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.
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