It seems like everyone is terrified, worried, scared or whatever other descriptive word you want to use for general concern about this game. I on the other hand am not. I am confident this is a win and I wouldn’t want to go into this game any other way. I feel this we because it should be a win considering the circumstances. Judging the Sixers by their play in this series I think a win should be the expectation and sooner or later we need to start holding this team to a higher standard. Why not start right now?
The Big Concern
I think the general concern is that the Sixers will go into this game lax because Howard and Lee are out. That they won’t have the intensity necessary to make this game a forgone conclusion early. That they will be too comfortable and overconfident and let an undermanned team steal a win and make them put their uniforms away for the summer.
I might feel that way too if it was a regular season game or if the Sixers had played this series differently (see weaker). But it’s the playoffs and the Sixers have stepped up their play to make this series much more interesting than anyone really thought it would be. On top of that Andre Iguodala has already set the tone for keeping that weak mentality from sneaking in and be a problem:
“With him being there, it puts a lot of pressure on them,” Iguodala said. “Him being out takes the pressure off of ‘em. They really have nothing to lose.” – Courtesy of Tom Moore
I read that as: “The Magic are going to come out and play hard and free. That means we need to not only be prepared for that, but the pressure is now on us.” You don’t go into a game overconfident when you feel the pressure has switched to you. If you want to worry about something worry about just that. That the Sixers could buckle under the idea that they are suppose to win this game and can no longer use the “we are underdogs” approach as a crutch or source of motivation.
The Game Plan
The defensive strategy to force Orlando off the three point line remains. Not doubling the post remains the same for the most part as well. What I would add to that base strategy is another defensive focus. Something that must be top of mind all game. Don’t over help on penetration. Without the luxury of Howard’s post scoring the Magic will rely much more on Lewis/Turkoglu post ups and dribble penetration. Unless Lewis and Turk are destroying Thad and Iguodala in the post or getting them in foul trouble I would play those match ups straight up with Sammy keeping a close eye open for help side block opportunities.
Offensively not much should change in strategy aside from getting Thad involved more, just execution. We should have been attacking the basketball relentlessly even when Howard was in because we didn’t all of a sudden become a stellar shooting team. While Howard was a force inside defensively the last two games Orlando did a much better job of stopping penetration even before it got to him which is a big reason he hasn’t been in foul trouble as much. Tonight they don’t need to force the issue rather create openings for penetration with better ball movement. This team still has sticky hands. Everyone catches and holds. No one catches and snaps off the next pass quickly making the defense move more and create a larger adjustment for them. A good basketball idea for a player to consider is if the guy that passed you the ball held it, you look to quickly pass. If the guy who passed you the ball gave it up right away, you should hold and look for a play. It’s called alternating current and it’s a good way to keep the defense constantly off balance which in turn will open up more driving lanes.
Finally we should look to run more on missed shots. With Howard in the game the Sixers should have focused more on securing the defensive boards thus slowing down their non-turnover fast break. Tonight I would at least start the game having guys wait a second then take off after long jump shots. I am much more confident Sam can do a good job on the boards alone than I would with Howard in.
Let’s get after it. Scratch, claw and over time dominate this game and put the pressure back on the Magic to win a game 7 no one thought they would or should be playing.
I’ll be here in the comments all night – join me.
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Hmmm. I will start the conversation with this. Charles Barkley just said Orlando is going to win because they still have the two best players on the court in Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. Agree?
Disagree. It’s not about who are the two best players. If the Magic win, it won’t be because of Lewis or Turkoglu. It will be because the Sixers suck, or the other Magic players step up. I don’t necessarily disagree with the fact that Turk and Lewis are the two best players, but I don’t think that is why they will win.
Iguodala and Thad are not defending right now. Pick and roll defense remains horrible.
Time for Evans to come in and bring some toughness and energy. We look flat.
I’m not worried but we need to run these guys off the three like they have been all series
Tony Battie is going to go 9-9 again apparently.
Alston is destroying us unbelievable.
2one5 – You should be worried now. There is no defensive intensity and the Magic players got hot and that can carry them to a big lead or the whole game. Should have come out and stomped that out from the tap.
I wonder how long we are going to do our New Orleans Hornets imitation. I can only watch this while listening to Rick Kamla for so long before I go insane.
