Last night was a full slate of action for Philadelphia sports fans, with the Phillies, Sixers and Flyers all playing at about the same time. However, by the time the night was over, it was one of the worst sports nights of the year as all three teams ended up taking bad looking losses. I've already posted my thoughts about the Phils, but I've got a little bit to write about the other two losing teams from last night.
For the Sixers, a loss against the Celtics isn't really unexpected, since Boston has the second best record in the Eastern Conference, but what the 17 point loss does do is move the Sixers down towards the New York Knicks in the battle for either the sixth or seventh seed in the East. The Knicks have won four in a row, and are starting to gel after the Carmelo Anthony trade, while the Sixers have dropped their last two and five of their last ten games.
Don't get me wrong, the Sixers have surprised a lot of people this year. With two more wins, they'll clinch their first winning season since the 2004-05 season, and that's something that no one thought could happen this year, especially after this team lost 55 games last season. Elton Brand is actually looking like the player the Sixers spent all that money on, and Thad Young is really stepping his game up of late. Jodie Meeks has been a very pleasant surprise, and while Evan Turner is looking a bit like a bust, when he does get extended playing time, he's not too bad. Last night was one of those situations, as Turner led the Sixers in scoring with 21 points off the bench.
The Sixers have already clinched a playoff spot, but can they win an opening round series against the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics? The popular notion is that they can't, and I'm just about to side with that, but that doesn't mean that it's impossible. They might not win their first round matchup, but they'll scare whoever the hell they end up playing. Last night's loss not withstanding, the Sixers usually play very well against the top teams in either conference. Remember, this is the same team that held the San Antonio Spurs, the best team in the NBA, to 71 points not that long ago. While the odds of them beating Boston or Miami in a seven game series are going to be very high, it should at least be fun to watch. Think of this team like the Oklahoma City Thunder from last year. The Thunder scared the hell out of the Lakers in the first round, and they're even better this year. The same thing could happen with the Sixers.
The Flyers are making me slightly more nervous, and with good reason. There seems like there have only been two outcomes for the Flyers of late, and those are to lose in regulation or lose in a shootout. Last night was more of the same, as the Flyers dropped a 5-2 game on the road to the Ottawa Senators. If just losing the game to the 14th ranked team in the East wasn't bad enough, the loss dropped the Flyers out of first place in the Eastern Conference and cut their lead in the Atlantic Division to just a single point over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Flyers can still clinch the division with a win and a single Pittsburgh loss, but right now, this team is getting dangerously close to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, which seemed almost impossible just a month ago.
The Flyers have done little to impress lately, save for a huge 5-2 win over the Penguins in their final matchup of the season. The loss of Chris Pronger is still being felt, and the power play has been almost invisible lately. The Flyers have converted on only 16.6% of their chances throughout the season, and that number is even worse of late. The defense has been non-existant at times, and both Brian Boucher and Sergei Bobrovsky have been struggling as well. Bobrovsky has been the real question mark, losing six of his last ten starts, even though some of those haven't been his fault.
Even with the questions in goal, the Flyers have just as many issues on the offensive side of things. Yes, they have six players with 20 or more goals on the season at the moment, but that doesn't do this team a single bit of good right now. Kris Versteeg was brought in to make the offense even better, but the offense has actually gotten worse since the trade that brought him to Philadelphia. Against teams that they should beat, like Ottawa and Atlanta, the Flyers can't get going on offense. They've missed chance after chance, and with the problems on defense, those missed chances are coming back to hurt them. Whether they come in the form of a poor power play or turnovers in the offensive zone, opposing teams are now doing what the Flyers did for most of the season: they're making the Flyers pay for each mistake.
The season isn't lost though, not by any stretch. The Flyers are still one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, and with just two games to play in the regular season, can clinch the division with a win and a loss by Pittsburgh. The Penguins play their next game against the Islanders on Friday before closing out their season with one last game against the Atlanta Thrashers on Sunday. The Flyers play a potential playoff opponent in the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night, then finish things with a game against the Islanders on Saturday. If they manage to fall to the fourth seed, expect to see even more panic from the Philadelphia fan bases.
Showing posts with label basketball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label basketball. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Friday, June 25, 2010
Evan Turner is a Sixer
Ever since the Sixers somehow ended up with the second overall pick in tonight's NBA Draft, people were asking questions about who they would take. After a little talk about trading the pick, it seemed like the talk had settled between two players: Evan Turner, the best player in college basketball last season, or Derrick Favors, the big man from Georgia Tech with possibly the biggest upside of any pick in the draft. There were fans of both men, but most people wanted Turner to be the pick. Well, tonight their hopes were answered. With the second pick in the NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Evan Turner.
Now, what does this mean for the players that the Sixers already have in place? For starters, it means that Andre Iguodala is more than likely on his way out of town, and that should be sooner, rather than later. Iguodala has been a solid player for this team, but he's never developed into that be all, end all player that the Sixers wanted and needed him to be. Philadelphia drafted him to be the successor to Allen Iverson, and it just never happened. He could never develop that killer jump shot, and there were times when he would just take plays off. That didn't fly with other coaches, and it's not going to fly with Doug Collins, either. If anyone expects Iguodala to be with the Sixers when the season starts, they're either crazy, or dead right because the Sixers couldn't find anyone willing to take his contract. Then again, they did manage to find someone to take Samuel Dalmbert's expiring contract, so maybe they can find some help with Iguodala, too. Turner will step into Iguodala's spot and form a young, but potentially solid backcourt duo with Jrue Holiday.
The biggest issue that the Sixers have now is the lack of a solid big man to run the middle of the offensive attack. Elton Brand still doesn't fit, and while Spencer Hawes is a decent talent, he lacks the physical attack to intimidate a Dwight Howard type player. That would have been the only reason why the Sixers would have taken Favors, but after his workout in Philadelphia, it seemed like even Doug Collins had soured on him a little bit. Favors may end up being one of the best players in this draft, but he's very raw, and is going to take some time to even get into NBA ready shape. Meanwhile, Turner is big for a shooting guard, with a good wingspan and solid ability already. He's got to work on his outside shooting, but he's already acknowledged that. He's going to have time to work on that aspect of his game with the Sixers, and if they can get him working on that 16 to 18 foot jump shot, then they're going to have something very good with this pick.
Turner is already a solid defensive player, and is aggressive as well. With him and Holiday running things in the backcourt, the Sixers should have a good young developing tandem there for a few years, at least. Holiday is never going to be a huge, Allen Iverson type star, but if Turner can even get close to that level, then the Sixers clearly made the right pick here. Best of all, Turner seems genuinely excited to be coming to Philadelphia, and that makes this pick even better. Though he doesn't have the franchise-changing ability that John Wall potentially has, the Sixers couldn't go wrong with Evan Turner. At this point, anything is still possible of course, but it seems like at least on this night, the Sixers made the right pick and have excited a fan base that needed something to get excited about. I haven't said this much lately, but well done, Sixers.
Now, what does this mean for the players that the Sixers already have in place? For starters, it means that Andre Iguodala is more than likely on his way out of town, and that should be sooner, rather than later. Iguodala has been a solid player for this team, but he's never developed into that be all, end all player that the Sixers wanted and needed him to be. Philadelphia drafted him to be the successor to Allen Iverson, and it just never happened. He could never develop that killer jump shot, and there were times when he would just take plays off. That didn't fly with other coaches, and it's not going to fly with Doug Collins, either. If anyone expects Iguodala to be with the Sixers when the season starts, they're either crazy, or dead right because the Sixers couldn't find anyone willing to take his contract. Then again, they did manage to find someone to take Samuel Dalmbert's expiring contract, so maybe they can find some help with Iguodala, too. Turner will step into Iguodala's spot and form a young, but potentially solid backcourt duo with Jrue Holiday.
The biggest issue that the Sixers have now is the lack of a solid big man to run the middle of the offensive attack. Elton Brand still doesn't fit, and while Spencer Hawes is a decent talent, he lacks the physical attack to intimidate a Dwight Howard type player. That would have been the only reason why the Sixers would have taken Favors, but after his workout in Philadelphia, it seemed like even Doug Collins had soured on him a little bit. Favors may end up being one of the best players in this draft, but he's very raw, and is going to take some time to even get into NBA ready shape. Meanwhile, Turner is big for a shooting guard, with a good wingspan and solid ability already. He's got to work on his outside shooting, but he's already acknowledged that. He's going to have time to work on that aspect of his game with the Sixers, and if they can get him working on that 16 to 18 foot jump shot, then they're going to have something very good with this pick.
