2007-2008 NBA Season Preview: Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia hasn't seen a really bright day in a long time. Considering the sports teams that have played in the historic city, championships have been far and few. In the 76ers' case, the closest to an NBA championship that the team has gotten to was in 2001, led by media martyr and long-time Philly hero Allen Iverson. The days of The Answer's presence are now over, and so a new chapter has begun.

Traded in December of 2006, Iverson left the Sixers with no immediate leader, especially after fellow former teammate Chris Webber left the team in mid-season as well (and eventually signed with his hometown Detroit Pistons). With Andre Iguodala being seen as the most competent and talented player on the team, he proceeded to lead the disheveled roster to playoff contention in the rest of the 2006-2007 season. As a result, a new hope has formed for the city's lone professional basketball squad.

With the ball being left in the hands of point guard Andre Miller, who was acquired for Iverson, the Sixers addressed what often times was the most controversial topic surrounding the team's play. Last year's rookie swingman Rodney Carney was solid and showed promise as an actual basketball player, aside from his own natural super-athleticism.

Through the draft, the Sixers injected new blood into their team with the likes of Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith. Young, a lottery pick forward from Georgia Tech University, has the ability to bring many options on the wing through his shooting, rebounding, and knack for getting to the basket; he'll likely play small forward, though he has the ability to play a bigger position if he gains more weight. Smith is a 7-foot power forward from Colorado State, whose touch around the basket had him projected as a much higher pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, than at the spot he was taken (20^th overall). By trade with Denver in September, Reggie Evans also gives the team much needed muscle, hustle and rebounding, as well as some raw offensive skills that make for a somewhat formidable frontcourt with starting center Samuel Dalembert.

The Sixers can win next year, but the challenge is largely upon Dalembert to be aggressive and to really look for the ball in the paint, seeing how Philadelphia no longer has a legitimate go-to post player; he must step up his game. Also, Carney must make shooting a top priority, as his athleticism can only get him so far, and backup point guard Kevin Ollie must also be consistent and shoot well to keep the defense honest.

Philadelphia can return to the glory of 1983, when Julius Erving and Moses Malone steered the Sixers to a championship against Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers. There's no more Doctor, and there's no more Magic, but effort and willingness to play hard can bring what the city has needed for 24 years: a lot of love of the brotherly kind.