I think it’s about that time men.
- For you to act like you give a shit about the rest of the season.
- For you play like these games DO mean something.
- For you understand going into the playoffs playing well and winning is the optimal scenario.
- For you to stop giving us reason after reason to doubt your potential.
Since they won 40 games and clinched a playoff berth they have come out looking completely lethargic and disinterested. I don’t know if they think they are locked into at least the 6th seed but they are not. Chicago is only 2 and a half games back and have a much easier remaining 4 games than do the Sixers. Lose tonight and you only have a 1 and a half game lead with 3 of 4 against Cleveland and Boston.
Look I understand we don’t have Thad. I understand he is a key player on this team. But are we 29 points worse than New Jersey without him? Are we a weaker team than Charlotte without him?
This is a must win for me. Losing 3 straight to some of the weaker opponents on their remaining schedule is not only unacceptable but speaks to this teams immaturity and lack of will. Especially when they have LeBron and crew in the building tomorrow night.
If they get man-handled tonight I might get started talking about the draft and off-season early. Something I have been fighting extremely hard not to do. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
I will be here during the game. Feel free to join me for some in-game discussion.
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{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
I will keep preaching it – watch for tyrus thomas! he has been on a tear as of late; box him out, keep him from the paint, dont let him go Hakim Warrick on us. If they can do that, they will make the Bulls what they normally are – a slash and perimeter shot team. you have a much better chance that way.
Accuscore gives the Sixers 20%, I feel about the same.
Yeah they are a 6 or 7 point dog tonight in Chicago. I gotta image the bookies have a tough time predicting the Sixers games.
Another team as talented or more talented than us [Charlotte,New Jersey] who if we don!t outwork will defeat us as well. Deleo hit it on the head when he stressed playing with a sense of urgency. Looking forward to different announcers, no lunchpail, best shot fake, Willie scores early, etc. etc. etc.
Sammy sucks airball!!!
poor derrick rose, he doesn’t have a good coach like deron and paul
Yeah that was a terrible hire by Chicago. Not exactly sure what they were thinking?
it seems so obvious too. chicago should play the way we try to. run, run, run. they obviously have the athletes to do it. just put the ball in rose’s hands and turn everyone loose.
Yeah and they have the added benefit of shooters to add some diversity offensively.
What did you think of Kennys comments about John Salmons at halftime?
what did he say?
How he is really good scorer. Can score in many ways easily.
Someone please tell Iguodala he doesnt have a fadeaway 22-foot jumper in his game.
This game was all about defense and free throw shooting. Not going to win giving up 113 points and shooting 59% from the line. 3 in a row.
L.Will. and Spieghts give back whatever they score right away. Chicago, with their trade deadline moves, are a way better team than us now and they are also missing a big piece [Deung].
i can’t believe whats going on with our guys. We are undermanned, and it’s showing how much thad means to this team.
-19 for sweet lou tonight
We completely suck right now. This team just loves to get our hopes up and then follow with multiple bad games in a row. And we especially suck on back to backs. We probably are going to get trounced by the Cavs. I will be shocked if we come close.
The Sixers’ bench was awful — had a plus-minus ratio of -66, while the starters were -4.
This years finish is looking very similar to last years finish.
UNC would wipe there asses with us, no joke. Without Thad I don’t even think that we would make it out of the second round of the ncaa tournament. As we all know were the worst outside shooting team in the nba. How many college teams have a better perimeter game then us? The answer is tons of them.
Build this team around the frontcourt of Thad and Brand. Everyone else can in the words of Chef Ramsey can “Piss Off”
Lou sucks! And apparently so does Ed stefanski.
It’s pathetically obvious that the Sixers MISS Thad and Brand!! Thad for the energy, hustle, rebounding, and most importantly scoring! Brand for the interior scoring, shotblocking, and most importantly his rebounding! Still, this season, Brand leads the team in REBOUNDING with 8.8 rebounds. Sammy is asleep on the job! The Sixers were a much better rebounding team when he played.
Moving Reggie Evans to the starting lineup, also hurts the bench. Evans’ energy truly belongs coming off the bench and providing a spark. Lately our bench has not been providing us with the energy and productivity we would normally expect. Thad would at least bring it night in and night out. The best thing about him is that you do not have to run any plays for him. He finds the mismatches easily and posts up well.
