The Sixers looked a lot better tonight then they did in the first game of the year in Orlando against the Magic. The Sixers really woke up in the 2nd half of this game outscoring the Bucks 55-39! Andre Iguodala had a very solid all-around game finishing with 19 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals. Elton Brand also was very solid in this game with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocked shots in only 29 minutes on the court. Louis Williams pitched in with 16 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in this game. The 76ers are now 1-1 on the season with this win.

The Sixers looked like they forgot they had a game tonight for the first three quarters as they trailed 100-69. Then the backups showed some heart outscoring the Magic 37-20 in the 4th quarter. PF/C Marreese Speights led the way for the Sixers in this game with 26 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in only 26 minutes off the bench. Speights hit an amazing 10 of 11 shots from the floor. Lou Williams was solid at the point for the Sixers with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Jason Kapano added some firepower off the bench with 13 points and 4 rebounds in only 22 minutes. The Sixers will need a lot of work on defense as the Magic shot 55.6% from the floor and a stunning 55.2% from three point range. The 76ers are now 0-1 on the season.

Letting Andre Miller leave as a free agent will hurt the Sixers a lot this season. Louis Williams will be the starting point guard but he’s more of a shooting guard so the offense will not likely be as good as it was last season. This team just has the look of a #8 seed in the Eastern Conference if they even make the playoffs. I would bet the under with the 76ers this season.

The Sixers made it to the playoffs last season and the expectation this year will be that they at least advance to the 2nd round. Eddie Jordan was fired by the Washington Wizards last season after getting the team off to a 1-10 start. In his 8-year career as a NBA head coach, Jordan has compiled a 230-288 record (44.4%) during the regular season and he has a 8-18 (30.6%) post season record. I just think that the Sixers could have found a better guy to put in charge of the team on the court. Prove me wrong, Eddie.

The 76ers tried to trade 28-year old Samuel Dalembert but they couldn’t find any takers so he will be the starting center again this season. Dalembert played in all 82 games for the Sixers last season and he averaged 24.8 minutes, 6.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game. The new Sixers’ head coach Eddie Jordan has said that he wants to get Dalembert more involved at the offensive end. 22-year old Marreese Speights is looking to build on his solid rookie season last year. He played in 79 games for the Sixers last year and he averaged 16.0 minutes, 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He can also handle power forward so he won’t have any problems finding minutes. 30-year old Primoz Brezec is likely going to be the #3 center on the Sixers. He did not play last season in the NBA. Brezec has played in 321 games in his NBA career in which he averaged 19.0 minutes, 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CENTERS IN 2009-2010: C