Point-less: Andre Miller bolts to Portland

West Coast here he comes. After the Sixers pulled their offer off the table, the obvious became fact: Andre Miller wasn't coming back to Philly. The veteran point guard wanted a multi-year deal, something the Sixers weren't willing to give him, and he made it clear he wanted to go back West and leave Philly in the dust. Miller got his wish today, signing a two or three year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers worth somewhere between 6 and 8 million dollars. Despite all the rumors of possible sign-and-trade deals for Miller, the Sixers will get nothing in return. The Blazers were far enough below the salary cap that they didn't have to move anyone.

Miller's story is much like the recently departed Flyer Martin Biron, he was a solid player that the team really liked, but he wasn't worth the money or the years that he wanted. Miller was a great veteran presence who will be sorely missed by the Sixers, who now face an immediate future of Lou Williams and Jrue Holiday at point guard. It will be interesting to see if the Sixers will be able to function as well offensively without a heady point guard like Miller running the show.

By all accounts, it's a pretty good signing for the Blazers, a solid team that isn't quite elite. They may not win a championship with Miller, but he's certainly an upgrade over Steve Blake. For the second time this week, the city of Philly loses a good guy and a good teammate. The Flyers at least had a plan for how to replace Biron, I'm less confident that the Sixers have any idea what they are doing.

New Poll: Do you think Ed Stefanski is doing a good job as Sixers GM? Vote in the poll to the left!

Do the Sixers know the offseason has started?

Someone wake up Ed Stefanski, I'm afraid he's napping through the offseason. The Sixers, coming off a .500 season and a few good playoff games, seem to have forgotten that now is the time to improve their team. Now, I know that the Sixers are hampered by the huge contracts they gave out last summer to Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala, but if this team wants to improve on their medicority of the past few seasons they need to actually get some better players.

So far this offseason, the Sixers have made two additions to the team: Jrue Holiday and Jason Kapono. Also, you can add in a new coach in Eddie Jordan and the changing of their logo. As for losses, the Sixers will be without starting point guard Andre Miller and role players Theo Ratliff, Donyell Marshall, Royal Ivey and Kareem Rush. That's a lot of veteran players going, and not a whole lot coming to Philly.

So, what's the deal Stefanski? Letting Miller go was probably inevitable, he wanted more money and more years than he probably deserved. But what's the plan at point guard now? The only two players on the roster that can play point are Lou Williams and Holiday, neither of whom are ready to be the consistent presence you need running an offense. If the Sixers have no other plans to bring in a point guard this offseason, then why draft someone who is two years away from being a solid NBA contributor?

Like I said, I understand that the Sixers are loaded up with big contracts, making adding quality players difficult. Still, outside of the longshot possibility that they manage to pull of a sign and trade with Andre Miller, the Sixers might already be done maneuvering this offseason. Yes, the addition of Jason Kapono will give the team a three point threat, something they lacked last season, but is the team truly better today than it was at the end of last season?

Listed below is the Sixers current roster. I would say, besides a point guard, the Sixers also need to add another big man to the mix. This team is also loaded with too many quasi-shooting guard/small forwards.

Guards:
Jrue Holiday
Andre Iguodala
Willie Green
Lou Williams

Forwards:
Elton Brand
Thaddeus Young
Jason Kapono
Marreese Speights
Jason Smith

Centers:
Samuel Dalembert

There is still time for the Sixers to wake up and do something to upgrade their roster. It may take a trade, but it's time for Stefanski to get creative and get something done before this offseason is over, or it could be another long, mediocrity-filled season for the Sixers.

Click here to see How they were built: Sixers, a complete listing of salaries and how each Sixer was acquired.

Sixers beat Hawks, Clinch Playoffs!

Philadelphia is wrapped up in playoff fever tonight, as the Sixers joined the Flyers in wrapping up a postseason bid. The Sixers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 109-104 to ensure they would be playing basketball beyond the regular season. The Sixers held small leads most of the way, as the Hawks, who were riding a five game winning streak, proved to be pesky and wouldn't be put away until the very end.

The Sixers got their typical stellar play by the Andre's, Iguodala and Miller. Iguodala was all over the court, making a number of dunks, big shots and one sweet block, shown in the video below. Iguodala finished with 30 points and 1o assists. Andre Miller continued his solid play that should be garnering him more attention for MVP. Miller put up 23 points, 6 assists and 5 boards. All 5 starters also finished with double-digit points.

The playoff berth is a big step in the evolution of this Sixers team. They have gone from a young team with a lot of promise to a playoff team that could do some damage. The Sixers are currently tied for the 5th seed in the East with the Washington Wizards. If the season ended today, they would face LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the first round. You can bet that no one wants to face the surging Sixers in the playoffs, as they are just the type of hot team that will cause fits for any top team who has just been coasting.

While some may hate on the Sixers because they are only 2 games over .500, they have still improved by leaps and bounds over the last few months. They are an exciting team that runs the fast break with the best of them. No one expects the team to win a championship this year, but any playoff experience their young guys can get will be good for them down the road.

