Even though the loss occurred only a little over two months ago, the Sixers have seemingly undergone two transformations since dropping a game in Utah. They rode the wave of success out to a 20-9 record, then fell back to Earth over an 11-game stretch. Now they've committed to Iguodala, Turner and Holiday as their starting perimeter threesome. Can they avenge an early-season failure? Let's find out.
Beyond seeing if Evan Turner can come close to reproducing the success he enjoyed against the Celtics on Wednesday, tonight's game is going to be about how the Sixers can handle a front court which physically dwarfs their own. Al Jefferson has had a ton of success against the Sixers, the key is to push him as far from the hoop as you can, and just let him use 20 shots to score his 20 points. He rarely turns the ball over, so doubling probably isn't a good solution. Just don't let him get good position underneath and don't let him get cheap points on the offensive glass.
It'll be interesting to see if Collins puts Evan Turner on Devin Harris, or if that was more of a matchup-specific decision with Rondo in the Boston game. I expect to see Vucevic back in the starting lineup with Thad back in his usual role off the bench.
This is absolutely an important game. Oddly, a win will go down as just another win against a sub-.500 team, while a loss would be another black mark against a winning team (UTA is 19-19 coming into the game). But beyond the larger trend, the Sixers need to put this W on the board and back it up with another on Sunday to build up some cushion before playing three really tough games next week at Indy on Wednesday, then a home/away back-to-back against the Heat and at the Bulls next Friday/Saturday. They have to get this one tonight.
The tip is at 7pm (on NBATV for the out-of-towners). This is your game thread. I'll be right here throughout. Join me if you feel like we're watching the beginning of something (JTI dominance?) or maybe the end of something (This core group's last chance to prove they can work together before major changes are made). Either way, it should be fun.
Prediction: PHI 105, UTA 93. Utah's defense is suspect and the Sixers have been scoring pretty well for the past week or so.
I can't figure out who is worse defensively Amare or big Al Jefferson.
Flip a coin.
Battie is starting, not Voose, per Collins.
Jrue said on sixers.com that he is on Harris.
Yep, just saw that as well link. Good to see.
Really looking forward to this one.
If Turner goes back to his earlier form we can forget Wednesday ever happened.
Hoping that WONT happen is my primary reason for watching this game.
If you judge players one game at a time you're going to get whiplash
I don't. But in the interest of being even remotely optimistic about turner, I like to think that the turner from Wednesday is the REAL turner, not the crap we saw for the 15 games prior to that.
So, when you say you don't, you mean you are. You are judging one game and it makes you hopeful compared to 15 games when you had no hope. So 6.25% has more sway on your future hope than 93.75%?
Laker fans had 'hope' after the lakers beat the heat on sunday - they don't any more
Who impacts the game more tonight, Evan or Derrick? By the end of the year maybe a Jrue for Favors trade will work.
Why would that 'work' - you plug one hole by creating another?
If Turner becomes our p.g. than rather than try to draft a big, pick up a shooter and allow Jrue to play the point in Utah.
Oh I didn't realize that the sixers used Jrue Holiday as an actual point guard?
And I can't be behind any plan that says 'evan turner point guard'
If Turner plays 50 games like Wednesday's that doesn't make Jrue suddenly superfluous, let alone one game.
Yeah I don't know why people are even suggesting trading Jrue. Missanelli was saying it on his radio show today, let's see if they can consistently play well together before we talk about trading either.
gotta be honest here...i been secretly saying that for a while. jrue has never really impressed me. having said that, i really hope he takes that leap and becomes the all-star that everyone believes he can be.
These guys on NBA TV kind of make me long for the ESPN pregame crew. OK, maybe not. But they're terrible.
And we're off. I guess the Sixers won the tap but I missed it because NBA TV doesn't know when to cut to the fucking game. Eff you.
NBA studio guys think we're tuned in to see only them apparently. About time........
That's enough turnovers for this quarter. No more.
Bleh, terrible start. Come on.
jrue to dre
Give and GO!
There we go. Let's run.
Give and go, AI9 to JH back to AI9 for the slam!
nice alley oop from jrue to iguodala on a give and go.
followed by a jrue foul on a jumpshooting devin harris.
That was a really pretty play. just sayin'...
