Comments on: Great 4th Quarter, Same Result for the Sixers http://www.reclinergm.com/great-4th-quarter-same-result-for-the-sixers/ Philly sports blog for diehard Sixers & Phillies fans Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:18:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: krazykevy http://www.reclinergm.com/great-4th-quarter-same-result-for-the-sixers/#comment-23927 krazykevy Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:04:45 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=8254#comment-23927 God help us if they make another late run....groundhog day all over again and mediocrity will continue to rule the sixers.  So, tk I hope your crystal ball is malfunctioning... God help us if they make another late run….groundhog day all over again and mediocrity will continue to rule the sixers.  So, tk I hope your crystal ball is malfunctioning…

]]> By: tk76 http://www.reclinergm.com/great-4th-quarter-same-result-for-the-sixers/#comment-23926 tk76 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:48:18 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=8254#comment-23926 But they will make a late run... book it. But they will make a late run… book it.

]]> By: Dannie http://www.reclinergm.com/great-4th-quarter-same-result-for-the-sixers/#comment-23925 Dannie Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:46:35 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=8254#comment-23925 <p>They are 27th right now in both Stein's and Hollinger's power rankings.  Ugh.</p> <p>The one thing that stood out to me was their strength of schedule.</p> <p>So far the Sixers have played the <strong>2nd weakest schedule</strong> through 14 games (gotta be heavily weighted by two Nets games).  Weakest schedule was that of the Bucks.</p> <p>Their opponents average winning percentage so far has been .<strong>429.</strong></p> <p>Zack that's another trend for you to consider.  The Sixers have had a cupcake start to the season and haven't been able to capitalize on it.  Things are about to get much tougher for them.</p> They are 27th right now in both Stein’s and Hollinger’s power rankings.  Ugh.

The one thing that stood out to me was their strength of schedule.

So far the Sixers have played the 2nd weakest schedule through 14 games (gotta be heavily weighted by two Nets games).  Weakest schedule was that of the Bucks.

Their opponents average winning percentage so far has been .429.

Zack that’s another trend for you to consider.  The Sixers have had a cupcake start to the season and haven’t been able to capitalize on it.  Things are about to get much tougher for them.

]]> By: tk76 http://www.reclinergm.com/great-4th-quarter-same-result-for-the-sixers/#comment-23924 tk76 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:10:09 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=8254#comment-23924 If I had to guess I'd say the Sixers will end up around the 9th worst record in the NBA.  Gives them little hope of moving into the top 3 given the double weighted lottery, but should give them a shot at a top prospect if they go with BPA. If I had to guess I’d say the Sixers will end up around the 9th worst record in the NBA.  Gives them little hope of moving into the top 3 given the double weighted lottery, but should give them a shot at a top prospect if they go with BPA.

]]> By: tk76 http://www.reclinergm.com/great-4th-quarter-same-result-for-the-sixers/#comment-23923 tk76 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:06:24 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=8254#comment-23923 Thanks, wish I could preview my posts cause that one came out uglier than a Sixers' game.  I guess that will come w/reclinergm 2.0.   BTW, don't want to come across as a Jrue fanboy.  I have no idea if he will turn out to be just a role player or an impact player.  At pick 17 its usually a crap shoot.  Just wanted to pass along what I read about him.  I also reviewed one UCLA game tape and watched all of the summer league I could, but did not see anything special from watching it. If anything he's looked better in his brief runs with the Sixers.  His jumper is definitely better than advertised and has a much quicker release than Thad, and cleaner than Iguodala (which is not saying much.) Thanks, wish I could preview my posts cause that one came out uglier than a Sixers’ game.  I guess that will come w/reclinergm 2.0.
 
BTW, don’t want to come across as a Jrue fanboy.  I have no idea if he will turn out to be just a role player or an impact player.  At pick 17 its usually a crap shoot.  Just wanted to pass along what I read about him.  I also reviewed one UCLA game tape and watched all of the summer league I could, but did not see anything special from watching it.
If anything he’s looked better in his brief runs with the Sixers.  His jumper is definitely better than advertised and has a much quicker release than Thad, and cleaner than Iguodala (which is not saying much.)

