I am off the Sixers right now during the NCAA tournament so I am not sure how much of this game I will actually watch.
The Phoenix loss was disappointing but not unexpected considering it was the second game of a back-to-back against a team that would test the Sixers defense for 48 minutes. Tonight they face a similar style opponent in the Warriors. I will say like I said last game it’s about defense. The Sixers are not a 7 seconds or less team. They are a fast break team predicated on their ability to force turnovers with their defense. And they need to impose that style on the game or they will be in for another long night.
Golden State has shooters (Morrow, Belinelli, Azubuike) and they are going to put up a lot of shots. They are also going to attack off the bounce with Ellis, Crawford, Maggettee and Jackson.
This game is almost like the Phoenix game. The key in my mind is not allowing those guys to consistently get into seams and kick out to their shooters. I don’t think we will have as much a problem on the defensive boards with not having to deal with Shaq again, but the Sixers still need to tight up in that area. Again its all about the defensive end. Get stops, secure defensive boards and get out and run. The first two being the most critical elements.
Both the Heat and Pistons are in dogs fights tonight that could easily end up as losses. The Sixers need not join the club.
Missed free throws and early napping on the defense cost us. But the Sixers seemed rattled once the lights went out!
Also, Elton Brand– GET WELL SOON!!! We sure could have used him in a game like this. Sammy cannot post up and dominate the interior like you do and like you did the last time against this team!
Good news– Lou is getting his swagger back!
But, we MUST beat the Sacramento Kings, who have beaten the Knicks at MSG for their 1st win against the East!!!!
GO SIXERS!! PLEASE BOUNCE BACK AND BOUNCE THE WAY YOU NORMALLY DO (Just not seven seconds or less!!!)
Hmmmm… Not a lot of comments. You all must be caught up in the tournament like I was. What was funny about this game… We put up 100 shots, killed them on the glass, and shot our free throws relatively well. But yet, we find a way to lose pretty handily. They shot 56% compared to our 38%. Theres no way we are winning many games shooting that poorly.
Well at least we have double overtime thrillers in the tournament to help ease the pain of losing the 6th seed. Luckily for us we play the Kings next. They are like 0-30 verses Eastern Conference teams this year. Lets please not be their first victory.
Hard to believe you can lose by 10 when holding a25-6 advantage on the offensive glass, making 14 more free throws than the opponent and having seven guys in double figures. Too many open 3-pointers and easy baskets were the defense.
On the bright side, Dalembert (15 points, career-high 23 rebounds) took advantage of the undersized Warriors.
I don’t know how many times I have to say it. PLAY SOME DEFENSE!
Sixers got caught up in the run, gun play no defense styles that both Phoenix and Golden State play and they simply aren’t a good enough shooting or offensive team to win that way.
I didn’t even see the game, but even just from the box score you can tell what Danny said above is true: we let ourselves get caught up in their run n gun game. Granted WE are also a running team…but not in the way where we launch 3′s and don’t play defense. Christ all@!#$ing mighty.
I’m curious, can someone that saw the game comment about Lou’s performance? He obviously shot atrociously, and the 2-7 from 3 pt land is especially disappointing, but he did look like he was aggressive and got others involved (6 dimes) from the numbers. Did he play half decent, or was this another Sweet Lou stink-fest?
And, umm…HOW WAS DONYELL MARSHALL NOT PLAYED MORE??? He just came off two incredible games. He has full confidence and swagger. He’s going against his former team and would want to slay them. He has single handedly won us three games this season. He is the only true deep shooting threat on the team…and going against a team that is high octane and high scoring, and with all the above reasoning…DiLeo decides to keep him on the bench again? Really? You couldn’t have gotten him 10-12 minutes a game and slice a few minutes from Lou and Green? Wow.
March Madness – Anyone that was watching the games around Midnight saw a real treat:
-Incredibly exciting, high energy from start to finish, Double Overtime game with Siena beating Ohio St.
-A second Overtime game with Wisconsin taking down Florida St (Bo Ryan has been my man crush of the last five years…love the job he does there).
-Cleveland St. not just upsetting, but CRUSHING, Wake Forest in every aspect of the game imaginable. They flat out stomped Wake.
Great night of hoops for teams not named the 76ers.
andre miller has to be injured, right?
hmmm! (not constructive I know, but this calls for it)
Guys, fell asleep by halftime but it looks to me like we need to add perimeter defenders along with perimeter offensive players to this group.And it starts at the p.g.; once he can!t cover it is like a domino effect.
