Nash – 21 points, 20 assists
Sixers – 20 total assists
How in the hell do you let a guy run through your team like water? How does one man have the same number of assists as your entire team?
Suns – 15-30 from three
Sixers – 3-13 from three
Here we go again. Losing games because:
- We can’t defend the three. In fact I actually think our defense invites it and somehow helps teams shoot it well.
- We can’t make any threes.
Jason Kapono was 9-20/45% from three coming into the game. He played 6 total minutes in a no defense at all contest. Clear sign of coach cluelessness.
Jrue Holiday -15 minutes, 3-5 from the field, 2-3 from three, 3 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover and stellar defense, including picking the pocket of a point guard at half court.
Louis Williams – 33 minutes, 6-16 from the field, 0-5 from three, 3 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers and piss poor defense officially giving him the new nickname: “defensive invisible man.”
The kid was running well, why not keep him in? And it’s not like he was just playing defense. Offensively he was strong with the ball, ran pick and rolls beautifully (watch who he really cuts the screeners hip with his shoulder – textbook) and made his shots. In fact, there were times where he had Nash under control but like they always do the rest of the Sixers over helped and left guys open for easy 3pt looks – which they nailed. Clear sign of coach cluelessness AND faulty philosophy of “we just need to keep scoring with ‘em” rather than “we need to stop them from scoring.”
Elton Brand – 21 minutes
Elton Brand – $80 million dollars
What happened to all the talk about how Jordan will have no problem integrating and maximizing Brand’s ability offensively? Clear sign of coach and GM posturing and PR bullshit.
The Sixers were in this game until the end but they got beat by what continues to kill this team the last two years. Poor perimeter defense, poor rotations defensively, over helping due to poor defensive instincts and discipline and not closing out possessions with a defensive rebound.
That’s it.
Forget the fact that we needed a three and the best three point shooter (% wise) in the history of the NBA was sitting on OUR bench, while Lou and his career 31% three point percentage was jacking from beyond the arc.
If, we would have just locked in defensively and took away the open looks by guys that should beat you (Jared Dudley give me a freakin’ break), we win that game last night.
This team after only 7 games is already making me sick.
How about you?
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
There’s only one move to make to revive this foundering franchise: Allen Iverson, player-coach … with former Celtic John Thompson chiefly assisting, along with aide-de-camps Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and David Wingate (D-#!). Let’s get the party started! The roof, again, shall be raised.
Just imagining Ai as “player-coach” leads to a smile. Can already hear him at the press conference. Talking about playing with heart, talking about practice.
I’d probably paty to see an AI run practice. lots of good scghrimages I’m sure, and with no refs it would get interesting.
Can we bring in DC as a big man’s coach. Something makes me think DC and Speights would be like two peas in a pod.
Sorry, again forgot to proof-read. Wish I could type… or at least go back and edit.
AI as player coach movie review = “Disastrously entertaining”
Actually, bringing in LB and Thompson as assistanet would make for a great defensive team. They’d just need to find the right scorer (AI.)
Its funny how AI is so tightly connected to those two coaching greats who were otherwise known for developing players who were the antithesis of AI.
2nd movie review: A rambunctious, ribald, riviting, rollicking comedy of manners … a side-splitting splash of life! Basketball has never taken funnier bounces. Cameo appearances of droll Larry Brown and relentless optimist Pat Croce are worth the price of admission. A don’t miss, talk-of -the-town cinematic masterpiece of enduring depth and epic proportion. “Rocky” finally takes a back seat in Philly lore.
correction: riveting
I posed the scenario only half in jest. This organization needs a make-over. That staff could command more respect than present one. And AI could STILL lead Sixers in scoring. AI & Holiday … I like that combo over present choices.
Facing 75 more, dreaming a little.
I’m fine with bringing AI back for a year. So what if he’s a headcase – if he wants to start, let him start, what is there to lose; this team is simply mediocre and has been for a while now. If nothing else it would be a business decision – it seems like attendance has never been worse.
Sure, why not… Trade Green for AI
AI/jrue/Iguodala/Speights/Sam
bench: Lou/Kapono/Thad/Brand/Smith… and Carney
Bring in Nolan Richardson to the All-Star oldie staff and install 48 minutes of organize insanity.