Jrue fouls Harris on the jumper, ugh.
Looks like UTA is trapping Turner.
Turner dunk off the handoff, nice.
Fucking sloppy.
turner with the turnaround.
That was like an inside pivot or something.
Bad pass Dre. come on lazy
brand didn't flash as quickly as iguodala thought he would, had to hold on to that for half a second longer.
Collins is not pleased w/ 4 turnovers in the first 4 minutes and change.
Jrue is getting taken so often and seemingly easy at times. Like his lateral movement is not as up-on-his-toes as it once was. And probably so with this wear-you-out schedule. Not unexpected. I'd hate to have to play it, even at his age.
Don't like this. My stream is lagging and all I see are turnovers and Jazz buckets
Turner rushed that one. Didn't need to.
seems like the jazz are trapping every pick and roll
Smart teams would trap everything the sixers do - they handle traps awfully
Finally something in the paint. Let's get some stops, huh?
Entry pass resulting in two from Battie? yeah i'll take it
Did EB just not see that ball or something? ugh
not liking the effort from Dre thus far, pick it uop
Fuck me. They're getting out-hustled here. Put Thad in for Battie.
Thad to the line. He was looking to pass that, but Turner wasn't looking. Worked out.
Losing all 50-50 balls right now ... ugh.
They need to realize this is gonna be a typical Jazz grinder affair. More physical and not as finesse type of game, I like when we play them cause it can lend insight.
Thad. Did he just mis-time his jump? Pass may have been too hard though..
thad
Nice work, Thad. And good job giving it back to him by AI9.
Thad J. Off of the third time or so where everyone has thrown quick, crisp, decisive passes.
Another turnover.
Give the ball to Voose on the blocks. He can abuse Al Jefferson.
Josh Howard is still in the league?
Lou, that's a bad fucking shot.
Too early Lou, you can get that look anytime from out there. COme on
Thad again...
turner +1
ETAND1
ET+1 in transition. Nice. Good push and find by AI9.
ET +1!
way to absorb that contact and go through it kid
Iguodala with two big rebounds, pushes it up to Turner for the and 1
Turner drawing the contact and putting the ball in.
AI9 has 4 dimes already.
How's he going to get 20 points if he's passing?
Nothing super about that star.
He has a pep in his step tonight thus far. ^Andre
Too easy for Favors.
Put Turner in the post w/ Watson on him.
Lazy pass again. dag.....
Thad to the line, again.
thad to line who made a nice cut
It's pretty full in there tonight, but you can't tell it from the noise factor. Far from it actually.
Nice weak side help, Favors. Hi.
I hate watching Favors play. Makes me sad.
i wish the sixers had big who can do what favors just did
Lou to the hole. Now don't lose Miles in the corner, please.
Get a Lou for one here! well, they did but only like 2 secs shit
wow Meeks. Over the backboard? hahaha
Nice tip in big fella...
That shot Meeks missed at the buzzer was from like one foot behind the three-point line and he hit the shot clock on a line. Ugh.
PHI 25, UTA 27 after one.
Gotta pull it together here in the second quarter. Sloppy, sloppy first on both ends.
Think he's pissed?
lol
I'll be right back, need to order a set of MaxTall inserts.
NBA TV Commercial? They're the bestest
Happy Birthday Harvey.
We had to shot almost 60% to be in this game. Jazz are at 50%. Now let's cut down on those turnovers, D up and push the ball.
*shoot
ET and Dre playing well. Let's hope we see some Jrue and Brand to start the 2nd.
Harvey Pollack is so old. Can't believe he's still doing his thing.
Whistles are going the Sixers' way so far.
Turner has a mean streak to him that I don't think any other Sixer has.
Dre has it when he plays Carmelo. I hope he brings it back out on Sunday.
Iguodala can play tenacious one on one defense, particularly if the other team is trying to post him up. But did you see that rebound where Turner and a Jazz player both got your hands on it? Turner wrestled it away from him like "get your hands the f--- off my ball" and I don't think any other Sixer has that attitude.
I agree. And you actually being right is sad, for team sake.
good job voose
Pick #21 abusing Pick #3.
Wait, Voose wasn't #21. What was he? Man, my brain is mush.
16
Meeks needs more air space than that.
