Adjustments, readjustments. Panic moves. Merciless exploitation of recurring mismatches. The coaches are playing a game of chess while the guys on the court have spent a week beating up on each other, physically and mentally. The fourth installment is upon us, and the Sixers have a chance to take a stranglehold on this series at 1pm.
If you're grading the coaches after three games, Collins has to be way out in the lead. Rose's injury has obviously hurt the Bulls, but they had plenty of experience playing without him this season, and winning without him. Since game one, the Sixers have been able to take away the Bulls' best offensive weapon (Rip and Korver off those staggered screens), they've been able to negate the Bulls tremendous advantage up front, and they've beaten the Bulls in a track meet in game two, as well as a grind-it-out battle in game three. Collins has definitely pulled the right strings to this point, while Thibodeau seems to be trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
The Sixers appear to be in the driver's seat, but they've been here before. Twice in the past four years, actually. The came into game four against the Pistons with a 2-1 lead in 2008, and even took a double-digit lead into the half in game four before falling apart. In 2009, Thad Young Sam Dalembert tied up game four against the Magic with 14 seconds left, only to see Hedo Turkoglu drain a three with one second left to even that series at 2-2. Prior to each of those game fours I remember getting ahead of myself. Thinking about the next round's opponent. Thinking about bigger, better things. Not this year. Not this time.
With or without Joakim Noah, this game is going to be a battle. The easiest way to head back to Chicago tied 2-2 is to underestimate the Bulls. Game three could've easily gone the other way, and as good as they looked in the fourth quarter, they looked worse in the first three. They won that game because they never stopped battling. They never let up. They were on the floor for loose balls (or at least bending over lazily and swiping at the ball, in Hawes' case), they made the extra rotations on defense and challenged shooters, and they were relentless in attacking the hoop and forcing the contact when they needed points down the stretch. They gave hard fouls, they played tough defense. In short, this is the playoffs and the Sixers played like they know what that means. They need to keep that up tonight.
I was expecting an adjustment from Thibodeau heading into game three, namely Deng guarding Turner from the opening tip. We didn't see it, at all, but you'd have to think it'll happen tonight. Iguodala is clearly limited to being nothing little more than a spot-up shooter (and a poor one, at that) on the offensive end, it doesn't make sense to put Deng on him. Deng spent some time in the second half checking Jrue, but I think Jrue is a little too quick for him. Anyone else on Turner is a mismatch, and a mismatch Collins suddenly seems interested in attacking. The Bulls need to take that away. If they do, I'd love to see Igudoala in the post, though I doubt we will.
If Noah is out, it's going to be even more imperative to keep Chicago off the glass. I assume it'll be Asik who gets the start in his place, but even if they go smaller with Taj Gibson, you're still looking at an active offensive rebounder being thrown into the mix in Noah's place. If it's Asik, you can really pack the lane. He's not a threat to hit a jumper, so the pick-and-pop with him isn't really an option. I assume they'll use Boozer in those plays exclusively. He hurt them on those plays the other night, and he's really been a good shooter from mid-range all year.
On the offensive end, I'd like to see them pick up where they left off, with Jrue penetrating to kick or score and Turner attacking the rim. It would also be helpful is Elton Brand didn't finish the game with a goose egg in the points column. He's got Carlos Boozer on him, after all.
The tip is at 1pm. This is your game thread. I'll be right here throughout, living and dying, as usual. Join me if you want to see this team get over the game four hump.
Prediction: 3-1, heading back to Ferris Bueller's home town.
all i want to say - Philly need some blood. so, i hope it will be bull's blood.
Go Sixers!
I hope Collins has them attacking Asik and Boozer early and getting them in foul trouble, forcing Thibs to go small, which should allow for a lot of the Elton and Thad combo at the 5 and 4.
My one fear is Thibs stumbles upon a combination, out of the blue, that gives his team a big lift. Like a Deng and Gibson at the 4 and 5 for example. After all we have seen how it is all about matchups.
Feeling a little uneasy about this one for some reason. I guess the odds say the Sixers should win this one but considering game three as a whole and how poor they looked throughout that game (esp the 3rd quarter), it's really not that simple. Take away an unusually hot performence from Hawes and an even more unusual boatload of trips to the free throw line and we're all feeling different this morning. Yeah, Brand probably won't go scoreless and they may actually hit some three-pointers this game, but still.
