Let me start with this breaking news: KG is not ready to play and could miss the entire playoffs!?! Was that weak ass win really a good thing if that is the case? KG-less Celtics or Jameer-less Magic?
OK season is over, forget it for now. We will definitely have much to discuss about it and where to go when the playoffs are over. Here is the schedule:
- Game 1: Sunday, April 19. @ Orlando. 5:30 p.m. on TNT
- Game 2: Wednesday, April 22. @ Orlando. 7 p.m. on NBATV
- Game 3: Friday, April 24. @ Philadelphia. 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
- Game 4: Sunday, April 26. @ Philadelphia. 6:30 p.m. on TNT
- Game 5: Tuesday, April 28. @ Orlando. TBD. TBD*
- Game 6: Thursday, April 30. @ Philadelphia. TBD. TBD*
- Game 7: Saturday, May 2. @ Orlando. TBD. on TNT*
* = if necessary
I hate that their is a two day break between game 1 and 2 instead of between the first change of venue. Doesn’t make sense to me. What is the reason for that?
I was going back through some stuff from last year. Found this post about the possibility of facing the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs last year. It’s funny looking back. Look at all the enthusiasm felt last year going into the playoffs. Not the same feeling this time around. What is the same was the Sixers situation going into the homestretch of the season.
Last year they needed to win some games to finish the season to move to 6th and face Orlando which at the time was clearly the best case scenario for the Sixers. They couldn’t get it done. Same thing this year except the best case scenario would have been moving into 5th and facing Atlanta. Instead they kind of tripped and landed in the 6th seed were they will be facing Orlando same as if they would have finished 6th last season.
This just a preliminary post for you guys to start talking playoffs until I can sit down at home and really write some stuff up. If you have ideas let me know.
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The Kevin Garnett news is really shocking to me. To play a team where we lost by 1 point to without KG, would have been a rare but awesome opportunity for us. However, I am a firm believer in playing every single game to win and Dileo said going into this last stretch, the goal is to get the highest possible seed.
I do not think the Orlando Magic match-up is that much worse than the Celtics match-up, even without Garnett. If you have been paying attention to the rest of the league over the last couple weeks, you would notice that the Magic have been struggling just as bad as we have. They went 4-5 in the month of April including losses to the Raptors, Knicks, Nets, and Bucks. Hopefully we can step it up and make this a series.
not just that but in he playoffs, defense is really what separates pretenders from contenders cos you have to play D all 48mins to guard the top 8 EFFICIENT offensive teams (usually most of them make the playoffs). Boston even without KG has very good D. facing Orlando will allow our miniscule offense to at least have a chance. We guard the 3pt line or they miss shots and we have a chance.
Any news on how healthy Turkolgu is? I haven’t heard anything. I think that will ultimately determine how many games we push this series to. If he is not 100% healthy, we really need to attack him on the offensive side. He will be guarding either Iguodala or Thaddeus so we should have a good match up there. Im sure Dannie will give us his one on one match ups, but look for Andre Miller to attack Skip to my Lou Alston on offense. Miller likes to post up smaller guards so thats what I am going to be watching for. Should be exciting. It’s interesting how everyone is talking about “Will the Celtics be able to get past the Magic in the Second round?” Not really much talk about our Sixers. The team’s mentality will probably be similar to last years “us against the world” mentality. Should be fun to watch.
Jkay – That is not the case at all. Orlando is:
When you also consider they are only 11th in offensive rating it becomes extremely clear Orlando wins because of their defense. I think people get lost in their three point shooting (38.1% sixth in the NBA) and Howard inside and overlook how strong a defensive team they are. Stan Van Gundy is a defense first coach and constantly hounds his players with the whiny voice about defense more than anything else.
Guest….We should definitely have an advantage with Miller vs Alston (and Johnson and Lue). It’s a much better matchup than Miller vs Rondo, that’s for sure. We need to exploit it. Let’s see how much we get out of it.
guest: lets hope so. lets also hope this 7 game stretch was just a brain-fart or sumthin. Miller being able to post up Alston could be huge for us in the playoffs because of how half court oriented its gonna be. well, we’ll see then.
