Dwight Howard has gotten some legitimate help, personally, from the moves the Magic made in December, but has the team improved overall? We'll get our first look at the new-look Magic tonight as the Sixers close out the first half of their schedule.
Lineups
- PG: Jrue Holiday vs. Jameer Nelson
- SG: Jodie Meeks vs. Jason Richardson
- SF: Andre Iguodala vs. Hedo Turkoglu
- PF: Elton Brand vs. Brandon Bass
- C: Spencer Hawes vs. Dwight Howard
The tip is at 7pm. I'll be right here throughout, join me kiss the first half good bye.
One other late key. The Sixers got back to giving hard fouls at the hoop in the second half of the Charlotte game. Keep an eye on whether that trend continues. It's a key to their defensive scheme and it had been absent for some time prior to last game.
This is the rare opponent where I would not want many of their players for the Sixers (at least not with their current contracts.)
Asside from Howard, is their a current Orlando player you would want for the Sxiers? Maybe JRich with a more reasonable deal?
Basically, the are sort of like Cleveland the year or two before Lebron took his services elsewhere.
I think JJ Redick wouldn't be a bad fit.
Reddick has a somewhat reasonable deal for only 2.5 years more. But He's not really what the Sixers need right now. He's a specialist on a team that needs more than that.
He'd be a tremendous upgrade over Meeks, and a definite starter. I'd rather have him than Lou, definitely.
I don't see Reddick as a "definite starter" unless you are talking a token Meeks/Hawes type starter.
If you started Reddick exactly where would that leave Turner?
And I think Reddick is a product of playing on the floor with a dominant center. It masks his weaknesses on both ends of the floor. Meeks would be nearly as good for the Magic.
On today's roster, he's the starter. Sixth man if/when Turner eventually gets that role back. He's an upgrade to our current starter, on both ends. Can't really argue that.
Interesting Fagan note: The Sixers are 5-1 when Lou scores 20. A bit surprising to me.
They're also better when Lou takes less than 10 shots (8-9), 10 or more shots (8-13).
Stats like that don't really mean anything beyond the obvious. When Lou is on, his scoring helps the team. When Lou is off, he's a team killer. That's what happens when you give too many possessions to a streaky gunner with 27%+ usage rate. You live and die by him.
Pretty much the most misleading stat i've seen regarding Lou will. Should be how many possessions he's taken in a game. That stat makes the reader go "oh, give lou will the ball, he must be good" when it's far from the truth. It's misleading because it doesn't say how many possessions he scores the 20+ in. I'm sure if you looked at the most possessions he's taken in a game i'm sure you'd see a stat that doesn't stand out.
Its partly a result of the Sixers lacking many way to win. The can't really shut you down defensively (despite their favorable D numbers prior to Iguodla's injury.) The lack shooters or post play.
So they need someone individually to go off- and Lou is often that guy.
They are also:
4-0 when Thad scores 20
5-2 when Jrue scores 20
2-1 when Meeks scores 20
1-0 when Noce scores 20
1-0 when Turner scoers 20
Interestingly, they are a combined 5-7 when either Iguodala or Brand scores 20. But 28-3 when someone other than Iguodala or Brand scores 20.
Sorry, meant 18-3 (so there are some games with mult 20 pt scorers like Jrue + Lou.)
Still, that last stat is just bizarre...
5-7 when either Iguodala or Brand scores 20. But a combined 18-3 when someone other than Iguodala or Brand scores 20.
Not sure if he's the first one to break this story, but w/e.
"Wow. Prokhorov tells Nets to walk away from Carmelo deal..says decision is final."
from http://twitter.com/daldridgetnt
i'm somewhat impressed with Prokhorov.
When you spit in the eye of the russian meglomaniac with the biggest ego in the room, he's typically not going to react very well.
If the Nets are out of it, Denver's leverage has dropped to zero, imo.
Melo should be fortunate that his life was spared by the Russian
I guess he'll have to settle for the mini-giraffe. He'll be glad he did in a couple years, the giraffe will age better.
He wanted "dat one" and the Nuggests kept him waiting.
I'm doubtful he is a patient man. And i wonder how long he tolerates BK and his penchant for "near-miss" mega-deals.
For some reason I don't think this is over until the deadline passes.
And the longer the Melo-drama lasts, the less happens with regards to other player movement (and Iguodala, if he is even on the clock.)
Houston supposedly has been pressing a deal and is even willing to make a deal to rent him.
I think the Nuggets are stupid - they keep thinking they can convince him to stay - they're digging the same hole the Cavs did.
Or this is just brilliant marketing - drop out - no one shows up - and then the nuggets come back and you cut off their nads but still give them something
Nets commimg for Iggy?
Doubtful, they want a superstar for Brooklyn.
True, but thats 3 years away I think, so Avery Johnson might want to win some games before that
Do you see that team winning all that many games with Iguodala? I think even if they got him for nothing (say Murphy and scraps) then it puts them a half a level below ATL or Chicago and a full level below ORL.
