The hapless Nets with their superstar (wait, weren't superstars supposed to make you relevant?) will play host to the Sixers. Can they right the ship tonight? Is it too late? Does it matter, at this point? Only you can decide.
There's been a ton of speculation about whether Doug Collins will change up his starting lineup. In a few short hours, we'll find out. My preference would probably be to sub Thad in for Hawes and see if the old closing time lineup can start a game out with some energy, but we're going to have to wait and see.
If we never see Lou or Jodie trying to guard Williams tonight, that would probably be a pretty good sign for the Sixers. I'd also love to see Doug go away from the rotations he's been using at the end of the first quarter into the beginning of the second and end of the third into the fourth with Lou, Jodie and Turner on the floor together. That lineup drives me crazy. You've got both Lou and Turner trying to dominate the ball for their own shots, and Jodie just standing there waiting for one of those guys to throw a pass that pretty much never comes. Not to mention their performance as a unit on the defensive end.
The tip is at 7:30pm. This is your game thread. I'll be here throughout, possibly wishing I was anywhere else. Join me if you're still hanging in there.
Prediction: PHI 110, NJN 85. The Sixers get healthy in a big way, but it really doesn't mean anything.
I'll give the sixers a win, I won't give them a 25 point win - but like joseph said - any win will do
I say Voose earned the starting job tonight with his last game. We're looking game to game now.
Are the nets starting johan petro?
voose for hawes
meeks for turner
http://www.csnphilly.com/basketball-philadelphia-sixers/sixers-talk/Meeks-Vucevic-to-start-for-Sixers-vs-Net?blockID=686592&feedID=704&awid=5511963851210032273-711
The Captain of the Titanic approves :)
Boooo.
Talk about not shaking things up. They had to go with either Lou, Thad or both if they wanted to kick start the offense. We have seen plenty of Meeks and Vuce starting to know that is not the answer. Those guys might give you one good game... that will be followed by 3 bad ones.
OK, so Collins said he was going to change two positions basically because he didn't want to point the finger at one guy. So in his mind, which one needed to be changed, and which one was the beard? Or did both guys need to go?
I'm w/ TK on this, Lou and/or Thad should've been given the nod. Maybe you catch lightning in a bottle by going small w/ Brand at the five and Thad at the four, who knows. This is just more of the same...only a tiny bit different.
I will say I approve of not having to watch Spencer Hawes start the game.
Any time Hawes is sent to the bench it's such a great gesture. And Turner returning to his rightful place is just as well. I bet their wee little feelings are hurt though, too bad. Turner's probably on the phone with David Falk now, or maybe his mom. "I just want to play for crying out loud".
I truly hope your job doesn't entail supervising a single person as you have no compassion for human beings what so ever
I fail to remember when we actually met.
for my money, you two are the best adversaries on any blog that I regularly visit
Nah, not even in the top 10, you probably weren't around for the old days of philliesphans and interesting crazy folk over at realgm
PTK was a hoot and a half
Maybe he's on the phone with your mother.
She is rather good at consoling I must say.
Glad that Hawes is taking a seat, hopefully by playoff time (???) he will be relegated to being the cheerleader at the end of the bench. Hate that Jodie is Doug's safety blanket since he is all kinds of dogshit, but whatever, they better come out with a solid quarter.
Spencer for hire will be sad to know Mason Plumlee will be returning to school next year.
This is such a "we gotta win i gotta make the playoffs it's in my DNA and I can't help it" move from Doug. His act just isn't jiving with what they should be doing big picture here, can anyone tell me what young talent he's actually developed? Too young to really see anything before the Wizards nightmare. Does he take credit for Pippen and Jordan?
Brian
Did you read that Hollinger article on ESPN.com - interested to get your take on it?
Still haven't read it. Long couple of days, maybe tonight.
Gerald Green scored 32 against the Cavs? That's ridiculous.
Ozzie Guillen got suspended 5 games for having an opinion...it's a crazy world we live in
And Gerald Green supposedly is 'excelling' this year
Maybe Gerald can lend Turner some advice.
Alrighty, here we go....Voose loses the tip. I think Avery Johnson could win a tip against this team.
Healthy, who do you think has the bigger vertical between #8, Hawes, Battie, and a parapalegic?
Voose off the inbound. Swish.
Nice move by Jrue, rims out. Voose w/ the block.
I think I'd prefer having Iguodala on Brooks. Stevenson can't create jack.
Unforced turnover, clean that mess up please.
3 minutes of really good defense, tie game because they can't hit the broad side of a barn. Down 2 now. Where have I seen this before?
Looked like Vuc offensive goaltended that Meeks layup. Appeared he touched it before it had a chance to come down on front of rim. Maybe not, looked like it though.
