Comments on: Philadelphia 76ers 10 Games In http://www.reclinergm.com/philadelphia-76ers-10-games-in/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:41:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: TheFMA http://www.reclinergm.com/philadelphia-76ers-10-games-in/#comment-23417 TheFMA Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:28:45 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=7914#comment-23417 I just saw a clip of the Sixers practice on NBC 10 news.  It was Kapono making an entry pass to Brand on the block.  Maybe Jordan is starting to figure things out? I just saw a clip of the Sixers practice on NBC 10 news.  It was Kapono making an entry pass to Brand on the block.  Maybe Jordan is starting to figure things out?

]]> By: Changes Coming for the Sixers? http://www.reclinergm.com/philadelphia-76ers-10-games-in/#comment-23370 Changes Coming for the Sixers? Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:50:24 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=7914#comment-23370 [...] Player and coach clearly disagree on Brand’s healthy and preparedness to compete at a high level for 40 minutes.  I can’t wait for the soft spoken, usually polite Brand to lash out.  And we are only 10 games in. [...] [...] Player and coach clearly disagree on Brand’s healthy and preparedness to compete at a high level for 40 minutes.  I can’t wait for the soft spoken, usually polite Brand to lash out.  And we are only 10 games in. [...]

]]> By: deepsixersuede http://www.reclinergm.com/philadelphia-76ers-10-games-in/#comment-23367 deepsixersuede Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:23:42 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=7914#comment-23367 I agree with your starters but feel Carney and Lou in the backup backcourt is a good combo because Carney seems to be defending well this year. I agree with your starters but feel Carney and Lou in the backup backcourt is a good combo because Carney seems to be defending well this year.

]]> By: Dannie http://www.reclinergm.com/philadelphia-76ers-10-games-in/#comment-23355 Dannie Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:59:49 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=7914#comment-23355 <p>Andre could be an all-star but in my opinion it really doesn't matter.</p> <p>The first 5 guys (starters) are 100% decided by fan popularity and the population of the city/country that supports that player.  He will never be a starter even if he averaged 30-5-5.</p> <p>The second part of that will be year-to-year who starts the season HOT in the East.</p> <p>Iguodala killed himself last season starting so poorly.  This season he has shot the ball from the field better but is killing himself and the team with his free throw shooting.  He is attempting less and missing more than ever before.</p> <p>Another factor is what position is he?  Shooting guard or small forward?  The reserves they try to get a good mix, not just the best players regardless of position so there is a finite number of spots and it depends how the coaches compare him.  I think that actually hurts him because he could be competing against both SG and SFs.  So here are guys he might be up against:</p> <ol> <li>Paul Pierce</li> <li>Joe Johnson</li> <li>Danny Granger</li> <li>Ben Gordon</li> <li>Luol Deng</li> <li>Caron Butler</li> <li>Hedo Turkoglu</li> <li>Ray Allen</li> <li>Vince Carter</li> </ol> <p>Maybe as we get closer I will do a comparison of Dala vs. all these guys and see how he ranks in a # of categories.</p> <p>The last part is team success.  And we know that's not helping his cause right now either.</p> <p> </p> Andre could be an all-star but in my opinion it really doesn’t matter.

The first 5 guys (starters) are 100% decided by fan popularity and the population of the city/country that supports that player.  He will never be a starter even if he averaged 30-5-5.

The second part of that will be year-to-year who starts the season HOT in the East.

Iguodala killed himself last season starting so poorly.  This season he has shot the ball from the field better but is killing himself and the team with his free throw shooting.  He is attempting less and missing more than ever before.

Another factor is what position is he?  Shooting guard or small forward?  The reserves they try to get a good mix, not just the best players regardless of position so there is a finite number of spots and it depends how the coaches compare him.  I think that actually hurts him because he could be competing against both SG and SFs.  So here are guys he might be up against:

  1. Paul Pierce
  2. Joe Johnson
  3. Danny Granger
  4. Ben Gordon
  5. Luol Deng
  6. Caron Butler
  7. Hedo Turkoglu
  8. Ray Allen
  9. Vince Carter

Maybe as we get closer I will do a comparison of Dala vs. all these guys and see how he ranks in a # of categories.