Avery JOhnson doesn't run the team
Apparently the meme is out, Lou Williams is the savior this franchise has been looking for since AI3 left town. Makes me sick.
Wait, what, what makes you say that?
Kate Fagan - disappointing again
Also "I wasn't here so we won't talk about the Turner/Iguodala thing" - that's just stupid
Not just her. It's been happening all over.
Eh, Tom had it pretty well covered.
If Lou Williams is being touted as an actual piece, I'm glad. Better trade value, I trust Thorn to realize he's not.
Dear god, if Kate could build the sixers Lou would be franchise PG, and Hawes would be Franchise Center. I'd rather have Eddie Jordan as a philly beat reporter.
It's sad, when she started out she seemed really to know what was going on and not fall for the sixers nonsense spin and the basic idiocy of the philly.com fans - now she does her best to appeal to them
looks more and more like she just had a vendetta against Eddie Jordan, doesn't it?
Well she did. But are you implying she lacked cause?
well, she was hypercritical of Jordan. It became clear she didn't like him as a person. She was right to criticize his coaching, but she eats out of the hand of Collins because he gives her 10 minute sound bytes. I think a quality journalist is objective no matter the rapport with the subject.
She still thinks Hawes makes them better because of his poor mans Vlade Divac passing, and his ability to hit a jumper.
Agree that she is just taking Collins' word. Can't really blame Kate though, she sees him as a great connection in her industry. No matter what, it's her job and she has to get the readers/respect.
That's why blogs are such better resources nowadays, there is no motivation other than passion for the team (in many cases).
If I were a beat writer I'd be on cloud nine after switching from a prickly EJ to their current "great communicator" Collins.
Not only is Collins a breeze to interview, but as a media guy I'm sure he treats other media with more respect than they get from other former players/coaches.
me too, but its alright to criticize a particular coaching move(haven't heard anything critical from her) I don't think he would even take it personally considering his media background
No he would laugh it off... and then crush her- ensuring he never gets a job in the media again... and then secretly laugh evilly Bwahahahah...
Should read: "ensuring she never gets a job again."
Regarding NJ and Melo:
Another BK mega-deal that never saw the light of day. I wonder how much patience the owner has for all of this bluster without tangible results.
OK, I've got the Orlando feed. Wonder if Goukas will mention this blog again w/out saying the name.
i like Lou. he's fun to watch, and no one can guard him.
sure the most fun is to watch a winning team, but if your team (we're all Sixer fans) really isn't great, then isn't it fun to watch individual performances?
I don't really enjoy watching him dribble the ball for 15 seconds, then pump fake, then take a bad jumper. If he's playing w/in the framework of the offense, which he did last game, then I'm fine w/ Lou. The iso "I'm just like my hero, Iverson" crap is a team killer, though. Hate watching it.
He's not fun to watch, he's a ball hog who stalls an offnse and can't play defense, and lots of people can guard him - if no one could guard him he'd start
for the Prohkorov fans. Claims he's never even been contacted by the Melo camp:
"Maybe he sent me an email, but I don't have a computer"
"Maybe the carrier pigeon got lost..."
I guess if you have billions and personal servants you don't have to stoop to actually using a computer. You just ask your people and they get what you need.
Gold, wish sixers had an owned like him
What exactly has he done so far?
He talks a lot of game - but accomplishes very little
and hires billy king as a GM
The sixers owners are a lot like him
At least he is interested in his team.
Prokhorov said this about the internet: "Too much information, it's difficult to filter it." Said he doesn't use it.
And we're off. Hawes loses the tip, shockingly.
Jrue w/ the steal on the double down on Howard, good defensive start.
Brand opens with two jumpers that Howard gives him. Misses both.
Shit. Turnover for Jrue, expecting Brand to fill the lane, but he didn't.
I feel we're gonna get blown out tonight for some reason.
look at the raw power from Hawes
Hawes with a sissy dunk off what should've been a lob from Iguodala. I'll take the points.
Thought that was a clean block by Brand. Guess Hawes got him with the flabby body.
Is this the worst 4 minutes of play by any NBA all season? nice shot Meeks.
Jodie Meeks Experiment - over - now - please
Man, have the sixers shot anything but a brick on their jumpers?
Hedo puts Hawes on a poster. That's brilliant.
See what Hawes just did right there with what should've been a dunk off a pretty pass from Jrue? Yeah, fuck him.
Screw Stefanski for trading for him and also not drafting a big for Jrue.
Jrue for 3 and this is a 2-point game, believe it or not.
Jrue got that same roll in a recent game. Good touch on that jumper
an 18-footer off the dribble for Bass, that's a win defensively.
why did Hawes pass up a dunk to do a 360 and throw a bullet at Elton Brand who was standing a foot away
Because he blows?