Just polar opposites of type-games from game 2 to game 3. We run them out of the gym in game 2, then you look at game 3 and the Bulls had more fastbreak points than the Sixers but the Sixers actually had less turnovers. A grimy roller coaster grinder, still can't grasp the fact that they eventually pulled that one out. Kept saying during the game thread that they could win it, but not sure if I believed it would come to fruition even though real-time I felt it was very possible.
Spencer playing 32 minutes last game does raise concern in me for this game. Collins can't afford to continue to leave him out there hoping he'll come around if he's costing the team at both ends of the floor. He didn't hesitate to make the change with Jodie when he was hurting the team at both ends, so hope he isn't clouded by Spencer's previous performance to think lightning will strike twice in a bottle in two days' time.
I guess you are quietly sitting up there in that borough with a winning lottery ticket being Hawes showed a micro-sack the other night. ha
They better knock down shots from deep because this getting to the line around 30 times a game just can't possibly keep happening. If this season is taken into account and the pattern holds to form, they will cough up this game just because as stated earlier everyone is probably expecting them to win w/ the Bulls banged up.
The stitching on the front-edge of my seat cushion needs re-upholstered.
I believe the days of Hawes getting minutes without producing are over. If he plays soft and misses shots Lavoy will be in there quickly.
It is a shame Vuce is a noncombatant because posting him up early today would sure be a nice option. Actually we could go big when they go small; nah that is unthinkable!!!
I think it's really simple today. Control the perimeter and they control the outcome of the game. A big factor in the game three win was Lucas dribbling down the clock late in the 4th and the offense scrambling to put up a shot. If I recall correctly, on one play he handed it off to Boozer at the top of the key with 4-5 seconds left and he drove it in. Sure he converted, but that's an awful shot down the stretch.
Game three should have been a loss if not for the Bulls missing easy looks. Hamilton normally would have converted both free throws to put them back up to 11. He had two consecutive good looks in the paint that rimmed out. Boozer missed two open looks and at least one would normally have found its way home. They had opportunities to keep or retake the lead. Instead, they bailed out the 6ers offense with bad fouls.
I'm not taking the victory away from them but there is still cause for concern. Less so without Noah, who has been their best player (offensive and defensive) in the series, but nothing is a given for the 6ers offense, especially against a Thibs D.
Heading down there soon for what will hopefully be another glorious game, but one of the announcers, I think it was Webber, made a very interesting point during the Mavs/Thunder game last night: Dallas has all of that wonderful playoff veteranness that was supposed to be an advantage, BUT OKC have been through two playoff runs and are so much younger that they know how to deal with all of the differences between playoff and regular season games, plus they all sell out for loose boards and open balls because they're quicker than the Mavs' old guys...there were a few examples of this they showed last night from the OKC win, but I seem to remember the Sixers doing that a few times Fri night too...
Bulls' hope w/o Rose, Noah: Spencer "The Spruce Goose" Hawes has an off-shooting day; Korver forgets his worst days at Creighton, loses his man once in a while; C.J. Watson actually stands up to Jrue; Omer "the Tentmaker" blankets the lane; and - surprise - "Veal" is found in back of fridge, eventually sizzles on today's plate with some inspired spicings.
asik starting for noah
The Sixers haven't been talked about once in this pregame since I started watching. Spent the first 15 minutes talking about how the Bulls can win, the rest of the time talking about the Knicks.
Noticed the same thing, playoffs occurring and they friggin discuss if the Knicks should sign Steve Nash or Jeremy Lin.
If you DVR'ed the game Friday not sure if it was before the 8:00 start or not, but they all laughed their ass off after mentioning the Sixers could possibly make the ECF. Like it was an all-encompassing joke or something.
I prefer they don't talk about the Sixers than listen to the mostly ignorant things they say about our team. If they can't come up with a ridiculously simplistic narrative, they are at sea.
I think it was Dalembert that scored the game tying bucket in 09 against the magic in game 4 and Hedo drained a 3 right in Youngs eye
You know what, you're right. They doubled Iguodala and he hit Dalembert diving to the hoop for a dunk. Got it confused w/ Thad's game winner the previous game. video.
Alright, alright, alright...let's fucking go!
Um, where's the crowd? wow
Suze Komen run creates traffic snarl. Good logistics nba
Man it is empty in there.
