Where do you start when your team comes off a disappointing playoff loss and plays the best game you could have asked for? I am beyond proud of our Philadelphia 76ers after tonight’s performance. The Sixers came out right from the tap and jumped all over the Detroit Pistons. They completely dominated every aspect of the game for 48 minutes. The result: a 95-75 dismantling of the Detroit Pistons.
Game Notes
This game was unlike either of the first two in that the Sixers finally maintained their great start. They opened up on a 6-0 run with 5 offensive rebounds in the first six minutes and never really looked back.
A few things really stood out to me:
- Detroit looked slow, sluggish, unmotivated (except Hamilton and Prince) and overall like they could just walk into our building and win without putting forth maximum effort. Sorry, Detroit, we don’t get down like that here in Philly. If they expect to beat the Sixers, they will need to bring their A-game as they did in game 2.
- The defensive intensity for the 76ers was at a very high level to start the game forcing 11 turnovers in the first half. Then got even better in the 3rd quarter. The Sixers suffocated the Pistons into 2-12 shooting for the quarter, and the Pistons were unable to convert a field goal for over 12 minutes going into the fourth quarter. This was by far the best defensive performance I have seen all year. The key: active hands and, more importantly, relentless contesting of shots. The thing I noticed all year watching the Boston Celtics’ defense was they contest every single shot not matter how open a shooter looked. The Sixers did exactly that in the 3rd quarter tonight. Detroit had decent looks at times, but in the corner of their eye was a 76er player flying by with a hand up. When a team has more turnovers than assists at the end of the game you know you played as well as you could. It was a pleasure to watch that type of effort and focus on the defensive end.
- It was back to their rebounding ways for the Sixers. Winning that battled 43-34 and holding Detroit to only 7 offensive rebounds while grabbing 11 of their own.
- I could go on and on about everything the Sixers did well, but I will let you guys discuss in the comments.
Reggie Evans, Reggie Evans, Reggie Evans!
Why is he playing out of his mind right now? Maybe because the last time he was in the playoffs with Denver in 2005 his minutes decreased from 23mpg to 13mpg. He averaged a remarkable 8.7 boards in only 23mpg in the 26 games playing for Denver after being traded from Seattle. He was a major reason the Nuggets even made the playoffs that season. Then he had his starting job taken by Thaddeus Young and his minutes decreased at the end of the season this year. Can you say chip on his shoulder? Evans is the ultimate “glue” guy, and at only 27-years-old, I now feel much more comfortable that we have him locked up for three more years after this year.
Samuel Dalembert - Look who finally showed up
When Samuel Dalembert is playing with this face:
You know he is on top of his game.
Sammy had 22 points, 16 boards and played outstanding defense all game. The Sixers dominated the battle of the paint with our bigs outscoring Detroit’s bigs 21-8 in the first half and 43-12 for the game.
The game was never in question
Detroit started the 4th quarter with 5 team fouls in the first 2 minutes and 36 seconds. Combine that with hot-shooting Rip Hamilton on the bench with 5 personals, and it was a wrap. Now it was just a matter of how much would they win by. This was probably the most relaxing playoff game I’ve watched of a home team in recent memory.
Now for the bad…
Was it me or did the crowd SUCK to start the game? They provided no home court advantage whatsoever in the first half. Thank god for Reggie Evans’ energy to start and maintain the momentum during the game. We definitely need to do a better job out the gate as fans in game 4. I’ll be sure to do my part since I will be on hand to watch us go up 3-1.
Tracking Andre Iguodala’s Offense (lack thereof)
First Half
0-4 on Jumpers (2 air balls) (bricks lead to two fast break dunks)
0-1 on Post ups (horrendous fadeaway)
1-1 on Drives
1st half summary: 1-6 from the field, 5 pretty bad jump shots, 2 air balls and 4 points given up by not getting back on Prince after forcing up terrible top of the key jumpers.
Second Half
0-1 on Jumpers
0-0 on Post ups
1-2 on Drives (not technically a miss but a dropped (easy) alley-oop that would have gotten the crowd (finally) fired up and given the Sixers a 12-point lead)
2nd half summary: Let’s just thank Andre Iguodala for not shooting much of the second half. Instead he decided to work his turnover total up to 6 for the game.
