The biggest game of the season was probably played Wednesday night...until tonight, that is. The Miami Heat come into the WFC with their roster fully healthy, super-motivated after coughing up a huge lead in Milwaukee, looking to assert their dominance. The Sixers, on the other hand, have a chance beat the two best teams in their conference in consecutive games. That's a statement.
ESPN really dropped the ball in their scheduling tonight. They're airing the Knicks (8-14) at the Celtics (11-10), instead of the Sixers (16-6) vs. Miami (16-6). They're also missing out on probably the two most athletic teams in the league locking horns.
Spencer Hawes remains out, and Battie will continue on as the starter next to Brand up front. I think Jodie will have his first run of the night to see if he's hot from deep, if not, we'll get Jrue/Turner/Iguodala sooner rather than later to give Collins the ability to switch/swarm on the perimeter with his three best defenders. Also, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Sixers go extra small for stretches to match up with Miami's lineups with LeBron at the four: Thad, Iguodala, Turner, Lou/Meeks, Jrue. I'd actually prefer to see this lineup when Anthony is at the five, rather than Bosh.
Here's the emotional balancing act. The Chicago game should've proven to a lot of people the Sixers belong with the group at the top of the Eastern Conference. It should've proven to the Sixers themselves they belong. Now how does that manifest itself? Will they play loose tonight, will they play their game with confidence? Or will they be too sure of themselves? The Sixers are at their best when they don't care about their opponents. When they go out there, execute their own game plan and play with unbridled energy, they can beat anyone. The confidence opens doors, the energy pushes them through. Without the energy, their confidence is misplaced. Without confidence, their energy loses focus and they squander opportunities. Have confidence in your system, in yourselves, in each other and in knowing that if you put the extra effort in, you'll get the win.
The tip is at 7pm. This is your game thread. I'll be right here throughout, join me if you're in the mood for a statement win.
Prediction: PHI 95, MIA 89
The Sixers are two-point dogs, at home. One last thing to keep an eye on, the pace of the game. Miami plays at an extremely quick pace, the Sixers should look to slow them down.
I'm sire when you say slow them down you mean defensively, i.e. meeting them at half, trapping, etc., and I concur. But I think too often when teams have game plans like that it often tends to manifest itself on the offensive end as well, i.e., walking the ball up, running half-court sets. We have had some trouble in the past when attempting to slow the pace of the game down... I don't know how it will work with Miami. Some people say you gotta run on teams that run... what are your thoughts on that way of thinking?
Anyway, totally right tho: we gotta do something or they'll drop over a hunnit on us. Hopefully our D is lockdown and we can keep them out of the paint. Gang rebounds on both ends
Nah, the Sixers are typically a slow team. They're at their best when they push it when they have transition opportunities, but take some time off the clock when they're in the half court. I don't mean walking the ball up and intentionally running clock, but they need time to run their usual offense in the half court. They find advantages when they run multiple plays down the floor and swing the ball from side to side. Miami looks for quick shots on top of their transition stuff, the Sixers need to make them work harder to get good looks, and play their usual half court game on the offensive end.
yeah... reckon you're right. Plus we have the personnel to move the ball east to west looking for seams and opps to break them down.
another sixers game added to espn
ESPN dropped the March 14 Suns-Jazz game to add Sixers-Pacers. #Suns game will still air on FSAZ.
Retweeted by Hardwood Paroxysm
Wow, by my count they have 6 ESPN games in March alone. That's pretty good.
The key tonight will be limiting Bosh. I think we'll see a lot of Young and Allen to try and keep up with him.
To be honest, I'm not very optimistic for tonight. Miami is our kryptonite.
I hope Doug got the players ready for this challenge and the Heat come in and try to force it too much. Bad shooting night for Bosh would be nice.
And we need the shoots to fall tonight, otherwise there's no way we'll be in this game.
Well, the bulls game was a nice surprise, winning this game will be a nice surprise. I do think stopping lebron and wade might be a good idea too, stopping bosh all by himself won't work, though he did bitchslap the sixers last game (he also is better when wade isn't playing)
Good defense, and get the hell back - i don't care if there are zero offensive rebounds tonight - no easy baskets
I really hope Elton has his legs tonight. We're gonna need him - especially early in the 1st and 3rd quarters.
If Voose is actually used - that will help immensely just an extra body - and since hawes is 'on his own time' - it would be nice if he decided he was ready :)
Almost time. Can. Not. Wait. Please start strong
So does Battie win the tip?
Against Joel Anthony? Maybe
No run-outs.
Go out and guard Bosh.
Please minimize the combination of the two.
LET'S GO!
Aaaand we're off...Battie loses the tip.
Let's go, quick start for once.
Does that count as winning the tip?? haha
Andre should look to go deeper there.
Does that count as a win since he tipped it out of bounds? Who knows.
Iguodala had a step on LBJ there, should've kept going instead of taking the J.
Meeks on Wade to start.
And Wade to the post to start.
Meeks had a couple of respectable games last year vs Wade, if i remember correctly.
Wade there w/ the back down though.
