Are the Philadelphia Sixers now the team to beat in the East?

One of the most impactful developments coming out of the NBA trade deadline at the beginning of February was the Sixers’ acquisition of Tobias Harris from the Clippers. On paper, the new-look Philly team’s starting five is poised to rival the defending champs Warriors, with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Harris, and JJ Redick, says NBA enthusiast Michael Volitich.

Image source: nbcsports.com

Image source: thesixersense.com

The Sixers, as of this writing, is sitting comfortably in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Ahead of them are the Bucks, Raptors, and Pacers. It should be easier for the Sixers to catch up with Indiana soon, as many experts believe the Pacers will have a hard time maintaining its run because of the injury to Victor Oladipo.

The arrival of Harris is lauded by many pundits because it gives the Sixers even more shooting from the perimeter and outside the arc to aid Redick. Harris is also a solid defender who can complement the two-way game of Butler. One of the main criticisms of the Philly team is Simmons’ inability to shoot from the outside, and now the team has found the solution for it.

Though the Raptors and Bucks are still ahead in the standings, there’s no doubt that the conferences’ attention is now focused on the Sixers, as they now have the depth and the combination of talent to roar into the lead. And even the teams in the West understand that, barring any injury to its core players in the remainder of the season, the Sixers are now committed to getting to the finals this year, adds Michael Volitich.

Michael Volitich is a Creative Writing student at the University of Florida. He is a sports writer and fanatic, lit geek, film buff, and occasional traveler. More on his hobbies and interests here.

Can the Miami Heat make it to this season’s NBA playoffs?

The Heat has been in the middle of the pack of teams in the NBA’s East in the last few years, not helped by very few roster changes and the rise of other franchises in the conference. With LeBron having left for L.A., Miami should make the most of the situation and compete better. However, Boston, Milwaukee, Toronto, and Philadelphia are now the top favorites.

Nonetheless, Vegas odds-makers predict that the Heat has a nearly 45 percent chance of still making it to the postseason. While this was predicted before the season even started, it is arguably on point, with the team as of this writing currently sporting a 6-9 record. However, the resurgence of the Hornets and the Magic in recent games position them two slots below the top eight.

In any case, erratic and inconsistent play by its starters, including Dragic and Whiteside, is not helping the Heat’s case. And their leader Wade is due to miss another week as he celebrates the birth of his daughter. Winslow, Richardson, and Waiters must step up if the team is to get to a winning percentage.

All in all, the Heat will find it harder to ensure a playoff stint this year if it doesn’t get its act together soon. The Pistons, with new coach Dwane Casey and Griffin’s monster games of late, is doing much better. Orlando also seems set on making the top eight with stellar plays from Gordon, Vucevic, and Fournier. Perhaps focusing on developing its younger set of talents (and perhaps considering parting ways with Whiteside and Dragic) is the way to go for this “mid-tier” Heat team.

Hi, there. My name is Michael Volitich, and I’m a student at the University of Florida pursuing a degree in creative writing. I’m also an aspiring sports writer and fanatic, lit geek, film buff, and occasional traveler. For more on my hobbies and interests, follow me on Twitter.

‘The 04s’: a Basketball Lesson In Unselfishness

The University of Florida’s basketball team had to wait for more than 80 years before finally winning an NCAA championship. After starting the 2005-06 season unranked, the Gators surprised the world right out of the gate by stringing 17 straight wins, which is the best start in school history. A few months after, Florida claimed the national title after defeating the UCLA Bruins.

r960-4b4ece480a05c58e6d2e521d5f2e4dd6 — Image source: floridagators.com

The next season, the Gators proved they were not a one-trick pony as they won the title again. They also became the first team since 1992 to earn a back-to-back championship.

Several factors came into play during Florida’s success, and one – or five – of them were the team’s starters: Al Horford, Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Lee Humphrey, and Taurean Green. Collectively, this group was called “The 04s” because they were all recruited by Florida in 2004.

Individually, these hoopsters displayed plenty of skills on the court. As a matter of fact, three of them, Horford, Noah, and Brewer, are currently playing in the NBA. The former two have received many All-Star selections and season awards between them, and Brewer is an in-demand role wing player. While Humphrey and Green never found success in the NBA, they were feared shooters during their collegiate career.

04s.0.0.jpg — Image source: alligatorarmy.com

Talented as they were, “The 04s” showed that the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. It was their unselfishness and team chemistry that propelled them to the top of the sport. After winning their first title, all of them could have left college and entered the NBA Draft, but they opted not to. They all agreed to return and rewarded themselves with a legacy that only a few basketball players could ever boast of.

Do you want to read more about the Gators? Follow me, Michael Volitich, on Twitter.