This game has looked like a loss to me ever since I first laid eyes on the schedule. Now that it's here, the Sixers are riding a six-game win streak and the Knicks look, well, unlike a playoff team, I'm starting to see this one swing the other way.
We're pretty familiar with the Knicks, considering the amount of national attention they get. They have two borderline stars and a big-money center. All three of them are playing way too many minutes. Beneath them on their depth chart, they have very, very little. I suspect Doug Collins and his assistants spent the train ride up to NYC last night finding new and interesting ways to attack this flawed team and their flawed coach.
I'm going to make one prediction. Tonight, we'll see the Sixers first 30-point scorer of the season in a double-digit win.
The tip is at 7:30pm. This is your game thread. Rich and I will be at the game, so it's unsupervised play for the thread. Keep it civil, have fun and I'll check in after the game. Win this one, and 10-in-a-row becomes likely.
The line is Sixers +4.5. What's your bet?
I'm going to make one prediction. Tonight, we'll see the Sixers first 30-point scorer of the season in a double-digit win.
Have the sixers had a 25 point scorer?
Predictions on the 30 point scorer are
1. Brand - hot from his spot - feed him a lot - the knicks won't stop him
2. Jodie hot from the outside
3. Jrue
Can't see anyone else doing it
I think Jrue or Brand, probably Brand is most likely.
this one's easy; Lou.
The Knicks guards are built for him. I'd say over 12 FTs for him, maybe 2-3 3-pointers.
I have a huge favor to ask. I've been tracking the Sixers production by half this season, and the easiest way to do that is for me to copy numbers from the box score into a spreadsheet at halftime. I won't be able to do that tonight, so I'm hoping someone watching at home can take a screen shot of the box score at the half and e-mail it to me. It should look like this
OK, I'm out of here. Enjoy the game, guys. Rich and I will be under the Sixers hoop in the second half, but I doubt you'll be able to see us on TV. I might be the one assaulting a Knicks fan w/ a pair of thunder sticks.
Sorry Brian - wish I could - but the late start means half time is most likely my drive home - IF it's not i'll do my best to get it for you
I'll try. I might have to leave school a few minutes before halftime in order to reach home by the end of half time.
check your email
what? No way. No 30 pt scorer and no double digit win.
but - they win by single digits and do it without even having a 20 pt scorer.
Take it to the bank, drive-thru's open til 6
If the game comes down to the finals seconds then I say that the Knicks will win
Why?
Because if it comes to the final seconds, we won't be able to stop their bigs and will most likely have to foul in order prevent any easy buckets.
if it comes to the final seconds - the ball goes in carmelos hands cause he's the 'closer' - and iguodala shuts him down unless the refs make a BS call
Last year Carmelo hit a 3 that put the game away.
Last year the sixers went 3-13 in their first 16 games
It's not last year - it's this year
This was at the end of the year.
It was still last year wasn't it?
The 'closer' is the most over rated title, in multiple sports
unfortunately i watched the entire knicks vs bobcats game a couple nights ago and they couldn't have looked worse.
the knicks, however, are a team that gets up for games, so it may be close early, but i do not see them stopping our offense in the slightest. i think our speed and depth catches up in the 3rd q, beatdown. should be a fun show.
Just for my sanity I'd like to see the starters get off to a good run in the first quarter :)
I mean yes, Doug adjusts great at half time, but Doug, why aren't they ready at the tip?
If Hawes and Vuce play Amare may have to chase them and play away from the basket, could help our guards get some O boards. Can Turner light up the bright lights of N.Y.C. tonight? Sixers win by 6 and Turner gets 22.
It will be difficult since they have Chandler. Chandler will be the best center we will face this season
Last year vs. Dallas- EB's numbers:
3/8 8 points, 9 rebounds
5/13 12 points, 6 rebounds
The sixers don't play orlando in the regular season?
*Best center we will be facing so far
I haven't watched a single Knicks game this year. I'm really nervous about their front court.
I've seen two knicks games, one personally quite close to the court (wizards game) and I saw that bobcats game. Stoudemire aint the same as he was in the beginning of last year. he looks awkward and his timing is completely off in the current d'antoni offense. Maybe he needs more time to adjust to the current season, but so far Amare looks plain AWFUL. His points are coming mostly from FTs in the two games I saw.