]]> By: tk76 http://www.reclinergm.com/great-4th-quarter-same-result-for-the-sixers/#comment-23922 tk76 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:43:26 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=8254#comment-23922 Per DaveT:  My response in CAPS. So what I’m concerned with Jrue’s game that we should be watching out for: <strong>-Can he display leadership skills even at this young age?</strong> HE DEFINITELY LED BY EXAMPLE LAST NIGHT.  HE ALSO GAVE THE TEAM A BIG BOOST WITH HIS ENERGY ON BOTH ENDS.  HE'S NOT SCARED AND IT SHOWS.  WE'LL SEE IF THAT TRANSLATES INTO LEADERSHIP. <strong> -Can he pass…like, REALLY pass, regularly and consistently in a half court offense?</strong> IN HIS BRIEF NBA CAREER HE ALREADY LOOKS LIKE THE BEST PICK&ROLL PASSER ON THE ROSTER BY A WIDE MARGIN.  HE ALSO HAS HIT OPEN SHOOTERS ON TIME.  SO SIGNS POINT TO YES.  WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW HE MANAGES AN OFFENSE DURING THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A GAME.  HE HAS MADE SOME LAZY TO'S WITH PASSES AND BALL HANDLING- MOSTLY UNDERESTIMATING ATHLETICALLY THE OPPOSITION. <strong> -Is he going to be a little bitch and whine and mope everytime something bad happens (Iguodala, Andre)?</strong> I'VE SEEN NO SIGN OF THIS SO FAR, HAVE YOU? <strong>-Will Jrue PUSH it up the floor or look for the immediate outlet pass to lead a break with wreckless abandon, or “ho hum” it too much?</strong> ABSOLUTELY.  HE'S DONE THIS EVERY TIME HE'S BEEN ON THE FLOOR AND IT IS HIS M.O. <strong>-Can Jrue have the type of eye to thread the needle REGULARLY like he did with that one beautiful play Dannie alluded to in his post?</strong> SEE ABOVE.  SO FAR HIS PASSES HAVE BEEN ON TIME AND NOT ALWAYS FLASHY. <strong>-Is Jrue a TRUE pass first PG, or PG that will always looked to get others involved, or is he a scoring point that goes for his own shot first? </strong>I READ HIS REP IN HS WAS A GUY WHO LIKES TO PENETRATE DEEP IN THE LANE WITH THE MAIN GOAL OF BREAKING DOWN THE DEFENSE FOR AN ASSIST.  COMPARED IN STYLE TO HOW PAUL ATTACKS THE HEART OF THE D TO SET UP TEAMMATES.  WE'LL SE IF HIS SIZE/HANDLE ALLOW HIM TO DO THIS AT AN NBA LEVEL.  ELITE HS IS NO WHERE CLOSE TO THE NBA. <strong>-Will he show good shot selection, and a good instinct for when to push/attack in order to get teammates involved, vs. times when the team will need him to try and score? </strong> <strong>-Can he do the “little PG things”…come off high screens with precision, make non-sloppy, non-lazy passes, pass into the post safely, keep his defender honest by testing the waters of driving and then pulling back, change speeds during a drive?</strong> GOOD QUESTION. <strong>-What level of court vision, in a full court transition and half court offense, does Jrue have?</strong> SEE ABOVE.  I'D SAY HE IS ALREADY WELL AHEAD OF LOU IN THIS REGARD. Sorry about the caps, felt it was the easiest way to respond to so many questions. Per DaveT:  My response in CAPS.
So what I’m concerned with Jrue’s game that we should be watching out for:
-Can he display leadership skills even at this young age?
HE DEFINITELY LED BY EXAMPLE LAST NIGHT.  HE ALSO GAVE THE TEAM A BIG BOOST WITH HIS ENERGY ON BOTH ENDS.  HE’S NOT SCARED AND IT SHOWS.  WE’LL SEE IF THAT TRANSLATES INTO LEADERSHIP.

-Can he pass…like, REALLY pass, regularly and consistently in a half court offense?
IN HIS BRIEF NBA CAREER HE ALREADY LOOKS LIKE THE BEST PICK&ROLL PASSER ON THE ROSTER BY A WIDE MARGIN.  HE ALSO HAS HIT OPEN SHOOTERS ON TIME.  SO SIGNS POINT TO YES.  WE’LL HAVE TO SEE HOW HE MANAGES AN OFFENSE DURING THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A GAME.  HE HAS MADE SOME LAZY TO’S WITH PASSES AND BALL HANDLING- MOSTLY UNDERESTIMATING ATHLETICALLY THE OPPOSITION.

-Is he going to be a little bitch and whine and mope everytime something bad happens (Iguodala, Andre)?
I’VE SEEN NO SIGN OF THIS SO FAR, HAVE YOU?