Hack an Asik? 45.6% from the line.
Hubie Brown announcing. You see, know I like that.
the crowd is going to be late, they closed down one of the major roads
Aaand we're off...Hawes WINS the tip.
Sissy blown bunny on the first possession of the game.
Traffic jam outside the game.
Annnnddd just like Friday night, they run the first damn play thru SH>
I hope they get EB going early.
Man, Iguodala looks really hampered. Hawes 20-footer, good.
sissy jumper
EB.
EB on board early, keep it up.
AI9 uses the screen. Then Rip does the same.
Offensive board = 2 points for CHI. Clean it up.
jrue to the line
Jrue to the line.
Risky pass by AI9 there. No way Hawes catches that. Lucky it was tipped.
ugh, EB turnover, runout on other end
Way to dig down for steal Jrue. ugh ET blows bunny, shit
Great job by Jrue on that double. Ugh, need that three to drop.
AI9 w/ the big follow.
AI9 put back slam
AI9 follow slam!!
ET w/ two missed layups, cleaned up by SH
At least one of them he was fouled and the refs swallowed the whistle
Hawes w/ the follow. Keep fucking attacking. Make or miss, keep fucking attacking the rim.
turner fouled 2 times, wasnt callled both times
Sissy putback! Owning the offensive glass without Noah in there
Keep attacking. The calls will follow.
nice pass jrue, good attack by evan
Jrue all over the defensive glass, then EB w/ the o-board, and a sick feed from Jrue to Spence for a non-sissy dunk!
Well I'll Be!!! Jrue with a nifty pass to Spencer who actually DUNKED the damn ball. heh
gorgeous pass by jrue
Keep attacking, Turner. Keep fucking attacking.
Sissy 18-footer, drive and kick by Turner.
Evan in the paint again, kickout to SH for the J
sissy jumper
Spence, dominatin'!!!!!!!!
This has been beautiful to watch so far.
Heck of a start. Don't let up one bit, they're sure to go on at least one run. Keep the pedal down.
Interior D looks stout today.
Fuck, another open three missed.
EB contesting two shots at the rim on that possession.
EB beasting!
Doug maybe taking Spencer out since Thibs w/ with Gibson in place of Asik?
not yet...
Um, thanks ABC, who was at fault for that turnover?
Was on Jrue.
He just picked up his second, too. Stepped on the line. Hate that call because I can never see if it's right or not.
Who turned it over?
EB to the line.
eb gets the call, 2 on boozer
Gotta hit the freebies.
ANother blocked shot. Don't know if it was EB or SH though?
Man, how did Thad foul him when he had position and Gibson was trying to go over the back?
Need a bucket here to stop this run.
Man, nothing coming from the perimeter guys.
There you go, Jrue.
jrue
Jrue w/ the block to start the break. Great fucking job.
great d jrue leads to dre dunk
GReat fucking D Jrue! on Rip
Dre slam at other end!!! YES
just ridiculous defense by jrue there. he was 100% responsible for that Iguodala dunk
Was that a flop by Asik?
Come on Lou, don't need that shit man. Way too early, and way too far out.
Lou for two. Took it too early.
Foul on Taj, good.
That was no foul, you fucking bitch Rip.
PHI 24, CHI 15 after one.
Like it. Love it. Being the aggressors. Pushing Chicago around. Three more like that, fellas.
Heh, Andre just clocked Rip coming across the lane. No call.
Decent quarter. Good news? It could have been a whhhooole lot better.
Held the Bulls to 28% shooting in the quarter. That is what I'm fucking talking about.
Dare I say Spencer with a stud-like line so far.
'ducks'
lol
That dunk was so unlike Spence. Keep it up.
Lid on the rim. Can't have those easy dunks for the Bulls. Keep the pressure on.
Meeks should not be handling w/ Brewer guarding him.
Hate the Lou/Meeks backcourt
Lou's too straight up on defense, that's his first mistake. It's like he doesn't crouch for some reason. Got the foul on Asik on that one though.
Lou43!
lou hits a 3, offense is struggling
Shit, Thad. Mis-timed the jump.
THad, how do you get shoved out of the way like that w/ inside position?
What a load of shots we have already missed at the rim. Man...
thad
Thad w/ the sky hook falling on his ass!
