Knicks Are a Complete Mess and...Melo is New A.I.!

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is the new 

Allen Iverson.

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. Carmelo Anthony is a bigger, taller version of former Philadelphia 76ers superstar Allen Iverson in the fact that all he’s really interested in is scoring the ball. Like Iverson before, Melo isn't very much of a team leader and I’m sure his New York Knicks teammates realized this sad fact a long time ago.

If you’re a Knicks fan, you’re likely in agony over the team’s pitifully slow start this season. If you’re a Knicks hater, then you can sit back and enjoy the rest of this season because the Knicks aren't going anywhere with their wealth of on-court faults and health issues among its older veterans.

Poll results on Sixers’ Iguoadala close call!

Veteran Philadelphia 76ers 

swingman Andre Iguoadala.

Okay Eye On Sports NBA lifers, the results for the ‘Should the Philadelphia 76ers trade Andre Iguoadala’ are in and they’re about what I expected – a very close call.

Poll Results

Yes (47) 39 percent

No (50) 42 percent

Not Sure (11) 9 percent

Not Right Now (10) 8 percent

118 Total Votes

Analysis: 50 of the 118 total voters that responded (42 percent) thought the Philadelphia 76ers should have held on to Philly’s multi-faceted veteran swingman – and that’s just what the team did as last week’s trade deadline passed without the Sixers moving Iggy.

Still, a whopping 47 voters (39 percent) believe Philly should have traded their often-underachieving leader – and I agree, so make that 48 total votes to move Iguoadala.

Nevertheless, the Sixers are stuck with Iguoadala, but I fully believe they should move him as blossoming second-year swingman Evan Turner is a nearly identical type of player – except just a bit better offensively and on the boards. 

First Speights, now Turner … Collins makes wrong move for Sixers

Philadelphia foolishly traded
talented big man Marreesse
Speights earlier this season.

I always call it like I see it and from where I’m sitting, I think Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doug Collins is clearly making a huge mistake by bringing along second-year swingman Evan Turner far too slowly for a player that was selected with the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.

First, Collins dropped the ball in a big way by trading young, sweet-shooting big man Marreesse Speights to the Memphis Grizzlies for basically a bag of marbles, even though Philly, like every other team in the league, needs competent big men.

How Speights could immediately move into a starting role for the Western Conference title-contending Memphis Grizzlies, but couldn’t even find his way on the court for Collins and the Sixers is beyond me, but clearly there’s some sort of problem with Collins’ penchant for not playing certain youngsters.

Having said that, Eye On Sports NBA hardwood lovers, I also have to rip Collins for his even more glaring failure to play Turner consistently this season even though he clearly has a bunch of positive skills that could help Collins’ young ballclub.

Evan Turner, the No. 2 pick in the 2010
NBA Draft, needs to play more minutes - now!

After playing Turner just 23.0 minutes per game as a rookie last season, Turner’s minutes have not gone up this season with the former Ohio State superstar averaging just 23.8 minutes of playing time per contest.

The multi-faceted swingman is averaging just 8.2 points per contest after averaging 7.2 per game a year ago.

Just looking back at the 2010 NBA Draft should bother Turner and the Sixers, seeing as how several players that were picked after Turner have established themselves as either starters or integral parts of their respective teams’ current and near futures.

No. 5 pick DeMarcus Cousins, despite his immaturity issues, is a starter for the Sacramento Kings while No. 7 pick Greg Monroe also starts in the middle for the Detroit Pistons.

Sixers head coach Doug Collins has made some serious
personnel mistakes during his tenure with the team that drafted him over three decades ago.

Versatile forward Gordon Hayward, the No. 9 pick in the draft is averaging just over 27.0 minutes per game for the Utah Jazz and No. 10 overall pick, shooting guard Paul George, is starting to look like he’s got real superstar potential as the starting two guard for the blossoming Indiana Pacers.

I mean really, the Knicks nabbed a starter in Landry Fields with the No. 39 overall pick while Utah’s slam dunk champion Jeremy Evans was selected with the 55th overall pick and now looks like he’s going to be serious contributor for the Jazz for years to come.

Collins needs to start Turner and get him on the floor with young point guard Jrue Holiday so the pair can grow together and form the foundation for Philly’s franchise for the next decade. For Collins to fail to recognize that Turner needs to play and play right now – is a mistake of epic proportions and one that could come back to haunt the Sixers for years to come.

Time to Move A.I. II!

The 76ers need to part ways
with veteran Andre Iguoadala.

Okay Eye On Sports NBA hoops fans, I’ve been saying it ever since the Philadelphia 76ers drafted versatile swingman Evan Turner with the No. 2 overall pick last year, but really, it’s time for the Sixers to move nearly identical veteran Andre Iguoadala. Philly has offers on the table for ‘Iggy’ but they’re reportedly not very interested in making any move for their multi-faceted veteran.

Still, I say by holding on to ‘A.I. II’ the Sixers are stunting the growth of Turner, while not maximizing the on-court time of supremely gifted forward Thaddeus Young, a player that I believe would be an all-star for Philly if he was a starter.

