Shooting Guard

It could be worse: Players on the Orlando Magic have vowed to "grow playoff beards. " The 76ers are embracing a rallying point much softer on the eyes. The team's impending playoff slogan, "Show Ya Luv," has grown organically since season's beginning. The saying wasn't intended as a marketing ploy - if it were, it would have died a quick death - but rather sprouted from a team joke, which turned into inside-circle slang, which then blossomed into a cord of unity solidifying the team's newfound camaraderie.

Derrick Thomas has orally committed to play basketball for Drexel next season, a source close to the player said. Scouting reports praise the 6-foot-4 shooting guard from St. John's College High School in Washington for his shot and his ability to drive to the basket. He averaged 15 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists this past season. Thomas joins Dartaye Ruffin, Darryl McCoy and Shannon Givens as new players for Drexel next season.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Ramone Moore finished third in the Atlantic Ten Conference in scoring this season. The Temple guard was an all-Big Five and all-conference selection, and the fifth-year senior was one rebound shy of a double-double in the recent Reese's college all-star game. But for all his college success, one big question about his future remains: Can he become an NBA-caliber point guard if called upon? That answer might go a long way in determining if he'll find his way onto an NBA roster.

Andre Iguodala spent the summer shooting jumpers, and it looks is if he will spend some of the winter playing shooting guard. Despite last season's failed experiment with Iguodala at the two-spot, 76ers new head coach Eddie Jordan has Iguodala, right now, starting in the backcourt with Lou Williams. Yesterday at St. Joseph's University, the Sixers finished their third day of training camp, holding both a morning and an evening session. Camp will end tomorrow. The Sixers will play their first preseason game Tuesday night in London, Ontario, against the Toronto Raptors.

The annual NBA draft lottery will be held in New York today, and the stakes are high. Just under 6 feet, 10 inches high. Danny Manning, who led the University of Kansas to the NCAA title this year, is considered by most experts to be the top prize available in the June 28 draft. The 76ers are among the six teams hoping to emerge from the lottery with the No. 1 choice. The Los Angeles Clippers, the Phoenix Suns, the New Jersey Nets, the Golden State Warriors and the Indiana Pacers are the other teams involved in the lottery.

Was Isaiah Rider in Philadelphia yesterday? Was he visiting the 76ers? A source said that Rider, the Minnesota Timberwolves' shooting guard, was in town to meet with coach John Lucas and owner Harold Katz. It is believed that Rider's visit was preliminary to a hoped-for official meeting, perhaps in the next several days. Lucas would not comment, but the logic seems basic: The Sixers would like to add a starting-quality shooting guard, a need that would become greater if Jeff Malone struggles to come back from the bruised right heel that allowed him to appear in just two games after Dec. 9 of this season.

Gina Torrente can play just about any position in basketball, Neshaminy coach Angie Scarengelli says, but it has become apparent in the last five games that the Redskins junior is definitely most comfortable at guard. Forced to play forward most of the season while senior Kate Farrell recovered from a severe ankle sprain, Torrente contributed for the Redskins but was hardly dominant. With Farrell back in the lineup the last two weeks, Torrente has blossomed at shooting guard. Torrente, who stands 5-foot-10, has scored 18 points in each of the last two games, a 59-55 loss Tuesday to Central Bucks East (13-3)

If you allow them to, the 76ers will depress you. The losses, the wins, the postgame comments, the on-court debacles, even the rare on-court execution - all of it. The losses are pathetic, the wins are worse, the bad play is unwatchable, and the good play is pointless. Welcome to your Sixers, version 2009-2010, a team whose slogan might as well have been: We lose even when we win. Eddie Jordan's days as Sixers coach are flipping off the calendar, each practice and game bringing Jordan that much closer to the end. Jordan's woes have been written, blogged, discussed, and tweeted.

Shooter? Check. Cross another item off Ed Stefanski's summer to-do list. Yesterday, Stefanski, the 76ers' general manager, officially announced the signing of shooting guard Kareem Rush. While the Sixers, per team policy, did not disclose terms of the agreement, a source familiar with the negotiations said Rush signed a minimum-level contract, which, for a player such as Rush, credited with six years of service in the NBA, would be $998,398. Rush made $770,610 last season with the Pacers.