Turner second off the bench. For Iguodala, it looks like.
They're going at Lou, had to double in the post, didn't hurt them.
Terrible leaning shot by Lou after a pump fake on the other end.
I can't believe this game is 10-9 with 3:29 left in the first. Neither team can throw it in the ocean.
Finally they hit a jumper. guess that was the second.
Good foul by EB to prevent the lob dunk by Howard. Howard looked pissed too. I hope he goads him into throwing an elbow.
Anderson is in at the four. Thad in for the Sixers, should help minimize the problems of them having a stretch four.
Hawes just got so unbelievably lucky that wasn't an and one. Sissy foul.
Battie is the first big off the bench.
1st quarter appearance by tony battie huh
I knew speights was only playing until battie got back
Pretty drive and finish over Howard by Jrue. Then he picks up a cheap foul. And Anderson wide open for a corner three. Ugh.
YEAH ET!
LETS GO BENCH
Turner for a corner three, in rhythm.
Good work, Thad. Abuse him.
Fuck. Two on Jrue. I hope Collins doesn't sit him for most of the second quarter. He did that shit last time he picked up two in the first.
when thad puts it all together, he's gonna be 25ppg
I'd say a little closer to 30 ppg
he's awesome on broken plays and fast breaks
No he isn't
Because with the defense he plays he isn't going to get the minutes.
He needs to develop a reliable jump shot before that is a possibility.
Excellent defensive first quarter. Offense wasn't what you'd like to see, but I'll take three more like that one.
PHI 21, ORL 17
good quarter. reminded me of the late 90s/early 2000s years. Ugly offense with good hard D.
Best part of that Thad drive was you could hear D12 yell "Come on, Ryan! Damn!" as Thad hit the layup. lol
Lou opens the second with a blown bunny.
SVG is going right at Lou.
Sad last play, no because it didn't go in, but because Turner was ready to carry it and Lou chut him down...
And Turner realizes Arenas can't spell D on the other end.
I'd love to see them go to that well more than once
wow evan turner with some sick post moves
what a block by lou will!!
I wish Speights was still athletic.
if turner had dished that a little higher it woulda been a dunk
I love when ET plays with CONFIDENCE.
Shit, you can't double that weak shit P&R with Redick and Anderson. That's just stupid.
Turner is showing nasty passing skillz
Nice. Defense to offense!
Absolutely love the way Doug is working rotations tonight.
Great basketball so far. Need to find a way to sustain. I love when Hawes is on the bench.
dang speights fightin D12 for boards!!
Man, did you see the position Speights let Howard get on that play? Ugly.
so wait...what are the excuses that elite centers have, for being terrible freethrow shooters? i can't remember.
Hands are too big.
nice timeout Douglas
That and being unwilling to go 'granny style' because it makes them uncool
Get a timeout and get Jrue in for Lou, Doug. Lead is in peril.
Nelson is eating Lou alive.
Put Turner on Jameer, even with two fouls rather have him on the PG than Lou. Turner is being wasted guarding JJ.
Jameer is way too quick for Turner.
whoa pretty much all the guys on the leaguepass ad were on the USA team last summer. just sayin.
Need to keep their head above water through this ORL run. Jrue is back in after the timeout, my guess he's back in for Turner, which makes zero sense.
Anderson can't guard Brand. No prayer.
inside-outside game with D12 is murder on the 76ers
Too many freebies for Dwight. Put him on the fucking line.
Why the fuck is Kapono coming in the game?
To punch JRich in the face.
Good enough reason for me.
3 on Dwight. It'd be nice if he spent the night in foul trouble.
Battie and 1!
cmon El Busto
Jrue running some offense here. Neither Lou, nor Iguodala on the floor with him.
Aaaand, Collins yanks Jrue for the final two-plus minutes. F me.
Ugh, nice work, Kapono.
kapono.
are you f*ckin serious
There goes the lead.
WTF is this lineup? Awful.
Heh, Lou fouled shooting a terrible three. What the hell was Anderson thinking?
I'm assuming that Kapono is in there so that Iggy doesn't play too many minutes. Should try Thad at the 3 instead.
Well, looks like they're going to escape with the lead. And Jameer's hurt, not sure that helps the Sixers, though.
Iguodala can't buy a freebie.
WTF is up with Iggy's FTs this year
I'll take it.
PHI 48, ORL 44 after the first half.
Gotta say, a solid first half and Collins really shuffled the lineup. Everyone should be fresh in the second half. I hope Collins takes advantage of that and keeps the pressure on.
AI9 needs to tag along with Thad next time he goes to the Mark Price school.
would be wise to come out of the locker room attacking the goal, try to get that 4th on Dwight early if you can
Putting Brand/Hawes back out there makes it very unlikely that Dwight picks up a quick foul.
A couple very good trends. Only 5 threes attempted and they've gotten to the line 19 times. Now if they can repeat that and hit better than 63% at the stripe in the second half, I like their chances.
