They say a series doesn't really start until a road team wins a game. Let's get this series started tonight.
I still haven't seen official word, but it looks like Evan Turner will be inserted into the starting lineup in place of Jodie Meeks. My guess is the rest of the starters remain the same, and hopefully we'll see more of Lavoy and less of Hawes tonight.
The Sixers need to be prepared for the emotion Chicago will surely come out with tonight. They lost their leader and they're going to be desperate to prove they can still achieve their goal without him. That energy must be matched, their momentum must be stopped early and the Sixers need to turn this into a basketball game quickly, rather than a unity party for the remaining healthy Bulls.
We've talked about specific things the team needs to do, areas they need to clean up, but what I'm really looking for tonight is for a couple of guys to step up. Iguodala absolutely must play better on both ends, same with Jrue. Lou has to be a factor off the bench. Brand needs to punish Boozer. Thad needs to keep Gibson off the glass. This isn't the time to skate by and let someone else get the job done, this is the time to leave it all on the floor and elevate your game. Show me something tonight.
The tip is at 8pm. This is your game thread. I'll be right here, thoughout. Join me on the edge of my seat.
Prediction: Back to Philly, tied 1-1.
word from csn is Hawes is starting.
this team just loves to kick you in the junk. Any word on Turner?
sorry, they said both Turner and Hawes expected to start. Turner I can understand.
Wow. Just wow.
Is it wrong to wish Hawes would punch a fire extinguisher?
He wouldn't be able to break the glass.
Notice I didn't say glass - glass you miss one game - punch the fire extinguisher itself maybe you break something and miss all the games :)
if nothing else, it's always fun to make fun of the Knicks:
http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1057160/untitled-1l7y7l_medium.gif
OK, guys. I figured something drastic had to happen, so I've officially switched back to the notepad I used at the beginning of the season to jot notes down during the game. I filled it up just before the All Star break and switched it out, I'm going to use the back side of the pages going forward.
Rose as symbol. I prefer that to Rose as foul-drawing machine in the fourth quarter when we're playing the Bulls.
And we're off...Hawes loses the tap, badly.
2 O-boards on the first possession for the Bulls.
make that three. Hawes you slow fucker.
Good job, Jrue.
Watson tried to muscle him 25 feet from the hoop. Turner into a layup.
Bulls bigs getting easy looks.
eb
Befuddling he made the decision to put Hawes back out there, game one was one of, if not the worst, he's had toward the end of the year.
Good job, Turner. Used the unintentional screen from Hawes.
Attacking the mismatches early, sort of. Hawes w/ the loose ball foul.
jrue 3!
Jrue got really lost on that one.
Then sticks the three on the other end. Good work.
Bad shot, AI9.
second jumper by AI9 was better than his first pullup, but i'd rather see him get to the hoop and draw some contact early
Fucking Hawes. Just jogs his lazy ass down court instead of inbounding the ball. That drives me nuts.
EB to the line. Hit 'em, please.
I'd kinda like to see a hard foul on Rip there rather than the goaltend. It's the fucking playoffs.
Damn, two turnovers by Dre.
Got the second one back though....
Iguodala with a sloppy start. C'mon, need you to pick it up here.
et to eb
Sissy 18-footer. Good hustle, Turner. EB w/ the slam.
The passionate crazy fan that usually sits at the end of the bench at home games is in the building right behind the Sixers bench.
Those seats are awesome.
Two loose balls Turner's gotten to early here, those are big plays.
yep and both turned into points
Turner is playing the point. I like it.
They're going to him whenever he has Watson on him. Smart.
Don't give the ball to Hawes.
Fuck Turner, just shoot that man, after you've gotten that deep. DOn't pass it to Hawes for crying out loud.
blessing in disguise. got hawes out of the game for awhile.
eb!!!!!
What a block by Brand!
Jrue to the line?
They're free.
Great follow Lavoy. Turner drew three, easy follow.
nice putback, lavoy
iguodala, just go for the finish when you're in that close!
turner jumper
ET from 20. Please stay hot.
Alright, get untracked Lou. Need it son.
attaboylavoy.
Three turns on AI9. Bad one, there. I guess one of those wasn't a turn, but should've been.
