nenjabin
World's #1 Pat Burke Collector
Well guys I'm going to kick this off, despite it going to be a lllooooonnnngggg season for these guys! haha
Here is what I posted in a blog on the 1/10/07 to kick things off
Well guys the season is less than 1 month away and rosters while not finalised, are getting close! Teams have some injury concerns and everyone wonders who is going to step up for your team? Some teams have the tried and trusted performers, but being a 76ers man in the post AI era, that is not an option and it still remains to be seen (in my eyes) who will be the one to step up.
Here is where some of my sleeper predictions come in. Would like to hear thoughts on these, but these are things to watch IMO.
Big Improver/step up: Willie Green
Everyone is jumping on Iggy (AI2 I don;t like that nickname) to be the main man in Philly, and main man he will be, but sources have always doubted Iggy's ability to score and score enough points to lead a team. I am of the opinion that instead the scorer and big mover/improver will actually be the now 5 year guard (same year as Kyle), Willie Green.
Green has shown he can score. He was very solid in behind AI a couple of seasons ago and then missed the entire 05/06 season due to a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). Last season he was back, and in the final month, getting decent starters minutes, was actually averaging 16.5ppg 3rpg and 3apg. I see him winning that starting 2 guard role and averaging that or more all season, with his minutes getting more consistant throughout the season and therefore higher numbers as the season progresses.
Big Man stakes, suprise packet: Herbert Hill
The big man situation at Philly is Dalembert Incumbant C with the PF possie up for grabs between Reggie Evans (front runner IMO), Shavlick Randolph, Jason Smith and Herbert Hill. Now I don;t see anyone displacing Dalembert and the rookies will steal progressively more time from Reggie as the season progresses, but the perhaps unforeseen/hidden gem is Herbert Hill.
This guy was drafted at #55 and traded to us for some other dude and cash considerations but has got a contract and reportedly impressed alot of people and was touted to take time off #20 pick, Jason Smith. Since then Reggie Evans has arrived and easily holds that starter role, but adding to this intruige is that Hill is nominally listed as a F/C compared to Smith's SF/PF status and Dalembert is reportedly only getting out of a cast/boot on his foot at the start of training camp from a stress fracture. Now I'm hoping Dalembert can get a solid injury free season and the reports of him being fine for training camp are true, but I had him as a C in a fantasy league a couple of seasons ago, as he was coming into a season as a starter when he suddenly had the same issue, a stress fracture in his foot. They said he'd be fine, but as he's a slow healer, he instead was used sparingly throughout the season rather than being the monster starter he was expected to be. Should this happen again and his minutes are limited, both Calvin booth and Herbert Hill stand to gain time and opportunity. Booth we know what he brings to the table, which is not much, but Hill being a high energy young recruit, in a season where the results could look rather bleak, stands to earn alot more time than expected.
Alot of Hype, but likely bust: Louis Williams
All the hype for up and comers in Philly is Louis Williams. However in an overcrowded swingman team and a mainstay PG in Andre Miller, opportunity I believe will be extremely sparse for Williams. At best I see him as a back-up to Andre Miller, but with Kevin Ollie on the team (good defensive PG) and Willie Green's ability to slide over to the point, I don;t think they'll be enough minutes amongst Miller, Ollie, Green, Korver, Carney, Byars (RC) and Iggy (able to play the 2) and Williams at the 2 positions (and this leaving out Thad Young as he's a 3).
Money: Andre Miller and Reggie Evans
Finally my predictions for the best value on the team. These would have to be Andre Miller and Reggie Evans.
Miller while slipping into a new team last season and not knowing the plays and such still managed 14ppg, 7.5apg, 4.4rpg and 1.5spg. Cast your mind back to when he played for the Cavs and they had little going for them. Miller was a consistant double/double man and tiple/double threat averaging 16.5ppg and 10.9apg. With little or no challenge at the point, an athletic bunch of runners and a 3pt gunner around him, surely it wouldn;t be too much of a step up for him again to those sorts of numbers
As for Reggie Evans, the guy was a beast on the boards last season and prior seasons while never getting more than 23 minutes a game!!! Surely in a depleted front line at Philly he'll get 25+ minutes despite rookies needing time and the rebounds should flow even greater.
