You earned it. Another big bounce-back win for the Sixers, this time over the Houston Rockets, brings the nominal first half of the season to a close. The Sixers matched their win total from the entire 2009-2010 season by the All Star break. Somewhere, Eddie Jordan just shed a tear (while licking his braces).
Charts
Thoughts
- Unbelievable competition for player of the game tonight: Jrue, Hawes, Thad, Lou, Turner and Iguodala were all in contention. Iguodala gets the nod the back of the Sixers' second "pathetic" triple double of the season. He also manhandled Kevin Martin, holding him 14+ points below his season average on 33% shooting.
- Typically, this isn't the type of win I like. The Sixers simply out-scored a helpless defensive team, but never really put their foot down on the defensive end themselves. Heading into the break, though? I'm more than happy. Especially considering the effort they put on the floor in Memphis. Coming into this brief three-game road trip, 2-1 was what you were hoping for, and 3-1 is what you got.
- The Wizard, Darryl Morey, just tweeted that the Sixers scored 55 points in transition tonight. That seems obscenely high, but he is the Wizard, so I'll take his word for it. Wow.
- As far as I'm concerned, the most important games of the last six were the Atlanta game (following the Knicks loss, a road game against a tough team, on the heels of a pretty bad road loss), the T-Wolves game (second night of a back-to-back, with tough travel, on the heels of a win over the Spurs. Easy letdown game which would've had everyone screaming "fluke" had the Sixers lost it) and tonight's game against the Rockets (second night of a back-to-back, again on the heels of a pretty bad road loss, against a well-rested team, on the night before the All Star break. So many different excuses for losing this game.) The Sixers won them all. That's really a sign of a mature, focused team, intent on putting a stake in the ground on their way to the playoffs.
- Jrue, can't wait to see in the rooks vs. sophs challenge. Everyone else, get some rest. There's plenty of work left to be done.
Player of The Game: Igudoala, 13/12/10/4(steals)/1(turnover).
Team Record: 27-29
Up Next: Rooks vs. Sophs, then vs. WAS a week from tonight.
Game capsule
Thought Turner did a pretty good job when he was D'in up Kevin Martin too (especially not fouling on his drives). Thad kept us in it with his offense early. Jrue still turns the ball over too much and lost Lowry a few times but he still played a pretty effective game.
Another update from a "friend" on facebook.
talking about Iggy:
"He's alright just not what they were trying to make him out to be. They should trade him straight up for jj riddick"
This is what a portion of Philadelphia fans think of the best wing defender and solid stat stuffer in the game. They believe that JJ Reddick>Iggy. I am going to go throw up.
you need to pick smarter friends. he's probably the only one in the world who would say that.
Sadly I don't think that's the case. I know plenty of people (my dad being one) who absolutely hate Iguodala and just want to get rid of him because 'he's such a terrible shooter'. It's very frustrating.
Bob Cooney reported....
"A Western Conference source said that the Portland Trail Blazers are said to be looking at Sixers forward/center Marreese Speights.
As a proposed trade, the Blazers offered forward Dante Cunningham, a Villanova product, as well as a second-round draft pick.
The Sixers do not appear to be interested in such a move."
Don't know much about Cunningham, is he any good?
Nope, he's not good. But he went to Villanova, so you'll have some people screaming to make the trade.
Cunningham is worthless. He is an undersized PF. We already have enough of those.
Now if we can get Camby that's another story...
13% defensive rebounding as a power forward? He should be ashamed of himself. It's not like he's on the court with Camby all the time either. No wonder Portland wants him off the roster.
DID YOU SEE WHAT KYLE LOWRY DID TO THE SIXERS LAST NIGHT
Obviously Nova alumni are rocking.
It's kind of sad that Speights value in the league has dropped so low. Well done Douggie
The 2 names mentioned in trade rumors are Spieghts and Kapono so what possible return, as far as bigs, could that bring back?
Throw in Songaila and you have enough to get either Przybilla or Camby (I prefer camby)
If you could trade Battie and Nucioni for Haywood, would ya? Is he, defensively, enough to add 5 wins and maybe win a first round matchup?
No - haywoods contract is awful
I wouldn't because he's not worth the money he's owed. As far as I'm concerned there's only one guy who's been put on the trading block that would give the Sixers a serious shot to make a run in the playoffs.
That would be carmelo right?
Oh man, that just made me laugh. I really got to be careful what I say! :)
Just looking at our options, if we want to compete in the Iggy/Elton era, I don't see a better option that may be available. Haywood, after this year is owed 4 years at 8.7 avg. salary which is overpaying but is getting an upgrade over what we have and, most of all, may be available. His last year is a team option. He may turn this team into a top 5 to 8 defensive team.
He's terrible - he had a good year when he was trying to get a new contract - and he stinks this year
Believe me, I am not a big fan of his, but the pickings are bad.
Camby is a better option than haywood - contract wise too - hell kaman if available is a better option than haywood
Just because the pickings are bad doesn't mean you HAVE to pick - that's where teams sign bad contracts or make bad trades - if there isn't a deal out there you like you don't make a bad deal just to make one
Obtaining haywood is one of those types
Like you said yesterday, if they are not willing to pay the luxury tax, does it really matter? They have no shot at winning.
Whether or not the ownership is willing to pay the luxury tax is one thing - paying the luxury tax so you can obtain brandon haywood is just nuts
Haywood's defensive rating is 104 and his d rebounding is 19%. Camby has a 99 d rating and 35% rebounding. Which makes Haywood pedestrian and Camby an absolute star.
D.Howard is better than Camby, and probably just as gettable. If a comparison is in order Haywood versus Hawes defensively is the one that interests me.
Houston will probably get a quality big before us because of their assets. We are probably offering at best an 18 to 22 pick, Spieghts, and maybe an expiring. Does Collins even think of moving Young? I doubt it.
Is Kamen a better option? He seems to be a better offensive player than Hawes but does he help defensively? And he also makes 5 million more per season than Haywood.
We probably stand pat and bring in a cheap vet next year [Mohammed?] and choose between Hawes and Spieghts if they aren't willing to spend.
D.Howard is better than Camby, and probably just as gettable.
You really believe that huh?
His last year is a team option. He may turn this team into a top 5 to 8 defensive team.
They're #9 in DFR right now, so yeah, I'd say Haywood could move them up #8. Dream big :)
Heard there's little interest around the league in Kapono.
He has no value as a player, he has value as an expiring contract - when Portland faces the reality that Brandon Roy is not going to help them win anything but dumbest contract of the past 10 years - they might want to start shedding the money they can - saving 10 mil on Marcus Camby for a year might seems like a good idea. Songaila and Kapono are only in any deal as expiring contracts.
Sixers closing in on third straight winning month:
http://ow.ly/3YiJ1
Tom, I love all your snipets you provide, they give a good sense of the team's personality; question, how do you think the players feel about Spieghts, do they want him on the court with them?