Unforced turnover #2
Jrue coughs it up going to the hole.
Annnnddd kind of forced but probably unforced turnover #3
Good foul by Brand. Best thing they've done so far.
I would bench iggy's sorry ass right now. No effort and egregious turnovers.
offense is really firing on all cylinders now Doug
oh jodie
Meeks isn't going to get a better look than the two he's missed from deep.
Well Jodie, that's two beauties you haven't knocked down.
Voose has mis-timed his jump for a rebound about 10 times already.
whats up fellow just-can't-stay away fans.
all these guys are on probation.
i'm watching with a wary eye.
and yes, i've been drinking, i hope you all are imbibing too. we've all seen this before from these guys. same old story for the past four years. god i'm depressed.
If you want to take a bleak view, the Nets aren't that many wins behind us. They're probably closer to us than most wound want to admit. Including myself.
9 games back. Which is a pretty big margin. Sixers are 9 games away from being in a battle for the #2 seed.
prokhorov is soooo awesome
Good grief this is is depressing
Pitiful start again.
The problem with this team is, that they really need confidence/energy/momentum to win games.
The Heat are very similar in this regard. The difference being, that they've a ton more talent.
This is very different to a team with great fundamentals like the Spurs for example.
Heh, 4 subs at one time from Doug.
hawes is in. awesome.
Jrue the only guy to stay out there.
Thad, keep a fucking body on Humprhies, please.
Sure would be nice to see Turner or Hawes show an angry streak
This has been really hard to watch. This new lineup needs to make something happen fast.
Maybe Jrue can score 80.
dang thaddeus young's shooting form is impeccable. work of art. same with jrue actually
How drunk are you?
Nice D, Hawes.
Nice box out, Hawes.
They're doubling Lou on every touch. That time he got rid of it quickly, Thad to the line. Keep an eye on that.
- We can't set screens
- We have terrible floor spacing
- We don't move off the ball
- When we drive we try the fancy layup and don't look for the contact
... and lately ...
- We don't turn the opponents over and can't get easy points on the break
Don't think they really did turn opponents over all season. I think they have been near the bottom in that category. They just limit possessions by not turning the ball over themselves.
I don't have the numbers to back this, but from just watching the games, I think did run a lot more in the first half of the season.
oh whoa i forgot general johnson is the nets coach
The thing that is most bothersome amongst many things is they show no sense of urgency whatsoever. Like they don't give a shit about they're in a playoff stay-in battle. No mettle or fortitude. Anyone got or can show a sack?
Turner, can't let him just methodically dribble into the paint like that.
Nice shot, Hawes.
This is a better rotation. Assume Iguodala will be in for Jrue to start the second. Keep one of those two on the floor at all times.
Showing a bit of life right now
nice pass evan
Heh, Hawes running the floor.
PHI 20, NJN 20 after one.
How sad is this? I didn't think that was a terrible quarter.
And the hawesome layup to end the first...
When was the last time Lou had a run where he didn't put a shot up?
How many days do you stay in the hospital after you are born? 2 or 3?
dont think it has ever happened
Man, he looks much heavier but I wanted us to take a shot on Jordan Williams in the draft. With a second rounder.
Sissy banker!
Sissy walk!
Heh, Hawes just zipped his lips up after he couldn't execute an up and under because he picked up his pivot foot and traveled.
first time his foot left the floor all game.
LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Good lord, please keep going to Thad. Gerald Green is guarding him.
how was that a shooting foul?
How is that a shooting foul?!
Sissy three. I'd make him run for taking that.
As I always say - if spencer taks a three he should be given a junk punch
there ya go spency
hawes 3?!
horrible shot
Nice play and Thad w/ the oop to AI9.
Ah YES, just a great look and pass from Thad to Dre for the oop. Good timing from Thad.
Smart foul, Lou.
i like the attitude, spencer.
lets not forget, he had a good stretch of games earlier. we had a real center for a minute.
Hawes played well so far. Give him credit.
i'm with ya.
There's Lou's first shot. Catch-and-shoot three.
Heh, Ian Eagle just said Turner "tossed up a curveball" after he clanked a jumper off the side of the rim.
I would agree, Hawes looks somewhat pissed. That's a good sign.
If we had a banging C I'd like the idea of bringing Hawes off the bench as a backup C.
No. Absolutely not.
We already have Hawes as a back up Center, he just has a different last name and he's better than Hawes
Jesus, Turner.
Jesus, two TOs in about 6 seconds for Turner
Guess mom didn't answer.
Yeah she obviously blew Spencer instead
HA! Sissy dunk after the Nets try to front him on the blocks.
jrue cant but a call when he gets in the lane
How is Jrue not going to the line there? And how is Thad not on the line for a +1?
