I was at the last game against Memphis and it was ugly. The Sixers did exactly what I said the can’t do and slipped away with an necessarily close victory. Same rules apply this time around as well. Don’t let the Memphis Grizzlies hang around all game because it will bit you. And getting bit tonight would be disaster for the Sixers. Everyone has been talking about the next 5 games. These are the games that will position the Sixers for the playoffs and losses to really bad teams won’t get it done.
Last game Rudy Gay didn’t play, neither did rookie Darrell Arthur. But long-armed, hometown boy Hakim Warrick picked up the slack destroying the Sixers in every way possible. He went off for 31 and 8 boards shooting 12-19 from the field. His playing time has been jerked around lately but given his success against the Sixers last game I fully expect him to see 25+ minutes tonight. His length and activity gave Thad a lot of trouble especially on the offensive boards. Thad needs to put much more concentration on his rebounding on the defensive end in general. But while he is still the starting power forward this needs to be one of, if not his primary responsibility. Rebound it, pitch it to Miller and take off. That needs to be his mentality.
Keys to the game
Defense, defense, defense. I have no doubt the Sixers will get theirs on offense as Memphis ranks 26 in defensive eFG%. But they will have their hands full with Memphis’ three young perimeter players and their new offensive strategy to push the rock more and take advantage of their youth and athlete finishers. The Sixers can’t get lazy. Dileo should be in the locker room right now reiterating the need to get in transition defense.
Make your damn free throws. Last game they shot 62.5% from the line. I say it every game, missing free throws is the easiest way to let a team hang around, put you in a close game and subsequently lose those close ones. Take care of business at the line and the Sixers will be fine.
Attack the Grizzlies porous defense. Iguodala needs to make Rudy Gay defend him all game, every possession. The knock on Gay is he is a not only a weak defender, but he doesn’t put forth the effort to even play it much at all.
Been a long time since the Sixers played and I am anxiously waiting to watch this one. Lots of good young players so it should be exciting.
Sixers vs. Grizzlies Game Notes
Offensive rebound, three-point shot and 2 made free throws. That was the series of plays by Andre Iguodala that sealed the game for the Sixers. He dropped 17 of his 24 points in the second half and did everything the Sixers needed to avoid a disastrous loss.
Lou Williams will officially break his streak on the blog tonight. He didn’t suck. In fact he was on his game in a big way tonight scoring 18 points in 23 minutes in a variety of ways. He made some jumpers, got to the line and continued his attacking style of play. Maybe Dileo’s public encouragement helped get him going. Regardless his bench play, especially in the fourth quarter proved vital against a Memphis team that proved to be a real tough foe for the Sixers.
Theo Ratliff played like it was 1996 or something. 5-5 from the field and although he didn’t really stop Gasol while he was in, he banged him and made him work for every point.
Speights was productive in his 16 minutes. 7 points on 3-5 shooting, 3 boards, 2 blocks and a steal.
In the back of your mind you gotta be a little concerned that it’s taking great performance, after great performance from Andre Miller just to beat bad teams. Near triple double with 20 points, 10 boards (6 offensive) and 8 dimes and only 1 turnover. He still gets cut up on defense, but he does his best to get it back and more on offensive end. It’s different when you are physically gifted and can’t or more so don’t defend. Miller is old and slow laterally. He gives guys space and occasionally makes savvy, veteran defensive plays. But he is never going to be able to keep up with younger, quicker guards. But if he wasn’t running the offense and scoring like he is the Sixers would be a lottery team. That has to scare you that we rely on a 33-year-old (next week) point guard so heavily. Just something to think about as the team continues to move forward.
Mike Conley Jr. was fantastic tonight. He not only played like a 4th overall draft pick, he showed Memphis fans why management traded away Kyle Lowry and Javaris Crittendon. He scorched the Sixers with quick drives to the hole and mid-range jumpers off the pick and roll.
I really wish Rudy Gay didn’t get hurt. It would have made this win better. Who knows how the game would have turned out if he didn’t leave the game at the half.
Good win because it was just that – a win. But I can’t shake the feeling the Sixers got really lucky. The Grizzlies shot the ball extremely well, rebounded well (11 offensive boards) and were in control for a large portion of the game. But they lost Rudy Gay at the half, turned the ball over a lot (many unforced) and didn’t make their free throws. If not for that we might be really irate right now.
