Sixers losing more than games

By George Gouvas Sports Central Columnist

It was just half a year ago that the upstart Philadelphia 76ers battled through two grueling seven-game series, on their way to their first NBA Finals appearance in nearly twenty years.

Led by the league's Most Valuable Player, Allen Iverson, the Sixth Man of the Year Aaron McKie, the Defense Player of the Year, Dikembe Mutombo, and the Coach of the Year, Larry Brown, the Sixers were supposed to be a team to be reckoned with for a long time to come. But, thanks to one injury after another, the best in the East can't find their championship form.

Memphis twice, the Wizards twice, and Golden State are three of the hapless franchises that the defending Eastern Conference Championship have lost to this season.

If the losses weren't bad enough, with each loss in the standings, a player from the roster drops, as well.

Without Allen Iverson for the first five games, the Sixers lost all five. When "The Answer" returned, he led Philly to seven straight wins, and seemed to right Larry Brown's ship.

Following blowout losses to Toronto and Washington, backup center Matt Geiger announced his retirement due to chronic knee problems. At first glance, the loss seemed almost meaningless because he has hardly been apart of the roster the last two years. But, that was unfortunately only the beginning.

The team's biggest surprise and second leading scorer, Derrick Coleman, hyperextended a knee and has been in-and-out of the lineup over the past several games.

Aaron McKie missed time with an irregular heartbeat, as well as a strained back.

Allen Iverson has had to miss further time with a sprained thumb on his shooting hand.

Guard Speedy Claxton, who has stepped in nicely for both McKie and Iverson, sprained his left ankle in a loss to San Antonio.

And, we mustn't forget that starting point guard Eric Snow has yet to suit up because of torn ligaments in his thumb.

Currently 8-13, the Sixers may see a ray of sunlight in the very near future. Reportedly, Snow is making great progress in his rehab and may return in mid-December, instead of his projected return of early January.

Iverson, McKie, and Coleman are not expected to miss much more time with Coleman likely to be out longest. But, the biggest boost could come from a player not even on the current roster.

Thanks to Matt Geiger's retirement, the league has granted Philadelphia a $4 million roster exception, which the team must used by December 26th.

General manager Billy King has scoured every roster in search of filling the need for a backup forward/center.

The Sixers have inquired about Denver's Raef LaFrenez and Phoenix's Rodney Rogers to name but only two, so far.

With the rash of injuries, almost anyone would have some sort of impact to take some pressure off of small forward Matt Harping and center Dikembe Mutombo, who have been logging way too many minutes this early in the season.

Last season, Philadelphia began 10-0, cruising to the No. 1 seed in the East and eventually, to the finals.

This year, it will be a uphill climb, but this team has too much talent, too good a coach, and too much heart, to be counted out this early.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.