In front of a quaint crowd at the Wachovia Center tonight the third-worst team in the league will play host to the fourth-worst. Philadelphia's 29th-ranked defense will be tasked with stopping the 21st-ranked offense, while Golden State's 23rd-ranked defense will try to keep the 20th-ranked Sixers O in check. Jump for the preview, keys to the game and your oh-so-efficient game thread.
Just as an FYI, the rankings on the front page in efficiency, not points-per-game. The Warriors are a prime example of why PPG is a horrible metric for judging a team's abilities. GSW averages 107.2 points scored per game, the Sixers average 96.2, yet the Sixers are actually the more efficient offensive team (by a hair.) Golden State also allows 111.4 points per to 101.3 per game allowed by the Sixers, yet the Sixers rank much lower in defensive efficiency. As always, pace is the key. GSW pushes the ball mercilessly, averaging 101.2 possessions per game (1st in the league). The Sixers play at a snail's pace, 90.7 possessions/game (mostly thanks to strong offensive rebounding and horrible defensive rebounding.)
As TK76 said in the comments earlier today, Golden State is Philly's upside. Meaning, if Eddie Jordan has his way, the Sixer will someday be as good as a 7-16 team.
GSW runs an insane small starting lineup with Mikki Moore at the five, Vlad Radmanovic at the four and some combination of Steph Curry, Monta Ellis, Anthony Morrow and/or CJ Watson at the 1,2,3. The only guy on their roster who even projects as a decent rebounder/defender is Anthony Randolph, who only gets about 20 minutes/game (Biedrins is out). Moore and Radmanovic are both pitiful rebounders for the position. Honestly, this is probably the saddest group of defensive players you'll ever find on one roster, yet they're still better than the Sixers.
But I digress, the point is, the Sixers big lineup should have absolutely no problem scoring at will against this bunch. Elton Brand can overpower everyone on their roster, and he should be the focal point of the offense. That mismatch must be punished to the point where GSW is forced to adjust, if they can. Of course, I don't think there's any chance this will actually happen because Eddie Jordan is going to be foolish enough to match the Warriors small lineup with one of his own. Let's be clear for a second, the Sixers small lineup absolutely, positively cannot score with the Warriors. They have three excellent shooters from distance, including the best jump shooter I've ever seen in Anthony Morrow (I'm dead serious about this).
Golden State is very beatable, you can rough them up in the paint, you can dominate them on the glass. The one thing this Sixers team is not capable of doing is out-shooting them.
That being said, I've got this one down as a resounding loss. Jordan will do the opposite of everything I've said in this post, seeing the Warriors' small lineup as a perfect opportunity to get his own, much-preferred, small lineup out there so Kapono and Willie can jack threes and pat each other on the back for playing zero defense.
Key to the Game: Staying glued to Morrow, Watson and Curry, in that order. Playing Iguodala on Ellis without fail.
If _______________ the Sixers will win: 25+ points for Brand
Blatant Mismatches Jordan will ignore: Morrow, Watson, Curry or Ellis trying to guard Thad. The same list trying to guard Iguodala. Radmanovic trying to guard Brand.
Potential Game-Changing Sub, which won't happen: Holiday first guard off the bench to pressure the ball and make it difficult for GSW to get into their early offense.
This is your game thread, barring another transit nightmare, I will be joining you throughout, be here or...eh. Just be here.
Lucky 13, winner winner chicken dinner
I am happy I will watch the clash replayed, the good thing about being 5-18 is that I'm no more asking myself whether to stay up to watch live
good night Brian & everybody :-)
I think it'd be not wise to under-estimate the Warriors. When healthy, that team can put the points on the board and do alot of damage.
Who under estimates the warriors?
I suppose I can just follow Roy Halladay rumors all night
Anthony Morrow is the best jump shooter you've ever seen? Are you basing that on statistics or form?
Results and what I've seen. He's just a pure shooter, looks like he could stroke it from 40 feet w/ no problem. 47.2% on his career, 133/282.
Game 2 of my strike of not wasting $9 going to the game. A little disappointed in my decision as Jrue is starting.
Anyway, excited about the Holiday trade and will watch much of this game. Expect loss #13.
I read an article this weekend by Martin Franks about why Jordan will not be fired. Disappointing to say the least since he made sense.
Anyway, I hope and pray the Jrue atleast has a good game.
Wait - is Holiday starting or being traded?
