Hello to all my fans and blog followers. That's right, all 6 of you. I am back. Been a busy time here in NYC and I feel strongly about this so let me resume blogging again this year.
What's
going on with the Philadelphia 76ers? Seriously, the NBA should fine them.
Let me
first start with why I love the Sixers. In the summer of 1983, my uncle was
visiting from the States and I was in Manila without a clue about the NBA. I
occasionally watched the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) and boxing
whenever it was on. But my Uncle Dilip said I must watch game 4 of the
Sixers-Lakers NBA finals and to check out this guy named Julius Erving who was
also known as Dr. J. I had no idea what to expect; and man was I hooked. Dr. J
was wicked smooth and I really liked the rest of the team...Bobby Jones, Andrew
Toney, Mo Cheeks, and Moses. What a team! The Sixers got me into basketball. I
used to have a poster of number 6 (Dr. J) in my bedroom next to my Farah
Fawcett poster. Not kidding. So the Sixers are responsible for my becoming a
hoops junkie. Even though, when i moved
to Chicago in 1984 I followed a kid from UNC and my new hometown Bullls, the
Sixers have always been special to me.Now, back to my thoughts on the Sixers of
today.
What the
heck is going on the City of Brotherly Love? Why trade away your best player
for an unproven draft pick with a lot of potential? In two years if they become
an elite playoff team than maybe you could say they had the right plan. But how
can you charge top dollar for NBA tickets and put a D league talent on the
court? Today, they just traded their top
two players, Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams and
KJ McDaniels. It just makes no sense. MCW is a tall point guard; a rare
commodity. He is a potential triple double machine and only is his 2nd year.
Why trade him for another draft pick? And KJ was a 2nd rounder who can ball.
But let's go ahead and compare MCW to a couple of players and let me go
Grantland on you and throw around some big data (really stats; but wanted to
make it sound sexier)
Russell
Westbrook
08-09 15.3
5.3 4.9
09-10 16.1
8.0 4.9
Derrick
Rose
Year PPG APG
RPG
08-09 16.8
6.3 3.9
09-10 20.8
6.0 3.8
Michael
Carter Williams
Year PPG APG
RPG
13-14 16.7
6.3 6.2
14-15 15.0
7.4 6.2
Not too
shabby, huh? How should the Sixers fan feel if next year MCW really turned the
corner and averaged 20, 8, and 8? Sure there is the attraction of getting a
younger player through the draft, but this guy is only is his 2nd year and was
the Rookie of the Year. I have no problem trading older players for young
talent and developing them. But when you have a guy that can play, and whose
numbers match those of all-star point guards in their second year, why the heck
do you trade him for a draft pick?
I don't
understand this whole philosophy that you have to tank or be really bad to get
better. I believe there are more creative ways to get competitive. The Sixers
might have traded for Isiah Thomas to play alongside MCW and KJ to make the 8th
seed. Put a competitive team on the court and let fans know that you care about
winning. Instead, they are putting prison food on a plate and charging steak
house prices.
When I own
my NBA team someday, I vow to never tank. Next year, they get Embid back and
that dude they stashed in Europe. So even if they don't make the playoffs, why
not put together a winning culture and build on top of it?
I feel bad
for the fans, the city. The Sixers organization is a bunch of clowns. I hope
fans stop going to the games and season-ticket holders ask for their money
back. The NBA should really fine them. I know it's a league run by billionaires
but I believe they have a duty to put together the most competitive product on
the court…for the fans in the city and for the integrity of the game.