Shit, Favors again.
Lou to the line. I have no idea how he caught that pass from Jodie. That was a c hair away from being a layup for Watson.
I bet old Derrick could be a heck of a pick setter, not to mention roller.
COme on... too easy
Can we sub Jrue in for Meeks, plz?
Why has Jrue been on the pine for so long?
He's still on the bench.
Yeah I'm asking why he has been on the bench for so long.
Sorry, baseball reference. Should have said why has he been on a plastic chair for so long
No idea.
Our transition D looks desperate.
Come on, Lou.
Sixer interior defense is pretty awful tonight.
It's usually pretty bad, most teams can't take advantage to the level the Jazz can
Other teams have kobe bryant so they get in pissing matches with Lou Williams
Defense, especially transition defense, has been a joke. No urgency on that end.
Thad w/ another J. Nice setup by ET.
Always liked Earl Watson, got to get Lou off of him though.
eb
I hate watching Lou on the court today, he's playing solo
Lou plays solo most games, if not all games, the only difference is the percentage of shots that go in.
meeks gets bailed out
Let's go, the PA system is trying to get the crowd revved up.
Take control of this game already!
OK, Jrue's finally coming back. That took a long time.
Great trap.
Come on, Jodie. Gotta hit those.
needed that 3 to drop, Jodie. Good D though forcing the jump ball.
Good defense by Evan, best he's played all the way through this year. wow
and that was meant as 'all the way through' a whole possession by the opponent, not ever letting up
Great D by Turner. He's played a great first half.
Would be nice if Jodie hit that.
Great D Jrue
Good D Jrue, you looked sort of mad on that one. Good.
"0 for 2 is his specialty" ;-)
Well damn Jrue. good hustle though kid
JTI needs to take a stranglehold of this game on the defensive end.
Turner can't pick up his dribble there. He put Jrue in a crappy spot.
I'd like to see a run here.
* by the Sixers
Jrue turnover. 2 free points. Fuck me.
Just a great job by Dre to keep active on that one, but ugh o-board putback .. sheesh
Elton what the fuck are you doing
Turner stole that ball back. Great job. Thad J.
some how that ended in a thad jumper
What the hell took EB so long to throw that pass?
Thankfully Thad took care of it.
Thank you Thad. A damn four on one turned into a 15 ft J.
Good job EB. Jrue gotta finish that or get the foul. Come on.
That's better.
i wish there was a metric for turning garbage into gold. i think thad would lead the league
Starts on the defensive end.
Great D by Thad on Millsap.
Ugh
We are getting punished inside. The defense has been worse than what the score says it is.
Turner's been very quiet for a few minutes here. Not getting very many touches.
Got to finish hard here, step it up a notch and get at least a little lead of 6 or so....
I'm so tired of Rick Kamla breaks.... damn
Fuck me. All 18 Utah points this quarter have come on either layups or free throws.
jrue 3!!!
Jrue 4 3! Lets goooo
Jrue43.
Turnover UTA.
Come on, take the lead here. Finish this fucking half strong.
Good shuffling by Vuc there. Not seen him do that before.
Great fucking drive and dish by AI9 for the emphatic slam.
Dre serving it up on a platter!!
Dre jamming!!!! Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh
great pass lou
There we fucking go. 7-0 run, great pass by Lou.
Fucking o-board.
Great over the top pass by Lou.
Go to work Thad.... ugh he passed it out to Lou, not good result
I HATE GIVING THE FOUL WHEN YOU WOULD'VE GOTTEN THE BALL BACK!
Jodie is a defensive specialist now Doug?
He put him in because the foul they gave was Jrue's second. Why they gave the foul is beyond me. Stupido.
Even though I feel like I'm settling, I somehow feel good about this 2 pt lead. Don't ask me why...
PHI 49, UTA 47 at the half.
Good finish to the second, but I cannot recall a quarter where a team scored all their points in the paint.
Really? the Jazz did that?
Awesome play by Lou. He didn't feel like throwing it up and hurting your percentages. Never seen him do that before.
has to protect that stellar 40% from the field...
anyone have any idea why Jrue's minutes are getting cut right now?
He hasn't been great, but I wouldn't worry about it. See where he is at the end of the game.
