This is one of the few games I actually think the Sixers can and should win. On the other hand the game is completely unpredictable because the Knicks are 12-8 in their last 20 and could easily go off for 130 points if they get hot playing their style of offense and the Sixers decide they don’t want to defend tonight.
I have a very negative feel for the Sixers right now and think since they have won 2 straight they are now certainly due for a (bad) loss. A game vs. the Knicks would fit that bill.
We are talking about two teams who play very little defense (none in the case of the Knicks) and thrive on transition offense.
Keys for the Sixers is two-fold:
- Defend the three for a change
- Get back in transition defense
Do those two things and this game should be a clear win, even a blowout.
The Knicks aren’t going to dominate on the boards. They aren’t going to get into the Sixers defensively. They aren’t going to stay patient on offense and make the Sixers work defensively.
What they will try to do is lull you into playing a helter skelter game of who can put up and make the most shots quickly.
The first match-up was a 141-127 win for the Sixers in overtime. A game where the Sixers scored 70 first half points and lead by as much as 23 before deciding not to play hard in the 4th quarter and make Al Harrington look like a superstar player.
With that said, the first game is actually not a bad game to play against the Knicks for the Sixers.
- We only attempted 8 threes out of 84 shot attempts
- We attempted 42 free throws, making 36
- We out rebounded the Knicks 49-31
That’s pretty damn good for the Sixers. The last part is just playing some defense and that is enough to beat the Knicks.
I’ll be commenting during the game.
I think that this is the kind of game that will prove to Stefanski if EJ should be fired, or if he has started to right the ship.
The Sixers always seem to beat the Knicks. Its strange I want them to win for winning sake. However not to save either ES or EJ job. Too many mistakes by both of them is so concerning. A run and gun shoot out would be a great game to watch tonight. Let’s go Sixers.
The Knicks may be a team interested in L.Will. after shopping this summer for the big names, so I hope he goes off on them. The Knicks recently held 11 straight teams under 100 pts., how I have no idea. I would like to see a little J. Hill tonight but doubtful, Sixers get their 3rd in a row !!!!
Sammy is playing the best basketball of his life. He is not a liability on offense even a little bit. In fact he has been an asset, taking good shots and making them. Dominating the boards on both ends.
Iverson really looks like he worked on his jumper too.
It’s amazing to me, how Andre can sit there and launch up 3′s like there is no tomorrow. His best offensive games are the one’s where he starts out with easy buckets. I would prefer him to try and get on a little bit of a roll, before putting up the long shots.
Sammy is doing a helluva job boxing out David Lee, one of the better NBA rebounders.
Guest: I would prefer Iguodala not put up long shot, period. There is no reason for Iguodala to be taking more then 2 three pointers a game. Three attempts should be the absolute limit. Anything over that is just insane. He needs to take a page out of Josh Smith’s notebook this year.
This just in Sammy has 19 boards in 22 minutes. Fucking beast right now I don’t care who you are playing.
Three mins left in the third and Brand has 12 mins of playing time.. what a joke
how can eddie ‘clueless’ jordan justify f***ing around brand’s playing time while he has barely taken thaddeus or iggy off while they are sucking the joint up? at least brand plays hard and rebounds!! plus he just came off a good game.
question though dannie….
Even with sammie D playing well would you jump at the chance to trade him for an expiring contract?
I would only because we aren”t going anywhere this year and the more we win the more we hurt our chances of building around a good young player come draft time. Just wanted to know what your thoughts are..
iggy 1-8 from the field and 0-6 from 3….
seriously is he stupid? why does he think he’s getting all these looks from 3? because they know that he sucks and it’s a high chance that they will just get the ball back.
Tim – NO I would not trade Sammy for an expiring contract because his contract expires next summer. At this point I’d only trade Sam for real value in terms of a player in return. Him coming off the books this summer doesn’t do anything but help the Sixers avoid the luxury tax next season. Eliminating his salary will not allow the Sixers to be players in free agency.
If I can’t get a quality player in return I just let Sammy expire along with Green and Kapono in the Summer of 2011.
i think we should try and make an effort to get under the cap for the 2011 off season by trading brand for say michael redd or erick dampier… even if we have to chuck in a young player or iguodala. i can see dallas makiong this move as they are competing to win now and are not far of been an elite team. Then once 2011 comes we should be miles under the cap to sign one possibly 2 good players and we would have our 2010 draft pick plus a high draft pick in 2011 plus a core of speights, williams, holiday and thad. willaims and thad would make good bench players and, speights could be a starter with all star potential and holiday is still an unknown qauntity. If i were gm my plan would be built around this…..