Lavoy should have went up with that. He was under the board, but still.
OK, EB and Jrue back in. Settle them down.
Fuck, Taj is killing them. 10 straight points.
Come on THad, Taj abused you and set you up perfectly for that entry pass
If Evan and Jrue are easily getting into the paint, when will Lou get the clue? He's been quick to fire away today, he needs to probe and attack too.
It's really a shame Meeks can't shoot anymore, because the defense is collapsing so bad on those drives by Turner and Jrue. He could get wide open looks all day long.
Turnover to Korver 3. Very bad.
ET w/ an 18-footer on the Jrue drive/kick.
Who was that TO on?
Turner. Got stripped.
Offense is struggling, Defense is lagging. They're really just out-hustling us, to me. Their energy is high right now, and we're just trying to absorb the blow instead of punching back.
ET to the line.
keep attacking korver
HIT YOUR FUCKING FREE THROWS.
They're free ET...
Don't let them get over the hump.
Sissy floater.
See Lou, go to the damn paint son. Stop wanting to fire up a J.
Jesus. Bricks and air balls.
What the fuck are they doing? Why did they stop attacking and started settling for outside shots 10s in to the shot clock?
Come on Lou, stop crying man, you're settling too often.
On that previous defensive stop and board, I hate it when our perimeter guys do what they did. ET clearly had that board and Jrue and Lou both stand there and wait for the ball to be given to them instead of getting down court and giving Evan some outlet options to advance the ball.
Damn Jrue, he finally attacks and blows an easy layup.
Ugh, Jrue blows the bunny. Gotta keep attacking, though. Keep getting to the rim.
Jrue has been bad finishing at the rim
EB rejected by the rim. Then gets to the line.
Spencer w/ a nice drive and dish. EB blows the first one, to the line on the 2nd.
Hit the freebies. Go on a little run here and you can squash the momentum of Chicago's run w/out them ever getting over the hump.
nice pass boozer
Nice pass, Boozer.
Shit, Jrue, can't go behind your back in the middle of that double.
Jrue wins the tip, then misses the three. Ugh.
To this point and the type of affair it is, this feels very similar to Friday night's game 3.
EB
eb
Fuck. Loose ball = 2 for CHI.
Jrue is 1/10 now.
Jrue can't buy a bucket. Our guards (Jrue, ET, and Lou) are stinking up the whole building.
Alright. Get a hoop here. Don't let them take a lead.
The offense (if you can call it that) is awful. Just awful.
Nice drive by Jrue there. Could have really gotten more contact though.
Our guys body language isn't what it needs to be. They're kind of sulking. They just need a few shots to fall or a runout or two to up their confidence.
The offense will fluctuate, just keep relying on your defense as it can carry you. (which they're not doing of late)
Collins all over them for the turnovers :)
AI9 to the line.
Splits the pair, but Spence tips out the o-board and they get it. 3 fouls on Gibson. That's big.
3 on gibson
SPencer with the tip-out off Dre's missed freebie.
Taj's 3rd foul. whew
Our free throw shooting has been terrible
And somehow Spence can't miss from the line. Keep this lead.
sissy jumper
Sissy 18-footer. Nice, needed that.
Spencer FUCKING Hawes!!! You're the shit man!!!! heh
Jesus, Jrue. 1/12 now.
jrue is a mess right now
Dag Jrue, just stop shooting it man. He is nowhere near a rhythm at all. You can just see it when he loads one up.
Jrue is short on everythinhg.
Lou for one, again. Shit.
Don't know which quarter was worse
3rd quarter of game 3?
2nd quarter of game 4?
Jrue dunk attempt blocked. Come on, get a hoop to end this half.
The Bulls bigs are pretty damn tough to score on at the rim.
Spencer Nowitzki ladies and gentlemen
Yes!!! Spencer Hawes for thhhrrrrreeeeeee!!!!!
Spencer friggin' Hawes, where would we be without you man. I shudder to think.
hawes 3, up 2, figure out something on offense
Hah, "What would they do without him?"
Be a lot happier.
Spencer Fucking Hawes!
PHI 44, CHI 42 at the half.
Tough, tough second quarter, but they emerged w/ their head above water. Needed that shot so badly.
Wight Howard! Runaway POTG at the half.
Holly ... Jrue is 1-13.
4 more years...
