Sixers need a stroke of luck

The Philadelphia 76ers face their toughest challenge on Friday night, hosting a 38-6 Detroit Pistons squad that's chasing history. Even tougher, they will be doing it without leading scorer Allen Iverson.

With the Answer sidelined the Sixers will be easily overmatched, and will require major contributions from their role players like Andre Iguodala, Kyle Korver and Samuel Dalembert.

Speaking of Sammy, expect his minutes to increase now that the 76ers have traded away Steven Hunter. Two get two draft choices for Hunter (as well as escaping his undeserved contract) was a great refund for Sixers President Billy King, who deactivated his other main offseason acquisition, Lee Nailon, last week. (Hey Billy, 0-2 is hardly the kind of offseason that you build your career on.)

So to the Sixers, sans the true A.I., I say good luck.