The NBA All-Star Game is about a month away. The festivities will start on February 23 in Orlando, Florida. As a Philadelphia 76ers fan, there hasn’t been a whole lot of reason to be excited about the actual game. For the most part, 76ers players have not had involvement in the game for a long time. Outside of Allen Iverson, it feels like forever since we have seen a 76ers player appear in the All-Star Game. Could that change this season? I would love to say it would, but I don’t see it happening.

The early returns for the fan voting are void of any 76ers players. We can forget about any 76ers player being voted in as a starter. The center will be Dwight Howard. The guards will be Derrick Rose and Dwayne Wade. The forwards will be LeBron James and either Chris Bosh or Carmelo Anthony. That’s about as predictable as saying the summer months will be hot. The only hope that the 76ers have of sending a player to Orlando would be if a reserve is chosen.

There is a possibility that the coach of the All-Star Game could be Doug Collins. The 76ers could push to have the best record in the conference by the time of the deadline, though that is fairly unlikely. I’m going to assume that Collins is not named the coach. That would seemingly hurt the chances of any 76ers player landing an All-Star spot but maybe it shouldn’t. There are a couple of players that could wind up being excellent additions to the roster.

Spencer Hawes seemed like a surprising choice for a backup up center spot after his strong start. But his injuries have likely ended those hopes. Realistically, the two players that have a shot at making the team are Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams. Williams is the leading scorer on the team but he doesn’t start. He is also not the strongest defensive player. I don’t think he will hear his name called. But Iguodala has a shot. Though his numbers aren’t spectacular, he is one of the more complete players in the league. He does everything well even if he doesn’t do anything great. More importantly, he has adopted a great leadership role on a team that looks like a division champion. I think Iguodala will get a real look as a possible reserve on the team.

If I had to bet, I would say that no 76ers player would make the All-Star team. The best hope might be seeing Evan Turner participate in the rookie-sophomore game. That doesn’t generate a whole lot of excitement but it would be something. The NBA All-Star Game is a reward for superstars and the 76ers really don’t have one. But I do think there are future All-Stars on this team. Guys like Turner and Jrue Holiday will hear their names called one day. But for now, fans will just have to cross their fingers and hope Iguodala gets a surprising call.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

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Defense + teamwork + depth = wins.

It’s a formula that has paid dividends in the win column for the Philadelphia 76ers, winners of 12 of their first 17 games, the surprise No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference if the regular season ended today. But that formula does not necessarily equate to churning out individual stars.

Tom Ziller published his latest NBA MVP Power Rankings on Wednesday morning, naming zero Phladelphia 76ers among his top 10 NBA candidates. That’s no surprise considering that none of the Sixers are among the leading All-Star vote-getters at their positions.

Lebron James led Ziller’s rankings, followed by Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Kevin Love.

The Sixers are balanced — seven different Doug Collins disciples average double figures in points to date — but don’t have a single player who stands out in a crowd. You get the feeling Collins won’t shed tears over his team’s lack of MVP candidates, at least not as long as the Sixers continue to win at an elite pace.

For more Philadelphia 76ers coverage, visit our team page or our blog Liberty Ballers.

The 2011-12 Philadelphia 76ers are getting a lot of love for playing solid defense. Under Doug Collins, the team has embraced defense in a huge way. They rank among the best teams in the NBA in most defensive categories and that is why they are off to a strong start. But will any of these players earn recognition on the All-NBA Defensive First Team? A total of five 76ers have earned that honor in the past. This could be the year another joins the list. Here is a look at the five 76ers players to earn All-NBA Defensive First Team honors.

Bobby Jones

Jones earned All-NBA Defensive First Team honors every year between 1979 and 1984. In 1983, he was one of three 76ers players to earn a spot on the team. He reached the first team in the two seasons before he joined the 76ers as well. He was known for his quiet demeanor and respectful play. Jones didn’t draw a lot of attention to himself but the man could grab rebounds and block shots as good as any player in the NA.

Caldwell Jones

Jones was a member of the team in 1981 and 1982. He was a career journeyman that had his two best seasons with the 76ers. Jones was a regular double digit rebounder with the 76ers and also averaged multiple blocks per game. He left the team before the 1982-83 championship season but carried on a solid career until 1990.

Moses Malone

Malone earned honors in 1983, the year he helped the 76ers win the NBA championship. He had earned the MVP award the previous season with the Houston Rockets and did so again with the 76ers. He led the league in rebounding in the 1982-83 season and also contributed two blocks per game.

