Friday, September 21, 2012

Saturday 5 week 4



The Saturday 5
This is a new addition to the site, every week I will preview the 5 biggest games of the coming weekend.

Missouri vs #7 South Carolina: 411: Missouri got their intro to SEC life two weeks ago against Georgia and now they get their first taste of life on the road in the Southeastern Conference. They will travel to Columbia, South Carolina to face the ole ball coach and his Gamecocks. The (3-0) Gamecocks are coming off two easy wins vs ECU and UAB, in which they racked up a total of 97 points, stark contrast to their 17-13 controversial win against Vanderbilt. Missouri bounced back from their loss to Georgia with a 24-20 win over ASU.

Keys to the game: South Carolina tactically is at a disadvantage in this game, because Missouri has a pretty solid run defense. Dylan Thompson concerns me starting in his first real test. Marcus Lattimore will need to pick up the slack and carry the load. On defense, get pressure on whoever it is at quarterback for Mizzou, probably Corbin Berkstresser who did okay last week filling in for the injured James Franklin.

Missouri: This one is easy, pray James Franklin can play. Because he makes this offense go, and when they go they have the potential to put up points. USC will not fare well in a shootout. If he doesn’t play give it to Kendial Lawrence and hope for the best.

Pick: Look for Lattimore to wear down the Missouri defense, I hope James Franklin play because it makes this game very interesting. But if he doesn’t, the offense will struggle. 27-10 USC

#18 Michigan @ #11 Notre Dame:
411: Notre Dame has surprised us and Michigan has disappointed us. The Wolverines got run by Alabama, barely escaped Air Force at home, and then rolled UMass. Notre Dame ripped Navy, slipped past an experienced Purdue team, and dominated a very strong Michigan State team on the road. Michigan needs this as an identity win, but Notre Dame need it to validate their success.
Keys to the game: Notre Dame needs to keep a balanced attack. I think Everett Golson is the better choice due to his dual threat capabilities. They have a good stable of running backs and 5 or 6 solid receivers. Golston has only thrown 1 int this year and last week he already looked like he was progressing in the decision making category. 14-32 and 178 yds isn’t pretty, but he threw a touchdown and ran for one without throwing an interception against one of the best defenses in the country.
Michigan: Denard Robinson will have to put his quarterback helmet on, because Notre Dame’s run defense is great. Some say their front 7 is one of the best in the country, and that spells trouble for the run dependent Wolverines. Notre Dame safety Jerome Slaughter is out for the season and the Wolverines need to pick whoever the Irish put to fill the spot, this means the deep ball needs to be in effect. The Wolverines need to get into a shootout.

Pick: Too much Notre Dame front 7 in what will be another close game, 24-17 Irish.


#15 Kansas State @ #6 Oklahoma: 411: Collin Klein leads the K-State rushing attack into Oklahoma where they will meet Landry Jones and the high-powered Sooner offense. UPSET ALERT..... MAYBE. Red flag #1 is that Oklahoma hasn’t really played anyone yet. Kansas State has played Miami, and they beat the hell out of the team. Granted, Miami isn’t fantastic, but they are better than UTEP and FAMU.

Keys to the game: KSU, do what you are good at, pound them early and open up the play action pass. Even though both defenses rank in the top 25 for points against, I am feeling a shootout coming. And unlike many teams, this team I think has the firepower to hang with Oklahoma. If the defense plays well, and gets stops when needed we could easily see an upset in Norman.

Oklahoma: Damien Williams needs to be effective and make every touch count, if he does this, K-State will not be able to stop both the run and the high-octane passing attack. Look for Landry Jones to go to Kenny Stills early and often. He is averaging 8 catches and 120 yards in the first 2 games. He also has caught 2 touchdowns. If the offense is clicking, then the 8th ranked defense may not need to be effective, but in the event they don’t attempt to do your thing.

pick: Oklahoma will escape at home, they will get hit hard with a harsh reality and will adjust quickly. 42-41 Sooners

#22 Arizona @ #4 Oregon: 411: Who is Nick Foles? This is what some Arizona Wildcats fans might be saying after these first 3 weeks of the season. There is only one way to describe Matt Scott, quarterback of the Wildcats. Matt Scott gets buckets. He is throwing for over 330 yards per game, he is only 5 yards away from eclipsing 1,000 yards on the season. Their rushing attack ranks 19th in the country, and 6 different receivers have already caught touchdowns..... Other side of the coin, Oregon. If you like points, you will be up at 10:30 watching these two teams go off. DeAnthony Thomas is averaging 15.3 yards per touch, that’s not bad. He already has 9 total touchdowns, oh yeah don’t forget Kenjon Barner one of the most dangerous running backs in the country.

