It's amazing how similar these teams are. Similar, and sad, to be honest. Neither plays a lick of defense, neither can defend the three, neither can shoot the three. They each have middle-of-the-road offenses and bad defenses. Each is blessed with supreme athleticism on the wings. Each has a big center who they receive a ton of flack for signing/drafting. We'll break down the game after the jump.
Let's take a look at these matchups:
Lou Williams vs. Mike Conley - Lou is a far superior scorer to Conley, Conley dished out more assists but also turns the ball over nearly twice as much. Neither is shooting the three particularly well. Conley gets a big edge on D and keeping him out of the lane will be a priority tonight. Williams would probably turn in a better 40 time, but Conley definitely gets the edge in the triple jump.
Andre Iguodala vs. OJ Mayo - I heard people compare Mayo to Iguodala when he was coming out of college, I believe the statement Bill Simmons used was, "Like Andre Iguodala, but a better shooter." Well, Mayo may reach that level some day, but 2.6 assists per 36 minutes to go along with 1.9 turnovers/36 sure doesn't sound very Iguodala-ish. Iguodala has an inch or two on Mayo, and really shut him down when the teams met last season, including stoning Mayo on the final, deciding possession of the game. Iguodala tops Mayo in the weight room, Mayo takes the H.O.R.S.E. game, hands down.
Thad Young vs. Rudy Gay - I believe Jeff Van Gundy said it best on TNT last season, "Rudy Gay can't spell defense." In the past, he was a one-dimensional player, but a quick look at the stats leads me to believe he's added another half-dimension, he does a decent job on the boards. The hope around these parts was that Gay was Thad's floor, but right now, their numbers aren't even in the same building. Gay didn't get the extension he wanted, now he's taking it out on the box score. The players are so similar, they play a game of one-on-one that never ends. You have to win by two and neither is capable of getting a stop.
Elton Brand vs. Zach Randolph - Let's call this the karmic battle. If any power forward in the league deserves to miss two straight seasons, it's Zach Randolph. But, as these things usually work out, the nice guy gets screwed while Randolph waddles onto the floor night after night to fill up the box score and kill his team. If Brand shows 1/10th of the effort tonight he showed last game, that'll be about 10x the effort Randolph shows during most games. Brand wins the fight for any loose ball. Randolph wins the fight by sucker-punching a borderline NBADL player.
Marc Gasol vs. Sam Dalembert - Gasol has been a monster this season, Sammy is averaging the fewest minutes/game of his career. Sammy doesn't have the strength to keep the lesser Gasol from getting the position he wants, so he'll have to rely on his leaping ability to challenge shots on the inside. Luckily, Gay, Randolph and Mayo can't spell the word pass either. Dalembert's mohawk tops Gasol's beer gut/beard combo.
Hasheem Thabeet vs. Sam Dalembert - Not much to say here other than I really hope we get to see each of them try a post move on the other. That'll be worth the price of admission.
Willie Green vs. Jamaal Tinsley - A nice guy who doesn't belong in the league vs. a bad guy who doesn't belong in the lead. Who's the loser in this matchup? We are.
Key to The Game: Hmmn, how about this, let's put this game on the Princeton offense. Memphis is an atrocious defensive team, if the PO is worth its salt we should see good looks at the hoop. Fewer 20-foot jumpers with three left on the shot clock, a couple back doors for easy hoops. If __________________ the Sixers will win: The Sixers grab 10 offensive rebounds.
This is your game thread, I'll be right here at 7pm, join me if you can.
Just in case and Memphis fans find this post, here's some video to cheer you up.
His mechanics are off. something change from last year, earlier in the season his footwork was off, now the shot just looks herky-jerky. Need to get him back in the gym with that shot doctor they used last year.
I think this is more of blip though, w/ the jumper, no reason he should regress from three.
I think he just has a long ways to go before we'll get to see him ever beating guys off the dribble. Which means he's a role player at best at the 3 position at this point in his career.
