One could argue the first game against Orlando was this season first test. But being that it was the first game I wouldn’t.
Tonight on the other hand IS. Even if it’s only the 4th game of the season.
You hear it all the time.
“This game is a measuring stick for the Sixers.”
“This is a barometer game.”
“The Sixers will be tested.”
But tested on what – specifically?
For me here are the top 5 things the Sixers will be tested on.
- Offensive execution – For me this is actually the top concern for this game in particular. Yes, that sounds odd considering their defense has been horrible. BUT, we will be facing one of, it not the best defensive team in the NBA so more pressing test for me is can they score points consistently on strong defensive teams – aka elite teams and playoff teams? Boston held the Bobcats to 59 total points. Now the Bobcats are not even close to as good as the Sixers but still, you see that Boston isn’t playing down to their competition either. They are looking to embarrass people and make a statement of their own – and it starts on the defensive end for them. Can we score?
- Thad Young, what are YOU made of? – Thad hasn’t been bad at all this season offensively. He is averaging 15 ppg on 51% shooting and his assists and free throw attempts are both slightly up. But really, has anyone been bad offensively thus far? No, what I am looking for is can he defend really good players? He’ll have to contend with either Ray Allen or Paul Pierce tonight, likely both. And two, can he start helping out on the boards. He is averaging a paltry 3.7 boards per game playing 38 minutes a night so far. Guys that’s a 11 boards in 3 games.
- Lou, are you for real? – Lou’s offensive game has been near perfect. He ranks 11th overall in the entire NBA in PER as well. We know he isn’t going to shoot 63% from the field all season. But he only has 2 turnovers in 3 games, is averaging 5 boards, 5 dimes and 1.7 steals to go along with his 20 ppg. I do care how weak he is defensively but those numbers from your starting point guard are pretty damn good. Tonight he has Rondo. So not only will he have to deal with Rajon getting all up in his ass, but he will need to keep Rondo out of the lane and from doing what he has been doing beautifully so far this season – dropping dimes like they are playing 5 on 0. Rondo isn’t scoring (he isn’t taking shots either) but he is averaging 13 assists and only 2.5 turnovers per 36 minutes. He got his payday and immediately got a big head demonstrated by him yapping at Chris Paul. Lou will have his hands full and I just want to see him start making strides towards being a total player.
- Elton, are you worth it? – The money that is. The answer is probably no. But at least do something that makes us all think twice about it. I need more boards, more defense and more efficient scoring – period. And I need to see it against some real defense. Tonight is the night to really proving yourself as you have been saying since you got here.
- Defense – OF COURSE - Did any of you watch Boston dismantle the Bulls? Offensively they were flawless. They scored every way possible and Rondo was running the show perfectly. He got the right guys shots, at the right time, in the right spots. House is hot from three. Ray is hot from three. Pierce is draining threes. Our perimeter defense will be tested in every way tonight. Scary thought.
Ok, that’s all I have. What’s your take? I’ll be chatting during the game, feel free to join me.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-paulhornets110309&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Dannie, curious to see who Iggy and Thad cover, I put Iggy on Pierce [more physical] and tell Thad to NOT help off of Allen. Garnett seems to play away from the basket but with Elton so much shorter I wonder if he goes on the block more. What do you think of Rondo!s deal ? I wonder if he was here, could he influence a game as much?
I really agree with your fourth point about Elton. This has got to be a huge game for him tonight. Brand is a big time player (so were told) it is without a doubt the perfect opportunity for him to start to prove it.
I’m also interested to see how Speights plays tonight. I’m a big fan of this guy and really hope he can be another in what has been a good run of draft picks for the team (Iggy and Thad being the others).
Sammy is dominating down low right now.
Honestly though, is Elton Brand capable of making a shot within 2 feet while being guarded? What did he do with the Clippers? Every…single…time… he goes up under the basket he gets stuffed.
get Thad outta there right now
I have only been able to catch this game in 5-10 minute chunks but every time I check in I see things I don’t like. Just heard Zumoff say we’re 0-13 from deep and Thad’s 4-15. Am I just catching the ugly parts in an up and down game or has it been bad the whole time?
Chris – It’s been this bad. Especially in the second half.
Willie Green is straight jacking in garbage time. I guess he figures he needs to get his shots up since he is no longer in the top rotation.
Offensive Execution:
-Turnovers all over the place.
-Horrible 3 point shooting.
-Taking too many jumpers, not enough movement, no fastbreak game (from what I can tell).
Thad Young:
-hmmm. Not enough rebounding.
-Too many turnovers.
-Less shooting would help. 0-4 from beyond the arc.
Lou Williams:
-Lou still st…..