Keys to the game: Arizona’s gotta bring an offense that rivals Oregon’s because this might be an Oregon team that could get behind and not respond well. Rich Rodriguez better be gearing up for a shootout. It might be Matt Scott’s first year, but he is a senior. Give him full control of the offense and let it all hang out because I can guarantee good things will come from it
Oregon: Give this defense all the Barner and Thomas they can handle. Mariota will take care of the rest.

Pick: Two of the best coaches with the spread option offense, it’s going to be no huddle all night. I’m high on Arizona, but Autzen Stadium is hard to snag a W in, 56-49 Ducks.

@10 Clemson @ #4 Florida State: 411: After watching my Deacons get B-slapped by Florida State, I might be a FSU believer. Wake has been their kryptonite in the last few years, and if they can get by Clemson now the Atlantic divisional crown is all their’s. Tajh Boyd and the high powered Clemson Tigers offense comes rolling in. Fisher vs Sweeney, Boyd vs Manuel, Ellington vs Thompson. The offensive matchups are great.

Keys: Clemson. Sammy Watkins needs to have a breakout game following his suspension. He has been pretty ineffective to date, but this game is perfect for a breakout performance. They need to find matchups they can exploit. And those opportunities will be few and far between considering how tough this FSU defense is, they must go after Greg Reid’s replacement, 5-10 sophomore Nick Walsome, who has done well so far, but Deandre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins are a whole new animal. Defensively, they must stop the big play ability of Manuel and RB Chris Thompson, who ran for 197 yards and 3 TDs against Wake Forest.

FSU Keys: Chris Thompson needs to have a repeat performance this week and that will open things up for Manuel and the passing attack, the defense is the best in the country.

Pick: I do not know why.... Clemson 31-27

Thursday, August 23, 2012

NFC North Preview

This division has a very interesting battle between the two middle teams. It's almost given that the Packers will finish first and the Vikings last, but the Bears and the Lions will be battling to finish second, in what ultimately could be a playoff berth.

1. The Green Bay Packers. Expect the Packers to ride that discount double check all the way to January, they look just about the same as they did last year. There isn't much I can say that hasn't already been said. They are a bit week at running back, but number 12 under center(or in the shot gun most of the time) makes up for it. Nick Perry from USC and Jerel Worthy from Michigan State will help the D. At linebacker they are very strong with Mathews, Hawk, and D.J. Smith, adding Perry can only help. Look at the Packers to go (13-3) (14-2).

2. The Chicago Bears. Here is my surprise pick, I love these Bears. This year Jay Cutler will be able to drop back 7 steps, which will be refreshing considering the awful state of the offensive line in the last few years. I am very high on Jay Cutler, but when you are staring at stadium lights every other play, it's not easy to throw much less find some consistency. Hey look who go their contract Matt Forte! Brandon Marshall is joining the squad, Devin Hester is returning kicks, and Alshon Jeffery from South Carolina is any quarterbacks dream. At 6'3 he is a cornerback's nightmare. If this line can hold up, which I think it will, Chicago will be able to find offensive balance. A healthy dose of Matt Forte and some play action will have defenses on their toes. It is a veteran defense that is very stingy against the run, and can be exploited against the pass, but a veteran defense nonetheless. I like the Bears to go (10-6) if they stay healthy.

3. The Detroit Lions. Matt Stafford continues to improve. Megatron is going to do his thing. Ryan Broyles from Oklahoma was a great pick in the second round as he is another option in the passing attack. I look for Stafford's numbers to improve if that's even possible, but this team cannot run the football at all. I said the same thing about the Packers, but Stafford isn't Rodgers yet, and the Packers defense is better. Kevin Smith is pedestrian at best when it comes to RB's and that is this team'a downfall. On defense this front 4 needs to begin producing like we all thought it would. Suh, Fairley and Vanden Bosch, and Avril. They are not doing enough against the run. They gave up 130 yards a game last year. If you are going to step on people and act like badass defensive lineman, you can't finish 23rd against the run.... unless the D preforms up to snuff, this team will not make it to the playoffs. 22nd against the pass isn't much better (9-7)