Magic without Jameer Nelson…not much of a drop off, without or not 100% Tukoglu = VERY beatable team. we can never guard him. he kills us ALWAYS. there’s no answer for him.
“Magic without Jameer Nelson…not much of a drop off.” I wouldn’t say that, jkay.
Individually, there is a huge drop off from Nelson to Alston. Also, as a team, the Magic were 36-10 with Nelson and 19-10 with Alston, and 4-5 in April like Guest said.
Latest on Hedo Turkoglu
4/14 – “Turk’s had very little swelling and no discoloration,” Coach Stan Van Gundy said. “I think he could have even played [against the Bucks on Monday].”
4/15 – Turkoglu did some light shooting Wednesday. Turk said that he may not be 100 percent for about another week, but is hopeful that his left foot will be in game shape for the tip-off of the postseason Saturday or Sunday.
“It’s feeling good today,” Turkoglu said. “… It’s getting stronger and I think I’ll be ready.”
Latest on Rashard Lewis
4/15 – Lewis only participated in about half of the walk through this morning. “I don’t think so,” he said of the possibility of Lewis missing time playoff. “He didn’t make it through the walk through today, so that’s not a great sign. What we were doing was nowhere near what a game like thing would be, so we’ll see.”
Wow, of all games, the Sixers had to win yesterday’s game. I had a feeling the Bulls tanked their game against the Raptors, assuming Garnett would not be a 100% playoff time. When a player is Yoyoed like that, it can definitely affect his conditioning and his spirits. As an NBA fan, I hope Garnett does feel better because he represents that true passion of the game and would have single handedly been “Defensive Player of the Year” twice. He does more defensively than Dwight Howard, who only blocks shots.
However, unlike the Magic, the Celtics are much better defensively and have better individual defenders like Pierce and Tony Allen. They would give Iggy fits like the Pistons did last season. The Magic have Pietrus as perhaps their best individual defender with the quickness and length.
Another factor could be Turkoglu’s injury. How severe is it and will it affect his movement? He is good at shot faking and taking it to the hoop, so the Sixers must stop him right in his tracks. Surprisingly, he is the Magic’s (active) best playmaker with about 5 assists. Then that would leave us with Lewis as their man guy to defend, who does not have Turkoglu’s playmaking skills or the willingness to shot fake as much.
Also, when should the Sixers use “Hack A Dwight”? Our frontcourt for most part has done a great job of containing Howard. The real question is “Can we defend the perimeter consistently?” It is just a matter of picking the right spots.
In the three meetings, the first two were games in November where Mo was the coach and the rotation was not yet established. Brand had a great game in the second meeting. He actually did a great job one-on-one on Howard, it is a shame that we won’t be playing this postseason. That leaves our frontcourt with Dalembert, Ratliff, Evans, Speights, and possibly Marshall (which is 30 fouls they could use, maybe strictly for Howard). Also, Avery Johnson on ESPN said that the Sixers will UPSET the Magic using the power of Dalembert, Ratliff, and Evans to stop Howard. Either he knows something or he might be desperate for a coaching job. It sounds crazy, but the part about our frontcourt is true though.
Avery, if you can turn our defensive woes around for the Sixers, then I welcome you with open arms!
WILD CARDS:
Dalembert v.s Howard (one-on-one, full commitment)
Sixers’ bench v.s Magic’s bench (Enter Rush and Marshall!!)
This series will be like the musical ”Oliver”:
-”Please Sir, I want some more!” More points, perhaps more games.
-”Food Glorious Food”, fans will be getting a lot of free food for every 100 points scored.
-” Consider Yourself”–
1)Iggy should consider himself fortunate that Pietrus might be the Magic’s best individual defender, as opposed to Pierce and Tony Allen.
