The powers that be in the Sixers organization can finally count themselves lucky. It looks like LeBron James will be playing tonight, which will probably mean the final decent crowd packed into the Wachovia Center of the season. Yes, that is how far this once proud franchise has fallen. A visiting superstar's health is the only thing that could salvage a decent gate. Preview and game thread after the jump.
Marreese Speights is out again with that knee injury. Here are your reasons to watch:
- Jrue vs. Mo Williams - If you remember the last time these teams met, Jrue completely shut down Mo Williams in every way imaginable. It was a Sixers loss, obviously, but it was great to see the defensive clinic Jrue put on. Jrue's defense has slipped recently, which I guess is to be expected when the team plays this sloppy brand of basketball, but I expect Williams to remember and we may see a nice showdown.
- LeBron James - If you don't get a chance to watch LBJ play much, forget about his scoring. He's dominant, that's clear. He's efficient, that's also clear. The thing I like most about LBJ's game, though, is his passing. He may just be the best passer in the game. He sees angles no one else (outside of maybe Nash and Chris Paul) sees, and he makes devastating cross-court passes that decimate poor fundamental defenses that don't rotate and/or over-help. He should have plenty of opportunities to make those passes tonight.
- Jodie Watch - Big Ed has spoken. Slow Eddie has listened, sort of, and we've seen about 7 minutes of action for Jodie Meeks spread over garbage time in the past two contests. I'm hoping we'll get to see a little more of him tonight. I'm also hoping that the whole team doesn't focus on getting Meeks jumpers, like they have been in the past two when he's been on the floor.
This is your game thread, I'll be here throughout so join me if you kind of wish the other team was your team.
Comcast COO Peter Luukko said chances are "not good" that Eddie Jordan will be fired this weekend.
I choose to read that as there is a chance he'll be fired this weekend :)
Where did that info come from Tom?
That's what he told me.
Sorry for the delay in getting back, but wireless courtside is spotty.
LeBron James pregame: "It didn't matter if it weas Sixers or my son's team -- I was playing tonight."
I love the respect the Sixers command around the league :)
oops, sorry -- doesn't matter if it was the Sixers
im rooting for the wizards tonight vs the pistons. they are terrible and i can see them losing the remainder of the games and staying below the sixers.
( ) = games behind sixers
wiz (-1) vs pistons (-1)
pacers (-2) vs boston
knicks (-1) vs grizzlies
kings (-1.5) vs blazers
great if we can get 1 or 2 other wins in addition to qiz/pistons
Jordan on Meeks not playing: "You'd like to get him in there maybe three minutes to go in a quarter or a half or if you're up a lot. But right now, when we're down and have a deficit, I still want to go with our guys to show that we're still fighting. You know what happens when you put in a rookie in with maybe four to go and you're down 15 and you give him some minutes. ... I've talked to him and he's going to get some minutes. But we don't want to give him minutes at the expense of the feeling this game is over with."
He has no problem giving Kapono meaningful minutes, though. Which I find odd. Nothing signifies a game is over more than JK out there wasting oxygen.
Kapono has been here all season and he knows the plays...how can you possible expect Meeks to pick up such a nuanced complicated system in so short a time?
Heh.
"You stand here. Then you run here, accept the dribble handoff. If you don't have a contested 20-footer, you wait for the other guard to come over, then you give him a dribble handoff. OK, now you do the same thing all over again."
for en entire 4th quarter.
James pregame: "I think the Celtics are bored right now. They're so experienced. It seems like they're ready for a new challenge (the playoffs)."
So diplomatic
He'll be motivated to smoke them if he sees them.
And we're off. Same starting lineup.
James fouls Iguodala on deep two, I believe.
The refs may not get out of here alive if LBJ has to sit because of early foul trouble.
Well, Iggy's winning the LeBron matchup so far :)
Iguodala's concentration is shit right now. FT% is taking a nosedive.
Jrue got caught on a back screen, three for Mo Williams.
JH to AI9 for the oop. Nice.
Jordan- "I'd like to guard LeBron and give up open threes."
He basically said that and it's what we're seeing. EB off to a nice start.
Sounds like a defense he'd devise. God I hate this guy.
Which broadcast do you have, because Zumoff basically said that he said that (no kidding those exact words) on the Philly one.
Isn't it funny when people stutter when quoting something EJ says?
I'm watching Philly broadcast, must not have been paying attention when he said that.
They called a foul on that? Garbage.
I love how Elton Brand just moves out of the way of Hixon's dunk. The team clearly has packed it in, he would have contested that earlier in the season.
Sixers bigs are doing quite a job in the start. I wish AI9 would have went up with that drive.
Wow, huge jam by Lou.
Jrue is all over the place.