Chandler though seems to have picked up where he left off last season. Great cutter to the basket, could terrorize us on the offensive glass. It'd be good to get him in foul trouble and our team rebounding needs to be as good as its been this year.
@marczumoff Spencer Hawes not playing due to back issues. Tony Battie starting for him.
Sigh...I guess
theres still hope
@preston76 Hawes still a game time decision with a low back strain; Coach Collins says if he can't go, Battie will start, keep Vucevic in current role
Think we win by six.
Uhm, I would have started Darryl Dawkins at C.
He looked great last night
Ugh, maybe no Spence? they shouldn't have even trotted him out there last night vs those scrubs then. This is a division game. man.....
Three Sixer games in three nights, does not get much better than this. Sixers by one.
I'm excited as can be right now, nervous almost. Need a win. Need to keep the momentum going.
Or they lose - and they don't lose any momentum because it's a fake thing and only as much as the next opponent - which is the wizards
Pumped for this game. Still getting used to the fact that Im upset that Spencer wont be playing. If Battie stays out of foul trouble and does a decent job on the defensive glass Im thrilled.
It would really be nice if the starters actually started out hot for once
here we go, im pumped!!!
What's up!!? Need a big game tonite from the crew!
Go 6ers!
Got a l'il nervous anxiety going on too. Let's go
mike d looks nervous...
Big game tonight from Jodie? Please....
mike d looks nervous...
mike d looks nervous...
jodie on melo?
don't understand that. change it. NOW
nevermind, i saw wrong
Yeah baby! Jodie 3
jodie 4 3
So hollinger did his 'biggest surprises' column today and instead of picking one he just picked 'the sixers'
OK, this is getting ridiculous. Tuesday night the Sixers beat Sacramento by 27 for their fifth 20-plus-point win in nine outings. They rank first in the NBA in offense and defense. Williams very nearly has the top PER among point guards; Hawes and rookie Nikola Vucevic are two of the top seven centers, and Thaddeus Young is the only roadblock to James Harden's Sixth Man Award coronation. Evan Turner nearly had a triple-double Tuesday, and Andre Iguodala is raining jump shots.
I won't belabor the point because I wrote about these guys so much Tuesday, but suffice it to say that if you play for the 76ers and don't have five characters in both your first and last name, you've earned a spot on this list.
Was Cousins a surprise? I wouldn't have thought so myself but I saw his picture in the link to the story.
Jrue got fouled there. no call
Jrue should be able to abuse Shumpert all night long
Jrue is hot
Battie is going to have to come out further on that high ball screen. it was almost set at halfcourt
Iguodala has to make Melo work on both ends
eb was fouled
Tighten up the D Jodie. come on
Nice patience jrue
Ahhhh Brand got to make that And-1
Sweet dime Dre. Battie can dunk? heh
he dunks better then hawes
Hawes doesnt dunk.LOL
Not often - no
I think he got higher than Hawes
Nice jump stop EB
Ooooh nice drive and dish by Iggy
Brand can get that all night on Amare
Defense is shit so far.
Not a slow start tonight. Just not as good on D. Though Melo and Shumpert are hot starting so far.
It's a great sign that the starters are keeping it close.
The starters should be beating the knicks starters - even without hawes
Good look, needs to knock that down
Oops meant to reply to KellyDad about Turner coming in
the voose is in
Notice how Shumpert is forcing Jrue right everytime. He's not letting him go left.
There goes that Iguodala handle. LOL
Damn Jodie!
Not Todd Harrelson? Nooooo
Turner off the bench first
Vucevic was, and Turner and Thad came in together after that
looking flat
Andre looks like shit
Bench brigade time.
Good timeout Doug. They're not in unison.
Don't need that quick shot by ET either. Ball movement.
Knicks have forced an average of 20 turnovers over their last three games.
5 by Sixers so far.
bullshit call
Bullshit foul
Andre's got to fight harder to stay w/ Melo on those high screens. He forced Vuc to have to cheat too long on that one resulting in the alley attempt.
Will somebody respect Josh Harrelson? Don't cheat so far off of him Thad. There was no need there.
Dre! come on get it together. turnover and melo converts
13-0 run shit
that was a bad quarter
We're playing zone, no? Is that why Thad was cheating toward the lane so much again there?
This second quarter has to be about defense.
15-28 Knicks.
Same kind of quarter they've been having, defense just didn't bail them out this time. They really do look sluggish to a degree.