I'm not a quick reaction guy, but Thad often makes me think I overvalue him. I thought he possessed more IQ and want-to. He was a smart kid in high school and at GT and is well spoken now, but.....I don't know.
Down by 6 after one. They just put up a 22 spot on the 2nd worst defense in the league. Funny, I still thought defense was a bigger issue.
4 starters played the entire first quarter, which means we're going to see major subs with the Sixers already trailing 22-28. Could get ugly. Luckily, MEM has no bench whatsoever.
Young still crafty around the basket. Would like to see him initiate contact instead of going through evasive maneuvers everytime he heads to the hoop.
notice Elton Brand is adjusting to EJ getting him the ball at the 3 point line? He's just keeping the ball more often and dribbling the ball closer where he's more comfortable. Not sure it's advisable against quicker PFs but against Zach Randolph's sagging D it's a pretty good strategy.
That was great defense by Jrue, rode Williams all the way go the baseline, didn't need any help, it came anyway, left Thabeet all alone under the hoop for a dunk.
Jrue has good will and want-to. But he just needs to rein it in some. He thinks he has to do too much to probably try to earn more minutes b/c he's frustrated. He gives you good plays but then seems to counter them eventually. Just young and it will come. But letting it come and calming down some would be beneficial.
A good way to make a 19-year-old skittish is to sit him for games on end, then yank him every time he makes a mistake and sit him for a couple more games.
Carney for three! 6/9 for the team, still losing. Unbelievable.
But to be truthful, it was more than one. He didn't finish on that drive, he settled for a three the defense looks to be giving, and he just seemed to lose him man a lot off picks and rotations.
The steal at midcourt was sweet and he almost picked another one that was thrown from the corner to underneath the basket that went out of bounds i think.
He shows spunkyness but just needs to be more controlled with it.
Agree about the three, didn't see him lose anyone on defense though.
I'm not saying I disagree with you, he needs to settle down, I just don't know how he's going to do that when he plays 4 minute stretches every third game.
When he lost his guy on two occasions I think, it didn't cause us to give up immediate points but he did get lost in the shuffle one time and the other I cant remember specifically.
Seriously, I feel strongly they are teaching him and coaching him off of tape a lot. You know they are. I feel your point and frustration, but I feel it is proper for them to hone him in and make him understand what he has been applying in practice, he just has to translate that to the real courts.
I don't know, I mean, I have less of a problem w/ Jrue taking an open three off the dribble with 7 seconds left on the shot clock than I do with Willie taking a contested 20-footer with 15 seconds left. I'd like to see what he does when he's given a chance to get into the flow of a game, rather than out there for 4 minutes, then done for the half, or probably the night.
I wish Rod would stop getting banged up b/c we need him to play more than Thad it appears. For the D end and shooting from deep and getting boards. Damn Thad, I hate I had to say that.
Have to be Gay, I suppose. Sam Young if they used him against their second unit. Neither is a good matchup, but you can't play against Peja every night.
I can't believe when people say that we don't look to be running the offense we have (and stop focusing so much on the 'Princeton' of it), b/c there is way more off-the-ball-movement and spacing. They just don't execute a lot of the sets properly or timely which makes it look like we're not running anything. There's more flares, more curls, more handoffs, many Triangle principles too. It just isn't understood, believed-in, or accepted right now. But with time that should come too.
I'm not sure you could possibly play that P&R worse, I'm also not sure why Willie and Smith are playing a two-man game when Iguodala and Kapono are on the floor.
EB had 3 rebounds in the first 3 or 4 minutes. He's now stuck at 4 for the game. Need him to control the glass in this quarter (assuming he gets back in the game).
EB had 3 rebounds in the first 3 or 4 minutes. He's now stuck at 4 for the game. Need him to control the glass in this quarter (assuming he gets back in the game).
He was....damn Rudy can just shoot...to hell with all that Thad floor or ceiling comparable to Rudy...i would love to have his shooting in this offense....defense notwithstanding
How can you not be down on Thad right now? The announcers are talking about him attacking the glass on the offensive end. How about getting a freakin defensive board just once.
