Chris Graythen - Getty Images
Sixers rise is surprising - is it legit?
For a few years now, we've had the luxury of ignoring our own division for the most part. The Knicks were always waiting for next year, the Raptors were still recovering from the Vince Carter era, the Nets were rebuilding, and the Sixers were just sort of stuck in neutral. Now the Knicks are loaded on offense, the Raptors are at least enjoying the growth of Bargnani, the Nets are players for Dwight Howard, and the Sixers just so happen to be at the top of the standings right now. But are they legit?
The Point Forward " Posts Can Sixers hold up against NBA’s elite?
Here’s what I’m prepared say about the Sixers, sitting at 6-2, sporting a top-five offense and a top-five defense, leading the Atlantic Division and looking like a top-five overall team in the eyes of many: This is a very good team, one worth rooting for if you like unselfish, disciplined team basketball on both ends of the floor. They may well win the Atlantic Division, with Boston struggling to find itself (and probably content with the sixth seed if it comes to it) and the Knicks doing a yin-yang by the day. They are athletic, young, deep and long on the perimeter, and they will be an absolute pain for any opponent on any night. But let’s go easy on putting them among the league’s elite, despite the hot start.
We'll see if they can maintain this pace or if it is one of those flukes of a lockout shortened season. Regardless, it doesn't seem like the Celtics will be able to slide through the Atlantic Division any longer.
For more on the Sixers as "media darlings" see our friends' take over at Liberty Ballers.
By the way, here's a quick look at where some "Power Rankings" slot the Celtics.
0 recs | 13 comments
I wonder how they would be playing if they had traded Iggy
I heard at the end of last season that the SIxers and Grizzlies were discussing a Iguodala for Gay swap. Both seem to be playing solid for their respective teams right now, so I guess it’s best that the trade didn’t go down.
I think Philly’s bench is what makes them so good. Lou Williams, Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young, and that rookie center seem to be playing really well together. I hope their success rubs off on our bench!
As good as the team is, though, I don’t see them winning the division. For me, it’s gotta be the Celtics:
a) because I’m a fan
b) because New York has shown no signs of even above-average defense this season
c) Philly will go through a slump; all young teams do and
d) I just feel like once Pietrus joins things will click
It’ll be a close race for the Atlantic, that’s for sure.
celticsfan9 - January 10, 2012
They'll be an improved team this year
but it would take the C’s and Knicks fumbling their way through half the season at least and the Sixers continuing to win at this pace for them to get the division IMHO.
Although, I miss the days of the old C’s/Sixers and C’s/Knicks rivalry. I find the season a lot more enjoyable when the C’s have to actually compete within their division to win it. Plus it makes beating those teams so much more satisfying.
slamtheking - January 10, 2012
sixers have been athletic and decent fora few seasons
whats new thisyear and is really helping them is depth and the emergence of hawes(where did he buy some game?)
vucevic, turner, young, williams, they may have the best scoring bench in the league.
i dont think they are elite but i think they are getting close and could cause some real problems in the playoffs
next year could be an even bigger year for the sixers who have $49m committed but will likely decline the $7.5m option on nocioni and may amnesty brands last year at $18m. if the cap goes up to $62m which i read it’s supposed to then they can resign hawes and will still have boat loads of money to throw at FA’s if they choose.
craziness@analltimehigh - January 10, 2012
Off topic...
Hawes is a UFA next year. Danny should at least consider 8-9 mil offer. Legit big man.
Yoki Rivero - January 10, 2012
how are they any different from last year?
mediocre, borderline playoff team. it’s always fun to speculate that some darkhorse team will make some noise, but in the nba more than any other league, teams are what everyone thinks they will be, and the sixers just aren’t that good.
JunkyardDawg - January 10, 2012
Will be very close to the Celtics in the standings. A game or two ahead or behind at the end of the season
vinnie - January 11, 2012
Remember those rankings that put New York, Indiana and even Philadelphia ahead of Boston?
I myself thought those were insane.
Well here we are. Boston better wake up soon.
LarryBird33 - January 11, 2012
Oh come on.
The only playoff teams they’ve faced so far are Portland and Indiana. All their wins came against the bad teams.
staticcc - January 11, 2012
Unlike the Celtics, who have beaten the iron of the NBA :)
vinnie - January 11, 2012
Nope I didnt say that.
staticcc - January 11, 2012
They are a solid young team but they lack talent
They are missing a star player, they don’t even have a top 20 player let alone a top 10. They are a deep athletic team but they aren’t THAT deep to make up for not having a star. Iggy and Louis Williams can’t be the best players on an elite team.
kg2128 - January 11, 2012
So it looks like nobody is picking the C's to be as high as a sixth seed.
Instead opinions range from an approximate seventh seed to an out-of-the-playoffs lottery team.
clover - January 11, 2012
What, me worry? [ curtesy of Mad Magazine ]
lygafe - January 11, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of CelticsBlog to post a comment.