MVN: Most Valuable Network

The Sixers quieted the storm Saturday night with a decisive 110-85 win.  They now move to 5-5 on the season.  Now, the Eagles will try to avoid going 5-5 on their season as they kickoff in Cincinnati on Sunday at 1pm.

For the Sixers, getting back to .500 has come with a three game winning streak.  Funny how the Eagles just came off a three game winning streak of their own before last week's loss to the Giants.  Ok, so maybe it's not so funny after all.  At least they are eight point favorites.

The Sixers got it done Saturday night with a 23-8 run in the third quarter.  Thaddeus Young once again led the way, scoring 23 points on 10-for-15 shooting.  With all the 23s in here, you'd think that Dr. Pepper was involved with their 23 flavors.  Which reminds me, isn't Dr. J's Dr. Pepper commercial lame?  They do a reenactment of his behind the backboard layup that looks like an intermural game from the 70's, while the theme music from another number 23 envokes the guard from North Carolina.  Before I digress, the current #23 for the Sixers is still struggling.  Lou only shot 1-for-8 from the field and 1-for-4 from the line.  He hasn't been the same since the November 5^th loss at Miami and he hasn't played over 20 minutes in a game since the November 3^rd blowout of the Kings.  Now, I digress...

The most encouraging aspect of the win was the play of Samuel Dalembert.  He set the tone inside with 16 rebounds and three blocks.  Combined with Mo Speights, the center position for the Sixers finished with 21 points and 24 rebounds.  The Thunder relied mostly on Johan Petro in the middle while Robert Swift started.  The Sonics got 19 points and 16 boards out of the middle, but only 1 rebound and no points from Swift. 

By the way, what's with Swift's black nail polish?  The tattoos I get, but the nail polish from a guy who looks like he should be writing poetry except that he grew to be seven feet tall?  I hate to use the word freak, but he's a strange looking bird.

The guard play for the Sixers was excellent, other than Williams shooting.  Andre Miller had nine assists to only one turnover while grabbing four steals and he only shot the ball five times.  Andre Iguodala scored a steady 15 while shooting 50% and hitting a three pointer.  Not only was his shooting decent, but he dished five dimes and had no turnovers.  That gave the starting backcourt a combined 14 assists and only one turnover.

For those of you who might not like what you're seeing in Cincinnati by the time the third quarter rolls around, get in your car and drive to the Deptford Mall in New Jersey.  Don't ask me where Deptford is, but I know where New Jersey is.  Elton Brand will be there meeting and greeting fans, giving autographs, and pimping his new Converse EB1s at JC Penney.  It's a cool shoe and unlike Elton's contract, it doesn't break the bank.  While the shoe is definitely worth the price, let's hope Elton's game picks up just the same.  Whether he's worth the price is a matter for the court to decide.

 BRAND101 - Elton Brand at Converse Philly Run: