Dario Saric
This week’s star goes to Dario Saric, yet again! The forward has taken the reigns as the team’s best and most consistent player. In a 105 - 99 win at home against the Charlotte Hornets the Croatian grabbed a team high 11 rebounds to go with a team high 18 points.

While the team did not fare as well in Boston against the Celtics, losing 116 – 108, Saric continued to play well. The forward would again lead the team in scoring (20 points) and rebounding (11 rebounds) despite coming off the bench. The rookie would cap the week off with a 17 point performance in the Rising Star Challenge.

When Saric arrived many thought, including yours truly, his struggles would come from adjusting to the speed of the NBA game and the athleticism of the players. This has been a problem at times, but the 76ers’ rookie has more than made up for it with his pure basketball instincts and aggression.
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Double Up  
As the value of Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor and even Joel Embiid is continuously discussed/debated, the production of Dario Saric seems to have not gotten its earned recognition. In grabbing 10 or more rebounds in back-to-back games this season, the rookie accomplished something that neither of the three aforementioned players have managed.

Besides simply being available each and every contest, Saric has provided a necessary scoring punch. The Croatian has dropped 20, 18, 19, 26, and 20 in his last five contests. The All-Star break may be a bit of an energizer for Dario and the forward should come back ready to finish out what may amount to a Rookie of the Year winning campaign.  
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Teamwork makes the dreamwork  
The week began with the Sixers sending their head coach Billy Cunningham and four players to the 33rd NBA All-Star game. Moses Malone, Maurice Cheeks and Dr. J would start the game with Andrew Toney coming off the bench. The Doctor (25 points) would steal the show and lead the Eastern Conference to a 132 – 123 victory. Julius was the game’s leading vote getter receiving 707,012 and would also take home the MVP honors.

The week would also feature two games, and subsequently two more wins for the 76ers. Philadelphia was its usual dominate self, winning both games by 20 plus points.

In a 116 – 95 win against the visiting Denver Nuggets starters Erving, Malone, Toney and Cheeks would shoot a combined 65 percent from the field (26/40). The game was never in doubt as the Sixers would lead 44 – 19 after the first quarter.

Playing against Malone’s former employer, the Houston Rockets, the win required slightly more effort. This time back-to-back 33 point quarters would springboard Philadelphia to another 20 point win 127 – 98. Moses would again lead all scorers with 26 points and 13 rebounds. 
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Dario Saric
This week’s star goes to Dario Saric! The Croatian once again proved his worth and continues to get better with each game. For the week the forward averaged 19 points on only 13 shots per and finished up with a +9 in the Philly’s four games this week.

Through all the hub bub regarding who is staying and who is going, or who is playing and who is sitting the legend of Saric continues to grow. The week began with a 17 point loss to the Detroit Pistons. Philadelphia would trail by as many as 20 points after three quarters, however Dario would lead the team in assists with four in the loss.  

The remaining three games of the week would see the forward lead or tie for a team high in scoring. The highlight of the week was a 112 – 111 rare road win in Orlando. The 76ers needed every bit of the forwards game high nine fourth quarter points to secure the victory.

Each week Saric’s confidence seems to grow stronger and stronger. It is hard to imagine just where the club would be without him.  
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24 to life
Despite popular belief, there have been few bright spots when it comes to players who were expected to be cornerstones of the franchise. The inconsistency has been overwhelming at times, except when it comes to rookie Dario Saric.

The forward scored a career high 24 points in a much needed win against the Orlando Magic. The forward then followed up that performance with a 19 point six rebound output in a 117 – 109 win against the Miami Heat.

In total Saric has four games of 20 or more points, two of those four came this week. As the season unfolds one constant has been the effort and growth of the Croatian.  
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Scrapple Play
The week began with a scrappy 97 – 96 win in Seattle against the “Downtown” Freddie Brown (20 points) led SuperSonics. Playing without an injured Bobby Jones Philadelphia would need all hands on deck. Seattle would place six players in double figures, cause eight first quarter turnovers and hold the duo of Moses Malone and Julius Erving to a combined 12 for 34. However, that would not be enough as the 76ers would receive a Herculean rebounding effort from Malone (20 rebounds) and timely buckets from rookies Marc Iavaroni and Russ Schoene on their way to victory.

​After cruising at home against the Atlanta Hawks (106 – 93), Philly would get tested in the Chi. It would take 24 second half points from Dr. J on his way to a game high 34. The Hall-of-Famer would shoot 12 for 14 from the field and Philly would defeat the Bulls 116 – 110 to finish the week undefeated.
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**********    
This week’s star goes to no damn body! When a team goes 1 – 4 and loses by an average of 17.5 points no player is worthy of being saluted. A roster filled with three top 10 picks and the most reliable player (Dario Saric) is the guy the organization selected outside of the top 10, is a travesty.

Robert Covington began the week playing well and was instrumental in Philly’s lone 122 - 119 win. Against the Sacramento Kings, Covington scored 23 points and grabbed 10 boards. Unfortunately, the forward could not carry that success throughout the week. A hand injury would force him to miss the next three games.

Covington was not the only player whose consideration was eliminated based on injury, center Joel Embiid continues to miss action with a bone bruise.