This is not about being positive or negative. The Sixers REALLY need to play better basketball if they want to move up the standings. Their defense was horrendous allowing Memphis to shoot 56% for the game. Andre Miller was the Sixers leading rebounder? That’s not really a good thing in the grand scheme of things. We shot 63% from the foul line on 30 attempts. Come on guys at what point are you going to get it ALL together?
Whew I am just glad we won.
Back at it tomorrow.
Next Game: Right back at it tomorrow in Oklahoma
I have a topic for you Dannie
Who is expendable, Iguodala or Thad? One of them has to be if this team has a chance to move forward in the next couple years. Do you try to move Thad with say Miller to get someone who can shoot the ball? Or do you move Iguodala and try to get a shooter +? Either way one or the other has to happen, the team has 2 Sf and we need a shooter.
I feel moving either one is their best option going forward, they cannot play both 30+ each game. Their numbers are so similar per 48. Thad has no business being a 4 at ALL, he needs to be played at the 3 or moved. While I think IGG has shown all he can be and they can probably land a true 2 for him in the off season.
Does anyone agree?
I know this is weak after a win. Just food for thought.
It hurts me to say this b/c I really enjoy watching IGG slay rims from above, but one or the other has to be the teams starting 3.
Another question : what do you all think about bringin AI back as a SG for the MLE?
I think they should keep Thad as their sixth man. Let him develop and hopefully he will be awesome.
I know this is not most people’s feelings, but I have had enough of AI. Enjoy watching him on another team. Maybe his last year would be nice, however.
Ryan F – Both are topics for the off-season. Sixers just won a game and in my mind there is no question they will be in the playoffs. For the most part I am going to try and focus on that until they are done this year.
With that said here are two thoughts to your questions:
I’m not convinced one of them must go yet and I don’t think that is a concern that needs to be addressed first. We need a coach first and a clear direction, identity and some stability. Then we can see how Thad and Iguodala are used offensively and defensively and go from there. You are talking about a 20-year-old who already shoots 34% from three. I think there is wiggle room for improvement. I think before you move either you send Thad to bench first and play him in a Posey role and if he improves significantly offensively you play him in a Ginobili role.
Both guys are too talent to just ship away easily. If you can get a player that really fits and really makes you better so beit.
I don’t think we get better bringing AI back for a few reasons.
Sixers kept it together tonight, when they needed to, good win. Let”s go for two in a row. Go Sixers
i don’t know why anyone would even consider moving iguodala at this point. he is the best player on the team. he has improved at least one facet of his game each season, so i don’t see why he won’t continue to improve. he will be an annual all-star beginning next season. i really feel that if he improves his jumper significantly he can become a top 10 player in the league.
Ryan F: note bout trading Iguodala – his contract! if you can find a team willling to take it on, then you can actually trade him.
Win is nice though i hate it when they play really weak opponents. kinda like fool’s gold. well its all about winning anyhow soo…Lou Williams out of his perpertual slump? Not so fast, methinks local champion on d-less Memphis team. Now that Durant is out (Green I could care less), I might not even watch the OK city game. hope they dont throw that one away.
AI return: I’d possibly be interested…if…and that’s a BIG IF…he could be ok with playing 20-25 mpg off the bench purely as a sparkplug scorer. And I just can’t see him accepting that right now…I think he still feels he is capable of putting up Denver like numbers. I could see him landing with the Clippers, Toronto, and possibly Houston. Watching his fall from NBA grace is very depressing.
Ben Gordon: Realgm.com reporting he is leaning towards “signing elsewhere” this summer. This seems to be one of those anynoymous source rumors, and those really can’t be trusted. But thought I’d bring this up since many people brought him up as a potential sign and trade option (I’m not saying I’m one of them).
Would you choose Ben Gordon or Thad Young? Ignoring the logistics and the fact Chicago would have zilch interest in Thad…I’m curious if in fantasy land we could replace Thad and put Ben at SG and Iggy at the 3…whether people would like that move.
Pros: We get a legit 20 ppg scorer, a legit 3 point shooter, and a guy that has some freaking cajones that likes having the ball at the end of games. We get a guy coming into his prime years, a la Iggy.
Cons: Gordon is a ballhog, overdribbles, and has VERY questionable shot selection. Thad might continue to develop with his amazing work ethic and turn into a monster NBA SF that is a 20 ppg scorer, and capable of hitting threes…losing that would be an ouch.
Question really comes down to: Would you rather have Ben Gordon now (20 ppg, 43 fg%, 38-40 3pt%, 4 rbd, 3 ast) vs. Thad’s future potential (???).
