That question will be answered closer to game time when Samuel Dalembert’s availability will be determined. Chances are Sam won’t play even though he has recovered from injuries and dealt with injuries well in the past. The next question is will Elton Brand even play? This would be the second game of a back-to-back for the first time since he returned to action, and it is not yet known whether the doctors think him playing is a good idea. I am thinking he will considering Dalembert’s status which means we will see Elton Brand inserted into the starting line up for the first time since his return according to Dileo…
“As of now, yes,” Sixers coach Tony DiLeo said when asked whether Brand would replace Dalembert. – Philly.com
I don’t quite know how I feel about that. I actually have a draft of a post entitled “Should Elton Brand Start At Center.” Because of the circumstances I guess we will get a sneak peek tonight about how that will look. I will follow tonight’s game with more detailed thoughts on the subject in that post tomorrow, but I’d love to hear your thoughts before hand and maybe I can address some of your points.
Here is Brand’s reaction to the notion of entering the starting line up as the starting center…
“If I play the five, I have to keep blocking shots and getting rebounds,” Brand said about possibly becoming Dalembert’s replacement for tonight’s game against the New Jersey Nets. – Philly.com
His comments are exactly right and tonight’s game he will be tested in two main ways:
- He will have to defend 7-0, 260 pound Brook Lopez who is scoring 11.6ppg, pulling down nearly 8 boards and shooting 49% from the field. I have been relatively impressed by Lopez so far this season. I think he is a legit starting center in this league who will get better.
- He will need to consistently protect the rim against two of the better penetrators in Devin Harris and Vince Carter who is one of the best back courts in the NBA this season. Considering the Sixers perimeter defense has been poor to say the least that looks to be a tough task for Brand only 4 games into his return.
Because of both those points I expect to see Theo in action much more tonight as well as Speights get increased minutes. The Sixers MUST protect the rim. New Jersey is an above average three point shooting team but they are not good overall from the field. With that said if they are getting lay ups and dunks their poor shooting won’t hinder them.
Just like last game the Sixers should be able to get what they want offensively. New Jersey is 27th in defensive rating allowing 111 points per 100 possessions. They also allow teams to shoot 51.6 eFG%.
It’s all about getting stops for the Sixers. New Jersey doesn’t turn the ball over that much so we will need to play sound defense for the entire game. If not the Nets have two players fully capable of exploding offensively and creating easy shots for teammates. Do you remember last game against the Nets? Carter and Harris dropped 41 points and 16 assists in a comfortable 11-point win over the Sixers back in December. That will be a losing combination for the Sixers if they don’t D up.
Sixers vs. Nets Game Notes
Wow. How exactly do you only score 8 points in a quarter, not make a field goal in the last 10:37 of the game and score a total of 4 points during that time? I mean where do you start with this game? I don’t even know if I have anything specifically to say about this game. It was simply disheartening.
You had to find yourself watching this game begging someone, anyone to make a damn shot. No one could. This was on the far left side of the scale in terms of horrible shooting, offensive execution and sheer determination to win a game. It won’t happen very often even for a team like the Sixers who have no go-to guy and traditionally don’t shoot well from the field. But doesn’t this game make you think…
- We really NEED to get a legit go-to guy.
- We really NEED to find and implement one or two go-to offensive sets.
Go-to players win games, yes. But they also are capable of putting the team on their back offensively consistently when no one had it going. And stop the bleeding when the opponent is making a serious run.
Without the luxury of a go-to guy the Sixers’ coaching staff needs to take it into their own hands and design offenses to get the job done. Instead, they continue to have Louis Williams, Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller pound the air out of the ball until the clock ticks down to around 12 seconds or less then go to a pick-and-roll which is often ineffective having ball handlers that aren’t real threats to shoot the three. OR they simply go isolation with guys that are just OK at best in mano a mano offensive situations. I wholeheartedly believe the Sixers can not win games in the 4th quarter like that. The Sixers are now 3-5 in one-possession games (games decided by 3 points or less). I will continue to track this all season.