The last part is team success.  And we know that’s not helping his cause right now either.

 

]]> By: guest http://www.reclinergm.com/philadelphia-76ers-10-games-in/#comment-23352 guest Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:19:09 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=7914#comment-23352 Quick. Someone email Eddie Jordan the link to this post. Maybe he might learn something.  Great post Dannie.  Couldn't agree more with the problems you pointed out.   One thing that should be addressed by Jordan, which you also pointed out.  Why not have Kapono throw the entry pass into the post?  Especially if they are going to double Brand.  Set strategies like that, we were expecting to see entering the season.  We have seen nothing to this point and that needs to change.   And it's funny how the youngest player on the team, Jrue, had one of the smartest postgame quotes all season.  I'm gonna use this season's new staple: A Sign of Coach Cluelessness.   Quick question.  Is Andre Iguodala an Allstar this year?  Will he ever become one? Quick. Someone email Eddie Jordan the link to this post. Maybe he might learn something.  Great post Dannie.  Couldn’t agree more with the problems you pointed out.
 
One thing that should be addressed by Jordan, which you also pointed out.  Why not have Kapono throw the entry pass into the post?  Especially if they are going to double Brand.  Set strategies like that, we were expecting to see entering the season.  We have seen nothing to this point and that needs to change.
 
And it’s funny how the youngest player on the team, Jrue, had one of the smartest postgame quotes all season.  I’m gonna use this season’s new staple: A Sign of Coach Cluelessness.
 
Quick question.  Is Andre Iguodala an Allstar this year?  Will he ever become one?

]]> By: Dave T http://www.reclinergm.com/philadelphia-76ers-10-games-in/#comment-23341 Dave T Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:01:14 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=7914#comment-23341 <strong>Dannie: </strong>Excellent post...that's a great collection of the majority of what's going wrong with the team.   <strong>My view - </strong>Foolish or not, I almost always take a stance of "wait 18 games before making in stone assessments about a team...the first 15-20 games in the NBA season tend to be very flukey, wacky, odd, and teams are still trying to figure themselves and rotations out".  I am going to take this approach with this team.  If I don't, I'm just going to start punching holes in my wall, which was already abused enough when Johnny Damon stole two bases on one play.   But it is very common for teams that are atrocious to have great runs the first 15-20 games, only to suck soon after, and for teams struggling out of the gate to slowly right the ship as the season goes on.  I'd preach patience before any sort of "EJ needs to be run out of town!" mantra gets thrown around.   <strong>My five biggest concerns:</strong> <strong>1. </strong>Our individual basketball players, with possibly the exception of Iguodala and every now and then Thad...do not have high enough bball IQ's to run a system like the P.O predicated on a high level, improvisational ability to read the defense on the fly and make passes, cuts and screens accordingly.  Brand DOES have a good on court IQ...he's proved it during his other stints...but he sure isn't showing it this year.  Obviously Sammy, Lou, Green and others are no Jason Kidd's and Grant Hill's out there.   <strong>2. </strong>Elton Brand looks completely psyched out, is playing like a jittery 13 year old asking a girl to a first date, and is showing no confidence or swagger AT ALL in his game right now.  I really think this is 85% mental, 15% leftover injury stuff that slowed his athleticism down.   <strong>3. </strong>Our wins in "beating the bad teams" are not GOOD wins.  When we play bad teams, we should be BLOWING THEM AWAY.  Instead, we are squeaking by with lucky victories.  Not encouraging.   <strong>4. </strong> Our collective shot selection is absolutely, in every way, terrible.  I don't even care if they shoot 50% in a game...the shots they are taking are low percentage shots that is the antithesis of what this new offense is designed to do (create easy shots close to the basket and open midrange jumpers).  Iggy, Lou, I'm looking at you here.   <strong>5. </strong>Greek alluded to this in a previous post: our teams body language, camaraderie, cohesiveness, getting excited for one another on good plays, etc.  None exists.  Period.  If you can watch a team for two quarters and immediately see that team morale is low as a whole, and not just for that particular game...that is a very, very bad sign.   <strong>Point of view that I'm about to be slammed for - </strong>It's pathetic that's come to this, but I think the Speights injury might be a slight blessing in disguise, as it will force EJ to finally give Brand the 36-38 mpg he deserves.  Just having this regularity should improve Brand's mindset from the get go, as he won't be worrying about the eyes on his back wondering if he's going to be yanked or not.  It will also naturally raise his stats given that points in the paint have to come from somewhere, thus raising his stock ever so slightly around the League.  <strong>Most importantly, it is the "sink or swim" moment for Elton in proving what, or what not, he has left in his NBA tank. </strong>Speights is going to be great in years to come...I'm ok (and by ok, I mean my head popping off out of frustration) with this setback for a guy that will be a stud in the future, if that means it can help the travesty that is this Brand signing in any way. Dannie: Excellent post…that’s a great collection of the majority of what’s going wrong with the team.
 