No rhythm on offense, holes everywhere on defense, rotations slow, p&r is killing them near everytime.
Take control here Jrue.
Jrue steal and throwdown, ends 16-0 run, first pts in over 6 minutes
Ugh, Vuc w/ two early fouls. EB back in.
The Knicks D is contesting every single attempt we get.
well done turner
Has the Knicks PA announcer always announced the score after a basket? After Turner's jumper he announced "Evan Turner, 31-19"...Do Knicks fans really pay that little attention?
There you go, 3 great D possessions in a row. Shot clock was low everytime before they could even sniff a would-be look.
Keep pluggin' .. long way to go
All right, much better defense now. But then again we knew they didn't have a bench
Lou. Drive everytime please and try to get to the line.
There we go LOU!
Guard Josh FRIGGIN Harrelson PLEASE! damn
Dear Thad. Stop helping so much off that dude
It was EB that time.
Dag Thad, you've got to take advantage of having Harrelson on you. Stop shying away from the contact.
Turner lookimg to score
Come on EVan! no need for that fancy-ness ....ugh
Shit, Stat w/ a o-board putback and-one chance. Thad just doesn't understand what it means to put a body into the guy. sheesh
Then he turns it over
Fucking A
5 minutes left. Just get this to around 7-8 pts before the half. More would of course be better. Below double digits at minimum.
dre at the 4
We didn't cut into the lead any before their starters came back in. Still 12.
If I see one more slow start my wall is going to cave in from my head beating against it. Does Collins have bets on the Sixers losing the first 8 minutes of every game? And did I get drunk off water or was I really watching Jodie Meeks "defending" Carmelo Anthony for the first 6 minutes. Was that some kind of sick joke by Collins?
Amare made Brand look like he was standing in concrete there
there goes that jrue handle. lol
too many jumpers.
Come on Jrue... Not a very pretty first half for the Sixers
Thad and Dre and missing in action. Thad did zilch in his run. Can't have that, he's too crucial.
2 min left. Just get it around 8. D up!
Evan's gunning too much. Too much one-on-one.
Thats pretty much been true for the entire Sixers offense this half.
DAMMM Igggy
Thats his game
Make the free throws please Dre. It's only a 15 ft'er.
dre missed 2 freebies then slams it home
Just get a stop here, only 5 on shot clock, and then a make on other end and it's only 8 pt lead. Dig deep, watch the lob off the inbounds.
It sucks missing free throws cause you know it will cost you games when they matter most.
But it's been this way for the past five-to-six years.
oops they reset the shot clock.
They are going to DEMOLISH this team in the 3rd quarter
better defense that quarter, need come strong in the 3rd
Only 8 points for the bench tonight. Lou and Thad need to step up in the second half
Almost no ball movement compared to what we have seen this year from the sixers. Lay into them Doug
that's right.
when Josh Harrellson scores more than your entire bench, you know you're screwed.
Especially when the strength of this team is in its bench.
35-45 'bockers.
We're just disjointed in every facet of this game. No opportunities for run-outs (2 fast break pts). 9 turnovers (right at Knicks average for last 3 games). 8 bench pts and no five-man to even show up on the court it seems.
But w/o overanalyzing, just take out Harrelson's 10 and there it is. Now, go get it!
Indy up 17 on the Hawks with the 3rd almost over. Granger with 24 and 3-4 from 3 to lead them in scoring
chicago without rose and watson struggling with the wizards
The team needs to drive into the paint and get to the line. 4 attempts first half.
3rd quarter run here we go
jrue almost loses it then scores, eb fouled
Jrue struggling with Shumpert's quickness and length. Finishes though.
Andre? what the heck was that? you had Meeks wide open ....
Thats a fucking clear path foul on Stoudemire disrupting the inital outlet pass. These refs have been nothing short of disgusting in this game
Jrue, you gonna guard Iman or what?
Melo's eye, meet Jrue's 3!
what the hell was that jrue
Come on Jrue, don't need a 28 footer. ugh
five point swing as Melo converts
Jrue, you're killing me right now...
Sixers - 6 assists, 9 turnovers.
Jesus cant buy a freaking foul
Ahhh, now they enforce the intentional foul. These refs should be burned alive.
Come on, got it to 6, now 8, just string some stops together and some makes and we're still right in this thing.