Or is it a hyperextended knee? No that’s right the center can only play on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Injuries aside talent and effort for some players remains an issue. Nerlens Noel continues to be a player excused from offensive expectations. The sixth pick in the 2013 draft remains unscathed from performances such as this weeks. The center’s averages for the seven day span were as follows 11 points, four rebounds & one block.

Noel at this point is buying time until he is relieved of his duties this off-season. With the All-Star break quickly approaching, hopefully that rest will awaken the team from this horrific malaise.    
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​Jah-Bye
Something is wrong with Jahlil. Before the cackling commences it is not a “talent” thing. Nor is it a “his game doesn’t fit the new NBA” thing.

Few things in sports are more disrespectful than saying a player quit or has no heart. To be clear that is not what is being uttered here. What is been said is the joy and pride that Okafor once displayed is gone.

It would be egregious to speculate why, and quite frankly inconsequential because the current situation is not going to change. The former Duke Blue Devil plays for a team that has identified its franchise player and he is not it.  

Statistics are misleading more times than not, and you should never be used to replace the eye test. With that said in a contest against the hapless Dallas Mavericks the eye test and analytical test both yielded the same answer/results. Which were Jahlil needs an intervention.  

Matched up against a player who had not scored more than eight points all season in Salah Mejri, Okafor looked slow and mechanical. Yet, still mustered 16 points and one rebound. Therein lies the issue with the big man.

The feeling is he is just going through the motions. Almost as if his spirit has been broken, and he is waiting for disaster to strike. This is unacceptable for such an accomplished talent. Jahlil has played the role of “good soldier” too a tee. Or maybe it is not a role and this is perhaps who he has accepted the NBA version of himself to be.

Time and opportunity are a rare combination in the professional ranks. Okafor has stumbled upon both at such a young age, let us hope he does not continue to waste them both.   
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Those Damn Blazers
The Sixers would lose a game in back-to-back weeks for the first time all season.  In a physical contest in the northwest where 57 fouls would be called the Portland Trail Blazers found itself in the winner’s circle 115 – 109.

The three headed monster of Mychal Thompson, Calvin Natt and Kenny Carr were impressive in handing Philly their seventh loss of the year. Natt proved to be the catalyst dropping 21 points in the second half, finishing with 28 points total.

In the midst of a six game road trip Philadelphia was witnessing the greatness of Moses Malone. The future MVP was putting on a show, averaging 28 points and 20 rebounds for the week. It was no mystery Malone was the center of Philly’s attention literally and physically yet teams still struggled to stop him.

Malone provided the post presence and toughness game in and game out, as the Philadelphia continued to its road to a championship.
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Dario Saric    
This week’s star goes to rookie Dario Saric. The forward averaged 15 points on 45 percent shooting to help the Sixers to a 2 – 1 record for the week. As the 76ers lineup continues to develop it appears the young pup has found his landing spot.

The Croatian seems to be oblivious to the minutes crunch felt early in the season by Nerlens Noel, and currently being felt by Jahlil Okafor and Richaun Holmes. Saric played 23 minutes per this week, which is on par with his season average of 24 minutes per. The consistency in minutes has allowed the reserve forward a chance to flourish, despite experiencing ups and downs offensively.

In a 121 – 110 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers the forward’s activity was impossible to ignore. Dario grabbed eight rebounds and went 8-for-9 from the foul line on his way to a +15 performance. Saric’s scoring touch returned (17 points) in a rare 114 - 109 road win versus the Milwaukee Bucks.    

The week ended with a tough 118 – 123 home loss against the Houston Rockets. Once again effort and activity were the sixth man’s calling card. The rookie finished with 12 points and four rebounds. As the season continues Saric has proven he is more comfortable coming off the bench, and has refined his role as a role player.     
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The Big Five
The Sixers are the worst team in the NBA at taking care of the ball, ranking dead last with 17.1 turnovers a game. However, for one night they were among the NBA’s best. Playing against the Los Angeles Clippers Philly turned the ball over only five times. A staggering number considering just how wretched this team has been this season.

Turnovers have been a nuisance during head coach Brett Brown’s tenure. Much of this can be attributed to the revolving door that has been the point guard position since the coach’s arrival. Nevertheless, Brown has to do a better job of getting the squad to be more judicial when making decisions with the rock.

For one night Philadelphia did just that, now the question remains was this a new trend or a mere aberration? 
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Bucked Up
It would take 23 days into 1983 before the 76ers would sustain their first loss. A 107 – 96 rare defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks’ duo of Sidney Moncrief and Marques Johnson were just too much for Philly to overcome. The two netted 59 points, 23 rebounds and 13 assists on 52 percent shooting. Holding Moncrief to just six first half points helped the Sixers to a 60 – 56 halftime lead. A 24 point second half explosion by the aforementioned former Arkansas Razorback would allow Milwaukee to take the lead and eventually win the game. The Bucks defense also showed its worth by holding Philadelphia’s trio of Moses Malone, Andrew Toney and Julius Erving to 23 for 56.

That losing feeling was short lived, as Philly traveled to Chicago and handed the Bulls a 116 – 99 defeat. After experiencing foul trouble in Milwaukee, guard Andrew Toney had a team high 24 points.

The 76ers finished the week 4-and-1.
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