Random Thoughts
Get off Sammy’s back! He sprained his ankle last night and did everything he could (including spending time in a hyperbaric chamber) to get back on the court in less than 24 hours. I know some of his haters will call it selfish as he was only trying to maintain an individual games-played streak. I don’t see it like that even a little bit. We see a lot of soft ass basketball players sitting out with minor injuries and pain. Games played streaks are for the benefit of the team through individual durability and toughness to play through pain. He impacted the game on the very first possession forcing a driving Devin Harris into a missed lay-up then quickly recovered to block Brook Lopez’s follow up attempt. He only played 15 minutes, but he grabbed 5 boards, had 1 block and nailed a nice 10-foot hook. And when Sammy left the game for good at the 2:20 mark in the 3rd quarter the Sixers were winning 74-60. I commend Dalembert for his effort tonight. So should everyone else.
Elton was off in the second game of a back-to-back. 2-10 from the field and on the bench for much of the last 3:23 of the game when the Sixers really needed a couple baskets. He was only entered for rebounding purposes with 9 seconds left on a Jarvis Hayes free throw. For the last offensive possession of the game for the Sixers he was taken out of the game for Thad. I know he is still recovering from his shoulder dislocation but come on. We didn’t get this dude to be a cheerleader in the fourth quarter of close games. 9 boards in only 18 minutes says he is still working. But sooner rather than later we need to see some consistent and substantial production on offense.
Thad only took one shot in the fourth quarter. Why no plays for him to try and get a basket?
Sixers missed 8 free throws in a 2-point loss, hmm.
I said before the game I have been impressed by Lopez. Well he killed the Sixers for 24 points, 17 boards, 4 blocks on 50% shooting. I am not sure he does that if Sam is on the court for 30+ minutes. He only scored 8 points and had 4 boards in the 15 minutes Dalembert was on the court.
I am pretty pissed right now, and that’s all I feel like dedicating to this team tonight.
This was an even worse loss considering the Sixers’ next opponent. Having won 2 straight it now looks like they will follow that up with at least 2 straight loses. But they still have to play the games so we’ll see.
Next Game: Tuesday against Boston (I will be there if anyone else is)
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Apparently Sammy is playing and starting tonight. Like I said in the post he has been very good throughout his career effectively dealing with injuries. I would think his minutes will be limited though. Guess we will have to put a hold on Brand at center.
Dannie,
I am annoyed right now.
First, your UNC Tarheels beat my wolfpack. Then this happens. This would have been a big win considering the Heat lost tonight also. Beating the “bad” teams, or beating the teams that we are better than, is a must if we want the fourth or fifth seed. We let this one slip away.
The fact that these Sixers struggle to get more than one game plus .500 and the fact that they’ve lost all but on of the their back to back games this year strongly suggest this is still a immature team whose season will end earlier rather than later.
I didn’t get a chance to watch the game but the collapse APPEARS to be related to Brand going 2-10. Did they try to run the offense thru him in the 4th? If so, I hope this failed experiment proves that the Sixers are a running team that is better off w/o him being a main option, let alone being on the court.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Where were the starters in the 4th quarter? Speights committed all of his boneheaded five fouls in the 4th quarter . He was worse than Dalembert. Speights has a long way to go defensively and Ratliff did not get enough minutes to man the paint. He or Dalembert should have played in that 4th quarter to anchor the defense and Brook Lopez. Dalembert was missing in the 4th quarter, he was challenging shots at the rim left to right. But the missed free throws was just inexcusable there! There were a lot of no-calls for the Sixers down the stretch, but the way the second unit played for most of the 4th quarter was very sloppy. Why is that prior to a game with the Celtics, we lose the game we are supposed to win or were poised to win. (v.s Orlando, v.s Indiana, and now this game). This was a lot like the loss to the Pacers we had last month, where the 4th quarter doomed us in. I like that Speights plays in the 4th quarter, but those were too many minutes for him. Reggie Evans was not inserted in the second half after a strong second quarter effort in the hustle department. His double teams were very effective on Devin Harris.
It is sad, where the Sixers did a superb job defending Carter and Harris. Then Brook Lopez comes out of nowhere and proves to people why he was voted to be in the Rookie-Sophomore Challenge instead of Marresse Speights. Speights was completely ineffective surprisingly.
Pretty soon, DiLeo is going to have to start Brand and not fiddle with minutes. And when are we going to insert one of our sharpshooters for some good minutes? We could have used one of them in a tight fisted game to be a good option.
This is going to be weird if the Sixers even the series and win the next two meetings against the Nets in New Jersey. They are horrible in their arena, yet great on the road. What gives?
It’s a shame we missed out on a golden opportunity to inch closer in the standings. The Heat and the Hawks lost.