I wasn't worried, just surprised when I looked at the box score and saw he had fewer minutes than Brand.
Personal foul trouble, I think.
Need to clean up the defensive glass. Dare them to make a couple of jumpers. Pack the lane.
And now I have to watch highlights of Biyombo blocking shots. Ugh.
I would love to see ET or Jrue come out and be aggressive to start the third
So would you trade Nocioni for Blatche and Javale?
Yeah, my heart just beated.
Good drive, Turner. Need stops.
And they had to subsequently not show the inbounds pass to start the 2nd. Damn nbatv
good pass to attack the trap
Good work getting it to Battie next to the hoop. Another stop.
that little step back move from ET is really effective in getting some space
Stop fouling.
Three on Jrue. Don't pick up a cheap fourth one. That fucking foul they had him give. God damnit.
turner to dre
ET to AI9!!!!!!!!!
Collins with the depressed-fan stance.
He's an addict too?
Wow Evan great D again...
Fucking turnovers. That was some ugly ball, right there. On both ends. I especially liked Millsap catching a pass w/ his face.
elton isn't getting it done tonight, yeesh
Jrue drive and dish. Good job. Get a stop.
Keep plugging away here....
Jrue got there, but passed it, EB!
Didn't see a foul there.
Can't have a rhythmic game vs the Jazz, so many stoppages of play.
ew Jrue
Brand didn't roll. Jrue's going to get the hook for that.
we might not see jrue for a while
And that's definitely not rhythmic from Jrue Holiday on that pass, just terrible.
And of course doug yanks him for that
Good work ET and Thad.
I like Evan's one-man break, but I'm an outlet man when it comes to breaking, wish he'd do more of that. Just look ahead.
ugh, there's no flow to this game
Bad O possession there, they should hang their heads.
The defense is growing the lead while the offense tries to give it right back.
turner +1
When Lou gets trapped or doubled, he either splits it or he just gets super cautious which kills whatever flow the offense had prior to that point.
Yup. You never, ever see a quick pass to create the advantage. He's so bad in that situation.
Sick pass from AI9, ET w/ the finish +1.
Hit the freebie, then just keep defending and scratching out hoops like that.
gotta love that sequence
Whooptie-do!! Dre w/ the behind-the-back precision to ET lefty doopsie-do!
Don't want to jinx it, but so far this is a repeat of the Turner we saw vs. BOS.
Dont' want to jinx it either though. But that's an awful lot of control they've afforded the young man. And burn.
Damn EB, you're a vet... can't have this shit.
EB's arguable best asset is his stout pretty consistent post defense. Pretty bad when you think about what he was paid and brought here to do initially.
Blow the fucking whistle. That was a walk and a half.
Turner three was 3/4 of the way down. Damnit.
lou +1
Lou contact, drops. Make the freebie.
Lou+1.
Think Hayward had a foot on the line there.
Lou43!
I know what we can say with regards to Evan, he's leading the team in minutes so far again late in the third again tonight.
Lou 3!
Vuc jumper in an out. Blehh.
Sick rebound by Iguodala, pushes it up for a Lou 3!!!
AI9 needs to get to work on the glass if he wants a pathetic triple double. 10/5/7 so far.
10/6/8
Yep. 10/6/8. My bad.
Lou jumper. Nice. Let's go, stops.
Damn Favors again, ugh
Favors again.
Jrue would have loved you buddy....DF
voose to the line
Voose to the line. An extreme rarity.
Come on, push this to 7 or 8 by the end of the quarter.
Jrue is awful right now, what is he doing?
Come on Jrue.... Vuc whew
Good hustle to stop the turnover, I'd prefer you didn't have to do that to stop the turnover, though.
Voose back to the line?
wonder if the "demotion" is hurting Jrue's confidence
He looked fine the other night. Who knows. It wouldn't be the Sixers if there wasn't something bad to go along with something good.
I said to let it commence. Not sayin' it will, just sayin'...
It has to be, no doubt
They have time here to get a decent look w/ 5 sec left after this defensive possession.
If Favors is permitted to take that many steps, I want him on my team. Damn
PHI 78, UTA 68 after three.
Great end to the third. Now keep the defense up here in the fourth and you've got this. Don't let them claw their way back into it. Bench needs to do a much better job on D than they have to this point.