ET deserves to start the half but he won't.
ORL broadcast just said Jameer will be back in the second half.
Pretty play to open the half, Meeks bricks the perfect look at three.
whats new
Brick, brick (o-board), turnover. Not a great offensive start.
turnover.
turnover.
brick.
Ugh, they just really can't buy a hoop and nothing's going to the hole. Jrue needs to go at Nelson, maybe run a play to get him in the post?
Is there some sort of weather issue in florida tonight - this game seems EMPTY attendance wise?
And Jrue comes out. What the fuck?
Lou Williams super star
Did Matt GOukas just say 'whacked in the first round'
Come on Matt - that's my line :)
iguodala no handle tonite
Meeks corner three. About time.
How about hitting a pair at the line, Iguodala?
Nope.
Iggy looks slow and clumsy
This game is very ugly - two ugly ones in a row for the sixers?
Ugly is actually good when you're overmatched. The uglier the better.
Four on Hawes. What the hell will we do w/out him?
smart to foul Howard, no?
Just dribble the ball will ya, Lou? There's no shot clock you know..........
oh my GOD that was AWFUL. also - turner needs to take that 3 at the top of the key. his man was slouching away from him. he can hit it.
anyone get a count on how long Lou just dribbled that ball
That's top notch basketball right there, re: Lou Will's shot clock violation
Evan sometimes plays like there is still a 35 second shot clock.
4 on Howard. Big.
Dwight Howard bails out Tony Battie
That's one of the stupider plays all year
ET
Sick drive and finish by Turner.
EVAN FREAKIN TURNER.
Um - whre the hell did THIS Evan Turner come from?
And another, this time with the flush!
YES! Jrue on the floor and gets the timeout after Turner strips Hedo. Excellent, excellent hustle.
wow, how are the sixers getting to the basket at will?
Dwight's on the bench.
we can concede that there is no way he had possession for a timeout right?
Yep. Jrue was first on the floor, that's why they gave it to us.
Doug Collins is a genius
It's great to see our centers get up to about 11.5 feet to try to block Turkoglue dunks.
So...why can't Jrue and Turner split initiating the offense 50/50, with ET being the Roy-like penetrator and Jrue being the spot-up perimeter shooter?
Or why can't we wait for Evan Turner to adjust to the NBA before forcing Jrue to sacrifice a strong part of his game?
And why does ET have to be Ray Allen?
Jrue doesn't have to sacrifice JACK. He'll get his chances to score the ball...with ET being the facilitator. I just don't understand why Jrue has to be the "inbitiate the offense 100% of the time" PG and Turner has to be the "come off of screens and shoot jumpers" SG - that's all.
Lou Will whenever he wants.
Turner shouldn't have settled there.
Nice job, Jrue.
Turner still needs to learn to take quick shots behind the arc. He has an opening to shoot and holds too long/hesitates. it is a pleasure to watch how easy it is for jameer and lou to finish aroudn the rim.
Good lord - the magic desperately need even the semblance of a back up center - give em tony
layup after layup no D12 -- true brian
Yeah, Orlando doesn't miss Gortat at all. This won't be an issue in the playoffs.
seriously.
Big end to the third.
PHI 70, ORL 43 after three.
Let's go, 12 strong minutes. Finish this.
sure glad Lou insisted Turner give him the ball for the last shot there. what a joke
Lou's shot selection to end quarters is downright horrid.
ET did not look pleased to have to defer to him on that final sequence
Lous shot selection is horrid usually
always down on lou. i dont get it.
I wrote two rather long articles about why i'm down on lou
Lou sucks - lou is the new willie green - willie green had good games too - overall he sucked and i wanted him gone.
You don't seem to remember lou's bad games - only the most recent good one - take his entire career - not just a game here or there - he's a useless ball hog who can't defend
i dont know, man...i like Lou. he's a scorer and most of the time he's fun to watch, imho.
Turner and Jrue have combined for 14 boards.
Whenever Howard gets back in, don't change the game plan. Keep going to the hoop until he picks up his fifth.
So this, let's not start this quarter like the 3rd.
Man, Speights just doesn't fight him for position at all.
I was fine w/ that shot by Lou. He was deep, but open, and any pass would've resulted in an incredibly rushed jumper unless he found someone for a backdoor.
Jesus. Ryan f-ing anderson.
JRich had a foot out of bounds didn't he??
Fucking Lou. Call the timeout now, Doug. Don't let them lose the lead.
Lou's defense might be the worst in the NBA. 2 straight defensive debacles.
man Howard just creates defensive breakdowns. man oh man.
He didn't create that. Lou just ran away from his man.
have to recognize the hot hand, Thad is scorching, gotta go to him until he misses one, probably 2
Brand's turn to foul Howard.
Damn it andre - that time - don't passa
iggy looks terrible keep him out.