Orlando missed 7 shots and have 3 offensive rebounds. The Sixers missed 12 shots and only have 1 offensive board. Not good.
We have a Speights sighting.
And right on cue. Lou still stinks.
And of course Lou makes a nice play then follows it up with a much worse one on the other end.
Nice little run to cut the lead to 7. Im looking for a close game around half time and I’ll be satisfied after looking at this miserable start. Then from there hopefully we can turn on the heat and play a solid 24 minutes for the victory. But this game has to do more then just tie up the series. It has to give us enough momentum to go into Orlando for Game 7. A close win will not do that.
That call was crap Lou didn’t touch him and he has played with energy which is more than I can say for the rest of the team. He just had a nice drive and kick to get Iggy a wide open three I just hope he doesn’t start throwing up “heat-check” shots.
Has Royal Ivey lost his mind?
couple BS and-1’s for orlando.
STOP F#$%ing SWITCHING!!!!!!!!
That play is exactly why Andre Miller can’t be here. Penetrate kick to an open Miller and passes on the shot. Then Iguodala forces the penetration with three guys around him because Miller is the only kick out option.
I hate watching the Sixers when they play like this. It’s so frustrating.
And there is another reason. Andre Miller starts gunning the team out. Can’t have your point guard playing like that. He needs to be a facilitator and make the offense potent as a unit.
62 point allowed wow. Way to show up for this game Sixers. I am going to try very hard not to give up on these…
Something interesting since the game clearly isn’t: http://wp.advancednflstats.com/nba/
Why is Andre Miller guarding Lewis 80% of the time we are switching too much and creating mismatches that require double teams.
The magic are playing so loose Reddick is just throwing up whatever he wants and its working out we have to make this game closer. Make these guys feel a little pressure.
I agree with Dannie, While miller brings a lot to the table he is not right for this team Alston is eating his lunch for him on offense, and he can’t shoot from three I like him alot but he is not right for this team.
As well as Iguodala has played in this series, and he has played exactly the way I would want him to. If he doesn’t show up in this game what’s the point?
So what do people think of the Josh Smith dunk attempt with the Hawks blowing out the heat? I think its no class and I think I’m pretty happy that we didn’t get him, he seems like a real punk.
Did Sammy just get dunked on by Gortat? Oh man this isn’t good.
Alston is fucking killing Andre Miller
NO, Guest Andre Miller got dunked on by Gorat. Sam was trying to recover from another piss poor pick and roll defensive attempt.
Making Rafer Alston look like Finals MVP Chauncey Billups.
We suck right now. In every aspect of the game we flat out suck. This is exactly what I was afraid of. We aren’t playing as a team at all.
Wow this is just like last year getting blown out in game 6, i might be moving to celts/bulls and not come back, Sammy D is getting pwned by Gortat.
Just like last year also I don’t know if this team played well and pushed 6 games or the other team just played badly and then woke up and then took us out easily.
2one5- I think this is slightly different. I think we legitimately scared the Magic. I don’t think we had the Pistons too worried because the Pistons were a veteran championship caliber team.
2one5 – I don’t care about his dunk attempt. I don’t believe you should care about your opponent’s feelings when you are blowing them out.
I think Wade said it best. Paraphrasing:
“We were very insulted by it. But that’s not for them to worry about. That’s for us to worry about. We’ll take it from there.”
We came back from 18 down in the 3rd quarter in game 1 with a quick burst to end the quarter and a strong fourth. It’s doable but they aren’t showing any signs as of yet.
I’ve been saying the same thing about Miller all season . march 15 2009, step one of my nate robinson plan
#1 Let Andre Miller walk.
Explanation: Miller is a wonderful offensive player, but he lacks an outside shot. Our most promising player Is Thad, and sooner then later he will be our SF. That means that our big money guy Iggy needs to be a SG. This is fine as long as the pg can make opposing teams pay from deep, which Miller clearly cannot. Millers on ball defense is below average and amongst the worst in the league, its not for a lack of effort he just isn’t athletic enough. And at 32 he isn’t going to be getting any quicker. And his lack of defense is the sole reason that Steamin Willie Beamon is on the court, and that should be reason enough to ship him out of town.
This team is really showing there stripes, just a bunch of stinking losers. Or make it a bunch of heartless losers. Or make it pride less losers. Way to go Ed, thanks for those trades at the deadline.
