Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons slightly edges out Dario Saric for this week’s star award. A triple-double and double-double in the midst of two subpar overall performances closed the gap between the two players. As the rookie continues to play through his mistakes and remain stoic through his strife, there is little doubt that in time those mistakes will dissipate.

Simmons’ best performance came in a 117 – 115 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The point forward put together another impressive line of 19 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks for his fourth triple-double of the year. Turnovers have plagued the rookie all season, were kept to a minimum in the two point loss. More importantly, none of the big guard’s three came in the fourth quarter.

​The week was not all grasshoppers and water ice for the Sixers as the team finished 0 – 4 and Simmons appears to be at the forefront of those struggles. Expectations grew as the season progressed and with a nationally televised Christmas Day match-up on the horizon let’s hope Ben can turn it around.  

Turnovers…………….and more turnovers
Turnovers have become a problem for Ben Simmons, which is not a surprise given how much the rookie handles the rock. Players that have the ball in their hands as much as Simmons tend to have high turnover rates. Especially when they are known to take chances. Where the newly minted franchise leader must be cautious is making the fourth quarter hiccup.

Currently this is not an issue, as the rookie averages a pedestrian 1.1 per fourth. The month of December has seen the guard’s highest turnover output to date, highlighted by three games with seven turnovers. Yet, the world is still clamoring about the Australian’s lack of offensive firepower. If Ben can keep his turnovers down and work to get easier buckets in transition the world will forget about him channeling his inner Dale Ellis.     

This week’s top rookie performer is Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers. The 27th overall pick of the NBA Draft exploded for 38 points in a 122 – 116 win against the Houston Rockets. “The Kooz” has been a pleasant scoring surprise all year, but this week the forward put on a scoring clinic. Los Angeles Lakers’ fans were privy to 27 points per, while shooting 56 percent from the field, including a blistering 55 percent from three. Not to be forgotten was Kyle’s 8.5 rebounds a night. It is inconceivable so many teams passed on this perceived diamond in the rough, especially considering how a certain top pick is struggling to just get on the floor.   

​Here are some of the other top rookie performers for the week: 

It has been exactly 20 seasons since Hall-of-Fame guard Allen Iverson first blessed the NBA hardwood and ignited the city of Philadelphia. From the moment the Virginia native donned a Philadelphia 76ers uniform fans everywhere had a feeling Iverson was special and their basketball prayers were finally answered.

The organization struggled mightily through five consecutive losing seasons before selecting the six foot powerhouse out of Georgetown, first overall. It appears the franchise has found another transcendent player, in first year “guard” Ben Simmons. Oddly enough this year’s prized rookie guard hits the court after yet another five consecutive losing seasons.

As spectators enjoy the greatness and infancy stages of Simmons’ career, it is hard to forget the last time Philly had something (or someone) this special to root for. So while we partake in the now, it is impossible to not reminisce the before. 

Some Pretty Losses     
The swagger and enthusiasm found its way back to the 76ers on this road trip, and while the win total continued to remain stagnant the “Legend of A.I.” grew. First there was a stop at Key West Arena to take on the Seattle SuperSonics. Fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals, the Sonics remained one of the top teams in the league. Two fantastic dunks by the Answer and a 42 – 39 halftime lead gave the illusion that Philly would take the game. But reality managed to rear its ugly mug and the Sonics went on to win the game 96 – 82.

​In Golden State the monster known as Latrell Sprewell dropped 39 points in an overtime Warriors 122 – 114 victory. The 76ers had a chance to win the contest in regulation, but Lucious Harris missed the last second field goal. The spectacular plays continued for the phenomenal Iverson. This time a way past his prime Mark Price got his pocket picked clean at half court by a focused A.I.

​Mitch Richmond’s late fourth quarter bucket put the Kings up for good, as Sacramento won 107 – 106. Iverson missed a potential game-tying running layup as time expired. The 76ers would get smoked the following night 102 – 81, but the buzz for Iverson had grown and Philly was the toast of the league. 