Yes - in a close game you should bench your best defender
ew Iggy wtf was that garbage
Jrue to the line. Come on, need these.
And five on Howard. That's huge!
magic w/wo howard is like 2 different teams
How does Turner keep winding up on Anderson?
he's not their best defender tonight chief. he's sore and slow.
He's still their best defender 'chief' and I'm not sure how you can diagnose via television
since Brian said "in rhythm" earlier in the comments i gotta say "and we're on the see-saw"
leaguepassis home broadcast we dont get Zumoff
Why didn't the shot clock reset? That ball was on the rim?
Doesn't matter.
Come on, Jrue. Take over.
JTI on the break together!
unbelievable the way anderson is killing us
EB with two blown bunnies and getting smoked by Anderson.
Lou for Turner.
This game is over.
think it's good to get lou in there with howard out. as long as lou attacks the hoop.
Nice to see that the sixers make Boris Diaw, Kwame brown, and Ryan Anderson look like all stars.
That's what happens when you trade Sam Dalembert for Spencer Hawes.
Can't buy a stop.
Jrue with a sick play to stop redick on the break.
Elton is playing like dog shit
Can't deal with a hard-fought "moral victory" tonight. we need this.
WHy do they need it?
The season isn't over - win or lose it won't impact their season - which at best is a first round loss in the playoffs - why do they need it
or do you need it?
Probably have another two minutes maybe until Howard comes back in. Gotta keep getting to the hole.
Get Lou out of the fucking game.
offensive lineup (like we even have a defensive lineup)
ET and Jrue have been the 2 best players. Please give them the ball for the rest of the game and not lou.
Nope. Lou and Iguodala.
Eb + Lou = us losing this game.
Lou has looked good, so has Young
You're the only person who thinks Lou has looked good it seems
Big defensive play by Iguodala there.
Turner in for Iguodala, huh?
great help d by brand. can we finally get a hoop here please
Nice drive, Lou. Howard's afraid to foul.
that foul was incredibly unnecessary
thad doing exactly what he shouldn't (shooting a contested jumper).
Thad has for the most part been a jump shooter today. Don't think he's attacked the rim very much today. Might be shy because of how bad he was vs Charlotte.
Can't buy a hoop, again. Get the fucking board off this missed FT, please.
Brand's done. And I'm not sure that's such a bad thing. Sixers have scored like 2 points in the last five minutes and they only trail by 2. I can't figure it out.
Brand fouling out isn't a bad thing imo.
Why not go right at D12? It's fucking mind boggling.
In the NBA when the super star has 5 fouls - is it more or less likely the refs will let him get away with stuff instead of fouling him out?
they give him a longer leash, usually. I don't think the refs like Dwight, at all, though.
Same superstar with 13 technical fouls. Refs are not going to favor him
Elton was awful tonight
Keep an eye on when Jrue gets the ball how long is left on the shot clock.
Huge fucking shot by Jrue.
Nicely done Jrue
YES JRUE!!!!!!!!!!
JRRRUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEE takion over!
Hey look
Jrue can make shots with under 2 minutes to go
Look at that doug you putz
Yes Jru. Brian, I know you're psyched to see Jru in there in the last minute.
Now why go away from him?
Nice make by AI9.
Bye Bye Dwight
6 on Howard. Adios!!!!!!!
THE BAT MAN COMING UP MASSIVE!!!!
Dude - that old man was awesome
PUT THE FUCKING BALL IN JRUE'S HANDS FOR THIS POSSESSION!!!!!!!
3 point lead doug - that means defense is important
Love the shot of the old dude kvetching about D12's T. Yes Iguodala. Not sure why you were on the bench - winded?
He's sitting down during a time out and people are complaining
JFC already
It's kind of sad. But Battie is responsible for Dwight drawing his 5th and 6th foul.
give it to Jrue give it to Jrue give it to Jrue
give to lou here i assume to try to give them the dagger? would be nice to see jrue get a shot
And a Lou isolation. Come on.
We need a score here. Magic are never out of it b/c of the three ball.
Hit 'em both, Iguodala. We need 'em.
bailed LouWill out
turner in for D. nice job by lou on that play
Nice. He hit 'em both. Close this shit out, motherfucker.
huge run, direct correlation to Elton on the pine?
I'm sick of Lou's isos...
In that particular situation, I had no problem with a Lou iso...they ran a nice play and got to the line.
They didn't run a play - lou got trapped and Iguodala bailed his ass out by being fouled
thanks to AI9
Wow - executing a play in the guts of the game.
Sweet.
That's not execution.
You don't think Collins drew up that two-man with Iggy?
I do.
In what aspect of sixers basketball this year that you've watched indicates that any plays are drawn up involving lou in the last 2 minutes passing the ball? He doesn't know how
Iggy hits both. That never happens. Is this a sign of better things to come?
Never huh?
Terrible call. Absolute shit.
Come on. Gotta put it away at the line.