I'm pissed too. But...... he does work for Ed too. The big Ed.
Son of a ........... i will be..........i should have known............wait i did..........
they will get better though.....no doubt...just kick Sam to the curb and get a serviceable five....growing pains this year for sure but criticisms aside, they have marginal talent to at least get by...which....isn't really the end result i desire as a fan.....it's been too long since they delivered excitement to my longest yearn....i welcome the day it returns............chip that is!
man, when i stopped watching it was 50-49 philly. Get home, get online, and they're losing. I really shouldn't be surprised, but I thought somehow they'd pull a win out tonight.
I have no clue about Thad and Sammy. I mean a trade for Sammy doesn't matter really. We might as well give him up if all he's good for is finishing games on defense.
The team defense would def have to be better to let him go. But a more dimensional five is vital in this offense. I don't like rash decisions but they have to try to use him to change something, anything. I want def rebounds as the ultimate priority, but he disrupts chemistry - on court chemistry, much less lockerroom chemistry.
I'm not complaining, just campaigning. It's more a hope than an actual reality, but still.
I'm not trying to kill Sam or make a rash decision, but he didn't play at all tonight and when he was out there he didn't do much. EJ likes him less and less as the season has kept going and we're just getting started.
I mean, if all he's going to contribute is some sporadic D and minimal smarts and fundamentals, he is useless. But not financially. Which is how they and the rest of the league are thinking. :(
No, what's up with you defending EJ when he's not even the main part of the discussion? If he is not going to play Sam, regardless of why, then we should try to shop him. Sam is not playing well, so I guess you want credit for EJ not playing him when he's bad? Well, OK, great job EJ!!!
Sam mostly. I mean he just doesn't come consistently with effort, that's all. The problem is, with Speights out, the options behind him are very limited. I'm not blaming EJ, but just saying that if Sam doesn't give us anything most nights and is playing less and less, then we should listen to the right offer. I just don't see why I need to praise him for playing Sam less and less. If he stinks, don't play him.
And I'm not defending EJ. I'm saying he should be given credit for finally showing this franchise that Sam has to depart. I love his controling the boards but he just depletes you in so many areas. I don't want shoutouts for EJ, it's more the team-concept oriented, b/c like has been said, the coach is going to be here for a while.
This team is all screwed up right now. Sad to say it, but all of these guys look like terrible fits (minus Lou, EB now and Iggy, even though that's just because he's a better player). Thad is the one that's a killer, he looks terrible. It's looking like the running is what made him more effective.
Exposed? As in like you saw him more? I mean he shot 54 and 49 percent running up and down, now he's at 42. He takes terrible shots offensively trying to break him man down. I mean, he did have Andre Miller, but I think his greatest aspect is as a finisher out on the break and he's not doing that nearly enough this year.
What? Saw him more?..... I meant exposed in the sense of the only way he is effective is if we run. Just like you said, I think.
He is surely young, but I don't know if he has enough of the dimensions needed to be successful night-in and night-out right now. He offers too little and that's without mentioning weaknesses whick need major work.
I was trying to figure that out too, I thought it was 4, but 5 is right.
He had that nice spin move, blew the layup. Then he missed the three. Then he got the steal and made the layup, then he had two drives that he missed. 5 shots is right.
And I don't care about the +/- b/c Primoz had to play 4 and J Smith 17. (although eventually, if not now, I want to see J Smith get more minutes). But Sam couldn't produce enough to keep those two off the court.
Don't know for sure, but the individual boards add up to 48-28, so I think 61-34 reflects total boards... and total embarrassment.
Again, you are getting killed on the boards but are tied- so you decide to go small the final 15 minutes? You can go Brand/Smith, Smith/Sam or Sam/Brand. Bit instead you put Kapono, Iguodala and then Thad at PF next to Brand as your 6'8" center???
