Jody Mac
01-30-2012, 12:27 PM
We're 20 games into the 66 game sprint that is this year's NBA season. At 14-6 that's more than just a quick start out of the gate for the Sixers. Yes they have beaten the slow starting teams. Not only beaten them, beaten them like a drum. If you like games that come down to the last couple of possessions than this Sixer team is not for you. They open up double digit leads and then continue to add to them. Everybody gets to play for the Sixers! We'll find out a lot more about them over the next 12 days, seven straight games against teams with winning records. They have only played seven teams with winning records in their first 20 games and they are 2-5 in those match-ups. The good news is that six of these seven games are at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers should be able to go above .500 in this run of games than the sky is the limit for your rooting interests this year. Win these next three home contests against Orlando, Chicago and Miami and they officially become a beast of the east. Even the most optimistic of Sixers fans did not see this coming!
With the Sixers playing .700 basketball, even the Andrea Iguodala hater nation has had to back down. Long being one of the most scrutinized and criticized players in town; Iguodala is having his usual across the board solid season. Even as a member of the Iggy fan club, I suggested on WIP that now might be the time it strike while the iron is hot on an Iguodala deal. His former GM and the man who drafted him, Billy King, was extolling his virtues on the radio last week. If Derron Williams is not going to re-sign with the Nets perhaps a trade for a top three-point guard in the league could be worked out with Iggy as the main piece coming from Philly. I now believe that is not going to happen and not because the Nets wouldn't pull the trigger. Two words as to why Andre Iguodala is going nowhere fast.... Doug Collins.
Not only is Collins the leader in the clubhouse for Coach of the Year in the NBA right now, his post-game press gatherings are must see TV. After years in the broadcast booth, Collins is maybe the most articulate coach in the league. After the latest Sixers win, one that saw Iguodala register a triple-double, Collins waxed very poetic about his swing man's overall contributions and
on how he should be a candidate for an all star spot for the eastern conference this year. They seem to have a great player/coach relationship and that Collins sees Iguodala's contributions as invaluable. So for those who want to see Iggy's skills deployed to another NBA outpost, don't hold your breath. The most important person in the Sixers organization wants no part of A.I. 2 being relocated. With the way he and the Sixers are playing right now, might not be the worst thing in the world!!
By "Attack" time next week we'll know who the champion of the NFL is, either the Patriots or the Giants. Surely neither of these possibilities will bring a smile to the face of Eagle fans. Another NFC east champion that isn't Philly based will surely rub salt in the Eagle fans still raw wounds from this season. Perhaps you can justify it in your minds as added motivation for the powers-that-be in the Eagles front office. That would be more acceptable if Andy Reid was down in Mobile, Alabama this week eye balling the top draft-able players at this year's Senior Bowl. However and still has not been seen or heard from since the end of the season, save a quick video spot at the Sixers game this week on the Sixers web site. Not quite the sense of urgency you’re looking for, eh Birds fans?? As far as the big game goes, I truly believe it is a toss up game that can go either way. I guess I'll root for overtime since we have never had it in a Super Bowl before and the pain for the loser will be that much more excruciating. Check my twitter, @jodymacman for my pick on the game later this week.
I hope the Flyers that were in Ottawa this weekend for the NHL's all-star weekend enjoyed themselves. That is about the extent of my interest because the NHL mid-season classic. Talk about no defense. It is unfortunate Ilya Bryzgalov wasn't chosen to play because giving up a bunch of goals is more acceptable in this "scrimmage”! We are exactly 4 weeks from the NHL trade deadline and you can rest assured Paul Holmgren will do something between now and then. Because of the many injuries the Flyers have had they do have some cap flexibility and can add a player with some significant salary attached. Don't think anything is imminent but it has not been the Flyer way to stand pat. Let's see how the second half of the season starts before groundwork to dealings are laid.
The Phillies continue to add pieces to their 2012 puzzle. With Hunter Pence's arbitration avoiding agreement to a one year 10.4 million dollar deal, all the Phils are in the fold. In addition to Pence in right, the Phils added to their left field mix with the signing of speedster Juan Pierre to a minor league deal. I was more surprised that Pierre couldn't get a guaranteed major league deal than I was that he landed in Philadelphia. He is a pure leadoff guy who will put the ball in play in a lineup that has a lot of strikeouts already in it. He gives the bench potential speed, something it has lacked of late. No it is not like putting Prince Fielder in the middle of the line-up but it is another but Ruben Amaro has given manager Charlie Manuel lots of options for the upcoming season. Now if we only knew exactly when Ryan Howard was going to return and what level that would be at???...
Couple stray nuggets for consideration. Since the cost of 30 seconds of ad time on the Super Bowl this year is topping out at 3.5 million dollars, I want you all to pay attention during the breaks in play in the big game. I hear they have some pretty good commercials in the Super Bowl.... Watched the debut of "Luck" the new Sunday night series on HBO. If you like me have spent too many hours at your favorite race track, you will relate and love the latest from TV visionary David Milch!..Took in "Contraband" the latest Marky Mark Walberg theatrical thriller. Not a bad effort but nothing ground breaking. Good little twist at the end. Won't be winning any awards but a good way to spend an afternoon of downtime if you have it handy!.. I'm up to 65 people that I'm following on Twitter. I need to be very careful on who I follow from now on. I'd say I'm spending up to about 45 minutes on twitter everyday. When I get to an hour, I have a problem! It can be addictive, beware!!