2) Brand, maybe he can consider himself healthy for next season. I will be looking for places where he would fit in this series if he did play.
-”You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket or Two”– Sixers must follow their game plan of forcing turnovers, gaining steals, and creating havoc on the fastbreak.
-”Where is Love?” WE NEED OUR FANS TO SHOW UP GAME 3 & GAME 4. (last year, Game 4 attendance was pathetic and we gave out gasoline for $0.76 per gallon).
GO SIXERS!! LET’S MAKE SOME MAGIC!!
FLASHBACK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdBVEH3_6Fs&feature=PlayList&p=F49CBA10E4D4996A&index=5
Allen Iverson
(1996-2006)
Guest – On Sportscenter this morning Avery Johnson actually picked the Sixers as his team to watch for a first round upset. He could legitimately believe that or he could be brown-noising for a head coaching position. (I am only slightly joking)
The Real Rob – Numbers don’t support that even a little bit over the course of 82 games this season. I think you and many people are working off of perception and some homeristic optimism fishing for positives going into this series more than what the facts say currently in regards to Orlando and their defense.
I am seeing this is a big mistakes by our fans right now.
Rob, Dannie: I think he IS auditioning for a coaching position. ass kissing never hurts. shows he at least likes the team.
sure it is trendy and understandable to pick the 6ers to be your 1st round upset and its something the sixers CAN do and not out of the realm of possibility AT ALL. but all this season the sixers, in all their games won, have NOT been able to find an answer for perimeter shooting. not one game at all. my problem is though they CAN do it, what makes us think its gonna happen now?? really! whats there to base this on?
looking for in the playoffs:
Iguodala to STEP UP and start earning his contract. forget offense, defense etc. just ANYTHING it takes to get a win. even if it involves reggie miller moves at the 3pt line to bait the refs.
Thad to show the league he has arrived. and none of that leaving Lewis open on the 3pt line knucklehead!
Sammy to JUST PLAY!
Lou Williams to try to do as little to keep us from winning.
give the fans something to hold onto, a tease, for next season!
Dannie, that is interesting about the injury situation and Avery Johnson. I saw Avery’s segment but I missed the Sixers situation. There is also an article on the Magic’s website about the player’s thoughts on their match-up with us.
Stan Van Gundy said this in that article, (kind of re-enforcing what you told us)
“Well Rashard thought he was going to play and then he went out and warmed up on it, shot on it and decided he couldn’t go. I think he will be and I hope he will be, but I just don’t know at this point. I think they’ll both be ready; I do. But, until it’s game time and they’re out there, I don’t know for sure.”
It sounds like they are pretty confident that they will be able to play effectively. Here is the article:
http://www.nba.com/magic/news/playoff_quotes_04152009.html
By the way… I would welcome Avery with open arms if he wants to coach up our horrible defensive team. He could definitely make us play with some passion because he sure as hell coaches with passion.
I could be overreacting but the basketball player in me has to say something about comments and thoughts like that. That is a losers mentality.
For one even if you did think that nonsense “we feel a lot better” that should never come out of your mouth publicly or privately. To me having players think that is exactly why this team has stunk lately (quite a while). So what if you did end up playing Boston? Clearly you don’t think you can win so the battle is already lost. How many other games have they gone in thinking like that?
That kind of thinking has put me in an extremely pissed off, F these players mood right now.
Guest – Did you read Howard’s quote about the Sixers in that link? Clearly a canned response:
Haha I would really love to see more of the Charles Barkley honestly nowadays from players.
Dannie : you can make the case, the other way with stats-
our 3 games against O-town: L 100-106, L 94-96, L 88-98 (Miller, Young funk). we are averaging 90sumth ppg (albeit with Brand) against their best in league D and the scores are very close for the 1st two coming down to last minute shots and non execution by us. what does that mean? you tell me; maybe we just match up better against them offfensively than this: against Cs – L 78-102, L-91-110 and then both games w/out Kg were very close.
well all that said it would be easier to play the Cs ure right but we dont do bad AT ALL gainst the Magic.