4. The Minnesota Vikings. This Vikings team does have a lot of potential with a pretty solid looking offense. Christian Ponder is the only big question mark in terms of production, Adrian Peterson's health could also be an issue, but when he is on the field and healthy he is one of the best in the league. Jerome Simpson is a nice addition to the receiving core, giving the young Ponder another good target. The offensive line looks good. Besides Jared Allen on defense they lack standout players and this defense really struggles against the pass. There are too many holes on this defense, and with Christian Ponder at quarterback, nothing is guaranteed (5-11)-Josh Neighbors

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

NFC South Preview


In terms of quarterbacks, this is the most interesting division in the NFC. Can Drew Brees produce after all the offseason controversy with the Saints? Can Cam Newton put up numbers in his sophomore season the same way he did in his rookie season? Will Josh Freeman show improvement and not regression? Can Matt Ryan stay consistent and finally get the Falcons winning in the playoffs? NFC south is the perennial video game style division, it's going to be a fun year.

1. The Atlanta Falcons. Balance is the name of the game when you talk about the Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Julio Jones, Roddie White, and Tony Gonzalez. These Falcons will keep you guessing with the a bus in the backfield, Two freakishly athletic receivers, one of the best tight ends of all time, and a very efficient quarterback. The run defense is very solid, they ranked 6th last season in yards per game allowed. The pass D ranked 20th, but that is expected in the pass happy NFC south, they also added Asante Samuel to the secondary. That rank will improve as the schedule does feature a few teams that do struggle with the pass. Look for the Falcons to go (13-3) and win the NFC South.

2. The New Orleans Saints. We all known it has been a rough offseason for the New Orleans Saints. But if anybody expects this team to have a bad year, you are terribly mistaken. The offense won't suffer, Drew Brees much like Peyton Manning, is the offensive coordinator once the team hits the field. When Drew was holding out, I actually felt like this was one of the few times I was siding with the player, he deserves every penny he earns, that is how much he means to the Saints. Their schedule doesn't look to bad, they start of with Washington, @ Carolina, and Kansas City. This team could easily start (3-0). Expect to see some shootouts, I like them to finish (10-6), (9-7) maybe, It is all in Drew Brees hands.

3. The Carolina Panthers. Cam Newton exceeded expectations last year, but now it is time to see what he is made of. 21 touchdowns to 17 interceptions last year, that will not cut it. On the bright side, those 14 rushing touchdowns are a huge bonus, if his passing game develops, Cam Newton can be unstoppable. He's got a long way to go. Luckily he isn't the only player on the offense that has a big impact. They have a solid RB combo in Johnathon Stewart and Deangello Williams, they combined for 1,597 yards last season and 11 touchdowns. Steve Smith looks to have another monster year. The defense is weak, they are another shootout team. If all goes well this team can .500, maybe (9-7).

4. The Tampa Bay Buccanears. Last year was supposed to be a breakout year, and it just did not happen, it felt like more of a bump in the road in terms of Josh Freemans maturity. 16 TD's to 22 INT'S. He threw for close to 4K yards. LeGarrete Blount's injury slowed things down to and the run game suffered. They have 2 aging receivers in Mike Wallace and Kellen Winslow. The defense was worst in the league last year against the run, and in the bottom half of the league against the pass. They picked up Mark Barron in the draft with will help the secondary. The Bucs have to many questions and do not play the easiest schedule, (6-10).

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

NFC East Preview



Football season is back and let's just get straight to it. I am going to start with my favorite/ least favorite division in the NFL. The NFC East, the woodshed in which my Washington Redskins get their asses handed to them every year. Not only is this a tough division, but it's also impossible to pick, last year the Eagles were my favorite and I had the Giants 2 and Cowboys 3, that worked out well.....not. Okay here goes round 2, I got this.
1: The New York Giants, their schedule is absolutely brutal and I am honestly not sure if this is the right spot for them. They have two games that I would say are definite wins on their schedule. They might be super bowl champions, but they did lose to the Redskins twice last season so you never know what you will get from these guys Week 2 against Tampa and week 5 against Cleveland. In their first 5 games, they could be (2-3) or (5-0). Roster is the somewhat the same, minus Brandon Jacobs and Mario Manningham, but I think they will compensate. The key for the Giants will be regular season consistency, because I like them once they get to the playoffs. But the regular season they tend to be suspect in replicating solid performances. Defensively the secondary looks very good and thats where they struggled last year. I think the giants will go around 10-6, It will be enough in this division.