Jodie off the dribble. Come the fuck on.
good move jrue
Yeah, Jrue broke more than Chalmers ankles on that one. holy shit.
Welcome Jrue. Sweet move.
Iggy to Jruuuuuuue to AI9!!!!!
Iguodala picks LeBron's pocket, finishes off the miss on the other end. Nice.
Fucking Chalmers for three.
My goodness. Jodie why? that pass...
Dre recovers and finishes authoratively!
Ugh not chalmers..
Blown bunny, but good drive by Meeks.
If Jrue Holiday suddenly ascended to the next level in the bulls game on Wednesday - my expectation and opinion of the season change immediately.
Shit, Battie, don't need that. Don't need that at all.
Just gather yourselves here. Tighten up the D.
good job jrue
Jrue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jrue aggressive as hell. more...
Still early but it sure looks like Jrue has his man pants on tonight...
TB!!!!
Dre finish! Let's go.............
WHERE'S THE FUCKING WHISTLE?
Loudest crowd since AI days?
Jo-3!
Jodie for three. Really fast pace to this game so far.
The depth of the sixers allows that?
jodie 3
Jodieeeeeeeee...now how long until Battie starts throwing elbows to make up for that non foul?
Jodie fucking gunning tonight
Good look Dre. But don't settle.
Runout on other end... can't do that Andre, move the ball or attack
I still can't believe they didn't call the fucking foul on that Iguodala dunk. God damnit.
That non-call was ridiculous...
Jrue with an early scowl .. running back down court after Dre's 2nd dunk... heh
Come on EB, you've got that man.
Jodieeeeeeeee yet again!
Keep gunnin' Jodie ....
That's how you beat the trap. Great play for the Jodie three.
jodie 3
Ugh, Thad stepback airball.
That airballs the step-back. Ugh.
Lavoy for a deuce.
Thad needs to be more physical w/ Bosh
Lavoy!! I like him ....
Can't give up transition points off makes.
Good job on the o-boards by Jrue and AI9.
Oh! Jrue! no, Andre to the line ...
good or bad tonight? come on Dre make em
Bench brigade coming in to stake claim to the homefront.]
Lavoy w/ the o-board on the obligatory 1/2 from the line for AI9.
great pass dre
Well I'll be Dre, hell of a pass.
Wow, great pass by Lavoy, better pass by AI9 to Thad for the finish.
sweeeeeet pass by AI9 after the big board by Lavoy...and THAD with the steal!
Thad in the passing lanes,... we're playing so confident and that damn energy is getting ready to open the gates.
Thad in the passing lane. Get a hoop here after the kick.
Thad w/ the block on LBJ. Great D.
Oh maybe Lavoy touched it too after Thad did
woah well if Thad can keep playing like he is Dwight Howard, this game will be MUCH more interesting...
Good look created for Lou, he had to make that.
Lavoy w/ the block!
get that shit out of here!!!!! Love allens play right now
LeBron going one-on-one w/ the 22-footer. Love it.
Thad over LBJ on the other end!
Allen is a damn keeper, small sample or not. That guy is rather good.
He just set two major screens on that last play. Allen.
Ah that Lebron, missing both free throws, what an asshole, trade him already...
Don't like those shots by Turner
Good look created again, this time for Evan. Didn't convert.
Lavoy w/ his 2nd.
Turner misses two J's long. Get into the lane, he could've driven there.
LeBron w/ a bailout call.
Louuuuuu 3!
Two-for-Lou?
Yup, hits the three.
THAT's the Lou we may need to win this game!
lou for 1 aka 2 for 1
Fucking Cole. That guy shoots like 20% from three.
Evan, Thad, and Lavoy did a very good job that last 3 minutes, MIA had 20 pts w/ that much time left and only ended w/ 25. Bullshit 3 from Cole got them that.
PHI 24, MIA 25 after 1.
Solid quarter. Three threes for the Heat, gotta take away the Chalmers open looks, the Cole three was a fluke. I hope he takes 10 more.
Jodie and Lavoy both have a pair of fouls. 1 turnover for the Sixers in the first (that stupid pass by Battie).
Not to anger anyone, but we need Meeks out there instead of Turner to help match their shotmaking.
No - they need evan out there to challenge the shots and drive to the basket to draw fouls
You let me know when he draws some fouls.
Ah, here's one. 4 pts, 5 possessions.
3 on lavoy
Three on Lavoy, that looked like a bad call to me.
That's a pretty offensive-looking bobblehead.
Thad, splash! D up!
cant leave him wide open
lou play defense
Unreal, another Cole three.
Fuck, Lou.
Open look created for Lou again, he misses.
Thad! Lou miss again.
Turner in transition. Jrue's fifth dime.
Gotta love the home town whistles for the fucking Heat. God damnit.
Don't let Miller get cheap possessions like that ... ugh
Cmon, knock Bosh around a little, he is very suspiciously not nearly as bulky as he was two years ago in Toronto...attack the basket while you're at it, night shift!
Suspicious?
Contract year, he puts on like 30 pounds of muscle. Yeah, that's suspicious.
WHY is turner shooting so many jumpers
Turner why so many long jumpers??