Enjoy this feeling Philly fans. Two of our teams will be entering the playoffs, and neither one will go down without a fight. More importantly, both teams are on the right track and have bright futures ahead of them. We may be seeing the beginnings of our next Philadelphia championship in one of these two teams.

Highlights of the game courtesy of Comcast SportsNet:

Sixers Down Nets to End Skid

Just when the luster of the Sixers season started to wear off with a recent two game losing streak, they regrouped and downed the New Jersey Nets 108-99. The Sixers led for most of the game, but every time they started to pull away, the Nets fought right back. Down the stretch, the Nets cut the lead down to 2 and looked poised to steal a victory when Louis Williams hit three straight shots, two of them threes, to put the game away for Philly. The win pulls the Sixers to within a half game of the idle Wizards and Raptors for the 5th seed in the East.

There were several solid individual performances from most of the usual suspects. Andre Miller found his scoring touch after a few off nights and netted 24 points to go with 11 assists. Andre Iguodala had a solid all-around game, picking up 17 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds.

Samuel Dalembert had one of his more impressive performances of the season, picking up 15 points, 13 boards and 5 blocks. He was active all night, getting to loose balls and creating havoc on the defensive end. His blocks led to several easy baskets for the Sixers, including the play highlighted in the clip below. In the clip, Dalembert blocks a Nenad Krstic shot into the hands of Miller, who passes ahead to Iguodala. Iguodala bounces the ball behind his back as he takes it to the hoop, where he throws it down with authority and gets fouled. Iguodala missed the free throw for the three point play, but the sequence is a microcosm of everything the Sixers have been doing right. They have been making solid defensive plays to set up their fast-break offense, where they are using great court vision to find the open player who finishes with a high percentage shot. It's everything that has made them exciting over their last 30 games.

Clip courtesy of Comcast Sportsnet

Sixers Shock Spurs

So much for Andre Miller's ailing back. Miller scored a season-high 32 points to lead the Sixers to a 103-96 victory over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. The Sixers led for most of the way, earning a convincing victory that was their 7th win in their last 8 games. The Sixers finished off a tough week that included road victories over the Pistons and Bulls with one of their best efforts in front of a loud crowd of more than 19,000 at the Wachovia Center.

The Sixers had a great effort from Miller, who played 43 minutes tonight despite a nagging back injury. Miller was on fire all night shooting 79% from the field, 91% from the line, plus he also added 7 assists and 5 rebounds to go with his season high in points. Like I said last week, Miller needs to be getting some consideration for MVP. He has done some amazing things for a team that has no business being in the playoffs. His leadership and tremendous play are what being an MVP is all about.

A few other players put up solid games. Andre Iguodala tallied 25 points, and Samuel Dalembert had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. For the Spurs, Tony Parker had a great game, finishing with 27 points, and Manu Ginobli filled up the scoresheet with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

Philly continues to be the surprise team in the Eastern Conference. Washington keeps on winning so the Sixers are still stuck in the 7th seed one game behind the Wizards. They are also a mere two games behind the Raptors for the 5th seed. At this point a playoff spot seems a given, and with the way they are playing they might be able to steal a few first round games from whoever they end up facing.

The Sixers playoff quest continues Wednesday against Allen Iverson and the Nuggets. If you thought the Wachovia Center was loud for tonight's contest, wait until you hear the crowd for the Denver game.

Hell Week Starts Tonight for Red Hot Sixers

The Sixers look to continue their playoff push, but this week they will meet their toughest challenge yet. They have won four straight, and 12 of their last 15, to climb into the playoff picture in the East. Most of those wins have come against the NBA JV teams, including their latest thrashings of the Sonics and Bucks. This week the challenge is much greater, with four total games, three of them against the NBA's elite. The Sixers start the week against the Celtics tonight, then face the Pistons, Bulls and Spurs. The Bulls game is a must-win, and if they can steal one of the other three, they will happily take a split for the week.

The Sixers continue to be led by Andre Miller, who is coming off his second Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. Miller has been providing the leadership this young team needs, and is getting it done on both ends of the floor. His scoring average of 16.2 points per game is the highest of his career, and he's a threat for a triple double every time out. He has to be getting at least some consideration for the MVP award given the way he is playing and the Sixers recent surge into playoff contention.

Also playing well for the Sixers of late is Samuel Dalembert. In the last two games combined he has scored a total of 40 points and grabbed 23 rebounds. It's just too bad he isn't enjoying himself. Dalembert expressed that he has felt confused lately and that the game isn't fun for him anymore. Seems like odd timing for such comments, with the Sixers on a roll and Dalembert starting to finally live up to his huge contract. Maurice Cheeks didn't seem too worried by the comments, so hopefully it won't be a big deal.

Thaddeus Young has also played exceptionally well the last two games, totaling 40 points and grabbing 13 boards. Young has continually proven that the Sixers were smart in drafting him with the 12th overall pick last year, even though everyone was clamoring for Al Thornton. Young looks better every game, and has tremendous upside.

