high-flyer Andre Iguodala.

Andre has been improving year by year and has been one of the healthiest players in the league, missing only six games in his five-year career.

He has spent all five years with Philadelphia, and averaged 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists last year.

Emerging as the team's leader due to the absence of a true veteran over the past few years, he will now have to assume the role with a healthy Elton Brand.

Thaddeus Young is only going into his third year in the league but has emerged as one of the top young talents.

In his second season he averaged 15 points and five rebounds as a member of the team's starting lineup.

Young could improve his ability to pass though. as he only averaged less than two assists per game last year. He should also work on his shot-blocking ability.

With time and experience, Young could improve on his flaws and become a future all-star.

Many 76ers fans have blamed their mediocrity on center Samuel Dalembert.

Dalembert is a premier shot blocker and that's about it.

Sam has been with the Sixers for the past eight years and has not improved on much since his inception in the league.

He averaged a near career-low six points last year, along with nine rebounds and two blocks per game.

It appears that Dalembert has just about reached his peak and the 76ers are going to need a center that can do more than block shots to achieve a feeling of success in this league.

His backup Marreese Speights—coming off of his first year in the league—seems to be a better scorer, averaging eight points last year. He could be the future starter if he can score more points and be a credible offensive threat for Philly.

The 76ers have improved their bench by trading for Jason Kapono. Kapono is a two-time winner of the three-point competition and has one of the best shots in the league, but besides that there's nothing much else to look for in his game.

Philadelphia is looking to become a contender and, with a healthy Elton Brand back in the starting lineup, they appear ready to become a serious threat in the East once again.

Andre Miller will be missed, but if the team does some growing up then the loss of their point guard will not hurt as much.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Louis Williams

SG-Andre Iguodala

SF-Thaddeus Young

PF-Elton Brand

C-Samuel Dalembert

This is Pt. 21 of a 30-day series of 2009-10 season previews of each NBA team. My profile will contain every other team that has been previewed before.