You now, Jrue was clearly bumped on the drive ...
Sixers in the penalty the rest of the way. Nets attacking Lou.
Vuc had inside position and relinquished all of it and had to grab Shelden's arm. sheesh
Voose mis-timed that jump too.
Jodie's third brick on a wide-open three.
jodie needs to make that
Andre ... what the eff man? terrible
Iguodala, just fucking go up with that. You're two feet from the hoop.
Lou is in boss mode. Dribbling and dribbling and dribbling against the double.
We still haven't figured out what to do when Lou gets trapped
there you go andre
That's what you should do, AI9.
Why the hell doesn't Dre jump into the defender and flips this ball up? It's ridiculous how afraid they are of the contact...
My NBA.tv is some seconds behind it seems.
Well Andre!@!! Welcome to the game
Did Jrue really need to come out when he picked up his second foul in the second quarter?
I was wondering how many he had considering how quick DC called for Lou to go to the table.
It's written in a coaching textbook somewhere
Must be a college coaching book, or maybe old-time NBA.
Yeah the photos are all white guys wearing nuthugger shorts.
That's our boy Dougie, old school.
Thad w/ a monster block, AI943 in transition.
Dear Comcast
SUCK IT. According to my league pass listings, both home and away broadcasts should be available but go to the 'away' broadcast and it says that they're required to block it out so I have to listen to the 'tsar' of the telestrator
Sixers look like they're doing what they want to be doing, if you know what i mean
its so far from over but thk you for the nets
Jordan Williams really looks like he works on his conditioning.
Yep, he looks like he's spent that paycheck well on the local buffets. Unreal how much he's blown up since I seen him last year.
WTF did just happen? Foul on EB?
This is a huge pet peave of mine, but I fucking hate it when, after a made hoop, a big man sort of taps the ball out bounds and starts jogging down the floor instead of grabbing it and throwing the inbound pass. Hawes does this all the fucking time. You can get some transition hoops if you get the ball in quickly, it's just fucking lazy. Reggie Evans used to do that all the time, too.
Ugh, Thad had the look in the lane but spun and passed it back out and ended up w/ a rushed shot before the shot clock buzzer that missed.
lou at the buzzer
ok that was sweet. not a lot of guys can pull that off.
shots like that show why we need to re0sign the Boss,
situations like that are very frequent and relevant to a basketball game and have very little to do with luck.
Monta Ellis only wishes he could be that good
Boss move to end the half ... ^^
PHI 52, NJN 43 at the half.
Crazy shot by Lou at the buzzer, and got to do the cool "I'll just keep right on going into the locker room, thank you very much."
Solid second quarter. A third like that and they can coast.
"I'll just keep right on going into the locker room, thank you very much."
yea that is pretty dang cool.
L. Williams 10 Pts (3-5), 5 Reb, 4 Ast, 1 Stl
The all time top 5 new jersey nets?
Man, J Kidd is going to make that list isn't he?
considering the Devils seem to be always contending and the Giants are 2 time SB champions, I wonder how much indifference is reserved amongst the casual fan for the Nets right now?
North Jersey is a suburb of New York City anyway
Wow - the sixers have the 'honor' of playing the last game of the new jersey nets
That makes up for Doctor J
I'm actually planning to go. Wonder if that will jack the prices up a little.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a 2 for 1 deal to try and fill it up one last time
Jodie bricks another. Bleh.
come one jodie thats 4 wide open looks
Here we go again?
Come on Vuc, he's had so many 3 sec violations this year.
AI9 to the line. Every miss is like saying "Fuck you, Doug."
He's doing it on purpose
Jodie missing these wide open 3s are just killer
Meeks just airballed a layup. Then hits a three. Heh.
Wow, finally a Sixers gets that you have to INITIATE the contact.
he finally hit one!
What a crazy sequence hahahaha
the price of that 3 = 6 misses and countless blown bunnies.
Voose timed that one well, putback deuce.
How is that a continuation? Foul was before the fucking catch.
Voose w/ his 4th.
EB was stuck in no mans land
hehe Hawes must have tipped the ref for that one.
Hawes sort of fought for that board.
Why does it seem like if Hawes isn't re-signed that Vuc will feel the wrath of F-bombs on this blog over the next two years?
maybe. but it doesn't change the fact that it would be well-deserved.
how about we bring in a respectable big man to avoid that problem?
Probably because they're pretty similar players in most frustrating ways. Still, I'd much prefer to have only one of that type of player to two.
Big shot by AI9. I'd like to see something a little better early in the clock, though.
Two sissy misses. They're free.
Is this a coincidence that Evan Turner's on the pine and only logging 9 minutes and we're winning?
Or maybe it's Spencer playing like a manchild since he was benched. Naw, can't be he just got postered.