BOSTON - So, after 69 hours of rest, the Celtics yawned, stretched, applied a coating of liniment, or pixie dust, or whatever it is they use, and put a beating on the overmatched Sixers. This is what happens when time off trumps Father Time. A 101-85 win. A 3-2 series advantage. Even without a shooting guard - starter Avery Bradley missed with sore shoulders, and gimpy Ray Allen barely filled out his jersey - the Celtics romped. As they should have.

Danny Granger scored 25 points to help the Indiana Pacers defeat the Orlando Magic, 105-87, in Indianapolis on Tuesday night, clinching their first-round Eastern Conference series four games to one. Darren Collison scored 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and George Hill added 15 points for the Pacers, who trailed by two at the end of the third quarter but outscored the Magic, 36-16, in the final 12 minutes. It was Indiana's first series win since 2005 and its first clincher on its home court since the first round of the 2000 playoffs.

DANNY GRANGER scored 25 points to help the Indiana Pacers defeat the visiting Orlando Magic, 105-87, on Tuesday night and clinch their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series 4-1. It was Indiana's first series win since 2005 and its first clincher on its home court since the first round of the 2000 playoffs. The Pacers will play Miami or New York in the second round. Miami leads that series 3-1, and as the final minutes ticked away, fans began chanting, "Beat the Heat.

BOSTON CELTICS guard Rajon Rondo has been suspended for Game 2 of the opening-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks. The NBA announced its decision Monday, less than 24 hours after Rondo stuck out his chest to bump referee Marc Davis while complaining about a call in the final minute of Boston's 83-74 loss in Game 1. Rondo won't be able to play Tuesday night in Atlanta when the Celtics try to even the series. The NBA's assist leader scored 20 points and dished out 11 assists in the opener, leaving Boston with a huge hole in its lineup.

CHICAGO - The 76ers got two points from their starting shooting guard in Saturday's 103-91 loss to the Chicago Bulls in Game 1. After a dismal seven minutes and 29 seconds of play in the first quarter that included a miss on a wide-open jump shot, a bad turnover, and an even-worse foul of a jump shooter, coach Doug Collins pulled Jodie Meeks and kept him on the bench for most of the remainder of the game. Evan Turner took most of the minutes, and Collins said after the game that his team needs the type of playmaking ability that Turner possesses.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Ramone Moore finished third in the Atlantic Ten Conference in scoring this season. The Temple guard was an all-Big Five and all-conference selection, and the fifth-year senior was one rebound shy of a double-double in the recent Reese's college all-star game. But for all his college success, one big question about his future remains: Can he become an NBA-caliber point guard if called upon? That answer might go a long way in determining if he'll find his way onto an NBA roster.

Temple will look to advance beyond the second round of the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season. The fifth-seeded Owls might have their hands full against the defensive-minded, 12th-seeded South Florida. Here's a breakdown of the matchups:   Coaches Fran Dunphy (Temple): Dunphy, the Atlantic Ten Conference coach of the year, has brought pride back to the "Cherry and White" since taking over the program before the start of the 2006-07 season.

Not long after Evan Turner had the game of his life, scoring a career-high 26 points and grabbing nine rebounds to lead the 76ers to a 103-71 win over Boston on Wednesday, Sixers forward Andre Iguodala talked about Turner's not succumbing to the dark side of pro basketball as he waited patiently to be elevated to starter status. "I think it weighs on any basketball player when they are not playing and they think they should be playing," Iguodala said. "Some guys, they go to a vice or they go to something that not only hinders their game but it hinders their health overall.

DETROIT - After his team lost its fifth consecutive game and before they separated for the All-Star break, 76ers coach Doug Collins said: "Having 4 days off isn't going to cure everything for us. " No, it certainly is not going to be that simple. Nor, as many have suggested, is making a trade for either a formidable big man or a scoring shooting guard. With so many injuries occurring in this compressed season, teams are reluctant to part with any players with value. Plus, the Sixers seem reluctant to break up any major piece that has helped them get to this 20-14 start placing them atop the Atlantic Division.

Three times after practice this week, North Penn girls' basketball coach Maggie deMarteleire sent her players the same text message. "Ball fake. Bounce pass. Step to the ball. " Playing with patience would be the key on Saturday afternoon against top-seeded Cheltenham. With a focused second half, No. 9 seed North Penn beat the host Panthers, 47-42, in the District 1 Class AAAA tournament quarterfinals. Cheltenham (23-2) has lost just twice this season, both to North Penn (20-5)