Derek Bodner’s Blog

(Originally posted at PhillyArena.net).

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the blocked shots. You see 15 block games like the previous one against Denver. Samuel Dalembert averages 3.1 blocks per game, Steven Hunter 1.2 in only 21 minutes. You then see Dwyane Wade pour in 32 points on 16 shots, or LeBron James drop 37 points. Carmelo Anthony with a career high 45 points. All against the supposed 76er stopper, Andre Iguodala.

It sometimes gets easy to lose sight of where the problems of this team are defensively. Make no mistake about it, they do not start at Andre Iguodala, or even on the perimeter (although dribble penetration from the guards is certainly a concern).
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(originally posted at PhillyArena.net)

The recent situation involving John Salmons and the accused snickering of other teammates can only be called unfortunate. There are no parties who can claim to be free from wrongdoing, and there are no parties who can claim to be unaffected.

Following the 76ers loss to the lowly, albeit slightly improved, Atlanta Hawks John Salmons accused teammates of snickering behind his back following the attempted late game heroics of the fourth year guard. The sequence in question started with the 76ers down 106-105 with 2:35 remaining. On the 76ers ensuing possessions Salmons missed a jump shot, got fouled and made one of two free throws, missed a jump shot, then got his layup blocked.
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(originally posted at PhillyArena.net)

Energy, rebounds. Rebounds, rebounds, energy, offensive rebounds. That’s about the typical dialog you hear every time Shavlik Randolph enters the ball game. And while the thought of praising the rookie is a good one, it is a little unfair as well.

The fact of the matter is that Shavlik Randolph is giving the 76ers more than rebounds and energy. He’s being labeled as a hustle player, and while an honorable distinction it is also selling him a little bit short. It’s true that right now Shavlik Randolph is giving the 76ers a tremendous spark off the bench, and has been a volume rebounder on a bench that previously rotated in Steven Hunter and Lee Nailon, both of which were rebounding liabiities. But not only is he an energy guy off the bench, he’s an energy guy off the bench with solid fundamentals as well as ball skills. And that, my friends, is a nice package for a guy making the equivalent of minimum wage that every team passed on twice.
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