This is fun to watch and all, but raise your hand if you think the Sixers are going to keep scoring like this. No defense is being played by the men in white.
At this point, I'll take the unselfish offense and be happy.
I loved Jrue and Lou's sequence on those 2 possessions. Great look for Jrue and Lou's dunk was semi on LeBron.
Great ball movement for the AI9 three. Sammy out of the post to Jrue to AI9. Four assists for Jrue.
Nice drive by Lou there. Thought he might settle.
Cleveland is raining threes.
Jrue letting Mo get in the paint for a kickout Parker three, then a dribble off his leg for a tunrover back down. ugh
Good lord, I don't usually comment on other guys positively, but LeBron is so specal.
Yep, that's your ballgame.
I thought Jrue did the right thing, getting the ball out of LeBron's hands there, but West made the tough floater.
i wonder what it feels like to be a 50 win basket ball team
"it's not unusual to see me cry, i wanna die...."
So what Sammy did was a moving screen, but what Varejao did on the other end wasn't?
We got a guy who can dunk too!!!
that had to be either a travel or a 3 second, or both.
Iguodala seems amped on the offensive end. Zum just creamed his pants.
AI9 seems to have the touch tonight, looks like more of a Rudy Gay effort than his type of good.
Thad on LeBron is a joke. He should get one point every time he scores on Thad.
god dammit the fans are cheering lebron like he's on the sixers i hate that. i know it's lebron but i can't stand it when people cheer for people on other teams, regardless of how good they are.
My exact feelings, exact, after that throwdown by LBJ.
You're right...how dare they cheer quality basketball.
They should all be killed
Yeah, Iguodala's on.
That's right. Show some effing effort!
But apply that same fast break effort to the defensive end.
he did. he fouled lebron, then got the rebound on the 2nd free throw =)
Heh. God I'd love to see this team playing games that mattered on a regular basis.
seems like iguodala is a little pissed people came to see lebron and not him :)
Wow, that was a fun first quarter. No defense whatsoever, but some exciting hoops nonetheless. Iguodala finally woke up.
Wach is still buzzing over those dunks
Down by 2 after the first, 34-36.
Iguodala has 16 points on 7 shots, 4 or 5 dunks, I lost track.
Wow, Iggy has 16 freakin points after one quarter.
And Iggy should play like this is his house every single damn night. He does appear to have this 'personal' look tonight. Why he's so moody with his play is maddening to me.
I've heard he's concerned about that too
You sure seem to be...
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense there, as much as being upset at people who pay to go to a game for enjoying it...no matter what they enjoy.
Or lusting after COle ALdrich, future bench player
yeah you are right. its silly to think a guy with great fundamentals all around, a dominant defensive game, and great footwork and offensive ability might be a good NBA player. because this draft is so stacked and we have so many better options. but yet you hang your johnson on michael beasely who has already failed.
and by, the way, evan turner is a lark. but i guess i have to admit he is clutch after that shot today
Wow, EB going after a defensive board.
Thad can have his way with Hickson. He's too skilled for Hickson to guard him so far out.
Good foul by Carney.
I was checking the other day, Carney's rebounding numbers aren't bad per 36 minutes this season.
This lineup has played the best defense of the night, shockingly. I guess LeBron hasn't been in so that explains it, but if they hold their ground, it's a win.
That was Lou's fault on the gamble, but why the hell did Sammy not contest that dunk?
Ah, it was going to be his 3rd, which he just picked up anyway.
Four incredible highlight-film plays in first quarter.
Fan across from Cavs bench is holding a blue LeBron "6" Knicks jersey.
That's anti-Sixers on a couple of different levels.
This lineups is extremely tough to watch.
LBJ coming back in, I think the Sixers better make some subs as well.
Come on Pacers. Tied early in Boston.
As good as LeBron is, he could have even more points if he would finish some of the baskets when he's fouled.
Jrue coming back.
This is probably pointless at this point of the season, but anyone notice how rarely EB gets calls when he gets fouled on the inside? That dunk should've been an & 1. Happens all the time, I think because he's earthbound they just never give him the whistles.
I noticed that too, Moon fouled him on that play. Hickson got breathed on his highlight dunk and a foul was called.
On that replay, boy how I wish we set screens like that.
Coaching, my friend.
Execution, my partner.
Fundamental execution.
Lack of fundamentals is instilled by coaching, the argument goes on and on...
Implementing fundamentals properly is willful of the player. And it continues...
Good bounce pass Jrue.
Wow, great pass by Jrue, great lefty finish by Lou.
EB all over the glass.
Lou returned the favor to Jrue. Great find.
Come on Elton, cut the paint off there.
OK, so it's a pick-and-roll with LeBron and Varejao. How the fuck does Lou wind up on LeBron after the pick is set? I seriously can't figure that out.