My view – Foolish or not, I almost always take a stance of “wait 18 games before making in stone assessments about a team…the first 15-20 games in the NBA season tend to be very flukey, wacky, odd, and teams are still trying to figure themselves and rotations out”.  I am going to take this approach with this team.  If I don’t, I’m just going to start punching holes in my wall, which was already abused enough when Johnny Damon stole two bases on one play.   But it is very common for teams that are atrocious to have great runs the first 15-20 games, only to suck soon after, and for teams struggling out of the gate to slowly right the ship as the season goes on.  I’d preach patience before any sort of “EJ needs to be run out of town!” mantra gets thrown around.
 
My five biggest concerns:
1. Our individual basketball players, with possibly the exception of Iguodala and every now and then Thad…do not have high enough bball IQ’s to run a system like the P.O predicated on a high level, improvisational ability to read the defense on the fly and make passes, cuts and screens accordingly.  Brand DOES have a good on court IQ…he’s proved it during his other stints…but he sure isn’t showing it this year.  Obviously Sammy, Lou, Green and others are no Jason Kidd’s and Grant Hill’s out there.
 
2. Elton Brand looks completely psyched out, is playing like a jittery 13 year old asking a girl to a first date, and is showing no confidence or swagger AT ALL in his game right now.  I really think this is 85% mental, 15% leftover injury stuff that slowed his athleticism down.
 
3. Our wins in “beating the bad teams” are not GOOD wins.  When we play bad teams, we should be BLOWING THEM AWAY.  Instead, we are squeaking by with lucky victories.  Not encouraging.
 
4. Our collective shot selection is absolutely, in every way, terrible.  I don’t even care if they shoot 50% in a game…the shots they are taking are low percentage shots that is the antithesis of what this new offense is designed to do (create easy shots close to the basket and open midrange jumpers).  Iggy, Lou, I’m looking at you here.
 
5. Greek alluded to this in a previous post: our teams body language, camaraderie, cohesiveness, getting excited for one another on good plays, etc.  None exists.  Period.  If you can watch a team for two quarters and immediately see that team morale is low as a whole, and not just for that particular game…that is a very, very bad sign.
 
Point of view that I’m about to be slammed for – It’s pathetic that’s come to this, but I think the Speights injury might be a slight blessing in disguise, as it will force EJ to finally give Brand the 36-38 mpg he deserves.  Just having this regularity should improve Brand’s mindset from the get go, as he won’t be worrying about the eyes on his back wondering if he’s going to be yanked or not.  It will also naturally raise his stats given that points in the paint have to come from somewhere, thus raising his stock ever so slightly around the League.  Most importantly, it is the “sink or swim” moment for Elton in proving what, or what not, he has left in his NBA tank. Speights is going to be great in years to come…I’m ok (and by ok, I mean my head popping off out of frustration) with this setback for a guy that will be a stud in the future, if that means it can help the travesty that is this Brand signing in any way.

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