Yes, I did catch that. I would have liked him to point out how they swept us this year and how he thinks the Magic’s three point shooting is going to eat us alive in a short series. Nah Dwight is too nice for that. Maybe if we were playing Shaq we could get a response like that.
And that Lou Williams quote kind of bugs me too. Dileo said last night on NBATV, that the players are real confident and are very happy with the win. It look like Lou still stinks thinks that it is a long shot to make it to the second round. Interesting.
Dannie: you are getting pissed bout L0u Williams quotes? geez whaddyu expect! need I remind you Magic are 0 for 2 or 3 in postseason. so its nothing proven until you actually translate all those stats you’re putting up in the regular season in the playoffs.
By the way, for some reason everytime I try to bold, italicize, or anything like that, when I click post comment… it doesnt work. For example, I tried to strike through “stinks” in my comment above, but it didn’t work. I don’t know what the deal is… oh well.
A coach that gets on his players about defending, a novel approach. Sam/Dwight; Thad/Rashard; Iggy/Hedo; Willie/Courtney; Andre/Rafer; on paper matchups look pretty good from a defensive perspective but we are less than the sum of our parts whereas Orlando can hide a Turkeglu down their end because they have a plan and a coach that holds them accountable. Dannie, how much [pts. per game or games] does Van Gundy give them an edge ?
Jkay – Maybe you can make the case the other way, but you didn’t. You pointed out 3 losses. Close or not it’s losses and no wins. Besides that here is what else you brought up with your stats and some refinement of my own:
What does that mean? On average they held us below our scoring average and handled us about the same as they handled everyone else they beat season.
Jkay – Did you read Tom’s article? That was Lou’s direct quote but apparently it was the sentiment of Andre Miller and Willie Green as well.
Not accurate. Orlando won their first round playoff series against Toronto 4-1 last season before losing 4-1 to Detroit. Like we expected (hoped) our team would mature and naturally get better with seasoning and more chemistry Orlando has this season while buying into their coaches defensively philosophy. Most teams go through a progression rather than the instant success Boston had. That is what I see with this Magic team. They won a single playoff series last year and got beat up in the second round. This year they look to improve that. It’s exactly how I would look at the Sixers as well. Looking at playoff history any further back is pointless because it doesn’t include Rashard Lewis on the roster or Stan Van Gundy as the coach.
my point, both losses were close. remember. the final score is always deceptive bcos of excessive fouling. so i dunno bout that point differential stat. Boston we got blown away twice with the starters hitting the bench early. that was with KG. thats my idea of dominant. Orlando is not that. very good feeling about playing them although Boston would be the logical preference.
check this out; http://www.nba.com/magic/schedule/ (sorry in dont cant pull up stats like that, busy ere)
before they lost nelson they were averaging like 8+ppg differentials in their wins. after injury i guess it went down to like 6 or whatever you have. we played them close even when they had Nelson. i remember last season, we got blown out by them but kept making each game closer and closer. i think we’re close enough to stand a chance.
Magic: lost 3 TIMES to Detroit this year. the same Detroit without Billups that sitting in miserable 8th place. Whopped their asses 3 time. i can understand the postseason last year and like forever, but this year?….. Maybe we should start taking some notes.
Dannie: all right!! i think i’ve said enough. the devil’s advocate thing dont suit me anyways. what happens, happens!!
Dannie, do you really want honesty? Lou was honest. The Sixers stink, and have little to no chance of beating Orlando, albeit a better chance than beating Boston, if Turkgolu and Lewis are out. Hell, I’d only give them a 50/50 chance of beating Chicago or Detroit in a 7 game series.
Jkay – At quick glance three things stand out in their Detroit loses this season:
Besides that: Orlando shot 44% from the field (45.6% on the season) and 34% (38.1% on the season) from three in those games.