I have a sneaky suspicion that this is the game that gets Eddie Jordan fired… or maybe not
Chuck: ……yeah?…..if i had a nickel for every time I heard that……….
Michael Redd is done for the year…why would we want to take him on?
My favorite play from this game was when he passes it to the man, and…boom goes the dynamite.
I don’t wanna piss any of the 6ers followers on the board off because I know you guys are pissed at a lot, but I’m in a records never to be broken mode this morning, and am looking at the Nets chances of winning only 5 more (5-39 required the rest of the way) which would set a new low of 8-74 for a season.
It’s a tough record to break. The Nets started like they would smash the record, 0-18 versus the 9-73 6ers at 0-15. To this point, the teams are tied at 3-35. The 76ers record bottomed out over the next stretch, and this is where the Nets are perhaps in a pivotal time. I knew from memory that the 6ers were 4-47 when they fired Roy Rubin. If you stop and think about it, 4-47 is staggering. But it pales in comparison to when they actually bottomed out.
I had forgotten that they lost their first 11 games under Kevin Loughery, whih took them to 4-58. Wow. That is truly pathetic. Duh.
They got scorching hot at that point. 2 wins in a row, and 5 of 7. But from 9-61, they dropped their last 13 meaning Kevin Loughery’s highwater mark was 5-14 and included losing streaks of 11 and 13 around the 5-7.
The Nets are 3-17 since their start. Next up is a 4 game western swing. Then comes a home stand against the Clips, Wiz, 6ers and Pistons. Its reasonable to project nothing on the road trip. 2 wins of the 4 at home would put them at 5-41. Raptors, Pistons, C’s and Cavs are the next 4, on the road. If they win at home against Detroit, they’re losing on the road. That puts them at 5-45, needing 4 to tie, out of 32. They have about 4-5 games the rest of the way they could/should win from a guessing standpoint.
Somehow, the 9-73 6ers won 5 of 7, seemingly out of nowhere. That’s what it is going to take for the Nets not to break the record. Specifically to the Nets schedule is most important, but in general, this year’s competition is far, far greater than back in 1973 meaning the Nets should run into teams with more importance on the games. In 1973, the 4 playoff teams in the East all knew where they were positionally, and games were less important. This year, although its halfway through and things could change, the race for the 8th playoff spot figures to be very competitive, and the Nets should be playing motivated teams.
Unless their talent/coaching is better than the start indicates, they look pretty likely to win no more than 10 under the best of circumstances.
The record has been threatened before, the Clips, Dallas won 11 1 year, seems Houston had a really bad year once upon a time. Somehow, contenders find a way to avoid it. Depending on what else they do before the trade deadline, the Nets should make it interesting.
Ken Bland – Their talent, while lacking overall is better than their record and I don’t at all expect them to break or tie that record.
That’s a lot of time to key players.
Two things about that.
I think they will go on a run or simple scatter enough wins in the second half of the season to avoid that embarrassing record.
Key developments from 9-73 nadir:
season 1: Shue takes reigns; Collins drafted, Mix added – 25
season 2: retread Cunningham (ABA free agent) adds 19/9 punch & legitimacy;
raw but willing Catchings drafted – 34
season 3: McGinnis arrives (ABA free agent); Free, Bryant, Dawkins drafted – 46
season 4: Doc visits (ABA Nets for $); C. Jones, Bibby arrive – 50 (Div. Champs)
4 years, 5 draftees (Collins, Catchings, Free, Bryant, Dawkins), 3 marquee signings (Cunningham, McGinnis, Doc), 3 veteran cogs (Mix, C. Jones, Bibby), 1 coach & system (Shue): outhouse to penthouse. It can be done with smart management
and continued charitible Comcast checkbook.
sp correction: charitable
Just a theory: Sam took a good look at Iverson’s physical decline. Light bulb went off: “Hey, this NBA gig won’t last forever. Better get my butt movin’.”
