Putting aside the injuries to Eric Snow, Aaron McKie and Allen Iverson, and looking just at the players on the roster, this Sixers team is better than the one that started the 2000-01 season.

In both the starting lineup and depth off the bench, the Sixers are improved.

The starting backcourt of Snow and Iverson is the same, but having seven-time All-Star and four-time Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo starting at center is an upgrade over Theo Ratliff, who deserved his All-Star selection at center but still was a power forward playing out of position.

Not to undervalue the hard work of George Lynch, now with the Charlotte Hornets, but Matt Harpring, who was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers as part of the trade for Tyrone Hill and Jumaine Jones, brings some things to the small forward position that Lynch couldn't.

Harpring isn't a bad defender, and his ability to score and consistently drop the middle-range and long-range jump shots make him an improvement at the "three" spot.

And regardless of whether you like the fact Derrick Coleman is back at power forward, there's no denying he is a better basketball player than Hill.