Is Brand hurt or is Jordan just a moron
Eddie Jordan's a moron....To say the very least. Brian's a prophet though :).
Anyone at all shocked that Jordan takes any/all opportunities to play small?
Then shouldn't Brand be at center
Well, he it has to be small and fuck Elton Brand in some way.
Well his wife did just have a baby so he's probably not getting any.
But that made me laugh
Morrow, Watson, and who's this third excellent long-range shooter of whom you speak? Oh, Radmanovic.
heh. rad is 4th on my list :)
Can we start a fire Ed Stefanski petition? He's easily becoming our Isiah Thomas.
Stop making god damned excuses Zumoff. AHHHHHHHH horrible mood tonight, I apologize in advance for my salty language.
It never pays to insult your employer too much
Jrue and Ellis look to have a duel?
I have a feeling we don't win that one.
We did.
Looks like there are hundreds of people there to see this one.
Nice D on back to back possessions by Jrue on Ellis.
What the hell does holiday think he's doing playing defense, get willie in there STAT
What the hell does holiday think he's doing playing defense, get willie in there STAT
Can anyone please tell me why we so believe in Iggy? Dude's 25, I don't think he has much upside left and he's not a 2 guard. Just keep Thad at the 3 and trade Iggy for a top-ten pick.
I'm in a really bad mood to begin with so I'm going to ignore this.
Thought was you, Dedicated...
wait dedicated76erfan from real gm?
Dear god tell me you'e kidding
I don't think so... Very similar lines of argument,
And Morrow for three.
If Jrue make a shot, he always takes another shot in the next position it seems he thinks he's hot everytime he makes a shot and does a heat check
Could have something to do with his coach rewarding guys who take bad jumpers early in the shot clock with more minutes than guys who concentrate on defense.
God they are worse than we are on defense. How do they perform better?
More efficient offense?
Making their defense better? They're way ahead of us in defensive efficiency.
Think about that for a minute
I thought Jrue was wearing #3 the way he came out gunning.
He's 1 for 2
Dalembert has taken 4 shots
I'm not sure what 'gunning' is in your world but obviously it's different
Lol.
Of our starters he's taking the least shots despite playing the second most minutes.
Yeah, he's gunning.
Had tickets for this, got called for work, heading down there for the second half.
Love watching the Iverson-Dalembert alley oops. Sammy is a new man this season.
Is Willie hurt or is our coach doing something kind of right?
Kind of right in one way, completely wrong in another. Best we can hope for, I guess.
That ball hit the backboard. That wasn't a travel.
It never ceases to amaze me. We run post plays for Daly but not for Brand.
Jrue is stoning Ellis.
moore doesn't miss one lol
EB and 1. Nice re-post.
Iverson diming like a fiend. I want to see more of him and Brand two man game
3 assists on 12 baskets, NO ONE is 'diming' like a fiend
Well, Iverson had all 3 at that point :)
Wow, just wow. You don't have to love the Iverson pickup to appreciate the players on the floor.
It takes injuries for us to have a productive lineup on the floor.
not to say that jordan is doing a good job but, I get putting a small lineup with rad being PF, Jrue could guard monta ellis. I just hope that brand gets good minutes
AI9 to the locker room. Carney in before Green, must be an injury to Willie.
A.I is kicking ass.
I thought Iverson had two injuries? He's scorching. Still the toughest player in basketball.
I can't wait for this Iverson nonsense to end
Ugly shot by EB, drops. You might not want to leave Morrow open in the corner.
GREAT MOVE BY THAD
In other news, Jrue Holiday is Eric Snow on Steroids.
Really pretty drop pass from Jrue to EB for an elbow jumper.
This ain't the Houston game, Golden State SERIOUSLY sucks.
Big first quarter, up 36-24. It wouldn't be a quarter of Sixers basketball w/out a 20-foot jumper from Willie.
Looking forward to the 3rd quarter collapse - aren't you?
It's a shame that blog name is already taken.
come on - you're thinking it too - i mean they started off strong against houston too :)
We can have fourth quarter collapse. Remeber the Boston game?
Dre is 0-7 with 2 turnovers in 9 short minutes.
Please shop him Ed, he is one of the few pieces to use that can make us better. If not, put him back at his natural position and have Thad be the sixth man. Or, just get a bonafide 2 in here from the Dre trade. Something Ed, something.