With the Sixers playing .700 basketball, even the Andrea Iguodala hater nation has had to back down. Long being one of the most scrutinized and criticized players in town; Iguodala is having his usual across the board solid season. Even as a member of the Iggy fan club, I suggested on WIP that now might be the time it strike while the iron is hot on an Iguodala deal. His former GM and the man who drafted him, Billy King, was extolling his virtues on the radio last week. If Derron Williams is not going to re-sign with the Nets perhaps a trade for a top three-point guard in the league could be worked out with Iggy as the main piece coming from Philly. I now believe that is not going to happen and not because the Nets wouldn't pull the trigger. Two words as to why Andre Iguodala is going nowhere fast.... Doug Collins.
Not only is Collins the leader in the clubhouse for Coach of the Year in the NBA right now, his post-game press gatherings are must see TV. After years in the broadcast booth, Collins is maybe the most articulate coach in the league. After the latest Sixers win, one that saw Iguodala register a triple-double, Collins waxed very poetic about his swing man's overall contributions and
on how he should be a candidate for an all star spot for the eastern conference this year. They seem to have a great player/coach relationship and that Collins sees Iguodala's contributions as invaluable. So for those who want to see Iggy's skills deployed to another NBA outpost, don't hold your breath. The most important person in the Sixers organization wants no part of A.I. 2 being relocated. With the way he and the Sixers are playing right now, might not be the worst thing in the world!!
By "Attack" time next week we'll know who the champion of the NFL is, either the Patriots or the Giants. Surely neither of these possibilities will bring a smile to the face of Eagle fans. Another NFC east champion that isn't Philly based will surely rub salt in the Eagle fans still raw wounds from this season. Perhaps you can justify it in your minds as added motivation for the powers-that-be in the Eagles front office. That would be more acceptable if Andy Reid was down in Mobile, Alabama this week eye balling the top draft-able players at this year's Senior Bowl. However and still has not been seen or heard from since the end of the season, save a quick video spot at the Sixers game this week on the Sixers web site. Not quite the sense of urgency you’re looking for, eh Birds fans?? As far as the big game goes, I truly believe it is a toss up game that can go either way. I guess I'll root for overtime since we have never had it in a Super Bowl before and the pain for the loser will be that much more excruciating. Check my twitter, @jodymacman for my pick on the game later this week.
I hope the Flyers that were in Ottawa this weekend for the NHL's all-star weekend enjoyed themselves. That is about the extent of my interest because the NHL mid-season classic. Talk about no defense. It is unfortunate Ilya Bryzgalov wasn't chosen to play because giving up a bunch of goals is more acceptable in this "scrimmage”! We are exactly 4 weeks from the NHL trade deadline and you can rest assured Paul Holmgren will do something between now and then. Because of the many injuries the Flyers have had they do have some cap flexibility and can add a player with some significant salary attached. Don't think anything is imminent but it has not been the Flyer way to stand pat. Let's see how the second half of the season starts before groundwork to dealings are laid.
The Phillies continue to add pieces to their 2012 puzzle. With Hunter Pence's arbitration avoiding agreement to a one year 10.4 million dollar deal, all the Phils are in the fold. In addition to Pence in right, the Phils added to their left field mix with the signing of speedster Juan Pierre to a minor league deal. I was more surprised that Pierre couldn't get a guaranteed major league deal than I was that he landed in Philadelphia. He is a pure leadoff guy who will put the ball in play in a lineup that has a lot of strikeouts already in it. He gives the bench potential speed, something it has lacked of late. No it is not like putting Prince Fielder in the middle of the line-up but it is another but Ruben Amaro has given manager Charlie Manuel lots of options for the upcoming season. Now if we only knew exactly when Ryan Howard was going to return and what level that would be at???...
Couple stray nuggets for consideration. Since the cost of 30 seconds of ad time on the Super Bowl this year is topping out at 3.5 million dollars, I want you all to pay attention during the breaks in play in the big game. I hear they have some pretty good commercials in the Super Bowl.... Watched the debut of "Luck" the new Sunday night series on HBO. If you like me have spent too many hours at your favorite race track, you will relate and love the latest from TV visionary David Milch!..Took in "Contraband" the latest Marky Mark Walberg theatrical thriller. Not a bad effort but nothing ground breaking. Good little twist at the end. Won't be winning any awards but a good way to spend an afternoon of downtime if you have it handy!.. I'm up to 65 people that I'm following on Twitter. I need to be very careful on who I follow from now on. I'd say I'm spending up to about 45 minutes on twitter everyday. When I get to an hour, I have a problem! It can be addictive, beware!!