Another first for your 2009-2010 Sixers tonight in New York, their first back-to-back of the season. Oddly enough, the Sixers will actually be the better rested team heading into the game.
I'm not going to pussyfoot around it, the New York Knicks are a pitiful franchise in every imaginable way. Isiah Thomas' stink will take years to wash away, they've been banking on making a huge splash in free agency this summer, but I don't see any reason why one of the top free agents would even consider joining this talentless lot. Mike D'Antoni's gimmick system is exposed by a roster devoid of talent. Their star power is nonexistent. They don't even own their draft pick in 2010, a lock to be a lottery pick, having traded it away for Stephon Marbury, back when he was slightly less insane.
Long story short, this game has to be another win. The Knicks played in Charlotte last night and managed to hold on through 2 overtimes before finally succumbing to the Bobcats, 102-100. So they will have traveled further than the Sixers, and played more minutes in the front end of their back-to-back, which should be another advantage to the Sixers, though they really shouldn't need it.
The Knicks offense essentially consists of jacking threes. That's it, just shoot threes. In two games, they've attempted 75 threes, making 25.3%. Their number one draft pick from two seasons ago, Danillo Gallinari, has attempted 25 shots through the first two games, 20 of them have been threes. He's actually shot them well, hitting 10. I'll do the math for you, that means the rest of the team has made 9 of their 55 attempts from deep, 16.4%. But still, they shoot!.
The Knicks have no interior game, not much of a penetration threat. Their joke offense is actually stout compared to their porous defense. This. Game. Must. Be. A. Win. Period.
The Sixers don't need to get creative, all they need to do is attack the rim in the form of drives or post up opportunities. The Knicks are loathe to defend, and even if they cared about defense, they don't have the personnel to follow through on it. If their lack of talent wasn't bad enough, they insist on exacerbating the situation by playing Jarred Jeffries heavy minutes, basically hoping he can inflate his trade value so they can free up more cap space to sign third-tier free agents next summer.
I'm expecting big games from everyone wearing a Sixers jersey and possibly 50 three point attempts for the Knicks. The only way I see the Knicks even keeping this one close is if they get unbelievably hot from downtown. Play the defense from the outside in, crowd perimeter players, funnel them to Sammy and Brand in the paint, don't give them room to take good threes. I have a hunch that instead of working for hoops, they'll settle for bad threes.
Key to the game: Punishment
If _________________ the Sixers will win: New York makes less than 20 threes.
This is your game thread, so enjoy. I'll be here at the beginning of the game, then I'll be watching the rest on DVR when game 2 of the series is over. Let's go Sixers!
btw, i don't kno if u already kno this but u called it right last night.
"If ________ happens, the Sixers will win: Brandon Jennings turns the ball over 5 times"
Brandon Jennings: 5 TO's
Is there any team in the NBA with more starters that wouldn't start on a quality NBA team than the Knicks? I believe an argument could be made that all five of their standard starters would be bench players on most good teams (in comparison I think the sixers only start two guys who would be bench players on 'good' teams)
Lee is maybe the only one you could make an argument for, but he's so unbelievably over-rated.
The Knicks shook up their starting lineup a little bit:
C: Lee
PF: Jeffries
SF: Gallinari
SG: Chandler
PG: Duhon
If they wanted to focus on him, Brand could score 40 against this team without breaking a sweat. This better be a huge win.
Well I think lee is a solid bench player vastly over rated - and much of those has to do with his skin tone...but this starting line up is all back ups too.
I know it's halloween clyde, but you aren't craig saeger - what the hell are you wearing?
Rain delay in the series, looks like I'll get to watch some the Sixers live.
I really like the Sixers warmups, think I'll buy a pair for my son if they make them in kids sizes.
I like that the Knicks announcer announced Iguodala when it was Williams and vice versa.
I like that the theme song to introduce the Knicks season is Halloween - that seems appropriate - it's going to be a horror show.
And I'm not sure I can handle the aggravation of Cole Hamels tonight if unlucky easily rattled Cole shows up.
I wonder if Jrue is inactive, considering Jordan sat him out of that preseason game because NY's guards were so scary.
Yahoo box scores usully lists the 12 active, Holliday listed, Brezec not
Nice
Brand on the blocks right away. Easy two with Jeffries on him.
2/2 for Brand, jumper over Jeffries. Defense looking shaky early.
Brand looked a little confused on tht lst offense set when he got the ball at the foul line...I think he's having issues.
Defending the 3 would be nice
Brand is a man among boys in this matchup. 4 games against the Knicks should really help his overall season numbers :)
The element that press can bring is a good look.
Carvin' em up...EB with the throwdown
Come run with us.
Frazier saying Jordan stresses defense - unintentional comedy gold from the man who uses words from his word a day calendar - his version doesn't have the definitions though.
Even if this is the princeton offense, it looks disjointed and ugly - guys don't know what to do yet...just messy
Just a thing of beauty.