Stefanski should be fired immediately for not signing AI. Oh wait, I forgot, wouldn't want to take away minutes from Lou and Willie. Who cares that the crowd is dead, selling tickets and creating a buzz is really not important. And I also forgot that AI will "corrupt" the team - wouldn't want to derail this juggernaut. And who would want to sign one of the franchises all time greats to a one year cheap deal so he can retire as a sixer instead of in disgrace. Makes me sick.
Sort of resembles the 2001 team other than the fact that AI can no longer carry a team and the coach is the anti LB when it comes to getting his team to play "the right way."
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Looking at the schedule ahead, better win this one.
Yup, late start for League Pass, missed the intro. Usual starting lineup, about to tip it off.
Brand on Gasol, Dalembert on Randolph to start.
Dala with his dishing cap on already.
Lou 4 Three. Nice drive and kick by AI9.
3 turnovers in the first 3 minutes and change. All unforced errors.
Make that four, that one was forced, on a foul actually.
Brand all over the boards. Lou should've dunked that layup that got blocked.
Two threes for Lou.
EB 2/2, nice baseline J there, arc looked better.
There's that extension and arc from EB.
Looked much better, right?
Track meet pace so far. Even with the whistles and turnovers.
Rudy Gay just blowing by Thad
Thad's handle looks like it's getting worse, not better.
He just makes me cringe when he starts to dribble or create. And his jumper just doesn't look like it will ever show improvement, esp from three.
His mechanics are off. something change from last year, earlier in the season his footwork was off, now the shot just looks herky-jerky. Need to get him back in the gym with that shot doctor they used last year.
I think this is more of blip though, w/ the jumper, no reason he should regress from three.
Yeah, I thought Ed said they were def going to add a coach of that nature, right? I wish they would keep the guy on staff at home and on road.
Thad and Lou could really use one. Well the whole team but those two considering the minutes they get.
3/3 for EB, another jumper.
EB's letting that elbow extend tonight, with another one.
zumoff just said he's not surprised both teams are shooting high percentages because "both teams have high powered capabilities"
more like both teams are horrific defensively.
Makes you wonder if he knows anything about basketball when he says something like that.
Apart from that game against Washington, Thad has been so bad this season. To think I was so high on him in the first two seasons.
It's early and he's young. He had a bad stretch last year as well. I'm less concerned w/ the offense from him than I am w/ rebounding/defense.
I think he just has a long ways to go before we'll get to see him ever beating guys off the dribble. Which means he's a role player at best at the 3 position at this point in his career.
Was that Lou pressuring the ball? Holy crap, ends up being a turnover.
Damnit, Thad.
I'm not a quick reaction guy, but Thad often makes me think I overvalue him. I thought he possessed more IQ and want-to. He was a smart kid in high school and at GT and is well spoken now, but.....I don't know.
Damnit, Lou
So with EB and Smith in the game, you think EB is at the 5 and Smith at the 4? That's the way I'm tracking it.
Non position-specific offense :)
Down by 6 after one. They just put up a 22 spot on the 2nd worst defense in the league. Funny, I still thought defense was a bigger issue.
4 starters played the entire first quarter, which means we're going to see major subs with the Sixers already trailing 22-28. Could get ugly. Luckily, MEM has no bench whatsoever.
Young still crafty around the basket. Would like to see him initiate contact instead of going through evasive maneuvers everytime he heads to the hoop.
We had 18 pts with just a l'il under 6 min left in the 1st and only ended up with 22. ugh
notice Elton Brand is adjusting to EJ getting him the ball at the 3 point line? He's just keeping the ball more often and dribbling the ball closer where he's more comfortable. Not sure it's advisable against quicker PFs but against Zach Randolph's sagging D it's a pretty good strategy.
Primoz? Ugh.
Uh-oh, I'll give him a shot though.
I'll bet Royal Ivey's gonna come in. All-star lineup right there.
Primoz, Smith, Kapono, Ivey, Willie. That's the worst lineup they can possibly put out there, right?