Turner is already a solid defensive player, and is aggressive as well. With him and Holiday running things in the backcourt, the Sixers should have a good young developing tandem there for a few years, at least. Holiday is never going to be a huge, Allen Iverson type star, but if Turner can even get close to that level, then the Sixers clearly made the right pick here. Best of all, Turner seems genuinely excited to be coming to Philadelphia, and that makes this pick even better. Though he doesn't have the franchise-changing ability that John Wall potentially has, the Sixers couldn't go wrong with Evan Turner. At this point, anything is still possible of course, but it seems like at least on this night, the Sixers made the right pick and have excited a fan base that needed something to get excited about. I haven't said this much lately, but well done, Sixers.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
One and done: Sixers fire Eddie Jordan
Everyone had to see this move coming. After just one disastrous season in Philadelphia, the Sixers have fired head coach Eddie Jordan after he led the team to a 27-55 record, their worst since the 1996-97 season. The move means that the Sixers are looking for their seventh head coach since Larry Brown left after the 2003 season, and the young players on the team are going to have to adjust to another coaching style, but hopefully the next coach will be better suited to work with the young guns this team has.
Jordan's Princeton style offense never caught on with the Sixers, who started the year 10-25 and never recovered. Young players like Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams and Marreese Speights seemed to regress this season as Jordan never settled on a full time starting lineup. The defense was one of the worst in the NBA, Elton Brand still is a square peg trying to fit into a round hole on this team, and Samuel Dalembert is inconsistent, at best. I don't even want to talk about the Allen Iverson fiasco, aside from the fact that it was good for a one game attendance pop, and that was about it.
There was nothing good to say about the Sixers this year. They never got the hang of Jordan's system, and by the end of the year, it seemed like most of the players had started to tune him out. For a coach in his first season with the team, that is the last thing that you want to have happen, and that's when the writing on the wall became apparent to everyone. The team didn't carry themselves properly, they couldn't play well on the court and the product they were putting out every night wasn't worth paying money for, which is why the Sixers were playing to empty looking crowds at the Wachovia Center for much of the year.
The Sixers made the right move by firing Jordan. This team has some young talent, but they need the right coach to put everything together. They need a system that fits what they have in place already, and what they are going to get with a high lottery pick in the NBA Draft. I don't know who that coach is, or how they're going to get this done, but they need to. Aside from the 2001 season, the Sixers have been an afterthought in Philadelphia for far too long. It's time for them to get their name back on the front page again for something other than what Allen Iverson is doing.
R.I.P, 2009-2010 Sixers season. You will not be missed.
CSNPhilly.com: Sixers fire Eddie Jordan
Jordan's Princeton style offense never caught on with the Sixers, who started the year 10-25 and never recovered. Young players like Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams and Marreese Speights seemed to regress this season as Jordan never settled on a full time starting lineup. The defense was one of the worst in the NBA, Elton Brand still is a square peg trying to fit into a round hole on this team, and Samuel Dalembert is inconsistent, at best. I don't even want to talk about the Allen Iverson fiasco, aside from the fact that it was good for a one game attendance pop, and that was about it.
There was nothing good to say about the Sixers this year. They never got the hang of Jordan's system, and by the end of the year, it seemed like most of the players had started to tune him out. For a coach in his first season with the team, that is the last thing that you want to have happen, and that's when the writing on the wall became apparent to everyone. The team didn't carry themselves properly, they couldn't play well on the court and the product they were putting out every night wasn't worth paying money for, which is why the Sixers were playing to empty looking crowds at the Wachovia Center for much of the year.
The Sixers made the right move by firing Jordan. This team has some young talent, but they need the right coach to put everything together. They need a system that fits what they have in place already, and what they are going to get with a high lottery pick in the NBA Draft. I don't know who that coach is, or how they're going to get this done, but they need to. Aside from the 2001 season, the Sixers have been an afterthought in Philadelphia for far too long. It's time for them to get their name back on the front page again for something other than what Allen Iverson is doing.
R.I.P, 2009-2010 Sixers season. You will not be missed.
CSNPhilly.com: Sixers fire Eddie Jordan
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The Top 25 Philadelphia Sports Moments of the Decade: Number 4
For the most part this decade, the Philadelphia 76ers have struggled. There have been poor seasons on the court, bad decisions made in the front office and coaches coming in and out faster than most people can keep track. There was one season where everything came together, and this moment comes from that year.
Moment #4: Allen Iverson steps over Tyronn Lue-June 6, 2001
The 2001 season for the Sixers was one that looked like it would have promise when it started, but then snowballed into something far greater. The team won its first ten games and proceeded to finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference. A midseason trade for Dikembe Mutombo helped solidify the defense, and the team raked in the awards for the season. Allen Iverson was named the MVP, Mutombo won Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron McKie was named the Sixth Man of the Year, and Larry Brown won Coach of the Year. Things didn't go as smoothly in the playoffs, as the Sixers faced seven game series against both the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks that could have gone either way with just a few key plays. In the end, the Sixers stood atop the Eastern Conference for the first time since the 1983 season, but the team they would face in the NBA Finals was on a roll that no other team had ever been on.
The Los Angeles Lakers finished the 2001 season with the second best record in the Western Conference, but that didn't matter. In all three rounds of the playoffs, the Lakers swept their opponents. First, Portland was beaten in three games, and then Los Angeles took out both Sacramento and San Antonio in four games to earn an 11-0 record heading into the Finals. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were still in pre-breakup mode and playing at an insane level, while Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Robert Horry and Horace Grant helped build around the foundation that head coach Phil Jackson had to work with.
To say that the odds were against the Sixers heading into Game 1 would be like suggesting the Pope is Catholic. The Sixers had just been through the ringer in the Eastern Conference, playing 18 games in their three series, while the Lakers were well rested and undefeated in the playoffs. The Finals were set to open in Los Angeles, and just about everyone assumed that the Sixers would just be another speed bump on Los Angeles' way to a second straight title.
For most of the first quarter, those people were right. The Lakers had a 16-0 run in the first quarter on their way to building a 21-9 early lead. After that, Allen Iverson took over. The MVP brought the Sixers back to within a point by the end of the first quarter, and dropped 30 points in the first half to give the Sixers a 56-50 lead at the break. The Philadelphia lead would grow to as many as 15 points in the second half, and it looked like the Sixers were not only for real, but were going to stun the Lakers at home in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. It wasn't the ideal situation for the Lakers, and they responded by unleashing their secret weapon.
Tyronn Lue played in only 38 games during the 2001 regular season, but the second year player from the University of Nebraska was Los Angeles' answer to Allen Iverson. Phil Jackson used him in the time leading up to the NBA Finals to mirror Iverson's moves in practice, and now he was going to be used to guard Iverson during a key stretch of Game 1. The plan worked perfectly. Iverson was held to just three points during the fourth quarter, while Lue was able to produce three assists and two steals to help the Lakers get back into the game. The Sixers as a team only scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, and after Dikembe Mutombo missed two free throws near the end of the quarter, the game headed into overtime tied at 94.
As the overtime started, it looked the Lakers would be too much for Philadelphia. Los Angeles scored five points to build a quick lead, and the Sixers looked lost. Finally, as it was during the regular season, Allen Iverson put the team on his back again for one last run. The NBA MVP showed why he won that award during the overtime, scoring seven straight points, including the shot that is the fourth best moment of the decade. With about a minute to play in the overtime, Iverson got the ball down in the corner, with Tyronn Lue guarding him again. This time, Iverson worked over Lue, and eventually crossed him up to gain space for a three point shot. The shot hit nothing but cotton, Lue hit the floor, and in a moment that will be remembered forever, Iverson looked down at Lue, then stepped over him on his way back on defense. The basket put the Sixers ahead for good, and they would eventually shock the Lakers with a 107-101 victory in Game 1. The hope of an undefeated Los Angeles postseason run was over, thanks to a six foot guard from Georgetown.
Unfortunately, the rest of the series didn't turn out so well. The Lakers would take Game 2 to even the series, and then won the next three games in Philadelphia to claim their second straight title. Allen Iverson averaged over 35 points a game, but even he couldn't get the Sixers another win. Even with the outcome, the fact that he scored 48 points in the first game of series that most people didn't think his team even belonged in is impressive even now. The shot he made over Tyronn Lue remains one of the iconic moments of his entire career, and will be seen in every highlight reel of moments of this decade until the end of time.
I actually didn't even get to see the first half of this game when it happened. That night, I was at the Phillies game with my dad and brother, watching them take on the Mets. I remember walking back to our seats at some point after the Sixers game had started, and there were more people watching the NBA Finals in the bars around the Vet than there were watching the Phillies play. That's how much the Sixers had captivated the city during the 2001 season. I got home just in time for the overtime period, and watched as Allen Iverson nailed that shot over Tyronn Lue. Even then, I knew that was a moment that was going to be remembered for a long time. Now, eight and a half years later, it still is known as one of the top basketball moments of the decade, let alone one of the Philadelphia sports moments.
Yes, there is video for this one as well. Enjoy watching Iverson own Lue time and time again.
That's all for the Sixers and Flyers on the countdown. We finish up with the final three moments, which belong to the Phillies and Eagles. The Phils get the next one, and it's a moment that New York Mets fans would like to forget. As for me, I love it.
