Chuck: “Ernie, the man’s got to learn how to shoot.“ 

Ernie: “Well don’t you think the addition of a new player in Brand, and less shots, might…”

Chuck: “No excuses Ernie.  Man’s got to learn how to shoot.”

Nicely put.

Orlando is kind of a nightmare match-up for us.  Do you want Sammy getting run over by Dwight Howard, or is he going to be following Rashard Lewis on the perimeter?  With the way our defensive rotation has been (since last year, too) we really have no good options.  I foresee R-Lew having a monster game (great for my fantasy team)

If there is a game for Iggy to step up in, it’s this one.  Brand won’t have an easy time inside against Howard, and we are going to get no respect at the line.   We need Thad to start off with his saucey 3-point shooting again.  The one bright spot is Miller should be able to light Nelson up on the post.  Should leave Iggy or Thad open for mid-range shots. 

The keys to this one are going to be sticking on Lewis and putting pressure on Hedo with Thad and Iggy, along with how Andre Miller takes advantage of his mismatch.

Dave T  I can see the KG will to win in him, but he lacks the burning incandescence of Garnett that raises others games, at least from what I see in 5 – less thoroughbred, more  
plowhorse.  Thad’s on the same winning wavelength as Brand, doing his best Pierce imitation so far.  Problem is, we don’t have a cool sniper like Allen, waiting calmly to slide to gaps.  And Sixers’ spare parts don’t mesh (yet) like last year’s Celts.  A lot of figuring out still on table. 

Dannie   Good analysis of offensive end logjam.  And I’m with you on questioning certain players b-ball IQs.  Some goofy stuff goin’ on in halfcourt game.           

Brand is a worker and like I said in my post he isn’t all that big for the position and not all that athletic.  So he needs to rely more on being smart, relentless and use position to his advantage.  So far the Sixers coaches and players have not helped him in anyway to thrive on this team.  They think they can just dump it in and he will score and I think that is why guys are just standing around watching.  They don’t know how to react when a post player is getting double teamed so they do nothing.    Or they can’t shoot (Iguodala) and they either hesitate, flat out brick or just start wasting dribbles rather than quickly moving the ball around the floor. 

We thought we had some smart basketball players that understand how to play the game right and so far it doesn’t look like it to me.

That said, Brand CAN, and will IMO, have a KG like effect on this team.  His man to man defense is superb, team defense is excellent, he’s a well rounded veteran that is fundamentally sound, knows how to use his body, is selfless, and only cares about winning.  I really do think we just need time to gel, and that by game 20 we’ll be more of an actual team that works together, rather then as spare parts, like someone said, “running around like a chicken with its head cut off”. 

I think once Dalembert calms the hell down, he and Brand will be an ideal match in the post (we’ve already seen this with rebounding), and I do see Brand as being a winner, and someone with an attitude that will be able to get guys in line.  I think he’s worth every penny we paid…but that said, I think it’s a mistake to consider us as having landed a supreme NBA force.  He’s not that…he’s a VERY GOOD post player that brings toughness, defense, and a professional attitude.  That will rub off, and when things click, he’ll be a big reason why.

(now whether that includes Iggy or not is a question that remains to be seen…)