Jumping out to a big lead early, then they could”nt score for 4 or 5 min. Coach Dileo left the same lineup in there.That was the first quarter after that i watched the game off and on nothing to watch if you were a sixer fan. you might see some numbers for some guys but it was not pretty . Iggy was man handled by the other team could not put the ball in the basket unless it”s a dunks, he does’nt even break a little sweat till the end of the game. Kind of walks around like, look at me I”m a star, complains to the refs all night when he gets to the foul line half the time he can”t make a basket. Decides to play a little defense when it ends up in his lap. The game winning shot the other night in the huddle he told everybody what he was going to do and went out and did it, against what his coach told him to do. I need to wonder how many other time this year Iggy was given assignments and ignored the coach Dileo and did”nt turn out good for us
Dave T – About Lou. He was aggressive (11 free attempts) at times, when he did penetrate he actually looked to pass a few times as evidenced by the 6 assists but I wouldn’t take much from that since the no defensive game helped his assist numbers as well.
But he still hasn’t found any semblance of a jumper which is why he shot so poorly. 7 three point attempts was him forgetting he plays for the Sixers not the Warriors, a team I actually think he is better suited on.
I’d trade Lou for Anthony Morrow in a heartbeat (and some other player to make money work) right now because Morrow fits what we need much more (shooter at 6-5) still is young, has a lot of energy, more defensive potential and I just don’t like Lou for this team. I had mentioned Morrow way back when after he went undrafted. Then he tore up the summer league and Golden State locked him up.
About Donyell this was a tough game for him. If the Sixers wanted to play some defense Donyell would have been a liability because he simply wouldn’t have been able to keep up with Golden State or get back in transition.
Sam took 12 shots because he grabbed 11 offensive boards. He didn’t finish well at all.
At one point Andre Iguodala was like 2-12 from the floor.
I don’t know what happened with Thad but he is jackin’ now, and I am cool with it. 21 shot attempts last night. At least we get to see what the kid can do offensively. I am certainly not on the “he is a great player” bandwagon at all. But I needed to see him be more aggressive and get more shot attempts to really get a gauge of his potential.
And finally I have to end on this. PLAY SOME DEFENSE! How do you give up 245 points in 2 freakin’ games? Allow both teams to shoot a combined 57% from the field. I’d love for someone to try and tell me the Sixers played ANY defense the last two games.
Dave T – This week I got to see some point guards live that the Sixers may or may not be looking at. Darren Collison (watching him again at the Wachovia center against Nova today) and Eric Manor I saw on Thursday going head-to-head with Collison.
Suede that’s the main reason that I have been saying that we need to let miller walk after the season. As good as he is, he can’t cover air. If your point guard can’t guard anyone then your finished. And as you could see, our Defense is finished and in it doesn’t exist.
Dannnie I also watched Maynor vs Collison and came away more impressed with Maynor. He looks to be a solid defender, has a great build, and has the guts to take and make a big shot. I know that it wasn’t one of his best games but I was still impressed. The only negative is that he only shoots 36% from deep, I’ll still take Flynn over anyone even the Greek God Calathes.
i actually think andre miller is an underrated defender, but he does struggle against teams like the suns & warriors who run & gun. it just so happens we played them in consecutive games so he has looked especially bad.
Its not so much that they are not trying on defense. Its more that there defense is designed to stop a team like the Sixers and nobody else. They switch on every screen and collapse on every drive. They dare you to beat them from outside.
That starategy works against a team like the Sixers who can’t shoot and rarely pass when they drive. Its fall flat against any team that can shoot.
I’m actually pretyy hopeful this is correctable. They get back a great defender in Brand next year (love how he jumps the ball on the pick and roll) and they have potentially to disruptive wing defenders in Iguodala and Young. Add a PG who can defend and shoot (a Chalmers type) and bring in a new coaching staff (Thibodeau) and they should be able to be a good defensive team. I do wonder if Speights will be a decent defender- again has some tools but in serious need of time with good defensive coached.
Excuse the typos. (to/two, Their/there.) My brain knows basic grammar but my fingers get ahead of themselves. Wish I could edit a post.
I wish that Ed could have traded for a 2nd round pick last year and picked Chalmers.
When will we ever have a 2nd round pick, I don’t think that we have one this year either, are we still paying off that Manute Bold deal?
Didn’t Ed forsee this mess when he traded away Korver? Bring the man back Ed, do something for frog sakes.
Manute Bol, yeah Tk76 I feel as if I need a full time editor following me around to correct my mistakes sometimes.
Where is Dean, got nothing positive to say about the last 2 games?