2. The Philadelphia Eagles. Everyone says the Eagles have looked great in training camp. On a team that is absolutely loaded, they are fixing their only flaw from a great tragedy. The passing of Andy Reid's son will unify this team, a team under fire with a coach who has always been under fire, this is the year. I think the Eagles respond and make the playoffs.

3. The Dallas Cowboys. Jason Witten is gone, putting more pressure on on Dez Bryant and Miles Austin to make big time plays. DeMarco Murray will be very solid in the backfield, even though he is coming off injury. Romo will be Romo, but this defense will have to answer some serious questions. With a questionable D and what looks to be a killer schedule, I like the Cowboys to finish around (8-8) (7-9).

4. The Washington Redskins. As exciting as the addition of RGIII is, it's not enough to get the Redskins over the hump in one of the toughest divisions in football. The offensive line has some problems, Evan Royster has potential and Roy Helu is a solid receiving running back, as well as a decent runner. Pier Garcon will help out as well in terms of receiving weapons. This team has always been solid on defense, they just don't have the offensive consistency, a lot of new faces and a patchwork offensive line spells trouble for my Skins. (6-10) at best.- Josh Neighbors

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/398/610/143955954_crop_650x440.jpg?1341890943

http://trueslant.com/donovan/files/2009/08/eli.jpg

Sunday, July 8, 2012

The Nash Factor

The Los Angeles Lakers made a huge move that should keep them as a contender in the competitive western conference. They officially reached an agreement to acquire 2 time MVP point guard, Steve Nash from the Phoenix Suns in a sign and trade that will send 4 future draft picks including 2 first rounders plus 3 million in cash to the Suns. Nash will cash in on a 3 year, $27 million offer from the Lakers. He will be able to sign that on July 11 when teams are officially permitted to sign free agents. The suns will receive a first round pick in 2013 and 2015 and second round picks in 2013 and 2014. The deal gives Kobe Bryant a legitimate chance to tie Michael Jordan with 6 rings and gives the desperate Steve Nash a shot at his first. Nash,38, averaged a double double with 12.5 points and 10.7 assists per game. He passed up a 3 year, $36 million offer from the Toronto Raptors, as well as an offer from the New York Knicks to join the Lakers. The Lakers are a perfect fit for Nash because they have solid inside threats in Gasol and Bynum, they have shooters in Kobe, Matt Barnes, and Ramon Sessions, and lockdown defenders with the likes of Metta World Peace and Jordan Hill. Now the real question is what happens to Ramon Sessions who they acquired from Cleveland at the deadline last year he has the option to walk and test free agency or he can resign and be a backup to Nash, but in my opinion Ramon Sessions is a starting point guard in this league and a solid one too. The Lakers should resign Sessions simply because at 38 Steve Nash's body might not hold up playing over 35 minutes a game, which is why Sessions will get a lot of playing time. Ramon Sessions will get the chance to learn from an experienced vet. This move from the Lakers shows that they want to attempt to make a run at another championship with this group of guys, in what is becoming a very dangerous Western Conference. Nash's production is not the question, it's the production of the players around him that will ultimately determine the fate of this team come playoff time next season.-Tyler Tenenbaum

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Quick Chat: Lavoy Allen

I was able to recently sit down with Lavoy Allen and discuss this year's Philadelphia 76ers team. A Temple product, Lavoy Allen is very happy to play in a town that helped shape him as a player and a person. In his rookie season he averaged 4 points and 4 rebounds a game playing behind Spencer Hawes. He scored in double figures 3 times in the Eastern Conference Semi Finals against the Boston Celtics. He's a great guy with a sense of humor and his approach to the game is a blue collar one. He works hard, boxes out and plays defense. A coaches dream and best of all he is humble.

Me: Being From Richmond, A10 country I need to ask, what was your favorite memory from your Atlantic 10 days with Temple?

Lavoy: Favorite experience was freshmen year when we played Saint Joes in the championship game. Everyone from Philadelphia was in the building, and it was a great win against our rival school.

Me: Staying in the A10, who was the toughest big man you had to go against?