The Sixers find themselves in great position as they enter the stretch run. With 19 games remaining, they sit in the 7th seed in the East, 4 games up on 9th seeded New Jersey. The Sixers are also a half game behind Washington for the 6th seed, but as I discussed last week, they aren't likely to pass the Wizards. With their tough remaining schedule, the best case scenario for the Sixers might be the 7th seed and a date with the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. For the immediate future, they need a split this week, so assuming they can beat Chicago, they will need to knock off one of the league's elite. This week will prove to be a great measuring stick for the Sixers to see how far they have come.

Sixers Win Again!

The team I proclaimed as the lone bright spot in Philly sports just keeps on winning. The Sixers beat the Orlando Magic 101-89 for their 8th win in their last 10 games. The outcome was never in doubt, as the Sixers had a 20 point lead as early as the second quarter. The win also moves the Sixers past the idle Nets and into the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Sixers were finally able to beat the Magic, who they lost to twice earlier in the season, behind another all-around effort by Andre Miller. I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but this guy can fill up the box score with the best of them. He finished with 26 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds. The Sixers look very smart for not moving Miller at the trade deadline. He is the kind of veteran presence that is beneficial to have on a team as young as this one.

The only negative for the Sixers was how bad the bench looked tonight. Rodney Carney, Reggie Evans, Calvin Booth and Louis Williams shot a combined 2 for 16, and managed only 10 points. Evans played a good hustle game so he is excused, but the Sixers need better play from their second team.

Up next for the Sixers is a trip to the Bay Area for a matchup with the Golden State Warriors.

This is not a typo: Sixers beat Mavericks

Well, the Sixers are officially rolling. They defeated one of the NBA's elite teams, the Mavericks, 84-76 to capture their fourth win in a row. The game was low scoring, partly due to the Sixers playing sounds defense, and partly due to the Mavs going cold and shooting only 35% from the field. Of course, the Mavs were without regulars Jerry Stackhouse, Devin Harris, and Erick Dampier. And the Mavs were playing the second game of a back to back. A win is still a win, though.

For the Sixers, Andre Miller continued his hot play, scoring 21 points and filling out his score sheet with 7 assists, 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Miller is either adding to his trade value, or further proving why the Sixers have no business trading him.

We can all start getting excited about the Sixers, who are now only 8 games under .500 and still closing in on a playoff seed. They might be getting hot enough to ensure a first round showdown with the Celtics. To steal the Phillies' catchphrase, can you feel the goosebumps?

Down is Up and Up is Down: The Changing Fortunes of Two Philly Sports Teams

Something is going very wrong with our sports teams. The Sixers have won three in a row and the Flyers have lost three in a row. The Sixers, who we all hope will lose as many games as possible to get a high draft pick, are on a roll, while the Flyers, who we all think have a shot to go deep into the playoffs this year, can't win a game. The Sixers, even though they are still nine games under .500, have pulled themselves to within a game from the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, and have begun talking about their playoff chances. The Flyers, who have dropped from competing for the top spot in the East to the 6th seed, have fallen from first to third place in the Atlantic Division and are talking about how soon Peter Forsberg can be added to the fold. Here are some news and notes about the two teams.

Sixers News

*Andre Miller named Eastern Conference Player of the Week Miller, whose name is still being mentioned in trade talks, was named player of the week for his efforts in leading the Sixers to a 3-1 record. We all knew that Miller was a great passer and team leader, but the most impressive thing about him lately has been his scoring. He averaged 19.5 points last week, and has been routinely putting up 20 points. The Andre's, Miller and Iguodala, are really giving the Sixers a one-two scoring punch.

*Youth is being served Another key to the Sixers solid play lately has been how many minutes guys like Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams and Rodney Carney have been playing. All three have been getting more run since Ed Stefanski took over as GM, and all three have been improving seemingly daily. Young has even moved into the starting line-up, playing as a small power forward. It seems like the Sixers are trying to see what they have in these young guys, and they aren't letting the team down.

*Sixers vs. Mavericks tonight The Sixers have mostly been beating up on the rest of the weak NBA teams, so tonight will be a good test to see if their current streak is real or just a mirage. If the Sixers keep it under a ten point loss, call it a victory.

Flyers News

*Simon Gagne out indefinitely As I posted about yesterday, Gagne had a mild concussion during yesterday's game. He could be out a few games or a few weeks, depending on how quickly the symptoms clear up. This kind of injury can linger with a player for years, so let's hope he only plays when he feels 100% again. The Flyers and coach John Stevens hope Gagne comes back sooner rather than later, because their scoring lines look a lot weaker without #12 on the wing.

*Kyle Greentree recalled from Phantoms He's no Simon Gagne, and frankly I don't know much about him, but left winger Greentree will be taking Gagne's spot on the roster for the time being. He has 37 points in 48 games with the Phantoms. He will be wearing #65 with the Flyers.

*Flyers upcoming schedule The Flyers have an opportunity to bounce back, playing two last place teams this week, the Islanders and the Lightning. On the weekend, they will play a home and home with the Canadiens, who had been hot, but have lost 3 of their last 4. The Flyers need some wins if they want to keep up in the very balanced and deep Eastern Conference.