Moment #4: Allen Iverson steps over Tyronn Lue-June 6, 2001
The 2001 season for the Sixers was one that looked like it would have promise when it started, but then snowballed into something far greater. The team won its first ten games and proceeded to finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference. A midseason trade for Dikembe Mutombo helped solidify the defense, and the team raked in the awards for the season. Allen Iverson was named the MVP, Mutombo won Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron McKie was named the Sixth Man of the Year, and Larry Brown won Coach of the Year. Things didn't go as smoothly in the playoffs, as the Sixers faced seven game series against both the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks that could have gone either way with just a few key plays. In the end, the Sixers stood atop the Eastern Conference for the first time since the 1983 season, but the team they would face in the NBA Finals was on a roll that no other team had ever been on.
The Los Angeles Lakers finished the 2001 season with the second best record in the Western Conference, but that didn't matter. In all three rounds of the playoffs, the Lakers swept their opponents. First, Portland was beaten in three games, and then Los Angeles took out both Sacramento and San Antonio in four games to earn an 11-0 record heading into the Finals. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were still in pre-breakup mode and playing at an insane level, while Derek Fisher, Rick Fox, Robert Horry and Horace Grant helped build around the foundation that head coach Phil Jackson had to work with.
To say that the odds were against the Sixers heading into Game 1 would be like suggesting the Pope is Catholic. The Sixers had just been through the ringer in the Eastern Conference, playing 18 games in their three series, while the Lakers were well rested and undefeated in the playoffs. The Finals were set to open in Los Angeles, and just about everyone assumed that the Sixers would just be another speed bump on Los Angeles' way to a second straight title.
For most of the first quarter, those people were right. The Lakers had a 16-0 run in the first quarter on their way to building a 21-9 early lead. After that, Allen Iverson took over. The MVP brought the Sixers back to within a point by the end of the first quarter, and dropped 30 points in the first half to give the Sixers a 56-50 lead at the break. The Philadelphia lead would grow to as many as 15 points in the second half, and it looked like the Sixers were not only for real, but were going to stun the Lakers at home in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. It wasn't the ideal situation for the Lakers, and they responded by unleashing their secret weapon.
Tyronn Lue played in only 38 games during the 2001 regular season, but the second year player from the University of Nebraska was Los Angeles' answer to Allen Iverson. Phil Jackson used him in the time leading up to the NBA Finals to mirror Iverson's moves in practice, and now he was going to be used to guard Iverson during a key stretch of Game 1. The plan worked perfectly. Iverson was held to just three points during the fourth quarter, while Lue was able to produce three assists and two steals to help the Lakers get back into the game. The Sixers as a team only scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, and after Dikembe Mutombo missed two free throws near the end of the quarter, the game headed into overtime tied at 94.
As the overtime started, it looked the Lakers would be too much for Philadelphia. Los Angeles scored five points to build a quick lead, and the Sixers looked lost. Finally, as it was during the regular season, Allen Iverson put the team on his back again for one last run. The NBA MVP showed why he won that award during the overtime, scoring seven straight points, including the shot that is the fourth best moment of the decade. With about a minute to play in the overtime, Iverson got the ball down in the corner, with Tyronn Lue guarding him again. This time, Iverson worked over Lue, and eventually crossed him up to gain space for a three point shot. The shot hit nothing but cotton, Lue hit the floor, and in a moment that will be remembered forever, Iverson looked down at Lue, then stepped over him on his way back on defense. The basket put the Sixers ahead for good, and they would eventually shock the Lakers with a 107-101 victory in Game 1. The hope of an undefeated Los Angeles postseason run was over, thanks to a six foot guard from Georgetown.
Unfortunately, the rest of the series didn't turn out so well. The Lakers would take Game 2 to even the series, and then won the next three games in Philadelphia to claim their second straight title. Allen Iverson averaged over 35 points a game, but even he couldn't get the Sixers another win. Even with the outcome, the fact that he scored 48 points in the first game of series that most people didn't think his team even belonged in is impressive even now. The shot he made over Tyronn Lue remains one of the iconic moments of his entire career, and will be seen in every highlight reel of moments of this decade until the end of time.
I actually didn't even get to see the first half of this game when it happened. That night, I was at the Phillies game with my dad and brother, watching them take on the Mets. I remember walking back to our seats at some point after the Sixers game had started, and there were more people watching the NBA Finals in the bars around the Vet than there were watching the Phillies play. That's how much the Sixers had captivated the city during the 2001 season. I got home just in time for the overtime period, and watched as Allen Iverson nailed that shot over Tyronn Lue. Even then, I knew that was a moment that was going to be remembered for a long time. Now, eight and a half years later, it still is known as one of the top basketball moments of the decade, let alone one of the Philadelphia sports moments.
Yes, there is video for this one as well. Enjoy watching Iverson own Lue time and time again.
That's all for the Sixers and Flyers on the countdown. We finish up with the final three moments, which belong to the Phillies and Eagles. The Phils get the next one, and it's a moment that New York Mets fans would like to forget. As for me, I love it.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
This Night Just Gets More Interesting...Two Philly Teams Won Tonight!
Now, I'm not going to lie. I missed both games tonight since I was working, but I have to give credit to both the Sixers and Flyers for being able to win tonight.
For the Sixers, it was the end of the 12 game losing streak that encompassed the signing of Allen Iverson. Tonight, they were able to beat the Golden State Warriors 117-101. Like the rest of Philadelphia's wins this year, it wasn't that pretty, but it still counts. Every Sixer starter finished in double figures, and Thaddeus Young led the way with 26 points and 14 rebounds. The Sixers worked a three guard offense tonight, and against a team that has been just as bad as they have been, they made it work. I'm not saying it was the best win in the world tonight, but after 12 straight losses, I'll take it. Hell, Allen Iverson dropped 20 points, and made up for Andre Iguodala's 4-20 night from the field. This is the type of game the Sixers have been waiting for from Iverson. I just hope he can pull a few more them out.
As for the Flyers, it's nice to see them get a win over a team other than the Islanders. After a 12-5-1 start, seeing the Flyers in a role like this is never fun, but at least they took care of business tonight. In a Winter Classic Preview, the Flyers were able to get past the Boston Bruins by a 3-1 score. Kimo Timonen added two third period goals to get the Flyers past Boston tonight, and it was about time that the defense did something that came back to help this team. Brian Boucher hasn't been horrible, but he hasn't been as good as Ray Emery, either. Tonight might help push that in the other direction. Without Emery, Boucher is going to need to put up a starter's effort every time he starts, and while he hasn't been great, he's played well so far.
At least the Flyers look like their showing signs of life. As for the Sixers, I hope they stay dead, so they can get the best draft pick available at the fourth or fifth spot.
For the Sixers, it was the end of the 12 game losing streak that encompassed the signing of Allen Iverson. Tonight, they were able to beat the Golden State Warriors 117-101. Like the rest of Philadelphia's wins this year, it wasn't that pretty, but it still counts. Every Sixer starter finished in double figures, and Thaddeus Young led the way with 26 points and 14 rebounds. The Sixers worked a three guard offense tonight, and against a team that has been just as bad as they have been, they made it work. I'm not saying it was the best win in the world tonight, but after 12 straight losses, I'll take it. Hell, Allen Iverson dropped 20 points, and made up for Andre Iguodala's 4-20 night from the field. This is the type of game the Sixers have been waiting for from Iverson. I just hope he can pull a few more them out.
As for the Flyers, it's nice to see them get a win over a team other than the Islanders. After a 12-5-1 start, seeing the Flyers in a role like this is never fun, but at least they took care of business tonight. In a Winter Classic Preview, the Flyers were able to get past the Boston Bruins by a 3-1 score. Kimo Timonen added two third period goals to get the Flyers past Boston tonight, and it was about time that the defense did something that came back to help this team. Brian Boucher hasn't been horrible, but he hasn't been as good as Ray Emery, either. Tonight might help push that in the other direction. Without Emery, Boucher is going to need to put up a starter's effort every time he starts, and while he hasn't been great, he's played well so far.
At least the Flyers look like their showing signs of life. As for the Sixers, I hope they stay dead, so they can get the best draft pick available at the fourth or fifth spot.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Sixers Tried Something Different Last Night...Winning
After dropping five of their last seven games and losing Marreese Speights for almost two months with a knee injury, the Sixers needed something to go their way so they could get this season moving in the right direction again. Last night against the Charlotte Bobcats, they got just that with an 86-84 victory.
I said when Speights went down that Elton Brand was going to have even more pressure put on him, and last night, he didn't disappoint. The former All-Star played his best basketball of the season, scoring 19 points and bringing down 11 rebounds in 42 minutes. Honestly, that might have been the best game that Brand has played as a member of the Sixers, and that is going to have to continue for now. Without Speights, Brand saw a lot more playing time in the fourth quarter last night, and he made it count. It's nice to see the big investment for the Sixers actually working the way that they need it to, but I'm not going to get too excited yet. One game doesn't define an entire season, and Brand is really going to have to put up similar numbers for a stretch to get into my good graces. That's the just way things are.
Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams had good games as well, with Williams draining the game winning layup with just three seconds to play in the fourth quarter. The Sixers' backcourt has been playing relatively well, even in defeat, and last night they got to show what they can do in a winning effort. Iguodala led the team with 25 points and five rebounds, while Williams scored 19 and dished out six assists. That's the kind of play that will move a team in the right direction, and that's what the Sixers are going to need if they want to make an impact this year. The Bobcats aren't a very good team, but the acquisition of Stephen Jackson gives them a very good player that should start moving them in the right direction as well, despite his off the court issues.
Last night's game wasn't perfect, but the Sixers needed a win, and that's what they got. Elton Brand showed that he might have a little bit of that All Star talent left in him, and even with the defense losing a 52-43 halftime lead, the Sixers were able to claw back into the game and get the W. That defense is still a pressing issue for this team, and I hope they can find a way to work it out. Luckily, the Memphis Grizzlies are next on the horizon, so the Sixers could find their way back to a .500 record as long as they can keep getting production from some of their big names. It's the only way they can get this team going to where they need to go.
I said when Speights went down that Elton Brand was going to have even more pressure put on him, and last night, he didn't disappoint. The former All-Star played his best basketball of the season, scoring 19 points and bringing down 11 rebounds in 42 minutes. Honestly, that might have been the best game that Brand has played as a member of the Sixers, and that is going to have to continue for now. Without Speights, Brand saw a lot more playing time in the fourth quarter last night, and he made it count. It's nice to see the big investment for the Sixers actually working the way that they need it to, but I'm not going to get too excited yet. One game doesn't define an entire season, and Brand is really going to have to put up similar numbers for a stretch to get into my good graces. That's the just way things are.
Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams had good games as well, with Williams draining the game winning layup with just three seconds to play in the fourth quarter. The Sixers' backcourt has been playing relatively well, even in defeat, and last night they got to show what they can do in a winning effort. Iguodala led the team with 25 points and five rebounds, while Williams scored 19 and dished out six assists. That's the kind of play that will move a team in the right direction, and that's what the Sixers are going to need if they want to make an impact this year. The Bobcats aren't a very good team, but the acquisition of Stephen Jackson gives them a very good player that should start moving them in the right direction as well, despite his off the court issues.
Last night's game wasn't perfect, but the Sixers needed a win, and that's what they got. Elton Brand showed that he might have a little bit of that All Star talent left in him, and even with the defense losing a 52-43 halftime lead, the Sixers were able to claw back into the game and get the W. That defense is still a pressing issue for this team, and I hope they can find a way to work it out. Luckily, the Memphis Grizzlies are next on the horizon, so the Sixers could find their way back to a .500 record as long as they can keep getting production from some of their big names. It's the only way they can get this team going to where they need to go.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Hits Keeping Coming For the Sixers: Marreese Speights Out
Just one day after their fifth loss in seven games, the Philadelphia 76ers got some more bad news today, as an MRI on Marreese Speights' knee revealed a tear of the MCL, and he will miss the next six to eight weeks. Speights hadn't started a game this season, but averaged 23 minutes and 13 points in the first ten games of the year.
What this does now is put even more pressure on Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert. To be honest, Speights had been outplaying both Brand and Dalembert so far this season, and was probably going to be looking at some more playing time as the season went along. Now, he's not going to be back until January, at the earliest, and it's going to take some time to get back into game form once he does get back. So far this year, Brand is averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. That has to change, and fast now that Speights is out.
There have only been a few bright spots this season for the Sixers, and Speights had been one of them. Now, the rest of the team is going to have step up and work together to replace what he has done. I'm not saying it's going to be possible, and if the Sixers don't come close, it's going to be really ugly, but there's a chance. All any Sixer fan can do is just hope that Speights gets back as quickly as possible.
ESPN.com: Marreese Speights out with ligament tear
What this does now is put even more pressure on Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert. To be honest, Speights had been outplaying both Brand and Dalembert so far this season, and was probably going to be looking at some more playing time as the season went along. Now, he's not going to be back until January, at the earliest, and it's going to take some time to get back into game form once he does get back. So far this year, Brand is averaging 9.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. That has to change, and fast now that Speights is out.
There have only been a few bright spots this season for the Sixers, and Speights had been one of them. Now, the rest of the team is going to have step up and work together to replace what he has done. I'm not saying it's going to be possible, and if the Sixers don't come close, it's going to be really ugly, but there's a chance. All any Sixer fan can do is just hope that Speights gets back as quickly as possible.
ESPN.com: Marreese Speights out with ligament tear
New Day, Same Problems for the Sixers: They've Dropped Five of Seven
Eddie Jordan was brought into Philadelphia to help jumpstart an offense that was one of the worst in the NBA last season, averaging just over 97 points a game. So far this year, the Sixers are averaging...just over 97 points a game, and their defense is now allowing over 102 points per game. The offensive problems came into play again tonight, as the Sixers dropped their fifth game in their last seven contests in a 94-88 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
As the case has been with most of these losses, the Sixers played the Bulls tight throughout, but had a lapse in defense at an important part of the game. Tonight, it came at the start of the fourth quarter, when the Bulls went on a 14-4 run to effectively put the game out of reach. Chicago didn't have the best night offensively, either, but their 45% shooting was better than the 42% that the Sixers threw up, and that came with the Bulls using just three men on their bench the entire night.
I don't know what the problems are for the Sixers right now, but it's obvious that something has to change. Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams each scored over 20 points tonight, but the bench managed just nine points for the night, and that's not going to get it done against any team in the NBA, I don't care how bad they are. Eddie Jordan let the starters play a little bit more than the bench tonight, but it didn't seem to matter. The Princeton offense that he brought with him still isn't taking hold, and now it's effecting the defense in a negative way. Last year, the Sixers held opponents to 97 points a game, and this year, they're letting teams score over 100 on them with regularity.
In half the games so far this year, the Sixers have allowed 100 or more points, and they've less than 80 just once...and that was against the New Jersey Nets, so it doesn't really count. I know the defense wasn't that great last year, but it was better than this, and the offense at least showed a little bit of life. The Bulls had 18 turnovers tonight, and the Sixers scored just 14 points off of them. The Bulls had eight players come into the game, and outrebounded the Sixers by five. These are problems that have been coming up in almost every loss so far this year, and something has to change. Yes, it's only been ten games, and I might be jumping the gun a little bit, but right now, this team is playing sloppy basketball, and it's not even fun to watch. Something has got to click with this team, and soon, or the 2009-2010 season could turn into a very long and painful 82 games.
As the case has been with most of these losses, the Sixers played the Bulls tight throughout, but had a lapse in defense at an important part of the game. Tonight, it came at the start of the fourth quarter, when the Bulls went on a 14-4 run to effectively put the game out of reach. Chicago didn't have the best night offensively, either, but their 45% shooting was better than the 42% that the Sixers threw up, and that came with the Bulls using just three men on their bench the entire night.
I don't know what the problems are for the Sixers right now, but it's obvious that something has to change. Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams each scored over 20 points tonight, but the bench managed just nine points for the night, and that's not going to get it done against any team in the NBA, I don't care how bad they are. Eddie Jordan let the starters play a little bit more than the bench tonight, but it didn't seem to matter. The Princeton offense that he brought with him still isn't taking hold, and now it's effecting the defense in a negative way. Last year, the Sixers held opponents to 97 points a game, and this year, they're letting teams score over 100 on them with regularity.
In half the games so far this year, the Sixers have allowed 100 or more points, and they've less than 80 just once...and that was against the New Jersey Nets, so it doesn't really count. I know the defense wasn't that great last year, but it was better than this, and the offense at least showed a little bit of life. The Bulls had 18 turnovers tonight, and the Sixers scored just 14 points off of them. The Bulls had eight players come into the game, and outrebounded the Sixers by five. These are problems that have been coming up in almost every loss so far this year, and something has to change. Yes, it's only been ten games, and I might be jumping the gun a little bit, but right now, this team is playing sloppy basketball, and it's not even fun to watch. Something has got to click with this team, and soon, or the 2009-2010 season could turn into a very long and painful 82 games.
Friday, November 13, 2009
No Deron Williams? Big Problems for the Sixers.
Coming into tonight's game with the Utah Jazz, the Sixers had to at least be feeling good about their chances. Deron Williams, one of the best young point guards in the NBA, was going to miss the game because of a family issue, and the Jazz only had nine players available. Rookies Eric Maynor and Wes Mathews were starting for Utah, but the Jazz worked their gameplan to perfection, utilizing Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur, as well as an excellent game by Maynor to coast to a 110-92 win over Philadelphia.
