Philadelphia 76ers: 2011-12 Season Preview and Primer

The ink is barely dry on the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement, yet the past two weeks have been more hectic than any other offseason in recent memory.

Lost amid the constant flurry of player movement is the fact that—with the exception of two draft picks—the Philadelphia 76ers' roster is virtually unchanged from last season.

While the 76ers will enjoy an edge over most teams in terms of chemistry, is standing pat going to be good enough to compete against the NBA's elite in 2011-12? That's just one of the many questions facing the Sixers as they kick off their lockout-shortened, 66-game season.

Is Jrue Holiday One of the Top 10 Point Guards in the NBA?

76ers point guard Jrue Holiday had a stellar sophomore campaign last season, averaging 14.0 points, 6.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in 2010-11. Statistics aside, Holiday often displayed the poise of a veteran last season—a characteristic not often seen in a player his age (Holiday turned 21 this past June).

Although he had more of a scoring mentality during his lone season at UCLA, Holiday has since shed that to become a very effective playmaker for the 76ers. Given his size (6'4") and his overall skill set, the sky is the limit for Holiday, who will likely be one of the cornerstones of the Sixers franchise for years to come.

It's not unreasonable to expect Holiday to average close to 17 points and eight assists per game this year. If all goes according to plan, expect Holiday to firmly establish his position in the upper echelon of NBA point guards as soon as this season.

Can Jodie Meeks Give the Team More Than He Did Last Year?

The short answer is...probably not. But that's OK.

At the start of last season, Jodie Meeks was on the 76ers' inactive list. One year later—thanks to his pure stroke from 23 feet and beyond—he's the team's starting shooting guard and a key member of Doug Collins' rotation.

Meeks is an extremely accurate three-point shooter (39.7 percent last season) whose mere presence creates lanes for Jrue Holiday, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner to attack the basket. Opposing defenses have to respect Meeks when he sets up beyond the arc, and that alone is reason enough to ignore the fact that he doesn't fill up the stat sheet in any category other than points.

Even though he averaged 10.5 points per game last year, Meeks probably isn't long for the starting lineup once Turner develops chemistry with Holiday and Iguodala. Even so, his role as the team's designated shooter (and his ability to mesh well with both starters and reserves) is invaluable to a team that doesn't have any other long-range threats.

Now That Andre Iguodala Is Healthy, What Can We Expect out of Him in 2011-12?

Knee and Achilles' injuries hampered Iguodala for most of 2010-11—a year in which he missed more games (15) than he did in his previous six seasons combined (six—all in 2006-07). But even at less than 100 percent, Iguodala still maintained his typical bulldog intensity on defense, earning him NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors for the first time in his career.

Offensively, despite a sub-par shooting percentage (44.5 percent), Iguodala was extremely effective when he attacked the basket last season (converting on 72.6 percent of his attempts at the rim), and had one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in the NBA (3.06-to-1).

So what can we expect out of Iguodala this season? More of the same defensively, and a slightly different mindset when the 76ers are in the frontcourt.

According to early reports out of training camp, Iguodala isn't forcing ill-advised jump shots like he did for much of last season. If he is willing to use his considerable athleticism to drive to the rim for higher-percentage shots, there's no reason why Iguodala can't average 18 points, five rebounds and five assists this season.

Conversely, if the 76ers small forward reverts to his penchant for shooting contested 18-footers, don't expect much change in his offensive numbers. However, if Doug Collins has any say in the matter, expect to see a much more aggressive Iguodala in 2011-12.

Will Elton Brand Be Able To Survive the Grind of the Shortened Season?

Because of the lockout, the 76ers will play 66 games in 123 days this season. That type of schedule can be grueling for any NBA player, much less one who already has 12 seasons to his credit.

But that's exactly what's facing the 32-year-old Elton Brand this year. Given his injury history, it's fair to wonder if his body can withstand the onslaught of back-to-back games and seemingly constant travel.

When healthy, Brand may be the 76ers' most valuable player, despite the fact that he is no longer the 20-and-10 threat he was during his days with the Los Angeles Clippers. Last season, he led the team in points (15.6) and rebounds (8.7), and was routinely singled out by head coach Doug Collins for providing invaluable leadership to the team's young stars.

Thanks to an improved training regimen, Brand has been relatively healthy recently, having only missed six games due to injury in the past two seasons (he was suspended for one game last season for a flagrant foul).

Don't be surprised if Collins limits Brand's minutes at times and/or allows him to sit out a practice every now and then once the season gets underway. Brand's true value will come in the postseason, and the 76ers will take every measure to make sure that he makes it there healthy.

Will Spencer Hawes Be the Interior Presence That the 76ers Need?

Spencer Hawes' averages per 36 minutes last year are deceiving (12.2 points, 9.7 rebounds) when you consider that he only played 21.2 minutes per game in 2010-11 due to a lack of toughness on the defensive end.

As the team's only seven-footer, Hawes' primary role is to bang with the other team's big men and to make opposing wing players think twice before attacking the basket. If he can do that consistently, he'll be in line for at least 30 minutes of playing time per night.

At the beginning of the season, Hawes will have every chance to cement his role as the 76ers' No. 1 option at the center position. But since no one is making a legitimate push for Hawes' spot, he may wind up getting the bulk of the minutes at the 5-spot by default.

Will Evan Turner Finally Break out This Season?

Evan Turner's rookie season was, in no uncertain terms, mediocre.

He averaged 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game last year, but struggled mightily with his jump shot (42.5 percent overall, 35.6 percent on shots taken from beyond 10 feet).