Do I even have to finish that statement? Well he had a below average game… I think it will take a few more games before come to a conclusion on whether or not he can play.
Defense:
-NONEXISTENT.
-Rasheed Wallace was 6-8 from the three point line.
-As I’m typing this Brain Scalabrine just nailed home a 3 pointer.
I have nothing else to say right now. Maybe tomorrow I’ll be more prepare to look into this horrible loss.
Philadelphia 76ers- Where embarrassment happens.
Elton has no shot against long athletes, he is passing out from under the basket rather than going up strong. I almost wish we went back to some iso!s or clearouts, it seemed our guys who can attack the rim were being too unselfish.
Sam and Iguodala showed up. Brand showed occupied space. Thad left his game at home, he really killed us on both ends. Pierce smacked him and took his lollipop away. We actually had a chance to make it a game but we were inexplicably cold in addition to executing poorly. Cs won the game with their starters on the bench.
does it seem like every time we come out with a game plan to defend the starting five and once they switch personnel, go small and spread the floor, we dont adjust and get killed? same thing happened in Orlando.
on a more positive note I’m getting used to Ed Pinckney, not as awful as Salmi. guess I can live with that.
I am watching Okl.City tied with the Lakers in overtime; interesting concept: a bunch of young guys willing to defend led by a star . J.Green knocks Artest to the floor on a block and Westbrook and Sefalosha are in the Lakers shorts on defense, refreshing to watch.
Dannie, All the truly shitty basketball from Sixers starters you just witnessed and you isolate Green for criticism for throwing some up (and dropping a couple) during garbage time – that’s lame. To be fair, you could start with “Clang & Dipsy-do” Iguodala (who, while he covers ground and air space, still doesn’t know how to play) and Elton ”Generic” Brand for their leading nonsense, and then go down the list. That was a puny performance on the part of all prominent Sixers in the face of serious players/serious team. Measuring stick reads “present 76ers team is indecipherable as constituted and instructed; miles from cohesion on both ends; dazed and confused.”
JJG - I didn’t watch the first half. Followed it on my phone. Listened to the third quarter in my car ride home. And only had the opportunity to watch the 4th quarter. When I commented it was an in the moment response to what was happening at the time – check the time stamp on my comment.
7 shots (made 3 – missed the bad attempts) and 2 turnovers in 12 minutes is what I was watching at the time.
Context is important.
Hear ya, Dannie. From intro comments, just assumed ya watched it all. (Whatever you were doing, it was the right choice.) Even catching only 4th Q, ya coulda mentioned Carney’s typical out-of-control right side drive ‘stead of demoted WG’s “striving.” Least ya got to see Veal add the 3rd digit to Cs ledger. Game was a disaster; Celts had it wrapped in Q2. Good instructional tape, I suppose, though watching too many horror films can induce nightmares.
JJG – I plan to let loose in the morning.
To answer the question in the header “what are we made of,” I believe the answer is Laffy Taffy.
This team sucks big donkeys.
Elton looks like he is 50 again after a 2 game hiatus where he looked as if he was 30.
Again this team can’t defend the perimeter shot. New coaching staff same results. A guy in Wallace who no longers posts up, doesn’t put the ball on the floor, never rolls to the basket only pick and pops for jump shots. Yet this team can’t seem to figure their opponents skill set after watching him for 15 years.
Is it me or does it often times look as if Iggy drives into the lane with nowhere to go and destroys any measure of spacing on the floor? The defense collapses, there are no shooters on the floor for him to kick the ball to and its often times a turnover or badly missed shot. I’m truly sick of the play one good game against a poor team and lose horribly to a good team. I don’t want to go off on the deep end so early but watching this team game after game is frustrating to say the least.
Sammy can’t dribble with his left hand but they constantly posted him up on the right block forcing him to either stand still or put the ball on the floor with his weakest hand. Yet posting him up on the left block allowed him to dribble hard with his right and get up a decent shot. I can see this on tv, why can’t the coaches see this in practice and games if he’s going to touch the ball so often in sets? UGH!
I don’t get what you people expect. Put the two teams together and pick one team out of them that you want. You would pick 4 (maybe 5) Celtics players before you picked one Sixers player. If we learned one thing about the NBA is that it is all about stars/talent. It is the most straigth-forward and predicatable league of the big 4.
If another team has the three (or more) best players on the floor, then the other team can’t win. It is why it is a boring sport. Sixers hope was that Brand would be a star again. If he isn’t, then the Sixers are dead for several more years. Iggy is what he is, then second or third best player on the floor against the average NBA team, 4th against the really good NBA teams. We have a bunch of average players. That = no hope. 8th seed is the upper max for this team.