Ok real talk. I am going to say it - Andre Iguodala is an extremely overrated/not that good offensive player. His inability to not only get a good shot but make a shot in 3 games in the playoffs is not only incomprehensible but completely unacceptable. Does he have a strong defensive player on him? Sure, but so does Andre Miller. Billups is a very good defender and strong as well, yet Miller is able to get any shot he wants in this series.
Not only is Iguodala’s offensive skill set (ball handling, post up and overall shooting ability) inadequate, but I have to question something everyone seems to believe is a strong point of his. Basketball IQ. His shot selection is poor, he doesn’t use screens well and he doesn’t know how to adjust his game when 1. his shot isn’t falling and 2. he has a good defender on him. I honestly can’t come to any other conclusion except that Andre Iguodala simply is not that good. Forget being a #1, 2, 3 whatever, he has been incapable of doing anything productive to help this team win. Thank god the other guys realize that and have basically moved on without him.
Player of the Game: Samuel Dalembert
This was more than another wake up call for the Pistons and their fans. It was a clear message that the Sixers have come to play and are not going anywhere. This is a series. If you didn’t think or believe that after the game 1 win there should be little doubt now. And not only is this a series, this IS the Sixers’ series. I view this as the turning point. The opportunity to officially move from the depths of mediocrity to the heights of an elite team in the Eastern Conference. Can you feel it?
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10 comments ↓
Iguodala baffles me…i mean the guy is essentially playing for a paycheck right now and he can’t get that “tayshon just drank my milkshake” look off his face. If he cannot find a way to score then he needs to readjust his offensive game and become the point/forward type and work on getting the ball to other guys who know how to find the basket. When your shot isnt falling, get to the line! Or drop an easy ally-oop that your buddy willy gift wraps for you on your bad night….sigh
Good writing. Agreed about most parts. Iguodala is having a rough time at the worst time. His shot isn’t falling and its hard to try and force yourself out of the slump when the playoffs are at stake. He needs to man up, become selfless, and start making other players better, his game will come and so will his shot. Also, the crowd in the frist half was weak. I was sitting down low and was almost embarressed, however, the second half was nuts. It wasn’t packed but it sure was loud. Reminded me of the 99-01 era. Sunday will be PACKED. GO SIXERS!
“can’t get that “tayshon just drank my milkshake” look off his face”, Silk that is hilarious. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Can you imagine what would be happening if he was playing well?
I just found your blog after reading marc narducci’s blog. i think its great and can’t get enough sixers news.
1. the crowd was quiet except for my section last night. 216A… there was an awesome group of guys who kept things loud….i would like to start reggie chants from the tipoff on sunday….
2. with andre, its true. he isn’t a superstar max contract player and he’s probably losing money with each game, but detroit is one of the best defensive teams in the league as they regularly hold teams under 90 points. tayshaun in particular has defended iverson really well and other max superstars… so i fully expect andre to bounce back once he doesnt have to play against tayshaun anymore… but i agree… that he is overrated and would entertain the idea of trading him for a true shooting guard rather than giving him a max contract. this would let us play thad at the 3….. the turnovers are even worse than the shot selection….
I don’t think anyone should be saying “Iguodala” and “max contract” should be in the same sentence…very, very scary thought lol.
He turned down the 5 year 50 million (or was it 5 year 55 million?) at the beginning of the year to earn more money. Did his plan (until this playoff series) work? I think it did…from an agent’s point of view, Iggy is one of the few 20-5-5 guys in the league, is athletic, great for highlights, hustles his butt off and plays great defense. That’s going to command a good salary, no matter how crappy he plays in this series.
I sincerely doubt Iguodala would ever ask for the max, that’s a bit ridiculous. I think this situation is much more similar to what the Wizards faced in 03-04…Larry Hughes busted out for a monster season: 22 ppg, 6 rbs, 5 asts, played great D, shot well from the field, and helped lead the Wiz to the 2nd round. He asked a pricetag around the 12-13 million a year range…Abe Pollin loved Hughes but knew that was too high, and let him walk.
I think Iguodala will be asking for a contract in the 13-14 million range. If he hardballs and really wants something in the 14-15 million range, I think we have to let him go, or sign-trade him. But if we can net Iggy in the 11-13 range…I’m all for it. Like Dalembert making 10 million a year…we would be overpaying, but only slightly so, for one of the most versatile young players in the game.