AI9 trying too hard to force passes early here.
Andre looks to be trying to do just a little too much. Forcing passes that aren't there and stuff.
Rip got a really clean look as soon as Jrue went out. Keep an eye on that.
You think Joakim Noah gives himself a high five when he takes a dump? That guy has to celebrate everything.
AI943.
Iguodala hits a 3. hopefully that gets him going
nope.
Swarmed Rip when he came off that screen. Good rotation also.
Fuck, transition three for Watson.
Dammit Lou, don't back off Watson, get out and contest him.
was CJ watson's foot on the line there?
nope.
he didnt step out
I didn't think so either initially, but Doug nor the bench didn't seem to protest.
The next time I see Iguodala do an iso move for a pull-up 18-footer will be one time too many.
Good D, AI9.
PHI 25, CHI 28 after one.
Thinking probably Jrue/Meeks/Turner here to start the second. Turner and AI9 played the entire first.
doug selling out to get this win.
He should be. They have two off days.
As well he should. You're playing every third day or so, these young guys can handle 40+ minutes.
Lou is cheating off on his man. Gave up 2 open threes already. And he's not getting the calls on the other end, so he's not really helping right now...
Wow I HATE!! Iguodala! I love all the plays run for that freaking joke but none run for Turner???? Give me a break! He has at least 4 turnovers or would be already!
Iggy really forcing it in a painful fashion. Hope he settles down and sticks to his strengths.
Why should he be very pleased w/ a quarter in which they gave up 28 points?
Bullshit whistle on Lavoy there. Collins is pissed.
Anybody know how many pts we had in the paint that quarter?
good block lavoy straight up
bs call
Another foul on Thad. Saw that o-board coming a mile away, he never got around Asik.
Screw that split screen during live action. geez
Give it up when you're doubled, Lou.
Jrue to AI9 for the slam. Nice.
"Flight 9 is cleared for landing!"
jrue
good job to push the ball
Atta boy, Jrue. Keep pushing it up the floor, let's go.
48 minutes for Iguodala tonight? Still hasn't sat.
I'd like to see him use Sam for a few spot minutes.
I seriously doubt he will. Thinking Meeks might get spot minutes. Young is blowout usage only.
That's a crap shot, Lou
Come on Lou, get a better look than that, or at least give him the pump fake.
It's such a pleasure to watch Lavoy actually box someone out, then actively jump for the rebound. Such a rarity for the bigs on this fucking team.
Ronnie Brewer jumpers = good defense. Make or miss.
thats an offensive foul
C'mon on, cheap call on Lou, it was just a bump.
asik flop
Fucking Asik flop
Jrue, you got lucky there.
And Lavoy w/ a foul on the inside. 2 on him, I believe. Nope, it was on Turner.
BOX THE FUCK OUT!
Doug, let Lavoy get more run man. No need to bring Spence back here. sheesh
... and as brian says "box out", in comes Hawes. hahaha
Nice rebound, Hawes. You fuck.
good job evan
nice take ET
Atta boy, Jrue.
oooh, korver, mann
horrible d lou
Lou, come on, man. What are you doing there?
good defense, one on one for holiday, no question there.
damn it, Lucas 3.
Why is Lou doubling down on Noah? Terrible defense.
Methodical, Jrue. That's your fucking game, man. Take your time, pick them apart.
well done by jrue
what the fuck is Lou doing? what a waste.
Y is Lou helping off Lucas to double Noah???!!! Did it 3 straight possessions. Noah is not going to kill you offensively.
Jrue has to be on of the best transition fast break players I've seen in awhile
Good foul by AI9 there. That was going to be a Korver 3.
Lou is cheating off on his man. Gave up 2 open threes already. And he's not getting the calls on the other end, so he's not really helping right now...
Hoe many combined rebounds do Sixers bigs have?
hawes misses a layup
Goes without saying, Hawes sucks.
Do I need to say the word sissy after that?
wow Hawes. SERIOUSLY?
So believeable Spence. blow another fuckin gimme. you rock man, off a nice ass feed from EB too. heh
Noah finds ways to score the basketball, Hawes finds ways to screw it up.
3 on hawes!!!!!!!!!
