By FRANK WARD
DailyPhiladelphian.com Editor
Among the items we found interesting from Doug Collins’ whirlwind media tour today was the following tidbit from the Inquirer’s Kate Fagain.
“…I’ll tell you what we’re also lacking: toughness, both mental and physical,” Collins said. “I think you can develop it, but it also helps to have a couple of tough guys on your team.”
Reggie Evans wasn't scared to bang inside with the Dwight Howards of the NBA. The Sixers need someone to fill that role.
I couldn’t agree more. When the Sixers dealt Reggie Evans for Jason Kapono, they lost a physical presence that even Dwight Howard had to notice.
In theory, dealing a role player off the bench from an area of perceived depth for a three-point shooter made sense. However, the team dealt the wrong guy.
Evans was never going to average a double-double. However, he boxed out, grabbed boards and wasn’t scared to throw an occasional elbow.
That’s precisely the toughness the team lacked last year, and what Collins alluded to.
Where will Ed Stefanski and Collins find a guy like Evans? Not sure, but they better figure it out because Mareese Speights and Jason Smith aren’t those guys.
I’ve been saying this since last August.
You can play great defense all you want. But, if you can’t get a defensive rebound and limit the number of second and third shots an opponent has, it won’t matter at all. Unless you can get a defensive board, you will always give up 100 points or more.
Evans was a tenacious, physical rebounder that ate up space on defense and got that key defensive rebound late in the game to preserve a win.
You are 100% correct. They need to find another Evans and another Theo Ratliff to back up Dalembert. Whenever Dalembert goes to the bench, the Sixers paint area is completely exposed.
Just asking guys that are not natural rebounders to “rebounder better” will not get it done. The Sixers need guys that are skilled at it…and it is a skill.