76ers happy to give "worst" title to Bobcats

[bes628]

Nearly four decades have passed and the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers finally might be able to talk some trash.

Those 76ers went an abysmal 9-73 to put up the worst winning percentage in NBA history at .110. But if the Charlotte Bobcats lose their final two games to finish 7-59, that's .106, and Philadelphia would be out of the record book.

"Talent-wise, they might be the worst team ever," Kevin Loughery, who coached the 76ers during the second half of their Keystone Kops-like campaign, said of the Bobcats. "We had more talent than they did."

Wouldn't it be the ultimate computer game to feed in the rosters of those 76ers and these Bobcats to see who would come out on top? Or, better stated, on bottom. It should be noted the 7-57 Bobcats are being outscored by an average of 13.9 points per game this season to 12.1 for the 76ers.

When Loughery compares the teams, he does so believing the NBA is much weaker now with its 30 teams and so many young players who barely went to college than it was when it had 17 teams in 1972-73 and nearly everyone in the league had played four years of college ball. And the former Miami Heat coach is taking into account all the injuries the Bobcats have had this season.

"They're just playing with a lot of 10-day contract (type of players) now," said Loughery, speaking by phone from Atlanta, where he is now retired. "That's difficult… I know it's just miserable what they're going through for (Charlotte coach) Paul Silas, who's a great guy, and (owner) Michael Jordan, whom I coached. I just hate to see this happen to them."

Loughery played and coached against Silas in the NBA and was Jordan's first NBA coach with Chicago in 1984-85. While Loughery does feel for them, he said overall it doesn't matter to him whether the Bobcats break the 76ers' mark.

Then again, would it be the true record considering this is a lockout-shortened 66-game season? Loughery has a solution if Charlotte loses Wednesday at Orlando and Thursday at home against New York in a nationally televised game (how's that for the macabre?).

"Maybe they'll put an asterisk next to it," Loughery said.


LINK to rest of the article

http://www.foxsportsflorida.com/04/24/12/76ers-happy-to-give-worst-title-to-Bobca/landing.html?blockID=715616&feedID=3720

[Mustachio]

I hate the old school mentality that players are better with 4 years of college. Its just not true. If Player A goes to college for 4 years... in my opinion thats 4 years of divided attention. You have to work on basketball and stay in school and worry about money. If Player B goes 1 year in college and goes to the NBA...He gets more/better coaching, better facilities to practice, basketball gets his undivided attention, and he doesn't have money worries going through his head. He would have 3x the experience and basketball ability as Player A once he finally goes to the NBA.

This guy is like me saying that the Bobcats are better than the 72 sixers. We have no idea and its just a matter of bias, because I looked at their roster and have never heard of a single player on that team. And i would say 95% (basically everyone but Diop) would have outscored their depth chart in a full 82 game season. but arguing about it is like picking the smartest retard.

[superb1]

at least we have a bright side starting May 30 regardless to where where we place in the draft.

[dnbman]

I hate the old school mentality that players are better with 4 years of college. Its just not true. If Player A goes to college for 4 years... in my opinion thats 4 years of divided attention. You have to work on basketball and stay in school and worry about money. If Player B goes 1 year in college and goes to the NBA...He gets more/better coaching, better facilities to practice, basketball gets his undivided attention, and he doesn't have money worries going through his head. He would have 3x the experience and basketball ability as Player A once he finally goes to the NBA.

I agree completely, but I think the rationale is that college teams care about developing their kids, where as the NBA is more focused on individuals being professional and seeking their own development, which I can see in some ways. After all, the college coaches make their money from doing two things: winning and getting guys to the NBA. They have a vested interested in individuals getting a lot better and then sending them on their way. NBA teams might be vested at first, but after a while I think they expect the player to be the one initiating the development.

Again, I agree with you, just saying what the logic is.