LOL Doug told Hawes to get the fuck off the court and stop arguing. ANd then grabbed him and pointed to the seat he needed to take.
Lollllllllllllllllllllllllll
So not for nothing but it's a 'Philadelphia sports night' if you're not in the area
The sixers are on TNT yes
The phillies are on MLB Network
The Flyers are on Versus
Hopefully they'll win one of these games
i wish hawes would punch somebody. I'd really like to see him get clocked.
i'm so glad that Hawes most certainly well not be on this team next year
Holy shit. That's EMBARASSING. Ouch, ouch, ouch. Bye bye Hawes! Can't think he'll be resigned after that, grats D.P.
If you thought he was going to be re-signed before tonight and one play or game made a diffrence, you probably don't know how it works
True emotion can come out on one play or in one game. I wouldn't say that was it, but it surely was indicative of Collins' frustration with Hawes. Anyway it's just some commentary so try not to be so full of shit about it.
More histrionics - cool
Stop embarrassing yourself by using the word histrionics incorrectly. Especially when you're trying to insult other people. It's just pathetic.
More histrionics from you, just awesome sauce, you have no idea what I'm 'trying' to do - and yet it keeps working -
Nice work, Thad. Stops, now, fellas. Finish this quarter strong.
What was the call on Turner? He got called for a foul because he took an elbow?
wtf just happened..? how was that a foul on turner?
Calm the fuck down.
Jrue gets his arm grabbed, no call, huh?
wow refs shafting the sixers right now. need a timeout to give doug some time to chew the refs out.
Wow I HATE!! Iguodala! I love all the plays run for that freaking joke but none run for Turner???? Give me a break! He has at least 4 turnovers or would be already!
Learn English
um...
refs caught up in the emotion for sure.
Refs are killung us right now...
I just looked at that "foul" against Turner, he took an elbow from Boozer and staggered away. How the fuck was that a foul??
I get mad until I think we could've been playing Miami and not getting fouls called when Lebron intentionally fouls like last night...
Another fucking stupid Iguodala turnover. Come on, man.
AI9...
Ohhh, they called Turner for the retaliation trip.
Hmm...so it's not that the bulls (even without rose) are better than the sixers - it's the refs fault?
Yeah you're right. It's because the Sixers aren't as good as the Bulls that the refs are blowing calls. Moron.
Yes, that's what I said isn't it - because the refs never miss calls in other games - stick to your histrionics and name calling - it suits you
You clearly don't know what the word histrionics means
Whatever you say there Shirley, since you can't interpret a basic English sentence, I think I'll stick with the intelligent folk who post here (dwindling by the day sadly)
Yeah I guess I'll just stick with people who know English. You know, middle school graduates.
Man, you're a laugh riot
Hawes is the worst dude 7 foot can't even finish a layup or dunk smh
God I hate Joakim Noah
They. Are. Free. Damnit.
Ai9 fuckin sucks
Smh
Lou getting torched.
AI9 slam, now get a fucking stop.
Attack Lou on D, double on O. What is he really worth?
JRUE43!!!!
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1093336/sit.gif
that was a good laugh. thanks
wow, i thought Noah couldn't piss me off any more.
You really just want to walk up to him and cut off that top knot don't you?
Meeks comes in firing and missing.
holy shit Lucas.
that unreal shooting can't continue can it?
Glad Meeks came in to get that brick up.
I can live with Noah hitting those
PHI 47, CHI 55 at the half.
20-10 run for the Bulls to end the half.
What are the chances TNT fires Shaq?
Uhh why isnt jrue always aggressive like this
Lou getting killed on D, Thad not closing out a step on Noah. Great stuff. And then Doug brings in Meeks for like the last offensive possession. Awesome stuff.
Can't wait for the 2nd half where Hawes will start and Voose won't see a minute.
Lou has never been much of a defender
Everyone on this team can be traded except jrue imo
Wow John Lucas is like Lou Williams...but he actually plays well in the playoffs!
So if the owners are making frost decisions based on this series...
Hawes, Lou, Iggy gone ... maybe Thad as well.
If they're making front office decisions (man I love your phone) based on this series - the sixers future sucks
Can Noah shoot 100% 7/7 in the second half?
