The 2001-02 NBA season is a shade over one week old, and the defending Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia 76ers are still searching for their first win. On Monday, the injury-riddled Sixers, playing without starters Allen Iverson and Eric Snow, and last year's Sixth Man of the Year Aaron McKie, dropped to 0-4 after an 87-77 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
A year ago at this time, it was a different story in Philadelphia. Coach Larry Brown's team jumped out of the gates to a franchise record ten straight victories en route to a 56-win campaign. Now, even with a lineup that features an imposing frontcourt of Derrick Coleman and Dikembe Mutumbo, the Sixers can't seem to buy a win.
On Monday night, the same evening that their Eastern Conference Championship banner was officially raised to the rafters, the Sixers cut a 48-39 halftime deficit to just three points early in the fourth quarter. Coleman, who finished with 25 points, scored six straight to bring the score to 69-66. After two straight Indiana Pacers baskets, Coleman brought his team back to within five when his dunk made it 73-68.
But the Pacers put the game out of reach after Philadelphia was whistled for its second three-second technical and Coleman was slapped with a technical of his own for disputing the call.
The second half collapse has become a trend for the Sixers, who were within five points of the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter of last Thursday's 99-92 loss. Only two nights later, it was the Washington Wizards playing spoiler, embarking on a 31-5 run after the Philadelphia led 53-52 in the third. The Wizards came away with a 90-76 victory.
But the second half collapse wasn't the only reason things went wrong against Indiana. Mutumbo, the only starter healthy from last year's team, accumulated three fouls by the end of the first quarter, forcing him out until the second half. With the center on the bench, the Pacers outscored the hosts, 32-20. Mutumbo finished with just three points and six rebounds.
Granted, it's early. And once Iverson, Snow, and McKie are back, the situation will surely improve. But if the rest of the Sixers can't find some way to gel soon, they may be in too deep a hole by the time things finally do start to turn around.
Even so, the Philadelphia faithful should rest assured. The Sixers started out 0-3 two seasons ago, and ended up with 49 wins and a playoff berth which took them to the conference semifinals.
While the 76ers have struggled, the perennially cursed New Jersey Nets have climbed to the top of the Atlantic Division with a 3-1 record. Although a 3-1 start is by no means eye-popping to most NBA teams, it is for the Nets. In fact, it has only been matched twice in the team's 25-year history: 1997 and 1984. Both times the Nets went on to make the playoffs. And in '84, they actually won a series, beating none other than the Sixers in five games.
Last year, New Jersey sunk into a familiar pattern, losing 345 player games to injury or illness and finishing sixth in the Atlantic with 26 wins.
But this year's Nets have looked impressive (and not to mention healthy) in each of their three wins, first topping Indiana by ten at home, then hanging on against the Boston Celtics, 95-92, and then picking up another home win against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, 95-85. Charlotte and Indiana were both playoff teams last year, while the Celtics were on the bubble.
So what is their secret? Well, its actually not a secret at all, but rather the addition of one man: Jason Kidd.
The Nets swapped floor generals with the Phoenix Suns in an offseason blockbuster deal, as Stephon Marbury headed to the desert and Kidd migrated to Jersey. So far, the move has paid off, with Kidd averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 8 assists per contest and picking apart opposing defenses with ease. Marubry, meanwhile, has been his usual dominant self in Phoenix.Can this 3-1 start legitimately be considered a good omen, or is it just a case of long overdue good luck for the Nets? Though it' s too early to tell, for now, things look pretty good in New Jersey.
