Before his Lakers were blown out by the Denver Nuggets, 86-113, Jackson was fined $50,000 for sticking up for his star Kobe Bryant. Bryant was once again suspended for an inadvertent elbow, his second suspension for the same offense. Kobe loves to attract contact as soon as he shoots the ball, swinging his elbow sideways to the direction of the face of the guarding opponent. Apparently, this style has caused black-eyes on San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili and Philadelphia’s Kyle Korver.

With that massacre of a loss, Jackson has endured his worst loosing-streak in his 16-year coaching career. The Lakers have now dropped seven consecutive games, surpassing a six-game drought earlier this season.

Phil has an excuse, with injuries to key players. Forward Brian Cook did not make the trip due to an ankle injury. Kwame Brown, who started at center, has missed 27 games this season. And Luke Walton and Lamar Odom played their first game from injury. Walton and Odom only had 13 and nine points. These are lethargic contributions from two key players for a Laker team who once stood atop the Pacific Division at the start of the season.

Also, Denver rookie Linas Kleiza did not cooperate in the Lakers cause. Kleiza came off the bench and scored a career-high 29 points. He was 10-of-13 from the field and 5-of-6 from the three-point line. That was how lucky Denver was, as opposed to the unfortunate events transpiring for Phil and the Lakers.

After a stellar first half, where they led by double-digits, the Lakers just could not sustain their brilliance. Denver went on a 24-10 run in the third to lead by 15, 87-72. They never looked back afterwards.

Jackson and the Lakers need to correct things and end this loosing streak as they face Portland at the Staples Center tonight.

Now that Allen Iverson has left Philadelphia for good, and with Chris Webber injured (again, and as expected), the 76ers need to find a way to end their slump. They were surprisingly at the top during the first three weeks of the season, thanks to a renewed defense. But good things just never last. Iverson reportedly asked for a trade, and last played for the Sixers last December 6 in a loss to Chicago.

They lost their last game the other night to the Indiana Pacers. Jermaine O’Neal fueled a late Pacer run to cap a 101-93 win. O’Neal had 34 points and 11 rebounds. Stephen Jackson, who started that run with a 20-footer, added 25.

Kyle Korver and Andre Iguodala led Philadelphia with 20 points apiece. The Sixers put a valiant effort behind center Samuel Dalembert 16-points-and-11-rebound production. Willie Green added 16 points as well.

Chris Webber missed his third game due to a strained ankle. He is listed as day-to-day.

The organization needs to find a way to win again, and move on after that Iverson trade. I think it’s too early yet to focus on the future. They have the tools to be a respectable team, and not let go of their playoff chances. The season still has a long way to go and they have an outside chance to make it. They also need to learn how to play without Webber, since the guy is just so injury-prone. Korver, Iguodala, Dalember and rookie Rodney Carney should team up to bring back that winning attitude now that they have a pass-first point guard in Andre Miller. I can’t wait to see him in action. Things may be beginning to get interesting in Philly. (pic courtesy of yahoonba.com)

I believe this is a good deal for both teams. Philadelphia gets the load off their salary cap with Iverson’s heavy 20-million dollar contract out of their concern. Plus they bring in a legitimate strong pass-first point guard in Miller. Miller’s assists may dip down now that he’s playing for a slow-down offensive team, but his minutes will certainly go up. He would bring steadiness in Philly’s offense.

Iverson will definitely bring excitement in the Pepsi Center, and the timing is really really great. Carmelo Anthony is just starting to serve a 15-game suspension for his involvement in that New York brawl. And Denver now has that superstar to fill the void being left by Melo. AI is, for now, the lone offensive option for Denver. He’ll have more than the 24 possessions he had with the 76ers. His 28.1 points, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals will definitely spike up. That is until January 20. Melo will return by then and things will pretty get interesting out there.

The big question for Denver is chemistry. George Karl needs to find a way to let the two top scorers in the league mesh and blend. Melo and AI need to share the ball, if the Nuggets are to be successful. If they do, the Nuggets will definitely contend with the Spurs, Suns and Mavericks for Western supremacy. (pic courtesy of yahoonba.com)

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The key to that team was surrounding Iverson with a bunch of role players. Guys like Aaron Mckie, Raja Bell and Eric Snow (to name a few) were contented on doing the little things like rebounding, defending, boxing out, etc. They didn’t mind Iverson taking over 30 shots per game, and making just 13 or even less most of the time. They did the job defensively leaving Iverson to do the scoring chores.