Would be MUCH more entertaining than this squad (and actually a bertter team.)
tk, Sorry, gotta keep Green around as utility guard; at least he plays D, has an NBA body, doesn’t mind blending in to team concept. Williams, on the other hand, is terrible, a CBA scoring champ sort is all; has to go. (Oops, make that a 215 million Stefanski-created hamstringing boondoggle.) You could include Ivey in your swap; hustles, but is not a winning NBA guard. AI, Holiday, Green & TBFAA (to be found and announced – - Christmas? Singletary? ): better guard rotation possibilities than present.
for everyone advocating recreating AI magic: you think this team’s play is undisciplined and out of hand, just wait till Iverson is holding the ball for us.
Willie Green plays with more heart and effort than anyone on this team. that said, heart and effort only cant stop your man from blowing past you or make your shots fall. he is like a pill, good in moderation, dont overdo it. excellent job Sunday though.
Brand is really trying. which makes it even worse that all he comes up with is….. shot wasnt even hitting the rim yesterday. heck he had to pump fake like 7 times the other day before he could put it in, down low, and thats against Maxiell who is like 6′9″.
teams are packing it in even more. perfect time for Sixers to learn how to shoot the ball.
on second thought it would make a good excuse for him to retire as a 76er. i’m sure he knows he cant go on for many more years.
for us, it would boost attendance, creating a super fast break & offense-only team like GSW thats fun to watch and create a new slogan for the organization to sell; liberty and nostalgia!
and then after he’s gone, we’d braid Lou’s hair, ink his arms up some more and start selling him as the second coming.
Memo from Accounting Dept.: Number adjustment: Lou Williams only makes 40 million through his contract (I had previously factored 50). Stefanski hamstringing boondoggle total should read 205 million. Fair is fair. Those 3 for that. What a bargain.
Haven’t had a chance to watch the Sixers the last few years all that much. But now I have a new job where I watch the NBA. This season I’ve gotten to watch Lawson in Denver for about 3 games and a few Sixers games including last nights.
I’m not as down on the Sixers drafting Jrue. He looked good handling the ball last night. He nicely split a double team and took it down the lane drawing help and dumping it off to Speights (I think) who then missed the layup. But I was impressed with Jrue. Lawson looks impressive too. The couple of games I watched he looked to be one of the quickest guys on the floor able to beat his man with a quick first step.
Honestly I don’t expect much out of the Sixers this season so it doesn’t really bother me when they lose. (still wanna see them win tho) But I’m enjoying watching the young guys and hoping they can develop.
bball – I won’t lie and say it doesn’t bother me that they lose. It does bother me a lot. BUT it bothers me more HOW we lose. And everyone involved from the players, coaches and management are responsible for how poorly this team plays basketball.
I second that last motion. Nail on the head.
four words that really bother me: “ESPN Analyst Avery Johnson.”
Back to Dannie’s post #17 final statement: I apportion MORE blame to management. Hires (coaches & players) are who they are, for the most part.
Up to very well-paid braintrust to make smart decisions on a long-established public product.
Chris - Doesn’t bother me so much. I said before, if this team was more “move-in ready” meaning they were ready to win now and be a semi-contender I think Avery would probably have been the best choice.
But honestly I think those four words have as much to do with Avery Johnson waiting for the right opportunity (which is clearly not the Sixers) than anything else. Sure the rumor was that he didn’t want to be involved in a “coaching search.” But if he really wanted the Sixers job he would have looked past that.
Would we be playing better right now under Avery Johnson? Probably, but not that much better that it would be worth the price he would command and the excruciating sound of his press conferences and sideline screeching.
I think this team needed a new person to the head coaching field who was a defense first guy with quality assistant coaching experience AND tutelage under good/winning coaches.
With ALL that’s been said we are still only 7 games in. I’ll have my normal check up at 10 games, 20 games and the mid-point of the season as well.
I will also try to mix it up and rile some folks up with trade proposals (is Thad untouchable? I think not!) and tracking Jrue Holiday’s progress against other first round point guards for comparison.
We will make something of this season one way or another.