You think Lou likes having Tinsley guarding him? He could go for 30+ tonight.
Thad better step it up b/c he will probably see extended minutes with Rod hurting. Or maybe....
Lou on fire. That might be his first? 30 point game at the end.
Brand looked just great in the first 14min.
Defense has to get a lot better.
Is that Jrue?
don't remember there being a #11 on the Sixers... somebody they signed in the last couple of days?
Jrue to Smith for three.
Primoz w/ a nice foul to stop a dunk. Atta boy.
Pretty drive, no finish for Jrue.
Looks like a lot of peeps had already bought tickets with the anticipation of AI's return. Either that or we are suddenly the hot ticket in town.
Stands look halfway decent and that's saying a lot.
brezec sucks.
That was great defense by Jrue, rode Williams all the way go the baseline, didn't need any help, it came anyway, left Thabeet all alone under the hoop for a dunk.
Let in 28 points in the first quarter at a 56% clip against the Grizzlies at home.
You'd think pride would kick in at some point.
The starters came out hot but didn't appear to have that intensity or pride like you said. The bench has played with more energy.
Jason Smith is guilty of helping too much. Which explains why Eddie Jordan considers Smith the Sixers' best defender at the 4.
Damn, he almost picked another one.
willie green lost defensively.
Carney must be hurt or he would've been in there by now.
Sick steal, three-point play by Jrue.
he did miss the FT though.
And thanks for coming, Jrue. Need to extend Willie's minutes, so you're out.
Jrue has good will and want-to. But he just needs to rein it in some. He thinks he has to do too much to probably try to earn more minutes b/c he's frustrated. He gives you good plays but then seems to counter them eventually. Just young and it will come. But letting it come and calming down some would be beneficial.
A good way to make a 19-year-old skittish is to sit him for games on end, then yank him every time he makes a mistake and sit him for a couple more games.
Carney for three! 6/9 for the team, still losing. Unbelievable.
But to be truthful, it was more than one. He didn't finish on that drive, he settled for a three the defense looks to be giving, and he just seemed to lose him man a lot off picks and rotations.
The steal at midcourt was sweet and he almost picked another one that was thrown from the corner to underneath the basket that went out of bounds i think.
He shows spunkyness but just needs to be more controlled with it.
Agree about the three, didn't see him lose anyone on defense though.
I'm not saying I disagree with you, he needs to settle down, I just don't know how he's going to do that when he plays 4 minute stretches every third game.
When he lost his guy on two occasions I think, it didn't cause us to give up immediate points but he did get lost in the shuffle one time and the other I cant remember specifically.
Seriously, I feel strongly they are teaching him and coaching him off of tape a lot. You know they are. I feel your point and frustration, but I feel it is proper for them to hone him in and make him understand what he has been applying in practice, he just has to translate that to the real courts.
I don't know, I mean, I have less of a problem w/ Jrue taking an open three off the dribble with 7 seconds left on the shot clock than I do with Willie taking a contested 20-footer with 15 seconds left. I'd like to see what he does when he's given a chance to get into the flow of a game, rather than out there for 4 minutes, then done for the half, or probably the night.
It's coming. I said before - patience.
It is a coming.
Just talking to myself, sorry.
At least Jrue's attacking the paint.
That wrist looked good on snap Rod with the three.
did dalembert just make a good pass?
Lou at least looks like he's giving an effort on D tonight. That's an improvement.
Yeah, he looks similar to the Bulls game.
All tied up, see if they can finish the quarter strong. Up 1 now.
That's three of four shots for AI9 that were halfway down.
I wish Rod would stop getting banged up b/c we need him to play more than Thad it appears. For the D end and shooting from deep and getting boards. Damn Thad, I hate I had to say that.
Up 50-49 at the half, second quarter was much better. Carney made an immediate impact, wondering why it took so long to get him in there.
No Kapono, even though Memphis is packing the lane.
Who's he going to guard?
Since when is that a concern?
Good start for EB.