Another theory: Sam strongly identifies with Iverson’s rebellious free spirit; co-opts #3′s bald ambition and court courage.
Last theory: Iverson said, “Stick with me, Sam, and you’ll do fine.”
Whatever has gotten into Sam (seems to correspond with AI’s return), he’s certainly mattered of late.
@jjg, still hasn’t produced many wins. Down 1 with seconds left why not draw up a play going to the rim instead of posting up? I don’t want to seem negative as someone put it but game situations, substitutions.. Its just not working. Good teams win close games. Bad teams find a way to lose them. Not as much discussion about this team of late, maybe that’s a sign we’ve given up like Sixers management has.
One has to wonder if any of the current Sixers will be part of a future when the Sixers are relevant/good… Given few if and of the wretched teams in early-mid 90’2 contributed to the AI led resurgence.
But I’m certain that Sam, AI and Willie will be gone by the time the team turns it around. Given its more likely players like Jrue, Thad and Speights will be part of the future, maybe we should finally show comittemet to getting them regular minutes (at their correct positions) and solid coaching? Or is stealing a few more wins on the backs of players with half a foot out the door more important? reminds me of Joe Smith.
90’2 should read 90′s
RRose – I was fine with the play call. Speights had been killing the Knicks in the 4th quarter and showed he could get a good shot and make it if defended one on one. His move was going towards the basket.
The Knicks double teamed (as they should have) and forced the Sixers into a perimeter (wide open by the way) shot that Carney (who was also hot in the quarter) missed. So the ball was in the hands of the Sixers hottest shooters on the last possession. They missed. It happens.
Even if the play was a designed dribble drive the same result was probably likely. Knicks collapse and double the drive leaving the kick out as the only shooting option. Sure someone could put their head down and try to bull there way through the lane for a contested shots hoping for it not to get blocked or turned over in traffic and/or getting fouled. But I am thinking the Knicks would have helped quickly forcing the jump shot no matter what because that was their entire defense scheme the entire night.
To be fair, I was really impressed by Sam and AI’s play. They deserve a lot of credit for keeping the Sixers in the game. But, honestly I’m past the point where I care about these Sixers winning- unless its wins that point to a more promising future.
The only positives I see from Sam playing great are that I feel bad for the guy (Haiti) and maybe it convinces a team like Houston to offer actual value for him in a trade. But I read ES went 0/29 in looking for a Sam trade, so I don’t my hopes up. At this point I’d rather them keep him, and maybe even resign him as a reserve if he agrees to a MLE like contract. Of course that might drive a certain poster over the edge.
@dannie, I can tell you know your basketball. So, did you see the Celtics inbounds play to Rondo a few games ago against the Heat? Rivers seems to draw up great out of bounds plays in the last few seconds of the game. He did it against the Sixers with the Ray Allen 3 to win the game against them last season. I just think part of being a good coach is being able to find that ONE play in practice and scrimmages that he can go to that works. Ok, sure Speights was eating up Lee for a few minutes of the game but its so much easier to double on the low block then anywhere else on the court.
IMO, why not back screen or flatten out with Ai at the top somehow. I’m sorry although Carney hit a few shots in the game. Hitting a game winner with much more pressure on him, I’d rather have someone else have that shot. The Knicks did pack the paint most of the night so yes it probably would have resulted in some drive and kick shot but Carney? why not Iggy driving and kicking to Ai? Or drive and kick to Speights.
If anything they probably could have went pick and roll with AI or Iguodala and Speights. See how the Knicks defend it and see if a mismatch is created.
But in a situation like the players have a bunch of decisions they will have to make for the outcome to be favorable (pop or roll, pass, drive or jumper off the screen, kick out or take the shot).
They got a wide open shot to win the game by a guy who shoots 37.1% from three and was 5-10 from the field and 3-6 from three in the game prior to the shot.
AI got the ball and attempted to drive but he got cut off and had to pass.
Eddie Jordan doesn’t think Andre Iguodala is a playmaker so I doubt we see him with the ball in late game situations while Jordan is the coach.
Also, the plays you refer to with Boston are plays designed for situations with less time. The Sixers had 13 seconds to get a good shot and two passes were made in that time.
Flattening it out and having AI go one-on-one isn’t a viable strategy anymore IMO with him.