Bleh, jumpers. And they pick up their fourth foul of the quarter with Wade and LeBron on the bench. This could be a long quarter w/ trips to the line for Miami once those guys get back in.
They should run some plays for EB...
That looked an awful lot like a travel on that last Heat possession, didnt it?
Fucking transition D.
Jrue is handling those traps well.
Good burst by Lou.
I'd like to see if there was really a foul there.
Nope, no foul.
How did that bounce pass get through? dag, Dre..
Man, fuck this shit.
Foul on us???? shit...
so Brian, i'm guessing the Vegas line was Miami by 7?
That was a phantom call if I've ever seen one... karma missed both heh
Use the board Lou.
DWade w/ 2 fouls.
the one time they call a foul it cost us a fast break
How is that no foul on Cole on the bump against Williams?
Right where we want to be .... just keep diggin'
dre 3!
AI943!!!!!!!!!!!
On cue, Dre 3! D up...
Yep AI9 is kind of having an impact on this game, isn't he?
Great D by Jrue on Wade.
Thad converts on the other end.
Garbage to gold Thaddeus!
Stop falling away vs Battier.
F me .. and one ... ugh
I have no idea how LeBron got through there. Ugh.
NO FOUL???
The key is to get this lead before the half. Come on..
wow Lou, you've had like 4 really clean looks. just calm down and make the shot ...
Thad! man he's good...
STILL NO FOUL?? damn thad is taking a beating!
Atta boy, Thad.
Oh man.... none of that .. bad pass, but he should have collected that .. come on Jrue
Second turnover. ARRRGH. Can't have those, that's just a simple pass on the perimeter.
Their adrenaline appears to be through the roof. Just harness it a l'il. They're not afraid, that's for sure.
F me!!! cHALMERS AGAIN
Can't leave Chalmers in the corner, fuck me. Jrue was closest, was that his man?
Jodie comes right back.
Good help D on Wade. Battie.
Is Vooch dressed?
these guys are rushing shots like crazy...if Collins tells them to calm down and play their game at halftime, they might be OK...think there's any chance we see V8 soon?
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Turner, gotta hit that.
Make the freebies.
Oh, Yes, Evan ... ugh make that .. or make these freebies.
Good attack.
more driving to the rim et. i like how he holds the ball like a running back
Strong finish. Come on.
Come on!!! clean swat by Jrue no??? ohhhhhhhh
That's a clean block. 100% clean.
Like they said, foul was on Battie.
Two for lou? Nope, not this time.
no Malik, you've gotta beat both Miami and the referees tonight
WTF Battie?
I don't like to focus on damn calls, but come on man .. some of these are too questionable .. but i don't dwell on that shit, cause its for the birds.
Come on Tony... man..........
Damn I didn't want this to be a 6 pt lead at the half.
nice shot by Lou, but we reeeeeeally need to see fewer misses by him and more Jrue in the second half, don't we?
down 4 at the half
Lou absorbing and sinking.
4 pt lead? yeah I'll take that.
PHI 47, MIA 51 at the half.
Did a great job taking care of the ball (12 assists/3 turnovers).
Really, the only thing they need to do better is sticking with Chalmers. Everything else I'm fine w/ from the players. The refs, they're another story.
We could take better shots.
Why do you say "we" when everyone knows you're not a Sixers fan?
I could say they if you like. I'd like them to win, but I'm a pretty cold person and, as such, it's hard for me to be a fan of a team that - so I thought a couple months ago - would be trapped in .500 purgatory forever. If they keep this up I may have to become a fan again.
the real question that may decide this game is...do these refs allow the Sixers to get a third quarter run from these guys?
Man, if you'da told me we would've had 10 fast break pts at the half, I would've told you we were up.
Not getting killed on the boards.
Distributing at an decent pace.
Protecting the ball of course.
They're just made a few more shots.
....and got a few f'd up calls.
Seek inner fortitude here in the locker room, and come out and just do it. Win.
Some thoughts.
Thad was great, Iggy and Jrue played well, too.
Jodie hit his shots and played ok D on Wade.
Lou was inefficient, but hit some big shots to keep it close.
Would LOVE to see some EB to start the third. Just one FGA.
Battie played solid D (the last couple of games).
I don't think Wade was fouled any of those three +1's they just showed.
Ahh, fuck it. Down 4, just get it done. Screw the refs.
If he does anything different from what he did in that first half, he should give Thad more minutes. He's all over the place.
Those Wade were all BOGUS!
Good D on the first possession. Let's get some points. Big run here.
ATTACK THE BASKET, push these guys around!
Take that shot from Bosh.
Battie has butterfingers tonight.
Trying to get EB going, front rim.
Good idea, Jrue. Ugh, need that to drop.
Cmon Jrue, you can take this game over anytime now...
Good work, Jrue.
Get. this. lead.
Stop settling Iguodala, particularly that early in the clock.
STOP TAKING THE THREES AND ATTACK THE BASKET!!
FUCK. Jodie wide open.
Jodie, and Lou, have had so many good looks tonight that haven't went down.
ugh
Good hard foul on Anthony, that's going to break the seal for them, though.