After taking a 32-30 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Sixers never really threatened again. Utah rolled in the second quarter, going on a 17-4 run before making the score 64-50 at the half. It didn't get any better for the Sixers in the second half, as the Jazz continued to dominate. Carlos Boozer scored 24 points and brought down 12 rebounds, while Eric Maynor took advantage of his first career start, scoring 13 points and dishing out 11 assists. Even without Deron Williams playing tonight, the Jazz did exactly what they wanted to, and the Sixers were never able to get back into a groove.
The only player for Philadelphia that played worth anything tonight was Thaddeus Young. Young scored in double figures for the fourth straight game, putting in 17 points on 8-10 shooting. Adnre Iguodala scored 11 and had 10 assists, but 4-13 shooting isn't going to get it done against any team, let alone a team that was shooting as well as Utah tonight. The Sixers shot almost 48% from the floor for the game, but Utah shot 51.2%, and that was with attempting just 11 three pointers. Basically, the weak defense of the Sixers came into play again tonight, and when they needed stops, they couldn't get it done.
The bench provided very little in terms of performance tonight as well. Jason Kapono had a decent game, scoring 12 points, but other than that, there was nothing. Marreese Speights only scored four points in 24 minutes, while Jrue Holiday went 0-2 in two minutes. Meanwhile, Paul Milsap and Andrei Kirilenko each scored in double figures off the bench for the Jazz, who only actually had seven players log major minutes for them tonight.
Overall, this was just another example of how much this team swings in the middle of the NBA pendulum. Like I've said time and time again this year, one night, they can look like one of the top ten teams in the league, and the next, they look like they did tonight. Once again, they somehow have to find that balance that lets them play at the same level each and every night. They can't have one of their starters playing well one night, and then go cold the next. Without a consistent scorer on this team, unfortunately, this looks like the way things are going to go for a while. Games like this should be won by the Sixers, and when they're not, it just makes things look even worse for this team. They're nine games into the season, and I'm still not sure where this team really stands right now.
After taking a 32-30 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Sixers never really threatened again. Utah rolled in the second quarter, going on a 17-4 run before making the score 64-50 at the half. It didn't get any better for the Sixers in the second half, as the Jazz continued to dominate. Carlos Boozer scored 24 points and brought down 12 rebounds, while Eric Maynor took advantage of his first career start, scoring 13 points and dishing out 11 assists. Even without Deron Williams playing tonight, the Jazz did exactly what they wanted to, and the Sixers were never able to get back into a groove.
The only player for Philadelphia that played worth anything tonight was Thaddeus Young. Young scored in double figures for the fourth straight game, putting in 17 points on 8-10 shooting. Adnre Iguodala scored 11 and had 10 assists, but 4-13 shooting isn't going to get it done against any team, let alone a team that was shooting as well as Utah tonight. The Sixers shot almost 48% from the floor for the game, but Utah shot 51.2%, and that was with attempting just 11 three pointers. Basically, the weak defense of the Sixers came into play again tonight, and when they needed stops, they couldn't get it done.
The bench provided very little in terms of performance tonight as well. Jason Kapono had a decent game, scoring 12 points, but other than that, there was nothing. Marreese Speights only scored four points in 24 minutes, while Jrue Holiday went 0-2 in two minutes. Meanwhile, Paul Milsap and Andrei Kirilenko each scored in double figures off the bench for the Jazz, who only actually had seven players log major minutes for them tonight.
Overall, this was just another example of how much this team swings in the middle of the NBA pendulum. Like I've said time and time again this year, one night, they can look like one of the top ten teams in the league, and the next, they look like they did tonight. Once again, they somehow have to find that balance that lets them play at the same level each and every night. They can't have one of their starters playing well one night, and then go cold the next. Without a consistent scorer on this team, unfortunately, this looks like the way things are going to go for a while. Games like this should be won by the Sixers, and when they're not, it just makes things look even worse for this team. They're nine games into the season, and I'm still not sure where this team really stands right now.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Sixers Come Close to Losing to the Nets...Again
For the second time in a week, the Sixers took on an undermanned New Jersey Nets team, and almost lost. This time, it took a botched play by the Nets on the final play of the game to seal an 82-79 win for the Sixers that put them back at the .500 mark. After losing a tight game against the Phoenix Suns on Mondy night, one would think that the Sixers would at least look better against a New Jersey team that only played seven men. Well, those people were wrong. If not for the efforts of Thaddeus Young and Marreese Speights, the Sixers would have handed the Nets their first win of the year last night.
Luckily, both Young and Speights looked every bit like the head of the youth movement that they are. Young put in 20 points with five rebounds, and Speights dropped 19 with nine rebounds off the bench. Aside from Lou Williams with ten points, those were the only Sixers that reached double figures last night. Andre Iguodala had nine rebounds and a nice reverse dunk, but only scored nine points on 4 of 14 shooting. Samuel Dalmbert was...Samuel Dalembert, scoring four points and pulling down eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Elton Brand continued to disappoint, scoring just five points, all from the free throw line, in 23 minutes.
I don't know what can be done with Elton Brand right now, but something has to change. He's not getting the minutes that he had with the Clippers, but he doesn't deserve to play any longer than he has been. Apparently, he's getting frustrated with the lack of playing time he's been getting, but honestly, I'd want Marreese Speights in at the end of games over Brand right now, too. Brand is averaging 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game so far this year. Meanwhile, Speights is averaging 15 points and 7.1 boards. Tell me who you would want in there to finish off games. Right now, the Elton Brand signing may be one of the worst the Sixers have ever made, but the season is still young, and hopefully, he can find a way to fit into the system a little bit better. If not, it's going to be a long, long year for Brand.
The Sixers again showed why they are simply a middle of the road team last night. After they played the Phoenix Suns to the wire, they could only score 82 points against a New Jersey Nets team that doesn't have a win yet this season. The Nets missed three baskets at the end of the game that could have tied the score, and a botched inbounds play by Rafer Alston and Bobby Simmons was needed for the Sixers to hold on. In order for this team to even make an effort in the playoffs, they are going to have to get their act together and be more consistent. This is the same problem that they had last year, as they would play like one of the best teams in the NBA one night, and then get blown out by 35 the next. Without any sort of balance or consistency, this team isn't going to go very far. The pieces seem to be in place for a good youth movement, but it also looks like they're missing that one final piece to bring everything together. It certainly isn't Elton Brand, but maybe the Sixers can gel as the season goes along and become one of the better middle of the road teams. Who knows? It's a long year.
Luckily, both Young and Speights looked every bit like the head of the youth movement that they are. Young put in 20 points with five rebounds, and Speights dropped 19 with nine rebounds off the bench. Aside from Lou Williams with ten points, those were the only Sixers that reached double figures last night. Andre Iguodala had nine rebounds and a nice reverse dunk, but only scored nine points on 4 of 14 shooting. Samuel Dalmbert was...Samuel Dalembert, scoring four points and pulling down eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Elton Brand continued to disappoint, scoring just five points, all from the free throw line, in 23 minutes.
I don't know what can be done with Elton Brand right now, but something has to change. He's not getting the minutes that he had with the Clippers, but he doesn't deserve to play any longer than he has been. Apparently, he's getting frustrated with the lack of playing time he's been getting, but honestly, I'd want Marreese Speights in at the end of games over Brand right now, too. Brand is averaging 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game so far this year. Meanwhile, Speights is averaging 15 points and 7.1 boards. Tell me who you would want in there to finish off games. Right now, the Elton Brand signing may be one of the worst the Sixers have ever made, but the season is still young, and hopefully, he can find a way to fit into the system a little bit better. If not, it's going to be a long, long year for Brand.
The Sixers again showed why they are simply a middle of the road team last night. After they played the Phoenix Suns to the wire, they could only score 82 points against a New Jersey Nets team that doesn't have a win yet this season. The Nets missed three baskets at the end of the game that could have tied the score, and a botched inbounds play by Rafer Alston and Bobby Simmons was needed for the Sixers to hold on. In order for this team to even make an effort in the playoffs, they are going to have to get their act together and be more consistent. This is the same problem that they had last year, as they would play like one of the best teams in the NBA one night, and then get blown out by 35 the next. Without any sort of balance or consistency, this team isn't going to go very far. The pieces seem to be in place for a good youth movement, but it also looks like they're missing that one final piece to bring everything together. It certainly isn't Elton Brand, but maybe the Sixers can gel as the season goes along and become one of the better middle of the road teams. Who knows? It's a long year.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Hey Look...the Sixers Beat Another Bad Team!
For the third time in their first five games, the Sixers took on a team pretty much at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, and for the third time this year, they managed to pull out a victory. After being embarrassed against the Celtics on Tuesday night, the Sixers came out tonight and at least played better, as they held on for a 97-94 win against the New Jersey Nets.