In contrast, the 76ers’ roster these past two seasons has just been plain wrong. They added Webber, drafted Kyle Korver and Samuel Dalembert. The Sixers does not need another big time scorer in the mold of a Webber. They do not need Korver who is nothing but a three-point shooter. And Dalembert has been inconsistent throughout his career. Although drafting Andre Iguodala, Rodney Carney and Bobby Jones is gearing the team towards the right direction. All three are great defenders, long and extremely athletic. And Iguodala and Carney has the ability to score heavily for this team.

For them to be successful this season, Iverson would need to continue his scoring, but this time he should learn to distribute the ball well. Webber does not need to score that much anymore. He’s got to do the big man’s role, which is to rebound and block shots. His passing ability may not be utilized in this team. Korver should not log heavy minutes, although he may still start. His role would only be to spot up from the outside. He is a good three-point shooter and nothing more. He should not be the first option in offense, and should not take the three in fast break scenarios. He may want to shoot from the perimeter as well. Dalembert and Steven Hunter should continue to be the intimidating force inside the paint. They may combine for five blocks a night. Webber’s post-up game may come in handy at times.

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For the team to be successful this season, they need to run-and-run in offense and play good defense. They may want to adapt Phoenix’s run-and-gun style of play. The only difference is they have a lot of good defenders in this team. They have the quickness, athleticism and talent to finish on the break. Iguodala, Jones, Carney and Iverson are good fast-break finishers. This team should push the ball all the time. Dalembert, Shavlik Randolph and Hunter are also running big men, and these guys know how to finish. After all, Coach Maurice Cheeks knows the run-and-gun style well, him being a quick point guard leading the fast break during his Philadelphia playing days with Charles Barkley, Julius Erving and Moses Malone.

Cheeks may use a ten-man rotation. The starters would be Dalembert, Webber, Iguodala, Korver and Iverson. Iverson would reprise his point guard role once again. Kevin Ollie, the veteran point guard, has not been effective throughout his NBA career and may not be fit to take the backcourt general role. Willie Green should play both guard spots effectively, although I see him playing more of the point guard spot. Hunter will rotate with newly-acquired Alan Henderson to spell Dalembert and Webber at the 4 and 5 slots. Hunter may in fact play significant minutes this season given Webber’s health the past seasons. Last season was a rare and fortunate one for C-Webb. Carney and Jones, two good defenders, may play significant minutes as well, relieving Korver and Iguodala. Ollie and Randolph will play sparingly.

This should be Iguodala’s breakout year. If he is able to produce significantly across the board (points, rebounds, steals, field goal percentage, even blocks), we may see Philadelphia in the playoffs once again. He needs to raise that 8.2 (just 8.2!) attempts a game.

I still feel that this current line-up is not the final one. A lot of things happen during the season. There has been rumors that Iverson is in the trading block, with him failing to lead his team to the postseason wars. But for me, Iverson is still the answer. He is the core of this team. What has been wrong is the supporting cast surrounding him. The problem is not with Iverson, but in the team’s chemistry or the total lack of it. They just don’t have a system or a foundation right now. Two players just do not fit into this roster: Webber and Korver (It’s a must that they be traded). Cheeks should turn Philadelphia into a running team, and I don’t see Webber and Korver running beside Iverson. And like I said, they have the manpower and the defense to stop the opposing team.

Just picture this: Dalembert blocks the shot, opponent retrieves the ball and tries again, Hunter blocks the second attempt, Iverson picks up the loose ball, runs for the fast break with Iguodala and Carney at his wings, he then passes to Iguodala for the slam. He passes to Carney for the jam or he may want to finish on the next play. Philadelphia could also easily trap the opposing team’s backcourt given the speed, quickness and length of Iverson, Carney, Jones and Iguodala. Iverson and Iguodala have been in the top15 or even top10 in steals the past seasons. These steals can easily be translated to easy fast-break points. If they could do this, then we will see Philadelphia in the NBA playoffs, and even past the first round. (pics courtesy of bballone.com)