But I meant they are packing the lane even with their starters. Who could he cover of them?
Have to be Gay, I suppose. Sam Young if they used him against their second unit. Neither is a good matchup, but you can't play against Peja every night.
Maybe he could guard Rudy better than Thad has...
EB with the Speights'-esque lefty hook.
And another left hook from EB!
3rd block for Brand
Has Gay hit the rim yet?
Tie ball game. Sixer 9, Gay 10 so far in the third. May want to get a hand in his face, Thad.
I'd go to Carney out of this timeout.
I can't believe when people say that we don't look to be running the offense we have (and stop focusing so much on the 'Princeton' of it), b/c there is way more off-the-ball-movement and spacing. They just don't execute a lot of the sets properly or timely which makes it look like we're not running anything. There's more flares, more curls, more handoffs, many Triangle principles too. It just isn't understood, believed-in, or accepted right now. But with time that should come too.
If Sammy would understand to kick it out if he gets an O board, we could be just that much better.
Lou w/ a bailout three there. 3/4 from deep for him tonight. 8/10 for 21 points.
There's Carney for Thad. Overdue, if you ask me.
Damn, EB looked good on that dribble.
Not to pile on Thad, but in a good way, if he could dribble as good as Brand it would be a good thing for us and him too.
Solid drive by EB +1.
Now a Memphis run.
And Brand off the dribble again and a foul. To the line.
4 on Gasol, go right at him again.
Man that was traveling on zack...
No it wasn't...
Anyone see Carney in Gay's fucking jock right there? Wow.
Don't ever repeat that again...lol
14 0-boards for Memphis. That's just pitiful.
The looks are there - if the guys will just make them. Just shoot the dang ball.
WTF Willie. The P and R and you jack one.
I'm not sure you could possibly play that P&R worse, I'm also not sure why Willie and Smith are playing a two-man game when Iguodala and Kapono are on the floor.
Can't argue that one..... Was it a specific call or just something from the flow of the offense though? I can't remember how it developed.
WTF, Willie dribbles for 15 seconds, heaves a 20-footer w/ a hand in his face. Just terrible offense.
Down by 7 at the end of the third.
Which of Rod's wrists is hurt? He just yanked the rim with his right one.
It's the right.
EB had 3 rebounds in the first 3 or 4 minutes. He's now stuck at 4 for the game. Need him to control the glass in this quarter (assuming he gets back in the game).
It's the right.
EB had 3 rebounds in the first 3 or 4 minutes. He's now stuck at 4 for the game. Need him to control the glass in this quarter (assuming he gets back in the game).
Our leading boarder is Sam with 5. Five?
OK, now in this 5-minute run for Willie he's made more bad plays than Jrue made in his run, and zero positive plays.
You win.
Rod just played good defense and passable defense but Rudy can shoot. Wish we had more of them.
More of them meant Rudy Gay's.......shooters that is.
They should just leave the Jamie Maggio cam on during timeouts.
Copycat.
EB should be back in the game out of this TO.
He was....damn Rudy can just shoot...to hell with all that Thad floor or ceiling comparable to Rudy...i would love to have his shooting in this offense....defense notwithstanding
I've never seen him shoot like this before. He's unconscious.
He did that crap at UCONN on the regular. He can just score at times and shoot it too.
Just quickly....wouldn't you trade Thad and Lou for him and eventually start Jrue. .................Wow!
Career high for Lou.
Come on guys, you better win this damn game. its the grizzlies....
Kapono is so bad it's not even funny. Take him out damnit. His defense is a joke and if he doesn't hit his threes he's worthless.
Thad back in. Not sure who's he's in for, though.
God fucking damnit Lou. Motherfucker.
Down 6 with 4 minutes to go is not the time for that shit.
Damn Thad....just shoot the damn ball...come on man
And just like that what should've been a 4-point game is 10. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Whew. I said y'all muthers would lose this game anyway.
Damnit prove me wrong.
They have time to come back...come on... Optimist? why not....
