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**Sliccat** · 03-13-2007, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Plenty had to go right this season for King‚ as chairman Ed Snider rapidly was running out of available tables to pound. Ken Hitchcock‚ Bob Clarke‚ Peter Forsberg‚ Allen Iverson and Chris Webber – a Wachovia Center Fab Five – had been bumped off‚ and the echoes were haunting.

But then it happened. Andre Iguodala began to perform like a player who soon will be as impossible to keep out of the NBA All-Star picture as Pacman Jones. Soon‚ the Sixers were winning. Soon‚ Maurice Cheeks was given a confidence vote. And soon‚ the pressure on King was eased.

In his each of his last three games‚ Iguodala has scored at least 25 points. In his 16 February games‚ he has averaged 21.8 points‚ 7.1 assists and 6.8 rebounds. He is second in the NBA in steals with 129. He has had 28 games of 20 or more points‚ and has scored more than 30 points four times. And what makes it meaningful is that it has helped the Sixers churn back into playoff position. Iguodala is doing it when it matters‚ and it is why the 76ers will have avoided a disastrous season no matter how they finish now.

And while he was productive in his first two seasons‚ it wasn’t until relatively recently that Iguodala convinced some that his current level of play is destined only to rise.

“I realized it a couple of weeks ago‚” Cheeks said. “Until then‚ I did not know he would be doing the things he is doing now. I had no idea. I just think he has had more opportunities and he has relished them and he has taken advantage of them. He comes out and works every time. I think every time he gets some down time‚ he works on that shot. He works on that ability to pass the ball. He works on everything. I knew he could pass and handle. But I didn’t know he had the ability to fill up the stat sheet the way he has.

“Sometimes‚ you don’t really know when the light will kick on for a guy. But I didn’t’ know he was this good.”

The easy explanation is that it wasn’t until the unique energy force that is Iverson was moved to Denver that any 76er‚ particularly a young one‚ would have a chance to blossom. Certainly‚ the timing suggests as much.

But maybe‚ too‚ it was just a matter of when Iguodala would turn from interesting young player to the star he seemed destined to be‚ back during that quiet workout.

“It was right here‚” Iguodala said‚ after practice – and after a post-practice weightlifting session. “I thought I had a good workout. I always thought I could handle the ball and pass the ball and show off my skills. But that night‚ I really shot the ball well. And I thought I had a pretty good workout. I thought I would go earlier in the draft. But when Philadelphia came up‚ I know that was where I was going. And it all worked out in the end.”

It has worked out fine‚ so far‚ with the Sixers lugging a seven-game winning streak into Atlanta tonight. But there must be more‚ and King knows that‚ as does Cheeks‚ and certainly as does the chairman who has‚ for the moment‚ relaxed.

“I’m really happy with how Andre has evolved‚” King said. “I thought of him as a Scottie Pippen‚ a player who could handle the ball‚ make a three‚ defend‚ finish. But he has evolved into more than that. He has become Andre‚ not Scottie.”

And at just the time when the Sixers were out of available mistakes.

http://www.thereporteronline.com/sit...d=466403&rfi=6

K-Dub · 03-14-2007, 11:24 AM

The Scottie Pippen comparison is looking quite good. The playoffs wouldn't be the best thing for the Sixers though. I know they have 3 1st rounders, but besides their own are any lottery picks?

**BEEZ** · 03-14-2007, 03:58 PM

none are and they need the lottery in the worst way. That said I really like what Iggy has done

**Kunlun** · 03-14-2007, 08:37 PM

I hope we get a lottery pick and I hope the Nuggets miss the playoffs so we get another from them.

DieSlow69 · 03-15-2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kunlun

I hope we get a lottery pick and I hope the Nuggets miss the playoffs so we get another from them.

MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY

**Sliccat** · 03-15-2007, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kunlun

I hope we get a lottery pick and I hope the Nuggets miss the playoffs so we get another from them.

we don't get a nuggets lottery pick

c_dog · 03-15-2007, 09:44 PM

This team is already on the right track to become a perennial playoff team. Since AI's departure the team has had a darn good record. I think they wouldn't mind a lottery pick, but lottery picks aren't really necessary. This has been one of the worst teams in the league the last couple of years, and now with the face of the franchise departed, the fans could use some hope for the future, and making the playoffs would give them exactly that. Unless it means getting Oden or Durant, i don't think they should tank(i'm against tanking in the first place anyway, a little something called integrity). The draft's pretty deep so they can still get a borderline lottery talent if they draft smart.

DieSlow69 · 03-16-2007, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c_dog

This team is already on the right track to become a perennial playoff team. Since AI's departure the team has had a darn good record. I think they wouldn't mind a lottery pick, but lottery picks aren't really necessary. This has been one of the worst teams in the league the last couple of years, and now with the face of the franchise departed, the fans could use some hope for the future, and making the playoffs would give them exactly that. Unless it means getting Oden or Durant, i don't think they should tank(i'm against tanking in the first place anyway, a little something called integrity). The draft's pretty deep so they can still get a borderline lottery talent if they draft smart.

This coming from a celtic fan....Of course you dont want us to get a good pick!!!! AND IF THE FANS WANT TO SEE SOME HOPE FOR THE FUTURE THEN WE NEED A GOOD PICK IN THIS DRAFT!!!!! THE PLAYOFFS IS NOT THE ANSWER!!!

**Coatesvillain** · 03-16-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sliccat

we don't get a nuggets lottery pick

Yes we do. Their pick would only be protected if it's the #1 pick.

c_dog · 03-17-2007, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieSlow69

This coming from a celtic fan....Of course you dont want us to get a good pick!!!! AND IF THE FANS WANT TO SEE SOME HOPE FOR THE FUTURE THEN WE NEED A GOOD PICK IN THIS DRAFT!!!!! THE PLAYOFFS IS NOT THE ANSWER!!!

Look at the Atlanta Hawks who have been perennial losers for years and they've had a lot of really good picks in some really good drafts, yet not a star but Josh Smith to show for it. JJ, their best player, was an offseason signing. Picks are overrated. Sometimes you get the can't miss players like Lebron, Melo, Howard, and Oden/Durant, but lottery picks don't always pan out. Now this is a deep draft, so the difference between a low lottery pick(which is what this team would get if they miss the playoffs) and a pick in the teens. This team has a lot of picks this year anyway, so if they can make the playoffs, they most definitely should. Playoffs could prove to be valuable experience for the youth on this team, not just hope for the future.

**Kunlun** · 03-17-2007, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coatesvillain

Yes we do. Their pick would only be protected if it's the #1 pick.

Beautiful. I never thought the day would come when I would be cheering against Iverson.

**Coatesvillain** · 03-17-2007, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kunlun

Beautiful. I never thought the day would come when I would be cheering against Iverson.

Sadly, nothing is going right. Right now they're the sixth seed and the 9th seed is 4.5 games behind them.

For weeks they were right there to be knocked out, but the teams behind them didn't get on any type of run.

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