All the other leagues intangibles play a big part. Youh ave the hot goalie that can steal a 7-game series from a better team. You have the two dominant pitchers (shilling and Johnson) that can steal a world series from a more talented team overall. No in NBA, it is what it is.
As for me, I expect this organization to put together the best possible team they can. Hoping that it translates into wins not losses. I think great coaching and a fundamentally sound team can win just as many games as a team with 3 good or great players. And I mean good shooting, passing, defense and basketball IQ. This team lacks 3 of those.
It’s going to be a long, cold winter if this play keeps up. I was screaming in the offseason for Stefanski to hire Avery Johnson and he underwhelms me and signs Eddie Jordan. I’m hoping he proves me wrong but I’m not holding my breath.
I’m going to remain optimistic, I won’t make it through Christmas if I give up now but if it doesn’t work out soon we can always take joy in knowing Pitchers and Catchers report in just under four months!
This game had me thinking back to the decision to go for an “offensive” coach, picking EJ over Thibbedeau.
In the 1st half both teams played GREAT defense (aside from a few minutes where the 2nd unit gave up open 3′s.) The C’s kept up their D all game, while the Sixers let up after 1 half. That was the difference between a completive game and an embarrassing shellacking.
Brand may play like “old man Brand”, but he could be part of an excellent defensive unit- one that generates lots of easy fast break offense off of great D. Maybe EJ and Ayers will build this team in that mold, but that is not exactly his track record. I guess we will see.
Because of the Brand signing the ES era is looking to be a lot like the BK years. Another smart, well spoken, well intentioned, balding, highly educated GM who bets on the wrong horse and traps the team in prolonged mediocrity.
The fatal flaw is overvaluing your talent and then overpaying for a chance at a contending run that was never really possible. For BK/LB that meant paying too much for middling players like Sam and Kenny Thomas, and then grasping at straws with washed up former stars in CWebb, Big Dog and “The Waitor.” In the end they had a top 5 payroll with midling, older talent. Then they tried to tread water by getting Miller in the AI trade instead of bottoming out.
ES had a golden opportunity with a competitive young athletic team with financial freedom and good chemistry. ost of the BK mess had been cleared soon after his arrival. Instead of continuing to build, he went all chips in with Brand- who has 14M, 15M, 16M, 18M due over the next 4 years. Add that to Iguodala’s salary, a flat cap and bad gate and the team has gone from promising to anchored in mediocrity.
The only hope would be the surprise emergence of young players as superstar. I guess it could happen, but despite having some good talent, I don’t see any of these players as potential 1st or 2nd team all NBA talent.
Most of liked the Brand signing at the time – tk76 – who knew?
I agree, and feel bad for ES and the team. not saying he is definitely a bad GM, just that his defining gamble looks to be a failed play.
The issue I had at the time of the Brand signing was whether the rest of the team was ready to commit so big to winning right away. The Brand signing was a “win now” move- and the fact that he looks washed up makes it a catastrophic error instead of just a poorly timed move.
If Brand was at least earning his salary then they could take a step back and move for younger, better fitting talent.
As it is, I don’t see ES surviving the time it will take for him to prove that he can be a shrewd GM.
Its the reverse of Andy Reid. he could survive many misteps because his 1st big bet with the McNabb pick paid off. ES is on the flip side, and might end up too deep in the hole to dig his way out.
Elton Brand is really embarrassing so far this season. And I’m not very amused that thus far it’s looking like we just got away from giving $18-20 million dollars to a one legged PF past his prime (Webber, Chris) to giving a slightly undersized PF that seems to have completely lost his mid block/low block post game, lost his ability to make plays out of double teams, and lost the ability to bring the amazing NBA defense/rebounding he was (rightly) lauded for during his Chicago/LA days…$16-17 million a year.
Ouch.
There is also that the ideal SG/SF combo, often which can be interchangeable, NEEDS to have one guy that is light’s out from 3 point land. The Iggy/Thad experiment is not working well.
And of course the fact our starting center, Mr. Dalembert, STILL AFTER EIGHT !@#$ING YEARS will put up a 10 & 10 with 3 blocks one night, and the next night jack up ill advised shots, bitch about his PT, over-foul, and put up 5 & 5.
And I don’t care what Lou Williams is doing so far and how efficient he’s doing it in…he is not any sort of answer for long term PG. God I hate stop gap PG’s. This is like Miami playing Mario Chalmers at PG…a very good player that brings nice skills to the table, but you do not want him as a long term starter. Ditto via Delonte West, Earl Watson, etc. The versatile/can play 2 guard type of PG belong on the bench and excel as 6th men…but as starters…long term projection not looking good. And lord only knows what we have with Jrue Holiday (he did appear to have a nice box score in the Boston game, didn’t get to see it live though).