Lou has been crazy good tonight offensively.
Lou, I'm going to keep saying I would trade you if you keep knocking them down like this! Damn...
Guys - what does this spell? W i n
Just attack and try to get to the line. Preserve the clock. Make them play you.
Thad looks like a rookie out there.
Thad with a killer force.
I will be glad when Speights is back and in with this lineup instead of Thad. EB with another turnaround.
and that was - Lou, Dala, Carney, EB, and 'reese when he gets back
*bookmark* this post.
Cause I do want to see this lineup!
How easy is that? Give him the ball in the post, let him work.
Honestly...... How hard is it to play with this kind of intensity when the organ is pumping...the whole damn game?
And, your asses are down five.
How can you not be down on Thad right now? The announcers are talking about him attacking the glass on the offensive end. How about getting a freakin defensive board just once.
I'm pissed too. But...... he does work for Ed too. The big Ed.
Son of a ........... i will be..........i should have known............wait i did..........
they will get better though.....no doubt...just kick Sam to the curb and get a serviceable five....growing pains this year for sure but criticisms aside, they have marginal talent to at least get by...which....isn't really the end result i desire as a fan.....it's been too long since they delivered excitement to my longest yearn....i welcome the day it returns............chip that is!
And here I meant the announcers worked for Snider.
The Big Ed.
OH MAN!
What a fucking dunk.
How do you lose? How? Who was on him, Iguodala? Then no one rotated? This is just getting so old.
Carney's fault.
Carney, I think. He was on Randolph.
This is just so hard to watch.
man, when i stopped watching it was 50-49 philly. Get home, get online, and they're losing. I really shouldn't be surprised, but I thought somehow they'd pull a win out tonight.
Is there really a reason Thad's on the floor for this offensive possession?
I have no clue about Thad and Sammy. I mean a trade for Sammy doesn't matter really. We might as well give him up if all he's good for is finishing games on defense.
The team defense would def have to be better to let him go. But a more dimensional five is vital in this offense. I don't like rash decisions but they have to try to use him to change something, anything. I want def rebounds as the ultimate priority, but he disrupts chemistry - on court chemistry, much less lockerroom chemistry.
I'm not complaining, just campaigning. It's more a hope than an actual reality, but still.
I'm not trying to kill Sam or make a rash decision, but he didn't play at all tonight and when he was out there he didn't do much. EJ likes him less and less as the season has kept going and we're just getting started.
So, can EJ get some credit for that? Please.....
I mean, if all he's going to contribute is some sporadic D and minimal smarts and fundamentals, he is useless. But not financially. Which is how they and the rest of the league are thinking. :(
No, what's up with you defending EJ when he's not even the main part of the discussion? If he is not going to play Sam, regardless of why, then we should try to shop him. Sam is not playing well, so I guess you want credit for EJ not playing him when he's bad? Well, OK, great job EJ!!!
Oh alright, yeah, but come on EJ has nothing to do with Sam not playing.
Well who would you surmise it had to do with then?
Sam mostly. I mean he just doesn't come consistently with effort, that's all. The problem is, with Speights out, the options behind him are very limited. I'm not blaming EJ, but just saying that if Sam doesn't give us anything most nights and is playing less and less, then we should listen to the right offer. I just don't see why I need to praise him for playing Sam less and less. If he stinks, don't play him.
absolutely no need for praise.....just as well as the criticism...
but it is dire straits trying to move a guy with an almost nothing skillset and a damn trade kicker in this ecomony.
And I'm not defending EJ. I'm saying he should be given credit for finally showing this franchise that Sam has to depart. I love his controling the boards but he just depletes you in so many areas. I don't want shoutouts for EJ, it's more the team-concept oriented, b/c like has been said, the coach is going to be here for a while.
Alright, fair enough. It's going to get tougher and tougher to move Sam though.
Tougher hell......he'll never be moved.
Prove me wrong, again then.
If anyone can think of another way to say ugly loss, I'm all ears.