That was incidental by Battie. He didn't know Chandler was there up under him. bullshit call
the knicks in those 3 possesions scored 1 point, dre slam
Give me a break. Melo touches the ball while coming off the rim on Amare's missed free throw. Yet, Thad didn't box out and kind of shoved him
Dre!! Let's go!!!! COme on
Go to the hole like Dre just did w/ Chandler out.
dre 4 3!
Well fuck it, just shoot it then Dre. 3!
things getting fiesty
Bull friggin shit!!!! Dre didn't do anything there. That was all Melo, Dre arms were just tied up. Double techs my ass
Damn, got it to 4 and NO ONE boxed out Melo there.
That double T is absolute fucking bullshit
All this pulling up for 20 footers Jrue and the rest is just playing right into the Knicks hands. They don't want to play D and you're not making them.
Just keep stepping it up and we can win this thing. Refs be damned.
Take a long look at this officiating, and now imagine how bad it will be in a 3-6 round 1 playoff series. FUCK THESE REFS AND FUCK D'ANTONI'S AWFUL WRISTWATCH
I mean, they're not even running any curls or anything for Jodie. You're already four on five w/ Battie being out there at the start.
ugh, thad ...
EB was FOULED!!
damn the missed bunnies
4 points, come on!!!
THERE WE GO!!!!!!!!
ET picking up where he left off. Shooting it every chance he gets.
ET dish to Thad. After a sweet Thad block of Stat.
Guys look to have some life finally.
Fucking palming. Well they have some life now, hey if Melo wants to iso it every play let him do it
Yes, great D possession there. Hell of job Dre.
There we go Thad. Finally his first make of the night.
ET! Shoot it dammit. you ain't scared tonight
ugh, he palmed it, turnover. shucks had it to 2 pts too. dammit
Palming? You must be f-king kidding me.
Well, heat check ET? I mean, damn
Dre 3? Come on, somebody penetrate please!
You'd think Turner was Lou out there w/ the way he's looking for his shot - whether it's there or not.
When did Turner and Lou switch bodies? That's a heck of a lot of chucking by Turner tonight
ET has to play for contact. He can get open and knock down half his shots, but if he really wants to step up, he has to get to the line.
Man, we had that lead to 2 pts when ET got called for that palm. Melo hits twice, we take 2 perimeter J's and BAM! it's back to 6 just like that.
I respect the palming call on Turner. It is a call they frequently whistle against Carmelo, so we can't complain.
Can't EB draw a foul on Harrellson? Pump/head fake?
where the fuck is that foul on young???
Thats a weak foul call on Thad
Lou has been real quiet somehow. He should take it to the hoop.
Damn my mouth.
Good box out on that bouncy ball Vuc.
Damn, Lou!
Jesus fucking Christ
Fucking Harrellson? AGAIN? for THREE? F me!!!
Vucevic looked like way over his head in the first half. Couldn't take the energy the Knicks were bringing... got to him.
This team looks dead tonight. Not making excuses but I think they're just exhausted.
I've lurked these game threads for about two seasons now, but I feel the need to add to the conversation for the first time: these refs are shit.
welcome to the club!
56-67 Knicks.
Had the momentum and just pissed it away. Just settling for way too many J's. They're scared to penetrate and test Chandler. Off the ball movement is near non-existent.
I think I might be having dreams about that possession where the lead was down to 2 and ET got called for palming. Or the one after where he pulled a 20 footer. ugh ugh ugh
these refs suck
Wow these refs are on the fucking take.
WHY EVEN PLAY THE REST OF THIS GAME?????????????? just fucking take the early train back, dont risk injury. its patently obvious these dogshit refs arent going to relinquish this lead
Damn Jodie!! Have to make that man
The sixers vs Knicks & refs
as opposed to any other sport against a new york team?
Good take Thad!! D these bums up
Ugh - couldn't watch this game - so ugly - skipped the entire third quarter to watch this live...horrible ball handling in the first half - bad offensive sets - bad refereeing - win or lose I'd like them to get it closer...but it's not a great disaster if they lose but it'd be nice if they came back to win it
Two quick fouls, let's get them in the penalty quick. Then we have to hope to make the free throws.
Hell of a hope. haha
Only 2 turnovers that 3rd quarter and couldn't cut the lead any.
ET!
Now Bill Walker from 3? Yeah we're fracked.
I think a Knick would have assault a Sixer with a deadly weapon in order to get a foul called
Finally and he missed the first
Shumpert eating Jrue's lunch - on both ends.
and when they actually do call a foul, CLANG! comes off the rim.
