The Sixers have beat the Knicks three times already this year. This will be the final game in the series. If the scores progress as they have in these match-ups the Sixers could end up on the wrong side. The last three games:
- 116 – 87 (29-point win)
- 107 – 97 (10-point win)
- 116 – 110 (6-point win)
The Knicks have won 3 of the last 5 and as usual are scoring a lot and not playing much defense. The Sixers need not get caught up in their enticing run-and-gun style of play. What else can’t happen is Louis Williams getting involved in a whose **** is bigger contest with Kryptonite Boy, Nate Robinson like he has in the previous games. Robinson has out played him and is running extremely hot right now coming off a 41-point outburst against Indiana. He is averaging 29 ppg, 6 boards and 5 assists on 51.5% shooting over the last 5 games. Can anyone say Royal Ivey tonight? At some point the Sixers need to act like they want to be a real winner. If they do winning tonight is mandatory.
Sixers vs. Knicks Game Notes
I watched the first quarter. Fell a sleep during much of the second quarter. Was drowsing watching as I woke up in the third quarter. And only caught about half the final quarter before I went out. End result a win. I’d love to break down this game but it was ugly. They won the game because the Knicks do not know how to defend anyone and the Sixers went right at them. That led to 52 free throw attempts in which they connected at a 75% clip. That combined with an plus 11 rebound margin and 14 offensive rebounds was enough to hold off the Knicks who got hot from three late.
- Surprisingly only 19 fast break points combined by both teams
- Andre Miller continues to be the best, most consistent player on this team. As long as he continues to play this way I have to expect Stefanski will be resigning him at all cost
- Sammy had another double-double and is playing exactly the way we all hoped he would. Recent comments made by him suggests he is happy right now as a Sixers and with his role. He is an impact player with his rebounding and defense when his mind is right.
- OH YES, Lou Williams still sucks. At some point he and Royal Ivey’s minutes need to be switched
- Thaddeus Young had 10 free throw attempts. That was a career high for him. Need to see MUCH MORE of that type of aggression and foul drawing from him on a consistent basis. It will help subsidize his scoring in games when he isn’t shooting well. He is Young but this is an area he really needs to focus on if he wasn’t to have a consistent impact on the offensive end.
A win is a win. And 2 in a row going into two tough games was necessary to stay on track towards a 4th or 5th seed in the terrible Eastern Conference. But we can’t lose sight of the fact that this team still doesn’t play 4 straight quarters of solid basketball, still has problems defending the perimeter, still can’t shoot with consistency behind the three point line, lacks a killer instinct (up 22, you gotta bury the Knicks), doesn’t play well even in victories many times (good and bad thing) and hasn’t really progressed as a basketball team.
We have a LONG way to go before this team can be taken seriously. But I (we) are in it for the long haul. So let’s keep showing support and hope Stefanski knows what the hell he is doing. (That’s all the ra-ra I got in me)
Next game: Tomorrow @home against the Orlando Magic
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Anyone else but me hate when the game is on CN8 and not abailible in high def?
Better win.
* They should make Dalembert captain of the team - if he’s “checked in”, we’re one of the best teams in the league, and if he’s not we might as well have Michael Olowokandi. It’ll let him know how important he is to the Sixers’ success, and how everything starts with him. Listen to these Knicks announcers, and other announcers of other teams – it’s very clear that Sam is our game-changer.
* On the new lineups ideas from the previous Sixers post – sure, shooting guard Iggy and small forward Thad will work, if I’m playing them in NBA 2K9 or NBA Live. You have to consider who that tandem is surrounded by: our particular coach and coaching staff, the other starters, the bench, and the players’ individual experience levels and salaries. In the NBA, you usually know from the get-go if certain player combinations will work, and Miller-Iggy-Thad-Brand-Sam didn’t work. I understand the fantasizing about that lineup before we got to see it, but now that we have, I hope and pray that I don’t see it again. Some changes – coaching and/or player personnel – need to be made.
Possibly even an uglier win then the one against the Washington Generals.
I’d say it was, TK76. We just can’t play 4 quarters against anybody. The frustration continues.
- Ryan, the solution to the poor reception on CN8 is to watch it on your 13 inch non HD TV then you don’t notice the difference at all.
- Sounds like this power basketball(foul shots) is a point of emphasis by the coaching staff. If you can’t hit the 3’s take it to the rack.
- Royal on the court at end of games is a sweet thing.
- appears that the sixers really wanted to sweep this series. Unfortunately, as noted can’t play 4 quarters.
Yeah sfw, Royal did a nice job on Robinson and Duhon down the stretch.
After an 11 point 1st quarter, the Knicks put up 92 points over the last 3 quarters, hitting on 7 out of 11 attempts from 3 in the 3rd quarter.
You could see the difference defensively when Sam wasn’t on the floor. The Knicks repeatedly went straight to the rim and got there easily.
