NBA Atlantic: Sixers can't shoot straight

Basketball Betting Lines

11/28/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers were supposed to be one of the NBA's most improved teams in 2008-09.

The addition of Elton Brand to a nucleus that included star swingman Andre Iguodala, underrated point guard Andre Miller and rising second-year star Thaddeus Young looked good on paper. But, thanks to the unimaginative Maurice Cheeks, it has been the same old Sixers.

They can't shoot the three and they don't defend it.

The Magic abused the Sixers from beyond the arc on Wednesday and Rashard Lewis' bomb with 4.7 seconds to go gave Orlando a 96-94 win over the Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center.

"That was a tough loss for us," Cheeks said after the game. "I think they put us on our heels, making threes, making shots. A lot of those guys are a tough cover because they're such good perimeter shooters."

Yeah, making shots will put the opposition on its heels but Cheeks evidently has little interest in doing that. The two shooters Ed Stefanski brought in to help loosen up things on the low post for Brand -- Kareem Rush and Donyell Marshall -- spend most of their time glued to the $1,000 dollar seats in the Wachovia Center.

Cheeks' rotation is especially strange when streak shooters Willie Green and Lou Williams struggle from the field.

It's not time to panic in Philly but I would enjoy that Phillies championship. The Sixers won't be adding to it any time soon.

OH NO, NOT ANOTHER STAR

Many thought the aforementioned Sixers would join with the Toronto Raptors and make things a little more difficult for the Boston Celtics this season.

Well forget that. The defending champs are leaving the rest of the Atlantic Division in the dust again and have raced out to an impressive 14-2 start.

If anything the Celtics might be even better than the 66-win juggernaut from last season thanks to the continued development of lightning quick point guard Rajon Rondo.

On Wednesday, Rondo had 22 points, seven assists and eight rebounds as the C's fought back to dispose of the Golden State Warriors, 119-111, at TD Banknorth Garden.

"(Rondo) really changed the game," Paul Pierce said. "With his defense, his deflections, his getting to the basket, finding guys, he really changed the game, and we fed off of that. We were able to go on a run, get back in the game, and finally take the lead in the fourth."

Last year, Rondo was considered the weak link of the Celtics. A poor jump shooter, opposing coaches made sure to preach laying off the Kentucky product, cutting off his ability to use his quicks to get to the basket.

Of course, that was easier said than done. This season it's even more difficult and a healthy Celtics team quarterbacked by Rondo looks like a virtual lock to return to the NBA Finals.

BARGNANI FINALLY LIVES UP TO DRAFT STATUS

Practically everything has been a chore for Sam Mitchell's talented Raptors early in the season.

Despite the addition of six-time All-Star Jermaine O'Neal to a cast that included Chris Bosh and Jose Calderon, Toronto has been a .500 team.

The one pleasant surprise has been the play of former No. 1 overall pick, Andrea Bargnani. The 7-footer started the season as a reserve big man but has really shown improvement with his face to the basket as a small forward.

O'Neal missed the team's last game against Charlotte with knee and ankle problems but when the former Pacer is healthy, Mitchell has the option of using Bargnani along with Bosh and O'Neal to form a massive front line.

That enables Bargnani to concentrate on the things he does well without worrying about rebounding and defending the opposing team's top interior threats.

"The thing that we've been pleased with is Andrea, when he gets down in his stance and moves his feet, he does a pretty good job of keeping smaller guys in front of him," Mitchell said. "He can space them with his height and he's been taking advantage of them on the other end."

SMART FANS?

Much is made about how savvy and knowledgeable New York sports fans are.

The Knicks are banking on that and basically alerted their fans that they will be ignoring the next two seasons with an eye on creating cap room for the much-ballyhooed 2010 free agent class.

Of course, the jewel of that class is expected to be LeBron James, who is certainly playing up his desire to play in Gotham, even naming his new Nike sneaks, Big Apples, and unveiling them when the 12-3 Cavs trounced the Knicks, 119-101, on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

Needless to say James was greeted with cheers during his introduction by Knicks fans, who have caught on and began the official courtship process.

"I think with the free agency in 2010, every team is going to try to get better," said James. "Every team wants to strive and be the best and win the NBA championship. It's not going to be a two-team race. There's going to be a lot of free agents out there and 2010. If you guys want to sleep now and wait until July 1, 2010, it's going to be a big day.

"It's humbling to know that you have fans not only in Cleveland, but have them all over, especially in a big city like a basketball Mecca like New York," said James. "They like the way I play basketball. I'm much respected to the Knicks fans."

Of course, it's always nice to have a backup plan, and James will likely be joined in the 2010 free agent class by Bosh, Miami's Dwyane Wade and Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire.

With that kind of security blanket, the Knicks have gone all in. A gamble that entails making a two-year run at LeBron.

That's uncharted waters. It's never been done before to be honest, it's a little haughty, considering what James Dolan charges Spike Lee and Company for those front row seats.

But, all will be forgiven in New York, if come 2010 MSG is truly the Mecca of professional basketball again.

HEY, WE WANT LEBRON TOO

The Knicks have been making so much noise about luring LeBron that people have forgotten that is the Nets plan also.

The Nets actually began clearing cap space before the Knicks. New Jersey jettisoned Jason Kidd last season and followed that by waving goodbye to Richard Jefferson in the offseason. James is also a close friend of hip-hop mogul Jay-Z, a partial owner of the team.

But, almost everyone agrees that getting LeBron means the team would have to be in Brooklyn and that is looking less and less likely.

The Nets' proposed move to the borough has been slowed by delays, the faltering economy and legal challenges to Atlantic Yards, the proposed development that would include the team's new arena. In fact, the latest piece of litigation has pushed a possible groundbreaking back to next spring at the earliest, with a projected opening in 2011, a year after James would be scheduled to arrive with the Nets.

North Jersey is close to New York in proximity, but not in stature.