Jordan Williams dunks in Hawes' face. Jordan Williams.
sissy hook
Sissy hook.
Turner's rotting.
He's played well tbf
JRUE TO THE LINE! JRUE TO THE LINE! I feel like we should announce this to the world via all social media outlets.
Lolx2!!!
Sissy freebies. Hits 'em both.
Sissy turnover.
Another sissy trip to the line, and the Nets are arguing with each other out there.
Shit. He went back to this garbage lineup. Lou/Meeks/Turner.
Nice shot, Green.
Unforced turnover Lou. ugh
This Hawes/Petro duel needs its own 80's video game like Jordan vs. Bird.
My name is Lou Williams, if I pass it to you consider it a blessing
Spencer jump-passing an outlet pass is an ugly sight. heh
Dear Doug
Please start Lou Williams one game so announcers stop talking about this irrelevant 'leading a team in scoring without starting a game' thing.
K Thx Bi
Geez Czar, why not just head over there and drop to your knees in front of doug?
Damn it Spencer - you should be fined every time you take a shot like that
shot clock was at 5
What the hell was that with Doug and Thad shaking hands? Anyone else see that?
I thought Brooks was supposed to be decent.
Yeah, saw that uncomfortable moment between Doug and Thad.
Just seemed WEIRD to me - not Dwight Howard interrupting a media scrum with his coach not knowing what was said weird - but weird
The heat are losing at home to the celtics - that's awful
When Johan Petro dunks on you - quit the NBA
So this has been one of Hawes' better games, right?
And he's gotten dunked on by Johan Petro and whatever the worst Williams first names is, that guy. Stellar.
Ow, come on. He had to defend Humphries and Petro and that possession because Thad was out doubling Williams.
Johan Petro is one of those guys you hack hard - he can't shoot free throws
Thad was just telling Doug he got the team back and they're not lost anymore.
PHI 84, NJN 68 after three.
Don't fuck this up, please.
I kind of hope some sort of delay comes up and the nets are homeless next season
No need to flop, Jrue.
Hawes airball.
this game wouldnt be complete without a spence airball
Nice pass lou
Thad with a nifty spin away from contact, and the finish.
Hawes has had 19 points and 8 rebounds
against humphries and petro
That was a bullshit foul on Thad. You aren't allowed to defend hard w/out fucking touching him because he's a superstar?
See Jrue - point guard move - right there
They keep this lead up maybe Evan can get some burn with the garbage time lineup.
37.5% offensive rebounding rate
Iguodala has really done a job on Williams in the second half.
EB w/ the jam +1!
Uh oh! EB with the off the dribble slam!! Nice. Haven't seen that in a few years.
Celtics shooting 61.4% for the game. :S
Up 21 w/ 7 and change to go, another game tomorrow night. Collins going to burn these guys out to secure a blowout win, or get them some rest?
Was Prokhorov in the box talking to Oscar De La Hoya?
AI9 to the line. 2 chances to screw Doug Collins.
Team player tonight.
Get the regulars out, please. If the scrubs can't hold 21 against this team, they don't deserve to win.
is today the season high in free throws?
Nah, they had 30 against Cleveland.
not really sure, but i think they shot 30 in another game this season, or something close
And I thought you were absolutely crazy with your score prediction on this game....
broken clock.
i like that jrue
Brand has that auto jumper
Two of our "starters" in for complete garbage time.
Oh Lavoy
The heat couldn't beat the Celtics
PHI 107, NJN 88 Final.
I'd love it if this led to a good stretch to end the season, but I'm not buying it, yet. Do this 8 more times, and maybe I will.
knick vs bulls, we want the bulls right?
Thank goodness, there were times when the sixers were contending for the 3 seed I was actually rooting for the knicks
Did Rose get hurt or something?
If it's a choice between #8 and #7, I want #8.
You want to lose to the bulls instead of the heat?
The Bulls are saying that Rose tweaked his ankle on sunday.
Driving home I was listening to one of the LA Radio guys rant and rave about how Poppovich should be fined because he has scheduled games (from the jump of the season) he circles that his big 3 won't play...i find it good coaching to try and get guys rest
I'd say they have a 1% chance of beating the Bulls, maybe 10% if Rose isn't healthy. 0% chance of beating Miami. And I really don't want to see them play Miami again in the first round. So if the only choices are 7 or 8, I take 8.
Since I don' think they have a snowballs chance of beating either of them, I'm not that concerned...play the heat they might get more prime airing times
Definitely 8, I think they can beat the Bulls if Rose is truly hurt.
Jared Jeffries done messed up the 3 on 1 fast break and cost Carmelo a rare assist
what's going on with rose...he misses a lot of games.
i love to watch him play, don't get me wrong.
but he misses a lot of games.