What’s the key to a Sixers win tonight? Just one. I want to hear what you think in the comments.
Here are my concerns:
- Dug 18-point deficits in both games with the Magic shooting 28.6% from three
- Limited Sixers fast break points
- Weak rebounding
- Who is the 4th scorer?
I understand the series has been ugly. Neither team is playing their best. Neither team is playing the way that got them to this point. That bodes best for the Sixers – IF they take advantage of Orlando’s poor play while it lasts. That’s why I’ve come to this conclusion…
Whichever team starts playing their game, their styles and to their strengths first – wins. Because all it takes is for one of these teams to get in a groove for there to be a snowball effect either way. I think both teams lack a collective mental toughness so for me it comes down to whoever can snap off that devastating blow (combination rather) first and give the opponent ample reason to just stay down.
I don’t think the Sixers can do that in game 3 alone. But I do think a game 3 win and a big lead in the 3rd quarter of game 4 would be enough to push Orlando and their panicky coach over the edge.
Let’s get the process started tonight.
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
C’mon Dannie, because big spinner Shaq called SVG that, it doesn’t make it so. Yes, he’s emotional and demonstrative, but I don’t see strong evidence of panic in his coaching (have to admit, I kinda like him). His players have underperformed this series so far. That’s not always an extension of the coach. Panic doesn’t notch ya 59. And Shaq talks a lot of trash.
Van Gundy was testy before the game, which is not the way he normally is. Apparently, he’s upset that he heard DiLeo, at the morning shoot-around, said the Sixers have to be more physical with Courtney Lee.
Asked about it later, DiLeo’s response was, “We never said anything about taking hard fouls. We just need to be more aware of him.” Stay tuned.
Good ’smack’ relay, Tom. Adds a dimension to the viewing.
JJG - I will take the word of a former player /4-time NBA champion on two different teams. I am sure guys make stuff up, but calling a coach panicky doesn’t exactly feel that way for me. But time will tell. (I wouldn’t be surprised more players come out besides Shaq and Gorat).
It’s okay to be demonstrative. Whiny (voice aside) is exhausting from a player’s standpoint especially when it’s nonstop.
I think his players have underperformed as well. So it’s just a matter of how often that occurs before it becomes a reflection of the coach in my opinion.
Hell of a game, props to two of our normal goats Willie Green and Sammy D Willie first for a big runner with shot clock going down, and for being able to foul Howard so hard that he could not get a shot up at the end of the game. Sam had some big plays and was pretty solid some stuff wont show up on stat sheets but he contributed very positively tonight while on the floor.
Also, why did they not call a foul on Howard on Thad he clearly was trying to wrap him up great great great great!!! play by Thad to keep his head and get up a game winner on the defensive player of the year.
Missing freethrows hurt us again tonight but we overcame we have played a good defensive scheme and like the fact that Howard is probably thinking in his head “man what do I have to do” if he starts trying to get other people involved it will take him out of his game.
Andre’s again were awesome lets keep it up!!!!
HEY DWIGHT A DUNK IS ONLY WORTH TWO POINTS.
Dannie,I wish we defended like this all year, less switching, less breakdowns and better detention to a sort of gameplan. A.Miller seemed to get his AND get people involved tonight. Can!t wait for Sunday, I will be there and hopefully we get a full house.
This was really a good game to watch as a Sixer fan. Players were play ing smart ,playing tough, coming thru nicely.This was the best Sixers performance I”ve seen in a long time,Sixers have raised the bar for the rest of the series. I liked Dileos subing,tonight, I hope he keeps making smart moves. I love the defense. Sixers in six, GO SIXERS
What a great ending!
Great win. Sixers’ best defensive game of the year. Sammie was cat-quick around the basket and altered a lot of shots. Thad manned up against the big guys. There were some lapses from the guards, but Green and Miller contributed in other ways. I am now in the camp that on a night when Lou looks so lost, that Ivey should be playing as many minutes as Williams.
Andre Iguodala is a completely different playoff basketball player this year. He said Detroit defended him well last year and that otherwise he played well. If he wants to think that, fine. Truth is, he played with no confidence last year and this year he is the man. He is earning every bit of his salary right now and we would have no prayer without him.
DiLeo’s rotations in the first half were great, less so in the second, mostly because of the Ivey-Williams misbalance. Interesting that Mareese never got off the pine. I love his game, but last night was a defensive gem and what we are getting from Sam, Theo, and Reggie on D is something that the big kid just is not capable of providing yet. I think if the defensive strategy is the same tomorrow, except with Ivey getting more court time, we can win game #4.
And Thaddeus Young, what a play to win the game. Especially on a night when he just quietly played sticky D and stayed out of the offensive flow. What a great piece of improvisational basketball. He was boxed into the corner, he made a strong move to the hoop, nearly traveled, and then made an instinctual move that was so quick, even the defensive player of the league couldn’t stop him. Thad is “the natural.”