Simply put, the Sixers fell into the trap of trying to play 7 seconds or less on the offensive end the last two games. Yesterday, fatigue was not the issue, but an unconscious awareness that we were falling into that trap. Plus, we were missing layups and other point-blank range shots we would normally make. We were rushing things in the paint. In fact, this goes back to three games, if you include the Lakers game. There were moments in that game, early in the 1st and late in the 4th before Kobe hit the big jumper, where we missed those easy layups. We MUST convert our layups/dunks and play OUR uptempo style of 10 seconds or less. Our fastbreak points come as a result of our defense and forcing turnovers. Also, we must hit our free throws. The good thing about these next two opponents (Sacramento and Portland) is that both teams are coming from their long road trips and that they don’t play the way our three previous opponents do! Both Andres must find ways to score, teams are really honing in on them. That is where EB is missed!
GO SIXERS!! GET THESE NEXT TWO!!
Also, our team needs maturity, which will take time there with the number of young players there.
They cannot panic when things are not going to plan and when unpredictable things occur (such as lights going out, bad calls, etc). The Warriors thrive and hold the card of unpredictability. Portland certainly holds that card with their hustle and energy, but does not light up the scoreboard like our previous three opponents!
Greek, I think Collison is the closest to Chalmers in this draft; shoot the 3 and defend like hell. I like Maynor but there are questions defensively, according to DRAFTEXPRESS. I am not as high on Flynn as you and Dave T. because of the lack of the 3 pt. shot and defensively they play zone so its tough to tell.Calathes passes well and can shoot it but again defensively there may be issues. I hope they let A.Miller go and use his money to a] buy a late 1st rounder and b] bring in a shooter with the m.l.e. .
Greek…..I was wondering about Dean myself. He must be on another blog where he can “enjoy” these last two losses.
I really hate being negative (I really, really do) and picking the team apart (which is why I’ve been commenting less frequently), but this season hasn’t been easy, you know? It has been very difficult for me to feel all that great about a lot of the wins because I just know that more losses are right behind them. That’s the price of inconsistency I guess.
That, combined with the fact that I had expected to see growth and progress on top of what we saw during the second half of last season, has really put a damper on my enthusiasm for the team.
Darren Collison: Said it before, will say it again: I will put holes in my wall if we take Collison in the 1st round. (the following is NOT because of the game vs. Nova…I am talking about watching his collective resume for three years running).
Strengths: A very solid PG. Capable of running any college team. Has improved his overall game and bball IQ each year. VERY GOOD SHOOTER…both midrange and 3 point shot, which is rare. Good defender, nice intangibles, always hustles, never gives up. Can get teammates involved as well as score the ball. Good leader.
Weaknesses: This is just not a guy that is an amazing PG. Gets rattled in big college games and against superior physical defenders. In the NBA he is going to face this night in and night out. Cannot take over a game with his passing, nor his scoring ability, although he is solid in both areas. Not someone that can put a team on his back and get a W.
Collison is a very effective college player that has been wonderful for Howland, but can anyone honestly say with full confidence they see this guy as a LEGIT NBA starting PG? He would be effective I’m sure…but this is not a guy that will take over a game in the NBA, and will not overwhelm anyone in any one particular area of the game. Why would we waste a PG pick on someone that could “handle the reigns” effectively, maybe, but no more? Flynn, Lawson, Mayner and Calathes all have superior ability…Collison to me would be settling unnecessarily for someone that is a 7th-8th man at best.
I want someone that is a POINT GUARD…as in…in his BLOOD. The guy that has eyes in the back of his head, can thread the needle when it doesn’t even look like there is an angle, has nuts of steel, can score and distribute VERY good in both areas, and has a true desire to win.
Flynn and Lawson are BY FAR the best two picks IMO. Lawson is just an incredible athlete, has an incredible drive to win, his defense is incredible, and in an open court game he is easily the best PG in the country. Flynn gives us that “PG among PG” gene…he really knows the game, and “gets it”. Might be sloppy, but I feel he is the best pure PG in this draft that can really distribute the ball, and get a team a win without needing to score. His shooting is not incredible, but he can hit college 3′s, and I think with time, like Thad Young, he would be an effective NBA shooter. His maturity for a sophomore is shocking, and I like the fact Lawson seems like a great guy as well.
Mayner and Calathes I’d put tied for 3rd for the next rung and would be fine with either. Sheron Collins intrigues me…he really improved his game this year. I dont want ANY part of Grievas Vasquez, Tyreke Evans, Devin Downey, Darren Collison.
