The 76ers got two new players last week on trade deadline day but neither has had a shot to prove anything yet. Jodie Meeks has played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Sixers so far and he is averaging 3.5 minutes and 0.5 points per game. The 76ers still like his upside but he’s buried on the depth chart. Francisco Elson was hurting when the 76ers acquired him so don’t expect too much out of him the rest of the year.

Everyone believes that the trade talks that the Sixers have been having with other teams has been revolving around Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert. Lou Williams and Willie Green could help some teams in the league especially ones that need bench help like the Grizzlies for instance. The Grizzlies would without a doubt be interested in either Williams or Green and maybe both. Williams has played in 38 games (27 starts) for the Sixers this season and he is averaging 30.9 minutes, 14.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Green has played in 47 games (12 starts) for the 76ers this season and he is averaging 21.4 minutes, 8.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. The Grizzlies are desperate for bench help and they have multiple first round picks…..just a thought.

The Sixers will likely be looking to trade SG/SF Jason Kapono in the next couple of weeks because they just don’t use him and it’s hurting his game. Kapono has played in 33 games (0 starts) for the 76ers this season and he is averaging 13.7 minutes, 4.6 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. His main skill is his three point shooting as he has made 39% of his shots from that range and he is usually way better than that.

30-year old Elton Brand is really starting to look like a average player at best. He has played in 38 games (19 starts) for the Sixers this season and he is averaging 29.9 minutes, 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Brand is averaging 37.5 minutes, 19.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game in his NBA career. The 76ers really hope that Brand finds a second wind the rest of the year because he appears to be slipping some as a player.

The 76ers expected more out of Elton Brand when they signed him last off-season. He didn’t play much last season before his season ended with injury. He has also been banged up so far this season and outside of a couple of big games he has played poorly. Brand has played in 16 games (14 starts) for the Sixers this season and he is averaging 29.1 minutes, 12.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocked shots. The Sixers need Brand to either step up or sit down as he is not helping the team right now.

The Sixers have lost PF/C Marreese Speights for the next 6-8 weeks due to a partial tear of the MCL in his left knee. This is a huge blow to the 76ers as Speights was playing the best of any of the big men on the team. He has played in 10 games (0 starts) for the Sixers this season and he was averaging 23.4 minutes, 13.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. With Speights out of action the Sixers will need Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert to pick up their games. Brand has played in 10 games (all starts) this season for the Sixers and he is averaging 27.1 minutes, 9.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Everyone knows that Brand is a better player than he is showing right now so he needs to pick up his game. Dalembert has played in 10 games (all starts) for the Sixers so far this year and he is averaging 23.5 minutes, 6.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game. The 76ers know that Dalembert is better than he is playing right now too. Dalembert and Brand have been complaining about getting their minutes cut so they have no excuses to not produce right now.

This game was a tale of two halves. The Sixers won the first half 57-54 but it just seemed to get the Celtics mad as they outscored the Sixers 62-32 in the 2nd half to cruise to an easy victory. The Sixers didn’t play any defense at all as the Celtics hit 58.9% of their shots from the floor and 63.6% (14 of 22) from three point range. Andre Iguodala led the way for the Sixers with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. Samuel Dalembert was tough around the basket with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Andre Miller pitched in with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. The 76ers are now 15-25 on the season after this loss.

The 76ers expected Rodney Carney to be a big key off of the bench for them this season but he’s having a sophomore slump. Carney is only shooting 37.5% from the floor and 20.7% from three point range and he will start losing playing time if he doesn’t start to shoot better soon. Carney has played in 24 games this season for the Sixers and he’s averaging 14.0 minutes, 5.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

2nd year man Rodney Carney needs to step up and give the Sixers quality minutes off the bench. Carney played well as a rookie last season and he needsto play better than he has so far in December. Carney has only played in 3 games so far in December and he has averaged 7.3 minutes, 2.3 points and 1.0 rebound per game. He also is only shooting 28.6% from the floor and that’s no way to earn more playing time.

Willie Green was given the starting job at shooting guard heading into this season and he’s only hitting 39.2% of his shots from the floor. He has played in 16 games this season and he’s averaging 29.1 minutes, 11.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. If Green doesn’t start to play better soon he will get replaced in the starting lineup because the Sixers are having trouble scoring points.