Sixers Preview

Well the Sixers 2007-2008 season is here and there isnt not a lot of optimism around the area. I spoke to Sixers beat writer Tom Moore from www.phillyburbs.com on the show today and he wasnt very optimistic either. I will give you some of my thoughts and sprinkle in some of the insight that Tom gave today as well if you missed the segment.

'The Mike Gill Show" Sixers Preview:

- Point Guard - The point-guard spot is a an interesting spot on this team. They have one of the better point guard in the league with Andre Miller but the wild-card here is Louis Williams he had a tremendous summer but will he get the time in the regular season that he needs to put the ball in the basket...this remains to be seen. I wonder how much time head coach Mo Cheeks will give Williams at the point, or will we end up seeing him more at the already crowded two-guard spot. Vetern Kevin Ollie is there to provide some leadership and could be traded.

OVERALL : B

- Shooting Guard - The big question here is how consistent will the two-guard spot be with Willie Green and Rodney Carney. I would much rather see Andre Iguodala play the two-spot and get a defensive minded small-forward but it is what it is I guess. I am not a huge fan of Carney but if he can double his 6.6 scoring average from last season then I guess thats progress, but he needs to be able to hit from the floor better then he has shown, he could be trade bait as well. Green is a streaky scorer who they paid way to much money for, but he can score and could become a trade piece if he shows he can score on a nightly basis. Louis Williams might be in the two-guard mix as well.

OVERALL: C-

- Small Forward - Andre Igodala is now the face of the franchise, but I like what Tom Moore said today on the show..can he play at the level he did when Iverson was gone for a full 82 games and become a max-contact player that he wants to be paid like. I have no problem paying him max money, is he is a max money player. Right now I am not sure he is. Sharp-shooter Kyle Korver will get his 25 minutes and slide Andre to the two spot, but Cheeks needs t be able to cut Korvers minutes down and turn him into more of a role player not a major players which on this team he is. Rookie Thaddeus Young was a surprise pick that many people seem to like...three years down the road. Tom Moore said right now he is the 10th on a 12-man roster, which means, he wont play a whole lot. Iguodala is clearly the only guy here, you might see Carney get some minutes at the three-spot but expect Andre to play about 30-35 minutes a night here with Korver getting the rest of the minutes at the three.

OVERALL : B

- Power Forward - This is one of the three positions that the Sixers are below average at, with Reggie Evans starting, they have a guy who can do the dirty work (which they have needed) but he cant do anything else. He wont score a lick and who knows if he can give you more then 20-25 minutes per night. He never has in the past. Rookie Jason Smith is a seven-footer who will be asked to spell Evans some nights but will also be asked to play some center as well. The hard-working Louis Amundson was a bright spot at the summer leagues but he is a journeyman who will have to prove he can play meaningful NBA minutes. Rookie Herbert Hill is a rugged guy I like, but had knee surgey and might miss sometime early in the season that might hinder his progress.

OVERALL : C -

- Center - Samuel Dalembert is the man-in-the-middle here. I have never been a big fan going back to when I covered him at Seton Hall, but he does have some potential. However, he is entering the season hurt and I cant trust that he will make it through 100% healthy. Other then Dalembert, the Sixers really dont have an option at center. Calvin Booth was signed in the offseason, but talking to Tom Moore on the show he said Booth cant give you more then 2-3 minutes at a time. Jason Smith and Herbert Hill are both rookies that are better suited at the forward spot. This might be the worst position on the team.

OVERALL : D

- Bench - Kyle Korver will be the top guy off the bench and thats not saying much. There isnt a whole lot here. When he enters the game Andre Iguodala will slide over to the two-spot but there is some depth at the SG/SF position but its not all that good. Carney will see some minutes off the bench as will Williams but neither of their roles are very defined at this time. The rookies wont contribute to much, Jason Smith will provide the most numbers-wise off the bench but dont get to excited. Amundson and Hill are to blue-collar guys who will bang but dont provide much else. T. Young is going to have a tough time getting regular minutes and Booth is brutal as the reserve center. Kevin Ollie and Shavlikm Randolph will provide some vertern depth but dont get to excited.

OVERALL : D

Starting Line-Up (predictions)

PG - Andre Miller (13.5pts, 4.3 rebs, 7.8 assists)
SG - Willie Green (9.9, 2.3, 2.1)
C - Samuel Dalembert (11.1, 6.1, 2.1 blks)
PF - Reggie Evans (2.5, 11.1, 0.9)
SF - Andre Iguodala (22.7, 4.1, 6.1)

6th man - Kyle Korver (11.1, 3.3, 2.1)
RSF/RSG - Rodney Carney (8.0, 2.0, 2.2)
RC, RF - Jason Smith - (4.1, 3.1, 0.3)
RG - Louis Williams - (5.8, 1.0, 2.0)

Record : 30-52 Last in the Atlantic

Sorry Sixer fans...I am not very optimistic either...your thoughts ?

Talk to you on the radio....