Dannie, I confess to dozing off and missing the finish, but I d.v.r. ed it and will watch today. L.Will. looked good early attacking and passing, if he can be our backup p.g. and play next to a shooter that to me is the key to us getting real good. He is being used that way now with Ivey off the ball. I hope this continues. Iggy came through, can!t wait to see it!! J.Kay, I don!t think you would have any trouble moving Iggy, contract and all. But it would be a big mistake in my opinion.
3 key “plays” last night: (1) Green’s inadvertent finger poke in eye of streaky Rudy Gay, who hadn’t at that point found his groove (2) referees’ – including Havertown’s Joey Crawford - permitting Gasol to be treated like a heavy bag at Joe Frazier’s gym … otherwise he drops 40 on Dalembert/Ratliff tag team; Gasol “charge”, ridiculous; Ratliff clearly undercut him like “a rabid fox biting legs of a bull moose” (3) Miller’s surprising late game right side J (instrumental in outcome, as were the 108 other points accumulated against nominal D of Grizz)
Important but not impressive win.
Darko … Larry Brown’s darkest drafting moment.
the game was over and no one had posted yet, felt I should try to stir it up
dont get me wrong, I like both of these players, and feel neither one should just be traded for nothing in the postseason. I am happy that the Sixers will make the postseason, but I would like to see more in the future, and both of these players are in the same slot. with that said, when EB comes back next year we SHOULD have the 4 spot locked up and minutes at the 3 and 4 should be scarce and this team could definitely use some improvement in a few areas.
Ryan, I know where you are coming from, we have to give to get. But we need 2 shooters, in my opinion, and as Dannie stated, Thad may be one of them. His form looks good and an improvement of 3% pts., to 37% from three, isn!t to much to ask. There has been a lot of doom and gloom lately about our cap situation but I was thinking today maybe we aren!t in that bad a shape.In 2 years [2011] we will have 20 mill. [Sam,Willie,Reggie] in one year contracts, all very valuable. After 2010 whatever teams didn!t prosper with free agent signings may have a disgruntled superstar wanting to leave [C.Paul ?]. We will have 6 young guys [Iggy,Thad,Marreese,Jason,L.Will. and our #1 this year] along with Elton [who gained a year at least with his legs by being out the last 2 seasons] to hopefully add a stud to. So hopefully E.S. does what he does well, draft smartly, and we keep getting playoff experience so by 2011 we are ready to add the last piece whether it be Paul,Westbrook, or whomever. Just trying to give a half full outlook.
Sammy D is UNDERATED!!! LOL, I found an article today listing Sammy D as one of the 5 most underated players in the league. My response is in comment #2
http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2009/03/07/the_six_most_underrated_nba_players.php
I think the key to the victory was the 2nd unit I really liked Theo Speights Lou Ivey along with one starter on the floor I like reggie Evans but dont think he fits with that unit. I think its a good mix of defense and offense.
Gotta give props to Lou Wil he played under control had a real nice game most of his shots came in the flow of the offense. If he can use this game as a stepping stone that would be awesome for this team.
Sammy D I think has a right to be confused or upset. I think that he played pretty good in the first quarter than barely got in the game again. Gasol got points but Sam was playing d on him he just hit some good shots. When he got in the game in the 2nd half he seemed visibly upset, and frustrated. I kind of feel for the guy the David West match-up was not suited to him but instead of switching him onto Chandler they just benched him. I don’t know how many mins he played last night but it didn’t seem like much. I really think they are gonna move him this off season if any team is willing to take his contract. Never thought I’d be sticking up for this guy but kinda think hes being treated unfairly at the moment.
Quite a gutsy win and great to see some threes fall in the 4th quarter. Credit the Grizzlies though and I wish them the best of luck from here on out. Perhaps, they could do us a favor and beat some of the teams we are chasing!
Lou Williams was vintage Lou. He needs to continue playing like that with efficiency if this team wants to make that big push. When he is that efficient, this team is so much better. He is a big part of our bench and when our bench outplays the opponent’s bench, we are solid.
Also kudos to Ratliff for making his FGs and “wearing” out Mark Gasol. Let’s see what today has in store for him offensively LOL!
And I can’t wait to see what this team will be like with a healthy Elton Brand. There are plenty of half-court opponents out there and he is a low post guy we need in those type of games. Gasol was a tank out there. Against the strong, brute players, Brand can match up with those guys. Dalembert is too skinny to match up with the strong guys.
GO SIXERS!! KEEP IT GOING!