What are your thoughts on Iguoadala? Vote on whether or not the Sixers should trade their veteran swingman before sounding off in the comments section. Have a great sports-filled day!

Getting Jiggy With Iggy!

Okay Eye On Sports NBA lovers, I’ll be the first person to admit that I’ve often ripped Philly’s Andre Iguoadala for being too passive while disappearing in a number of games in his seven-year career with the Sixers, but I’ve got to give credit where credit is due.

 

Now, Philly’s highly athletic, but often enigmatic swingman is looking a lot more like an at-ease-with-himself leader. While Iguoadala’s scoring average of 13.1 points per game is at it lowest point since his second season in the league, Iguoadala is also averaging more rebounds per game than ever while shooting a career-high 38.6 percent from beyond the arc. 

While it’s true that Iguoadala will never quite live up to what his athletic potential says he should be, it’s clear that the reluctant Sixers star is one of the most multi-faceted ‘complete’ players in the game today!

Feelin’ Feverish in Philly

Jrue Holiday

Things are feelin’ feverish in Philly where the vastly-improved – and red-hot 76ers are apparently looking better each and every time they step on the floor.

Thaddeus Young

Not only are the Sixers sitting pretty with the second best record in the Eastern Conference, (they’re tied with Atlanta and Miami) but more importantly, the young Sixers have arguably as big an upside as any team in the league these days with a core of young players that apparently have the chance to reach all-star potential inside the next few seasons.

Third-year point guard Jrue Holiday and second-year swingman Evan Turner clearly both have a chance to be special players – and I believe Philly already has a potential superstar in reserve power forward Thaddeus Young (Why isn’t he starting Doug Collins?). Throw in another solid young player in third-year shooting guard Jodie Meeks and impressive rookie power forward Lavoy Allen and it’s easy to see why Philly has such a huge chance to become one of the better teams in the league over the next few seasons.

Oh, lest anyone forget, the Sixers are led by do-it-all swingman Andre Iguoadala and have a veteran locker room leader in Elton Brand. Even with promising center/power forward Marreese Speights no longer on board (dummy!), the winds of change are clearly taking place in the NBA and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers are a big part of teams on the upswing!

Good Move on Marreesse Memphis!

Eye On Sports readers just read about how I think the Philadelphia 76ers are going to regret jettisoning talented big man Marreesse Speights this season without ever giving the sweet-shooting big man out of Florida a real chance to shine.

Well, as we here at Eye On Sports always say, one man’s trash is apparently another man’s treasure!

Having said that, the Memphis Grizzlies wisely targeted Philly’s reserve center-forward as a player that could come in and immediately fill the void left by starting power forward Zach Randolph who is out for up to two months with a torn medial collateral ligament.

How Memphis viewed Speights as some that could start for their Western Conference title-contending team and the Sixers couldn’t find minutes for the still blossoming big man is beyond me, but it say right here that the Grizzlies are going to find themselves giddy beyond their wildest dreams because of how god of a player Speights is.

As a matter of fact, Speights unfurled a terrific double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds in a blowout win over Sacramento on Saturday after torching the Chicago Bulls for 16 points, 12 rebounds, a blocked shot and two assists in a win just prior to that one.

Speights is averaging 10.0 points per game and 8.6 rebounds in just 25.2 minutes per game over his last five starts with Memphis. Mark it down hoops fans, the Memphis Grizzlies got a real gem in young center Marreesse Speights.

Foolish Philly Misses on Marreesse!

While the Philadelphia 76ers are clearly on their way up this season, with a team style of basketball that is refreshing, to say the least. Unfortunately, the Sixers foolishly traded away a player that could have bee a huge part of their future when they parted ways with talented big man Marreese Speights.

The 6-foot-11 245-pound power forward/center is in his fourth season in the league after Philly nabbed the former Florida star with the 16th overall pick in the 2007 draft. While Speights showed flashes of brilliance whenever he did make it on to the floor for the Sixers, the fact of the matter is that he never got a fair chance, whether right or wrong – and his numbers bear that out with the near seven-footer never averaging more than 16.4 minutes per game.

Remember you heard it here first Eye On Sports hoops fanatics …  the Philadelphia 76ers and head coach Doug Collins are going to rue the day they traded Marreesse Speights!

Sixers Have Blossoming Stars on Hand!

So what the Philadelphia 76ers took a loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday night ... the Sixers are one of the best up-and-coming teams in the league right now and apparently have a very bright future thanks to their plethora of young potential superstars. Third-year point guard Jrue Holliday could very well become one of the best floor leaders in the league over the next couple of seasons if he continues progressing like he has so far, while last season’s No. 2 overall draft pick, swingman Evan Turner also has ‘superstar’ potential written all over him.

The Sixers’ best player – and the one I feel would be a flat-out star right now were he given a chance to start – however, is athletic forward Thaddeus Young.

Throw in sweet-shooting two guard Jodie Meeks and underrated reserve guard Louis Williams and it’s clear to see that this team has a bright future if they can keep their young core together. Unfortunately, for the Sixers, head coach Doug Collins has refused to move Young and Turner into the starting lineup even though they both should be playing more minutes at this point of their respective careers!