Uh, he was 0-7 at his "natural" position. Solid logic, though.
Can we trade some of the posters to philly.com for some tastykakes?
Yes, that 0-7 line in tonight's first quarter conclusively settles the question of what Iguodala's future with this team ought to be.
Sort of seems as if EJ made multiple smart calls with playing time tonight, almost as if someone's telling him what to do.
Thad abusing Randolph. Hilarious.
Don't look now but they jhave Willie "Chucker" Green and Royal "I ain't royal" Ivey in the game. But it looks like that doesn't matter as GS is putrid.
So are the sixers...nice to see you've learned some things
Monta Ellis is 1 for 6
The rest of the warriors are 8 for 16
I wonder why that is
That first quarter, and just about every other game Iggy's played. He's barely an average shooter, he can't finish. Unlike Brand and Thad, who have numerously shown an ability to actually finish in traffic.
I'm sorry, Iggy's a SF and a mediocre one.
Iguodala was the #1 finisher in the league last season, ahead of LeBron. Any other thoughts?
Finishing as in dunks? Come on, all you have to do is watch the game dude. Thad's taking contact, getting to the rim. Iggy is getting stopped mid way through the drice.
Don't feed the troll
Here's the link, if you don't believe me.
You may feel more comfortable commenting at Philadunkia.com.
yea and dampier is the 5th lol
Definitely Dedicated.
Welcome.
Um, where do all Iguodala's fairly efficiently scored points come from if he can't shoot and can't finish? He has an offensive game, it's just not conventional, pretty, or good enough one for him to quite be your go-to guy.
BTW, on non-dunks and times where he doesn't get to the line, Iguodala is actually a fairly inefficient finisher. his body control has never been great. I'll come up with the #'s from synergy when I get back if you wish to debate it. Maybe i'll make a post at phillyarena about it.
56.5% on non-dunk inside shots last season, according to 82games.com
41.4% this year, 47.5% in '06-'07, 49.3% in '07-08.
By comparison, Young this year is 59.7%, last year 60%, his rookie 57.5%
last year was an anomaly.
I think some of it is because he goes through prolonged periods of driving to "get the call" as opposed to finishing, which is all Thad focuses on.
He doesn't have the body control or touch thad has. Never has. It's actually improved. I actually like the fact that he looks for the call because of that.
Yes, but there are periods where he seems to play "for the call" as opposed to just finishing with power and aggression.
Also Andre Miller give a lot of aley oops and good passes down low for Iggy and Thad to finish. But, Thad has done it without him
EB, 9 points in 6 minutes. Get used to the bench, big guy.
AI9 had a rib contusion.
Ivey can't handle Ellis, get Jrue back in there.
damn carney can't hit anything lately
Carney's a rhythm guy who needs a set routine and role. This weird rotation ain't helping
Carney just isn't very good which is why the sixers got him cheap
That's a part of it, though I remember he became at least a rotational capable player once Mo had a steady routine and in Minny
drive*
LOL Willie
Key: LBJ 3pt plays: in the 90's. Iggy: 40.
That means LBJ actually finishes with CONTACT. More dunks, does not a finisher make.
LeBron also gets BS calls as well, meanwhile Dre gets mugged, "misses" w/o calls. You might try actually thinking the game for a bit.
That was "Showtime" as interpreted by Ivey-Green...
Heh.
Jrue is good.
Holiday's p&r is f'ing gorgeous. So good even Sammy can't screw it up.
Love the Volleyball Spike dunk at the end. Just emphasizing how small GS is.
Christ, this pace is too fast. Tough to keep up w/ rotation chart, watch game and comment here.
Jrue Holiday is SMEXY.
smother D by Holiday. He frustrates people.
I hope he gets 20+ from here on out.
Beginning of the end here?
I have confidence they'll blow it in the 3rd.
They've played good D, especially holiday on Ellis, but I can't see it lasting.
j r u e
Jrue Holiday is better at finishing then Iggy.
My 7 year old niece is better at thinking than you
YOUNG is abusing anyone who guards him
Dre's ankle combined with his rib seemed to be really bothering him tonight
I have a project for halftime.
BTW, Brand played 7 minutes, 4/4 from the floor for 9 points. And done for the half.
I'll give Jordan this: At least we're not the Warriors. That team looks to be in disarray.
I don't think I've ever seen Thad this aggressive. Good. They don't have anyone who can defend him.