No Meeks in the third Q at all.
Good push to lead it by 10 going into the 4th. Need to come out hot and energized now. Don't let them come close right from the start of the quarter.
aaannnnndddd you don't get to see the inbounds pass to start the 4th qtr... heh
Evans can fucking jump. Wow.
ET and Jrue on the floor? More!!
ugh Thad.... shit man
Why the fuck is NBATV showing Malik and Zum while the game is going on?
My goodness get the fucking camera shot off Zum and Malik
Jrue+1!!!!!!!
Jrue to the line, skimpy J!
Evan Turner is an elite nba rebounder. wow.
and if he will outlet more often like that one to Jrue, instead of favoring dribbling, look out, that's tough pressure on the defense when you advance it like that.
Wow, Evan rebounds like a BOSS!
Is it me, or could Turner average 10 rebounds a game with the minutes hes getting now?
Lou goes for the home run play. Strikes out.
Too much dribbling, Jrue. But I'll take the three.
Jrue attacking now. Come on.
Defense! stops...
Favors... what up dog
Lou to the line.
Thad looks pissed now. That one-handed board, then he tried to rape the rim after the whistle. Wonder what got under his skin.
Jrue needs to play with a scowl. Not that he is, but he dammit needs to. Really.
is it me or does faovrs have his better games vs the sixers then any other team?
He definitely has this year. Of course, it's a little easier to produce when Voose and Hawes are "guarding" you.
Well, we're a bit weak inside... ;-)
He's just thumbing his middle finger saying fuck you, that's all, no harm no foul.
Jrue normally has a slow, deliberate, catapult like release but wow, he shot that trey off quick!
The Lou show. Don't like that shot.
Jrue hasn't skied for a board like that since last year.
Jrue at the glass again...
Hayward ugh
That should've been a dunk for Brand, not a missed 8-footer. Great pass by Thad.
Don't let them get it under 10.
Lou back to the line. Nice.
D up....
some really late whistles tonight...
JTI to close it, I like it
Closing time lineup to put this out of reach (hopefully).
Tough call on EB ... good D it looked like...
Lou out? for Dre? ugh why? he was scoring well... so who would that normally have been for.. Evan I think
what the fuck? That whistles was like 3 seconds late. Fuck me.
OK Thad, don't just be so convenient to settle cause you hit a few earlier. Go to the rack.
Celts up on the Blazers 76-38.
For some reason I'm still borderline on edge, it's just too much time left and I've seen this movie before.
Thad to the line. Hit 'em both.
If this is a showcase as I originally called it, it's a lengthy one. Kid's getting court time.
why are all these whistles so late?
Is it just me or has ET been put back in the corner on offense.
Get back to pushing it up the court.
Jrue abuses Harris. Nice.
Keep shooting like this and we are hard to beat.
Jrue getting nasty. For once...
Lou's role on this team has been transformed for me now....because Turner is getting different minutes where he can do his thing without worrying about BOSS, Lou can just do his thing - score the ball. And, if they need him to close ONCE IN A WHILE, he needs to keep his head in the game at that 6 minute substitution.
If Hawes comes back and can play even close to what he was doing when he left, can this team DO something this spring?
Jrue!
Stop teasing me man.
And please don't bring Hawes into the discussion, this spring or not. Think about what an upgrade would be like at that position, but a physical, athletic type guy and not those softies they have now. Battie's the toughest out of all 'em.
ET board...
JTIFTW.
Great fucking D.
Evan dunk emphatically....!!! good energy
Did anyone else think that Turner walked before that dunk? Or was that one of those "it's not a travel in the NBA" plays?
Didn't think so on that one. He clearly did a couple nights ago, though.
Collins would get TOSSED if they called that.
EVERY home team gets that...it's ENTERTAINMENT
i thought he walked. 3 steps I think.
Two and a jump stop.
Refs are going to tell the kid you want that walk, you gotta flush better than that.
I'd like someone to look at tape of the how the Sixers players reacted when they were ass raping the Celts on Weds. Then compare that to how the Celts are reacting right now when they're humiliating Portland. The Celts are vets. The Sixers are pros.
Good drive and dish by ET.
They're just taking turns now.