FUCK THIS SHIT
8 dimes on 27 buckets so far. Self-serving much?
Jrue, good steal, but advance the ball ahead. You had a 3 on 2
back to 11? Pulse?
COME ON
Damn ET...
Thad!
down to 9. lets go
The Knicks and their affinity for taking quick shots certainly fueled that mini run. Gotta control the defensive glass
OH Evan how do you leave that short???
Single digits, lets go defense!
Lou going to the scorer's table, hope he gets Evan's ass.
Evan has been very active on D. I'd bring him in for Jrue honestly. Turnover prone right now.
huh? we've only had 3 turnovers this half so far.
Very loose handles means he's wasting time on the clock as Shumpert picks on him.
And that Shumpert has been def doing.
Drive or bust for ET. Better form, same results. Clang.
They were just toying with us, attempting four 3s in a row. Next foul puts them in the penalty.
Keep going.
I don't want lou or jodie in this game unless the sixers need to start chucking 3's
Thad! good take. D up!
Going small here with Lou for ET
Way to go Thad, keep up the pressure. Jesus they seem to be quicker with the whistles on this end
that's it. thad is the guy none of the knicks can handle
Thad just burst into life in the 4th
About fucking time they started calling that, need a bucket here
Really? A Thad J off an inbounds. whatever
The idea to give him the ball was good. But seirously he should have tried to get near the hoop.
dre at the line, hit them
1 out of 2, blahhhhh
Melo frustrated with Dre.
Yes, we're in the penalty. Oops I forgot that's not an advantage for us. Dre clanks it short!! AT least shoot the mutherfucker long to give it a chance.
for the love of god, make the free throws!
christ.
turner to the line, hit them please
Im going to destroy something if they keep missing free throws
Evan gunning as soon as coming back in. At least he got to the line. Well, not good for him either.
UGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH
5-11 from the free throw line.
Can you possibly make these Iguodala? Just once, both ...
I'm glad lou is out. Getting stops is very important right now.
Penalty v Penalty
Advantage: Melo
HE MADE THEM BOTHHHHH
Alright, Chandler O-foul, here's your chance. Have to convert here and get it to 5
Annnnnddddd Jrue chucks a contested 15 footer.
F me .................
jrue. c'mon now.
I will be Damn. Dre throws two very ill-advised passes. sheesh
UGHH, really no movement at all in the offense
Wth was that Dre? You're above everyone else... float it up if you don't want to chance a charge!
I don't even recognize this team right now on offense
Annnndnddd EB shoots a hesitant contested 15 footer. man......
this team is tired. they look tired. they're taking tired man shots.
well, except Iguodala, who's trying to do too much.
playing for contact! Six second half FTA's for ET. Even if he's only at 2-4 right now, that's what the offense needs.
Running out of time.
DEFENSE!!!!!!!!
Well Thad, that about sums up the whole night
ARRRGGGGGHHHHH
Gotta make both of these Iggy
cant call a timeout while falling out of bounds
Did they just reset the shot clock for them?
why the FUCK is the shot clock reset?
i think they fixed it
why the FUCK is the shot clock reset?
The clock was reset because everyone who's watching knows Melo was on the boundary line calling that TO.
6ers come alive and are putting up a fight. Too little, too late?
Don't give them an easy look or a damn open trey.
Yep, figures they'd get this lead to around 4 points just so I can stew over these missed free throws and all those early one-on-one J's. Typical.
Stew over the piss poor ball handling in the first half - the 16 minutes of scoreless basketball that collins should have found a way around even if he had to bench folk
this game was lost at the end of the first / beginning of the second - when the game was 15-15
Offensive rebound? God damn.
Sixers can't beat the Knicks and the refs alot of bull shit tonight
Eh, calls weren't so bad tonight. No worse than normal imo.
I agree.
So they get the time out - when carmelo was out of bounds?- i don't know what the say
glad to see the fight in em - but i can't believe they missed spencer so much - that 16 minute drought in the first half killed em - but the knicks still couldn't put em away - win or lose this game - the knicks just aren't as good as the sixers it seems - even with the sixers missing hawes - the knicks had their chances to run away with this game - the sixers were willing them to run away with the game...and they just couldn't do it...down 4 with under 30 seconds left
Proud of the heart they are showing in the fourth - but the scoreless streak in the first second is unacceptable and shouldn't be forgotten any more than 3-13 is remembered and 13-4 is ignored :)
seriously a thad young 20 foot jumper?
