| Attack of the Andre's Authored by Elliot Cole - February 9, 2007 - 1:15 pm
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They started learning how to play together, a collective team instead of four spectators and a superstar. And they started winning.
Iverson was traded for Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two first round draft picks on December 20th. With the Sixers struggling under the weight of Iverson’s trade demands, the 76ers were mired in a Celtic-like slump, losing 12 straight games and dropping 16 out of 17.
Predictably, the team struggled for leadership and to find any scoring. They were terrible defensively, lacked muscle under the boards, and had a cluster of overpaid but underperforming players like Willie Green, Samuel Dalembert, and Kyle Korver. They fell off of the NBA radar, and most people in Philadelphia started debating Oden or Durant.
After an inevitably difficult transition into January, the team showed signs of gelling at the end of the month. They snuck up on Dwyane Wade and the Heat. Then they took out the Hornets, followed by King James and Cleveland. They beat the Hawks, then the Hornets for a second time. Before anyone noticed, the team finished the second half of January with a 5-3 mark, nothing spectacular, but far better than the talent on the team merits.
Write it off as a fluke, perhaps. Even the worst teams can have a hot streak.
But then they started February with a 2-1 record, including a win over the Nets. The 76ers are, collectively, becoming a team. Andre Miller has taken a star struck cast and incorporated everyone into the system, bringing a consistent 8 assists and sound decision making. Dalembert has shown a pulse, averaging 13.2 points and 9.2 rebounds in January after racking up a paltry 8 and 8 in November. But most of all, Andre Iguodala finally developed into the player that everyone expected him to become.
Iguodala put the team on his back, becoming a go-to-player and a triple double threat every night. Iggy is averaging close to 18 point a game, but is actually around 20 after the A.I. trade. His assists and free throw attempts have also gone up, and despite having defenses focus on his he is above 40% shooting. He has also limited his three point attempts, instead opting to drive to the basket instead of hanging around the perimeter.
The 76ers, at least for this season, have a face. With Miller at the controls, Iguodala has taken off; proving his growth in the league was stunted by playing alongside Iverson. Wednesday night against the Bobcats showed Andre at his best: 27 points, 7 boards, 4 steals, and 13 free throw attempts. While consistency is still an issue with the young player, Iggy seems to have finally started tapping his potential.
Despite averaging 25 ppg in his last three, it’s unreasonable to ask this of Iguodala every night, but the 76ers don’t have any other choice. Despite his good play, they won’t be able to make a playoff run after their early season woes (the team is currently at 17-33), and at worst they can hurt their lottery odds. But maybe it’s not the end of the world if they slide to the third or fourth pick. Maybe Philadelphia doesn’t need a superstar anymore, the one guy that takes all the headlines. Maybe this team would be well suited with a Joakim Noah or Brandon Wright, more passive stars that incorporate teammates into their style of play. With numerous first round picks, the 76ers don’t necessarily have to start over next season, but rather build on the Andres, and help foster a team mentality that Philadelphia hasn’t seen in over a decade.
Elliot Cole can be reached at elliot.cole@yahoo.com |