-Will Jrue PUSH it up the floor or look for the immediate outlet pass to lead a break with wreckless abandon, or “ho hum” it too much?
ABSOLUTELY.  HE’S DONE THIS EVERY TIME HE’S BEEN ON THE FLOOR AND IT IS HIS M.O.

-Can Jrue have the type of eye to thread the needle REGULARLY like he did with that one beautiful play Dannie alluded to in his post?
SEE ABOVE.  SO FAR HIS PASSES HAVE BEEN ON TIME AND NOT ALWAYS FLASHY.

-Is Jrue a TRUE pass first PG, or PG that will always looked to get others involved, or is he a scoring point that goes for his own shot first? I READ HIS REP IN HS WAS A GUY WHO LIKES TO PENETRATE DEEP IN THE LANE WITH THE MAIN GOAL OF BREAKING DOWN THE DEFENSE FOR AN ASSIST.  COMPARED IN STYLE TO HOW PAUL ATTACKS THE HEART OF THE D TO SET UP TEAMMATES.  WE’LL SE IF HIS SIZE/HANDLE ALLOW HIM TO DO THIS AT AN NBA LEVEL.  ELITE HS IS NO WHERE CLOSE TO THE NBA.

-Will he show good shot selection, and a good instinct for when to push/attack in order to get teammates involved, vs. times when the team will need him to try and score?

-Can he do the “little PG things”…come off high screens with precision, make non-sloppy, non-lazy passes, pass into the post safely, keep his defender honest by testing the waters of driving and then pulling back, change speeds during a drive?
GOOD QUESTION.

-What level of court vision, in a full court transition and half court offense, does Jrue have?
SEE ABOVE.  I’D SAY HE IS ALREADY WELL AHEAD OF LOU IN THIS REGARD.

Sorry about the caps, felt it was the easiest way to respond to so many questions.

]]> By: Dannie http://www.reclinergm.com/great-4th-quarter-same-result-for-the-sixers/#comment-23921 Dannie Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:19:35 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=8254#comment-23921 <p><strong><em>Zack</em></strong> - You also must factor in to your "trends" whose been hurt for those teams...</p> <p><strong>Chicago</strong> - Healthy Derrick Rose (he started the season playing with an ankle sprain word is he is finally getting close to 100%), return of Tyrus Thomas</p> <p><strong>Detroit</strong> - Healthy Richard Hamilton and Tyshaun Prince (Detroit has lost their last 5 but both of these guys haven't played)</p> <p><strong>Indiana</strong> - Return of Mike Dunleavy</p> <p><strong>Milwaukee</strong> - Return of Michael Redd came back in limited minutes last game.  Return of Bogut in 2-4 weeks.  Return of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.</p> <p><strong>Toronto</strong> - Is similar to us, except they have Bosh and we have Brand and they have some guys that can shoot and we don't.  If the defense even's out between us and them they win with better offense.</p> <p>Those teams have been missing key players who will likely return for the second half of the season AND they still have been either on par with the Sixers or better.</p> <p>On the other hand the Sixers have stunk while at 100% (before Speights went down) and will be without him for another month+.</p> <p>What I see happening is the Sixers falling behind and the only way they will be flirting with a playoff berth is if they go on one of their ridiculously unpredictable runs where they win 15 of 18 games.</p> Zack – You also must factor in to your “trends” whose been hurt for those teams…

Chicago – Healthy Derrick Rose (he started the season playing with an ankle sprain word is he is finally getting close to 100%), return of Tyrus Thomas

Detroit – Healthy Richard Hamilton and Tyshaun Prince (Detroit has lost their last 5 but both of these guys haven’t played)

Indiana – Return of Mike Dunleavy

Milwaukee – Return of Michael Redd came back in limited minutes last game.  Return of Bogut in 2-4 weeks.  Return of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

Toronto – Is similar to us, except they have Bosh and we have Brand and they have some guys that can shoot and we don’t.  If the defense even’s out between us and them they win with better offense.

Those teams have been missing key players who will likely return for the second half of the season AND they still have been either on par with the Sixers or better.

On the other hand the Sixers have stunk while at 100% (before Speights went down) and will be without him for another month+.

What I see happening is the Sixers falling behind and the only way they will be flirting with a playoff berth is if they go on one of their ridiculously unpredictable runs where they win 15 of 18 games.