Dario Saric
In a league where availability is the best ability Dario Saric has been both able and available for the 76ers. As Ben Simmons continues to play under the rookie microscope and Joel Embiid continues to not play, in an effort to avoid the microscope, Dario remains able and steady.

The forward put together a strong week of numbers (14.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists), despite the team’s 1 – 2 week. The Croatian’s most efficient game came in a 112 – 108 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 76ers’ forward netted 14 points and snatched eight rebounds.  

​However, Saric’s most impressive effort came in a triple overtime 119 – 117 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Down by five in regulation Dario hit a huge three-pointer to bring the team within two. Philadelphia eventually sent the game into overtime before succumbing. The big man was active throughout the entire contest. The upcoming week features back-to-back contests against the Toronto Raptors. Saric will need to duplicate his effort and exceed his production if Philly are to win at least one of those games.  

Sharpshooting Saric
Most observers did not view Dario Saric as a legitimate deep shooting threat for Philadelphia when the season commenced. Much to their surprise the sharpshooting forward has become one of the more reliable three-point shooters on the team. The forward is third on the squad in made three-point field goals and has hit a trey in 24 of 32 games.

​When the 76ers signed J.J. Redick this offseason and re-signed Robert Covington during the season, it appeared most if not all shots from the arc would come from those two. But, Dario’s proficiency has opened things up for his teammates which at times has made the offense flow much easier. Adding the deep ball to an already potent repertoire has allowed Saric to become a more polished player.  

This week’s top rookie performer is Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz. The rookie has been explosive all season and didn’t appear to slow down this week. Mitchell’s best output came in a 103 – 100 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Rarely does a player go 1-for-7 from the three and still manage to have a good night. However, this was the case for the 13th overall pick who dropped 32 points on what most would consider an off night. For the week Mitchell shot 53 percent, while averaging 25 per.  

Here are some of the other top rookie performers for the week: 

It has been exactly 20 seasons since Hall-of-Fame guard Allen Iverson first blessed the NBA hardwood and ignited the city of Philadelphia. From the moment the Virginia native donned a Philadelphia 76ers uniform fans everywhere had a feeling Iverson was special and their basketball prayers were finally answered.

The organization struggled mightily through five consecutive losing seasons before selecting the six foot powerhouse out of Georgetown, first overall. It appears the franchise has found another transcendent player, in first year “guard” Ben Simmons. Oddly enough this year’s prized rookie guard hits the court after yet another five consecutive losing seasons.

​As spectators enjoy the greatness and infancy stages of Simmons’ career, it is hard to forget the last time Philly had something (or someone) this special to root for. So while we partake in the now, it is impossible to not reminisce the before. 

Still Shining & Still Struggling     
To say Philly was struggling is an understatement. The 76ers were in the midst of a 10 game losing streak before finally hitting pay dirt in 118 – 89 win in Denver against the Nuggets. Allen Iverson put on a show, shooting 13-for-19 and handing out six assists with zero turnovers. The success and production was short lived for the guard. The team was 1 – 12 in the month of December.

​Iverson would go a combined 13 – 40 in the next two games and that line doesn’t seem to do his struggle justice. In Utah A.I. went a paltry 5 – 22 and 1 – 8 from the arc. The Jazz defense stifled the pup. The Sixers were in need of a jolt, but things would continue to decline.   

Ben Simmons
This week’s star goes to Ben Simmons! The seven day period was not the rookie’s best week of professional basketball. Yet, even at Simmons’ worst the point guard was still better than everyone else.

Philadelphia opened up against the Phoenix Suns with the rookie from LSU fighting a flu bug. But it was the Suns’ Devin Booker who made the 76ers sick, as the guard dropped 46 points. Simmons played well despite the illness, netting 20-points, 8-rebounds, 7-assists and 6-steals, however the game belonged to Phoenix 115 – 101.

