Much to the delight of League Pass junkies everywhere, Swaggy P is back in Doug Collins’ 76ers rotation. Young played a total of just 24 minutes during a recent three-game stretch, but the Sixers went 1-2 and averaged a mere 86 points in blowout losses to the Raptors and Hornets. Having watched these offensive debacles, Coach Collins must’ve come to the conclusion that Swaggy, erratic as he is, is a necessary evil off the bench, as he’s played more than 29 minutes in three straight games. As a matter of fact, just last night Young experienced his second most extensive stint of the season, playing over 32 minutes in a 110-102 loss to Milwaukee. While his 20-point effort helped the Sixers reach the century mark for just the fourth time in 16 games, it didn’t help them contain the Bucks, who shot 52% from the floor.
So anyway, the Sixers are 2-4 in their last six — 1-2 with Swaggy out of the rotation, and 1-2 with Swaggy in the rotation. Obviously, they just aren’t a very good team. Nick Young is neither the sole source of nor solution to their problems, and if it’s truly going to be a wash then Collins may as well keep the Swaggy switch in the “on” position. As Hall of Famer Don Nelson once [probably] said, “if you’re going to lose, you might as well entertain.”
And Swaggy does indeed entertain. With a rare combination of power and grace, watch him do the single most entertaining thing that any NBA player did on the night of January 22nd, 2013.
Needless to say, Swaggy certainly lived up to his nickname with this one. The way he gathered without ever touching the ball with his off hand added a nice degree of flair, and the screaming somersault into the cameramen was the cherry on top of a filthy slam dunk sundae. The backboard-rattling force with which he threw down over the league’s leading shot blocker was obviously impressive as well. What really speaks volumes about the magnitude of this poster, though, is the reaction of Larry Sanders — not during the game, but afterwards:
Honorable mentions to Alonzo Gee and Rodney Stuckey.
Dunk rating on the Starbury Nastiness Scale:
9/10
Throwback Poster of the Day: This is actually a missed attempt by Vince Carter (got fouled), but it’s more spectacular than most makes. I recall watching this game — notice that Stromile Swift is on the floor — and seeing this live, thinking it was one of the most incredible misses I’d ever seen. I think it still is…
