Getting to Know the Competition

Raja Bell
On The 01-02 Campaign: 6-5 guard who saw action in 72 games this season, getting the starting nod in 12 contests for Philadelphia.
Versus Boston: Played in all four contests, but got just 25 minutes of playing time.
Connection To The Green: Started his college basketball career at Boston University before transferring to Florida International.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?: With all the injuries the Sixers have suffered through lately, Bell is one of the players that has picked up the slack. He has started twice in their last five games, logging 7 points and just over 20 minutes per game.

Corie Blount
On The 01-02 Campaign: Veteran of seven NBA teams has seen action in 72 games (just under 20 minutes per contest) and shot a very respectable 45 percent from the field. The 6-10 forward grabbed just over 5 boards per contest.
Versus Boston: Saw action in just three games versus Boston this year, playing in a total of 47 minutes.
Connection To The Green: Was teammates with both Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk in parts of two seasons spent with the Phoenix Suns.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?: Has played in 9 of the Sixers last 10, with two starts. He has not had a shooters touch going, shooting just over 29 percent (10-for-34) from the field in that time.

Damone Brown
On The 01-02 Campaign: Activated from the Injured List on Wednesday.
Versus Boston: Has played 3 minutes of one game versus Boston this year.
Connection To The Green: The former Orangeman and new Celtics signee Omar Cook were both members of the Big East All-Conference squad in 2001.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?: Has seen action in just one contest in Philly’s last 10, playing 16 minutes versus Indiana on Wednesday.

Speedy Claxton
On The 01-02 Campaign: After missing his first season in the NBA with a knee injury, he rebounded to play a key role for the Sixers in 2001-02. With Eric Snow and Allen Iverson suffering through injuries, Claxton filled in and played well for a “second-year” rookie. Played in 65 games, starting in 17, averaging just over 22 minutes and 7 points per ball game.
Versus Boston: Played in three games versus the Green this year. His biggest an 11-point, 5-assist and 5-rebound effort at the FleetCenter in a win over the Celtics March 22 in which Iverson left after the first half with an injury.
Connection To The Green: “Started” his Sixers career at the Shaw’s Pro Summer League at UMass-Boston in July.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?: Overcame a mild concussion to post three consecutive double-figure scoring games from 4/12 – 4/15, including two consecutive 19-point games, as well as a 12-point, 6-assist, 5-rebound outing versus Chicago on 4/15.

Derrick Coleman
On The 01-02 Campaign: After an injury-riddled season with the Hornets in 2000-01, Coleman made himself a candidate for Comeback Player Of The Year Award with the Sixers in 2002. Although he played in just 58 games, Coleman averaged 14.9 points and 8.8 rebounds in 35.9 minutes per game. He logged 22 double-doubles and topped the 20-point mark 13 times.
Versus Boston: Historically, Coleman has given Boston problems - and that did not change this season. In four games, Coleman averaged 12.8 points and 11.5 boards per game, including three double-doubles. He played a critical role in the Sixers win at the FleetCenter on March 25 – scoring 15 points and grabbing a season-high 15 boards. His ability to bang in the low post as well as shoot the deep ball has always presented match-up problems for Antoine Walker and his frontline mates.
Connection To The Green: Coleman and Celtics point guard Kenny Anderson formed the core of the New Jersey Nets teams of the early 1990s.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?: Coleman has missed four of the Sixers last five games – and was placed on the Injured List on Monday with a left knee hyperextension, an injury that has bothered him for much of the second half of the season.

Vonteego Cummings
On The 01-02 Campaign: Cummings appeared in 57 games this past season, averaging 8.8 minutes per game.Versus Boston: Played in three games, garnering 13 minutes of play.
Connection To The Green: Arrived in Philadelphia this year from Golden State in a three-team deal that also involved former Celtic Jerome Moiso.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?: Has seen action in each of Philly’s last five games, shooting 8-for-23 from the field.

Samuel Dalembert
On The 01-02 Campaign: Rookie big man played in just 33 games this season for the Sixers.
Versus Boston: Played 2 minutes of 1 game.
Connection To The Green: Coached by Tommy Amaker at Seton Hall, who was also an assistant at Duke in Roshown McLeod’s time on Tobacco Road.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?: Despite Philadelphia’s lack of depth in recent games, Dalembert has played in just 3 of the Sixers last 10 games. He did, however, play a career-high 21 minutes versus Indiana on Wednesday.

Matt Harpring
On The 01-02 Campaign: Obtained in the deal that sent Tyrone Hill and Jumaine Jones to Cleveland last September, Harpring has been solid for the Sixers all season long. He started and appeared in all but there of Philly’s games, finished as their fifth leading scorer, shooting 46 percent from the field and grabbed 7 boards per game to boot.
Versus Boston: He has been big versus Boston this year. He has averaged just over 8 points per game, but 11 of his 24 boards came off the offensive glass, a total bettered by only Mutombo.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?: Talk about consistency. Harpring’s season PPG? 11.8. PPG over the Sixers last 10? 11.8. He has also, however, hit over 45 percent of his shots over the last 10 games, as well as grabbed 58 boards. These totals included a double-double versus the Magic on 4/14.