In a 107 – 104 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers the star proved again that even in his strife he can find conquest. Despite shooting 6-for-14 the guard notched his fourth triple-double of the season. Much like there is no such thing as an ugly billionaire, there is no such thing as an ugly triple-double. Few players can struggle to 15-assists, 13-rebounds and 12-points and regardless of the result such an output should be commended.

​LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were the final game and final loss (105 – 98) of the week. But not before the pup posted another double-double with 14-points and 10-assists in the King’s palace. His numbers for the week were very impressive, 15.3-points, 10.7-assists, 8.7-boards, and 2.3-steals, even if the team’s performance was not.

Three the Hard Way
Philadelphia began the season losing three straight, and rebounded quickly to win six of their next seven games. With the season barely a quarter old Philly has hit its second three game losing streak. This time it is in the middle of losing four of their last five.

Several early season losing streaks is nothing new for the Brett Brown led 76ers. The coach has experienced multiple losing streaks of three games or more in the first quarter of the year in each of his five seasons. However, this year was believed to be different.

​Inconsistency is to be expected with such a young core, but the key is developing the young talent to avoid further slipups. This season was thought to be the year where everything fell into place and this young group was ready to start a new chapter in Sixers’ history. The season is still early and hopefully things will not remain more of the same.   

Michael Carter-Williams and Allen Iverson are the only Philadelphia 76ers to win Rookie of the Year honors. While there is no documented rhyme or reason as to how one acquires the prestigious award, a season’s worth of statistical dominance and team success are not a bad place to begin an argument. Keeping with the dominance theme, each week we will examine the top rookie performers in the previous seven day period.

​This week’s top rookie performer is Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics. The rookie has played well all season, and that continued this week. Tatum’s best performance came in a 111 – 100 victory against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks. The forward dropped 14-points in the first quarter en route to the 11 point win. For the week the former Duke Blue Devil averaged 18.0-points and 8.0-rebounds. He was also exceptionally efficient shooting 57 percent from the field, and 66 percent from three.  

Here are some of the other top rookie performers (statistics are for the week): 

It has been exactly 20 seasons since Hall-of-Fame guard Allen Iverson first blessed the NBA hardwood and ignited the city of Philadelphia. From the moment the Virginia native donned a Philadelphia 76ers uniform fans everywhere had a feeling Iverson was special and their basketball prayers were finally answered.

The organization struggled mightily through five consecutive losing seasons before selecting the six foot powerhouse out of Georgetown, first overall. It appears the franchise has found another transcendent player, in first year “guard” Ben Simmons. Oddly enough this year’s prized rookie guard hits the court after yet another five consecutive losing seasons.

​As spectators enjoy the greatness and infancy stages of Simmons’ career, it is hard to forget the last time Philly had something (or someone) this special to root for. So while we partake in the now, it is impossible to not reminisce the before. 

Un-Answered Questions    
The 76ers were in the middle of a losing streak that reached 10 games by week’s end. Since their 3 – 3 start Philly had gone 4 – 15, star rookie Allen Iverson was no longer the bane of every team’s existence. Teams were now focusing on the guard and taking great pride in Iverson’s recent struggles.

In a 93 – 84 loss to the Charlotte Hornets the rookie shot a miserable 5-of-18, including 0-of-6 from the arc. The visiting Knicks made sure to keep those struggles alive for the 76er lead guard. Philly lost yet again 110 – 103 to New York. This time the former Georgetown Hoya shot 7-of-23 and fouled out late in the contest.

The week ended with a motivated Chicago Bulls club coming to Philly. In the first match-up Iverson did not take to well to the constant prodding at the hands of Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. His Airness eventually attempted to play good cop, to which A.I. told him to "Get the (bleep) out of here." And with that the battle lines were drawn. Iverson’s 11-of-23 performance was interrupted by nine turnovers and overshadowed by a 111 – 105 loss, the 76ers’ 10th straight.

​It was now clear stopping the guard was the focal point of every team and he was fighting through that adjustment.      