Probably as likely as Jrue scoring 17 on 8 shots in the second half.
hell - Jrue taking 8 shots in the second half might not happen based on how the season has played out :)
game thread officially derailed, easy why
All the Iguodala insults are constructive, you're right
Odds Hawes starts the second half?
Only if he has instructions to commit a intentional 2 on joakim noah and cripple him
SWEEP THE LEG
Do any philly beat writers get votes on COY? I'm just wondering
Yep, Hawes is in there.
Just take it over, Jrue. Please.
Atrocious rebounding in the first half - GOTTA clean that up
Bad shot, AI9.
Andre? just give it up man...
They're making that switch too easy, to get Turner on Deng.
Um - so - about that 17 points on 8 shots thing :)
Iguodala.... not your jumpshot night tonight... give it up please.
Jrue on the other hand.... definitely his night. Keep going to him!
jrue 3!
JRUE43!!!!!!!!!!!!!
man that boys hot
Thank goodness for Jrue tonight. he's the only one with a pulse on offense tonight
ET's been pushing the ball well
Jrue Holiday!
Bulls are going to start doubling Jrue whenever he touches it out of this timeout. I'd get Thad in to give them someone who can finish on the inside to capitalize.
In the past Jrue hasn't been great at handling a double, here's hoping he's better tonight if it comes
I want JTI for the entire 24 minutes of this second half.
Fouled w/ what, 1 second on the fucking clock. Damnit.
I hate that.
Ugh, bad foul Jrue. shot clock was bout to expire
Motherfucking Jrue!
Stay in front of him Jrue. Don't reach.
Hey, Hawes grabbed a board.
Not doubling, Jrue.
Great find, Jrue. ET to the line. Wish he would've finished it, though.
Great pass by Jrue there
Turner couldn't dunk that?
Hits both. OK, let's go.
omg positive contribution from spence
eb
Got the lead. S T O P S
ET to EB!!
EB! Nice entry pass by Turner. Patient, there.
Another sick pass by Jrue in transition!
Hawes just tripped over himself, I think.
The announced confused Hawes and Holiday on that - it was funny
Great pass there. And a stop and a layup.
And another stop. One thing about this team -- they never lose confidence.
nice move evan
Eat it, Rip.
There we go, baby.
et freaky deaky...sweet.
Evan Turner!
ET!!!!
Wonder if Thibodeaux is gonna call for Lucas to dribble for 22 seconds and shoot one from out of his ass. Seems to be their best play. That and Noah set shots.
They need to smother Lucas when he gets in there. Put Jrue on him, trap those pick-and-rolls.
Jrue should be able to wrap him up.
sissy jumper
Sissy 18-footer, good!
Man Boozer has stolen a lot of money from the bulls hasn't he?
Dammit Andre, don't need that shit man. Sit his ass Doug, sheesh
Yes - sit your best defender and one of your better rebounders when rebounding is why they've taken this lead
Fuck, don't need that three, Iguodala. He needs to make better decisions. Fuck.
I was ok with that 3. Defense sagged off, and it was a 2 on 4 transition. Sure, he could have waited and pulled it out, but as far as his shot selection tonight that wasn't too egregious in my opinion. at least it was a 3.
cmon, no foul?
Hawes is a sissy bitch
Evan - WTF was that (I'm sure Iguodala will get blame for a crappy shot with the shot clock expiring)
What the fuck? they cut away to show highlights? what the fuck happened?
poster shot....nice
dre all over deng
If I wanted to watch this game, I'd change the channel...
Great - Iguodala makes a basket AND WE MISS IT
To hell with this in-game gamebreak stuff. We know how to turn it to NBATV if we want to see the hated. Thanks TNT.
Big run in the 3rd quarter reminiscent of early this season.
We can change the fucking channel to NBA TV if we want to Ernie. And of course, a great play happens while they're showing ANOTHER GAME. Who makes these decisions?
Did Lavoy gets his hands on that as Watson went up?
AI9 w/ the eff you to Doug.
That's five of those balls that have just hit the line and gone to the Bulls.
Eat it, Rip.
et +1(maybe)
Heh, Evan gives Rip a 'take that' look after that shot.