We have some serious structural issues with our foundations of this team. I’m already thinking 3 years into the future:
PG: Jrue Holiday
SG/SF: Either Andre Iguodala or Thad Young; one will be traded
PF: Mareese Speights
…after that, who knows. I’m curious if the Sixers, once Sammy D’s contract is up, slide Speights into the C spot, or look to find a full time defensive starting C through the draft and keep grooming Speights to be the full time PF once the enigma known as Elton Brand is officially done. Man I am frustrated. I hate rooting for teams that have set, low ceilings.
ok on Elton Brand, its clear already; we gambled on a player who was supposed to make us better, it was not a bad thing, regardless of whether we were ready to contend or not. hindsight, it was the worst mistake of this decade! IT SUCKSSSSSSS! but whats the point in trying to find someone to blame???
DaveT: i’m glad someone at least acknowledges that Speights is a PF and not a C. i’m still waiting on that Young/Iguodala trade, thats another one that will define the ‘new direction’.
Chris M: we are 4 games into the season…………..Coaches can only do so much, the players have to actually play. look at Mike D’Antoni.
Agreed as well on Speights being a center dave, but you forgot to mention that the organization will re-sign Sammy for 7 years and 76 million when his contract is up!
JKay, I agree with you that looking for blame is not productive. I’m not even sure it was the wrong move at the time. But I do think it will eventually get ES fired (rightly or unfairly.) But only after the team treads water fore a few years and makes no real moves due to financial constraints.
This is what really worries me as a fan. I want to see the team as going somewhere- either building with the young core or taking another step back to rebuild. Just don’t tread water like the final BK years where we knew the teams future would not start until he was finally gone.
I worry Comcast will leave ES in place for a few years, but financially neuter him because of the Brand financial ramifications. Then they will give him the axe when the team fails to progress. Basically treading water for 2-3 years… and then another attempt at a rebuild after ES and EJ are canned. Which is a shame given the team has young talent right now.
Hopefully I’m wrong, and ES will pull of some shocking moves that can shake things up and head the team in a definite direction. As a fan I want to know this season counts for something. Even if they don’t win much I want it part of some bigger plan towards contention. Not with a management that are dead men walking.
tk76: they are also trying to market the team as a contender. they cant admit Brand is a bust bcos it would kill the expectations for the team. they hope that if they can sell these high expectations and somehow this team starts to win, Iguodala becomes a super star, the young ones start playing with common sense and urgency etc. and everything works out. its tough cos they know they have to fill seats. its a dilemma. no right way. cant undersell the team. not at this point. Ed cannot pull any moves at all bcos of our salary cap situation. but he can still make more mistakes when guys like Thad and Speights need to be re-signed. evaluation of talent….tricky one.
we/he needs to get lucky. period. shame, i like him too. very insightful guy.
i might be the only one saying this but i do hope they can re-sign Sammy, for a reasonable amount of course. i think finding a defensive center in the draft/FA will be easier than expected but in the meantime I’d hate to lose our intimidating defensive presence. its something that not a lot of teams have.
I’ve been hoping they could draft a low upside defensive center to replace Sammy. They tried to get D’Andre Jordan 2 years ago in the 2nd round- a guy like that. I guess re-signing Sam would be fine if it was at a reasonable number.
As for ES, agree he seems to be smart and a good guy (but I felt the same way about BK.) I’m certainly pulling for him to succeed. I’d love to see the Sixers relevant in this city. I am glad he did not mortgage the future last summer by dealing away a young player for another older “name” player like VC or Redd. That was my biggest worry. I guess at least they do have a bunch of tradeable young players if the right move becomes available. Just don’t see how any 1 move could make them anywhere near an elite team.
I’ll stop being such a pessimist for a minutes and try to focus more on how the young core is developing.
Negotiations should go like they did with Michael Corleone in the Godfather 2. “I offer you nothing”
If we can’t find someone to replace this clown in 2 years then lets just change the name of the team to the Clippers. Maybe it’s time and I hate to say this, that the team moves to another city. If a half empty stadium and a less then enthusiastic fan base is financially crippling the team then maybe it’s time to search for greener pastures. If re-signing Sammy D in 2 years is our plan then I pray that this team moves somewhere above Siberia.
One more thing, If Jrue Holliday is going to be better then Ty Lawson then he will have to be pretty f’n great.
The Greek, I think that’s a fair and reasonable offer to Sammie. You’ve obviously done your homework. Nice job.
Another city? I hear the Teaneck, NJ Armory is freshly painted and available. Would you support the migrated Sixers if it came to be?
I think a brickyard might be more well suited then an armory.