This is one where you have to forget about and start preparing for the Celtics. Easier said than done, but that’s why we watch games!!
That is why this team needs Dalembert! Otherwise, they could have horrendous quarters like these. A team can be horrendous offensively, but they can’t be horrendous defensively. Where was Dalembert or Ratliff in the 4th? Where was Evans, the Nets were still frustrated until we started Speights committed bone-headed fouls, which gave them many trips to the free-throw line in the 4th quarter. UGLY QUARTER!!
They better count their blessings, pray to God, practice, on both ends of the floor because the Celtics are coming this Tuesday and could possibly come in with an 11 game winning streak (if they beat the Timberwolves at home on Sunday, which they most likely will).
Hire Lucky The Leprechaun! One man’s firing is another man’s pot of gold!
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/01/30/celtics_mascot.013009/index.html
Donyell Marshall: Anyone else with me in that this would have been the perfect time to throw him in the 4th quarter and see if he can knock down a three, or give some kind of spark? He did it against Detroit, and his ass has been parked on the bench since then. He’s a grizzled vet that has always slid in and out of rotations throughout his career, and still managed to play effectively.
When A-Miller/Iggy/Lou, as Dannie said, are doing the “Stand around and dribble while the clock runs down to run an ineffective iso play or pick and roll (where no one looks for the roll)” thing…I don’t get why when you get in that kind of rut, you don’t toss a bench guy on the floor that has experience and can shoot. How can putting in a 6′10 veteran banger that is hungry for PT, and not afraid to take and make a big shot, possibly hurt? UGH…tough loss.
And hey, Larry Brown, how’s Ajinca treating you these days? Good work on passing up one of the few legit young centers in the league when THE ENTIRE WORLD, FANS AND COLUMNISTS, all knew Lopez would be a perfect fit for the Bobcats.
Williams, Iguodala, Young and Miller were a combined 0-for-10 with no points in the fourth quarter, while Brand was 1-for-7. Sixers had five turnovers and two field goals (2-for-22) in the period. I still don’t understood why they didn’t push the ball up the floor, instead of standing around in the half-court offense. One of the most disheartening losses in years.
Iguodala: “You can’t even explain that one. That was a terrible loss. That type of loss can make or break you.”
Still can’t believe the Sixers missed the final 18 shots over the final 10:37. That is astonishing.
Lou Williams: “When you can’t make a shot and can’t make a stop, you kind of feel helpless. What happens is it’s a snowball effect and you start forcing things.”
Tony DiLeo said it felt like an “eternity.”
What you witnessed last night was a team with serious offensive deficiencies. When they are able to get out and run they can over match teams with athleticism. But if they are forced to slow the game down and play in a half court set they are a bottom-tier team. Elton Brand was brought on to the this team to cure that ill. But to place the blame squarely on his shoulders would be foolhardy. Like the rest of his teammates, Brand struggled mightily last night with his shot. He could not buy a bucket. However, the ineffective play at the offensive end of the floor is not a sole product of Brand. He is surrounded by one-dimensional players that are easy to defend. Andre Miller can’t shoot beyond 18 feet so why guard him beyond the three-point line? Same goes for Iguodala. Thaddeus Young has superior athletic ability but struggles to create his own shot in space. Dalembert looks lost every time he steps on the floor.
For the Sixers to cure there offensive troubles they need to look beyond Elton Brand and consider the surrounding personnel. Only in upgrade in the supporting cast will create results.
Was that last play a set play? If it was, does anyone else think it would have been better having Lou make the back door cut? Lou is more athletic and probably would have gotten fouled at the very least. Not to mention his free throw shooting has been very good recently.
Nice summation, Dannie. The title says it all. It’s exactly what I was thinking after it was all over. I just sat there watching in disbelief. I was going to post last night but I was stupefied. Even now I really can’t get my mind around how awful that 4th quarter was.
When you look back, the 3rd quarter wasn’t much better. After the Nets jumped out early (I think they outscored us 7-2), they went through a pretty long stretch of futility themselves. The problem is we didn’t make them pay for it by pushing the lead out. We ended up only “winning” the quarter 17-15 and building a 10 point lead. (BTW, a 17 point 3rd + an 8 point 4th means we only scored 25 points in the entire second half!)
We certainly didn’t deserve to win last night. However, had we played halfway decent in the 3rd and built up a 15-18 point lead there probably wouldn’t have been enough time left for us to blow it.