Lavoy: Justin Harper(Richmond, former all A10 first team) and Ahmad Nivins(St. Joesphs, former A10 player of the year)

Me: What was the toughest transition from college to the NBA?

Lavoy: Getting in better shape, just learning the way NBA players have to work. (laughs a bit) They work really hard. Getting stronger, that's about it.

Me: Working hard is key and you are a blue collar player, what did Doug Collins highlight coming into this season?

Lavoy: Playing good solid defense, and turnovers. He hates turnovers. (smiles) He gets a little mad whenever we turn the ball over.

Me: Is there anything that changes in terms of officiating from the regular season? Anything that gets called more or less, or is it essentially the same?

Lavoy: It's essentially the same. (I do not blame him for the quick answer, it's a touchy subject)

Me: Great series against the Celtics forcing a game 7, earlier you guys said you did stick to your game plan as much as possible, and that game plan was to let Rondo take jumpers, any other thoughts on that?

Lavoy: Yes, the plan was give him space and limit his ability to penetrate. He's not a great jump shooter, but he can knock it down. We have him two jump shots and he made two big jump shots. A three and a long 2, and that was the game plan, but uh they got us.

Me: You are a free agent, but you hope to remain a Sixer?

Lavoy: Yes hopefully I will be here.

Me: Has Doug Collins given you as a team anything specifically to work on this offseason?

Lavoy: As a team, not yet anything in the meetings.

Me: What would you like to work on for your own personal game this offseason.

Lavoy: working on my post game, being a post presence. We really didn't go to the post that much this season, so I;d like to develop a post game so that would be another option for us.

Me: Last question, who has the most swag on the team?

Lavoy: Spencer Hawes by far has the most swag on the team.

picture credit: http://philaphans.com/sixers/files/2012/02/Lavoy_Allen-020212-usp.jpg

Monday, April 23, 2012

Ron Rons' Back

"It's not a basketball play man". Understatement? Yes and considering it was coming from one of James Harden's teammates, even more so. We all saw it, we all know what happened. Ron Artest, not Metta World Peace, gave the soon to be NBA 6th man of the year a shot to the face he won't soon forget. In return, David Stern is going to give Mr. Peace a suspension he and the Lakers won't soon forget. Let's hold up and back track here for a second. We all remember how Mr. Artest earned his reputation for one of the baddest men in the league. Malice in the Palace. It all started with a foul on Ben Wallace, a push back, a thrown cup and the rest is history. But, we are encouraged to forget that. That was Ron Artest. This is Metta World Peace we are dealing with. He is a changed man; poised to help squeeze whatever is left out of the dynasty the aging Lakers have built. The shutdown artist and three point specialist has just thrown himself, his team and his city under the bus. And wouldn't we all like to know how and why? But, why would we ask that? We all know the answer, but we do not want to face the reality. Metta World Peace, the man who turned it all around and won a championship, who gave the ring away and now craves what he used to have. Who is determined to do whatever it takes. That same man let Ron Artest take over for 5 seconds and now will cost his team dearly. Two years ago this team could have done without him and they did so yesterday. But, with the playoffs now just two games away, an intricate piece to the Lakers fabric will and should miss at least 7 to 10 games. Let me say this. I have a special place in my heart for athletes who get second chances. I want to see them succeed, but something like this I cannot bear to watch. He has taken the sport I love is has disgraced it on every level. Being emotional is a key part of the game, but wearing your emotions on your sleeve( or in his case his elbow) will not get you too far with your team, fans and Mr. Stern. I hope his suspension is long and deals a huge blow to Lakers playoff hopes. Yeah, I hate the Lakers and I always will, but this is about more then the team. I want Mr. Peace to know what happens when you make a terrible decision like that. David Stern is going to have to play the roll of father to one of his many children that are NBA players. He will have to make an example of Peace for two reasons. Firstly, so he can learn his lesson. Secondly, to send a message to the rest of the players. This is basketball, not UFC.-Josh Neighbors

