There aren’t too many reasons to watch the 76ers these days. The team is pretty lousy, its franchise-defining star is gone, and thanks to playing in the Atlantic division, they are often playing a team that’s just as pathetic. Judging by all the empty seats at the Wachovia Center for home games (half sections in the lower level completely empty), the people of Philadelphia largely agree. But for some reason I’ve been watching lots of 76ers games lately and there’s something that’s become apparent, and that’s the fact that Andre Iguodala has blossomed into a legit fantasy superstar.
We were high on Iguodala coming into the season, even if he was slightly disappointing in the 05-06 season, coming just short of predicting a full-fledged breakout: “All of the ingredients are still there – durability (82 games in both seasons), tons of minutes (wouldn’t be surprising to see him push 40 mpg this year), a well-rounded game with no real weakness and one category in which he could possibly be dominant (steals).” That has all held true, and with the departures of Allen Iverson and Chris Webber, Iguodala has really had a chance to shine. We all knew he would benefit when the 76ers would benefit cleaned house and he has fully taken advantage of the opportunity, especially of late. The Sixers aren’t playing half bad basketball, winning 7 of their last 11, including 3 of 4 on the road. Andre Miller and Iguodala are proving to be a decent little combo, and Iguodala has really taken it upon himself to be the leader on this team. Even in the lousy East the Sixers are already basically playing out the schedule but Iguodala is playing with incredible passion. Games against the Warriors, Nets and Bobcats right before the all-star game aren’t exactly games to get up for, but Iguodala has been playing these games to win. He logged 43 minutes last night after logging 48 (in OT) and 45 in the two prior.
In the last 11 games Iggy is averaging 22.9/6.1/7.4 with 2.3 steals on 47% shooting. Those are serious numbers, especially in assists and steals. It was the steals that always made him so appealing, after averaging 1.7 in not even 33 mpg his rookie season. That number held steady despite seeing 5 more minutes last year, but now he’s accumulated the most steals in the league up to this point in the season, jumping ahead of Shawn Marion last night. Marion is a decent reference point, but a far from perfect one. Iggy is certainly more on the SG/SF end of the spectrum while Marion is clearly a rebounding force at PF. But he’s working toward being a seven-category contributor like the Matrix. Iggy’s aggressiveness and accuracy from the stripe and his pass prowess have powered his rise this season. The blocks are unlikely to ever really be there, but there’s still hope for the 3s. He’s taking more than ever this year, they just aren’t falling. Expect him to work hard to add this shot to his arsenal. For a guy who averaged just 8.4 FGA per game last year, his assertiveness over the last few weeks has been very welcome. He’s averaging 15.8 attempts per game over that span, leading the team in attempts in 7 of those 11 games. In the four games he didn’t take the most shots, the team lost three times.
The best thing that Iguodala has going for him is the future of the team. Unless the Sixers hit the jackpot in the lottery, they won’t really have a choice but to feature Iggy as their main man for at least the near future. And even if Kevin Durant or Greg Oden end up in Philly, it won’t be an immediate takeover. Iguodala is locked into an ideal fantasy situation. He’s one of the most durable, high-minute players in the league, has a pass-first PG who can get him some easy baskets, and is the default number one option. And for the first time, he appears to be relishing that role. He currently ranks as the #11 player in the game on the player rater, down to #25 on the APR. But that average is #11 over the past two weeks, and while this may not be the new norm, it may be closer to it than many people realize. The rest of the season and perhaps the next couple will be Iguodala’s extended chance to prove he’s an all-star, a legit building block for a contending team. It remains to be seen whether that’s actually the case, but in fantasy we don’t always care about that. He’s entering his prime, will play more minutes than just about anyone in the league and has a very well-rounded game. Don’t be shocked if you see us advising taking the new AI in the second round next year.
