Comments on: Hot Three Point Shooting Not Enough to Beat Celtics

By: sfw

sfw — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:37:56 +0000

Dannie, Speights wasn’t on my radar. Thinking in the short term. Understand your point. Once Thad get’s comfortable with his perimeter game which is looking better of late, I think we may see him blosom into a goto guy. This is a golden opportunity for him; however, don’t know how the coach is going to game plan his new offensive lineup.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:12:33 +0000

SFW - Disagree. I see Speights as the focal point of this offense down the line. He can flat out shoot the ball. From a scorer perspective Speights is the Sixers best shooter (Kapono isn't a scorer, just a shooter to be clear). He makes too high a percentage of shots from the perimeter and has just enough post game combined with athleticism (hopefully the knee doesn't hinder this) to score consistently inside as well. I think he would be more reliable of scorer than Thad, until Thad proves he can consistently make perimeter shots.

If we are talking about guys who are scorers and not playmakers, Speights is better than Thad as the focal point offensively.

Ideally, I prefer we get someone in here that can score (and shoot well) but also can create both for himself and others well. Thad lacks greatly in that area which is why Iguodala is more versatile in that respect.

By: sfw

sfw — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:57:09 +0000

LA Steve, funny but after watching the Celts game I felt the same as you. Seemed Iggy just forced the action too much when nothing was there. I was surprised when I looked at the boxscore.
With the roster as currently constituted, I expect Thad to be the focal point for much of the offense. He does have that scorer mentality. Even when he misses he keeps pumping them up. I’m looking forward to seeing the Jrue/Thaddeus show! Hopefully Iggy accepts that.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:52:04 +0000

Brand is a game-time decision for tonight still.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:51:30 +0000

Yeah I am looking forward being down there first time this season. Experience the 29th ranked attendance first hand. Get to see how Jordan interacts on the sideline. How players look on the bench. Feel if there is any energy there. Good opponent to help push Sixers level of play up a notch or two.

By: jjg

jjg — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:37:28 +0000

Keep Johnson somewhat in check (will get his), body up Josh Smith (disrupt his athletic rhythm and opportunity buckets), get out on Bibby beyond arc/use him at the other end, force TOs, move the ball for open quality shots, TEAM rebounding effort, make FTs: conditions of possible Sixers win. Horford presents problems. If Boston & Cleveland games energy is missing, 5th straight L. One advantage to depleted roster: guys dressing are apt to be ready and eager to play. Should be fun to watch. Dannie & Pete, your upclose reporting will be of interest.

By: Dannie

Dannie — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:31:19 +0000

12 games over .500 last year is mediocre? I really want to know what you think the Sixers are then.

So when a team gives up 50 in a half at any point in the season they all of a sudden are not a solid defensive team?

The Hawks are and average defensive rebounding team and well, um its Dwight Howard. He does get a bout 4 offensive boards per game against everyone. He got 2 additional last night. Big deal. They did about as good a job as they could locking up Howard in the first half. He got off in the second as he needed to. He can be a dominant player against any team. It happens. I don't see how that makes the Hawks any worse.

The Hawks are probably just average defensively and above average offensively especially when it comes to not turning the ball over (best in the NBA) and offensive rebounding (5th).

Besides all that, the point was that I see no logical reason at all why anyone would think the Sixers have "a good chance" of beating anyone at this point. I think the Sixers have proved that to us already.

By: jkay

jkay — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:03:55 +0000

Dannie: giving up 50 pts in 2 qarters, isnt that defense? check out how many offensive rebounds and resulting putback dunks Howard had in the 3rd quarter alone. they hit shots in the 1st half i’ll give you that but they have never been a high voltage offensive team. you could say they resemble the sixers a bit needing fast break points or easy baskets. you could tell they were gonna come down to earth once the Magic tightened it up.
as per holding the Magic below their season average, they were also held to 74 in a loss at Oklahoma City and 80 in Detroit. not sure what that means.
i’m not a hawks fan. was just rolling with what everyone is saying about them. i almost expect them to fade back into medicority after the hot start, like last year. they are a much more talented team, for some reason we just match up well against them.

By: jjg

jjg — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:02:38 +0000

Brand: Andrew Lang with an attitude.

Missed last 5 quarters due to “tight” hammy … maybe 4 more tonight. Philly’s still ready, Elton. Are you?

By: jjg

jjg — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:29:43 +0000

Dannie, I think you’re overrating him, but not nearly as much as GM Stefanski did. A “good productive player” doesn’t run counter to team goal of winning with a guiding egotism (which whispers to him that he is somehow SPECIAL on a court) that’s coupled with erratic decision-making & correlative performance … on-and-off D, stretches of offensive passivity, goofy halfcourt game (Loyd Free w/o torrid scoring ability) including ego-based fancy assist concern, frequent TOs and brick shooting (FG & FT). One of the best gallopers and tomahawk dunkers in NBA; otherwise an average player.