To all the Willie Greene lovers, Sammy D backers, you know what to do with yourselves. It’s such a miser rooting for, watching every damn game of a team that has Sammy D starting, Willie G sucking, and the selfish Lou W smelling up a court.
Comments from the announcer from nbatv
The sixers aren’t showing a sence of urgency.
Gortat has come into Dalembert’s arena and he has stolen his lunch, kicked sand in his face, and he is bullying him all around this court.
Sloppy on offense, sloppy on defense.
Dalembert just left him alone and he turns and hits, what was that?
lol, Stefanski you bald Peacock. Your team has robbed us of our time this season. Your stinkin team should pay us all back for our pain and suffering.
My boy Rob, I hope your happy with the resielency that this piece of shiit team showed you tonight.
Ok my rant is over, I am f’n fuming over this pathetic display.
Next stop, draft talk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As much as I don’t think Miller is right for this team he is the only professional on this team. He is the only player to show up and play and continue to play. He can’t shoot from range or play defense but he came to play with what he does have. Can say the same about too many other players.
Thad is getting ate up man-to-man against Lewis.
15 and one quarter left.
Do you guys think a comeback is possible? Im interested. I want to see how this team responds. They continue to play with no passion, no energy, no nothing.
Of course it’s possible. Is it likely is the question?
This shit is ova
Iggy has a 7 footer on him and pulls up for a jumper one step inside the three point line, WTF?
They gotta keep going to the hole getting fouled. But they gotta stop someone. That’s all it’s about. They have yet to play any defense.
Done
Ray Allen has 44 points right now.
The real Sixers showed up tonight. The one that can’t score, can’t shoot, makes bad decisions, lacks urgency. Can’t wait to hear why Dileo should not be back Danny.
TT32 – And he definitely should not be back. Stefanski should make that known immediately and get started on the coach hunt while there are still high quality available candidates.
It sucks we have to end the season on a sour note. I am sure we will have plenty of time to review the season and focus more on our future surrounding Sammy, Miller, Dileo, and the draft. Now the loooooooooong wait until tip off next season. Can’t Wait.
I’m worried though Dannie, worried that Ed will let his feelings make this decision, since he’s known DiLeo for 30 years. I agree they must move quickly even on decisions with Miller, how look do I have to endure Willie Green, Dummy Bear jump around like a lost kangaroo, and Iggy, no killer instinct. We have to get someone on this team that goes for the throat, the jugular! A killer!
I agree man, Andre Miller is a pro, and he could be a hell of a piece for a team that has great shooters. But since we are the worst shooting team in the nba, and possible the Ncaa then he doesn’t fit our equation.
Iggy and killer instinct don’t belong in the same sentence, how about making 80% from the free throw line you loser.
Dileo must go, we need a dictator in the mold of a Parcells(pardon the football bark) . Someone who will get in someones face after a dumbass play.
Lou Williams should have been benched a few times this season for his selfishness. Sammy D and his freakin fadeaway’s, what a clown.
As long as Willie and Sammie are starting then we should all boycott giving this team any of our money.
I would like to thank noone for showing tonight. no iggy,thad, noone. Thad just dissapeared in the playoffs.
I think we should let miller go and use that money for a shooter or maybe sign and trade including willie or sam to move up in the draft. I don’t think lou will ever be a starting point guard, he has way to many mental errors and turnovers. We need a shooter point blank. with elton and jason smith back i’m excited about the future.
Well…at least the Boston-Chicago game was exciting.
Let’s all do our best to pray that Ty Lawson and Johnny Flynn somehow tank individual workouts as much as possible, or someone leaks some false rumor about a medical condition with them a la Darrell Arthur last year, so that one of the two are available to us when we pick at #17.
The Greek, You have no room to talk. The object of your devotion and promotion, Thaddeus, boy-ed up in this series, stunk out the joint – FL & PA. He plays like a motorized Venus de Milo – no right hand, no awareness of teammates, defense like a statue. At least he’s young.
It’s funny that they bascially used Speights as if he was non ball handling shooting guard on offense the whole season. Dileo needs to go back to fetching coffee for the sixers GM.
