We were robbed, as fans, when Tyreke Evans missed the Sixers/Kings game on the wrong coast last month. Tonight, the basketball gods will make it up to us.
This is probably the individual matchup I'm most looking forward to this season. I'm not sure why, I mean, Tyreke Evans is a very, very good player, but he's not the best. He's only a rookie. Still, there's something about the Iguodala vs. Evans matchup that intrigues me and even excites me.
Evans is averaging 20.5 ppg on solid shooting (45% overall), but his offensive game is really about one thing, getting to the rim. An amazing 50% of his field goal attempts come at the rim (8.3/16.6 per game). The only other point in the league able to boast that ratio is Rajon Rondo, but unlike Evans, Rondo isn't the focal point of his team's offense and every opponent's defense.
Evans and Iguodala are cut from the same cloth. Both great all-around performers. Both limited by their jump shots. Both strong as a bull and tenacious as a wolverine (Wolverine? Eh, I'll run with it). They're pretty much the same size, perhaps Tyreke is a bit thicker.
Their numbers are eerily similar.
I'm pretty sure Iguodala will get the nod to man up on Tyreke, possibly Jrue will take a turn as well. No one else on the Sixers has a prayer of containing him. I'm hoping Westphal will give us the pleasure of seeing Evans guarding Iguodala on the other end, though I'm not sure he'll have that luxury.
If you didn't know by now, Evans and Iguodala embody my favorite type of NBA player and I'm counting down the minutes until I can see them go at each other.
Full preview coming after 5pm, just wanted to give you guys something to brighten up your Friday afternoon. Forget Eddie Jordan tonight, forget Ed Stefanski, forget wins and losses. Just sit back and enjoy 'Reke vs. AI9.
Not sure if anything new has come out today but reports were that kevin martin would be playing tonight as well
Iguodala on Evans would make sense, so i think were gonna see AI guarding him instead. Might as well waste Iguodalas perimeter defense on omri casspi, that way evans can blow by our crappy guards and get to the rim all day. haven't been blown out in a while, i think tonight could get ugly, gonna need a lot of harmony and effort to get through this one.
Rotoworld is confirming that Martin will play (and start) tonight...
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Great. So that means AI/Lou will have to guard one of Martin/Evans.
Great.
I also disagree about 'Reke and Iguodala being the same type of player. Similar in that they're very good all around with weak jump shots? Yes. But Tyreke's much better at beating his man off the dribble and finishing in the lane. I think Tyreke, already, is a better offensive player, with Iggy getting the clear edge defensively at this point.
If only there were some simple way around that that didn't upset Allen Iversons need to start or Eddie Jordans love of Iguodala at the 3 and Thad at the 4 to start a game.
I mean, it would take some kind of nook-ee-lar scientist to solve such a conundrum I think.
They're similar in what they do and don't do well. Evans is better at getting to the rim, Iguodala is the better jump shooter, but they're still similar. Drivers who don't shoot particularly well. Iguodala's also a better assist man on the offensive end.
Apparently Westphal said 15-20 minutes for Martin, which is a good thing for us. Wonder if he'll be able to get through the game without breaking something.
Do Iverson / Williams ankles count?
The scary thing about Evans is that his jumper is such a liability. That sling-shot release is as ugly as they come. I saw him play plenty of times in high school and he was so dominant that his jumper would fall every once in awhile and he could get away with it. Now that he's reached the pros, I'm shocked that he's still very effective with the same ugly shot. Now it's a matter of refining it and when (I don't think it's a matter of 'if'), he'll be unguardable.
Seeing Evan!s effect on the Kings should give us hope; could a [Johnson,Henry?] have a similar effect on our team ? And imagine if Okl. City took Evans, that couldv!e been close to Michael and Scotty with Westbrook also !!
I'm actually liking Avery Johnson and Xavier Henry just as much as Wall. (you may have been talking about Wesley though) Still want to see more of all three though.
Oops, meant Avery Bradley.
Neither Johnson or Henry are going to have that effect until their handles improve. significantly.
So who exactly should we be looking for with our #9 pick?(or even #15 if we make the playoffs)
Looking at the standings, if we string together enough empty wins to sneak into the 8th seed with about 35 wins then they likely would still have the 10th or 11th worst record in the NBA, but still end up picking at #15 due to making the playoffs (which excludes you from the lottery.) Good stuff!