Argh. They're free.
why did the sixers not even try for the rebound off the miss? Doesn't it seem like whenever the sixers need an opponent to miss a foul shot, they miss it but then grab the o-board? and we don't even make an attempt
i know we dont want to give up a 3 but we can't just give them another layup like last possession.
those are ET's free throws
F ME!!!!!!!!!!! WHy reach Iggy?
This team is completely cursed. I swear to fucking god.
Lou iso for the win/overtime. We're going to overtime.
hahaha! you were right.
Wow...just wow
Don't you have to touch a guy to foul him? What a call
Fuck.
OMFG! that's not real, isn't it?
he fouled him
No he didn't
i know you guys don't want to hear it, but im giving to lou here.
How'd that work out for you
oh right he picked up his dribble and heaved a shitty 3
Did he touch him? Didn't look like it there. Whatever. Can't even make it close in that situation. Stupid fucking play.
Ryan anderson's pick on thad was more of a foul than Iggy's reach in.
ohhh my godddd how did that not drop
IT WAS A TERRIBLE SHOT - that's how
Shocker. no one else touches the fucking ball. Fuck you, Collins.
A fall-away? That shit had to rim out, you just knew it would.........sheesh
Good call, Brian.
Jrue for another tough shoot
This has to be a joke
Is this your idea of a joke god? just strike me down now
A fall away three. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!!!!!!
Why don't we go to Jrue there? Why Doug must you love Lou so much?
Willie Green gave him the pictures
Guess it's time to bench Jrue, huh Collins?
Howard is out. This is advantage Sixers. Just mercilessly drive to the fucking hoop.
I can't WAIT until it is ET that is taking that shot.
hope you're not holding your breath
No - I'm not holding my breath. It is just very clear to me that Evan Turner will be a WAY better option to take that shot (hopefully sooner rather than later) than Lou is.
Don't you agree?
Sure, I'd agree, if Evan Turner could get his own shot. Right now, he can't.
We were lucky that it bounced really up or we wouldnt even go to ot
that doesn't even happen if TEAM LOU knocks down his god damn free throws
I wouldn't exactly blame team lou for this one. 4 point play is unforgivable.
Yup - you're right - that stupid fucking three by lou at the end with time on the clock was forgiveable.
There's nothing you can do if th eref is calling imaginary fouls
They are gonna put time on and we're gonna get screwed on a tip in b/c that's what kind of dagger this game is gonna be.
.3 seconds. That's a catch and shoot, right? Doesn't need to be a lob. My bet is a corner three for the win.
Pretty sure that it's .4 needed for a Catch and shoot.
I think you need .4 at least to do anything but just heave it like they did don't you?
All the lou will hate needs to be directed at Doug. Lou's just doing what Doug wants.
everyone should just pack the lane here. no way they can volleyball spike in a outside shot.
Their announcers said they had one timeout before the last play. They just called two timeouts in a row. Someone's wrong.
I think their announcers might be worse than ours. Be wrong on time outs and fouls all game.
Jrue and Iggy were shooting better and DC still like to flip coins with Lou...
I see Lou was on the floor. For his awesome defense I believe.
Thank christ.
that shot would not have counted.
That was still way too close for comfort.
PHI 90, ORL 90
Show some fucking balls in this overtime, huh? Howard's out. Just jam the ball right down their fucking throat.
My girlfriend just asked me, after watching the last 10 minutes of the game with me, "why are you so mad, they're going into overtime at least".
I wanted to shit and punch a wall.
Lou!!!!
I suggest being single for a while
or xanax
I can't believe that shot didn't fall. It seemed like one of those nights.
why is nobody bad mouthing iggy for that bonehead f-ing foul? our best defender.
http://www.depressedfan.com/basketball/sixers/game-41-thread-phi-orl.php#comment-138698
They are probably burning an effigy of him at the Philly sports board for that and the airball.
Very happy with most of what Collins does, but that Lou and the end of quarter shit HAS to stop.
Super-small lineup, but at least Jrue's on the floor to stand in the corner.
I know it was a freak situation, with that 4-point play. But then again, why is Lou still our clutch-time free throw shooter?
Watch Lou cost us this game in OT...again.
Nice job, Lou.
Come on Iguodala, hit these fucking freebies.
Get Lou out ofthere. Please.
thanks, guess i just missed that brian. mental mistakes bother me 100X more than missing foul shots at the end.
He didn't touch him the ref made a shit call
what it seems like is that Andre Iguodala bothers you and louis williams is a perfect basketball player
the sixers have six points in over time
who has em all - and some key rebounds
Who just FOULED JJ Redick on the 3?
Get the fucking ball out of Lou's hands.
Great job, Lou. Great fucking job.
1. Have a close game
2. foul a three point shot
3 ???????????
4. PROFIT!
How much more do we have to suffer until we see Lou on the bench in crunch time when he's handing the other team the game???
can we trade lou a team we don't like?
speaking of mental mistakes.....