Taking game #4 would be huge.
“Nearly traveled” = traveled, no call. In counterbalance, also no call on Howard’s foul. “Defensive Player Of The Year” Howard instinctually overcommitted to Young’s WEAKER side, allowing for the spin-back game winner. Shoulda been a swat away, at least not a 2 ft. bank-in with natural hand. Can you imagine the same happening to Wilt or Russell?
Thank you, underappreciated Willie, for your Spartan play at both ends. You da unsung man!
Dannie, Nice post. Agree about the incessantly harping, whiny approach. That’s one reason why Larry Brown has been an Avis (#1) rental coach. Coach K gets away with it on college level because he wins, and his better players usually scoot after a year or two. Carlissimo grated on players too. I imagine there was some annoyance and rolling of eyeballs when Vitale coached the Pistons way back when. Instructing and demanding, while encouraging and unleashing, at the highest level: not easy, especially with today’s “instant” (and wealthier than coach) players.
Hey Jumpin, why did it take so long to play good straight up defense, shouldn!t this have started during the year? And Willies strength did not allow Howard to get the shot up, THAT was a great hard foul.
About this Series, the Magic, a shell of themselves without frisky, creating and complementing Jameer, will soon disappear unless Tedo and Rashard get it going in a big way. Is it their nagging injuries or the Sixers’ special attention, deeper bench and sustained grit that’s keeping them under the weather?
Hey Jumpin, Me and S.F.W. were watching the game together and when Willie fouled Howard they showed an animated J.Ruland on the bench and my first thought was ” Hey Superman, get that weak shit out of there or I will get Mc Filthy and we will kick you AND Batties ass ouit of here!!!!”
Suede, It’s a matter of urgency, focus and commitment. Collectively, they smell Orlando blood, are goin’ for the kill. The regular season is a Westminster Kennels dress rehearsal (largely an entertainment rip-off). Now, it’s Bright Lights, Big City. Right up Sixers’ - a team consisting of many hot dogs – alley. Could’ve been there all along; didn’t find a reason. That needs to be addressed.
Suede, A good moment. Ruland and Green, cut from the same cloth: not showy, team-oriented, tough as nails.
Dannie: is it accurate to say that Orlando is not a good mid range shooting team, their big guns Lewis, Lee and Turk all look uncomfortable shooting off the dribble as opposed to catch and shoot. i think they played to much that style. thats 3 games now where their shots just seem to glance off the rim. even their form looks different when inside the arc and on the move. If Lee doesnt get to the rim or shoot the 3 he’s VERY manageable.
on game: this was all Andres. very professional of Thad to step up in the end after he had been struggling. Iguodala play just seems to be getting better. ridiculous. he just LOVES Turkoglu. Miller won this game for us by enforcing the tempo. EVERY play he was pushing the ball, the tempo was ideal for Sixer ball. When it slowed down they cut into our lead.
Wow not to be negative but I eagerly await the day we dont have to play Lou Williams. Get some better subs and trade him meen, this is ridiculuous.
SIXERS: ” this is it meen, go for it” that team hasnt played better than you in any game. it really seems like THEY CANT. put ‘em away!
jkay – I think it’s more about the Sixers defense. They might have finally figured out when you but the effort in to consistently contest guys shots and stay in their “bubble” (term of the late great basketball mind Dick Devenzio) you make guys uncomfortable, get them out of rhythm and force missed shots rather than “hoping” they miss.
I think Turk, Lee and Lewis are decent mid-range shooters IF they can create space for clean looks in that area. What the Sixers have been doing is not allowing them to break free and create that space.
I’ll have something up on the game and looking forward to Sunday after lunch.
Along the same lines, Turk at 6′10 can’t seem to get into Iguodala’s ‘bubble’ even if he’s in his shirt. I just hope this hot shooting can continue- Iguodala has stayed hot from the outside for weeks at a time in the past
At full strength, Turkoglu neutralizes Iguodala. Hard to produce on either end of court with a tender ankle. That said, AI2 has jumped him good so far, taking full advantage as he should.
Willie Green pulled a GuaranSheed there. When was the last time Willie ever took it to the hoop? (Not since O’Brien was the Sixers coach!) Willie was “Willie” good in Game 3.
Willie Green and Samuel Dalembert turned out to be the difference in that 4th quarter. If they were consistent, who knows how far this team would go?
So far in this series, when Sammy boards and blocks, when Andre Iguodala scores 20+ over Hedo, our bench outscores the Magic, when Howard is a one man show, and Rashard and Hedo don’t get theirs the Sixers win, plain and simple.
I hope Thaddeus Young can break open in this series. That could really help the Sixers cause.
Things to focus on:
-Turnovers
-Rebounds
-FREE THROWS (especially down the stretch).
This series will continue to be a series of RUNS where 18 point leads will vanish like magic (or SIXERS).
GO SIXERS!! BEAT THE MAGIC PART III !!! (Remember Game 4 last year!)