Nope.
Or not.
or not!
Hell yes, Tony, good ass foul!
jodie to the line hit them
Jrue had the shot, no?
Jodie to the line. make em
Jrue could easily have four assists this quarter...
Three on Wade. Completely bailed Jodie out.
Defense.........
Damn gave up a putback...
JRUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEE
jrue!
Great job, Jrue.
Come on, now.
NICE, jrue
Jrue exhibiting control.
damn chalmers again...
Oh YES! hell of a defense there! let's go
Great fucking defense. That's a god damned clinic.
shot clock violation, love it. Really frustrating that they haven't capitalized on the offensive end as yet
Did our defense force Anthony to pass the ball to someone out at halfcourt or was that just a dumb decision on his part? I thought he had a pass to someone closer.
No, they abandoned him and covered everyone up. Good D.
Crowd needs to keep the intensity up too.
We need to see WAAAAAAAY more Thad from here on out, don't we?
EB didn't touch that did he? thought it fell...
Jrue w/ an open look.
Wade on other end.... ugh
dammit just make the shots......
God damnit, that was such a perfect look for Jrue, and then Wade hits. 5-point swing.
Can't let up now. Thad needs to be in the game now.
GRRRR this would be a game where COllins is fully justified in going Larry Bowa on these refs!
Here's Thad. down 4 when he came in.
Lavoy knocks down the freebies. These next four min are so important
Attaboylavoy.
Hello!!!!
IGGYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dre dunk!!!!
Wow!
AI9 w/ emphasis.
ANDRE!!!WOW
First sellout of the season. 20K+.
They're not intimidated one bit, and they shouldn't be, this is just a game, and you can play it just as good as them. Believe it.
win this mofo.............!!
@mfranknba Attendance 20,694, 1st sellout of the season. #Sixers.
send them home happy.
LeBron jumper, that's fine.
Good D there by Thad and Lavoy, on LBJ. just a good shot
thad
THAD!
Woah Thad makes the shot despite another obvious noncall!
Thad with the whirling dervish.
Rebound Dre...
LAVOY!
Lavoy!!!! he can really shoot it...
crowd pumped!!!!
Jrue, that is fucking perfect defense. Perfect.
Take the lead here.
do NOT let Lou start chucking here...
damn great pass lavoy need to finish that thad
Lavoy whip pass again!!!! oh Thad blows it .. hell of a pass though in traffic, he's skilled
ride the momentum!
ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH. blown bunny :(
Dammit, good shot again by LePip
What a fucking joke. Ugh.
Good weak foul Jodie
You're f'ing kidding me. LBJ board and putback. and foul?? come on where was the foul, just a reach in.
he missed it, so yeah fuck that mess
Lavoy!!
shiiiiiiiit sure would be nice to have 00 down there flailing around at LeBron underneath...
Lou for one upcoming.
dre!!!!
doesnt count damn
Lavoy, again. Fucking awesome. Get this last stop.
That shot was late by AI9. Damnit.
holy hell how does he hit that shot????
^^ that was about Lebron's shot before but..damn!
THAT HAS TO COUNT
James w/ another J. shit
does it count? don't think so ... ugh replay?
Fuuuuuucccckkk, that won't count
Can Lavoy Allen be for real?
He LOOKS real to me.
PHI 63, MIA 67 after three.
Tie quarter. Both defenses clamped down there. LBJ hit three jumpers, which you just have to live w/. The o-board is the one that pisses me off.
Come on. 12 minutes of fucking determination and energy. Get this W.
the damn shot clock didn't even register on .2? how fucked up, some home cookin'
guys the clock never went by .2 secs.... geez!!
That Dre heave may have been good, that's all i'm saying. the clock malfunctioned or something.
Dre quietly flirting with the triple double
Lavoy has crisp passes.
Lou blows another good look. Miller make on other end. too many of those kind tonight
Thad to the line, hit 'em both. Don't leave any point at the line this quarter.
Thad, make the open freebie man ... what a brick
Lou with the rejection on Haslem!
Did Lou block that shit?? hehe
lou!!!
Woah how about Lou??
Effing Miller 3 ... ugh ugh ugh
These drives Lou isn't finishing are just fueling their transition game. Down 8. Good timeout.
QFT
8 point lead just like that, goddamn
Their shooting has leveled off a little since the half.
The Sixers has dropped off significantly.
Come on. One more run? the crowds there tonight.....
Is it just me or has Evan Turner been invisible tonight?
and as I say that, he hits a tough shot on the baseline reminiscent of his big shot in Game 4 last years playoffs
He hasn't done much, but Lou has been worse with his terrible shot selection
invisible is better than what Lou has been tonight.
Really needed Good Lou tonight. Alas, Bad Lou showed up.
That's 10. Get a hoop here.
fuuuuuck, get Lou out of there and just have Jrue and ET feed That for teh rest of teh damn game....
Lead to double digits, don't let this slip away
Good crosscourt find by Lavoy. Jrue misses a step-in.
Wade. yeah i've seen that before.