Iggy, Josh Smith and Gerald Wallace are all in the same boat. Super athletic freaks that have amazing all-around games that are stat box stuffers. None of them should be the go-to-guy…but all would be the ideal #2 option next to a go to guy. Iguodala is playing OUT OF POSITION and his game right now, in the sense the Sixers are asking him to be something he’s not, “The Man”. If we wind up getting “The Man”…there couldn’t be a better both-ends-of-the-court compliment to him then Iguodala.
He’s having one bad series against one of the strongest defensive teams in the league people, be patient.
great recap Dannie, I especially agree about the Pistons analysis and the Iguodala breakdown
a couple of good things connected with his disappointing playoffs games so far: 1) Sixers still win, 2) Sixers will save some money when they will re-sign him
It was bad to read that the Wachovia wasn’t sold out, but the crowd was loud and hot when it counted (I’ve watched the game live with no commentators so you could hear all the sounds)
Pistons are strating to fear us, you could read their faces last night, and now you can read their sites/blogs… LOL
What a great game for the Sixers last night. They were finally able to play their style of game in the second half, and now that they’ve done it, the Pistons are in serious trouble.
Until now, even in the games the Pistons lost, the games were played at the Pistons’s pace. They were the ones controlling the tempo of the game. In game three, the Sixers defense forced multiple turnovers, steals and shot-clock violations. There is no defense or adjustment that you can make when you are getting outworked.
The Sixers are younger, more athletic, and faster. Their lack of experience is made up for with extra energy and hustle. They do the little things well. Reggie Evans works harder than anyone and he was the reason Rasheed Wallace was so ineffective.
I expected the Sixers to win the series in 6 games, and they are on track to do so. I am anxious to see if the Pistons do anything different. They were so focused on stopping Igoudala, that it left everyone else open.
I think some of the posters here don’t understand basketball when they rip Andre. He is a great player, but any player can be stopped when an entire team is focused on him. The Sixers had to adjust to that in their game plan, and use Andre more as a decoy than the primary option.
The Sixers can get better at this as well, as the player who’s defender leaves to help on Andre should run to where he can get an open look and Iggy can pass the ball to him.
There is nothing anyone can do, when they beat their defender and are met by two others as soon as he gets by the first. Andre still managed to get to the free throw line, set up other players, rebound and get steals. He isn’t as big as LeBron and can’t force his way to the basket, and he doesn’t shoot crazy off-balanced shots like Kobe. That doesn’t mean he isn’t worth close to max money. He is playing out of position at the three spot because the Sixers are lacking in big men.
When the Sixer play Andre as a two and he doesn’t get defended by a long forward like Prince, he’ll get plenty of shots.
Speaking of which, the Sixers should be playing Young at the three, and Igoudala at the two, with either Williams or Miller, and then Evans or Smith and Dalembert up front. This way they can match up much better with the Pistons and create mismatches at the guard spots. See how Chauncey does, guarding Iggy!
Since Miller and Williams are each too good to be on the bench, the Sixers have a problem- too many small players and not enough big men. Cheeks tendency is to go small and play them anyway. But when he does that to excess the Sixers start to loose on the boards.
Update: Antonio McDyess went back to Detroit for surgery on his nose and his availability for Sunday’s game is even more in question. Is that a good or bad thing? Would likely mean more minutes for Jason Maxiell. Do we really want that?
Definitely a bad thing. No Dysse = Maxiel getting 30 mpg, giving Detroit a guy that will be able to energize the whole team. I loved Dysse when he was healthy back in the day, and still respect the veteran Dysse now that is a heady veteran, can hit the J, make nice post passing and be a decent interior presence.
That said…Maxiel is the one guy, Rip and Prince aside, for Detroit right now that plays with his heart on his sleeve and can kill us on the offensive boards. I think the Sheed/Maxiel combo is VERY effective, and am not looking forward to that duo logging big minutes together.
I think its a trade off. With Maxiell you get the energy, hustle and better rebounding. With McDyess you get a much more polished offensive player in the post and in that 15 foot range.
I think I rather have the older legs of McDyess and hope he has on a mask that could very well bother his shooting during the adjustment period.
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