There are some things we should be really worried about even at this stage. Thad is not one of them.
That is not giving him a free pass. Its just realizing he’s 21 and a full time starter at wing for only the 2nd time in his life (the other time was as a freshman at GT, where he also struggled a bit.) His got the talent and make-up to be a very good SF. A slow start does not have me worried.
but hearing inane statements from Jordan implying opponents are basically getting lucky when they hit open 3’s… that gets me worried. How hard is it to say the Sixers need to work on their defensive rotations?
A coach making excuses for poor defense sends the wrong message to his team. Its one thing to deflect the blame onto himself… its another to play the ostrich.
(I’m trying to up my game with better analogies to keep up with other posters.)
Who said Thad was a problem? He hasn’t been very good right now that’s clear. It’s also clear he didn’t improve his ball-handling even a little bit and his three point shot is still inconsistent.
My comment was more to breathe some life into the Sixers discussion with an idea that will surely rile some ppl up.
I have some off the wall trade ideas (half for fun, half being serious) that involve trading Thad for another young player that fits better with the existing roster.
I like Thad. I think he will end up being a good role player who doesn’t become as good as Andre Iguodala.
The problems on this team start with the head coach for me. He clearly doesn’t really give a shit about defense. All his postgame comments more than suggest that.
Sorry, I think I read too much into it. Some other posters (other sites) have been breaking ankles jumping off the Thad bandwagon.
yeah i’m about sick of it. stefanski only hired jordan because they were bum buddies back at jersey!! i wanted tom thibedeau as coach. i mean jordans coaching record says it all he shouldn’t even be a head coach he is inept (230-288).
Speights could start for Sixers (from RealGM):
http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/62685/20091110/speights_could_soon_start_for_76ers/
Brand: I’m really curious, as I’ve only gotten to see one of the 7 games, the rest I’m following via box score…can someone explain to me what the hell is up with Brand? Does it look like:
- Amental thing, he’s thinking too much and wanting to prove too much and isn’t settled
-Physically he’s lost his athleticism and ability to play above the rim
-Conditioning an issue? (by all accounts, he came into the season in phenomenal shape)
-Not fitting properly in EJ’s offense
-Not a good fit for a bunch of slash n’ cut wings
-Shoulder still not healthy
-Size an issue…6′8 and lack of athleticism meaning 6′10+ guys are pushing him around?
I’m real curious to hear people’s thoughts on why he’s been so freaking terrible so far this year. We are talking about a player that once gave other PF’s headaches defensively, and a guy who used to be THE model for a 6′8 PF that knew how to use his body to establish positioning in the low block and have a fundamentally sound post game. What the hell has happened to the guy?
ruptured achilles tendon + aging process + game was always somewhat overrated.
is in shape. dominant psyche is gone. riddled by doubt, diminished physical capacities, some unaccomodating teammates, poor fitting offensive system, seat-of-pants head coach.
Positive/fixable
-Getting most of his touches near the 3 pt line
-Getting limited minutes and post chances
-Not getting passed the ball on pick&roll plays
-has been effective in the low block against lesser defenders
-overall shooting 62% on inside shots (career is better but still decent.)
-team net + (+/-) while on the floor
Worrisome:
-22% of his inside attempts have been blocked!
-Really struggling to finish ”easy” looks deep in the paint (plays Sam or Speights would dunk)
-Struggles to score in the post against good defenders (Sheed, Wallace and even Amare)
-Looks lost on offense when he is not in the lane
-Not rebounding or blocking shots as well as last year or earlier in career (Speights has been better than him this year on the boards.)
-PF/C’s shooting over him in the lane without fear of being blocked
-7asst/14 TO’s
-per 36 min stats all down: 13pts/7reb/1blk… career 19/9.6/2 yet above ave in TO’s/36 min.
-Rebounding rate way down from career averages (even from last year)
-looks to have zero lift and plodding. Can only dunk with a running start or if wide open (needs to bend down and then jump, can dunk from a standing position- scary given 9′2″ reach)
Hopefully a lot of the “worrisome” areas are rust and not permanent. Regardless, he is a hard worker and can bring positives if used correctly- which is not happening. But looks miles away from bing a star, far from an impact player, and not even an average big at this point.