ET! let's go
Don't lay down guys, come on
Bosh you cunt.
can I nominate this as comment of the game thread?
Chris Bosh is a great actor.
Thad got bumped. Dammit blow the whistle.
Thad. Come on, stops.
WTF???
jrue got to the line!
Fucking Norris 3 ..
OF COURSE Norris Cole has a career shooting night tonight.
4 on Wade. Hit the freebies, Jrue.
Is it me or did the Sixers stop passing the fucking ball around?
aka Iguodala is on the bench?
They're fucking free.
alright Jrue, just do that a couple more times and we'll be back in this...
Damn, Lavoy is so good at his rotations, and denying.
He displays so many obvious fundamentals, time and time again.
So versatile.
Gotta love those obvious fundamentals, they beat subtle fundamentals any day.
whatever.
What is a such thing as a subtle fundamental? Tell me.
I don't know, what's an obvious fundamental? Must be millions of subtle little fundamental things players are taught to do.
Players don't always carry out everything they're taught, it's sometimes innate.
Jrue to the hole. OK, down to 8. Come on, you win this on the defensive end. Keep up the pressure.
Forced turnover, leads to a Jrue layup with 4 Heat players watching.
We need our best defensive lineup in here right now, only chance we have
Do we see AI9 for the rest of the game as these guys start coming in for a landing...?
Wade to the line.
Closing time lineup w/ Allen in for Brand.
Come on, dig deep here.
make a run at em....ugh thought ET was going to shoot that earlier.
Wade back to the line.
Ugh. Jrue bit on a Wade fake.
Why is Lou in?
Sometimes doug is confusing
Well, Lou you've been shit so far. If you're going to go off, now is the time.
Nope. Still shit.
Argh not Lou again, why not put V8 in and go big for a while here?
Thad blowing a good look. Airball.
Lou missing. man......
is Thad's release point on his jumper a little higher?
FUCK YOU LOU!!!
Why is Lou in? He has been horrible.
Motherfuck Lou and that shot he just took
Need a lift here. Something, anything.
Offense looks stuck in mud. We need Hawes back.
They just won't miss this quarter
If the guys would've just made their way open looks, we'd be up by 5 or 6. Just everytime we missed a good one, they went down and converted. Plus those Chalmers early three's.
They're not that much better. Talented yeah, but better as a team, no.
Thing is, teams don't "just make" their open shots, they miss a lot of them and an offense that gets to the line and basket a lot will be better than one that gets all the open 20-foot shots in the world.
Easier said than done.... getting to that basket. you should try, seriously. no offense.
I'll just stick to being a great undersized lawyer.
Smart man.
That said, the Sixers actually are third worst at getting to the rim in the league, fourth best at jacking up long twos. Other teams have an entirely different diet of shots. So this isn't something beyond their control.
Eh, it may be beyond their control. They don't have any first-step take you off the dribble guys, to get consistently to the rim, or do it consistently as they are able to (Lou). Though they have guys that are capable of more of that mind-set, they settle often. Just not a sure-fire player that can get his own on the attack.
To consistently bring up what they're worse or bad at, is egregiously ignoring what they're doing very, very well.
How can you not enjoy it? As much as analyzing it? It's a beaut to witness.
Witness. yeah fuck him
Good point - that's why they need Brand to be good. He gives them an option in the paint.
Not really? He gives them an option from 15 feet when he's on - but not really in the paint...the sixers don't really have an 'in the paint' player - even when hawes is healthy...it's a gaping flaw (that's been around for a long time)
well, down 15. are you just going to roll over? If so, just keep heaving up long twos.
dammit stop shooting from outside early in the clock, that's exxactly what Miami wants!
This is brutal
get them out now and just win tomorrow
Ball is NOT moving side-to-side at all. Just 1-2 indifferent passes and a jumper.
Man, just can't score, can't defend. So frustrating.
Maybe voose can save the day.
Vuc in the game now? WTF?
goddamn these guys can't miss...put Brackins in there and hope they stop to laugh at his mohawk or something...
Doug Collins throwing in the towel. Saving legs for tomorrow night. Not necessarily a decision I disagree with.
Hey! Lou got a foul call!
Collins throws in the towel.
Evan should have given Wade a shove there for hanging on the rim. Can't let them start doing that shit on our home court.
Thats' just asinine
Yes evan should get a technical and risk a suspension for some asinine idea
I know that there are still a lot of games left in the season, but tomorrow night is going to be a MAJOR gut-check for this team.
Pad those stats, Lou.
Not going to read much into this game. Really can't. It's just one of those things, teams have your number, and you're often too jacked. Just secure the W tomorrow night and it's on to the next one.
There were many positives from this game. They can't be ignored. So many subtleties.
You can read into it that the sixers still lck that go to player and the doug collins does seem to stick with lou too much even when he sucks.
The sixers don't have a stopper, or a star, the heat have two super stars, 2 top 10 players in the league - and that alone because of how the nba works makes them far superior to the sixers
This is the kind of game where the 'we don't need a star folk - we can win a championship with this roster' need to pay attention and see what happened in the fourth quarter - the sixers don't have anyone that can play at that level when you need it.