LBJ has the yips at the line.
Rewind it on DVR, one of the weirdest things I've ever seen. Varejao and Parker in the corner being covered by Brand/Lou and as soon as AV goes to set the pick EB yells "That's you Lou" and Lou goes after him. That's gotta be scheme.
Dag, we can finally put up a score, but can't stop opponent from that said score. Ahhh..... the life, the life...
All told, a very good first half for the Sixers. Down by 4 at the break.
EB and AI9 both have 16. Jrue has 4 points, 2 boards, 6 assists, 1 turnover. Lou has 6 points, 3 boards, 4 assists and only 1 turnover.
Hope the second half is exciting...and the Sixers lose.
jrue with the steal on lebron!
Good work by Jordan at halftime.
7-0 run to start the third for CLE. Do the Sixers fold here, or do they fight back a little?
Nice drive and a tough jumper by AI9. Need some friggin' stops.
Parker you bitch.
Nice flop Parker you punk. AI9 is not openly stepping back on his jumpers which is good. He's much more effective shooting straight up.
Nice defensive play by Lou there.
EB is getting great looks but he's been short on a few recently. Looks like earlier in this season.
Big lineup, second game in a row.
SD, EB, TY, AI, JH
Wow, they score on a inbounds play.
Great play by EB to hit Sammy on the oop.
No foul there? Come on.
That's a freakin foul on LeBron! Come on, that's and end one if the jerseys were different.
Yup. No bout a doubt it.
agree. the refs have been obvious shady all night. esp when AV traveled multiple times on that lack of post move.
Great read by Thad on the steal. EB with another one an old man finish.
"Old man finish." :)
Wow. Two big steals and finishes for EB and TY. Big lineup paying dividends.
Dammit, win this darn game. Give these folks that love dunks, whether the team, something to go home cheering about.
lol. and even though EB made that last one, he looked elderly on that one too, just he appeared to got lucky that AV mistimed his jump.
Iguodala's (and the Sixers' team focus)defense on LBJ was EXCELLENT that quarter.
"(and the Sixers' team focus)":)
OK, up by 1 heading into the fourth. The big lineup was really giving Cleveland problems. Wonder if Jordan will stick with it.
20,433 announced attendance
Damn, he blew the whistle on that contact on Jrue? you dont say...
That was on clearly on Jrue not Varejao. wow
Haha, Jrue gave that bum Varejao a bow right to the face.
I like the drive, I really like drawing the foul, I absolutely LOVE elbowing that bitch in the face while drawing the foul.
Only 8 free throws at home, huh?
Thad, blowingbunnies.com.
Pinck - "he was pushed". ah, go eat some peanut butter Thad and lift a few.
Fuck, Thad. God damnit.
EB!
I know Thad blew that dime from Jrue, but he got fouled.
Still, has anyone noticed how active Thad is on defense tonight? He's all over the place, getting a ton of deflections.
Stupid timeout if you ask me. Fucking dumb. You have the god damned momentum.
Yeah, I don't know, Jrue and Iguodala are making plays. I feel as if they score there, the Cavs take a 20.
I think he needed to call a timeout to put Lou and Willie in. Or maybe Kapono.
Hmm the old man is 12-18, 24pts with 8 boards.
It is great to see Iggy matching LeBron stride-for-stride in this one.
Looking at the box score, trying to figure out why we're winning this game. Turnovers is all I could come up with. We have 4, they have 11.
and we would be smoking them if in weren't for the three's they've made
Threes and trips to the charity stripe.
Sick play drawn up in the timeout by Jordan.
ROFL
I'm dying at how Jrue was playing Rock Band hahahahaa. How was he so calm? I'm always really rushed.
Get Sammy in for Smith. Jesus, on both ends he's screwing up.
question - who was responsible for that made three by Mo W.? ( i missed it )
Didn't see. I got the feeling it was one of those 4 guys going to help, no one accounting for the man in the corner. Probably Jrue's man.
come one man, seriously. Or were you? I really wanted to know...
I was being serious, I was typing something didn't see it. that was my guess.
ok cool
Smith, he wanted Iguodala to switch with him unnecessarily when Dre was glued to LBJ. He got stuck and let Mo drift.
apprec...
Damn, Sam. come on
Damnit. Great fucking job w/ that timeout. There goes all the momentum.
and Sam with the more often times than not no pass out after the o-board. Ohhhh, Iguodala almost went in
and he subsequently missed both of them. shit.
A couple of off-balance shots there when I think they could have gotten to the hole.
Damnit, Willie for Thad.
0/2 from the line, ugh.
Three balls killing us, what else is new.
Jamario Moon though? When could he shoot? I guess everyone lights up when they see Jordan.
i thought you wanted to lose? :)
I do, but it's really tough to root for when I'm watching.