Didn't have the ball in Jrue's hands there, ugh. Andre and Thad for a J? whatever ...
So you run a play for the lowest percentage shot possible. The hell? I'd rather have Dre shoot an off the dribble jumper than that BS.
I doubt that was the called play :)
On the bright side - the knicks should have won this game easily and tried real hard to give it back and spencer wasn't here - the sixers (now i believe) are a better team (when healthy) than the knicks.
Watch film tomorrow - see the errors - and then remember that momentum ain't nothing but a word and roll over the wizards like they're in the way
I have to agree. The Knicks seemingly did their best to keep the Sixers in the game and it wasn't just the turnovers. How many times did they throw up a 20 foot jumper early in the shot clock late in the game.
Plus their offense seemed to be give it to Melo and stand around the perimeter. 27 points on 24 shots with 5 TOs? I'll take that, Iggy played him well
The sixers did play some real good defense tonight - i mean it's not like the knicks dropped 100 on them - their point against average might even drop some.
Malik Rose was talking about how he wanted Carmelo to come back in to the game because he just breaks the knicks offense :)
I don't know what game u saw tonight but the refs were horrible tonight. At this point in the season we are definitely better than the Knicks.
By the half each team had what, five attempts at the line? I didn't see a single superstar call for Melo or STAT which is as much as you can possibly hope for in MSG.
then youre fucking delusional. did you see the shove from melo on AI on the rebound preceding the T? compare that to the thad young push on the foul they called for carmelo after the missed free throw. then look at the thaddeus young foul called when carmelo landed on his prone body. completely hideous officiating in this game; its unquestionable.
Consensus and refereeing are two words that don't mix, so you're entitled to your opinion and I won't attempt to dissuade you. From my perspective I thought the game was under called if anything and that goes for both teams. For every penalty you could bring up there is likely another no call for the other team. If it's a 60/40 slant against the 6ers in calls so be it, they weren't even the deciding factor of the game, which is basically what it boils down to in my opinion.
not sure what Thad was thinking there. Need some magic now.
I am sooo pisssed right now ... just had to login just to post this comment, -facepalms- spent the last 2 hours yelling @ my PC screen.... mothereffin christ... hey everyone btw
Sixers deserved to lose this game not sure the knicks deserved to win it though
I wouldn't go as far as say deserved to lose. They deserved the opportunity to steal one against a lesser opponent on a poor shooting night and that's what they got.
No one 'deserves' to lose or win a game...the sixers played like garbage early - in fact for the first 3 quarters they were pretty questionable...but the knicks couldn't put them away so the fourth the sixers showed some spirit and the knicks showed why they are not seen as a serious contending team - they should have kept pushing but their team is built poorly and they have the wrong coach...
I take the positives from this game that are the run in the 4th and the absence of hawes (and the game was till close) - i still don't LIKE hawes but he's been good early on...here's where doug coaches...don't have to run them at all tomorrow - or a practice - just watch the tape and remind them how they won six straight
And figure out how to get the starters to come out less flat :)
Take the season in 10 game chunks (you can make it 11 if you want to make it divide easily)
.700 record in the first 10 ain't half bad.
I'd like to see them sweep the back to back this weekend but history says they won't - here's hoping they prove history wrong
does history take account for how bad the wizards are?
Well they were pretty damn bad last year too - same team back to backs don't have a good history with the sixers - i'm hoping that they will turn it around.
I emailed brian over last weekend that if the wizards DIDNT have their first win - they were going to get it against the sixers - it's just how it works - but the wizards alreaddy got a win :)
I'd love to see them prove that they have turned that corner - they should beat the wizards easily both nights - we'll see what happens - where they really at
History says we won't sweep the back to back against a team that's about to be 1-9?
Rock solid start to the season. Definitely showing the dynamics of a team that can get to the second round. If they Knicks prove to be the fringe playoff squad they've played like then Melo will be dreading a playoff match-up against Dre. Even knocking down those two "revenge" (well contested) jumpers after their little scuffle, Dre did not let up an inch... gotta love it.
The knicks should have won tonight easily - and they didn't - I dodn't think D'antoni lasts the season...still not sure there is a system that works for Amare and Melo together...