Agree about Lou. He is driving me nuts. My older son watched the 2nd half with me. I kept telling him to watch Lou’s body language. Lou would bring the ball across halfcourt and I would say to him, he’s taking this shot. Unfortunately I was right almost every time. I get the feeling that Lou’s attitude is if he keeps the ball long enough he will always find a way to get a shot off or get to the rim, so he dribbles left, right, and everywhere else until he finds his opportunity, regardless of how poor it might be. What really gets me is that DiLeo must be ok with it, otherwise he would cut Lou’s minutes or bench him.
Dannie, if this last statement…….“But I (we) are in it for the long haul. So let’s keep showing support and hope Stefanski knows what the hell he is doing.”……..was meant for me, I’m not going anywhere. If not, I’ll own it anyway after what I was saying yesterday. I’ll continue to support them.
Bski, I understand your frustration. But looking at what this team has gone through this season, for them to have a chance to get the fourth seed in the East would be a successful season in some ways. Iguodala sucked for the first month and a half of the season. We lost our identity. We fired our coach. And our 2nd best player arguably, Brand, didnt even play half the season. Now whether getting the fourth seed can be considered a successful season can be debated because it is clear that we are too inconsistent to be a real contender.
Now I want to bring up this point because i’ve been thinking about it for a long time.
Is there anyway we would rather play the Magic in the first round, instead of getting the 5th seed and having to play the Hawks in Atlanta for 4 games?
Looking at the Hawks home record, 20-6, and seeing what they did to Boston last year in the playoffs… I really dont want to play the Hawks for 4 games when they are at home. Plus the Hawks play a similar style as us which means we wouldnt have much of an advantage if the game speeds up. But if the game slows down the have an obvious advantage with Joe Johnson and Al Horford.
Orlando has just as good of a record at home, 22-7, and have a much better overall record than the Hawks. But without Jameer Nelson, we could take a huge advantage if we get out on the break and if the Magic have an off game shooting wise, than they would be in trouble. Tonight will be interesting because we came very close to winning last time they played us. We will get to see how we match up against them and maybe it will answer my question.
I went to the game. First Sixers game I have seen all season. I read the posts on here and was shocked to see that Thad had 10 FTAs, considering that he still is such a soft player. Why can’t he dunk rather than going for lay ups every time? I had one lay up that was blocked pretty bad.
Additionally, how come Iggy can’t dribble? Al Harrington is able to go coast to coast under complete control and he is a PF. Iggy, who started the year at SG, must have had 5 turnovers because he would lose the ball trying to cross over or do anything. I was petrified every time he tried to do anything on offense. The first quarter was great, the rest of the game was eh. And for a sparsely populated Garden, my god does that place get loud.
BSKI – That comment was meant for me more than anyone else. This is my home team. It’s the team I root for more than any other. I have partial season tickets so I go to more than half the home games. But I personally don’t like them. My favorite player on the roster if Royal Ivey, that should tell you how I feel about the Sixers right now.
Guest….I think I’d rather take my chances against the Hawks.
Between Howard and their 3-point shooting, we just don’t match up well with the Magic at all. We’ll see what happens tonight but, even without Jameer, I’m not too confident.
Tough way for a fan to to go through a season isn’t it, Dannie? As you know, I feel your pain.
Bski, I agree our perimeter defense is a horrible thing going against the Magic, but you cant say the Hawks dont scare you a little bit after what they did to the Celtics last year. Best case scenario, we play the Heat or Hawks at Home for 4 games in the playoffs. We have a lot of work to do, to get into that position. Should be interesting.
Guest….agree with your best case scenario and even more that we have a lot of work to do. I just haven’t seen any sign of it coming together as of yet and it’s getting pretty late in the season. That’s why I’ve been so frustrated.
This should be an interesting test for the Sixers the next two home games: tonight against the Magic and Monday against the Hornets– two great three point shooting teams. Yesterday, in the third quarter especially against the Knicks, the perimeter defense was not good. That Knicks team is pretty tough to play over there and hold their ground one-on-one against Dwight. Double-teaming is NOT an option (very minimal at the least!!)
Also, I would prefer to take on the Hawks in the playoffs. Don’t let their home record intimidate anyone. I thought after two games against the Hawks, we really can beat this team. Thaddeus Young obviously plays his best all-around game against the Hawks after learning a lot from Mark Price. Same with Lou, the little guy from Atlanta. Georgia Love.
The one game we lost to the Hawks was due to poor coaching and not using the bench. Our starters were tired in the second half.
The second meeting with the Hawks was a one and done deal in the 4th and Thaddeus just put all the nails on the coffin with threes. Horford did not play in that game.
The final meeting will be on March 31st at home! We must put a body on Horford and that is where Brand will be missed.
Overall, though the Sixers should make it a very interesting series with the Hawks and it would be even better with homecourt advantage! Three point shooting aside, both teams play uptempo and that should be interesting.
Also, Elton Brand did a better one-on-one job against Dwight Howard. So, our frontcourt really has to step it up defensively.
Zack: For what it’s worth, the opening night starting lineup was +63 while it lasted, and the problem was the bench was awful in giving away the leads. Not to say that I’d be comfortable again with Igoudala at SG again, but just for the record…