When Lavoy Allens motor is running on all cylinders - dude is an asset - but why doesn't it run like that all season?
he actually takes his adhd pills
That's what they were saying about him as a college player. Probably why he went in the 2nd round.
See - that just drives me nuts, that kind of thing is purely mental - just show up and do the work and do your job - Allen is a good hustle guy off the bench - but he doesn't always show up...but when he does I really do like him as a long term 'bench' guy.
Turner awesome at acting,once he starts getting calls it's gonna be great for us and everyone else is gonna hate him!
ET for 3! Pure determination.
et!!!
ET warming
Great job, Turner. Great fucking job.
Lou - Thank Evan for that
kids growing up tonight
Heard that before this season :)
well, kids do grow for awhile, haha
The over reactions (on both aspects, good and bad) are just magnified in the playoffs - that's all :)
I noticed no one commenting on Turners questionable possession where he just dribbled around until he gave it to Iguodala with one second on the shot clock - he's had a good run this quarter - but it's a quarter :)
He's played great the entire game.
And yet it's still only one game out of over 150 so far in his career
At least he's shown flashes this season. It hasn't just been one game. And as I think you've acknowledged, it has taken him time at every level to start dominating.
I don't believe this one game means he's 'growing up' or 'coming into his own' - any more than the 5 games earlier this season - it's one game that some folk are going to want to read too much into
He's having a good game - I'm not ready to corronate him as anything just yet
I don't think anyone is arguing with you there. But just discounting his good games this season is also foolish. There is a medium, not just black and white. He has shown major strides from last season (when he looked like a total scrub) to this one.
WEll it seems his 'good games' carry a lot more weight than his bad games (and the number of bad games still far outweighs the good ones - you've gotta admit that)
Brian hated that shot :)
I'm only talking about this game.
Well he has been better this season than last, and if he continues to take strides each year he can be a real solid asset.
ET to Thad for the slam!
keep running
Has Thibs called a timeout at all?
keep pressing...demoralize em
Turner playing like a stud. Looks like the top pick we drafted.
Hmm...seems the refs are much better this half so far...and the flyers are choking
Maybe Doug can do us and the team a favor....not re-insert Hawes anymore this game. Just put Battie in.
Iguodala limping a bit...
AI9 w/ the big dunk.
That defensive possession was brilliant. They kept trying to get Allen in the pick-and-roll, and Thad just kept bouncing from big to big.
It's so good to see the young guys (Jrue and Turner) taking over this game. Gives hope for the future.
Defense to offense. Nice. Thad got lucky to corral that board though. Gibson had position.
We're running on em at every single chance now.
Was that good defense by Lou I saw?
alley oop!
Holy shit! AI9 to Lou for the oop!
run it the fuck up
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS what a look!!!!!
Louuuuuu.
Did anyone catch Andre in the bottom corner of the screen as he celebrated Lou's dunk? The camera kind of lost him - but he was excited about that
Is that surprising?
To me it was - he's not often that emotional - except when he complains about fouls
That's the highest I've ever seen Lou get!
Yeah, Lou can really get up. Nobody says that about him, maybe because he only does it on oops. He's 6'1" and had his forearm at the rim.
Bulls panic and go super-small. Brewer at the four.
Lavoy is so much better at setting a screen than the rest of our bunch.
man those fans look so depressed. eh, rose is smiling at least.
Doug shouldn't have told Lou to get a two for one there. Not enough time really to get it. Bad shot.
Reggie Miller didn't seem to mind it :)
Yeah, agreed.
PHI 83, CHI 69 after 3.
That's how you close a fucking quarter. Now put them away in the beginning of the fourth.
jrue!
Brewer 22-footer = good defense.
Jrue again.
And you hated that long two - didn't you - admit it
When you're 10/11, I don't hate it.
Oh come on - a little piece of you said 'no long twos' :)
seriously, Jrue could have bounced the ball off of his head from half court tonight and I would have said it was a good shot
They finally got their defense together in that 3rd quarter. First time this whole series.
They also got the rebounding under control - it was atrocious in the first half
Great box by Iguodala on Gibson there.
Jrue heat check, no good. Get to the hole next time.
foot was on the line. 3 inches back and it's good
Lavoy!!!
attaboylavoy.
Jrue is 10 for 12 after missing that 3.