Much like the other Sixer wins this year, it wasn't necessarily the prettiest thing in the world, but it still counts as a win. The Nets could only field eight players today, which certainly helped the Sixers, especially when Eduardo Najera ended up in foul trouble in the first quarter. Despite that, Elton Brand, Thaddeus Young and Samuel Dalembert were all pretty much held in check by New Jersey, as the backcourt of Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams carried the starters. I have to say, I'm impressed with the way Williams has played so far this season, and he showed his athletic ability again tonight, scoring 18 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out six assists, with no turnovers. This is the kind of play from the point that the Sixers are going to need. Again, he also has to show it against the better teams in the NBA, but at least he's showing that he can in fact start in this league.
Andre Iguodala had another good game as well, dropping in 16 with four rebounds and four assists. While he hasn't had that game where he's carried the Sixers on his back yet, he's been consistent in the young season, and his abilities helped get Philadelphia a win tonight. The Sixers also got some help off their bench, as Jason Kapono did exactly what he was brought to Philadelphia to do, dropping four of six three point attempts and scoring 14 points, while Marreese Speights had ten points and three boards in 18 minutes. Speights and Kapono have been nice players off the bench, while Jason Smith is starting to come into his own as well, scoring nine points and pulling in three rebounds tonight.
Overall, it wasn't a great game by either side, but the Sixers managed to pull out the win and drop the Nets to 0-6 on the season. The defense for Philadelphia still wasn't great, as New Jersey shot 47% from the field, but the offense did well, trumping New Jersey with a 50% success rate on their shots tonight. I'm still not going to be convinced how solid this team is until they actually manage to beat a few good teams, but for now, I'll take beating up on the weaker teams to make themselves look good. It's something, at least.
Much like the other Sixer wins this year, it wasn't necessarily the prettiest thing in the world, but it still counts as a win. The Nets could only field eight players today, which certainly helped the Sixers, especially when Eduardo Najera ended up in foul trouble in the first quarter. Despite that, Elton Brand, Thaddeus Young and Samuel Dalembert were all pretty much held in check by New Jersey, as the backcourt of Andre Iguodala and Lou Williams carried the starters. I have to say, I'm impressed with the way Williams has played so far this season, and he showed his athletic ability again tonight, scoring 18 points, grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out six assists, with no turnovers. This is the kind of play from the point that the Sixers are going to need. Again, he also has to show it against the better teams in the NBA, but at least he's showing that he can in fact start in this league.
Andre Iguodala had another good game as well, dropping in 16 with four rebounds and four assists. While he hasn't had that game where he's carried the Sixers on his back yet, he's been consistent in the young season, and his abilities helped get Philadelphia a win tonight. The Sixers also got some help off their bench, as Jason Kapono did exactly what he was brought to Philadelphia to do, dropping four of six three point attempts and scoring 14 points, while Marreese Speights had ten points and three boards in 18 minutes. Speights and Kapono have been nice players off the bench, while Jason Smith is starting to come into his own as well, scoring nine points and pulling in three rebounds tonight.
Overall, it wasn't a great game by either side, but the Sixers managed to pull out the win and drop the Nets to 0-6 on the season. The defense for Philadelphia still wasn't great, as New Jersey shot 47% from the field, but the offense did well, trumping New Jersey with a 50% success rate on their shots tonight. I'm still not going to be convinced how solid this team is until they actually manage to beat a few good teams, but for now, I'll take beating up on the weaker teams to make themselves look good. It's something, at least.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
One Word for how the Sixers Played Last Night: Ouch
Lost in all the commotion about the Phillies trying to make a miracle World Series comeback is the fact that the Flyers and Sixers are still playing. While I'm not going to get into the Flyers game from Monday, save for the notion that they played very well against a poor Tampa Bay team, the Sixers took on the Boston Celtics last night. After taking out the Knicks and dropping 141 points in four and a half quarters, the Sixers went up against the best defensive team in the NBA...and put up a little more than half of that amount. Basically, the Celtics came out and did what they have done to the other four teams they've played this season and dismantled the Sixers in a 105-74 beatdown.
Basically, the Celtics took away the inside game of the Sixers, and Philadelphia responded by shooting a robust 36.3% for the game with just one three pointer. In comparison, Rasheed Wallace made six threes by himself off the Boston bench, as the Celtics nailed 14 three pointers to make this game an embarrassing runaway. The Sixers aren't going to be able to beat many NBA teams with that output, let alone the Boston Celtics, who are on everyone's short list this year to make it to the NBA Finals.
To make things even worse, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett didn't even play that well. Allen finished with just five points on 2 of 8 shooting, thanks to solid defense by Andre Iguodala, and Garnett had just three points in 23 minutes. However, when the Sixers respond by shooting as poorly as they did, those two can have an off night and the Celtics can still win by 31 points. That's how badly the Sixers played last night. This team couldn't do anything right last night, as the bench only managed 24 points. Again, Rasheed Wallace scored 20 points off the bench by himself for Boston. If you add that to Eddie House's 12 points, and Shelden Williams' 11, the Celtics' bench almost doubled up Philadelphia's with just those three players.
Not everything was horrible last night, though. Andre Iguodala had a solid, if unspectacular, game, scoring 17 points and keeping Ray Allen from nailing anything at all. He seemed to be the only one that could even think about getting through Boston's defense, and when he did, he set up his teammates for baskets, only to have them miss. That's what kind of a night it was for the Sixers. It certainly wasn't anything to write home about or remember in any way, shape or form.
Fortunately, the Sixers don't play the Celtics every night of the year. If they did, there might be some trouble. So far this season, the guys have shown that they're right smack dab in the middle when it comes to talent in the Eastern Conference. Against teams like the Bucks and Knicks, they can play well, but against top level teams, like the Magic and Celtics, they're quickly knocked back down to earth. It's that balance that they're going to have to find as the season goes along to move slightly up the talent ladder in the East to the point where maybe they can put a scare into a Boston, Cleveland or Orlando come April. There's still a long way to go, though.
Basically, the Celtics took away the inside game of the Sixers, and Philadelphia responded by shooting a robust 36.3% for the game with just one three pointer. In comparison, Rasheed Wallace made six threes by himself off the Boston bench, as the Celtics nailed 14 three pointers to make this game an embarrassing runaway. The Sixers aren't going to be able to beat many NBA teams with that output, let alone the Boston Celtics, who are on everyone's short list this year to make it to the NBA Finals.
To make things even worse, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett didn't even play that well. Allen finished with just five points on 2 of 8 shooting, thanks to solid defense by Andre Iguodala, and Garnett had just three points in 23 minutes. However, when the Sixers respond by shooting as poorly as they did, those two can have an off night and the Celtics can still win by 31 points. That's how badly the Sixers played last night. This team couldn't do anything right last night, as the bench only managed 24 points. Again, Rasheed Wallace scored 20 points off the bench by himself for Boston. If you add that to Eddie House's 12 points, and Shelden Williams' 11, the Celtics' bench almost doubled up Philadelphia's with just those three players.
Not everything was horrible last night, though. Andre Iguodala had a solid, if unspectacular, game, scoring 17 points and keeping Ray Allen from nailing anything at all. He seemed to be the only one that could even think about getting through Boston's defense, and when he did, he set up his teammates for baskets, only to have them miss. That's what kind of a night it was for the Sixers. It certainly wasn't anything to write home about or remember in any way, shape or form.
Fortunately, the Sixers don't play the Celtics every night of the year. If they did, there might be some trouble. So far this season, the guys have shown that they're right smack dab in the middle when it comes to talent in the Eastern Conference. Against teams like the Bucks and Knicks, they can play well, but against top level teams, like the Magic and Celtics, they're quickly knocked back down to earth. It's that balance that they're going to have to find as the season goes along to move slightly up the talent ladder in the East to the point where maybe they can put a scare into a Boston, Cleveland or Orlando come April. There's still a long way to go, though.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Well, the Sixers Made Things Interesting Last Night, Didn't They? At Least They Won.
If you can believe it, the Sixers actually started off the Philadelphia vs. New York weekend in sports with a game against the New York Knicks last night. For three and a half quarters, it looked like the Sixers were going to walk all over New York, but a 41 point fourth quarter for the Knicks took the game into overtime, where the Sixers were at least able to maintain composure and finish the game on a 17-0 run for a 141-127 win. The Sixers had five players in double figures, with Andre Iguodala leading the way with 32, to go along with 11 rebounds and seven assists. Apparently, he heard what I wrote about him after the first game of the season, because he's been playing much more like a leader since then. Yes, it's only been two games, but he's been impressive in both. That's what the Sixers need in order to be successful this year.
Last night certainly wasn't all good, though. The defense once against took a nap during a key stretch of the game, and allowed Al Harrington to score 42 points off the bench for the Knicks. Samuel Dalmbert fouled out in just 19 minutes, and though Marreese Speights played well in his spot, scoring 20 points and bringing down 10 rebounds, Sammy has to be able to stay out of foul trouble for longer than 19 minutes each game. Nothing can go well with your starting center fouling out in that short period of time. Lou Williams again looked decent running the point, and he scored 27 points to go along with ten rebounds and seven assists, compared to just one turnover. The young fella's taking care of the ball in this early season. That's what I like to see.
