| Marty Burns' Breakdown |
|---|
| Charlotte |
|
Philadelphia |
| In Elden Campbell the Hornets have a bona fide low-post scoring
threat and rebounder to complement forwards Derrick Coleman and Anthony Mason.
However, Campbell can be
inconsistent. |
CENTER The Edge:
None |
Though undersized in the post and not much of an offensive threat,
6'10" Theo Ratliff is a strong defender and shot-blocker. Backup Matt
Geiger, rounding into form after an injury-plagued season, provides bulk and
scoring. |
|
| Coleman, one of the most skilled big men in the league, always seems
to play well against his former club. Mason, a tough matchup at small forward,
is a triple-double threat each night. Working together, they will draw double
teams and set up their teammates for good looks. |
FORWARDS The Edge:
 |
Tyrone Hill and George Lynch provide defense, toughness and
rebounding but usually little offensive spark. They must combine for at least
15-25 points per game in addition to defending the bigger and stronger Hornets
frontcourt. |
|
| Eddie Jones, a Temple alum, has had several big scoring games against
Philadelphia, but it's his defense that will be key to the series. If he can
help keep Iverson in check, the Sixers will be hard-pressed to score. Point
guard David Wesley is a steady playmaker but not much of a shooter.
|
GUARDS The Edge:
None |
Even with a broken left toe and sore right elbow, Sixers guard
Allen Iverson is almost impossible to defend. Look for Iverson to get his
points, though he'll likely have to work hard against Jones. Steady point guard
Eric Snow knows how to get the ball to Iverson and provides solid defense at the
other end. |
|
| Eddie Robinson and Baron Davis provide athleticism at forward and
point guard, respectively, but both are inexperienced. Keep an eye on backup
center Brad Miller, who's back from injury and a free agent after the season.
|
BENCH The Edge:
 |
The Sixers are 22-10 since forward Toni Kukoc arrived in a trade
from the Bulls. He's a matchup nightmare for any team, and gives Philly
much-needed shooting and passing. Aaron McKie is a strong defender, and the
7'1" Geiger a good
shooter. |
|
| The Hornets are red-hot entering the playoffs, having won seven
straight and 14 of 16. After a tragedy-filled season they seem to be putting it
together. |
INTANGIBLES The Edge:
|
The Sixers reached the Eastern Conference semifinals last year, so
they know what playoff basketball is all about. Anything less than the second
round would be failure. |
|
| Paul Silas kept his team together through the Bobby Phills tragedy
and various other controversies, but this is his first playoff series as head
coach. He's up against a master in
Brown. |
COACH The Edge:
|
Brown, who once coached Silas with the Nuggets, is one of the
game's great coaches. The Sixers were 17-8 in games decided by three points or
less in '99-'00, one win shy of tying an NBA
record. |
|
| The Hornets rank near the middle of the league in foul shooting. If
they make their free throws they should gain a huge edge, since the Sixers are
one of the worst foul-shooting teams in the
NBA. |
'X' FACTOR The Edge:
|
Though the Hornets were 3-1 against the Sixers, they lost the only
game in which Kukoc played. With Iverson ailing, Kukoc will likely need to step
and hit big shots like he did so often as a member of the Bulls. |
| Burns' Prediction: Sixers in 5 |
|---|
| |