Allen Iverson
On The 01-02 Campaign: If he hadn’t missed a quarter of the games this season, we might be talking about him for a second straight MVP award. Without him, the Sixers are 7-14. With him, they are a threat to repeat as Eastern Conference champs. He played in 60 games this season and he scored 30+ points in 35 of them. Before he sustained a fractured left hand versus Boston on March 24, he was first in the league in points, steals and minutes per game.
Versus Boston: It seems when he faces the Green he is at his best. He shot just 29 percent from three this year, but against the Green he canned 11-of-22 attempts from beyond the arc. His 47 points at the FleetCenter on 1/25 is a building record, while his 16 field goals are a high mark by a Celtics opponent this year.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?: Just healing for the playoffs. He hasn’t laced ‘em up since 3/22.

Alvin Jones
On The 01-02 Campaign: The Sixers second round pick in 2001, Jones has played in 22 games this season.
Versus Boston: Saw 1 minute of action.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?: With all their injuries, Jones has made a pair of starts over the Sixers last 10…He had an 8-point, 5-rebound game in a loss to the Bulls on 4/14.

Derrick McKey
On The 01-02 Campaign: Larry Brown brought in this wily veteran in January as a free agent, but it didn’t take him long to become accustomed to Brown’s style, as he played for the coach in Indiana. Doesn’t score like he did in his younger days, but he still acts as a stabilizer.
Versus Boston: Made a sizeable contribution versus Boston, logging 20 minutes per game in three contests.
What Have You Done For Me Lately?: Has been averaging over 22 minutes per game over his last 10 games, scoring in double figures once.

Aaron Mckie
On The 01-02 Campaign: Another player who has seen much of the Injured List, McKie played in only 48 games this season, starting 16 of those contests. He averaged a career high 12.3 points per game, his previous high was 11.6 last season when he was voted as the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year. He is a hometown hero in Philadelphia, where he played his both his high school and college ball.
Versus Boston: He has seen limited action versus Boston this year, dressing in only two of the four contests. In the Sixers 99-83 victory over the Celtics on Dec. 17 at the First Union Center, he tallied 17 points off the Sixers bench while dishing out 6 assists. His only other action versus the C’s came at the FleetCenter on Jan. 25 when he was injured after just five minutes of action and did not return.
Connection To The Green: Was a teammate of Kenny Anderson’s for 41 games in the 1996-97 season with the Portland Trailblazers. He was traded midway through the season to the Detroit Pistons.
What Have You Done For Me Lately: He has played in seven of the Sixers last ten games averaging 16 points per game, with a high of 24 versus the Wizards April 10th.

Dikembe Mutombo
On The 01-02 Campaign: He in getting up there in years, but Mutombo is still one of the few players in the NBA that averages a double-double over the course of a season. Add in his 2.4 blocks per game and his 50 percent shooting from the field, and you can see why he is still regarded as one of the top centers in the East.
Versus Boston: Played in all four contests, averaging over 10 points, 12 boards and 2 blocks per game. He has only lost the Celtics once since going to the Sixers in a trade in 2001. The one game in which the Celtics neutralized the big man (March4).
Connection To The Green: Played with Rodney Rogers in Denver.
What Have You Done For Me Lately: Missed the Sixers last two games with injury, but is expected to be ready for battle on Sunday.

Eric Snow
On The 01-02 Campaign: Although he missed 21 games this season, it was statistically one of the best seasons of his career. The point man averaged highs in points (12.1), rebounds (3.5), and minutes per game (36.5). He enters the playoffs having earned the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week beginning Monday, April 8th and ending Sunday, April 14th. He averaged 17 points, 8 assists, and 3.8 rebounds during the week.
Versus Boston: In four games he averaged 11.8 points per game and dished out 7 assists. His most impressive game came in 96-91 win at the FleetCenter on March 22 when he scored 17 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and handed out 9 assists.
What Have You Done For Me Lately: With many of his running mates out he has picked up the slack over the last five games. He has averaged 18.2 points and 7.4 assists per game.

Jabari Smith
On The 01-02 Campaign: He has played in 23 games this season, 12 with Sacramento and 11 with Philadelphia. While with Philadelphia he is averaging 5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.
Versus Boston: Has not seen the floor versus the Green this year.
What Have You Done For Me Lately: He recorded career-highs versus Chicago with 14 points, 6 field goals made, and 11 field goals attempted.

Compiled by Reagan Berube and Brian Gleason