I like them giving the ball to Evan right now.
Meeks hasn't played a second in the second half.
Iguodala is hunting the triple double, just mis-timed his jump.
Great CONTROLLED play by Turner. I feel like his handle needs to tighten up a little, but that was a professional play there.
What defense on that possession! wow
Holy shit. This defense is sick.
Turner to the hoop finishes w/ the left. Nice.
Evan attacking the bucket with a fervor and vigor I've never seen....
Iguodala still hunting for that 8th board.
GREAT D by Turner. Picked the perfect time to flash, but got back on his man quickly.
Offensive? Come on.
The fucking attitude on display I could take seeing in mounds. Feast upon my eyes. Consume me.
I have no idea how Turner gets some of the boards he gets.
turner to jrue
Wow!
ET to JH for the slam. What a pretty play.
aaannnddd Jrue, that's called putting a cap on it....
Evan with a shits and giggles assist to end it!... heh
PHI 104, UTA 91 Final.
Big, big, demonstrative win. Huge. Great job in the second half on the defensive end especially.
wonderful.
welcome to the party ET
Favors with 15 and 5 in only 17 minutes, and I still don't regret that pick! HA
How did this blazer team beat the sixers?
Opening night.
PHI 104, UTA 91 Final.
Big, big, demonstrative win. Huge. Great job in the second half on the defensive end especially.
ET with 16(7-12)-12-6-1-1-3. He played 43 minutes. Career high?
"you want some minutes, son? here's some more..."
Guys, I just want to converse and hear opinions sometimes.
But 43 minutes, 12 more than anybody, I mean, come on, are they unleashing him? Or just polishing him up a bit? It's hard to tell because of it's suddenness. It's interesting nonetheless.
Probably a result of no second half burn for Meeks tonight. Can't really argue w/ the results.
With the way his minutes have been yanked around this year, and the way he hasn't played well (that's an awkward turn of phrase) I'm comfortable with the minutes if he's playing well...consider it his reward from collins as such. Let the fans see him play well, get the fans on his side (that seems important to many people here).
If he's playing well, let him build his confidence. He's got young legs.
Let's hope they all remember to set their clocks right so no one is late on Sunday.
totally agree on that Sunday thing.
I think scheduling a noon sunday game on daylight savings time change day is probably one of the most asinine things a scheduler can do...players are usually flat on a Sunday game anyway...just stupid...not only that - there's kind of a big game the night before as the bear cats try to take the big east
One of the things that Collins will have to figure out is how to cut Turner's minutes down. He is playing his minutes AND Meeks' minutes.
Collins going out of his way to pump up Lou...as much as he's happy that Turner is playing like this, he has to know that - just as sitting behind Meeks affected Turner's game, Collins has to make sure that Lou not closing as much doesn't affect his contributions - because they need them. If Lou can't make that transition gracefully, they need to trade him.
(not that I am saying Lou would do that...just saying')
So before he wasn't playing him enough, and now he's playing him too much
Sheesh :)
Though I must admit, the whole showcasing for a trade thing wouldn't surprise me. I wonder if some team out there has shown interest but wants to see how he plays with serious minutes...would disappoint me in theory
Great way to sum up your night Rick Kamla - played out. Calling Thad Lou before the shot with Marakovits.
Choosing POTG is gonna be haaaard.
- Dre with a great overall game.
- Ditto for Evan. Man on the boards.
- Jrue went hot in the 4th.
- Lou was very efficient build the lead in the 3rd.
- Young was the man early and provided energy throughout.
Could argue the game was in hand in the 4th when Jrue got hot - if you're looking to eliminate players.
I was just thinking the same thing. Too many TOs for Jrue. Lou got sent to the bench for the close. Down to Dre or Turner for me. What do you guys think?
Anyone else interested to know what the words between Doug and Lou were as they went into the Jazz timeout in the fourth? Didn't seem heated or anything but Lou looked a bit flustered or something.
Thought I was the only one who noticed that exchange.
It would be easier to say Turner, because Dre had kind of a quiet night compared to Evan. But he was 5-5 for his 10 and had only 1 TO to Evan's 3. Roll a dice...
Ten assists and one turnover is more of an accomplishment than 16/12/6, and the assists came mostly in the guts of the game. However, AI9 does not seem to hold too strong an advantage over Hayward.