Winning situations like that at the end of the game does have some to do with a play drawn up, but the teams that are successful have plenty of good shooting options on the floor and at least one dominate offensive player who can get a good shot for himself or a teammate. I am not sure the Sixers are equipped that way.
4 years, 5 draftees (Collins, Catchings, Free, Bryant, Dawkins)>>
I totally understand the drive to be a lottery team. Guys like Doug Collins come out of that. But as everyone knows, there are no guarantees on the position, let alone the selection. That list as an example contains 5 players who all had a minimum of contributing careers, but the best talent of all, drafted I believe the same year or 1 later was Raymond Lewis of LA State. He would have led the resurgence a lot quicker if he wasn’t such a headcase. As good a scorer out of the backcourt as ever played a long time in the NBA.
Then there was the year they drafted Al Henry from Wisconsin, picking 9th that led to the 9-73 in the first place. It will be quite interesting to see what Snider’s confidence level is in Stefanski making the pick, let alone the fates that can take a career south quickly (i.e. Sam Bown, Blake Griffin, however temporarily). Unfortunately, its a long list of wasted lottery picks, too. There are no simple answers.
the same year or 1 later >>
as or than Collins
All I want to see is Andre back in the dunk contest. We’ll finally get to see something exciting. Kind of.
RRose – Not many wins but team is showing more of a pulse since AI returned (7-11, in contrast to 5-15). It remains a team game. Sam’s steppin’ up lately, doin’ his part – rebounding like he’s possessed & asserting himself within reason on offensive end - more often than not; foul trouble and self-inflicted court time limitation still an achilles heel though. In my opinion, other central mates aren’t carrying their load consistently enough. If most bring their B game on a given night, there’s a good chance of Sixers winning. Trouble lies in the uneven efforts and the unpredictabilty of individual production regarding both ends of court.
Nothing to do with the topic, but I found it pretty funny nonetheless…By butidonthavemoney on NBADraft.net.
Concession Scandal 2.0?
Reporting: butidonthavemoney
LeBron James created a scene for himself on December 13, 2009, when he charged himself into the stands after a foul on a made bucket, and stole a child’s French fries. Some people wrote this off as a funny gag with no victims, seeing as how the child played along and high-fived the second-leading scorer in the NBA. Others cried foul, claiming that it was LeBron’s ego that caused him to steal a fans fries in an opposing arena. However, attention died down quickly. LeBron would mask this in a bevy of other freakishly amazing highlight reel plays and the NBA would carry on without incident, that is, until now.
What some are calling an inevitable disaster, foretold to us in the Almanacs by Nostradamus, others claim is a backlash from the December 13 fry incident. On Wednesday, January 13, Eddy Curry ran into the Philadelphia 76ers crowd a stole a child’s hot dog.
The incident began around the 6 minute mark in the second quarter of the game, when teammate David Lee noticed Eddy Curry acting suspicious. “I thought his stomach was sick, so when his nose started twitching, I didn’t really think much of it.” Lee said in a post game interview. “But then I saw him get this huge, goofy smile on his face, and drool falling out of his mouth. I started to get a little scared. So I went over to him and asked if he was alright, but the only noise he made was like a half-grunt, half-gag type of thing, I mean, he didn’t even look at me. So I asked him again, but as soon as I touched his shoulder, he just belted into the crowd.”
Once Curry “belted” into the crowd, he headed in a straight line toward little Abigail Barr, an 11-year-old child who was given lower-bowl tickets through the make-a-wish foundation. Abigail is diagnosed with leukemia and is facing chemotherapy. She also is blind in one eye, an orphan and is highly epileptic. Abigail just wanted to see her late-father’s favorite player, Allen Iverson. “I was so excited!” Abigail said. “My daddy loved Allen Iverson. So I wanted to see him play! He even signed a shirt for me!” Of course Abigail is no NBA expert. She didn’t even know who Eddy Curry was. So when the make-a-wish foundation was willing to pay for anything she wanted, she bought a hot dog. Experts speculate Curry had smelled the hotdog, and that is what caused the rampage.