Maurice Cheeks

Cheeks earned a spot on the team each season between 1983 and 1986. He was another player that didn’t attract a lot of attention yet quietly played amazing defense. Along with Jones and Malone he helped the 1982-83 76ers become one of the greatest defensives teams in NBA history. Cheeks was the all-time NBA leader in steals when he retired.

Dikembe Mutombo

Mutombo earned a spot on the 2001 team. He also won the Defensive Player of the Year award, the only 76ers player to ever win that honor. He was a midseason acquisition for the 76ers and helped the team reach the NBA Finals. Mutombo was among the best in the NBA in rebounds and blocks so it should be no surprise that he is on this list.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

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It would be great if the Philadelphia 76ers could play the Washington Wizards in every game. For the third time this season, the 76ers faced the Washington Wizards. For the third time this season, the 76ers won the game comfortably. The win moved the 76ers to 12-5 on the season and helped maintain their lead in the Atlantic Division. The win was that much more impressive considering that the 76ers were missing their top two big men. As a 76ers fan, I’m happy the team got the win. It was a great way to kick off an important stretch for the team.

The 76ers raced out of the gate and led 33-14 after the first quarter. The lead was 30 points at halftime. After that the 76ers could call off the dogs. They ended up coming out on top with a 103-83 win. The win was made possible from a nice combination of work from the starters and the bench. Jrue Holiday and Elton Brand led the 76ers with 17 points. Brand, playing with a stomach virus, also added nine rebounds to help make for the absence of Spencer Hawes and Nikola Vucevic. Jodie Meeks had 15 points while Andre Iguodala had seven points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists.

The bench was also stellar. Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams each had 14 points while LaVoy Allen had 10 points and made all five of his field goal attempts. As a team, the 76ers shot 52 percent from the floor. It was a great shooting night for the team when they really needed it. It was clear that the defense would suffer a little without the big men. The 76ers had to shoot the ball well and they did just that.

Overall, this was a big win for the 76ers. The Wizards are a terrible team but no one can be overlooked. Coming off of a tough loss to the Miami Heat and kicking off a huge home stand, the 76ers needed to make a statement in this game. They were able to do that. Now they should have momentum for the upcoming games.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

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The Philadelphia 76ers will be without Spencer Hawes once again when they face the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, January 20. This will be the third game that Hawes misses in the second in a row. Hawes is nursing an injured Achilles and is also likely to miss the game against the Miami Heat on Saturday, January 21. Without Hawes, the 76ers will be a major disadvantage in both games. Hawes has had a great season so far and is one reason why the 76ers are off to such a hot start. The team can still win without him but it won’t be anywhere near as easy.

Hawes has been the biggest surprise on the team. From the beginning of the season he has seemed like one of the most improved players in the league. He’s making his shots and he’s grabbing rebounds at a great rate. Right now, Hawes looks like an All-Star player. Unfortunately his health has been an issue. He had to leave a couple of games and missed a full one with a strain in his lower back. Now the Achilles injury is keeping him out for another game. According to Doug Collins, Hawes is not expected to make the trip to Miami. If he does get healthy, it won’t be a big deal. But with lingering injuries that don’t seem to go away, there is going to be a lot of concern over the status of Hawes in the coming days and weeks.

The 76ers will need Elton Brand and Nikola Vucevic to fill the void left by Hawes. Vucevic can step in and start at center for the 76ers against the Hawks. He has been solid at getting rebounds and that will be critical. Meanwhile, Brand is coming off of one of his better games against the Denver Nuggets. He has to be strong inside. Otherwise, the 76ers could wind up in a lot of trouble against both Atlanta and Miami.

You never like to see injuries, especially to top players. But if the 76ers really are on track to being among the elite in the league they need to learn to win despite that. These two games are the toughest so far this season and losing Hawes doesn’t make things any easier. But for this team, the expectations are still going to be the same.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

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The Philadelphia 76ers kick off a tough two game stretch on Friday, January 20 when the Atlanta Hawks visit. After facing mostly light competition, the 76ers will face the 11-4 Hawks one night before traveling to face the Miami Heat. This is a pivotal stretch for this team. Coming off of a loss to the Denver Nuggets, the 76ers need to play well against these teams in order to convince everyone that they are for real. As a fan, I believe the team will have no problem going 1-1 in this stretch. Obviously, beating Atlanta is the easier option to earn a win.

The Hawks are playing good basketball and enter this game with a four game winning streak. The Hawks own wins over the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, arguably the two best teams in the NBA. Joe Johnson and Josh Smith are both playing great ball for the Hawks. As a team, Atlanta has one of the best offenses in the league. That means the Philadelphia defense will have to be on point. The 76ers have been mostly strong on defense though they did struggle in the loss to Denver. This is the kind of game where the team can rebound and play well.