A pleasant problem, for sure.
I'm going with Thad because I thought he got us back into it tonight.
My choice is Thad, he was superb throughout, everywhere on both ends
That game tonight was what Turner did in that Futures Game...
For REAL
^ to the final above...You're so right, their defense was just absolutely astounding and enlightening. They displayed a fortitude not yet seen tonight. I refuse to cave in to what I just saw though. They've fooled me before.
Never seen the sheer determination tonight.
I'm confused - they've played outstanding defense all season...
And I stated they did, but outstanding defense is not the same as fortitude displayed. Or sheer determintation. It went right over your head.
Nope, it was just a silly comment to talk about some sort of nonsense like the 'fortitude' you chose to use, they are the best defensive team in the nba, to single this game out for some nonsense reasons as you did dismisses other great defensive performances all season, you're one of the most prisoner of the moment people on here, obsessed with some sort of esoteric BS that makes you seem like you know what you're talking about.
Heh, you say it dismisses other ones, I just say it credits this one, as a stand-alone type. That's all man, just chill.
ELEVEN free throws for Jrue tonight
You GO boy
What? he had 1.
My bad. When you are 51, and have 4 kids and early dementia, you make compromises. Missed the first half (putting the 3-year old to bed), then missed the first 4 minutes of the 4th talking to my 16-year-old (who is taking the SAT tomorrow morning - BWAHAHAH!)...so when I saw CSN show 7-for-11 in the post-game graphic for Jrue, I thought it said FT's.
Scary
I think there's some kids on your lawn
Your children are 13 years apart? That's cool, I'm actually 16 years older than my brother.
My fiance was 28 years younger than her brother
Her grandfather had a brother 32 years older
Were they stepbrothers?
Right now it's kinda scary because most of the mothers of the kids my brother goes to school with are around my age.
Nope - not step brothers, either time...surprise menopause babies
Yeah...went back for seconds - 10 years apart
Two boys - 16 and 13
Two girls - 6 and 3
Didn't think I would be changing diapers at 50, but it's all good.
he had 1 ft
He must have forgot the /.
If you're bored, the lakers are losing again in minnesota (sans KLOV) and yet again Kobe is shooting close to sub 33% and ignoring the big men advantage
Watching Dunleavy light up the Knicks. Have a feeling the Knicks are going to cough this lead up.
and kevin love isnt playing
Sorry - was making a 'radio' type joke of his name when I said sand KLOV :) pronounced K-LOVE :)
that went right over my head
Go Monroe and the Pistons. Beat the Hawks.
Hawks suck
I'm so pumped for Sunday. Taking my son to the Garden for the game.
Don't forget your clock
Seriously.
Indelible moment. Would like to experience that with my goddaughter.
Teach him how to yell at Shumpert.
We've been practicing, "Nice pass, Shump!"
Sorry, reminds me of Shemp, Curly's replacement. Just does. Loved those crazy fuckers.
I'll pay you a 100 bucks to hold up a poster that reads "Linsufficient" at the end of the game when the Knicks are losing.
That one and 'Keep shooting Shump!" Sadly that's sort of a dated reference right now.
It's nice to see Jrue and Turner combined put up Jeremy Lin numbers- 32 points, 10 assists, and 7 turnovers :)
He's back!
To his credit, Jrue and ET had 7 turnovers, and Collins kept his cool. Higher risk...but higher reward.
Pecovic wasn't drafted until 31? jeez
The Sixers game is at noon on Sunday? Seriously?
FYI- The Sixers are undefeated when I play pick up basketball before the game. I've been sacrificing my body for the Sixers a lot this season, but there's no way I can fit in a game before 12. This sucks, I can't believe I'm letting them down.
Andre just called Turner a "rebound thief" in his post game interview. That's hysterical, he kind of is.
There was one near the end of the game that Malik commented on - but honestly - it took a weird carim off the rim - I didn't think Andre would have gotten it anyway.
You mean carom?
Yeah, kept trying to spell it - for some reason c didn't occur to me as the starting letter...
Biting my tongue on Turner. He played really, really well tonight. This is really encouraging considering how he was doo-doo against this team early in the year.