The problem with someone else stepping up every night is that you can't DEPEND on one person to step up when you need it...that's what happened tonight...and that's why I have no 'faith' this team can make the eastern conference finals.
And oh yeah - hawes wouldn't have made a bit of difference incase someone wants to pull that out
Since when was depending on THAT person ever an every-night guarantee?
I'm not sure if you miss my points on purpose - the point is that you need to have that guy who WILL step up - who you can count on - and the sixers don't - yes it's great that there's a different guy every night - but tonight there was no one - and that's because the sixers don't have that wade or lebron or kobe who steps up when needed...period
So do you feel the same way about the Nuggets? No hope until they get a superstar? I don't see them winning a Finals or anything, but it won't be for lack of offense.
At this point you're either being dense on purpose or just trying to incite - whichever - you and tray go back to stroking each other - i'm done with both of you.
that comment went to the wrong place - weird ah well
Oh, sorry.
No, you're just being dumb, not on purpose, but by birth. I'm asking you whether Denver, on account of lacking a superstar that you can be sure WILL step up, can't contend. Even though they have the league's best offense. Now, I don't think they can contend, but only because they're not good enough defensively, not because they lack a superstar who WILL step up and score points. If they played somewhat better defense, they could be the best team in the NBA.
Oh you're a funny guy - good on ya
'dumb by birth' - that's eloquent :)
Sorry, I didn't know it was a two point game. Where that guy could step up ...
yea NOW lou starts making shots, dick
oh wow; i know we're not good enough but this is pretty embarrassing. we are getting sixer-ed. blow out loss.
B for the effort anyway.
We got killed when AI9 was on the bench before they rested LeBron. He went off. That was the game.
Don't think they're going to make big macs tonight.
I just started the 3rd but checked the progress of the fourht quarter on line and i'm not even sure i WANT to watch it
WTF happened?
It was one of the weirder sudden collapses I've ever seen.
how differently does this game shape up if ET gets some of Jodie and bad Lou's minutes in that first half?
Not at all in my opinion. He had 0 rebounds tonight and took all jump shots, not aggressive at all.
Yay, LOu! Great job, buddy.
Eddy Curry's probably still better than Pittman. Kind of disappointed we don't get a Curry sighting.
PHI 79, MIA 99 final.
Not a whole lot to say about that fourth quarter. F the Heat.
Is it even worth watching the fourth?
If you're a sadist, I guess so.
I think you mean masochist, just for accuracy sake
I have no idea who the POTG is. I guess Lavoy. I would say Jrue, but 5/13 from the floor for 11 points doesn't cut it.
thad maybe
Has to be Thad. The only guy who showed up tonight.
Meeks, Allen and Jrue were decent as well. The others were all terrible.
I say Thad, he should have been in sooner in the 3rd. Don't know if it would have changed the game though.
That team just has our fucking number. I guess they have most teams' numbers
+ 1. The whole post.
The sixers aren't as good as the heat - that's a given - they don't have a take over player - they played em good for three quarters but then i see them getting plastered in the fourth and the only thing that comes to mind is someone got hurt - but it sounds like they just shit the bed on both ends of the court?
It was as if they stopped playing once they went down ten. All of a sudden they started playing as if they were the Pistons.
Yeah they really did. Dre was on the bench to start the quarter, and the Heat just didn't miss shots. We took awful shots too, nothing but long jumpshots it seemed.
So - what did the coach do - what plays id he call - to get them to stop taking long jumpers - which they've been living on a bit too much this year.
Iguodala played a good game, didn't he?
welp i for one am almost depressed again...sure will be interesting to see Brian's rotations tomorrow, and hopefully this game will get them V8 back in the lineup tomorrow...
Doug needs to tell them about how those early-MJ Bulls had to overcome the big, bad Pistons in order to get where they had to go....
(unfortunately they got there after he left)
This is why you blow the team up to try to get Dwight Howard and Deron Williams. The Sixers are a good young team, but they aren't beating the heat in a seven game series ever. Id rather take a step back for a year or two and have a chance to be a perennial contender than be "a good young scrappy" team.
Actually I have a hard time drawing any conclusions from this game; we weren't outplayed so much as we imploded.
Yup
However, they didn't persuade anyone who doubts them (like me) that they can compete with the heat in the playoffs, rightly or wrongly, the stars get calls in the playoffs, and the sixers don't have any to get calls in the playoffs
Whatever the reason - giving up, being out played, whatever, the statement they made on wednesday is canceled out by the statement they made in the 4th quarter tonight.
Why do you never crow like this after the good wins?
Only spouting after losses; to the best at that. The Bulls were hopefully 10 better. The Heat are the shiznit huh?
Misguided? Or level-headed? Which one?
Probably pessimistic.
Why do you feel the need to be a nattering nabob with nothing basketball related - and i even let your perfect set up about being a brilliant lawyer go (you were half right)
You have a selective memory you pesky little child...in fact i said good things after the bulls game - yo ucouln't be bothered to remember because it doesn't fit your whining.