The things that are unforgiving are: settling for jump shots and missing free throws. All we are left with offensively are the Andres. I seriously can’t wait for Thad to return this season and to have both Brand and Thad next season. The Sixers could have a great Fantastic Four there. If our starting lineup were vowels, we have a couple of Y’s in the lineup, guys that sometimes show up (Willie and Sammy). Willie Green is better off coming off the bench next season as a guy who can play on the ball defense and give you a scoring punch for a quarter. If not, trade him for a draft pick. Dalembert can be a great defensive player and rebounder IF he understands his true role and not play out of it. Having Brand back will limit plenty of Dalembert’s silly plays and futile offensive moves. Leave the interior, post up scoring to Brand.
Also, Doug Collins does a great job of breaking down Iggy’s points in the 4th quarter! I also did not know that Iggy is 3rd in dunks this season!!
But wow, the Bulls are incredible at home. Since the trade, they are like the Utah Jazz of the East. Great at home, but questionable on the road. Normally, John Salmons would beat teams, but it was Brad Miller who really beat us. The Sixers have always had problems with Brad Miller since he came into the league.
Also, I think Josh Smith intentionally stuck his foot for Thad to land on. The Hawks clearly wanted us out of the way and did so by removing the Sixers best player not just to attempt to get a victory against the Sixers, but to avoid playing them in the first round. The Hawks knew they would have a tough time with the Sixers. The Hawks and their fans fear the Sixers this season. Josh Smith and those Hawks are COWARDS!! Leave me in a room with Josh Smith for 5 minutes and I will interrogate him like Sgt. Dignam. Ask him, “Why’d you do it, you little punk?” (that’s just a PG version of it!) I hope Josh Smith lands on someone else’s foot and misses months!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLnDjoQISAM
Anyway, I hope the Sixers can somehow rebound from this. I think our record and those past three games would have a completely different outcome with a healthy Thad that has been playing some incredible basketball!
GO SIXERS!!! DON’T GIVE UP!!! AND THAD FOR SIXERS MVP!!!
CJ – Undermanned yes. But that doesn’t explain the lack of effort, especially on the defensive end.
Rob I love the fact that you criticized Sammy “can’t ever win anything with him” D!
Andre Miller is willie greenes ticket to the starting lineup though Rob, so if Andre stays then so does steaming willie beamon.
We can’t get a draft pick for Greene, I am pretty sure that we would have to give someone a number 1 pick for them to take willie off our hands. Remember Stefanski gave the wolves a number 1 for them to take carney and boothe. Ed you are terrible, and I have no faith in you.
Bski , you have tickets to tonights game? Don’t go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dave T, do you agree with me now that Thad is not only a building block but a cornerstone type player for an organization?
Who is this team really? You never really know what team is going to show up night after night. Its become such a consistent pattern of inconsistency. One night they play great defense, get out on the break, make their free throws and hustle. Then there are the past 3 games when they just “can’t get right”, to use and old phrase from Life the movie. Its time for Sammy to go. If he’s tanking it in the middle of this playoff run then to me its premeditated. I maybe giving him too much credit but it sure seems that way.
When players don’t produce on other teams they get traded. OR if they are tanking it, not giving much effort or constantly injured they are released or sent packing with a buy out. Free Sammy… I’m glad they made the playoffs I’m just mad they still lack simple fundamentals. Defense on the ball and foul shooting. Just stay with their man instead of this rotating mess. Will the real Sixers please stand up tonight.
This is exactly why I implored people not to overlook the New Jersey loss as a “meaningless” game and just throw it away.
Ken – Remember this comment. Looks like disaster has begun. Not complete yet. But wow we seriously have 1 winnable game left at this point. And considering the last three games and that Toronto has been playing a bit better (6-4 in their last 10 including a run of 6 straight) I wouldn’t put my money on that being a Sixers win either.
Greek – What’s with all the Ed Stefanski bashing? Are you blaming him for guys not playing hard? For Elton Brand, Thad and Jason Smith getting injured?
Settle down. You can’t evaluate a GM in one year. The NBA doesn’t work like that. I am all for bashing him but I gotta see his entire team play for at least a half a season together (more so a full season and a playoff series).
The one thing I do blame Stefanski for is the coaching situation. He could have made a bold move by letting Cheeks go a while ago and stabilizing that position early with “his” guy. He was in a tough spot since the team decided to overachieve when he first came on as GM. He probably could have fired Cheeks before the run (everyone would have just assumed he was cleaning house).
wow. how do they plan to not lose tonight against the Cavs?
for all Andre Miller haters out there (if any) congratulations! This was his personal audition to get cut this offseason. Forget his jumpshot not falling, did he even MOVE on defense? Rose will own him and most slow PGs anyway but that was inexcusable!!
on offense it regularly looked like 3.5 on 5. the .5 being a combination of Reggie ‘jumpshot-no-politely-hand-the-ball-back’ Evans and Sammy ‘can-make-3s-in-practice-but-10footer’s-a-clang-in-the-real-thing’ Dalembert. Iguodala showed up to play. unfortunately he only thrives with players around him that can do the thing he cant (shoot). Did his best IMO, even with the fadeaway airballs.