I'm happy with the record they have - the play they've had - but they still need work before I believe they can win in the first round of the playoffs...the next 10 will tell us something...teams are rounding into shape, free agents are adusting more...(how long is the pre season usually?)
Teams shoot at less than %40 against the 6ers and they get blown out by 15-20 points. The 6ers shoot less than %40 and it comes down to the last couple of minutes.
Believe it's normally 7-8 games. After the back to back with Wash they have the Bucks, Nuggets, Hawks, and Heat in 6 days, should be a decent measuring stick this early into the season
Well that was an ugly game. 3-15 from downtown and 12-18 from the FT line isnt going to get it done when you shoot 39% from the field.
One of those games where the Sixers couldn't string together enough positive plays to get over the hump. Love the fight, hope they take out some frustration on the Wizards two nights in a row
i feel like i should be happy about 2-1 during the back-back-back but i dont
Proud of Dre tonight. Awesome defense. Best of all, he did not get into that playground nonsense and start chucking up bricks.
The frontcourt mismatch was glaring all night. That's most of the game. Best thing about tonight; it's only one game.
They can enjoy the win till we kick their asses later on the year.
next time we face the knicks is march 11th
Carmelo is top 5 overrated player in the NBA
Hmmm...interesting, the only name that pops out to me right away on over rated is Monta Ellis (then while i'm typing this, the names Ron Artest, Mo Williams, CHris Bosh, Carlos Boozer Lamar Odom pop out to me)
I don't know that carmelo would really make that list :)
Carmelo is the most underrated player in the NBA on this blog.
I thought that was Spencer Hawes - or Demarcus Cousins - or Mareese Speights
I think one guy saying carmelo is in the top 5 oesn't represent the entire blog...
Besides, I think Monta Ellis would win this award too maybe :)
Haha I'd agree on all counts.
Barn burner on espn versus the celtics who are the sixers 'competition' for the Atlantic (after tonight I think it's a two horse race - the knicks should be ashamed of themselves)
When the Knicks get Baron Davis they will be better. Right now Shumpert is their only guard showing NBA-level ability. Douglas and Fields are absolute garbage.
Um - Baron Davis is garbage - with a bad back - and he don't fit in to the D'antoni system either -= they have the wrong players for a coach who only knows one way and can't adjust - it's not as bad but it's the same as the eddie jordan situation...i'm not sure WHY D'antoni is still there - but he is - it's not like they couldn't afford to fire him...if you're counting on baron davis to be your savior - you're screwed anyway
D'Antoni will surely be fired after the season if they don't go far in the playoffs. I'm not saying Baron wins them the championship, but he will make them better. He looked fairly good last year before he got traded.
That big bulky white kid with the outside range - i like him pre-season too - was he an undrafted rookie?
Josh Harrelson?
Acquired from NO (after draft) for cash I believe.
He looked like the fat old guy at tha playground that gets picked last and then everyone is surprised when he starts draining 3's
Josh fuckin' Harrellson...........
Yeah, him
Seriously - one could say this dude is the reason the sixers lost - sweet shot :)
he's been doing that in their previous games too. Figured it was just another D'antoni quirk having all the bigs shoot 3s, never thought he was that good at it.
I was totally taken aback by ET's usage tonight. I thought, coming off of a 30 minute showing against the Kings, that he'd be used in his typical rebounding/defensive capacity. Wrong. Initiated the offense more than I've ever seen in a somewhat close game.
Defensively I thought he was a fiend and gave whoever was handling the ball no breathing room. Of course, the defensive standout was Andre, but Evan did his thing quite well. He doesn't really come up on contests as the help man which can irk me at time, but it probably helps avoid some unnecessary fouls as well.
He forced the issue a couple times but was generally unselfish within the offense, moved well off the ball, and used his almost signature change of pace stop-and-go's to get to the basket fairly easily. His jumper is permanently off, like Thad, but maybe that is premature to say. Hopefully they both get the bad ones out by mid-season as they'll both need respectable jumpers if the 6ers really want to excel against postseason D.
at one point ET was running the point exclusively while Jrue was playing off guard and trying to get open.
very disturbing how little faith/patience DC has with Jrue.
I don't see it that way - they have three good ball handlers and intiators - though sometimes it feels like Evan is going behind the back just to, you know, go behind the back and it fails on him :)
early on Jrue was keeping us afloat offensively. would have liked to see him get more shots.