Lou just trying to lose us the game.
Lou taketh away way more than he giveth back.
Hey now that the carmelo stuff is over - maybe they can trade lou
It would be a miracle.
Someone please ask Collins why Lou is his point guard in the most important times of the fucking game. Jrue made two huge fucking plays down the stretch, he's barely touched the ball since. I hate life.
going to say this....barring heroics, this will be our worst loss of the year. given the opponent, the momentum, the way the team played defense for almost all of the game.....this will be the worst.
Losing to the wizards
twice
in over time
worse losses
Orlando is at least a better team than the sixers
the wizards just suck
IM A BOSS
For Sale: Gunner who raps and loses games with selfish play. Will occasionally win you a game. Still in his prime.
Wonder if Collins is going to dust off Kapono so he and Lou can run a two-man game.
Turner should have passed that, he was rushing.
There were very few seconds left on the clock - every player would have done the xact same thing
Evan could drop 30 on 15 shots and you'd say he should've passed more.
this
the good thing about this is we don't ever have to worry about ET dropping 30. ever
It's nice to know you so dependably prove to people what they're saying about you
Dag, Magee, you so dependably prove you're not a man of your word- twice. Thought you weren't responding to me ever again? You just can't help yourself, can you? lol
You have GOT to be kidding me.
Your incessant ripping of Turner is one of THE most annoying one-note acts that I have EVER seen on an internet board (and as jem can attest, I have seen some DOOZIES over the years).
Wait, can I attest that you have been some of the doozies - the angry old man act for instance :)
Sshhhhhh...don't tell anyone....
Hey - you never figured out my act - people won't figure out yours :)
I'm done. Fuck this.
god that was awful
doug - keep the ball in jrues hands please
FUCK
Unbelievable. We should be 21-20. We don't deserve shit.
iggy and lou team up to lose us this one
I am Depressed.
Uggh. I hate this feeling, I wish we just would have got blown out by 20 then suffer a loss like this.
that was a fun game to watch.
not sure why anyone is expecting the 76ers to win, especially against good teams.
Spin it so your boy doesn't look like he's at fault.
Hate to go here but it's probably better we lost this game as it would have done nothing but caused me to somewhat get my hopes up just like after the last CHI game.
This one didn't even hurt as bad as the DET game, to me.
who's my boy
kinda lost here
Louis.
yea L Will is "my boy" just like the rest of the 76ers that I enjoy watching play basketball are my boys. wait am i defending myself on the internet?
How many fucking ways can you turn a W into a L??? This is ridiculous... Magic hit 2 - 4pt plays... both potential winning shots by Lou and Iggy do everything but go through the hoop.... fuck!
Unbelievable. Games like this make me wonder why I'm going to watch tomorrow. That was so upsetting, much moreso than the Wizards or Hawks bed-shittings.
So many reasons it hurts more, but I think the #1 reason is Doug C.'s insistence in making Louis Williams the go-to guy. There is truly no reason at all for it, and yet guaranteed, Doug will say "Lou played a great game, 19 points" and the rest of us will vomit.
Exactly Sixers are a bad team and bad teams find ways to lose close games and Good teams find ways to win close games.
how many more times will they let Lou cost them the game
Someone who hasn't been blocked by Lou Williams on Twitter ask him why he thinks pump faking and taking an off-balance three is a great shot.
agree that was the most upsetting. missing FTs at end is disheartening but mental losses at the end are absolutely infuriating. we have 3 of them this year. iggy fouling on a 3, jrue fouling on a 3, and iggy not fouling before that wizards douche cartier martin gets off a 3. 3 mental losses with basically no time left on the clock. just outrageous.
All the lou will hate needs to be directed at Doug. Lou's just doing what Doug wants.
Follow up. Last year Eddie Jordan was blamed for putting Lou in at all the wrong times. Why is it that Doug Collins doesn't get any blame?
He gets a lot of blame - or haven't you been reading closely?
he gets hate for it on the blogs. The papers never really criticized Jordan until he was fired (Fagan would offer an occasional shot, but never detailed). The Philly press is a joke, never critical so they can get interviews.
It's a fine line as a beat writer - if you are too harsh on the team - you can lose access - and you'll get fired
And before people go off on the announcers - they work for the team
lou's worst came in OT. you can't blame him for the last shot. especially considering he won the last 2 games for us at the end. but my lord he was awful in OT.
Unbelievable plays by Lou and Iggy.Also,Jrue didn't even run a single play in OT.That's just ridicilous.I wonder wtf was Collins thinking.
And Turner,holy fuck,what the hell was that ?! Why didn't you pass it out to Young or Jrue ?!(I couldn't see who it was)
So...Iguodala has an iso play to win the game...misses the shot...Turner gets the rebound...and you think that - rather than try to get a shot up before the buzzer (which he knows is going off literally ANY SECOND) - he should have pulled it out or passed it to someone?