You're not the only one biting. For real. The possibilites could be endless, just sayin'.
Only a couple games - nothing more to be said except that he's played a couple of good games, against an old tired celtics team and a bad young jazz team...glad he's had some good games but not getting all that excited one way or another until
A. He does it for at least, let's say, 10 games
B. He's on the roster past March 15th
If he turns into a starting level player, I'll be excited. If he was able to do this for 10 games, I'd pass out.
Post of the thread NOMINEE
That's what they all said about Jeremy Lin, but he proved the haters wrong.
Our next games are against NY, Indiana Miami and Chicago. We should have a clear understanding by then. Unfortunately, the trade deadline is before the game against Miami- which may be a good thing since Turner's trade value might reach its zenith by then.
Stop using the word hater except where it's warranted. Being uncertain about the future performance of a guy after a few games isn't 'hating' it's having some rational thought...hating is what Iguodala gets from numerous people on this board, he's been doing it for YEARS
did ya call?
Yo Brian - you goin to the garden on Sunday?
Yeah, I'll be there w/ the little guy.
Swing game.
awesome - i'll be there too. where you sitting? knicks tix prices are awful.
Section 106. Yeah, I know they were twice as much on stubhub as they were for the first Sixers game there this season. Blame Lin.
So is it my imagination or did Jrue handle the ball more than Evan when they were on the court tonight? And it still seemed to work just fine. And did Dre even take a shot in the second half? It was like he didn't even need to tonight, he was passing so well.
I know it's way too early to think much of it, but I really think the three of them (JTI) can make it work.
I missed the first half but there were a few plays where he just stood still. On one play Jrue was doubled and Turner had an open lane to the basket. Instead he just stood in the corner waiting for a pass at the 3 point line. That's just one play I noticed.
and aren't they two for two in games that Model T Battie has won the opening tipoff?
the 6ers looked unknown tonite. unordinarily being the aggressors. a number of guys had an edge to them. bet DC doesnt sleep tonite after seein' that
Pretty impressive D by Lin on Jennings lat in that game.
The Knicks got lucky as shit.
That block looked pretty clean to me. Melo gets a favorable whistle imo.
Then Melo misses the first freebie. Awesome.
Just whomever make these free throws...coming up
Your 18-22 New York Knickerbockers! DeLINcious! Fucking bury these chumps on Sunday.
No Tyson Chandler. Did not count.
Ever heard of a dominant rebounding PG, Turner might be close to that. The possibility of JTI that excited me the most, and what I expect to manifest constantly, is the defensive aspect. I expect they will have their ups and downs offensively but with the advantage of 3 semi-interchangeable wings that can stifle the perimeter and take away some of the staple plays of certain offenses. But seeing Turner grab the rebound and outlet to Iguodala and Jrue today reminded me so much of Miami's two man fastbreak juggernaut. The idea of being able to initiate that play so effortlessly off a defensive stop has me salivating at the growth of that unit.
Well condition being that ET continues to play well and is still here by the deadline anyway.
Heh. If the purpose was to showcase the guy for a trade, could have possibly done better in these past two games? I don't think that was the purpose, though.
Yeah that's what i'm sayin', it can't be that (showcase) and the guy's tearing it up this much could it?
For it to be so sudden though, how do you explain that though? As you said the other day, I'd love to know what the front office is saying in concert w/ Collins.
Just to give that many minutes that first night like "here!", just seems odd and totally out of character for Collins. At least as the precedent had been set to that point.
To be fair, you have to consider the three games since it begun (the skitterish MIL game), but the latter two are saying something aren't they? Loud, maybe?
pls. ignore the sentence construct fail and understand it for what it's meant to be. too tired to correct.
There have been dominating rebounding guards:
Here are a few:
http://bkref.com/tiny/BS08t
I guess we'll never know if it was his decision or not, but I'm so proud of the way Doug handled Meeks tonight. He gave him the chance to see if he had his shot going, he didn't, and he took him right out. There was no need to go back to him with the way Lou and Jrue were playing in the second half. He should be a 10-15(at the most) situational player from here on out. No reason at all to give him minutes over Jrue/Lou/ET/Iggy at all unless we desperately need his shooting, like if a zone is giving us problems. I sure hope it stays this way.