Not since the 2001 NBA Finals have I been this excited about the Philadelphia 76ers.
The signing of free-agent power foward Elton Brand on Wednesday to a five-year, nearly $80 million contract gives Philadelphia the inside presence it has desperately seeked since going to the NBA Finals seven years ago, if not going back to the days of Charles Barkley.
Who would've thought that Philly would be back in contention in the Eastern Conference so quickly after trading the team's franchise player, Allen Iverson, less than two years ago? Or the firing of GM Billy King?
Maybe not you or I, but I have to admit I was hopeful of a quick turnaround after the Iverson trade for a number of reasons. One, Iverson was just one player, and sometimes a selfish one at that. He couldn't carry the team on his shoulders anymore like he did in 2001 in leading the 76ers to the first NBA Finals in 18 years. Two, while he seemed to have changed his attitude, his me-me-me attitude, the team would benefit more from a team environment, not an individual one.
After the trade of Iverson, Philadelphia had three first-round picks in the 2007 draft, acquired a future first-rounder from Detroit and landed some pieces to the puzzle, in particular Andre Miller in the Iverson deal to Denver. The team later dealt Kyle Korver to save some salary cap money.
Now with center Samuel Dalembert, Andre Iguodala, who can move back to the two-guard position, and this year's first-rounder, small forward Thaddeus Young, the team possesses its best, albeit young, starting lineup since the days of Mo Cheeks, Julius Irving and Moses Malone in 1983.
Remember fo-fo-fo? That was Malone's proclimation entering the '83 playoffs, that the 76ers would win four straight games in sweeping their way through the playoffs. They almost did, winning 12 of 13 games, only dropping one game in the Eastern Conference finals to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Philly may not be pulling off any fo-fo-fo-fo's in the near future, but if Cheeks' young team puts it all together it could be a serious playoff contender, and for a long time to come, sooner rather than later.
Keywords: Philadelphia 76ers