Greek: Willie Green has been an excellent bench player this year. emphasis on bench. if he stays he will be a good back up. not like anyone wants him. will just have to wait out his contract.
Miami will continue to stumble but will clinch #5 seed bar a meltdown or miracle from us. Orlando will give us a sure 5 game exit from playoffs and we will be back in square one.
reality check for Ed Stefanski: your team is not as good as you think. time to cut and edit. offseason 09 here we come!!
RRose – This is the real Sixers. Been saying so for a while now. Inconsistency includes both winning streaks and losing streaks. Can’t go too crazy when the Sixers win a game (Lakers) or a stretch of games. It’s the peak of their inconsistency. The valley would inevitably come. That is until they prove otherwise which they have not.
Andre Iguodala was EXACTLY right with what he said after the New Jersey game. And I think it speaks not only for that game (series of games) but for the Sixers as a whole.
When teams make shots the Sixers lose. When the Sixers are really cold they lose. When teams miss shots they win. And they win despite shooting poorly themselves many times. But it all hinges on whether or not teams make open shots – because the Sixers give up a lot of them. Simple as that in many ways. They don’t force enough missed shots in the halfcourt for my taste and rely on their opponents to shoot poorly. I coined the term “hope defense.” That does work for them sometimes and they do win that way sometimes. But when teams are hitting, you see double digit losses.
It’s funny you said that thought. I actually have a post draft with the title “Who are the Sixers?” But it’s more of a end of the season type post than in-season so I’ve been saving it.
Rob: Rose killed us. put half of the blame on Andre Miller, a sixth on Lou Williams and the rest on the team. Brad Miller and Thomas were sidekicks on the receiving end of lobs and double team passes from the pick and roll.
Do we really try to get Ben Gordon this offseason? seems too steep a price, you would probably be bidding against the entire league, like a CC Sabathia kinda thing. Or is everyone holding their pocketbooks for the fantasy class of 2010. Release Miller, sign Gordon. wouldnt miss too much at all. we would be the league’s first PG-less team. Iggy and Gordon can share duties as combo guards.
Dannie: In our offense, as disorganized as it is, do you think that can work?
jkay – I don’t know but I will tell you my initial concern with it…
Where does the ball movement and assists come from? You would have Iguodala as the only guy that creates shots for teammates in the line up (on the entire roster?). Gordon is a shooter/scorer. Thad is a scorer (who has shown no passing, teammate shot creation skill yet). Sam is not an offensive player or good passer. I don’t know anything about the Sixers version of Elton Brand at this point (what we saw was a rebounding/turnover machine that lacked explosion).
Then you bring maybe a 1/4 of a playmaker off the bench in Lou when he decides to toss a lob to Speights here and there.
The Sixers are already 22nd in the NBA in assists.
Unless there is a coach with a system that works well with the pieces we could see just a bunch of chuckers out there offensively.
The Igudodala/Thad thing could really be a problem if one of them doesn’t develop into a reliable perimeter/3pt shooter.
I wouldn’t really want to trade either guy. And I almost feel like bringing in a legit shooting SG, a pass-first defensive point guard and having Thad play the Manu Ginobili role as the SUPER sub that plays starter minutes and is in the game during crunch time might be the best solution in the end.
But again this is all off-season talk and I really really am trying to stick with this team until the last game is played.
Dannie: Do we have the Utah 1st round pick this upcoming draft? Draft Express has Ty lawson listed at 12 do you think we can package our 2 1st round picks to get up high enough to draft him the Sixers 1st pick is at 17 so thats not too much of a jump. Do you see Lawson’s stock jumping way up cause of his tourney? I was shocked to see he was listed at 12.
With all this teams shouda, coulda, woulda games this season if we could have somehow replaced W. Green with JR Smith I think we would have been a 50 win team this season, I think he is exactly what this team needs athletic can kill it from 3 his d is suspect but he is the shooter we need.
2one5 – No they traded away that pick in the Rodney Carney, Calvin Booth trade to Minnesota.
As far as Lawson. His performance in the tournament was unbelievably dominating and he went through some good guards (offensive, all-around and defensive stoppers) in the process (Thornton/Temple/Spencer, Pargo, Warren, Reynolds/Fisher, Lucas/Walton).