Honestly I don’t think it was a set play. I think it was a simple isolation for Iguodala and Andre Miller intuitively made a back cut when he saw his defender lose sight of him by watching what the ball handler was doing.
Further, if it was a set play it should have been Louis Williams as the ball handler and Iguodala as the baseline cutter since he is the biggest and best finisher we have.
Dannie As resident President of the ‘Sammie for President’ Club, you should enter into your “muffle all criticism” campaign with an
enlightened mind regarding Sam’s qualifications for office. The observant local electorate has watched his sorry ass for years and will not be swayed by slobbering sloganeering or bluster. That he turned his ankle, got the best of care, entered some chamber and came out the other side with his consecutive game streak intact is no praiseworthy feat. What is important is his body of NBA work and self-representation along the way to 60 million dollars in compensation – - and that his team lost last night. If you wish to wave a banner for him and his incomplete game, that’s your right. Friday’s night drama and “miracle” recovery is in keeping with his predictable “unpredictable” personality.
15 min: 2, 5 & 1 … no great shakes, nothin’ to speak of there. I’ll continue to call it like I see it. As a basketball player, Sam is stone mediocre, with occasional bursts of effectiveness shining through his clouds for self- and club-justification purposes. A center for controversy and ultimate heartbreak. No matter the tactics, no vote here.
It’ll be interesting to see if there are any lingering effects from a crushing loss like Saturday’s. DiLeo said avoiding it won’t be easy.
“We just have to regroup, rebuild and try to get our next game on Tuesday against a good opponent,” DiLeo said.
The locker room was the quietest it’s been (postgame) all season — as it should have been.
“That’s just awful,” Iguodala said. “I don’t even know how to explain it.”
ok maybe this will lighten up the mood for Tuesday’s game.
KG WILL PROBABLY BE INACTIVE!
We can hope cant we?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3876781
This is twice the Nets have played zone on us and it has worked! The Sixers have to bring their zone busters in like Marshall and Rush to debunk the Nets’ defensive efforts on zone! We have to bounce back strong in this homestand!! Teams we are competing for in the standings are losing. The Sixers need to do their part!!
OK, I have a question. I was watching the Cavs-Pistons yesterday. Early in the game, Jeff Van Gundy was talking about how Mo Williams has become a much better defensive player with the Cavs. He said that any good athlete who is willing to work and is put in a good defensive system can become a good defensive player. He said that the Bucks didn’t care about defense so Williams didn’t play any there but in Cleveland it’s a different story. My first question is this. Is Mo Williams a better defender with the Cavs than he was with the Bucks? If so, why? (Also, is he really a better defender or is he just on a better defensive team that makes him look like he’s better?)
Here is my real question. With regard to us (Lou Williams comes immediately to mind)…..A) Do we not have the athletes we think we have? B) Do they not work as hard on defense as we think they do? C) Do we not have the right defensive system in place? D) Do we have the system, just not the right coach to implement it? E) All of the above to some degree? or F) Does Jeff Van Gundy have no idea what he’s talking about?
Lou Williams does not give much effort on defense, which hurts because when his man beats him off the dribble, the other four guys have to scramble. Miller isn’t good in this area, either, but Williams is much quicker than Miller.
An aside to the brutal New Jersey loss: it could cost Tony DiLeo Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for January. Instead of going 11-4 in January, with the four losses to Dallas twice, San Antonio and New Orleans after a 7-10 October/November and a 6-8 December, the Sixers were 10-5 and ended up collapsing at home against a team that had lost eight of its last nine.
bski – Jeff Van Gundy knows what he is talking about I will start that.
I have a TON of thoughts on defense because I love it. Loved to play it, think about it and would love to coach it in young kids at some point. Here a few in context of your points.
My thoughts:
About Mo Williams specifically. Something not mentioned is the fact that he doesn’t have to work as hard offensively to get his points so I think that definitely helps with his effort on the defensive end.
Defensive is as much about accountability as it is effort and system. Cleveland’s staple is defense and they hold guys to that or they don’t play. Williams understands that and I am sure it was discussed before they even signed him.
Having a great player in James that commands respect with his play and verbal leadership to hold guys accountable on the court is also a great luxury for the coach to have (Said it before, will keep saying it Sixers do not have that guy and it’s important!)