Man - all that time with no baskets - no one was doing well offensively - must admit I would have thought collins would have tried to do more to get them out of that slump but he seemed to be in the 'play out of it school' which really isn't how he usually coaches to me...he's going to take a time out and give em a lecture or something...there's lot of 'blame' to go around for the loss tonight - however the sixers need to just say 'what's next' and move forward
Jrue was getting hounded by Shumpert who was just too physical for him. I don't think going to Turner was a choice so much as a necessity. Needed his D.
Unselfish? He had 6 shots up in the first 7 minutes of the game.
If you don't want to dwell on Harrellson, you could argue Evan and Thad shot us right out of that game. Not from the final numbers or the boxscore, but just from watching it.
Or possibly you have a slanted view of evan turn since you hated him even before he was drafted
You're so erroneously judgmental. What's your take on me listing Thad then?
Your false manufactured claims deserve no further response.
If only you meant that
6 shots in 7 minutes and he was 4-9 for 8 points at the half if memory serves me correct. He forced a couple, missed a couple good looks, but the only thing that was really missing was the only thing that has been missing with him since he was drafted: drawing contact. 5 shots in the second half with 6 FTA's.
Not the only thing missing, you left out the ability to even be a threat from three or much less take one.
Derrick Rose and Dwayne Wade aren't really threats from three either. It's hardly the defining characteristic of good guard play.
I too was (pleasantly) shocked at how much ET controlled the game. I'm liking what I'm seeing on that front.
A reporter just said "nevermind" after Doug challenged his question about Thad on Amare. Very awkward
Does anyone know if the nba allows 'flex' scheduling like in the NBA - maybe the sixers could end up on an ESPN Wednesday or Friday night? Games start at 8 eastern so it's not like a huge change in the start time...(TNT games are less likely I know because of the 'empty' slate except for like one game on TNT nights)
Be nice to see some recognition for their strong play and a couple added national games
Well tonight showed one thing. Thorn really failed in the off season to find a bench upgrade over Tony Battie (no I don't think they should have kept speights - begging tony battie not to reitre was the mistake)
I can't believe that Thad didn't make the over (12.5) tonight - that's shocking to me
I think we should have kept Speights. Surely we could have at least waited a little longer to see if anyone got hurt. I like Speights, most here don't, I get that. I don't see how it even matters, because Speights is better than air, which is what we got in the trade for him. At least Speights can give you 6 fouls and a few baskets.
Look - i was pro speights the moment he was drafte - i wanted him to be the pick - but he showed no improvement in 2 seasons - no seeming desire to do anything but shoot - he wouldn't have helped tonight - cause he doesn't like to defend either - the sixers need a big man with strength who likes to bang down low defensively (watching de andre jordan makes me sad) - Speights was a waste of a roster space and hopefully the sixers will do something more than just save money with it - but I gave speights a lot of chances - and to me he wasted them all...all potential not mental make up to even care enough to get better...doesn't bode well - let someone else over pay him long term
Fair enough, but unless/until they use the roster spot on a new big man, we would have been better off keeping him. I get the idea that it wasn't going to work out with him here, but I still am of the opinion that he's better than nothing. Right now his roster spot is empty, and that's ridiculous in my opinion. There should have been a replacement immediately in mind if we were just going to give him away.
Why are you so into hyphens?
Damn KG - Dirk just bitched you
Missed the entire 2nd half because of the stupid EL :(
Can someone please summarize the 2nd half for me?
first play - blake griffin goes at the basket - down low - stop this long range stuff you idiot - use your strengths
Just a pitiful night of shooting. Check the box score, horrible. This was just one game we need to rest and move on. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, this will make us stronger.
My favorite moments of tonight's game was the two times an enraged Iguodala drove and dunked on a crowd of Knicks. Aside from that we had no answer for the fabulous newcomer Josh Harrellson.
Just got home, will have a quick wrap up in a little while.
How did I know the headline would be something about Melo scoring 27.
to me the Sixers lost this one 'cause they didn't run. Fastbreak points have been a hallmark of this year's sixers squad and I was shocked (but not surprised) to see them come out so slow. I know this game was the 3rd in as many nights... but I was just kind of surprised to see so much halfcourt ball being played. I like they sets the sixers run and all, but I think they didn't play to their strengths. Hopefully this gets shaken off quick.
Thoughts?
You would've expected to see a lot more fast break points considering the Knicks coughed the ball up 21 times.