He's got 23 on 15 shots in the first half.
I like that they keep feeding him, which is key. Now, saying that, would I be surprised if they iso Sam and run AI/Sam screen-rolls all 3rd Quarter? Nope
I believe Thad likes the matchups he's seen so far.
10/14 for 21 points in the first half. Never seen him this aggressive for this long.
Well, pretty much an excellent first half for everyone but AI9, as much as you could hope for. Up 14, let's see what happens in the third. Worth noting, GSW only attempted 6 threes.
Thaddeus Young: Thanks for being such a hard worker and a genuine baller.
Willie smells blood
Can we not get out of hand with the Jrue Holiday stuff. link
Let's wait till he isn't a terrible NBA player...
Curry was the 7th pick of the draft and is nearly 3 years older than Jrue. Everyone (including Jrue's mother) knew he was more ready to contribute than Jrue. And Jrue outplayed him tonight.
I agree that Iguodala's not such a great non-dunking finisher, but he dunks so much that it more than balances out, you know? I don't even like the guy at all but one feels compelled to defend him when people suggest he's what's pulling us back.
Others may have made such suggestions, but I, myself, haven't. He's not pulling us back BUT he IS the piece with the most value (sans contract, of course) to make us better. And free up money in the short and long term to boot.
AI3 has to be the last Sixer to score 40, right?
Yeah, has to be.
Goal is to build the best starting 5 on the floor. Thad's our SF. We don't have a SG. There just so happens to be some solid SG prospects in the top-10 of this year's draft.
Use our top 3-5 pick on a franchise-altering big, and get a legit SG with it. With M-16/Brand we'll be set.
Please give it up. Your theory is flawed & unnecessary. How about they use their likely high pick for a legit defensive anchor who can replace Dalembert, while sending Jrue to the Mark Price shooting camp every single summer for the rest of his rookie contract. Shooting issue solved.
Not everyone who goes to that camp becomes a great shooter, you know.
True. Herb Magee is local and could help too.
Don't want to be negative but Thad should do this to a terrible defensive team when he's playing the 4. Great job by him though. Still, this season all comes down to getting a definitive answer on him playing the 3 with AI9 at the 2. This game does not answer that question, but his aggressive mentality is great. That's the only damper on a great 1st half performance by Thad.
Apparently the warriors coach told them to shot a lot of threes
It feels like we're playing ourselves.
1/10, including being blocked by Mikki Freaking Moore. And yet, Jason Kapono hasn't gotten a second of playing time.
really love how AI is playing, not forcing anything, getting foul and taking good shots
Jrue playin great defense on Ellis and when Ellis gets by him someone is helping out
Allen Iverson :).
the 2009/10 philadelphia 76ers: at least we're not the warriors
They should put that on the programs at the wach.
This looks a little too easy for Jrue. Better get Willie in there.
Well, at least they got up by 27 before they started settling for 20-foot jumpers.
You know, I don't know about Holiday vs. Lawson, but I'm very confident Holiday will be a better player than Steph Curry. How fortunate we are that we weren't high enough in the draft to avail ourselves of his overrated shooting and defensive sieve services.
Heh. He can shoot and pass, the defense does look porous.
He can shoot but I don't know that he's the world-class shooter he was supposed to be. And his passing is probably the best part of his game but turnovers are a problem.
He's young, and I don't think that's exactly a good system for a guy to learn to be careful with the ball, or with his shot selection.
That's Willie for ya. Jumper on the break with guys on each wing.
Well, if you're gonna win, may as well win by 50.
Iverson's quote from the other night is kind of cracking me up, "The next win we get is going to be the hardest win ever. We're going to fight for it."
Garbage Time is in his element.
i didn't catch the 1st half. any reason brand isn't playing?
Jordan just doesn't like him.
yea kind of figured. at least holiday started and not green
holiday should have finished that himself
Willie blows the assist for Jrue. That's probably the proper pass, but not when it's Wilie.
Curry for three.
def. 3 seconds on willie.
Wow, 11 points for the Warriors in the third quarter. That +15 is going to completely throw off the match from my post earlier today.
Why didn't Kapono shoot that?
because he's a stiff and only takes wide-open threes so he can keep his % up.
Gotta love the hot potato to Dre there. Make the guy w/the bad rib take a hurried bailout shot. Brilliant play there
If you compare Jrue and Monta, they aren't close. Jrue has been a terrible pro thusfar.