My final point is about winning. Guys are little more motivated when they see how good a team is and can be. When you are a legit title contender that adds to the motivation to play some defense as well.
I think Van Gundy is correct about being in a good defensive system and putting in the effort.
For example when I watched that game last night (and the other good defensive teams) I saw two things Cleveland did well that the Sixers very rarely if ever do well.
Offensively you run stuff to create mismatches and get the defense scrambling which is why so many coaches promote ball movement and patience. The longer you make the defense play the better your chance there will be a breakdown leading to good scoring opportunities. But the best defensively teams consistently play the above scenario for entire possessions, possession after possession.
With that in mind, watch our Sixers and tell me what you see. I don’t see that type of defense. I’ve said it before. They don’t have the same type of defense as the Cavs, Spurs, Celtics or Magic. Their defense is about limiting possessions through creating turnovers, which can be turned into easy points. That is fine, and certainly something every team wants to do. Where I find them lacking is with the above scenario. Just playing sound defense for possessions when teams are smart with the ball and just running their stuff. The Sixers aren’t very good in that area in my opinion. They haphazardly scramble which is why their rotations look like crap. That needs to be taught and through that teaching you can attempt to develop defensive instincts.
Their are great players that just get it. I don’t think we have any of those players so they must be hand held and schooled on what to do even at this level. I don’t know if that is happening right now, which is why the ideal coaching situation should either be a defense first head coach with a lead assistant that can implement an offense. OR a motivational, players coach that can get guys to do what they want and a lead assistant that can implement a strong defensive system.
Man-to-man defense is only as strong as your weakest link(s). While 3 or 4 may be working hard and in good position, 1 or 2 laggards (or incompetents) on floor can negate a “stop” attempt (which theoretically every possession should be).
Athletic ability is not the Sixers’ area of weakness as it pertains to ‘prime minutes’ guys. A lack of developmental grooming & upper body strength is evident in both Williams and Young; to put it mildly, both lean to other end of court. Brand can body up and uses arms effectively, if he gets there; quickness off spot and lateral movement is sometimes an issue. Miller, with footspeed limitations and inconsistent effort, can be hazardous to scoreboard health. Evans is full of motion and tricks, sometimes effective but undisciplined as per team scheme. Iggy can put clamps on an opponent when invested, but he’s hot and cold in that respect. Sam blocks and alters shots; pretty good, but still delivers mixed results. Ivey, Green & Ratliff, though not always successful, give you your money’s worth.
Not an altogether bad defensive team (about 96 ppg), has its moments, but an inclination to idle or cruise at times by some individuals hurts the group’s defensive aims and results. Rebounding, the finishing of defense, is a positive trait of this team, though outlet passes could stand improvement. Overall, the habit of defending is not fully ingrained to a championship level. The best teams can play it well in empty or quiet arenas, without adrenaline, on fundamentals and reflex.
Good points about the Sixers defensive issues from both of you. I agree across the board.
As for Lou, when his man scores on him his instinct is to try and get him back on the other end. This is sort of a playground type of response of score on the guy who scored on you. I don’t see him ratchet up his defensive intensity when his man is abusing him (and I am a big Lou fan.)
Lou has done a bit better job avoiding being a ‘pick magnet’ this year, but he still has a long way to go to be even an average defender or to reach his potential as a defender. He lacks strength, but he has the quickness, length and explosiveness to be at least a decent defender at the PG position.
From my read, both Stefanski and DiLeo are BIG Williams boosters
(perhaps seeing his projected ascension as being vital to greater success in their respective roles); thus, he’s being given minutes this season that he truly hasn’t earned – - 1,024 minutes/22.8 mpg, 40% shooting, 29.5% from arc, 3.2 assists to 1.98 TOs, thin defense. Contrastingly, Green, in 971 minutes/21.6 mpg, has contributed 44.2%shooting, 34.1 from arc, 2 assists to .91 TOs, solid defense. The rigid ‘Green (1 & 3 Q) - Williams (2 & 4 Q)’ rotation that’s in place makes little sense in pursuit of winning games. While Williams is becoming more adept at driving and drawing fouls, his deficiencies in other areas and continued regular court time suggest he’s getting some favorable coaching/executive treatment. The statistical bottom line doesn’t warrant his closing games necessarily. As a coach, you have to insert/replace players according to effectiveness (or its lack) – not the clock, and not fantasies of player production. I hope to see more flexibilty and intelligence from DiLeo with regard to the two players and minutes allocation. “No defense, no court time” should be a team understood guideline.
