What Happened To The Sixers?

Nothing is going right for the Sixers currently.

This year has been like no other for the 76ers. A lockout and change of ownership are just a few of the things this team has had to deal with. Now, the Sixers are faced with their toughest challenge: making the playoffs.


For the past 5 years, no one has really given a damn about the Sixers making a championship run. They haven't had a record over .500 since the 04-05 season, and have only been in the playoffs 3 out of the past 5 seasons, being bounced in the 1st round all 3 times.


However, this season was different. The Sixers were 21-9 through their first 30 games in the lockout condensed 66 game season, and were giving the Bulls and Heat a run for their money at top the Eastern Conference. Media members were even boasting Doug Collins as Coach of the year.


My have times changed. 


Once sitting in 3rd place in the Eastern Conference, the Sixers have fallen to the 8th and final spot, holding onto it by a thread.


A team that was quick out of the gates is now 3-7 in its last 10 games and currently on a 4 game losing streak. 


In a season where young teams would benefit, it was the Sixers time to shine. 


So what happened to them?


It is quite easy to place the blame on the head coach, and even easier in Philadelphia. However, Doug Collins deserves as much blame as anyone else this season.


What made the Sixers so explosive was their depth. Take Jodie Meeks the 3 point specialist out of the game, and you bring in Evan Turner who loves to attack the basket.


Give Jrue Holiday a breather, and Lou Williams, who can shoot anywhere from the floor, plays PG.


Even rookies Nikola Vucevic and Lavoy Allen were used throughout the early portion of the season. 


As the season progressed, Collins got away from a got away from his 9 man rotation, especially when Allen and Vucevic went cold.


For rookies especially ones as raw as Allen and Vucevic, it is impossible for them to avoid cold spells.


But when the rookie tandem started playing poorly, Collins took away most of their minutes and placed them in the hands veteran Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young, as well as the returning Spencer Hawes. 


Only problem is, both Brand and Young were simply not capable of playing effectively for 30+ minutes. Brand simply is no longer the 16 points and 10 rebounds guy anymore, and Young is easily fatigued. With Hawes returning from an Achilles injury, his mobility was hurt for quite a long time.


The Sixers needed to allow Allen and Vuc to work through their slumps, but instead had them warming a seat on the bench.


Another issue is Evan Turner's inability to coexist with, well, anybody. While at Ohio State, Turner always played with the ball in his hand, and creating his own shots.


In Philly, Turner has been forced to move to Shooting Guard, as the Point Guard position is headed by Jrue Holiday. 


Take the ball away from Jrue, and he becomes ineffective. Same goes for Evan Turner, who could not find his groove whatsoever until he was given command at the point.


If the Sixers were able to make the playoffs this year, it would only delay the inevitable: this team cannot function together.


As much as the Sixers tried, and tried, and continued to try, Andre Iguodala cannot be the man in Philadelphia. He is not a clutch shooter and quite frankly never will be. He is a great complimentary option but the Sixers have relied to much on him ever since he joined the team. 


Last year, they passed up a trade for Monta Ellis in exchange for Iguodala, and now have to take whatever they can get for him this season. 


Other than Thaddeus Young, I feel anyone on this Sixers team could be expendable. 


The Sixers need to restructure Elton Brand's contract, or he could be on the move as well.


In a 2012 draft that is deep in talent, the Sixers could dangle players like Turner and Williams for another 1st round pick.


Spencer Hawes play is not deserving of a new contract, and the Sixers should look for a Center or Power Forward with their first round pick.


Two names the Sixers could consider are PF/C Jared Sullinger, and Syracuse's Fab Melo, or even Vanderbilt's Festus Ezeli.


No matter what happens the rest of this year, the Sixers need to make some drastic changes if they want to contend in the superstar driven NBA.