Sixers fans took notice when ESPN TrueHoop's ranking of NBA players before the 2011-2012 season ranked Sixers' second round draft pick Lavoy Allen dead last at No. 500.
You may recall after Allen showed up big time against the Celtics this postseason that Truehoop's Henry Abbott extended an apology to Lavoy. Instead of accepting the apology, Lavoy actually thanked Abbott for putting him at the nice even mark of No. 500 at the end of the list because he could use that as motivation.
Well, ESPN isn't putting him last this season. Lavoy jumped a couple of hundred spots to come in at No. 232!
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I'd say that motivation was put to damn good use.
The meteoric rise in arbitrary player rankings is fun and all, but more importantly, Lavoy's play this past season helped him secure a two-year, $6 million contract extension in Philadelphia.
Add in a legit No. 1 center in Andrew Bynum and Lavoy is poised to flourish even further in 2012-2013 when he can spend more time playing at a position more fitted to his style of play.
Here's to hoping Lavoy helps us eat a few more cheeseburgers this coming season.
>>2012 NBA Player Rankings 221-240 [ESPN]