Lawson IS by far the best but if he is there when we pick I!ll be shocked. I am looking forward to Thad and Iggy with the ball in their hands and would prefer a p.g. that sets up the team and can also be a spot up shooter,ala D.Fisher. We are a team that pounds the ball to much, in my opinion, and it will be interesting to see the way they go when picking.
suede: I’m back from a trip (horrible timing), give me some players to watch in these upcoming games (tourney). J. McNeal is one, got any others? Give me some guys no one’s pointing out, like a kind of “suede’s sleepers” – got the time?
I like that McNeal is from Marquette; the last 3 Golden Eagles drafted – Wade, Diener and Novak – are all very fundamentally sound, non-flashy players. No, I don’t consider Wade to be flashy because he stays within his abilities, much like Diener and Novak do. Tom Crean isn’t the coach anymore, but McNeal was under his tutelage for 3 years and I’m sure that he’s received the positive character- and player- molding that those 3 have.
One last thing – I’m still very high on Sherron Collins; I hope the bastard proves me right by taking the Jayhawks back to the Final Four! I cannot CANNOT! believe he isn’t higher on draft boards. I think that if he stays for his senior year he’s going to be a devastating NBA player.
Take note of his decisions and instincts when he plays, it’s like… you know how “scholars” of the game have often compared basketball to jazz? Well, this kid makes me think of that jazz/basketball analogy, more than a lot of other prospects and NBA players. We shall see…
Few guards to watch with the Sixers in mind:
Like Suede, I!m fine getting a “pg” who is more of a clutch shooter/defender. A Chalmer type- even if he is less of a great player than Miller. Let Iguodala continue to have the ball in his hands, just as long as they have a player at PG who can guards quick PG’s and can demand a teams respect by hitting the open jumpers.
Right now half of why WG is starting SG is to cover better PG’s. I want to see Iguodala and Young at 2/3 and that necessitates a PG who can cover PG’s (you can’t ask Iguodala to do it.) You won’t find a PG in the mid 1st who can both be a natural PG, and shoot and defend (Harris was 5th overall and did not have all those skills coming out.) If you have to sacrificce something for this team, let it be pure PG skills, since Iguodala is there to take awau sone of that pressure. Get someone like Chalmers or Hinrich who can defends and shoot.
Dannie, Ellington looked real good today but I think M.Thornton has some A.Toney in him and coming off screens looks real good. Your an A.C.C. guy, what do you make of Toney Douglas, I love the way he spells his first name by the way. Defensive player of the year but more of a scorer than p.g., only saw him twice and seemed to play half and half at the 1 and 2. Zack, John on depressed fan said the kid Woodside, who lit up Kansas for 30 something Friday looks good but at 5!10″ not sure, could he be Stockton #2. I want defense first, 3 pt. shot second and Dave T. has some good pts. on Collison but his long arms may make up some for his height. Dannie, I think Singler is gonna be a real good pro, a more athletic version of Dunleavy and if Iggy is moving to the 2 guard and A.Miller is resigned than he wouldn!t look bad in a Korver role off the bench.
Guys, with the cap going down do you think its possible that teams will move late first rounders and if so what does it cost? Because rather than bring in somebody!s cast off [McCants, Barnes ?] wouldn!t it be better to get 2 hungry young guys to bring a little defensive energy.
Zack, if you catch the N.I.T. games another p.g. to watch is C.Jerrells of Baylor,6!1″,200 lbs.,senior, he had a triple double this year and had good games against some good teams.
J McNeal: Zach, saw you mentioned him in an earlier post. This kid’s game is flat out awesome, and IMO, he is without doubt going to be a late 1st round or early 2nd round gem to whatever team he falls to. He can flat out ball:
-willing to take the big shots
-incredible slasher to the hole that finds crafty ways to score around the basket
-stifling on the ball defensive player
-has real nice handle
-can create his own shot
-very good passer and great at getting others involved
-3 point shot started mediocre, has improved every year to the point where he is now an effective long range shooter.
-VERY clutch and can take over a game, both by scoring or kickstarting his team to get others involved.
I’d replace Lou Williams with McNeal in a heartbeat. McNeal definitely has a lot of Chalmers in him between the combo guard ability, good defense, and versatile offensive game. Remains to be seen whether he could play a regular starting NBA PG…but he certainly has proved the ability to play it in spurts, and IMO is the ideal NBA 6th man that can score, pass, slash, hit shots and is both unselfish, but can score in bunches when needed.
Suede: I somewhat agree with M Thornton. He can certainly dial it up from long distance, and is a ballsy shooter/scorer that is not afraid to take, and make, big shots and be relied on for points. And you’re right, he does have a little of that gutsy Toney gene in him.