Morty – I don’t have a problem with honesty. I have a problem with the mindset. The “honest” lack of confidence in yourself and your team regardless of opponent.
My biggest problem is that he/they thought that in the first place and secondary that he actually said so publicly. I am a HUGE believer in the mental aspect of the game being the difference between truly Great and everyone else. No one on this roster is great, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have confidence in yourself and team against anyone.
That’s why I hate the question posed to a player “who would you rather play. ” We can toy with it as fans. The player: You play however ends up in front of you – period. No need to say anything.
Why even play if that is the mindset with regard to an opponent?
Miller said after Thursday’s short practice that he still thinks Orlando is a better matchup because the Celtics are “playing good basketball. Their leadership and professionalism has rubbed off on the entire team. Those young guys are playing like veterans.”
I respectfully disagree, especially if Garnett cannot play. The Magic are a tough match for the Sixers because they have a quick point guard, lots of shooters and Dwight Howard. My pick: Orlando in five.
How are these for numbers:
Sixers’ 3-point percentage: 31.8 (30th/last in league)
Sixers’ 3-pointers made: 341 (29th)
Magic 3-point %: 38.1 (6th)
Magic 3-pointers made: 817 (2nd)
In Orlando’s three wins over Sixers, Magic had 33 3s to Sixers’ 13.
Sorry. Not sure why it’s adding all those goofy style definitions.
I think Lou is perhaps our biggest “talker” of the team, a little too cocky there. He better be careful with what he says, it might bite us back!
Also, here is what ESPN has regarding Lewis and Turkoglu’s statuses:
Van Gundy: Starters MIGHT return.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/news?id=4074296
What does MIGHT mean? Who in the playoffs is playing possum and who is telling the truth? I wonder, is Sammy really hurt or is he playing possum?
Anyway, I can’t wait for the playoffs!!
Dwight Howard (1st in dunks)
Andre Iguodala (3rd in dunks)
GO SIXERS!! ATTACK THE BASKET!!
Was surprising to see Miller take the lump-lump at stripe with game on line. His next crucial ones will include that ghost.
Nice D by Ivey (and moisture on floor? low-tread Nikes? wide stride and nudge?) on “Boobie.” THE SIXERS HAVE BEATEN THE CAVALIERS JV!! THE SIXERS HAVE BEATEN THE CAVALIERS JV!! (AND HAVLICEK HAS STILL STOLEN THE BALL!!)
Sixers entering playoffs as they like it: no public expectation of winning series, reduction of external pressure; fueling, as they wait, on “others don’t respect us; we’ll see about that” mentality. Since they’ve shown no ability to handle a team that moves the ball well and shoots from deep (including Magic), hard to imagine them finding the formula now. Bigger upsets have happened though. A puncher’s chance: Curly Howard’s.
Dalembert is listed as day-to-day, but DiLeo said Thursday that he’ll be fine to play against Orlando unless he re-injures the strained shoulder.
Iguodala on why he’s confident the Sixers can advance past the Magic: “That I’m out there. I feel like when I’m out there, we have a chance to win, no matter what.”
Phone booths and Dwight Howard beware: Iggy’s gettin’ the Superman complex.
That left side flight to the basket last night (in which he or the defender could’ve gotten seriously injured) was crazy; reminded me of childhood jumps off the roof of a garage. Basketball & Mr. Iguodala: not perfect together.
Sam’s long and athletic but has small shoulders. Big men who know what they’re doin’ down low can take advantage of his slightness. Example: the distinguished Kwami Brown, the mighty Kendrick Perkins, ‘Baq On Traq’ Shaq, et al.
I think this series is “winnable” if, in the half court they contain the big man and stay at home on shooters. We all know that hasn’t beer their strongest attribute this season, and I HIGHLY doubt that will change this weekend. At this point, Ill can hope is for them to at least win the game I go to.