Lavoy from the baseline. Nice.
Come on Lavoy - why can't you play like this every game...
(PS - who the hell shut down Joakim Noah - did he shoot in the 3rd quarter?)
are we in bizarro land? bulls shooting free throws like we do
Couple blown bunnies there for the Sixers.
How wsa that not a foul on the Turner drive
The Evan Turner debate during the playoffs? come on.....
shut it :)
lavoy!!!!
attaboylavoy.
Damn it Lavoy - stop teasing me
good timeout.
I'm really wondering why Hawes gets any burn. Great seeing Lavoy hit a few.
Well, if Lavoy played like this every night, Hawes would get a lot less burn :)
Sadly he doesn't.
I'd like to see if #8 is pumped up for the playoffs too - really give Doug pause on putting that useless douche in again
Celtics look like they're going to win too
You all know this win won't count right?
Honestly, I was thinking about it, just in my mind, but I'm not sure if Rose is healthy the Bulls win tonight the way this team came out in the second half - not like the first game was a blow out...and not like rose is a great defender who could have stopped Jrue
Good point.
Iguodala is 5/12. One three-pointer, 4 dunks and 7 missed jumpers?
Lou, put the nail in the coffin, buddy.
lou long 2, dont like him dribbling around though
Turner is pissed, he wants the ball w/ Korver on him.
Lou with the interception.
I'm stunned. Absolutely stunned. Never thought they'd blow the Bulls out. Thibs better switch it up and go to posting his bigs on the block, our very weakness.
Lou with the for-sure dagger!!
Don't fucking relax.
lavoy, please play like this more
LAVOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! +1.
Zumoff: "Playing through the contact! Playing like a big boy!"
Heh, Lavoy is looking like the Lavoy I quickly fell in love with earlier this season when Hawes went down. Had me saying that he looked like a capable replacement for EB and all. Then he crashed and burned, then Doug proceeded to assist with the pine splinters in his rear end.
This is goddamn beautiful
Don't know if anyone mentioned this, but I love DC putting Jrue on Korver. Brilliant, and it worked great.
EB w/ the block.
Shooting near 60% and all those points in the paint? say it ain't so.....
i know we're up 22, but i don't want ET shooting a 3
shot clock was near the end, had to chuck it up
I refuse to get my hopes up though, because I HAVE seen this team before. Only to be duped.
Just enjoy this one. Don't look ahead, don't look behind.
good advice
Feels like December and January again.
its a mute point but doug stops running anything when they get up by a decent amount, for most of the time its just shot clock killing isos
moot.
Damn it, I avoided saying anything because I'd get called a dick for correcting him.
You're such a dick ;)
yea my bad
I mean it's possible that the team plays better without set plays. When they start getting leads, they have been very good at extending them. And if that happens in the absence of Collins' play-calling, maybe they are just better at free styling.
Big slam for Thad. Nice.
so, was Noah even playing in the 3rd? Really seemed to disappear
Dear Doug
Jrue
Evan
Andre
Brand
Lavoy
That's your starting five - dig?
I think he digs it now. Lavoy had 9 boards - I had no idea.
If this Lavoy Allen shows up every night, fans who loved reggie evans will worship Lavoy Allen
Noah's not celebrating so much now.
must have stopped talking to himself
You hear Doug yell at Lavoy there?
Damn Doug - what did Lavoy do?
Heh. Lou just loves piling on.
Turner had a great night...as the starting point?
So what the hell is Jrue?
This was pretty much the same as it always is. Jrue, Turner, Iguodala, Lou taking turns initiating.
Yeah I wouldn't say Turner played point tonight, not sure what he was talking about.
20+ years of watching people cover Philadelphia sports teams nationally and not know what they're talking about - you just get used to it :)
There were fans who loved Reggie Evans?
Lou
Lou - that's just mean
meeks 3 would be nice
PHI 109, CHI 92 Final.
Great job, now do it again.
If you drink - there's a fun drinking game in listening to the national media (TNT, ESPN, NBA TV) make excuses for the sixers win tonight.
Other than they lost Derrick Rose?
I want to be giddy
soooooooooooooooo bad
but....