Alright, they just played that Goodie Mob again. Friday night that song was a harbinger of things to come. Hope it's the same sign today.
THE SPRUCE GOOSE cleanin' up Jrue's mess!
At the game, we've blown so many shots at the rim. It looks like they keep expecting contact but they aren't getting the calls.
This game is way closer than it should be.
Pretty quick pace that first half. The only statistical problem was the shooting. Rebounding was fine, didn't turn it over, got to the line.
Hey, let's talk about the Knicks first during half time!
wow really, went outside as I didn't expect to miss anything
Magic was a great player, and seemingly a really shrewd businessman (at least he listens to whoever advises him), but he's a mental midget.
So we got, what, 30 seconds on the game from those douches. With the big takeaway, "Philly's not that good."
Need Turner and Jrue to give us something offensively in the 2nd half otherwise it's gonna to be really tough, can't count on Hawes to repeat that kind of performance in the second half, obviously...
OK, big third quarter. Let's get this done.
Love the FTA number (not the FTM, though), keep attacking
Get your shit together please. Get EB going early here.
Crappy pass, Turner.
And might be a good idea to stop taking these threes.
That three was a good look for AI9, gotta hit a couple of those.
Turnover on the 3-2 break. Fuck me.
Jesus, Jrue. Settle down, man.
Atta boy, Turner. Take it to the hole.
et
Right about now is when I wish we had a true backup PG to come into the game, just for Jrue to get his head together.
Our lack of three point shooting is killing us. Jrue had Dre for an open three, passed it up, and he turns it over getting it to Turner.
Why are we fronting the post on Boozer?
eb
EB. Big shot. OK, stops.
Why the hell are Hawes and EB shading so hard when Rip or Watson is driving? They aren't getting to the rim.
Bad shot, Turner.
I'd get a timeout here.
ugh, bad shot Turner. Rip 2 on other end. shit
they just need to regroup, I think they're gonna get going in this qtr. If the Sixers rebound, they'll win this game.
We need some leakouts or early offense, it's too much of a grind for a halfcourt look with no post presence or three point shooters as Rich mentioned.
There we go, Jrue. Take your time now.
Jrue finally off the schneid.
jrue hits a shot
Ugh. Spence turnover.
Stop with the unforced turnovers please.
OK, Jrue. Let's go.
jrue again
Turner to the line. Hit them both, please.
thad in, needs to get going
AI93
AI943!!
AI943!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Huge fucking shot. They pushed the ball up there, that's why he was open.
yep Jrue outlet to Evan
Big shot by Dre. Like the offensive flow they are getting when Turner pushes the ball.
Man, they're attacking Thad w/ Taj. That shouldn't happen, he's a good player, but by no means an offensive powerhouse.
Nice pass, Rip.
Jrue to Spence. Nice.
sissy jumper
I'd keep running stuff for Hawes today. He's been money.
Tirico: "maybe the PHI fans will warm to Spencer Hawes"
yep, only in the playoffs though heh
Spence to the line.
Lou is all out of whack today.
Man, need those threes to fall.
nice pass andre
Nice, AI9 to Jrue for the slam. Sweet diagonal pass by AI9.
Holy Moly!!! What an outlet pass from Dre to JRue!! wow that's more like it
EARLY OFFENSE PLEASE (even if runouts aren't there)
great D by Thad
runouts are everything for this team - Jrue plays better when they're running
lou!!!
Lou +1!!!! make it please off another runout
Lou stayed up late last night. geez
That's the third time on a Lou-for-one chance that he's just took an ill-advised deep three that had no chance. The end of every quarter so far.
Iguodala has been a man on the boards.
PHI 64, CHI 63 after three.
Meeks, really could've used that three. Nothing's free in the playoffs, folks. Gotta take it.
ET and Jrue time we hope.
11/19 from the line. That needs to be improved upon here in the fourth.
It's either that or the 3/15 from deep. One has to give.
Defense is gonna win it. Offense is sure to come and go as it has all game, mostly go all game, sadly.
can't decide if this is a win because they're up 1 even though they've played so-so ball or a sure loss because you can't win missing 8 FTs & shooting for shit from the field too....
One team will assert their will.
Lou's effort is really disappointing me today. He's such a step slow.
dre hits a bailout shot
Big jumper from Dre there.
where is ET? We need some boards
Damn EB, two big misses on shots that were open. He's short on both, couldn't get roll.