Mark it down, book it, here it is, my bold prediction. IF the Sixers steal one of the games in Orlando, they win this series 4-2. Now I won’t lay any money on this just a bold yet not well thought out prediction. This is the true HOMER in me. All the negative crap I’ve given them on this blog site. All the screaming and cursing I’ve done at the tv this season comes down to this. 4-2 Sixers win, Sixers Win, Sixers Win!
RRose, Confidence is the key. I sure as hell hope your right. Are you bold enough to say they will beat the KG-less Celtics in the second round?
Guest, bold not crazy. Even though they don’t match up well against the Magic I think its worse against the Celtics. Ray Allen didn’t play last game and I think he would have affected that game greatly on the offensive end. The experience of Pierce and Allen along with the quickness of Rondo really is too much for the Sixers in a 7 game series.
Calling Sixers Optimists
If you have a legitimately favorable outlook and view of this first round playoff series and have a feeling they not could win, but will win let me know and you want to do a guest post let me know.
Don’t worry I have the unfavorable side covered.
At the risk of throwing another log on the fire of negativity, I read a quote from Miller about the team’s second consecutive late season collapse that really disturbed me.
“We just lost it, mentally,” Miller said. “Any time you relax in this league, bad things happen. I think relaxed a little bit, and that triggered a losing streak. Just like last year.”
How you relax coming down the stretch when you are supposedly fighting to get into the playoffs or attempting to earn a higher seed is beyond my grasp. How you do it two years in a row is incomprehensible to me.
We are supposed to believe that the playoff experience the Sixers garnered last year will help them this year, right? Well, the experience they gathered during last year’s stretch run didn’t help them any this year, so I’ll believe it when I see it.
Last year’s late season drop off led to a first round loss in 6 games. This year’s late season meltdown………???? Suffice it to say, I’m not expecting much.
@Dannie I don’t know if we have enough optimismistic views on here. Just playing pick up ball or anything organized I hate to lose. So asking or hoping that the Sixers lose this series is not in my comprehension. Just like those people who say the Sixers should tank the season in order to get a few more ping pong balls. The Blazers would be just as good without Oden and the Thunder would be just as bad without Durant. So that’s why I say, Sixers do what you can and win at all cost.
@bski I think Miller relaxed. He hasn’t played well at all in this stretch of 7 games. Or at least not consistent. Whether its because he is tired or like he said too relaxed, he didn’t have a good end to his season last year. Is that a sign? Miller had a horrible playoff series against the Pistons. Maybe he needs to focus more, he’s got at least 4 more games to do it. Or its over.
bski, As much as that quote disturbs me…. It was obvious they were relaxed when watching them play. I didn’t need to read the quote to realize that. This year’s late season meltdown will probably lead to another 6 game loss in the first round. But then again, we are a better team than we were last year. And the Magic are not as good as the Pistons were last year. So Im expecting at least a couple wins in this series. Hopefully.
Let’s be unbiased and put down reasons why Orlando would win the series and why Philadelphia would win the series?
Also, have you guys and girls filled your brackets out? I have.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/bracket
I say the Lakers win the Championship over the Cavaliers in 6 games. Really, I hope that does not happen, but I think it will.
1st Round:
EAST:
Pistons-Cavs: Cavs in 6
Bulls-Celtics: Celtics in 7
Magic-Sixers: Magic in 6 (sorry guys, I hope I’m wrong!)
Heat-Hawks: Hawks in 7
WEST:
Jazz-Lakers: Lakers in 5
Hornets-Nuggets: Nuggets in 6
Mavs-Spurs: Spurs in 7
Rockets-Blazers: Blazers in 7
2nd Round:
EAST:
Hawks-Cavs: Cavs in 5
Magic-Celtics: Celtics in 6
WEST:
Blazers-Lakers: Lakers in 6
Spurs-Nuggets: Nuggets in 6
Conference Finals:
EAST:
Celtics-Cavs: Cavs in 7
WEST:
Nuggets-Lakers: Lakers in 6
FINALS:
Lakers-Cavs: Lakers in 6
Finals MVP: Kobe Bryant
I hope I’m wrong with many of my selections, but I doubt it. Does anyone know if President Obama filled his out?