Here is what I posted in a blog on the 1/10/07 to kick things off
Well guys the season is less than 1 month away and rosters while not finalised, are getting close! Teams have some injury concerns and everyone wonders who is going to step up for your team? Some teams have the tried and trusted performers, but being a 76ers man in the post AI era, that is not an option and it still remains to be seen (in my eyes) who will be the one to step up.
Here is where some of my sleeper predictions come in. Would like to hear thoughts on these, but these are things to watch IMO.
Big Improver/step up: Willie Green
Everyone is jumping on Iggy (AI2 I don;t like that nickname) to be the main man in Philly, and main man he will be, but sources have always doubted Iggy's ability to score and score enough points to lead a team. I am of the opinion that instead the scorer and big mover/improver will actually be the now 5 year guard (same year as Kyle), Willie Green.
Green has shown he can score. He was very solid in behind AI a couple of seasons ago and then missed the entire 05/06 season due to a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). Last season he was back, and in the final month, getting decent starters minutes, was actually averaging 16.5ppg 3rpg and 3apg. I see him winning that starting 2 guard role and averaging that or more all season, with his minutes getting more consistant throughout the season and therefore higher numbers as the season progresses.
Big Man stakes, suprise packet: Herbert Hill
The big man situation at Philly is Dalembert Incumbant C with the PF possie up for grabs between Reggie Evans (front runner IMO), Shavlick Randolph, Jason Smith and Herbert Hill. Now I don;t see anyone displacing Dalembert and the rookies will steal progressively more time from Reggie as the season progresses, but the perhaps unforeseen/hidden gem is Herbert Hill.
This guy was drafted at #55 and traded to us for some other dude and cash considerations but has got a contract and reportedly impressed alot of people and was touted to take time off #20 pick, Jason Smith. Since then Reggie Evans has arrived and easily holds that starter role, but adding to this intruige is that Hill is nominally listed as a F/C compared to Smith's SF/PF status and Dalembert is reportedly only getting out of a cast/boot on his foot at the start of training camp from a stress fracture. Now I'm hoping Dalembert can get a solid injury free season and the reports of him being fine for training camp are true, but I had him as a C in a fantasy league a couple of seasons ago, as he was coming into a season as a starter when he suddenly had the same issue, a stress fracture in his foot. They said he'd be fine, but as he's a slow healer, he instead was used sparingly throughout the season rather than being the monster starter he was expected to be. Should this happen again and his minutes are limited, both Calvin booth and Herbert Hill stand to gain time and opportunity. Booth we know what he brings to the table, which is not much, but Hill being a high energy young recruit, in a season where the results could look rather bleak, stands to earn alot more time than expected.
Alot of Hype, but likely bust: Louis Williams
All the hype for up and comers in Philly is Louis Williams. However in an overcrowded swingman team and a mainstay PG in Andre Miller, opportunity I believe will be extremely sparse for Williams. At best I see him as a back-up to Andre Miller, but with Kevin Ollie on the team (good defensive PG) and Willie Green's ability to slide over to the point, I don;t think they'll be enough minutes amongst Miller, Ollie, Green, Korver, Carney, Byars (RC) and Iggy (able to play the 2) and Williams at the 2 positions (and this leaving out Thad Young as he's a 3).
Money: Andre Miller and Reggie Evans
Finally my predictions for the best value on the team. These would have to be Andre Miller and Reggie Evans.
Miller while slipping into a new team last season and not knowing the plays and such still managed 14ppg, 7.5apg, 4.4rpg and 1.5spg. Cast your mind back to when he played for the Cavs and they had little going for them. Miller was a consistant double/double man and tiple/double threat averaging 16.5ppg and 10.9apg. With little or no challenge at the point, an athletic bunch of runners and a 3pt gunner around him, surely it wouldn;t be too much of a step up for him again to those sorts of numbers
As for Reggie Evans, the guy was a beast on the boards last season and prior seasons while never getting more than 23 minutes a game!!! Surely in a depleted front line at Philly he'll get 25+ minutes despite rookies needing time and the rebounds should flow even greater.