If you punch in NBA attendance and go to the ESPN attendance page it is alarming where the 76ers stand (last by quite a bit). They are putting a poor product out on the court and probably will for some time in the future. Could we lose this team some day (soon?) because of lack of interest?? 4 more years of watching Brand try to jump is surely not going to help.
Las Vegas (insert new name here)
jjg: wrt to Brand, i think you nailed it.
Dannie: ‘We can’t defend the three. In fact I actually think our defense invites it and somehow helps teams shoot it well. ‘ - i think thats a brainwave. something about it, i cant put my hand on, but it seems so. every time i see games against teams like the Knicks where you can see we obviously retreat to protect the paint and leave the arc free and hope that they miss. too much help on penetration. and its been that way for a long time.
what kind of defense do we even play? who taught ‘em that? cant they even learn a zone to switch it up? we tried a zone on one Sun possession, it looked really poor. zero rotation.
even when they learned some kind of new zone D, under O’Brien, was it? they still got torched from beyond. i remember that was the year Donyell Marshall (on Raptors then) went Karreem Abdul Jabar from 3pt land and broke the single game record.
brian: to put your fears at ease; i think any reasonable investor will understand that Philadelphia is a major sports city, albeit sold out to the wishy-washy Eagles already, but there is no better market for a basketball team. all you have to do is get them to win and attendance will rise. moving the franchise elsewhere will definitely be a bad decision.
if I’m Ed Stefanski, right now I’m hitting the Scotch real hard and thinking one thing; radical change!
Here’s the deal: the Sixers don’t appear to be much more than a 6th seed at best this year or next.
Chad Forde and John Hollinger did three-year predictions for where each franchise will be based on money, talent, management and few other factors. Heres the link to the Sixers section. They’ve got them ranked 19th and hanging around the back half of the East playoff picture. Landing 6th in the east is worthless with teams like Boston, Orlando and Cleveland up there.
The 2010 free agent class is coming up and the Suxers aren’t going to be able to sign a single one of the impact starters. Stefanski needs to ask himself one question: Do I want to be 6th or 7th in the east for next 4 years or do I want to be 13th for a couple seasons and take a chance at a perennial contender in a few seasons?
If the answer is the latter than they should make whatever deal necessary to move Lou, Green, Dalembert and EB. And, yes, maybe even Thad. The core of this team really appears to be Iggy (duh), Jrue (god-willing) and, well, that’s about it. I really like Speights (not as much as Thad though) but do I consider him untouchable? No. Oh, and get some defensive coaching in here, even if it’s just making Jordan hire an assistant.
Sometimes you have to tear it down to build it up. Look at the Thunder. They even moved to a new city and in that same list I linked above, they are ranked 4th. Fourth! Behind Portland, Orlando and LA. They’ve got a mess of young talent. I saw them take the Lakers the distance about a week ago and thought they looked great.
The Sixers could be that squad in a few years. I know you want to go into every season with the intent to win nit all, but sometimes that’s just impractical. When I watch this team I don’t see chemistry, I don’t see toughness; well not enough of either to be happy.
A little cart before the horse, but maybe even Iguodala’s touchable. This team is hamstrung roster wise right now, you can’t do anything with those contracts gumming up the works.
ChrisMcC-
I’m in the same boat. I like a couple guys on this team (the same 3 as you, and I think Jason Smith can be a decent rotation guy, and I like Kapono, but he’s not a long-term guy. Thad has been horrible, but I think he can turn it around) and I’d be all for blowing it up and sucking for a bit.
Here’s the problem. You can suck all you want, BUT you still need to get lucky. OKC got lucky in that they got a top-2 pick in a draft with 2 superstars (or so we thought). Getting a top-2 pick last year didn’t get you a superstar in a 1 player draft.
One thing I do like about Stefanski is I think he is a good talent evaluator, so if we got a high pick, I think we’d get the right guy.
If they do decide to do shut it down and rebuild but view Iguodala has their long term star they need to start this year. It’s a process that’ll take a couple seasons before it starts to come together and Andre’s player option comes up in four years. If we’re still a mess then he’ll bolt and we get nothing for it – aside from saving $16 million.