myerstownherald.com

By ERIC FISHER
“Good evening, Mr. Jordan. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to guide the 76ers to a winning record and beyond the first round of the NBA playoffs. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds …”
(cue up the Mission: Impossible theme song)
What? You didn’t know the NBA season started?
With the Phillies dominating the regional sports scene, you are forgiven if you didn’t realize the Sixers started their season on Oct. 28. The Sixers lost to Orlando, 120-106 – and it wasn’t that close. The Sixers trailed by 31 points after three quarters.
Fortunately for the Sixers, the eyes of an overwhelming majority of sports fans in this area were trained on Game 1 of the World Series. Perhaps only general manager Ed Stefanski’s family watched the second half of Wednesday’s lopsided defeat.
(The preceding paragraph raises the following question: If the Sixers fall in the forest – or Florida – and nobody sees them fall, does their loss count in the standings?)
The opening night loss to the Magic, who ousted the Sixers from the playoffs last spring, served as a reminder that the Sixers haven’t advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs since 2003, Larry Brown’s final season as head coach. Since 2003, the Sixers have been coached by Randy Ayers, Chris Ford, Jim O’Brien, Maurice Cheeks and Tony DiLeo.
The Sixers, who beat Milwaukee on Friday in their home opener, did not win a playoff series during their tenures. Only O’Brien and DiLeo had winning records during the regular season, with O’Brien’s 43 victories in 2004-05 being the high-water mark for this team since Brown departed.
The preceding two paragraphs demonstrate the uphill challenge faced by new head coach Eddie Jordan. Quite simply, this team doesn’t know how to win.
This does not mean, however, that the cupboard is bare. Jordan has some ingredients with which to create a winning recipe.
The Sixers are not bereft of talent. Small forward/off-guard Andre Iguodala is versatile all-around player, forward Elton Brand is a former all-star and forward Thaddeus Young is an exciting young player.
Young, 21, isn’t the only good, young player. Marreese Speights, a first-round draft pick in 2008 and perhaps the only bright spot during the season-opening loss to the Magic, is 22. Starting point guard Lou Williams turned 23 on Wednesday.
Even Brand, 30, isn’t that old. Iguodala is just 25. Center Samuel Dalembert is 28.
The key to the Sixers’ future is for Jordan to transform the young talent into the core of a championship contender. Transforming the Sixers’ fortunes, however, is easier said than done.
The Sixers are stuck in NBA purgatory. They’re too good to receive a high draft pick. They’re too bad to challenge for a title.
For the past six years, the Sixers have finished with between 33 and 43 victories. The 43-39 season under O’Brien in 2004-05 is the only winning record during this six-year stretch.
The Sixers also have little flexibility under the salary cap. That is another reason they’re stuck in NBA purgatory. Brand has approximately $66 million remaining on the four years of his contract. That contract makes him virtually untradeable.
Brand played in just 29 games last season due to a shoulder injury. That means he has played in just 37 games the past two seasons. That leaves a lot of question marks.
Furthermore, there are questions about how well Brand fits in with the Sixers’ style. The young players love to fast-break up and down the floor. Brand is more of a half-court player.
The Sixers will win more games during the regular season using a fast-break offense that takes advantage of their youth and energy. But, as has been proven time and time again, you need a strong halfcourt game to advance in the playoffs.
Williams’ game seems better-suited for a full-court track meet than a halfcourt game. Williams, who takes over at point guard from veteran Andre Miller, must distribute the ball well and get it to the hot hand, a skill at which Miller was particularly adept. Miller knew when to pass and when to shoot. Williams seems more inclined to do the latter than the former.
The Sixers may win more games with an up-tempo style, but they won’t go far in the playoffs. Ironically, Brand is the one part that seems to be a better fit for a halfcourt offense. That leaves him out of sync with the other players.
Consequently, the Sixers may find themselves in the same boat as last year. And the year before that. They will win close to half their games, but they won’t go anywhere in the playoffs.
Jordan’s challenge is to change those perceptions. His challenge is to meld some of the seemingly mismatched parts.
Jordan’s mission is difficult. But it’s not impossible.
The Sixers might achieve a winning record. It will remain difficult, however, to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs, particularly if they don’t have homecourt advantage.
Let’s say the Sixers finish 42-42 and lose in the first round. Sound familiar?