This is the first chance I’ve had today to get back on since I posted my questions earlier today. Thanks for the responses all.
I like Van Gundy a lot, so when he said that yesterday I thought I’d put it out there and see if it made sense to anyone else besides me.
I really hope that Stefanski is a regular reader of this blog because what you are suggesting sounds like the perfect way for the Sixers to proceed, Dannie. (Not to mention establish us as a top tier defensive team which would get us that much closer to being the championship caliber club we hope to be.)
In other news: Andrew Bynum OUT 8-12 Weeks!!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3879472
For the Sixers to beat the Celtics, they must learn from their past meetings and do the following:
-take better care of the ball
-keep pushing the ball
-make your free-throws
-defend the perimeter
-ignore the trash talking
-BEWARE of the second quarter (the Celtics made huge pushes there!)
Other than that, we were basically in it! The previous meeting was where Andre Iguodala was aggressive and great! The Celtics were missing a lot of FGs and had a stretch like we did last Saturday, but we did not capitalize due to turnovers as well as their grinding defense. I remember, Dalembert had a great sequence in the 3rd quarter, where he was blocking shots left to right and we made a mini-run. Those things must be magnified to a large scale if the Sixers are to beat the Celtics. But things might be different now that the last two meetings will be in Philly and the crowds are starting to show up! GO SIXERS!!
I see the Sixers taking this one.
tk76 - Optimism based on? KG being sidelined (maybe)?
TK76: I won’t go so far as to say “We’ll take this one”, but I’m with you in that I think we have a great shot. KG means SO much to their team defensively, and with their aggression. You take him out, they have a frontcourt of Perkins, Big Baby and Powe…not exactly hugely intimidating, although I’ve always loved Powe as a great role player, and if I’m remembering right, he played Brand very effectively last time around.
Also, I like the fact we have athletic wings to match up defensively with Ray and P Pierce. I’m sure one will go off for 30+, but we should be able to at least slow down the other. Rondo’s quickness torching A-Miller is my biggest concern. And obviously, their chemistry and defensive effort is on another straotosphere compared to us…but I think this is a winnable game if our cylinders are clicking.
Dalembert (sprained left ankle) didn’t practice today, but said he’ll play vs. Boston.
Dalembert: “You (only) live once. Three years ago, I made a vow – if I can still walk, I can play. I have to hold my own. I’m not going to waste my time out there.”
Based on the Sixers’ second half, especially the awful fourth quarter, vs. Jersey, I wouldn’t say I’m confident in a Sixer win even with no Garnett. They have to run at every opportunity to stop Boston from getting into its set defense and run the half-court plays all the way through.
Garnett didn’t fly with the team to Philly today, by the way.
I just have a good feeling about this one. The Sixers are coming off a stinker, but still have been overall winning and playing up to the competition. I expect them to come out on fire, and it all depends on if they can handle Boston’s counter punch. There are a few things going in the Sixers favor:
1. Playing at home. Should be a fired up crowd, which helps the young players.
2. No KG, which might throw off Bostons chemistry a bit, leading to a slow start. Also helps the Sixers when they want to go small.
3. Coming off some rest, which will help both Brand and Speights (knee tendinitis.)
4. Boston on a long win streak, coming off some weaker opponents. That can lead to a bit of laziness even for a top team.
5. The Sixers match up well against PP, and can really make him work on both ends. Miller can take Rondo “to the weight room” (I hate that catch phrase…)
Maybe I’ll eat my words on this, but I just don’t see PP going off against the Sixers, and the other guys should be manageable.I honestly feel that if they can close out of Allen and contain Powe they should be in good shape.
Sixers 102
Celtics 89
I rarely make predictions (take that as a good thing or bad.)
I’ll take the Celts and the points …
BTW, seven teams have scored more than 102 points vs. the Celtics in 49 games this season. Their average of 91.4 points allowed is second in the league (behind the Cavs).
One thing about tomorrow’s game. Eddie House is dangerous. If we do get out to that quickly disappearing lead, Eddie has the ability to bring them right back if he catches fire. We need to contain PP, but at the same time, not leaving Allen and House. Who do we see gaurding PP? Iguodala? Im looking for Ivey to get increased minutes in this game for Rondo.