F me!! they've got to review that, it was still in Boozers hands. man
they will at the next timeout
and wtf is Jodie doing chasing EB who was already chasing KK, he just left Boozer for the putback attempt
Jrue brick. Thad cleaned up. let's go@!!!!!!!
Come on. Lou, hit 'em both.
thad!!!!
Man, AI9 really wants this game. Jrue brick, Thad w/ the follow!
nice O board Thad!
Defense has been stellar these first three minutes.
Come on, be smart now.
sound like hubie
Thad jumper is a bailout shot, not a set play. Drive or move the ball.
JTI for the rest of the game?
Dammit Jrue, he was doing nothing but looking for his shot the whole time before he launched that three. Too much one-on-one.
Brewer is a much tougher matchup for Turner.
You can't fucking pull a guy down by his head.
As with Jrue, now Evan wants to go one-on-one. sheesh
Good work, Thad. Need to be perfect from the line.
Jrue is all over Kover.
Damn ET turnover. Now he compounds it?
lol, a fan got ejected
Shit, ET foul again, they're in the penalty. Get it together.
Turner picks up his fifth. Not good.
Yeah, Jrue.
jrue
Come on Jrue, look for somebody, He made this one though. Pass and move the damn mall though
Great controlled drive by Jrue. Looked like it could have been a travel, but I'll take it.
Man, Turner. Him going out puts Lou on their hottest player right now. Watson gets right to the rim on the next play.
and Lou just thankfully went out a sec ago.
he just refuses to use Sam Young, much to my chagrin
Come on!!!! Bring this baby home!!!
This is senseless not to bring Sam Young in and switch Jrue over to CJ Watson. Hell, Sam can guard Brewer or chase KK.
Not a good shot, AI9.
how about contesting that, Spence?
JRUE43!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HUGE SHOT!
bad shot jrue, goes in tho
id rather have jrue take that then lou
This Jrue gunning is tiresome
Jrue sinks a 3!
JRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HUGE
wow, 3 for Jrue.
JRUE4MOTHERFUCKING3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jrue!!!!!!!
Well F me!!!!
Jrue HOLIDAY for 33333333333333333333333333
heh
Still disappointing no semblance of offense being run. Like Doug is calling for all this one-on-one from Jrue for some reason, who is arguably the coldest guy in the building today besides ET.
think he's 6/8 in the second half.
No one mentioned the great hustle by EB?! What's up with you guys? ;-)
thats huge
Well that was deflating. Foul on Brand?
ugh Booz +1, ugh ugh ugh EB abused
OK, run something. Next time down the floor.
This is pitiful. Calling a 1-4 flat iso set for Jrue when only up 4 damn pts with 3 min left in the 4th quarter?
Yeah F me.
Get Lou out of the game.
nice pass lou
Lou to Spence. Huge, huge hoop. Turner for Lou, I believe.
yeah that was major. Lou showing some growth as a player with the well-timed probe & pass.
Lou Will to Spencer for a near-dunk!!!! Come on, run a damn play though.
Gotta get turner in for defense. Watson is eating them alive.
Switched Jrue onto him.
come on jrue!!!!!
Jrue to the line. Need 'em both, buddy.
Now, this is some puzzling shit. Jrue makes two threes, then he gives the ball to Lou on two straight possession for iso's. Somebody help me!!! WTH is going on??
Jrue iso now, and he's fouled. Make em kid.
not sure Jrue was even fouled on that play either
Doug needs to get ET in for Lou ASAP.
good job jrue, now get a stop
Turner has to be in for Lou out of this timeout, no?
he came in during the free throws
Like we always say, the Sixers are GREAT in close games.
Great defensive play by EB/SH. That was HUGE!
Then Jrue gets the bail out call. I'll take it.
Now get ET in - and the stop!
One fuckin' stop!!!
TURNOVER CITY!
Get a good shot or get to the line. Let's do this!
Jrue stepping up like a Hawes in this one.
AI9 to the line. HIT THESE PLEASE.
andre at the line
Let's see Dre fend off the boos here...
ball game
Great play! Iggy please make the FTs
Ice in his fucking veins!
he hit both!!!!!!!!
We've been getting some very fortunate calls down the stretch.
This must be what it's like to root for the Heat.