Dude I am so giddy that you are my best friend right now
I'm giddy too but probably not for the same reason you folk are :)
Even Chuck and Shaq can't get me down
I love Chuck, Shaq is a funny dude but just awful as a TV analyst
I despise them both, Shaq makes Chuck look smarter than he actually is though...Chuck is one of those former players who buys into all the cliches and uses them to analyze games
I think Charles is smart when he wants to be, I don't think he prepares or studies at all though. But at the end of the day, it's just entertainment. People who follow the game don't really take the national guys seriously anyway.
Whoa!!! Is this armageddon? lol
Maybe, who knows. I won't even say I told you so about ET. Because if I did, I guarantee he would have 3 points on 1-12 shooting next game :)
heres the dunk if you missed it
http://www.the700level.com/basketball-philadelphia-sixers/news/VIDEO-Andre-Iguodalas-Authoritative-Slam?blockID=700582&feedID=8974
This was just a great team win. Jrue dominated on the offensive end, Turner had a fantastic all around game, Lavoy was a monster off the bench, Lou was "Good Lou" tonight, and Dre had some huge dunks and held Deng to 8 points on 3-12 shooting. Just awesome.
Hey Brian, keep that notebook.
Didn't see the whole game thread but did anyone see how the Sixers handled the single double tonight? Trailed and gave a hard trap on the catch with the screeners man. The Bulls turned it over at least twice on that play because the passers couldn't make a different decision. Defending the off ball screens better doesn't have squat to do with Rose.
I also thought they did a pretty good job forcing Watson and Rip to drive to the rim. Those are guys the Sixers bigs can deal with, especially EB, whose timing has been impeccable lately.
Turner can handle Rip and Korver alright. I thought the team as a whole really ran the floor with a purpose of TO's and rebounds.
Jrue shot well tonight (A few too many long twos still), but I really liked his floor game. I thought he was more threatening with his dribble, probing and drawing two guys to him well and then passing out of it.
I missed the 2nd half :(
Was this one of those games where the won on unsustainable jumpshooting?
No, they won on defense, pretty much. Suffocated them in the second half.
Sixers listed w/ right achilles tendinitis. Was that the same as last year?
listed Iguodala w/ right...
no, more consistent with his injury late in the season
wasn't it chondromalacia last year? forget which knee though...
He missed time early in the year w/ an achilles problem, I think. It was his knee later in the year.
Yeah, not good either way. If the injury makes Jrue and ET grow up a little bit in the halfcourt, it's not the end of the world...or the series.
Dre's defense was better tonight, let him take those 3's that everyone hates for no reason and get transition buckets, focus on shutting down Deng, and hope we get another dose of what Jrue/ET brought to the table tonight.
game five's start time is 9:30
Just finished the game on delay. Lavoy....have a day. ET - love that fucking attitude. And what a brilliant display of four-quarter-basketball by Jrue. Nice win boys. Great team ball. And fuck Noah.
If you are the Bulls, I think the first adjustment is to put Deng on Turner, especially if Iguodala is gimpy. ET looked pretty darn comfy against Rip and Korver.
Yeah, absolutely. That's a touch cross-match, though, especially if the Sixers are pushing the ball. I think he's going to be able to get opportunities with Watson, Hamilton or Korver on him. Deng and Brewer are the tough matchups for ET.
If you are Thibs, Brewer might have to play more than 15 minutes. I know he can't shoot, but the Bulls couldn't take advantage of squat tonight offensively.
What I am looking for is the chess match between the two coaches on the Bulls screen game. The Sixers trapped the hell out of that tonight and the Bulls had literally no answer because the wings couldn't make a quick pass out of the double. That's going to be a huge deal in Philly.
Rich, I noticed the same thing. Korver in particular had trouble with the pass out of the trap. When they did get the pass off, they often found a big man 20 feet from the hoop, which the Sixers didn't mind (and could often recover from). Between now and Friday, we can be sure the Bulls will practice how they will defeat the trap.
Oh, and if Rose plays like he did in Game 1 tonight, I think the Sixers still win this game by 10, FWIW. They made adjustments on the other guys to win this one.
If Rose is Rose, then it's probably a toss-up, and tonight's play is only one game, but they were very good in the 2nd Half. Very good.