Once Curry had little Abigail’s hot dog in sight he grabbed it with his big, mushy hand, pushing over Abigail in the process. He turned for the exit to the lobby, tripping several times on his way up the stairs. Witnesses say he was panting and laughing at the same time. One spectator claimed, “I’ve never seen a grown man giggle like that.” Somehow before he got up the six steps he needed to climb, he had already devoured little Abigail’s hot dog amidst the laughing and panting. He fell into the lobby, stomach down. His giggle immediately went away and he got a dead-serious look on his face. Some witnesses claim he turned his head around 180 degrees like in “The Exorcist”. There he saw the hot dog vendor.
The vendor took his stand and tried to run away. “I had no idea Curry could run like that.” The vendor explained. Curry caught up and ate everything in the stand. The vendor is currently in the hospital with two fingers bitten off. This is believed to have been an accident.
Curry was eventually talked down by assistant coach, Herb Williams, and brought to the visitor’s locker room to settle down. The aftermath of the incident was devastating though. Little Abigail Barr had three consecutive seizures, the hot dog vendor lost two fingers and all arenas are banned from selling concessions if Eddy Curry is inside the building.
So readers, I implore you. Ask yourselves, what is next? How long until John Bryant snaps? Is LeBron responsible? David Stern is considering suspending Eddy Curry, but will that really help anything? For the NBA’s sake, I hope so.
Next Week: Dirk scores 20,000th career point, Hasselhoff still not impressed.
Hey jumpin, good story on Reggie Harding on hoopshype, I believe he was part of that St. Louis Spirits lockerroom where everybody was packin.
It really is remarkable how Sammy has responded to AI’s presence. He is such a headcase…
the reason we would want michael redd is because his contract comes off the books next year, plus if he doesn’t play till then insurance covers his contract which is quite possible. we could have huge cap that summer if we can get rid of brand, iggy would be easy to get rid off for an expiring contract and a draft pick or 2.
suede, You mean the crazy team with Fly Williams and Marvin Barnes and Gus Gerard (and clean-cut Tommy Inglesby of Cardinal O’Hara & Villanova). Reggie Harding was 7 foot Pistons center in 60s (first to enter NBA without college experience). Bored with defending Chamberlain and Russell and Reed, held up his liquor store in mask. Clerk recognized him. Called out his name. Reggie said, “It’s not me.” Served time. Died tragically of gunshot on street of Motor City. Thanks for the heads up on article; sounds like a read.
…a shame too that Sammy’s basketball game is so frustratingly inconsistent, because it forces the entire city to just harass the guy with venom, when as a person, he seems like a VERY good dude. He seems very committed to charitable efforts, has always started fundraisers and tried to raise awareness in his hometown of (Haiti?). Some guys do that because the team or their PR guy forces them to do that; Sammy, on the other hand, actually seems to give a shit and seems like a great person, and one that has a pretty likable personality.
The season in…I believe it may have been 06-07, Mo Cheeks 1st or 2nd full year, where Sammy averaged a double double, and this recent flurry of monster rebounding games just makes me all the more frustrated because it shows what the hell he’s capable of when his head is actually on his shoulders. Grr.
Am I a loyal fan or an ignorant fan if I am still rooting for the Sixers to win every game, improve, gel, and show SOME improvement, as opposed to rooting for losses, tanking, and getting a higher draft pick? Always the conundrum in the NBA, and I’ve always fallen on the side of winning, no matter the situation or long term cost. My competitive drive just can’t allow me to want the Sixers to drop L’s left and right. I’d be the happiest man alive if we miraculously finished the season .500 and wound up with 34 wins or so.
The one good thing for teams with mediocre or below mediocre records is that with the total watering down of the college game with all these one and done, two and done players with huge upside leaving…and underrated seniors that fall through the cracks…is that it is much, much easier to pick up a legitimately talented player from 18-35 in drafts than ever before. Those lower first round and early 2nd round picks are actually something to be coveted, and for GMs that do their homework, pick up a solid player that can fit in a 7-8 man rotation.
Tim – The flaw in your post is that…we can’t get rid of Brand. t just is not happening. With Gilbert Arenas barely a member of the NBA anymore, Brand may have the most untradable contract in the league, or is at least in the top 3.
Jumpin, mixed him up with D. Vaughn senior, who played for Virginia before they moved to St. Louis, sorry !! Sam is playing the best all-around game of his career and makes me wonder , if he put time in over the summer throughout his career what could he have become ? Theo type or level ? What a shame !!!