I loved it when Sammy got the ball 20 feet from the rim because I knew that he was going to chuck it up. The result? Drive, spint into a double team into a fadaway clanker! Losers
Heads need to roll, lets see what the Pea Cock does with this roster.
JJG, he didn’t play well but then again the stench of the rest of the team probably brought him down. Maybe if they had a smart head coach who would have posted him up or drawn up plays for him instead of calling plays for Willie and his loser teamated then I am sure the results would have been better.
So yes I was dissapointed in Thads performance, but him and Speights were the only postitives to come out of this season.
Brand at the 4
Thad at the 3
Speights and Jason Smith, these are the guys that I am excited to see next season. The rest of the team can get lost.
Dave, lets start praying on those pg’s to fall to us.
flynn
lawson
curry, might not be a point but i prefer him to any clown that we have
Truly, none on the roster excite me. That is one goofy collection of players, all limited or without many clues as to how to play as part of a unified whole. And a broom to the coaching staff & administration too. An elimination game and they show up with those heads, absent heart? Pathetic. Hard to believe tonight’s showing.
I don’t think tonights showing was hard to believe, this collection of losers just did what they have been doing the whole season. Letting us down.
To take a lyric from that lyrical genius Emmit Smith, This thing needs to be “Blowed Up”
Brand at the 4, Thad at the 3 excites me. Now what the hell is Stefanski going to do with the rest of the roster? the coach? Willie? Reggie? Iggy? Sammy?
Gonna be hard to get the stink blowed off of that one. A legendary loss for an organization in need of a boost, but not especially deserving of one.
Brand’s better days are behind him. Thad’s are to come (ceiling very much in question). No meshing. Team was comprised of proverbial “up-and-comers”, has-beens and never-will-bes. With contracts as they are, 10-9-8-76ers won’t be singin’ anytime soon.
Man that was disgusting. I will write a new post that will carry you guys through the weekend if you even want to talk about the Sixers. I am going to IUP for the weekend for my younger brother’s graduation.
For next season, I have 2 simple requests:
a) a guard who can shoot and b) a coach who is no more mister nice guy.
That is all.
I just read Iggy’s post game comments. He threw the ‘young guys’ under the bus and basically gave a vote of no confidence for DiLeo. Its okay to have your opinion but if you want to be a leader, don’t go complaining to the press hours after the season ends. Iggy might have his superstar moments but one play last night showed me he is at least part of the blame. With 10 mins left and the Sixers showing some life, down by 15, he had the ball 17 feet out w/ four Magic in the lane. Marshall was at the top of the key unattended. Iggy looked at him, then drove right into the pack, missed the shot, the Magic pushed the ball up the floor and just like that, a potential 12 pt deficit turned into 17. Those are the moments that define turnarounds and Iggy failed. If you are going to trash your teammates for bad decisions, you better be pretty infallible yourself.
Iggy has yet to earn the right to call anyone out, including DiLeo. He’s getting paid star-caliber money, but playing like he should make the MLE. He’s not a #1 on a team, nor a #2, and maybe a #3.
They HAVE to get rid of Iggy, Dalembert, Green, and maybe even Lou if they’re going to improve. Brand has to be their starting C next year, with Speights at PF and Young at the small.
I’d love to trade Iggy to Portland for Fernandez, Rodrigez, and Outlaw.
Dannie: for your new post i have a caption: SIXERS PUT IN THEIR PLACE!!
or SIXERS PUT DOWN BY ORLANDO; the former most adequately describes what happened.
for everyone pushing the panic button: hold on! geez one game, then all of a sudden we are the worst team in the NBA? this game didnt tell us anything we didnt know. if you were as cynical as jjg, then you could even say you could see this coming.
‘TO THE OFFSEASON PPL!
Dan: agreed that Iggy doesn’t deserve the right.
Fact is, I doubt you see other young emerging stars like Brandon Roy or Dwight Howard doing something like that.
Tormented, exactly. Theo Ratliff has that right, as he’s been a vet for how long and played on a team that got to the Finals. Iggy has yet to do anything besides compete in the Dunk Contest.
I think this playoff series again showed that you need a half court game and shooters to win in the playoffs. I’d love to see a lineup of Miller, a True SG, Young, Speights, and Brand as our starting lineup next year. I wonder if Joe Dumars would trade Rip for Sam and Lou?