GO SIXERS!! PROVE ME WRONG!!
Here is the analysis from NBATV, from Steve Smith and our beloved Sixer Eric Snow:
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/playoffs/2009/04/16/nba_20090415_phi_orl_preview.nba/index.html
Enjoy!!
GO SIXERS!!
I don’t know who’s said that around here and that wasn’t at all what I was getting at either.
I just see absolutely no way the Sixers win this series looking at it logically and realistically from my point of view. When I do my post that will be clear. So I am trying to find someone who is on the other side that actually thinks the Sixers can and will win and wants to write about it so there are two sides.
I’ll give it until Saturday afternoon to see if anyone steps up.
I saw Igoudala this morning at the Starbucks on Cityline Ave. I told him he was going to shock the world…
…so how’s that for optimistic, Dannie? But I don’t believe it unless Turkgolu and Lewis are severely limited.
Wow, Morty. That’s awesome. Someone else happens to agree with you as well. Take a look:
http://csnphilly.com/pages/landing_09?Raanan-Why-the-Sixers-Could-Upset-Orland=1&blockID=49783&feedID=717
Andre Iguodala, unlike last year, will not face the same kind of defense he had to encounter with the Pistons. However, the Magic are a good defensive team, but it is their team defense, not their individual defense, that makes them a great defensive team.
Also, this would be the 10th anniversary of when the Sixers upset the Magic in Allen Iverson’s playoff debut in 1999.
Allen Iverson: If you ever read this, don’t throw your life away!! I hope you attend a Sixers’ game this postseason for inspiration and your best memories and moments are with the Sixers. And we thank you for those moments. I hope you don’t retire and hope you never give up.
GO SIXERS!! LET’S MAKE IT A SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY!!
RROSE, GUEST…….The main concern for me is why it happened in the first place, also how it has happened two years in a row.
Is it because Miller, and/or others, have worn down? Is it because we aren’t giving max effort on a nightly basis? Because we play some young guys a lot of minutes and their inexperience shows? Because we are lacking in the coaching department (different coach this year but still the same end of season result, right)? Because we just don’t have enough talent? All of the above? None of the above?
Since we should be getting max effort from everyone, this playoff series should answer a lot of questions. Based on what we see individually from Miller (and others)—-is he worn down for example—-and collectively from the team—-another quick first round exit because we just can’t match up against the better teams in the league for example—-these answers should provide a pretty clear idea as to what personnel decisions need to be made in order to improve this team.
bski, I look at our downhill slide as a coaching and overconfidence issue for most of our players. Anytime you lose consecutive games to teams like the Bobcats, Nets, Raptors, and Bulls….It can’t be about talent. Obviously having Thaddeus in those games, probably would have changed the outcomes of some of them. I think we would have won against the Bulls, Bobcats, and probably the Raptors.
However, even without Thad, we completely SUCKED in those losses. I haven’t seen us play that bad ever. The defense was our main problem. Whether that was inexperience, effort, or coaching, I don’t know. I think it was mostly coaching and effort. If we came out with 110% effort each of those games, we would have won at least half of them. And if we had a coach that actually coaches, then we probably wouldn’t have lost all of them.
But I can’t dismiss the fact the Miller looked like an 80 year old grandfather out there. I don’t know if it was that ankle injury he had a while ago, or if he was just worn down. But we need him to play like the normal Andre Miller if we want a chance at winning this thing.
ESPN SportsNation:
Total Votes: 22,606
Magic: 85% say the Magic will win this series
Sixers: 15% say the Sixers will win this series
Only two states have majority of the people voting for the Sixers. Of course the home state of the Sixers, and Delaware. In Penn. 59% say the Sixers will win, and in Del. 61% say the Sixers will win.