Ones been a pro for a while one's been a pro for a few months and jerked around by his coach.
Jrue Holiday made Monta Ellis his BITCH tonight - and everyone who has a clue knows it.
Atta boy Willie. 20-footer from behind the backboard with 23 left on the shot clock.
Well, at least Jordan's nice enough to get EB some garbage time minutes.
The main reasons they are winning is because the Warriors(w/o Biedrens) are the only team in the L that the Sixers still outsize when they go small.
Plus GS went cold. But EJ will take all the credit, I'm sure.
harmony and effort, no doubt.
I almost cannot wait for his pat-on-the-back PC
Vlad leads GSW with 5 boards. Hilarious.
-9 since Willie came in, by the way. Brand gets virtually no run in the second half either.
is this the 1st game all season where they've been able to rest their starters in garbage time?
Somehow, Thad still ended up with 40 min, even though they started the quarter up 30
Nah, they got blown out at least once, right?
Nice of EJ to find 16 minutes for Brand. Even in a blowout he finds a way to say fuck you to EB.
Alright, anyone who gets the presser, leave a comment with the highlights. Glad it didn't reach 13, I guess. GSW is just pitiful and I'm not sure how much of a difference Biedrins and Azubuike can possibly make.
Biedrens, at least, might mean you don't get blasted 59-26 on the glass.
Warriors still shot 50% from deep, though. This game is such an aberration, yet I am so sure EJ will use it as a "roadmap" for future success.
it may be his road map for the future, but there sure as hell won't be success.
I forgot that Turiaf is out too. So was Nellie. And this was the classic "last-game-opposite coast-trip-Getaway game" for GSW. Talk about a Perfect Storm.
So, of the Sixers 6 wins, 3 came against bad teams that were the walking wounded when they met them.
Best part of the game- Jrue's D on Ellis.
Strange game to mention defense with these two teams...
Yep. That and the domination on the glass meant victory. I like Thad's increased rebounding efforts of late. Iguodala's nagging injuries are concerning
So - I didn't watch the game.
23 points first half
3 points second half
HUH?
Pretty much garbage time midway through the 3rd.
I never do this but I have to in this situation. You have been nothing but negative this entire game. That's fine if you have facts to back it up or someone who you are criticizing is playing poorly, but you have blindly been calling everyone out for no reason. Im not sure if your comment is sarcastic but I have to say, you are an idiot. If you didn't watch the game you shouldn't be commenting. If you did watch the game, you must be blind, because when people have been playing well, you completely ignore it because you haven't liked them in the past (obviously I'm talking about Iverson) and you have an axe to grind with them, and you can't give them credit when they play well. You blatantly ignore it and just sound like a complete amateur. It's one thing to be a depressed fan, it's another thing to be a depressed idiot. Pathetic.
um... okay...
You just wanted to rant for no apparent reason huh? I asked a simple question that would confuse anyone who wasn't able to watch the game, derek gave me a simple answer that made sense, you on the other hand felt that like many you had to take a personal shot at me.
Actually he contributed in other ways . He took a couple of charges,created turnovers,and he created for others( included jrue ). There are things that the box score just don't show.
If Thad can continue his play of the past couple of weeks maybe an Elton/Marreese combo allows this team to always have some toughness out there.A lightbulb seems to have gone off in Thad!s head ,similar to the run of games last year, prior to his injury.He had a nice block and seems to be playing more physical lately. On a night when Morrow, Curry and Ellis were on the court, we had the best young guard out there, sweet !!!
If i wanted a serviceable 4 i'd have gone out and gotten Antonio Mcdyess or something. Brand just isn't the player he used to be, I can't stand EJ but don't put all the blame on Brands situation on him. 80 million folks, 80 million....
11 points and 7 boards in 17 minutes for Brand, coming off a 19 point/10 board game. He's playing well.
Brian, it is a nice problem to have but which way would you go if the choice was this; Elton or Jrue starting?
If it's Elton or Jrue, I'd go with Jrue. That shouldn't be the choice, but the odds of the Sixers competing in the length of Brand's contract have basically been reduced to zero thanks to the choice of Eddie Jordan as coach, so I want as many minutes as possible for Jrue.
Here's a novel idea, how about you start Holiday and Brand and Iverson grows the frack up?
Oh wait, that's never going to happen