2023-24 Sixers Thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
RIP. McGinnis was a physical beast. For better or for worse, I best remember him for shooting 11-34 total in games 3, 4, 5 of the 1977 Championship Series against Portland.
Might have saved the franchise. I went to more games when they were 9-73 than any human should have endured. Then they got Big George and they were back. We will never know what would have happened if Ray Lewis had played with them after being drafted. You very easily could have had Caldwell Jones and Dawkins, McGinnes, Doc, Collins and Lewis.
that year was beyond ugly. If I remember correctly, the team had a Hal Greer night late in the season, and Hal declined to play. That was his last year in the NBA, after a storied career.
Ray Lewis is one of the crazy stories of basketball. Last pick in the 1st round of the '73 draft (Doug Collins was the 1st pick in the draft), he didn't want an agent, and signed a pretty lousy contract. Then he felt he outplayed Collins in summer rookie training camp, and wanted to renegotiate, but the Sixers refused. So he refused to show up for training camp. However, he had signed a 3-year contract, so he was contractually obligated to the Sixers. The following year, he tried to play with the ABA Utah Star. Just before the Stars' 1st game, the Sixers threatened Lewis with a lawsuit (which they would have won), so he didn't play that year as well. In 1975, the Sixers invited him to camp, as he was in the final year of his contract, but something (or a lot of things) were off. I don't recall the specifics, but from all reports he was nothing like the playground, HS, and college all-star that had been drafted. Was it injuries? Was it drugs? Was it alcohol? I don't know. He didn't make the team, and he never played in the NBA or any other pro league after that. Sadly, he died far too young (I think in his late 40s), due to alcoholism and not getting treatment until it was basically too late for an infected leg.
Re your Hal Greer reference: I had not been real familiar with Damian Lilliard until this season, when he moved to the Bucks, but when I saw him shoot, I thought to myself, “That’s Hal Greer.”
If you were a kid at that time in Philly, you shot jump shots for your free throws a la Hal Greer. One of the more underrated players in the history of the NBA. He had a great fluidity to his game and he could score the basketball. He might not have been West or Oscar good but nobody else was. He was right below them offensively with Dave Bing who could really score and has been lost a bit in history.
He didn’t just outplay Collins, he dominated him so bad that they had to stop practices since they were concerned that Collins might lose confidence given the beat down he was getting. I remember people saying that you could not stop him from getting to the spot that he wanted on the court. If I recall, his contract was like one third the money that Collins got and then Lewis took Collins to the woodshed in camp.
There were a whole lot of guys who became NBA royalty who said he was the best player they ever saw. It’s a shame to never know what might have been.
If I may, I’d like to suggest these two great reads about the legends of playground basketball:
Jalen Brunson (NYK) against Phoenix last night: 35 minutes, 17-23 shooting, 9-9 3pt, 9 assists, 5 steals, 50 points. Damn.
The Sixers unstoppable foursome of Embiid, Maxey, Tobias, and Korkmaz combine for 99 points in a big win over the Raptors.
LMAO. @jmorovich, you do have a way with words when discussing the Sixers.
Embid - 31
Maxey - 33
Tobias - 33
Korkmaz - 2
The Sixers have been playing good D, along with excellent O, of late. The D was somewhat lacking in the 1st qtr, when the Raptors outscored the Sixers, 37-28. After that, the Sixers outscored the Raptors 93-74 over the last 3 qtrs.
Sixers with a HUGE road win thanks to Marcus Morris Sr dagger 4 point play and game sealing free throw. All I could think of watching him was…
Sixers with a HUGE road win thanks to Marcus Morris Sr dagger 4 point play and game sealing free throw. All I could think of watching him was…
Strange game. 63-62, Rockets, at the half. Not a good 3rd qtr for the Sixers, as they were outscored 34-28. But the Sixers reversed things in the 4th qtr, outscoring the Rockets 41-30 to take the game by 4 points.
I am enjoying watching the team more than I have in the past 5 years. If they don’t make a move at the trade deadline I’ll be ok with that. Maybe some small moves around the edges and setup for an offseason trade or signing.
Side note, “Sengoon” is one of the most unathletic athletic people I’ve ever seen. Would have loved to have seen him have to play against Joel.