Wow.
I think that's the general gist of a few people :)
I can't imagine the abuse Turner would've taken from Collins, Iggy (maybe an elbow?) et. al. if he hadn't attempted a shot there.
I agree Jason. If the coach says "give it to lou and run iso" why yell at lou? agreed that he took a horrible shot at the end there, but he bailed us out of the previous 2 games. 2ndly, I agree that Jrue deserves a chance with the ball at the end of games. But if you think an iggy fade away is better than a lou iso at the end of games, you are wrong. the problem is, all too often both iggy and lou settle for iso jumpers at the end of games rather than driving and dishing, which is what jrue would do for sure. i hope.
Of all the terrible-ness that was this game, I liked that Jrue attempted to take over despite the efforts of his coach and selfish teammate and AI9 had some swagger in OT at least. I want Iggy to be the Iggy that was playing in OT. He was aggressive and getting into the paint. Maybe we need him to get screwed on a call in the first quarter of every game so he can go into eff you mode and play that way all the time.
did Lou have Bass switched onto him on that last play? And the best shot he could get was a fadeaway 3?
I'll answer my own question because I just saw the replay. Yes, he had Bass on him. That's unbelievable.
No Dwight to protect the rim, you've got Bass on a combo guard with 5 seconds left, and he settles for a fadeaway 3?
Mind boggling.
You're up 4 and instead of just contesting a 3 pt look with a hand up (you're still up one if it goes down), you reach in as the guy starts to elevate? With minimal time left? Guess he had Cartier Martin flashbacks where he just stood there and looked at him shoot it.
Jrue not getting the ball at the end of regulation or OT after he made 2 buckets in a row, one of them very difficult? The play after he made the second one, DC calls a Thad/Dre two man handoff where Dre did actually convert it. But why not call Jrue's number again? (and don't think he called it again the rest of the game?)
Evan seemed to have Lou wide open at the arc after the o-board but apparently wasn't aware of the time amid all the chaos. Oh well, guess he was just trying to throw all the believers a shred of rope and be the hero of hope.
Hmmmn.....that sounded rather fitting....hero of hope?....nawww, doesn't quite ring as well as Evanordinary! But,.. what if you put them together?
Evanordinary! - hero of hope
Keep trying kid, you're going to be a pre-MVP Kobe one day. Might be the senior league at the Y, but it'll come.
....busted waste of a #2 pick..........thanks management, heck of a choice to put with a growing point guard.....he didn't need a shooter he didn't need a big to finish he needed CPOY Evan friggin' Turner..wise choice indeed.........
For the record, your choice with that pick hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire, and he's about to turn 24.
huh? Favors?
Wes Johnson, don't change your story at this point.
Go check your archives then. What was my comment and reaction on lottery night? (You even questioned how you were surprised that I wanted the younger player) The Wes Johnson talk/hype was only brought about b/c published reports were stating that we were going with a guard around the time of the predraft workouts. So if that was the route management was going, my choice of the two (ET,Wes) was Wes b/c of the better fit between Jrue and Andre which I went into detail and explained clearly also in your archives.
Don't twist things like the rest of 'em.....
From the post titled "Favors":
"Wesley Johnson should be the pick. Hope Collins isn't blowing smoke. Whether that's at #2 or lower, get this guy on our team. He's gonna be a potential star."
Boom Rich did better research than I did.
If memory serves, you were on Favors the night of the lottery, then switched to Johnson around the time of the draft. And memory definitely serves.
So, it that not exactly what I said above?
Alright, set the record straight for us. You wanted Favors, only you changed who you wanted to Wes Johnson when it seemed clear the team was going to take a perimeter player. Then after the draft, when you started ripping the franchise for making a mistake, you only went halfway with your logic and said they made a mistake in not taking Wes Johnson for some reason, but you wouldn't go so far as to say they should've taken Favors because management, who you were already criticizing for making a mistake, said they were going to take a perimeter player. And now, once Wesley Johnson is playing just as poorly as Turner, you're willing to rip management and go back to saying they should've taken Favors. Does that sum it up?
The summation? They should have taken anyone but Turner.
I'm not saying anything on how any player is playing at this point, poorly or not. I'm not so sure that Wes Johnson or Favors would be playing 'poorly' if they were on this team in different situations.
You said initially that "my choice for that pick..." and my choice was originally Favors on lottery night, but as stated above when it became clear from workout reports that he wasn't in the running I made a choice between the two players being talked about in the press.
If you're going to attempt to make me whatever you're trying to make me then why are you leaving out Greg Monroe and Ekpe Udoh, who I was all over before lottery night when it was assumed we were getting the 6th pick?
And you guys conveniently left out the archived links of why I stated that Wes was a better 'fit' with the current personnel we have.
How about that answer to question #2 :)
I am so glad I missed this game. It would have been real bad for my health.