Tk76,
Miller will go to work down on the block on Rondo. I bet we will see Miller on the block on one of the first possessions.
Guest…Good call on House. Over a span of about 7 games he dropped 7 3-pointers twice and 8 once. He has really been knocking them down lately and he’s also just the type of guy on the opposition (meaning a bench/role player) that usually seems to torch us regularly.
Guest: I agree. Along with Rajon killing A-Miller with his quickness, my other biggest fear is the Ray/House combo launching, and hitting 3’s. We have shown a tendency to have issues rotating out quickly enough to guard the 3 ball…when the opposing team has very good chemistry, good floor spacing, and can move the ball quickly in half court sets with crisp passes, three traits the Celtics have with or without Garnett.
I also like your idea of using Ivey a bit more this game; he really is a very good defender, and letting him get more minutes in the first half to put the clamps on Rondo might be an interesting move.
Then again, the Celtics having Rondo pushing the ball (and in turn, the pace of the game) can only help us win with a KG-less team. I’d much rather have a Boston team looking to run n gun than one that brings it back to plodding half court sets, as the former should give us more of an opportunity to make runs and get our own transition offense in motion.
TK76: I’m with you on your #4 point…you’re right, we may be catching Boston at an overconfident period, where they’ve been smashing lesser teams, and could be surprised by our recently rediscovered heart and tenacity (sometimes, anyway).
But I don’t agree with your #1…I mean, I haven’t been to any games this year, but from reading comments and watching on TV it doesn’t exactly seem like our Sixers home crowds are any kind of intimidating factor this year.
For your #2: with another team I’d agree, but that’s the thing with Boston. Doc has got them to buy into his system so much, chemistry wise, they aren’t going to miss a beat without KG. They’ll miss his talent big time, but they have such an efficient offensive team in terms of sharing the ball, floor spacing, passing effectively and quickly, setting quality picks…that this will allow lesser players like Powe and Big Baby to plug in and still hold their own as far as not disrupting the team’s flow. Perk has also shown an ability to step up when KG goes down.
Your #5: For every point A-Miller might be able to get on Rondo by posting him up, Rondo will go right back at him by torching Andre off the dribble in the open court, and at the top of the three point line. Young, quick PG’s have shown an ability to maul Andre Miller, I’m not looking forward to him floundering around out there chasing a young lightning bolt. Plus, Rondo will be more actively looking to drive and score with KG out, and Doc will need him to instigate more of the offense. Just don’t see this adding up to a positive in the PG matchup.
Celts may pose more of a threat tomorrow with an again-rallying abbreviated squad than with a weakened KG.
As Gerald Henderson said post-game, Saturday night’s loss was due to a lack of on-court leadership. The big money players – Iggy, Brand, Miller, Williams - didn’t rise to the occasion. Somebody’s gotta step up there, end the drought - on sheer willpower if necessary.
DiLeo’s decision to keep sputtering Williams and outplayed Speights on the floor in 4th Q with Green and Ratliff on the bench as options was misguided and factored in the loss. The team needed a verbal jolt in a timeout at the very least. Is Tony up to it? Or is his forte (and reach) the application of positive reinforcement, like his predecessor. We’ll learn a lot more about his coaching ability now that the team members are feeling their oats again and the shine of newness has faded a bit. He’s done a nice job so far, but that was the easy part.
jjg
That lack of on court leadership has been the one thing that hasnt been here all season. And I think it goes down to what Dannie said about not having a definite go to guy in the clutch. I don’t think anybody has the confidence to step up and take the big shot. 3-5 in close games isn’t exactly getting it done. Dileo has to figure out a way for us to get buckets in the clutch. Ive noticed at the end of halves, Dileo has either Williams or Iggy drive in the lane and then kick it to the corner for a three. (Similar to the play that Orlando beat us on.) the problem is that we dont have a player that can knock that shot down consistently. This is where Marshall or Rush might be useful. Just stick them on the baseline and see if their defenders collapse on the driver. As far as ability, Iguodala should be the one driving the basketball into the lane, but having him ISO his defender and try to get a basket isnt efficient enough for late game situations.
guest At critical end game, Williams is still a babe-in-the-woods; Iggy is yet erratic with his jumper and decision-making; Miller is limited by lack of range; Brand is still searching to find himself within this team, within his repaired leg. Young, posted up on block – an option. Your Marshall insertion, not a bad idea; a nice 6′10 shooter can hurt an opponent quickly. Rob’s been calling for that for awhile.