97-102, at home, to the Grizzlies...I'm going to grab some food, I'll be back w/ my wrap later tonight.
Thanks for taking part, guys.
This team is all screwed up right now. Sad to say it, but all of these guys look like terrible fits (minus Lou, EB now and Iggy, even though that's just because he's a better player). Thad is the one that's a killer, he looks terrible. It's looking like the running is what made him more effective.
Not necessarily effective, but exposed to me.
Exposed? As in like you saw him more? I mean he shot 54 and 49 percent running up and down, now he's at 42. He takes terrible shots offensively trying to break him man down. I mean, he did have Andre Miller, but I think his greatest aspect is as a finisher out on the break and he's not doing that nearly enough this year.
What? Saw him more?..... I meant exposed in the sense of the only way he is effective is if we run. Just like you said, I think.
He is surely young, but I don't know if he has enough of the dimensions needed to be successful night-in and night-out right now. He offers too little and that's without mentioning weaknesses whick need major work.
Yeah that's exactly what I meant. I have a lot of trouble picking up what you say haha.
Just be patience heady's. This thing will get better b/c they see the defenders aren't there. Nor the shooters.
Is this holding out all hope? If it is, then I'm all in.
Inebriation effect - patient.
I could be wrong in evaluation, but Thad just looks sketchy. He doesn't appear to grasp the concept of fit-in. Or something...... could be wrong.
He doesn't possess the talent first of all, and then doesn't even display the want-to. And no semblance of prowess on either end of the floor.
Prowess, as in mentality.
Hold up..... not negatively, but did Jrue take 5 shots in 5 min tonight? I thought he only shot three.
I was trying to figure that out too, I thought it was 4, but 5 is right.
He had that nice spin move, blew the layup. Then he missed the three. Then he got the steal and made the layup, then he had two drives that he missed. 5 shots is right.
Shoot.... i missed the two drives you speak of. Was he in at the end...and i just missed it? When did he do those?
Nope, he only got the one run for 4+ minutes. The two drives were right at the end, nothing too memorable about them. Wild shots after penetrating.
As critiquing as I tend to be, I can't believe I missed them. Two of them at that.
Friday I guess.
Final 15 minutes...
More Small Ball = More lottery balls
Well, it's either that or play Sam? Really.
I need to check something from the play by play for the wrap about Sam.
And I don't care about the +/- b/c Primoz had to play 4 and J Smith 17. (although eventually, if not now, I want to see J Smith get more minutes). But Sam couldn't produce enough to keep those two off the court.
Not assuming what you were implying, but curiously await what you may be checking.
48-28
and 13-6 for team rebounds (not sure how to count those towards the total? Does that mean 61-34.)
Or is that 35 to 22 individually?
Don't know for sure, but the individual boards add up to 48-28, so I think 61-34 reflects total boards... and total embarrassment.
Again, you are getting killed on the boards but are tied- so you decide to go small the final 15 minutes? You can go Brand/Smith, Smith/Sam or Sam/Brand. Bit instead you put Kapono, Iguodala and then Thad at PF next to Brand as your 6'8" center???
man....Lou had the game of the ages if he would reduce the to's......damn, he was efficient, and playing the passing lanes.
Wasn't that video on Dec. 21 '07? On the image? That has to be right b/c there are other memories with that date.
the player at the bottom...
Stefanski should be fired immediately for not signing AI. Oh wait, I forgot, wouldn't want to take away minutes from Lou and Willie. Who cares that the crowd is dead, selling tickets and creating a buzz is really not important. And I also forgot that AI will "corrupt" the team - wouldn't want to derail this juggernaut. And who would want to sign one of the franchises all time greats to a one year cheap deal so he can retire as a sixer instead of in disgrace. Makes me sick.
AI-Jrue-Iguodala-Brand-Sam
Sort of resembles the 2001 team other than the fact that AI can no longer carry a team and the coach is the anti LB when it comes to getting his team to play "the right way."