NBA JAM: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

In our continuing rundown on the NBA season, Neil Acharya looks at the Atlantic Division, specifically the Philadelphia 76ers.

Last season: 38-44, 9th in Eastern Conference
Coach: Maurice Cheeks
New faces: Rodney Carney, Bobby Jones
Funny-looking white guy: Kyle Korver
Blogs: Sixers Shots

Flash back to June 2001. The Sixers have just lost to the Lakers in probably the closest five-game NBA Finals ever. The Sixers have The Answer and although they have lost, they should have plenty more winning to do over the ensuing seasons.

Fast-forward to the present day. In the past three years, the Sixers have been out of the playoffs twice, including last year.

Shooting guard Allen Iverson (pictured) will lace up in the backcourt alongside point guard Kevin Ollie. Iverson’s backup Kyle Korver played well last year despite having some differences with coach Maurice Cheeks. Small forward Andre Iguodala has not missed a game in his first two seasons and is emerging as quite a force. This year should be a big year for the young man out of
Arizona.

Chris Webber returns as the power forward and the good news for Sixers fans is that Webber played in 75 games last season and averaged over 20 points. That is the most number of game Webber has played in a season in the new millennium. There are no major signs to indicate things should go south for the one-time member of the Fab Five.

It is hard to predict the Sixers’ fortunes at centre as Haitian-Canadian Samuel Dalembert is a question mark. He has been very good some nights but very inconsistent. Last season he was hit with injury bug and lost his starting job after he returned from the injured list.

By and large the Sixers have a fairly solid core, but three areas may be a concern: The question mark at centre, the drop-off in talent at point guard and the lack of depth.

Also in Atlantic Division: Boston Celtics

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neil__acharya@hotmail.com.