The other advantage for the 76ers involves depth. They run a lot deeper than Atlanta and that should help them win the game. The important thing is getting more from the starters. Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday need to shoot the ball better than they did against the Nuggets. If that happens the 76ers should be in control of the game.

The 76ers might still miss Spencer Hawes as he nurses an injured Achilles. That would be a major loss given Atlanta’s strength under the basket. If Hawes can’t play, rookie Nikola Vucevic will need to have a huge game. Elton Brand also needs to contribute with rebounds. It won’t be easy to beat Atlanta inside but it is possible.

Winning this game is crucial for the 76ers. They don’t want to take a two game losing streak into Miami. If they are going to become contenders, these are the kind of games you have to win. Atlanta is good but they are not a championship team. Hopefully Philadelphia can get the job done and bring momentum into the game against the Heat.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

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The Philadelphia 76ers are 7-2 on the season and have won six straight games. But the completion gets a little tougher when they visit the New York Knicks on Wednesday, January 11. This is the third game in three nights for the 76ers and that will only make it more difficult. As a 76ers fan, I would love to see this team go on the road and shut down the Knicks. It would do a lot to validate the fact that the 76ers are a legitimate team in the eyes of the national media. But I also think that they are that kind of team even if they don’t win this game.

Let’s be honest. It is asking a lot for a team to win three games in three nights. The 76ers have had a very busy week and they are not going to win every game. Therefore, a loss against the Knicks would hardly be a sign that their fast start isn’t the real deal. But I am willing to bet the national media will be quick to say that the 76ers only beat bad teams. That might be true, but the 76ers have shown me that they are the real deal. I think they are the best team in the Atlantic Division no matter what happens against the Knicks.

That said the 76ers are fully capable of winning this game. They are built to succeed in this condensed schedule because of their youth and depth. Even if center Spencer Hawes can’t play because of his back strain, the 76ers still have enough depth to handle the Knicks. New York might have more star power, but the 76ers are a better team. The shoot the ball better and are easily better on defense. Entering this game, the 76ers look like a team that can handle the Knicks.

I would love to see the team pick up this win even though it is the fifth game in six nights. Getting a road win against a division rival under these circumstances is huge for this team. I think they can do it. Doug Collins knows how to rotate his players so fatigue shouldn’t be a huge issue. The 76ers are the rare team that has seven or eight players that can step up and dominate a game. That makes them hard to defend. For those reasons, I see the 76ers pulling out the win in New York.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter here.

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The Philadelphia 76ers recently held the Toronto Raptors to 62 points in a 97-62 win on Saturday, January 7. That was the second fewest points that that the franchise has ever allowed in a game. The 76ers are making headlines for their stellar defensive play. It shouldn’t be a surprise if they add more historic defensive performances to this list. Here is a look at the best defensive performances in the history of the franchise aside from the victory over Toronto.

March 6, 2003 – 76ers 88, Portland Trailblazers 60

The 76ers dominated Portland on the road in this game. The Blazers never reached 20 points in any quarter. They had 12 in the third quarter and 13 in the second. Portland had just 28 points in the second half. Strangely, the 76ers trailed 19-14 after the first quarter. The defense took over after that and the team easily took control. Philadelphia scored twice as many points in the final quarter than the Blazers did.

November 7, 2007 – 76ers 94, Charlotte Bobcats 63

Before the win over Toronto, this was the best defensive effort for the 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The 76ers blew out the Bobcats from start to finish in this game. Charlotte managed 32 points in the first half and just 31 in the second half. The 76ers outscored the Bobcats by at least six points in each of the four quarters.

February 12, 1955 – Syracuse Nationals 92, Milwaukee 66

Yep, the 76es started out as the Syracuse Nationals. The franchise had success in Syracuse, including a championship in the 1954-55 season. One of their more impressive wins came against the Milwaukee Hawks. The 76ers routed the Hawks 92-66. It was one of several memorable defensive games for the team that season.

February 5, 1999 – 76ers 78, Charlotte Hornets 66

Because of a lockout, this February game was the season opener for the 76ers. It would kick off a season that saw the team return to prominence by making the playoffs. Charlotte had 40 points in the first half but the 76ers held them to just 26 in the second half, including nine in the final quarter.

February 21, 1996 – Miami Heat 66, 76ers 57

The 76ers were a terrible team in the 1995-96 season and no loss was uglier than this one. Despite holding the Heat to 66 points, the 76ers still lost the game by nine points. The 76ers led 33-28 at halftime but the Heat shut down the 76ers to the tune of 24 points in the second half. Miami managed 38 in the final 24 minutes. Still, it was a nice defensive effort for the team.

* – Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan. Follow him on Twitter.

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The Philadelphia 76ers got some good news as they prepare to start a stretch of three games in three nights. The team will have center Spencer Hawes available when they tip off against the Indiana Pacers on Monday, January 9. Hawes was questionable after missing most of the second half against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, January 7 with a back strain. As a 76ers fan, I’m happy to see him play in this game. Hawes has been huge for the 76ers this season and I hope the strong play continues for him.

Hawes left the game against Toronto just a couple of minutes into the second half. He did not return to action. Given the fact that he had a back strain, there was a good chance that the team would keep him out of action for at least one game during this busy stretch. But Hawes said that he felt fine after the team had a practice. He expects to be in the starting lineup when the game starts. That is a big boost for a team that is playing good basketball.

There has been no bigger surprise on this team than Hawes. The center has become a machine when it comes to getting rebounds. He is also scoring points and leads the league in field goal percentage. The play of Hawes has been consistent since the season began and he has earned the respect of the Philadelphia fans. I can’t imagine many people out there expect him to start out like this, but Hawes has silenced any critics with his work on the court.

I tend to think that Doug Collins will limit Hawes in this game. There is no reason to overwork him, especially with the injury. The 76ers will probably use more of rookie Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic filled in nicely for Hawes against Toronto. He had nine points and 10 rebounds in that game. Together, the two should take pressure off of each other. I am glad Hawes can play and I believe he is healthy. However, I don’t want to see team risk a more serious injury to his back in this game. I wouldn’t anticipate more than 20 minutes of action for Hawes in this game.

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While their offensive game has been clicking, the Philadelphia 76ers are
enjoying their best start in 11 seasons behind a stifling defensive display.

The Indiana Pacers have also experienced plenty of early season success by
clamping down on their opponents.

Points could be at a premium as the Pacers visit a 76ers team seeking a
fifth consecutive victory for the first time in almost two years Monday night.

Off to its best start since winning its first 10 games in 2000-01,
Philadelphia (5-2) ranks near the top of the league with 100.9 points per
contest. The 76ers, however, have been even more impressive defending their end
of the court, where they’re surrendering a league-low average of 85.6 points.

Philadelphia’s defensive prowess was on full display during Saturday’s 97-62
rout of Toronto. The Raptors’ point total was the lowest in the 15-year history
of the Wells Fargo Center and the second-lowest by an opponent since the start
of the 1985-86 season.

“It’s all about playing defense. We know we can score. It’s all about how we
react and how we respond on defense,” forward Elton Brand told the team’s
official website.

The 76ers, who haven’t won five in a row since Jan. 31-Feb. 9, 2010, have
outscored opponents by an average of 23.5 points during their run.

Keeping things going, though, likely won’t be easy with a Pacers team
allowing an average of 89.3 points – among the top five in the NBA – coming to
town.

On the offense end, meanwhile, Indiana’s frontcourt could prove difficult to
slow down if center Spencer Hawes can’t go.

Hawes, posting 12.6 points and a 76ers-best 10.6 boards per game, played
only two minutes after halftime Saturday because of a strained back. He is
uncertain to play in this one.

“We’ve got Indiana coming in, who plays power basketball with (Roy) Hibbert,
David West and (Tyler) Hansbrough – big strong team, so we’re hoping that he’ll
be back,” coach Doug Collins said.

The Pacers (6-2) are coming off a one-sided victory of their own, defeating
Charlotte 99-77 on Saturday. Indiana limited the Bobcats to just 32.6 shooting -
the lowest mark by an opponent in more than two years.

“It says a lot about our team because it was a grind-it-out game against a
veteran team,” forward Danny Granger said. “We grinded them out, we put our
defense out there and played to the best of our ability. Those are the kind of
games you have to win.

“I think we’ve got a mark on our back now. We’re not going to be able to
sneak up on too many people anymore. They realize that we are a good team, and
we’re here to stay. It makes it all the more important for us to come to play.”

Granger, scoring a team-best 14.9 points per game despite shooting a woeful
30.7 percent, is one of seven players on the roster averaging double figures.

“We’ve got eight guys, maybe nine that could probably start on other NBA
teams,” he said. “That’s a lot of depth. I’d like to say we have more depth than
most teams.”

Indiana, which split four meetings with Philadelphia last season, has taken
seven of 10 road matchups in this series – including a 111-103 victory Jan. 11
behind 27 points from Granger.