Now please - tell us more about demarcus cousins
Shit become a fan of a different team already - please
If anything I think more poorly of this team than you do, but I don't see how one quarter can cancel out the statement we made over four quarters against Chicago and three quarters in this game.
If we could have just made some shots, and avoided the end-result of missing those well-created and good looks. They seemed to knock one down everytime we missed a damn good look. Everything else was OK.
Good regular season lesson. May be a blessing, never know.
lmao please tell me someone else saw Collins' postgame. someone asked a pretty innocuous question about what his message to the team was after a loss like that. Collins stared at him for a few seconds, goes, "My message?" the guy repeats the question, in a totally nondickhead way, Collins stares at him again, then goes, "Go get em guys," while still staring the way he stares at Jrue or Evan after a turnover. one of the funniest things i've seen during one of his postgames.
Did anyone ask him why Voose hasn't played until garbage time tonight though reports were he was ready?
nope, it was a really short postgame. he left pretty abruptly after that question
Interesting - I wonder why - I really wish the post game was televised on league pss - I'd love to see it after a game like this.
I didn't know Lou was shooting 41% from the floor. That sucks.
So does lou really
I don't think Collins knows either
There are going to be those moments in games - late 3rd quarter is a good example - when a good team will force you to keep executing on both ends of the court...and if you don't you are down 10 points quickly. It happened late in the 3rd in Miami and early in the 4th here. I think that is as much a time you need a scorer to step up and get you a basket or two. Jrue hit back-to back drives in the 3rd to keep the Sixers in range, but other than that one baseline jumper by Turner, NOBODY did that in the 4th.
It is SUCH a luxury to have either LBJ or Wade out there in those shoulder parts of the 3rd/4th quarter...you ALWAYS have a dominant option out there. It seemed to me that Wade almost took it personally to show Jrue how it is done...he was VERY aggressive with his offense, and as much as anything, set the tone for the close. No one stepped up and matched his manhood...and we wilted.
With the week we have coming up - Kobe on Monday - we have to find a way to win tomorrow night.
Those baskets or twos you speak of, were in abundance tonight, and very open.
I understand the need for a scorer, but this game didn't display that need to me. It really didn't.
They were? From about the 4 minutes-to-go point of the 3rd quarter through most of the 4th quarter I saw a team that fought like hell to get a halfway decent look at the basket - forget actually scoring. On the other hand, LBJ, Wade and Miller rained jumper after jumper after jumper.
I'n not jumping off of a bridge. They had a BAD quarter...like the Bulls did in the 3rd quarter. But when you don't have that singular guy to either score the ball or force defenses to adjust to you, you have to be flawless in execution, and the Sixers were far from that tonight...and the Heat had a lot to do with that.
We'll just agree to disagree then. Lou and Jodie, in particular, had wide open mid range and deep looks, multiple times. Think EB did too early. Easy open 15 ft'ers. They just didn't finish, and the Heat capitalized after those misses, simple as that.... every single time, that becomes insurmountable eventually.
EB was on the bench when this happened. The Sixers were either tied with he Heat or down 2 when Thad came in for him. Lou got his shots, but the Heat's help defense is so good, whenever he tried to create on the dribble he had 2-3 guys on him and he had virtually no clean looks.
And tonight wasn't one of those nights where he was in a giving mood sadly.
Sixers don't often handle being double teamed well - at least that's how I see it - it seems that the double team flusters them all much more than other teams
You're talking about a specific instance of the game, sort of late, I'm more talking about early in the game, throughout. Looks were there, good ones too.
And they were in the game then. But when the Heat upped the intensity in he 2nd half, we simply could not hang....for tonight at least.
What he said
After Mondays great game Brand has looked like hes a 100 years old out there. I wonder whats going on there---this isn't a back to back situation. He was terrible tonight.
This is such a bad loss for the sixers. Id say this one loss will cost them 5-6000 fans a night for the next few weeks at least. A win, or even a close game would have done wonders for their rep. Now you look back on the week and say--Ok they beat Orlando without Jameer and the bulls without Deng. I put the blame solely on John Hollinger for ranking the Sixers above the heat.
If 5,000-6000 fans stop coming to games because of one game - they don't really have a clue anyway
Not to mention - most of those people you are referring to wouldn't know who john hollinger is - let alone his rankings - which are purely a formula - he doesn't 'place' anyone above anyone.
Brand has looked pretty old all season - monday was the aberration to me...the longer the season goes - with less rest than a normal season - the worse he'll look (like the celtics) - it's not just the back to backs - games are just more frequent - that will accumulate on older bodies...which is why not using voose to spell brand at all if possible the past 3 games when he was reportedly available is weirdd to me
NOt s weird as the dogged dedication to lou even when he obviously doesn't have his hot - but weird
Look, we don't match up well with the Heat. So fucking what. It's one loss. The bucks beat the Heat at home and on the road this year. Some teams just play other teams better/worse. We have now beaten the Bulls 3 out of 4 times. This is no reason to jump off a damn bridge. They own us, simple as that. Let's just hope someone else takes them out in the playoffs.
the sixers have played the bulls once this season
That's the only one that matters so far
They will not meet the 6ers until the ECF. They're gonna finish with the #1 seed, and the 6ers will finish 2 or 3. Advance past the first round, squeak past the Bulls or Pacers in the second. Take your chances at that point.