To be honest: I would be pissed as hell as a Bulls fan.
totally agree
Iggy made both at the line! With the game on the line!
Are we sure this wasn't the same exact game as Friday's game 3? Too similar, to me, in many respects.
Sixers completely out of character in these late games... and I love it.
told my wife at halftime this was the biggest half of the year for the team... they passed the test baby!
not over yet, need to hit their ft
Turner sneaks in a fuck you to Collins from the line. Hit the second. Thank you.
YESYESYESYESYESYESYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3-1, baby!
andre gave me a heart attack with that pass
Meeks could have pulled a Cheeks, but pulled it out.
3-1 baby!!!!!!!!!!!
PHI 89, CHI 82 FINAL.
3-1, Sixers, heading back to Chicago.
Knew it'd be tough, but not that ugly-tough.
Great game thread today guys. Enjoyed it.
@derekbodner
Two straight end of game close-outs without featuring Louis Williams. Just sayin.
show ya love
_ll
1 turnover in the second half.
Finished the game 11/12 from the line.
Jrue started 1/14, finished 6/9.
Heh, want to know how bad our centers have been since '83 - the last center to have two straight 20 point games since Moses Malone is none other than Spencer Hawes! Your player of the game, hands down.
Our starters had 43 rebounds. That's 8.6 per player. Sick.
best win in 10 years
cant agree on that one, it wasn't better than Game 3's comeback.
wow - I didn't see it. Sure seemed unlikely after Hamilton's 3 to put them up 14. I would have been a complete wreck.
I can't believe the 11-12 on FTs. Didn't see that coming.
Uh, let's go Hawks?
I'm torn, I keep leaning toward wanting to face Boston so the symbolism will mean something instead of earlier in the year when we blew them out some posters around here said that win was symbolic of the torch being passed from the old to the new.
I don't care who we face, if we get there. I just want ATL/BOS to be a long, grueling series.
So refreshing to see the Sixers close out games get to the FT line, win a grind it out game. Great job so far in the playoffs. Keep it up. It's still a long way to go to the finals :)
Not saying beating a hobbled Bulls team is a huge accomplished... but you know, defense and low Tom's translates well to playoff basketball. Not always pretty, but it keeps you in games to where a few timely jumpers by Hawes or Jrue or Fts by ET can carry the day.
Tom's should read TO's
I should not phone post...
Haven't caught the postgame, does anyone know if Doug addressed the vanilla heavy dose of iso's late in the 4th today?
Or has Doug even went to the podium yet?
Did not address thereoffensive sets. Said jrue stepped up.
We struggled against Gibson and Watson. I wonder how we'll fare against Garnett and Rondo.
Scary good thought.
Rough, rough series for EB despite being guarded by Boozer. If he begins hitting his jumper our offense doesn't suck so bad.
ditto for Thad. EB has had his moments on D. Thad's game has nit translated well to the playoffs for the past two years.
Great game by Iguodala, solid on both ends, finally. He also hit those big FTS when I was excpeting a split at best. Hopefully something has changed in his mind.
Hawes goes for 9/11 and one of the two misses was a prayer for nearly halfcourt, f'n unbelievable. Thorn will pull a Billy King and sign him to a 5 year-65 M deal after this series (remember what happened to Sam vs Pistons, lol), everyone will be happy :-)
@Statman: take out Hawes and Sixers in the 1st half shot 10/38 from the field !!
Everyone else has the feeling this series COULD be still long?
Ricky: wow, first positive comment about Iguodala that I can ever remember from you. (Playoffs: where all the different rooting factions unite!) And I agree with you: Sixers would have been lost without Hawes in the 1st half. I also think that if the Sixers don't close it out in Game 5, they will be under a lot of pressure in Game 6. But I'll enjoy this game's result for a day.
My rooting faction starts and ends with the Sixers. Not sure what you're talking about here:)
Does Doug just not have the pulse of this team or what right about now?
Every move he's made has been near stroke of genius. Starting Hawes the last two games, sitting Jodie after the first 7 or so minutes of this series, going to Evan late in game 3, going to Jrue late in game 4. Every time he's pushed a button, it's went "ding, ding, ding". Granted, players do have to perform, but he's had a hand in the initiation of it all.
Random Google results can sometimes lead to wonderful blogs like this. You are doing a good job, and we share a lot of views.