Turner had flashes of stellar play (especially during the first-round series against the Miami Heat), but all too often, he looked lost out on the court as he couldn't effectively play with Andre Iguodala at times.

At some point this season, Turner has to force his way into the starting lineup (replacing Jodie Meeks). Turner worked on his shooting form with legendary shot guru Herb Magee this offseason, and with an improved mid-range jumper, he should be able to average about 12 points per game.

That, along with his defensive and rebounding ability, should translate into a very successful sophomore campaign. It may not qualify as a "breakout" season, but the 76ers should see definite progress out of Turner in 2011-12.

What Roles Will Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams Play This Year?

Having recently signed a five-year, $43 million deal, Thaddeus Young is being paid like a starter. However, unless something changes in the near future, he will be the team's sixth man once again in 2011-12.

With the emergence of Turner and the steady play of Iguodala, it's hard to envision that Young will get more than the 26 minutes per game that he averaged last season. He was extremely effective in those minutes, scoring 12.7 points and grabbing 5.3 rebounds per game—numbers that he'll probably replicate this season.

If the reports that he has improved his jump shot are true, Young will once again be in consideration for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award (he finished third in the voting last season).

Lou Williams...is an enigma. He doesn't shoot well (40.6 percent last season), but he is an explosive scorer (in 2010-11, he averaged 21.2 points per 36 minutes). At 6'2" and 175 pounds, he has the size of a point guard, but puts up more shots per minute than anyone else on the team.

In short, Williams is an instant-offense guy—unafraid to take any shot from 25 feet and in—who can come off the bench and score 10 points at the drop of a hat. It's what he is, and it's what he'll probably always be. Every team needs one, and the 76ers are fortunate enough to have one of the best in the NBA.

Will Marreese Speights Finally Buy into Doug Collins' Coaching Philosophy?

Maybe. But then again, he may not be in a 76ers uniform long enough for us to find out.

It isn't often that a team desperate for interior players is willing to trade one of their few experienced big men. But there are whispers that the 76ers are looking to unload forward/center Marreese Speights after drafting him with the 16th overall pick three seasons ago.

Why? Well, for starters, the 6'10" Speights arrived to training camp out of shape, despite having spent much of the offseason working out at the Impact Basketball Academy in Las Vegas.

In addition, Speights isn't the most enthusiastic defender, and prefers to take mid-range jump shots as opposed to banging in the paint. In his defense, he is a reliable shooter (42 percent on shots from 16 to 23 feet last year), but he needs to learn to play within the confines of the offense.

There are minutes to be had at the 4 and 5 positions regardless of whether or not Spencer Hawes has improved from last season. Speights only logged 11.5 minutes per game in 2010-11, and could easily double that if he becomes more aggressive on the defensive end.

For now, it appears as though Speights will get another chance to carve out a niche with the 76ers. If he doesn't make the most of it, he might soon find himself calling another city home.

What About the Rest of the 76ers Bench?

As it stands now, center Tony Battie is the first big man off of the bench for the 76ers. He won't score much, but he's a big body who can defend, rebound and—most importantly—spell Brand and Hawes for at least 10 minutes a night.

Reserve forward Andres Nocioni started 17 games for the 76ers last season. He also racked up a number of DNP-CDs (Did Not Play—Coach's Decision).

Though he's still a capable player, any minutes given to Nocioni are minutes taken away from the team's younger players who need that time to develop. Furthermore, Nocioni's skill set pretty much limits him to the 3-spot, so he's caught behind Iguodala, Young and others at the small forward position.

Speaking of small forwards, Craig Brackins is the wild card on the 76ers bench. More often than not, Brackins was either inactive last season or honing his skills with the Springfield Armor in the NBA's Developmental League.

Brackins is 6'10" and 230 pounds, but prefers to play more of a perimeter game (read: rebounding is not his forte). If he can consistently knock down that mid-range jumper—as well as play solid defense—he could be in line for double-digit minutes this season.

What Can We Expect out of the Rookies This Season?

The 76ers' most glaring need this offseason was in their frontcourt, and they addressed it by drafting 6'10" center Nikola Vucevic out of USC and 6'9" power forward Lavoy Allen from Temple.

If Vucevic can give the team 10 quality minutes a game this season, consider that a plus. Vucevic spent part of the offseason playing professional basketball in Montenegro, but it will take him a while to get accustomed to the speed and the strength of the NBA game.

Allen will probably start the season on the inactive list, but may see time if one or more of the big men in front of him miss any extended time due to injury.

How Many Games Can the Philadelphia 76ers Win in 2011-12?

The top 11 players from last season's team return—a definite advantage given the lack of training camp time afforded to NBA teams this season.

Those who lament the fact that the 76ers didn't make any major additions can take solace in knowing that Philadelphia should be able to hit the ground running once the season starts on December 26.

Just as important: Ten players on the 76ers' projected opening-night roster are 25 years old or younger. In a season where teams will routinely play four games in five nights, younger, fresher teams will enjoy a considerable edge.

The 76ers will play their first five games on the road, but following that, 18 of their next 22 contests are at the Wells Fargo Center. All things considered, they should be able to finish that opening stretch with at least 15 or 16 wins.

In the final 66 games of last season, the 76ers finished 38-28. While matching that mark this year might be a stretch due to the compressed schedule, an improvement over their .500 record from 2010-11 seems likely.

If they can stay healthy, Philadelphia appears to be in line for about 36 wins and possibly even a No. 5 seed in the playoffs this year. And given the right matchup, there's no reason why the 76ers couldn't even pull off a first-round upset.

Winning a playoff series is the next step for Doug Collins and his young team—anything short of that will be considered a disappointment.