So during the comcast telecast they put up the quote from doug about this being his 'last stop'. Was wondering what peoples opinions were on it, was it just coach speak, or do you really think he'll last more than his average 2.5 seasons?
Doesn't matter how long he lasts, the point is this is his last stop no matter what. He's never coaching another NBA team, even if he gets fired tomorrow.
I'll believe it when I see it.
Let's say he gets fired tomorrow
Than pat rilley calls and says 'wanna coach the heat' - you think he says, nah, i'm done, i don't want to coach a team with 2 of the 7 best players in the league.
depends if they have a letdown next season. that is assuming of course they continue winning this season & win a round in the playoffs. also depends on whether they upgrade the roster & add a couple missing pieces. Collins is a pretty family oriented guy though, so it wouldn't surprise me if he has already planned this out & has decided this is it for him.
I'm curious to see what happens tomorrow night from aan effort point of view.
I'd also like to see doug maybe start realizing when lou is off - he shouldn't play :)
According to his wife - yes I think that would happen. She told him she wants to settle in Philly or Chicago and that was it - no more moving. Family is in Philly. He's settled. The wife always wins - ask Cliff Lee.
ask elton brand- supposed his wife (and mother) had a big influence on his signing in Philadelphia.
Knicks Celtics tied with 6:30 to play on ESPN (hi def games are just fun to watch)
The Heat did to the Sixers exactly what the Sixers have been doing to other teams all season. The Sixers eventually wilted. Nothings hugely surprising about the game. The heat did not allow the Sixers to score in the half court. While the heat got either a score or a foul nearly every possession they got it in the lane. Couple that with hot shooting from their role players and the Sixers held in their about as long as you would expect.
Did not like how the wheels eventually fell off, or the unsurprisingly one sided officiating, but again nothing really surprising.
The Sixers can beat this team on the right night. But tonight was not going to be that night. And in a series, I just don't see it. Not unless the heat break down and the officiating changes. You can't overcome a foul call on every drive - not when the opponent is a better team to start with.
Well stated. I think they could beat any other team in the East in a 7 game series (could...not would necessarily), but short of an injury to the Heat, I don't see the Sixers beating the Heat unless either Jrue or Turner (or both) grow up in a hurry. To be fair, Jrue tried in the 3rd quarter, but other than Allen, he didn't have any help.
I don't see them beating the bulls either - not in 7 games - not in the playoffs - a guy with a game like rose will get all the calls come playoff time- and deng is a real good defender
Kenyon Martin signed 1yr deal with Clippers
If you're watching the knicks game you have to feel bad for the knicks right now
all true tk76. Its too bad Dwight Howard doesnt want to come here. The fans would worship him. Im not saying he specifically said he didn't want to come here but he didnt say he did either.
If Dwight Howard truly meant it when he said 'i want to win' - he'd wait until the off season and come to philaelphia because the only roster piece that's currently contributing that the sixers would lose is elton brand - so this defense adds dwight howard.
It's why I wish he would just stop spouting lies.
in fact i was thinking the other day how carmelo seems to get less grief than lebron - and people say it's because of 'the decision' - and i don't think it is - it's because he lied - he knew - well in advance - he was going to miami - they admitted it - so he was lying for a year - to the cavs - to other teams about how he was looking forward to free agency - his decision was made before the season started.
Carmelo (through his people, whatever) just came out and said it - i'm only going to re-sign with new york - i won't re-sign with anyone else - don't trade me anywhere else - whether you agreed with his tactics - he was honest about it.
I think people are offended by the dishonesty of lebron - and i'm offended by the dishonesty that dwight seems to be spewing - using 'god' as a crutch about the bulls - giving bulls fans hope - be honest - in the long run the honesty will limit the hate.
Of course this is just something that occurred to me the other day listening to a radio host talok about how lebron hate was because of the decision and people hate melo less - but it occurred to me that it was the lie.
I don't know if defense is as simple as addition, there's probably a ceiling on how good you can be and adding the DPOY to a great defense that's been structured around lacking a good defensive center may not be as huge of a plus as one would think.
What's the ceiling, shutting teams out?
Adding Howard allows the great perimeter defenders they have to be more aggressive, knowing they have help behind. It also allows them to get into transition off misses more often, because they don't have to suck back to help out on the defensive glass. It also wouldn't hurt on a night like this to be able to give the ball to Howard on the blocks with Udonis Haslem guarding him when you're in a drought where you can't hit a shot.
Just finished watching on DVR... my girlfriend (who was sleeping) is terrified I'm going to hurt myself or someone else.
2 things:
1. Refs weight the dice, wow.
2. Sixers bend over for Heat once again.
Fuck me.
Game story (with Thad Young video interview):
http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/sixers/heat-burn-sixers-in-fourth-quarter/article_3aa9c2c8-6d19-5b56-b677-7f921427b4a4.html