Sunday, April 8, 2012

In the Knick of Time


On March 12, the New York Knicks suffered a 5-point loss at the hands of the East leading Chicago Bulls. Two teams heading in seemingly separate directions.The Bulls (35-9) pursuing a #1 overall seed in the playoffs and the Knicks (18-24) fading fast, losers of 6 straight games. Linsanity had come and gone. Mike D’Antoni was gone two days later and left Mike Woodsen with the framework of a much desired revival that never seemed to get off the ground. Questions swirling, is Carmelo as good as we think he is? Is Amare still a dominant inside threat? Are these additional parts overrated (JR Smith, Jeremy Lin, Iman Shumpert, Tyson Chandler) worth the price? And the biggest one of all, can this team defend? All the sudden, the 8 seed in the East and an early round exit would seem to suffice for the Knicks. But something changed, and the Knicks won 5 games in a row. In only one of those games, New York allowed more than 100 points. It was 9 days later that interim head coach Mike Woodsen would get his first taste of losing as an NBA coach. And following that loss, the Knicks ripped off 3 more wins. Two of them minus Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin. How were they doing it without two of their “Big Three”? Is it possible? Did Mike Woodsen tell his team they can stop other teams from scoring? That is one theory, or you have the other one, Carmelo Anthony is taking advantage of his counterparts absences and re-asserting himself as a dominant force. Maybe it’s a combination of the two. It appeared to be the case today in New York.
The Knicks (28-27) have been tearing it up as of late, but need that signature win. Chicago rolls in on Sunday for a nationally televised game. At (43-14), the Bulls are in terrific position. Derrick Rose coming back for the game in New York is another extra boost. The Bulls did not show up ready to play, and the Knicks took advantage. At one point, they held a 21 point advantage on Chicago. But the pesky Bulls bared down, and began to grind it out. They dug into the Knicks lead and by the fourth quarter possessed a lead of their own. Derrick Rose was taking control. But in the closing seconds, they could not make their free throws and left the Knicks with a three point deficit. Carmelo got the ball and hit a deep three to tie the game up and sent it into overtime. MSG had not been so alive since Linsanity. But during overtime, Derrick Rose began hitting big shot after big shot. The Knicks were down two and after many hectic shots and tip backs they had the ball with about 15 seconds left. Carmelo took the ball up top and went to work on Luol Deng. With 8 seconds left, he rose up and nailed a three over top of Deng to give himself 43 points on the day and his team a 1 point advantage, which they held onto with terrific defense in containing Derick Rose, forcing a fall away runner as time expired. The New York Knicks had won an absolute dogfight against the best team in the conference. The days hero was no doubt Carmelo. He simply willed his team to victory and has set a tone for the rest of the season. This Knicks team is highly motivated and is lead by the hottest player in the NBA right now. New York will be facing either Chicago or Miami in their potential first round playoff matchup, however if you expect this Knicks team to roll over, you will receive a surprise from Carmelo Anthony and HIS Knicks team.-Josh Neighbors
http://espn.go.com/nba/photos?gameId=320408018&photoId=1990864

Monday, January 16, 2012

NBA Early Season Report Cards: Eastern Conference

With so many teams needing to answer so many questions coming out of the gate this season. I will give some the NBA teams early season grades

Eastern Conference:
Miami Heat (8-4) B: To be honest, The Heat are not looking good so far. After starting off strong, the Heat are now reeling from 3 straight losses. Two of these losses in overtime. Injuries have been an issue, but with the personal on that team, there is no excuse. The Heat also need to improve on the defensive end. You think of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, you think of blocks. Yeah they look nice, but thats not the only part of playing defense. The Heat are giving up almost 100 points per game. That will fly until they get to the playoffs, but to win, strong defense is a must.

Chicago Bulls (12-2) A: I did not think Derrik Rose could look more impressive then he did last year and I was wrong. He has added the three pointer to his game, and his passing has improved. Offensively, there is not a whole lot more. But hey, when you have the #1 defense in the league, there is no need to worry. Tom Thibodeau has this team playing some serious D, only letting up 83.6 points per game. This team is grinding out wins in defensive fashion, the only problem I see this team running into is lack of offensive productivity on the bench. Later in the season, when injuries arise, you need offense from your bench guys. And I do not see it on this bench.

Philadelphia 76ers (9-3) A: Yeah, the 76ers are 9-3. This 76ers team plays fantastic team basketball. 7 players who average double figures in scoring, they are averaging about 22 assists per game. They are 3rd in points per game, 8th in rebounding and 2nd in defense. Doug Collins has done a great job with these team, can they sustain this? I am not sure. The one problem I see with the 76ers is the lack of a pure scorer, there is no go to guy on this team. Andre Iguodala is this teams best all around player, but not a pure scorer. Other then that, this team is rolling.
Josh Neighbors