Down, not out: a first half marred by bad chemistry and bad health has left the 76ers hovering around .500, but there are signs they will be dangerous again come playoff time

Sporting News, The, Feb 18, 2002 by Michael Bradley

Just one night before, Allen Iverson was held to 15 points by the Knicks, on 6-for-25 shooting. He attempted only six free throws, despite his usual chirping, pleading and baroque displays of agony at the slightest touch from an opponent. It was an ugly 78-71 loss at the Garden to a team that had spent much of the season in a free fall.

The 76ers were back at .500, struggling to stay in the playoff race. Usually, Iverson loves being in New York. On this late January night, he wanted out. Only he couldn't go. He sat in the cramped visitors' locker room, waiting for his sister to deliver some fresh clothes. She never made it, so Iverson had to put on the same togs he wore to the game. A perfect ending to a perfect nightmare.

It was interesting then, that just 24 hours later, Iverson was sitting in the alcove that serves as the First Union Center's interview room, basking in the glow of a win over Minnesota and proclaiming that this team still could finish the regular season as the East's top seed. We know all big shooters are supremely confident, always believing the next one will go in, but this seemed particularly hopeful, even by Iverson's optimistic standards.

Then again, he might be right. After playing inconsistent, uninspired basketball for the season's first two-plus months, a byproduct of poor chemistry, multiple injuries and an inability to summon the nightly ferocity that had been last year's trademark, the Sixers have the fire back. Though still not completely healthy--sixth man Aaron McKie is nursing ankle and Achilles' problems, and power forward Derrick Coleman's cranky knee continues to plague him--Philadelphia finally resembles last year's collection of warriors, who felt no situation was too difficult to overcome.

Because of that, the Sixers--who entered the All-Star break at 25-24, tied for the seventh-best record in their conference--remain the team to beat in the East. Do you really think the Nets or Celtics are going to play in The Finals? Come on. Neither has won a playoff series in years. Toronto still is searching for a reliable leader, and Milwaukee is going through its annual period of self-analysis and superstar loathing. Meanwhile, the Sixers are getting healthy, blending their new players and old hands together and winning games--nine of 11 in one recent stretch. Face it, nobody wants to play these guys in May. Nobody.

"They've got too much talent not to be there at the end," Hornets coach Paul Silas says. "I assume that when they get all of their pieces back, they'll be a very solid ballclub. Iverson is a tough matchup for anyone. Aaron McKie is a big part of their ballclub, and so is Derrick. So the fact that they've won without them is a testament to coach (Larry) Brown and their players."

But even when everyone gets healthy, some of the new players will need to learn a bit about how things worked last season.

"This team is so much different than it was last year," Iverson says. "You got to see that fight that guys had in their eyes last year. We could be down 10 points, with two, three minutes to go, and we always felt like we were going to win the game. We've got to get that same mentality back.

"We got teams that we went through wars with last year that some of the guys that are on the team know nothing about. They don't know the severity of it. Once they get to know and talk to us about how real it is with certain teams and how certain teams try to play us, then we'll be able to win those games. We've just got to get the fight like we had last year, and I think the new guys, honestly, want to have that fight, because they don't want to be a loose link."

Last year's Sixers were a college-style team that won as much with desire as talent. A team that started Eric Snow, George Lynch, Tyrone Hill and Dikembe Mutombo would have had no chance at reaching The Finals--Iverson or no Iverson--if it didn't leave a quart of blood on the court every night. Those Sixers kept on coming, winning close games by the bushel and forcing opponents to ward them off on every possession.

These Sixers entered this season a tired, injured bunch. A collection of offseason moves designed to improve the team's talent level instead spoiled its rare chemistry, at least in the short run. Out were Lynch and Hill. In were Matt Harpring and Coleman. Harpring, a blood-and-guts hustler, made sense, but the acquisition of Coleman, whose previous tenure in Philadelphia was disastrous, was curious. "We thought we needed a four man that had offensive skills," Brown says. "(Coleman) is such a great passer, and he knows how to play."

Perhaps more damaging was that Iverson (elbow) and McKie (shoulder) decided to have surgeries to repair last season's injuries a mere two weeks before the start of training camp. Neither was available at the beginning of the regular season, and the team suffered greatly. After starting last season 10-0, the Sixers started flat in November, losing their first five. It didn't get much better after that. As December rolled on, the players were confused and upset. Brown even began to talk about whether he wanted to finish the season.