Make these now Dre. Damn.
8-0 run for Cleveland after EJ called a TO after we took the biggest lead of the night!!!! Please stop this!!!
Zum: "that's what the people came to see!!!" (after another throwdown by CLE)
No Mark, not if I was there. Never.
Good foul Sam, even though its number 5.
WTF HE GOT KILLED!!!!!
Amazing what a packed house and a top team can do for these guys effort and confidence. Amazing.....
Dalembert's done. Varejao is a flopping cunt.
Who gets to take the 3? Iggy pullup from 30 maybe?
Fucking bitch Varejao, acting job. That's a yellow card in soccer for flopping.
I hate those bastards: Mo Will, Varejao, West, Shaq and LeBon.
I am so going to enjoy it when they lose in the playoffs.
Big play by Thad there.
Man should Jrue have went under the screen there on Mo? I mean, he can't drive past Jrue off a screen can he? He should have went over it, to me.
SCrew it being picky....the three is lower percentage than the breakdown of the defense.
I think the refs blow tonight. The Cavs flop and are rewarded with calls, the Sixers attack the rim and get killed yet get nothing.
Big shot Dre.
30 for AI9. Need about 6 more if this is gonna be a win.
Those refs more than blow tonight.
LeBroom's comeback. Gotta get him the win somehow. The headline was planned hours ago.
'LeBron leads Cavs past Sixers in return'
Willie in for crunch time? Cute.
Isn't it? Lou in now, which I guess is better.
Wow, jitterbug from Thad right there.
Nice, Thad gave that little half-fake to the left spin and finished with his right. Come on, need a stop.
who was it we use to label the whirling dervish?
SHit, come on Thad dont be scared of taking him....yeah he did take him and got fouled by someone else.
and taking LJ but he only makes one of two. Tank?
Fucker.
Fuck it. Put JK in and down three w/ under a min left. Put tankman in! lol
Real good defense by Iggy and Jrue at the end here. I had a sick feeling that hook shot from Williams would go in.
Get a quick two here.
I'll go with Iggy with an ugly 27-footer for the tie.
Ugh.
Down by 3. 24 seconds left on the clock. I like the quick two and then fouling better than the three to tie, giving it to LeBron for the win as the clock expires.
Fuck Jrue.
actually F, Jrue.
No shot. God damnit.
WTF Jrue! come on
The young pup needs to cut down those turnovers by next season
Bring in Kapono!
I want Jodie.
Yah, what happened to Jordan being forced to play Jodie?
Maybe he can go 0-2010.
Any ideas on how I can justify blaming Jrue's turnover on Coach Jordan?
Nah, just blame it on him being a 19-year-old rook.
Heh. Well, got two shots up that time, both bricks.
They played hard and came away with the important loss.
This tanking thing is not gonna work when the teams below us keep losing. =(
Well thanks guys, that was at least interesting. It's usually uneventful.
That 2 1/2 hours was well received guys. Such a reprieve from the season you're putting me through.
(shhhhh...although i'm kind of, but not really, glad you did lose...)
Can't complain about anything but late-game half-court execution. I thought Iguodala was spectacular, minus the last two shots.
Bonk! Clang!
Thanks for hanging in there, guys. I'd say this game buys Jordan another unless he says something dumber than usual in his presser.
My wrap will be up sometime late tonight or tomorrow.
They better let him finish it out.
After seeing this performance, they should - for the good their play showed, and, the losses that still ensue.
Please don't get rid of him, it's a welcomed recurring pattern at this point.
Holiday on his turnover with 21 seconds left and the Sixers trailing by three: "I was kind of indecisive. I saw Elton wide open, plain as day, and I saw Lou (Williams) and I threw it kind of in between ’em. I just made a bad play."
Brand scored 20 or more for the first time since Feb. 9.
While the turnover by Jrue was big, having your two best players not be able to run a basic two-man game with less than a minute to go was worse. It's Jrue's first season - he HAS an excuse.
Hard to expect Iggy and Brand to run that well when they haven't done it well for four months. I know that LB wouldn't tolerate that kind of execution, and the next coach (Laimbeer, Thibs, JVG) better not tolerate it either. Ironic that we can't expect a coach who only cares about offense to get his two best players to do better than that in the guts of the game.
I can't wait for this to end.
Jordan on Iguodala (30 points) and Brand (26) carrying the offense: "We had our leaders and our followers. That’s the way the world is. Our two best players took the bull by the horns and were aggressive."
wtf does that even mean? he speaks like a fucking high school english teacher or something.
He tries to be philosophical. He ends up just being ridiculous.
cmon man, can't we just fire this fucking guy already? What a waste of a season, I wish snider sold the team.
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a commercial for a bullet proof vest? fukn whakjob