I just want to stress it one more time: the defense has got to play better during key stretches of games. This game last night should have never even had thoughts of going to overtime, but the Knicks kept plugging away, and before the Sixers could do anything, New York had put up 41 points in the fourth quarter. I can maybe understand giving up that many fourth quarter points if it's garbage time, but the Knicks were playing for the comeback. The Sixers seemed helpless to do anything good out there, and no one could stop Al Harrington or Danilo Gallinari, who put in 30. Either way, the Sixers still managed a win, and though there are some big issues that still need to be worked out, they've at least shown that they are a halfway decent team so far this year. There's still a long way to go, but they're making strides, and those will continue for the rest of the season.
Last night certainly wasn't all good, though. The defense once against took a nap during a key stretch of the game, and allowed Al Harrington to score 42 points off the bench for the Knicks. Samuel Dalmbert fouled out in just 19 minutes, and though Marreese Speights played well in his spot, scoring 20 points and bringing down 10 rebounds, Sammy has to be able to stay out of foul trouble for longer than 19 minutes each game. Nothing can go well with your starting center fouling out in that short period of time. Lou Williams again looked decent running the point, and he scored 27 points to go along with ten rebounds and seven assists, compared to just one turnover. The young fella's taking care of the ball in this early season. That's what I like to see.
I just want to stress it one more time: the defense has got to play better during key stretches of games. This game last night should have never even had thoughts of going to overtime, but the Knicks kept plugging away, and before the Sixers could do anything, New York had put up 41 points in the fourth quarter. I can maybe understand giving up that many fourth quarter points if it's garbage time, but the Knicks were playing for the comeback. The Sixers seemed helpless to do anything good out there, and no one could stop Al Harrington or Danilo Gallinari, who put in 30. Either way, the Sixers still managed a win, and though there are some big issues that still need to be worked out, they've at least shown that they are a halfway decent team so far this year. There's still a long way to go, but they're making strides, and those will continue for the rest of the season.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sixers Open Up At Home in Front of...Some People, but They Beat the Bucks
It wasn't the biggest crowd for the Sixers last night for their home opener, but with the World Series taking place tonight, and Pearl Jam finishing up their four night stay at the Spectrum, something had to give. The good news for the people that did attend was that the Sixers looked a lot better than they did against Orlando, as they handled Milwaukee for a 99-86 win.
The Bucks looked off all night, save for Michael Redd and Brandon Jennings. The Sixer defense did a good job at shutting down Milwaukee's offense, and their offense in turn was well balanced, with six players, including all five starters, finishing with double figures. It's the exact kind of attack that the Sixers need this year to be successful, and while the Bucks certainly aren't on the same level with the Magic, a win is still nice, especially in front of the home crowd.
Andre Iguodala had a much better showing last night, leading the way with 19 points, as well as nine rebounds and seven assists. He started out making his first three shots, and looked much more comfortable last night than he did on Wednesday night. It was a nice turnaround for the man who is going to be looked towards for leadership this season. Elton Brand contributed last night, scoring 17 points and bringing down six rebounds in just 29 minutes. It wasn't his best showing, but he did what he had to do. Samuel Dalembert was...Samuel Dalembert. He's never going to be the dominant big man that the fans want, but he contributes in his own way, scoring 10 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.
The bench had a couple of nice contributors as well. Jason Kapono logged 24 minutes and scored 10 points on 4-8 shooting. He already looks like the outside threat the Sixers were missing last year, as he nailed two three pointers, and had several other long twos that helped turn the Bucks away in the second half. Marreese Speights had a busy night in just 13 minutes, scoring four points and picking up seven rebounds while also getting called for five fouls. I'd like to believe if not for the foul trouble, he would have played more last night, but while he was in there, he didn't look too bad. Jrue Holiday got his first action, and scored his first bucket of his NBA career in seven minutes of work. It was limited time, but he didn't look half bad out there.
It wasn't the best showing last night, but it was a win against a team that the Sixers should beat. They lost control on defense every now and then, but the offense did enough to keep the Bucks out of striking distance for most of the second half. As they showed against the Magic, they might have problems with their defense going south against better teams, but it's still a work in progress. Regardless, the Sixers pulled off a win last night in their home opener, and that's always something to be happy about. If the rest of the sports weekend goes that well in Philadelphia, I think everyone that reads this blog will have a smile on their face.
The Sixers take their act on the road tonight, as they add a third chapter to the Philadelphia/New York sports weekend, taking on the Knicks in MSG.
The Bucks looked off all night, save for Michael Redd and Brandon Jennings. The Sixer defense did a good job at shutting down Milwaukee's offense, and their offense in turn was well balanced, with six players, including all five starters, finishing with double figures. It's the exact kind of attack that the Sixers need this year to be successful, and while the Bucks certainly aren't on the same level with the Magic, a win is still nice, especially in front of the home crowd.
Andre Iguodala had a much better showing last night, leading the way with 19 points, as well as nine rebounds and seven assists. He started out making his first three shots, and looked much more comfortable last night than he did on Wednesday night. It was a nice turnaround for the man who is going to be looked towards for leadership this season. Elton Brand contributed last night, scoring 17 points and bringing down six rebounds in just 29 minutes. It wasn't his best showing, but he did what he had to do. Samuel Dalembert was...Samuel Dalembert. He's never going to be the dominant big man that the fans want, but he contributes in his own way, scoring 10 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.
The bench had a couple of nice contributors as well. Jason Kapono logged 24 minutes and scored 10 points on 4-8 shooting. He already looks like the outside threat the Sixers were missing last year, as he nailed two three pointers, and had several other long twos that helped turn the Bucks away in the second half. Marreese Speights had a busy night in just 13 minutes, scoring four points and picking up seven rebounds while also getting called for five fouls. I'd like to believe if not for the foul trouble, he would have played more last night, but while he was in there, he didn't look too bad. Jrue Holiday got his first action, and scored his first bucket of his NBA career in seven minutes of work. It was limited time, but he didn't look half bad out there.
It wasn't the best showing last night, but it was a win against a team that the Sixers should beat. They lost control on defense every now and then, but the offense did enough to keep the Bucks out of striking distance for most of the second half. As they showed against the Magic, they might have problems with their defense going south against better teams, but it's still a work in progress. Regardless, the Sixers pulled off a win last night in their home opener, and that's always something to be happy about. If the rest of the sports weekend goes that well in Philadelphia, I think everyone that reads this blog will have a smile on their face.
The Sixers take their act on the road tonight, as they add a third chapter to the Philadelphia/New York sports weekend, taking on the Knicks in MSG.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
For Those Of You Who Decided to Watch the Sixers Last Night...Ouch
So I'm not going to lie, I didn't exactly watch the Sixers game last night. There were a few more important things on at the same time, and I certainly wasn't going to skip Game One of the World Series for the first game in an 82 game schedule. Of course, the Sixers didn't have their best showing last night, as the Orlando Magic dominated for about 40 minutes on their way to a 120-106 win.
Basically, the Magic put the game out of reach in the second quarter when they outscored the Sixers 41-20. The threes were falling for Orlando last night, with every starter but Dwight Howard nailing at least one. They also got help off their bench from Jason Williams, J.J. Redick and Matt Barnes. Overall, the Magic drained 16 threes, and when you compare that to the seven the Sixers made, that's your difference in the game right there. Dwight Howard also had his typical game, dropping 21 and grabbing 15 rebounds, but that's to be expected no matter who he plays. The key to beating the Magic is shutting down their other players, and last night, the Sixers just couldn't get that done.
It wasn't all horrible, though. Lou Williams was the only starter in double figures, scoring 18 with four assists, and Marreese Speights put in 26 on 10-11 shooting off the bench. He had some trouble guarding Dwight Howard, but hopefully that can come in time. At least last night he showed that flash that I was talking about yesterday. Jason Kapono also logged some serious minutes and finished with 13 points and two threes, so he did exactly what the Sixers brought him in for. We did see the first little look at what happens when Andre Iguodala tries to take over a game, and it wasn't very pretty last night. Iguodala finished with eight points on 3-11 shooting. That won't get it done against any team, especially one as good as the Magic.
Fortunately, it's just the first game of the season for the Sixers. They can hopefully grow from this and move on. Orlando is the defending Eastern Conference champions, and they have a stacked team this year. The game wasn't even as close as the final score showed, since the Sixers added a bunch of garbage time points, but there's at least a glimmer of hope there. Philadelphia still has another 81 games to play this season, so one game doesn't matter that much, especially at the start of the year. The home opener is this Friday against Milwaukee, so the Sixers will be the only sports ticket in town that night. Hopefully, the result is a little better than last night.