Dario Saric
This week’s star goes to Dario Saric! In a week of sporadic play to mediocre results Saric provided some necessary stability during the seven day period. Often the third, and in some cases the fourth, wheel Dario’s 16.8-points, 8.8-boards and high motor were virtually impossible to ignore during Philadelphia’s four game stretch.

Philly finished the four game run 2 – 2, and the Croatian was equally impressive in both wins and losses. Saric’s effort was on full display during a 108 – 97 loss to the Boston Celtics. The 6’10 forward dropped 18-points and grabbed 10-rebounds, including five offensive in that defeat. The results may have changed but the zest remained the same in a 118 – 113 home win against the John Wall-less Washington Wizards.

​The Wizards victory was the Sixer forward’s best output of the week tallying 24-points and 8-boards. The upcoming week brings in the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers, who have a combined record of 16 – 31. Neither team is considered a defensive juggernaut, therefore Saric should continue to thrive.       

Mr. Windex
At 13 – 9 the 76ers are still a work in progress, with several facets of the game in which they can improve upon. However, rebounding is not one of those facets. Currently the group is first in rebounds per game with 49.5 and second in the league in total rebounds with 1088. Keeping with that board dominance Philly outrebounded their opponent by an average of 13 boards during the week.

The Sixers have been downright ferocious on the glass throughout the season and after snatching 52.5 in four games in seven days things do not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are at the forefront of the rebounding success, but Robert Covington and the aforementioned Saric have also held their own and rank among the league leaders at their position.

Philly will be tested this week with both the Lakers and Suns coming to town. How the squad rebounds will ultimately decide the outcome of those game. 

Michael Carter-Williams and Allen Iverson are the only Philadelphia 76ers to win Rookie of the Year honors. While there is no documented rhyme or reason as to how one acquires the prestigious award, a season’s worth of statistical dominance and team success are not a bad place to begin an argument. Keeping with the dominance theme, each week we will examine the top rookie performers in the previous seven day period.

​This week’s top rookie performer was Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell. The former University of Louisville guard has been the catalyst for a surprising Jazz team. The group is in the midst of a five game winning streak and Mitchell has been impressive in each win. The guard had a phenomenal week, shooting a blistering 55-percent from the field including 50-percent from three. The New Orleans Pelicans got a first row seat of the pup’s scoring prowess, as they were scorched by Mitchell’s hot hand in a 114 – 108 loss to the Jazz. The 13th overall pick had a 41-point outburst highlighted by 17-points in the fourth quarter helping to seal the Utah win. For the week Donovan averaged 28.7-points and led the Jazz to a 3 – 0 mark. 

Here are some of the other top rookie performers (statistics are for the week): 

It has been exactly 20 seasons since Hall-of-Fame guard Allen Iverson first blessed the NBA hardwood and ignited the city of Philadelphia. From the moment the Virginia native donned a Philadelphia 76ers uniform fans everywhere had a feeling Iverson was special and their basketball prayers were finally answered.

The organization struggled mightily through five consecutive losing seasons before selecting the six foot powerhouse out of Georgetown, first overall. It appears the franchise has found another transcendent player, in first year “guard” Ben Simmons. Oddly enough this year’s prized rookie guard hits the court after yet another five consecutive losing seasons.

As spectators enjoy the greatness and infancy stages of Simmons’ career, it is hard to forget the last time Philly had something (or someone) this special to root for. So while we partake in the now, it is impossible to not reminisce the before.

The Struggles   
The 76ers were stuck in the middle of a nasty losing streak. The team lost seven in a row and the games were not even close, losing by an average of 15 per. Iverson did not fare much better shooting 6-for-34 with 13 turnovers in back-to-back losses to the Seattle SuperSonics and Miami Heat. Things got so bad for the guard, head coach Johnny Davis would decide to give Iverson a few nights off hoping his body would rejuvenate.

​In total the 1st overall pick missed six days and two games. The Sixers were no match without their rookie losing in Charlotte to the Hornets 84 – 75, and then the Atlanta Hawks 106 – 81. Even when A.I. returned the squad continued to lose and sadly this was only the beginning.