Side note, “Sengoon” is one of the most unathletic athletic people I’ve ever seen. Would have loved to have seen him have to play against Joel.
Embiid returns from injury, and the Bulls were without a couple of players, but still, this game was over by the end of the 1st qtr.
The Sixers rested a bunch of players in the 4th qtr, which enabled the Bulls to make it respectable.
The Sixers rested a bunch of players in the 4th qtr, which enabled the Bulls to make it respectable.
My Knicks curb stomping the Sixers
But the Eagles' Jalen Carter rang the bell:
And AI was in the house:
@Tom McAndrew I’m not sure I make any moves! I really like this team. I would like to see Tyrese as a solid #2 in the playoffs and see how he performs. It all rests on Joel being healthy really. If they were to get a quality backup PG to spell Tyrese and maybe a decent wing defender to help in the Boston series that would be great. Some work around the edges. I hate to say it by Marcus Morris has played way above my expectations. I could part with House, Springer, and Martin (They better not even think about moving the Turkish Mamba!) if that would get them some pieces. I really want them to be ready for the offseason with cleared books and draft picks.
If they could move Tobias for Demar Derozen I would love that. You still wouldn’t be tied to a contract but I don't see why the Bulls would do that without wanting picks as well. I think small moves at most, no moves at least. This team seems to like each other. I don’t feel like I’ve seen that since Joel was here (even the Butler year Jimmy and Ben didn’t like each other). Maybe see where the vibes take us this!
I’m watching games and they are winning so SOMETHING SPECIAL might be going on!!
Beat it BUB!! You still got that “new team” smell after the trade! Give it time…it’ll fall apart soon…it’s the curse of trading Patrick Ewing for Luc Longley, Glen Rice, and Travis Knight! No trade will ever workout for the Knicks ever again after doing that to big Pat!!My Knicks curb stomping the Sixers
MARK MY WORDS (evil magician laugh with head back and smoke around my feet). I’m nothing if not a showman in my posts!!
@jmorovich -- you had to be entertained by tonight's game. I thought the Sixers stopped attacking the basket a tad too early (with around 2:20 left in the game), and while it got closer than it should have been, it worked out in the end. Final: 126-121, Sixers over the Nuggets
Joel took that personal! Unreal! Best play of the night from him might have been that pass to Obre for the dunk.
After the game Joel was heard talking to Victor…
After the game Joel was heard talking to Victor…
@jmorovich -- I had to turn this game off. The Sixers were missing too many players, and the Pacers recent trade (for which I think they gave up too much), has made them an even better team. I did think of you when I saw this play. 
Luka 73 points on 25/33 shooting tonight, against Atlanta. Fourth most points in a NBA game in history.
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@jmorovich -- I had to turn this game off. The Sixers were missing too many players, and the Pacers recent trade (for which I think they gave up too much), has made them an even better team. I did think of you when I saw this play.
If the Turkish Mamba doesn’t make the all star team off that play I’m boycotting the NBA (not really…but I’m dramatic when it comes to Furk and his 427 trade requests)!!
Side Note… @Tom McAndrew your a national treasure. I get side tracked during the week and it always great to be reminded of the greatness of a Process Sixer!
Yes, the Sixers lost tonight. No I didn’t watch. I’m pissed I didn’t because “certified playoff beast” BBall Paul showed why Joel Embiid should be coming off the bench and how Glen Rivers should be in NBA jail for holding him back.
Side Note, had a friend come back from Boston and he brought me a bunch of Trillium beers so none of my statements tonight should be held against me!!
Side Note part 2, if we don’t get to play Glen Rivers in the second round and beat his fraud Bucks team that he stole from Adrian Griffith, I’ll be furious. I can’t wait for them to trade for Udonis Haslem, Bill Cartwright, Rajon Rondo, and Karl Malone for their playoff push. All of which will get 27 minutes a game.
Side Note, had a friend come back from Boston and he brought me a bunch of Trillium beers so none of my statements tonight should be held against me!!
Side Note part 2, if we don’t get to play Glen Rivers in the second round and beat his fraud Bucks team that he stole from Adrian Griffith, I’ll be furious. I can’t wait for them to trade for Udonis Haslem, Bill Cartwright, Rajon Rondo, and Karl Malone for their playoff push. All of which will get 27 minutes a game.
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