Basically, the Magic put the game out of reach in the second quarter when they outscored the Sixers 41-20. The threes were falling for Orlando last night, with every starter but Dwight Howard nailing at least one. They also got help off their bench from Jason Williams, J.J. Redick and Matt Barnes. Overall, the Magic drained 16 threes, and when you compare that to the seven the Sixers made, that's your difference in the game right there. Dwight Howard also had his typical game, dropping 21 and grabbing 15 rebounds, but that's to be expected no matter who he plays. The key to beating the Magic is shutting down their other players, and last night, the Sixers just couldn't get that done.
It wasn't all horrible, though. Lou Williams was the only starter in double figures, scoring 18 with four assists, and Marreese Speights put in 26 on 10-11 shooting off the bench. He had some trouble guarding Dwight Howard, but hopefully that can come in time. At least last night he showed that flash that I was talking about yesterday. Jason Kapono also logged some serious minutes and finished with 13 points and two threes, so he did exactly what the Sixers brought him in for. We did see the first little look at what happens when Andre Iguodala tries to take over a game, and it wasn't very pretty last night. Iguodala finished with eight points on 3-11 shooting. That won't get it done against any team, especially one as good as the Magic.
Fortunately, it's just the first game of the season for the Sixers. They can hopefully grow from this and move on. Orlando is the defending Eastern Conference champions, and they have a stacked team this year. The game wasn't even as close as the final score showed, since the Sixers added a bunch of garbage time points, but there's at least a glimmer of hope there. Philadelphia still has another 81 games to play this season, so one game doesn't matter that much, especially at the start of the year. The home opener is this Friday against Milwaukee, so the Sixers will be the only sports ticket in town that night. Hopefully, the result is a little better than last night.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Ok, Who's Ready For Some...Basketball?
Oh yes, for those ten people who won't be watching Game One of the World Series tonight, the Philadelphia 76ers start off their 2009-10 regular season down in Orlando, where they'll be taking on the defending Eastern Conference champion Magic. While the Sixers are sporting some sweet new (old) uniforms, they still have some questions about their team.
Can Elton Brand fit in with this offense?
The running style of the Sixers certainly doesn't mesh that well with the style of play that Brand has, and while he is a good player, the eyes of Philadelphia are going to be on him this year. He has to show that he can stay healthy and play with this young team. If he doesn't do that, then signing him might go down as one of the biggest mistakes in Philadelphia free agent history. He has to show more than last year. It shouldn't take much, but if he doesn't mesh, then it's a big, expensive problem.
Can Jrue Holiday not be mentioned with the words "raw" and "potential?"
Look, Holiday is a talented kid. The Sixers wouldn't have taken him with the 17th pick in the draft if he wasn't. That being said, he is only 19 years old and is coming from a system at UCLA that is worlds apart from what the Sixers run. It should be interesting to see if he can fit into the system in Philadelphia and what the results can be. I'm not expecting much out of him at the start of the year, but I need to at least see something by the time this season is coming to a close. Everyone is going to want to know what kind of player they have with Holiday.
Can the young guns on this team continue to improve?
Thaddeus Young, Marreese Speights and Lou Williams are all going to be called upon to be big contributors this season. While Young has shown that he can be a solid player at the small forward position, Williams is going to be the full time starter at point guard for the first time in his career, and Speights is going to be logging some serious minutes off the bench. Williams is going to have to show that he can at least effectively replace Andre Miller at the point and be the leader in the backcourt for the offense. Things are going to run through him, and while Eddie Jordan's offense is still a bit of a work in progress, Williams is going to have to pick it up fairly quickly. As for Speights, he's going to be a big time bench player this year. With questions surrounding Samuel Dalembert's status with the Sixers (with his $12+ million contract, he's not going anywhere), Speights will have to show that he can fill in when he needs to.
Can Andre Iguodala become the superstar this team needs?
Let's be honest: the Sixers haven't had a true superstar player since Allen Iverson was traded to Denver. Andre Iguodala has tried to fill that void, but hasn't quite gotten there yet. While Iverson could put the Sixers on his back and take them to where he wanted them to go, Iguodala is having trouble getting over that hump. His stats aren't bad, and he's athletic as hell, but there's something missing in him that has been keeping him from reaching that next level. The Sixers need that All Star, that guiding player that can take them as far as he can go. Elton Brand hasn't proven a thing yet, and the rest of this team is so young, half of them could still be in college. It's up to Iguodala to be the glue that holds these guys together. He's going to have to be the one that tells this team where to go, what to do and how to win. If can he can that, then this team might have some success this year and in the coming years. I'm not saying that they're going to catch Cleveland, Boston or Orlando this year, because let's be honest...they're not. This is a young team that, if things go the way that they need to, can surprise some people. If things go wrong, though, it could be a long, long season. All that matters now is that it starts tonight.
Can Elton Brand fit in with this offense?
The running style of the Sixers certainly doesn't mesh that well with the style of play that Brand has, and while he is a good player, the eyes of Philadelphia are going to be on him this year. He has to show that he can stay healthy and play with this young team. If he doesn't do that, then signing him might go down as one of the biggest mistakes in Philadelphia free agent history. He has to show more than last year. It shouldn't take much, but if he doesn't mesh, then it's a big, expensive problem.
Can Jrue Holiday not be mentioned with the words "raw" and "potential?"
Look, Holiday is a talented kid. The Sixers wouldn't have taken him with the 17th pick in the draft if he wasn't. That being said, he is only 19 years old and is coming from a system at UCLA that is worlds apart from what the Sixers run. It should be interesting to see if he can fit into the system in Philadelphia and what the results can be. I'm not expecting much out of him at the start of the year, but I need to at least see something by the time this season is coming to a close. Everyone is going to want to know what kind of player they have with Holiday.
Can the young guns on this team continue to improve?
Thaddeus Young, Marreese Speights and Lou Williams are all going to be called upon to be big contributors this season. While Young has shown that he can be a solid player at the small forward position, Williams is going to be the full time starter at point guard for the first time in his career, and Speights is going to be logging some serious minutes off the bench. Williams is going to have to show that he can at least effectively replace Andre Miller at the point and be the leader in the backcourt for the offense. Things are going to run through him, and while Eddie Jordan's offense is still a bit of a work in progress, Williams is going to have to pick it up fairly quickly. As for Speights, he's going to be a big time bench player this year. With questions surrounding Samuel Dalembert's status with the Sixers (with his $12+ million contract, he's not going anywhere), Speights will have to show that he can fill in when he needs to.
Can Andre Iguodala become the superstar this team needs?
Let's be honest: the Sixers haven't had a true superstar player since Allen Iverson was traded to Denver. Andre Iguodala has tried to fill that void, but hasn't quite gotten there yet. While Iverson could put the Sixers on his back and take them to where he wanted them to go, Iguodala is having trouble getting over that hump. His stats aren't bad, and he's athletic as hell, but there's something missing in him that has been keeping him from reaching that next level. The Sixers need that All Star, that guiding player that can take them as far as he can go. Elton Brand hasn't proven a thing yet, and the rest of this team is so young, half of them could still be in college. It's up to Iguodala to be the glue that holds these guys together. He's going to have to be the one that tells this team where to go, what to do and how to win. If can he can that, then this team might have some success this year and in the coming years. I'm not saying that they're going to catch Cleveland, Boston or Orlando this year, because let's be honest...they're not. This is a young team that, if things go the way that they need to, can surprise some people. If things go wrong, though, it could be a long, long season. All that matters now is that it starts tonight.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Hey look! Philly sports news that isn't the Phillies!
A couple of other interesting bits of news tonight before I head off to bed to end this horrid hangover:
The 76ers today officially announced a change back to their classic red, white and blue logo. As far as I'm concerned, that's great news. I always loved the old Sixers' logo and gear, and am glad to see it back full time. Hopefully now, they can start playing like some of those older teams again.
The second bit is concerning Philadelphia's other winter sports team. The Flyers will be travelling to Boston to take on the Bruins in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park on New Year's Day next season. The original plan was to have Washington head up there, but NBC wanted a bigger market to play Boston, apparently. Either way, it should be a lot of fun to see the Flyers playing outside to kick off 2010.
The 700 Level: Sixers Announce Return of Old Logo
ESPN: Flyers to Play Bruins on New Year's Day
The 76ers today officially announced a change back to their classic red, white and blue logo. As far as I'm concerned, that's great news. I always loved the old Sixers' logo and gear, and am glad to see it back full time. Hopefully now, they can start playing like some of those older teams again.
The second bit is concerning Philadelphia's other winter sports team. The Flyers will be travelling to Boston to take on the Bruins in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park on New Year's Day next season. The original plan was to have Washington head up there, but NBC wanted a bigger market to play Boston, apparently. Either way, it should be a lot of fun to see the Flyers playing outside to kick off 2010.
The 700 Level: Sixers Announce Return of Old Logo
ESPN: Flyers to Play Bruins on New Year's Day
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