I think he is the best point guard in the draft as of this moment. Meaning I think he is better than Brandon Jennings right now and we don’t know if Rubio is in or out yet.
He doesn’t turn the ball over. He is quick, has good size in terms of girth to handle contact considering his height. He passes well. He fits the running game we play better than anyone else in the draft. Defensively he is good, with potential to be better. My biggest thing is his decision-making. You want a point that doesn’t turn the ball over, makes the right pass at the right time and can handle pressure. He excels in all those areas.
His biggest question mark is his size and he can’t really do much about that. People questioned his shooting. He think he proved he can shoot the ball from the perimeter this season in a big way and I see him improving in that area as well.
I think he will be drafted high (if Steph Curry stays in school Lawson very well becomes a top 10 pick) because of his play this season and I expect him to test well in terms of the combine drills for jumping ability and quickness. Need to see how long his arms and how big his hands are. They will play a big role is overcoming his stature. You can get by being shorter if you can make up for it with wingspan and reach.
I don’t know where Stefanski is leaning though. I feel like he will have shooters on his big board at the top and will only draft a point guard if there isn’t a shooter available (which there will be plenty).
Other potential options:
Dannie – Much as you don’t like it I think you have to trade Iggy to improve this team. Let Thad develop at the 3. Right now, your 2 best offensive weapons play the same position. Iggy is having a year where he might have the trade value required to get a 2 who can consistently make the three point shot, which in turn opens up Brand’s game and hopefully delivers on the value the Sixers expected when they signed him.
I think your Ginobli analogy is misguided. Playing Thad as the Super sub still doesn’t solve the problem of not having a consistent jump shooter on the floor at crunch time, where most likely you’re in a half-court scenario. Ginobli can create his own shot AND serve as the kick out guy at the 3 point line. Neither Thad or Iggy can do that.
jkay, like I said before as long as miller is around Willie Greene will be starting.
20nzone, we traded that number one pick along with Carney and booth for cap space.
RRose, welcome to the Sammy Bashing wagon. As always I am the driver and refreshments are in the back.
Dannie in response to my no vote of confidence for Stefanski here it goes. And I’m not saying that he can’t right the ship. I am just saying that I am losing faith in his ability.
1 He traded away Korver and Carney probably their best 2 3 pt shooters. Hate on Carney all you want but he is a good defender . Yes we needed to make cap space to get Brand, blah blah blah. If the knicks could shed the contracts of Randolph and Crawford then Stefanski could have somehow shed the contracts of Greene and/or Evans. There was no reason to include a number one for someone to take Carney.
2 He spit the bit on Lou Williams. Twice. The first was when he signed him to that contract and the second time was when he didn’t deal him at the deadline when he claimed that there was a lot of interest in him.
3. Should have signed a real head coach such a Eddie Jordan from the get go.
4 He shaped this team, crossed his fingers and hoped that someone would be able to hit an outside shot. For this he is fully responsible.
5. Willie Greene starting comes straight from the top because you sure as hell know that if he told Dileo to bench Willie Beamon then that would happen.
6 Speights has been poorly developed. As I have stated before the dude has a good hook shot with both hands but for some reason whenever he posts up no one on this non Thad piece of crap team gives him the ball and it pisses me off. That’s why he has to go 15-20 feet away from the hoop to get the ball and doesn’t give it up when he gets it. Being that Dileo is Stefanski’s assistant he is ultimately responsible for this.
7 Sammy D, where too start? How about suspending him for his selfishness or just benching him to send a message?
That’s enough for know, I am sure I will think of more things later.
1 more thing about that Jersey game, during warm ups the only person not f’ing around was Theo. What a bunch of fools these guys are. Dileo let this clowning go on, I was embarrassed by the crap they were doing in warm ups. I really wanted to go into there huddle in the 3rd quarter and give them the verbal message that Dileo was/is incapable of.
JT – Well for one you are assuming Elton Brand should to be catered too. OR better stated we should build around his game more than trying to make Iguodala and Thad work here in some capacity. I am not at the moment.
Brand needs to sell me on his viability as an impact player on both ends of the floor. Like I said the Sixers-version of Elton Brand is seriously unproven at this point. I hope he turns out well but I am working with what I have seen to this point.
Iguodala is a good player that does a lot of things that help a team win and has proven that (and I am not really a big Iguodala supporter). Thad is mainly a scorer only at this point with a rapidly developing game. Also who is to say Thad (34.6% from three) won’t become a reliable kick out option considering his age and development curve? Both guys are younger as well. I’d rather work with that than build around Brand at this point.