Sam with not one but two stupid fouls he shouldn't have drawn in 8 minutes - that's the Sm I expect to see
Odds he sees 5+ minutes in the second quarter? Last season it would've been 0%
More than 3 minutes and he'll pick up his third - you really want him to hve 3 in the first half?
Doesn't matter against this team, but ideally, I'd like to see him back in there to close out the second quarter in this situation.
That lefty hook by Brand w/ Darko on him was nice.
Those lanes just keep presenting themselves.
Well...the shooting percentage is bound to come down, so plying better defense would be helpful.
Let's hope avoiding the second quarter let down is the goal for tonight
Absolutely. Carney in. Any starters on the floor?
40 points in the first without 1 three point attempt, right?
There's no need to shoot jumpers against this Knicks "defense." Every time you get in the lane it's an uncontested shot and they don't have anyone who can even slow EB down on the blocks.
If Lou knew how to set his feet - they'd have one 3 attempt - and a four point play :)
Come on. Up the effort.
4 bench players out there, Knicks immediately cut 5 points off the lead. Anyone noticing a theme here?
The sixers bench sucks and Jordan still hasn't adjusted when it becomes obvious?
Looks like EB is really going to pay dividends, criticism aside.
Those damn dribble-drive handoffs just apply so much pressure to the opposing defense.
And plays like THAT are what piss me off - HOW THE HELL does Lee get that rebound
hell yeah...
Lay it on thick EB.
Much better with 3 starters back in the gme.
So maybe the sixers bench just sucks and royal ivey just isn't better than Jrue huh Eddie?
Larry knows the crap out of these sets. That's twice.
Eh, the second one was just a careless pass from Lou.
But it could be relative to when EJ said that he went away from it in the pre-season game b/c some of their personnel knew it. Larry did rather well when running this in DC.
D'Antoni must have a boner. Absolutely no defense being played out there.
MSG trying to convince me he cares...
They trying to throw up 130, aren't they?
How fst did it take him to get his 3rd Brian?
42 seconds, so the under wins :)
3 on Sammy
If that is us communicating on defense I hear, then I like it.
Yes.
Those made threes sure are nice.
70 to 51 at the half. 65% from the floor. Pretty much what you need to see against a team like the Knicks. No letdown in the second half now.
Carppy 3 point d and a FG% that they can't really maintain nd the knicks shot 50% as well...this is an easily loseable game if the defense doesn't tighten and the 2nd half shooting 'reverts to the men' of about 45% for the seson.
On the other hand, solid defensive rebounding and taking care of the ball. Need to see better defense, definitely.
Are they going to play this series game?
18 points on 10 shots for Iguodala in the first half.
6 boards for Speights in 11 minutes.
By my math, only Ivey is a negative in +/-, but I could be wrong.
Tarp off in Philly - game to start at 9:15 local
Need the starters to stretch this to 25-30 right away.
I will be damn.
I know it's the Knicks, but it can really be this easy. Slice and dice 'em up.
And who cares if you don't play defense.
This game is going to be a great 'distraction' from the defense still being weak.
Way to attack Dala.
Absolutely no one on the Knicks warrants a double team. Do not leave the Italian.
4 on sammy, questionable call.
Flowing on offense, crisp on defense,.... and free throws dropping.
Nice.
Alright, I'm off to watch the series. I'll finish watching this on on DVR later and have my wrap. Let's go Sixers.
Can I please reverse the statement the night of the first game when I said that Orl had 100 pts at the end of the 3rd. Please.
I'll take your word tht they were crisp on defense in the second half - cause they sure weren't in the first
Trautwig with the understatement of the day.
Nice power move by Speights
Can we give it to Lou already? What a line.
Just hold on guys, I know your legs are tired. It's too early in the season.
Why is Kapono in when they need defense? Why not Carney?
I said it at half time - i hate being right
this is one monumental collapse.
I don't understand the team on the floor for defense. Why not Carney and Ivey for Kapono and Williams? NY gave them the opportunity when they took the timeout.
This team - no matter who ws on the floor - plyed crap defense in the first half - the offense masked it - but it was an unsustainble rate - and obviously the defense didn't improve.
I'm in no way surprised this game is going to OT...
The effort y'all expended from 4:00 of overtime to 2:30 of overtime, where was that in the 4th?
It may look ugly, but you have to win this one. It's only the third game but it feels like the 73rd.
The Sixers are supposed to have several great defenders. Why can't they stop anyone? Harrington was too quick for Brand and too strong for Thad and AI.
Mostly because they also have several bad defenders, they have one great defender in Iguodala and sometimes Sam looks good, but he doesn't know what he's doing.
They have a great defensive guard, but Jordan is an idiot who won't play him cause Ivey is so much better.
That fourth quarter almost ruined my night. I had to take a couple deep breaths before writing my wrap. Just stupid, stupid coaching and piss poor defense, but everyone seems happy because they scored so many points. This was my biggest fear back in June.