The often-used isolation from up top is an easy recipe for defensive vision, ready help, forced shots and non-success - – unless you have a premier offensive player like Kobe, Lebron, Paul or Wade. If defenders collapse and help, shooters on the perimeter are the answer (provided ball is delivered); if defenders stay home, the isolater has to be able to finish the job. Who is that player on the Sixers? He’s gotta be located, and he’s gotta be relied on. And maybe he’s gotta be acquired.
I posted this at depressed fan…
The 4th was terrible, but these things happen- even to really good teams.
For example, last March the Celtics were up 80-69 with 8 min left, at home against the Sixers. They gave up a 19-0 run, missing 11 straight points over 7+ minutes and losing the game.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=280324002
There were no lasting after effects from their 4th quarter collapse at home to a lesser team. The Celtics went on to win 12 of their remaining 13 games to close out the season.
Lets see how the Sixers respond. It should say a lot about them.
Not to mention this is the game before they face the Lakers in a big matchup on TNT Thursday. Some complacency might be there and that is why KG is on hold for Tuesday.
I am not fooling myself into thinking they will win tomorrow. I don’t think it is impossible, but if they can’t play a consistent offensive game on most opponents, I have little faith they’ll scorch Boston. KG or not, he does play a huge role in what they do, but they are so successful because the whole team plays so well together. I’m with Tom, if I had to put my last dollar on the game, there is no way I’d lay it on the home team. The crowd will probably be large and rowdy, but I am sure a third of them will be shouting for the green.
We’ll see how it goes tomorrow, if they do find a way to pull it off, I’ll probably spill my beer.
Brand at Center – I don’t know. I was calling for it a week ago, but he has been just like the rest of the team – inconsistent, and Sam has been slowly digging himself out of an mid season hole. If only there was a way we could start 6 players.
Brand at Center: Hate this idea. We would be so undersized it’s not even funny. It could certainly work in some situations, but I’d far rather see a spike in Ratliff’s minutes when Dalembert’s head screws off, rather then sliding Brand over to the 5 spot. He’s already struggling to find his role on this team…why would sliding him over to a spot he’s not used to playing help ease his transition?
When Dalembert gets minutes and has any semblance of coach’s confidence behind him, he plays effectively as the starting center. He is 6′11, athletic, can run the floor, block shots, rebound (when he chooses to box out), and change shots when people drive. He allows athletic wing players to gamble more, etc etc, we’ve all rehashed this before.
Dalembert is by no means perfect, can make sloppy, dumb mistakes, and don’t even get me started on him trying to assert himself on offense. But that said, IMO his strengths have always outweighed his weaknesses…even if his game runs spotty and streaky. Some guys have fragile egos, and are not mentally strong. Dalembert is one of them…he seems to need reassurance and back patting, at least as far as minutes per game are concerned.
But I’d rather have him playing 28-32 mpg then anything else, with Ratliff giving 10-13 mpg as his bench guy, with Speights getting the remaining time leftover at C and backing up Brand. This is our strongest possible lineup, and I would hope that Sammy has reminded people of his worth to the team with his effective play of late.
His whole “I want to play every game regardless of pain” mentality is also refreshing…even if this sometimes leads to him running around like a chicken with his head cut off because of too much energy. A frustrating player, but given our roster, one we need that has things to offer on the defensive end.
I would like to see our original starting 5 get some run during the games, especially in the 4th quarter. It is our best defensive team and now that Iggy is playing well and Thad is mixing things up a couple of 5 min. stretches during a game for this group may be a good idea.
Brand at C: Bad idea if Thad is the PF…. Intriguing idea down the road if Speights is the other big.
This is the game, in my eyes, to bring back Brand to the starting lineup. It has to happen sometime and I think tonight, when he would not have to face Garnett, is perfect.
“Instead, they continue to have Louis Williams, Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller pound the air out of the ball until the clock ticks down to around 12 seconds or less then go to a pick-and-roll which is often ineffective having ball handlers that aren’t real threats to shoot the three”
Dannie you hit the nail on the head. this pattern is killing me. And for a last play why not post up Thad where he only needs to take max one dribble? Thad Young, the kid who I have coined as having “The Unstopable Hook Shot” go to him, it’s a better percentage play then Iggy chucking up pull up jumpers from 20.