The problem is…many college players show that gene and swagger, only to make very one dimensional pros. Eddie House is a primary example. He KILLED people in college, could take over a game and score at will, and shoot wildly out of control shots that would somehow go in. In the NBA, he is a marginal role player at best, that can be relied on to hit the 3, and not much else.
Thornton has VERY questionable shot selection…it’s like sometimes he just gets posessed and will jack up any shot on the planet. He definitely has “any shot is a good shot” disease, always a worrisome trait. Then again, dude can flat out fill up the points scored column and nail a 3 pointer when you need it. Certainly an intriguing player, but I dont think we should be looking at him in the mid 1st round.
DaveT., he is somebody I like if we get a late first, or early second along with McNeal. I don!t see Calathes name much, maybe he isn!t coming out.
At this point, I’d try to get Lawson. He looks NBA ready to me. Even if you sign Andre M, they could play together on the court for much of ther game.
Still thinking about the last two games. Dannie was dead on in calling for us to play defense. The fact that we didn’t is frustrating for two reasons.
First is that we do not shoot well enough to consistently win games by outscoring the other team. We might be able to go shot for shot for a while (one quarter, one half, one game) but that’s about it and that won’t get it done. Because of this, we simply must win with defense (which in turn leads to runouts and easier baskets).
Second, and more importantly, is that DiLeo constantly preaches that everything for this team must start on the defensive end. Defense was the primary focus during our stretch of 4 days off a couple weeks ago. Defense, more accurately a lack thereof, has been given as the reason why Rush and Marshall have not seen more floor time.
The fact that both the players and the coaches continually profess to know how important defense is to us and repeatedly reiterate their commitment to it, yet we find ourselves 80% of the way through the season without any significant progress in this area concerns me greatly.
S.F.W., he would be a perfect fit. Blski, I really hope a defensive coach is brought in or a great defensive assistant at least, the whole switch,switch, switch mentality is sickening to watch.
Yeah Suede, that’s what starts the whole cascade of problems that eventually lead to our defensive breakdowns. We have all heard—–from DiLeo, from the players, from Stefanski——the reasons for our problems on the defensive end (the need to help off of another man, the slow rotations, the miscommunication).
We’ve been told over and over that they are aware of these issues and are working to correct them, but it all starts with the switching, which is basically taken as a given and remains unquestioned and unchanged.
Bski, taking offense out of the conversation for a minute wouldn!t it accomplish something defensively to go with the Iggy/Thad at the 2/3 lineup now, especially away from home like tonight, and make players accountable for their own man rather than having somebody else have to help. Sam,Elton,Thad,Iggy and hopefully a young athletic p.g. should be able to hold their own against most lineups in the league and if E.S. is naive enough to think we are winning a championship this year than he is seeing something we aren!t.
BSki, Dean is weak. If we were classmates I would take his lunch every single day and have him thank me for the opportunity.
This is a blog, the best sixers blog out there I might add. We are die hards, we sometimes complain because we care. Guys like Dean like to come around around when things are all Rosy.
Suede, Im with Dave on the Collison matter. Every time that I have seen Collison in a big spot, he has played small.
1 flynn
2 lawson
3 price (as of today)
Your right Dannie, Prices stock is rising.
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090322/SPORTS03/903220373/1023
Suede…..I think it makes a lot of sense, both now and in the future when Elton is back at the 4.
Greek…..I can understand being against the negativity. I know it wears me out at times. Sometimes it seems like we’re picking everything apart just looking for things to complain about. However, when it comes to this team, it is not unwarranted and, more importantly, it does not start with us. It starts with the Sixers!
For example, the Sixers are a very poor shooting club. They miss a lot of shots, so we get frustrated and complain about them missing shots. If they were to become a much better shooting team, we would be a lot happier and the negativity would significantly diminish.
The same goes for every other aspect of the game. When the Sixers can play at a consistently high level, we enjoy their success and complain a lot less. As it stands, they have been mediocre and inconsistent and we are calling it like we see it.
At least that’s how I feel about it.
Greek, if I!m on the playground choosing sides Collison wouldn!t be my first choice either but our Sixers are a team without any shooting at all and a problem up top defending the ball and Collison ,to me, addresses those 2 needs the best out of our choices from where we are picking in the draft. If Lawson is there it is a no-brainer but Flynn is surrounded by shooters and Price has limitations in that part of his game,although he runs a team well. If we move one of our wings to add a shooter [Thad or Iggy] than get me the best pure p.g. available but adding a 15 min. a night shooter to me won!t resolve our shooting issues though Donell!s effect recently is cause for hope.