I don’t really like this team’s roster at all. I would completely rebuild it if I could but when I talk about deals and changes I try to stay within the realm of reality given what we know about the organization and the league. I can’t see Stefanski trading Iguodala at all. Whereas I could see him trying to dump Brand considering we now have Speights, Jason Smith returning and his age.
I’d almost rather move Brand and/or Miller for a guard that can shoot and defend and a pass-first young point guard that can defend (would shoot as well be asking too much? haha)
I think part of the problem with the Sixers is they have been of the idea we were only one peice away and I don’t agree with that. They tried to win now and develop young players. That’s hard (nearly impossible) to do at the same time successfully without a great player.
Two options:
And that is just off the top of the head thoughts not fully developed to respond to you JT. I don’t know if that is the answer but it’s an answer.
About crunch time. In the short term why wouldn’t a line up of
work in crunch time? Don’t forget the line-up of Brand/Dala/Thad/Miller/Sam had a very good +/-. The bench squander a lot of leads and put the starters in come from behind positions later in games.
Greek….Yes I do have tickets for tonight’s game. My family and I will be hitting the road around 2pm. Needless to say, I am not optimistic. The Sixers have won each of the 4 previous games we have been to this season, so I hope they can pull one out of their a**. If not, I already gave my family the heads up that we will be making and early exit. No sense staying the whole time only to watch us take a beating and then getting home at around 12:30am, you know?
BSKI – I will be at the game as well. Hopefully its a good game. I really just like watching good teams play. Gives you perspective for what actually works and contributes to winning a lot of games. We should see that tonight with Cleveland.
JJG…..We will be stopping at Tony A’s Pizzeria in Roxborough before the game, as per your recommendation. I hope it’s the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life because it will most likely be the high point of my evening.
Dannie…..Where are you sitting. I’ll stop by and say hi. I’m in my usual, section 219 row 2. If anyone else is going and wants to commiserate/cry in our beer prior to tip off, let me know and we can try to meet up.
The sixers are making me so (expecitive) mad right now They really had a good shot at securing the fith seed. To not show up at all against Jersey pissed me off coming off the Detroit win. I actually went to the game in Charolette and falling behind 20 early had me hating life although they put up effort in coming back but still falling short was unexcuseible. And last night against Chicago makes me not even want to watch this team right now . Its like their just happy to be there they don’ t want to establish nothing they have no fight in them and are leaning toward an early playoff exit I know Thad is out right now but can we play hard for 48 minutes a game instead of just spurts. I really thoughty after the west coast trip we had our act together especially after beating LA and Portland but its like everytime we take a step forward its two steps back we are the most INCONCISTENT team in the leauge if not we easily would have been on the cusp of a fifty win season we must learn how to keep leads make freethrows and close out games. The guys have to use their heads out on the court Sammy shooting jumpshots is not going to cut it as matter of fact he has down right stunk this year I cringe every time he gets the ball on offense knowing he’s going to miss a layup or shoot that awful looking jumpshot. Iggy Drive more go to the free throw line and make them when you get there That jumpshot against Gerald Wallace with the game on the line he didn’t have to shoot he had him beat and than faded away . Anyway I wont go ito it any more if we play hard and smart we can beat any team in the leauge so Theese last four games I hope I atleast get a split from you guys.
BSKI – I am in section 211. That’s all I know at this point. Picking up tickets at will call before the game.
Dannie, I agree with the general gist of your remarks about the future. I do have a lot of respect for ES. He tried to win now without sacrificing the future. That is why he signed Brand and kept Miller.
Unfortunately, they are getting close to being in a financial pinch (over the tax in 2010) and winning now might cost them their chance to win later. Even worse, they may not be able to win now… and they may be stuck with big contracts that can’t be moved to help them build for the future.
last summer ES held all the cards, and he fully played his hand with Brand and Iguodala’s 80M signings. This summer will be an even bigger challenge. He needs to clear salary without sacrificing key young players. he needs to decide what to do with Brand and Miller, in a market where nobody wants to take on salary. There will be tough choices, and I don’t knowif any GM can pull off the moves to make this team a contender in a few years. At very least it should be interesting.
BTW, I think this organization is very close to making some financially driven decisions, like selling a #1, or letting Miller walk without much of a replacement. At least they have some flexibility under the tax this summer, but 2010 will be tough… and 2011 will be better with Sam, Evans and Green coming off the books.