]]> By: Zack http://www.reclinergm.com/great-4th-quarter-same-result-for-the-sixers/#comment-23920 Zack Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:32:59 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=8254#comment-23920 Dannie, right now, based on early trends, the 4 teams ahead of us - Toronto, Chicago, Indiana, Detroit - haven't shown any signs of separating themselves from the pack and claiming a foothold on the 7th and 8th seeds.  Toronto no defense, Chicago bad coach, Indiana needs talent, Detroit no chemistry.  I'd lump us in with Chicago, bad coach (though I'm no expert on Del Negro) on team with talent.  I wouldn't be surprised if Milwaukee joined this mediocre group once more scouting is done on Brandon Jennings. About Jason Smith, I'll add this to his list of negatives - he really can't post up, and it's a mistake to give him the ball down low unless he clearly has a layup or dunk in front of him or he's gonna get blocked; also, he's a lazy passer, which is somewhat disappointing because he seems to have good court awareness.  But for the life of me I can't understand this team's better play when he's on the floor.  Sure he doesn't get the rebounds, but good defense comes before the rebounds, and that's what the Sixers' defense is when he's on the floor - good, not great, but good.  As to why, I'm not sure. Last note - last night was the first significant minutes he's had with Sam, let's see them play together some more, eh? Dannie, right now, based on early trends, the 4 teams ahead of us – Toronto, Chicago, Indiana, Detroit – haven’t shown any signs of separating themselves from the pack and claiming a foothold on the 7th and 8th seeds.  Toronto no defense, Chicago bad coach, Indiana needs talent, Detroit no chemistry.  I’d lump us in with Chicago, bad coach (though I’m no expert on Del Negro) on team with talent.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Milwaukee joined this mediocre group once more scouting is done on Brandon Jennings.

About Jason Smith, I’ll add this to his list of negatives – he really can’t post up, and it’s a mistake to give him the ball down low unless he clearly has a layup or dunk in front of him or he’s gonna get blocked; also, he’s a lazy passer, which is somewhat disappointing because he seems to have good court awareness.  But for the life of me I can’t understand this team’s better play when he’s on the floor.  Sure he doesn’t get the rebounds, but good defense comes before the rebounds, and that’s what the Sixers’ defense is when he’s on the floor – good, not great, but good.  As to why, I’m not sure.

Last note – last night was the first significant minutes he’s had with Sam, let’s see them play together some more, eh?

]]> By: Dannie http://www.reclinergm.com/great-4th-quarter-same-result-for-the-sixers/#comment-23919 Dannie Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:11:05 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=8254#comment-23919 <p><strong><em>Zack</em></strong> - Why exactly do you think we are going to flirt with the 8th seed?</p> <p>I fully expect to be 5-13 by next Tuesday.  Speights will still be out.  Who knows how Brand will play now that he has another lower extremity issue.</p> <p>And at this point looking at the schedule for easy games is pointless since the Sixers are clearly the "mark" on everyone's schedule.</p> <p>When you play defense as poorly as the Sixers do every time has to be licking their chops when it's time to play the Sixers.</p> <p> </p> Zack – Why exactly do you think we are going to flirt with the 8th seed?

I fully expect to be 5-13 by next Tuesday.  Speights will still be out.  Who knows how Brand will play now that he has another lower extremity issue.

And at this point looking at the schedule for easy games is pointless since the Sixers are clearly the “mark” on everyone’s schedule.

When you play defense as poorly as the Sixers do every time has to be licking their chops when it’s time to play the Sixers.

 

]]> By: Zack http://www.reclinergm.com/great-4th-quarter-same-result-for-the-sixers/#comment-23918 Zack Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:59:26 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=8254#comment-23918 krazykevy, I think your wish will come true because of coach EJ and this organization (what are you guys doing, what's the damn plan).  This team is gonna flirt with making the 8th seed but ultimately because of coach EJ we're gonna lose it and be in the lottery. But we're in the wrong conference for tanking, we're only 1 1/2 games from the 8th spot, and the two teams in front of us are Indiana and Detroit.  I can't believe Milwaukee's the 5th seed.  And I can't believe the Knicks could have had a backcourt of Eric Gordon and Brandon Jennings right now.  So krazykevy, the GM has to know what he's doing, too - who do you want, by the way? krazykevy, I think your wish will come true because of coach EJ and this organization (what are you guys doing, what’s the damn plan).  This team is gonna flirt with making the 8th seed but ultimately because of coach EJ we’re gonna lose it and be in the lottery.

But we’re in the wrong conference for tanking, we’re only 1 1/2 games from the 8th spot, and the two teams in front of us are Indiana and Detroit.  I can’t believe Milwaukee’s the 5th seed.  And I can’t believe the Knicks could have had a backcourt of Eric Gordon and Brandon Jennings right now.  So krazykevy, the GM has to know what he’s doing, too – who do you want, by the way?

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