Allen Iverson interview on The Dan Patrick Show:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/interviews/
For those that don’t know Dan’s radio show (former ESPN anchor), he is one of the best interviewers around, IMO. His sense of humor really shines through and he tends to actually warm up all his guests by joking around with light subjects before hitting them with deeper questions. I was THRILLED to see him land AI, who I’ve never heard on his show before. This is more of a light interview (which for AI, is refreshing), and is not representative of how great DP can be, but it’s nice to see AI in this setting. Topics go from:
-What kind of foods AI ate once he decided to retire
-AI’s views on Donovan McNabb’s Syracuse basketball career
-Whether he or Vick was considered a better high school QB
-How close his voice sounds to Tony Loc
-His bball skills now versus 10 years ago, what he’s asked to do now verses previous stints with the Sixers.
-MJ vs. Kobe’s offensive game
-If AI is tired of making light of his “Practice” speech
-AI’s transition to an older veterans game dealing with recovering from injuries
-Could Dan Patrick score on AI if they played 1 vs 1
wow seriously I am looking at john wall and he is freakin incredible! the way he can run a team, score, pass, defend, drive…. I can’t remember a better prospect from this decade other then lebron this kid is a certified franchise cornerstone.
I know it’s great to win and all but i don’t care with this sixers team, i want the top pick in this draft. If we got this kid we could build a franchise around him!
What do u think dannie? would you rather the team try and compete this year to get as many victories as possible and perhaps stay a mediocre team for years to come, or would you rather blow this thing up now and go for a firesale??
I would just love to be really excited about this team again with a good young player and the possibilities that could be bought about by some salary cap space!
dave t – i don’t believe he is untradable, very difficult but it could be done, if we package a young player with him also we only need to get an expiring 2011 contract, so for a team like dallas i think getting brand and thad for erick dampier would put them over the top. And if they belive they can make a move that would allow them to become a serious threat to the lakers (maybe even on par) they will do it 10 out of 10 times. That team is geared to win right now, they aren’t getting any better next year or the year after and they have already shown by throwing that contract at marion and the re signing of jason kidd that they are comitted to competing for a championship regardless of how much it’s gonna cost.
Tim – Dallas has been looking forward to Dampier coming off their books longer than we have with Dalembert and W Green. If they did use him as a trade chip, they would not take on another contract in return unless it was for 1-2 years. Brand has THREE years left on his deal at an albatross rate, for a guy who clearly is not and does not appear will ever be the same as before his injuries.
I understand your logic with them taking on another young talent and Brand, giving them a nice shot of toughness and youth, but there are other ways to acquire young talent then taking on a big contract. Also, like Dalembert this year, Damp is actually playing well and is giving them a great defensive presence and rebounder in the middle…no way they’d give that up for a 6’9 banger past his prime to put at PF with Dirk at C. And besides, they have Josh Howard/Marion already at the SF/PF spots, Thad would be redundant. Speights and Dirk would make a horrendous defensive combination…and they already have upcoming PG’s in Barea and Boubois so Holiday wouldn’t work.
Moving Brand and getting a team to take on 3 years at 16 – 17 million per year is a monster task. I’m sure it could be done, but you’d have to get awfully creative, and honestly we don’t have the type of pieces to put someone over the top.
Wanted to put in a plug for Brian(Depressedfan) and Derek’s(Phillyarena) weekly Sixer radio show:
) I’m pretty sure Dannie will be on one of these weeks.
http://www.sixersbeat.com
If you can get past the 1st four minutes of technical difficulty, last nights show was good. They had on Tom Moore, beat writer from the Courier Post and briefly Ricky from Sixersforguido’s. It’s live on Thursday nights and you can either post questions beforehand at their blogs or RealGM or call in live.
Not trying to post spam, it is completely non-commercial (which you can tell by the production quality
You just gotta keep throwing salt on the wound, don’t ya tk ?
Dalembert on Larry King:
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2010/01/14/20100114_phi_dalembert_king.nba/?ls=iref:nbahpt2
Offer to buy out Brands contract. I mean really let him walk away at some smaller measured salary. See it as doing him a favor to go and find a championship caliber team to play for. Also see it as admitting it was a big contract mistake. I don’t think he likes it here or at least this coaching staff. The way he’s running and jumping he only has a few years left in that body.
RRSose, that would save Comcast money, but not effect Brand’s numbers against the cap.