You can view ESPN.com’s preview of this match up here:
http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/matchup/_/teams/76ers-magic
I would have Green or Ivey on Alston as much as possible to prevent too much dribble penetration, which would result in open 3-pointers galore. Dalembert and Ratliff would have to try to handle Howard 1-on-1, which is a tall order. Try to stay home on the perimeter shooters and let them go inside the arc, but not all the way to the basket. I know it’s a lot to ask.
Dannie, mind if I give “Why the Sixers will win” a shot? I’ll try and get it done by lunchtime tomorrow (Pacific time), but I gotta get a feel for the approach first. Right now, what’s on my mind are some of these comments on Deep Sixer:
mrively: does anyone really care about pro basketball anymore?
Bill R4: Can anyone please explain to me why they would waste $1 to go and watch a Sixers game? Since game 1 everyone knew they had no chance at contending for the title. One trip to the Finals in 26 years. I don’t think they’ve even reached the Conference Finals in that time frame, but could be wrong on that one since I stopped following the Sixers in the mid-80’s. Even the top 4 teams in the NBA today would get swept by almost any of the 1980 to mid 1990’s final two teams.
phillyking22: to answer mrively’s question. No, nobody does. If Kobe isnt on , I dont. The sixers arent anything to watch. They suck. sixth seed, seventh seed, eighth seed, there not winning the championship. deal with it
Look, I can be the most negative Sixers fan, we can all be, but the growing sentiment out there that the NBA is becoming irrelevant pains me a lot. What happened? When basketball is at its best, it’s a sight to behold, but something’s happened.
I’m thinking about things like no one cares that the Spurs are an awesome sports organization, but in baseball and football that type of high-quality sports management is bankable with the general public. Both Peyton Manning and Danny Granger are in Indianapolis, but the only way people outside Indianapolis would end up caring more about Granger is if he became a Colts wide receiver.
Don’t get me started on the LeBron hype machine… Okay, I’ll start a little – I don’t get it. There’s a reason that Spurs-Cavs finals didn’t generate huge ratings – he’s become a big-time sports figure based on hype alone. Answer me this about him: he’s done what against whom? I think an athlete needs to have a couple of those sentences on his resume (I’ve done _____ against _____) before we start his legend. But the great story of the vaunted LeBron James has started before he’s even done anything!
Anyway, like I said, I’ll write something in the comments tomorrow. A sneak peek: I know for sure that I’m not gonna bring up stats…
bski, I just wanna say I’ve been keeping up with your writing on the Phils. I can’t really contribute right now because I can’t watch or listen to them right now, and that’s because I’m still deciding on the best media package from mlb.com.
I can’t even begin to describe how devastated I am by Harry Kalas’ leaving us, so I won’t.
Zack – Absolutely. Email it to reclinergm[at]gmail[dot]com rather than posting it in the comments and include a little byline for yourself as well (if you want) and I will post it with attribution to you. We are starting to do some guest posting now so this would be the first one.
Looking forward to your post, Zack. I actually do have some positive ideas/best case scenarios about how the Sixers can beat the Magic, but I’ll wait until your post is up before discussing them.
I can’t take my eyes off this Derrick Rose kid this morning.
Hey Sixer fans, you saw what I did right there to Boston in game 1? That was me reducing your chances of even making it past the Eastern Conference Finals within the next 10 years by half, from 0.001% to 0.0005%. At least y’all got the Phillies.
Hey Derrick Rose,
Once we sign Ben Gordon in the offseason we will increase those odds back up to 0.001%… Not to worry.
On Sixers, a Rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
Zack – You got that post coming?
Derrick Rose had a coming out party today. That’s how you go from a below average team to a competing playoff team. Add an impact player either from the top of the draft or free agency. Sixers tried with Brand, tbd. Part that has sucked for the Sixers, they haven’t been bad enough since they drafted Allen Iverson to get back to the top of the draft. Puts extra onus on the GM to make things happen.