The Sixers will head into Staples Center later tonight looking for their third-straight road win against the Clippers with wind in their sales, a spring in their step and a healthy dose of confidence. Waiting for them will be a poorly coached team with an unbelievable size advantage which will undoubtedly be exacerbated by Eddie Jordan's asinine rotations. Preview, game thread and a contest for free tickets after the jump.
About 16 hours after our GM was quoted in the Daily News as saying defense is the number one priority, the Sixers will trot out a starting lineup that matches up like this:
- Allen Iverson (6'0", 165 pounds) vs. Baron Davis (6'3", 209 pounds)
- Lou Williams (6'2", 175 pounds) vs. Eric Gordon (6'3", 222 pounds)
- Andre Iguodala (6'6", 207 pounds) vs. Al Thornton (6'8", 220 pounds)
- Thaddeus Young (6'8", 220 pounds) vs. Marcus Camby (6'11", 220 pounds)
- Sam Dalembert (6'11", 250 pounds) vs. Chris Kaman (7'0", 268 pounds)
Jordan's first order of business will probably be to put Andre Iguodala on Baron, meaning either Lou or Iverson will be guarding Thornton, with the other picking up the much bigger, much stronger Eric Gordon. Thad has no prayer of keeping Camby off the offensive glass.
Then we get into the subs. Brand (6'8", 275 pounds) will most likely come in for Dalembert, meaning he'll have a 4-inch height deficit to keep off the glass and get his shot up over. Speights may come in for Thad early on, meaning a guy who can't spell box out will be tasked with keeping a guy averaging 12.8 boards/36 minutes off the glass.
The only chance we have at even competing on the boards is to play Brand and Dalembert shoulder to shoulder. Jordan has avoided that lineup up front like the plague, however. Camby and Kaman combined for 33 rebounds when the teams met less than two weeks ago in Philly.
The size disadvantage continues into LA's bench as well. Mardy Collins (6'6", 220 pounds) will sub into the back court and run the point. Rasual Butler (6'7", 205 pounds) will spend time at the two. In short, the Clippers will enjoy size mismatches all night long. The only thing, in my mind, that's going to determine the outcome of this game is whether Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy chooses to exploit these gross size mismatches. We saw it a little bit in Portland, we saw more of it last night in Sacramento, it's going to become a trend quickly as word gets out and coaches don't spend the first quarter figuring out that Allen Iverson is covering a small forward because Andre Iguodala has to switch onto the opposing team's PG because neither Philly guard has a prayer.
Here we stand, off back-to-back wins fueled by excellent shooting. It doesn't really matter how you get to the corner, all that matters is that you get there and turn it. Maybe the players will decide they like the feeling of winning and they'll take the games out of Eddie Jordan's hands. Maybe they'll put the focus on defense themselves, no matter which ridiculous lineup Jordan trots out there. It's possible. The Clippers are an extremely beatable team. Maybe tonight they put it all together and then a depleted Denver team doesn't quite look as intimidating on Saturday night.
I don't think this is how it's going to play out, but three-in-a-row is not out of the question. One thing is for sure, I'll be here, watching, suffering, fuming and maybe even celebrating.
Key to The Game: Size mismatches, how do they compensate, does Dunleavy punish them.
If ____________ The Sixers will win: More than 200 Sixers fans nationwide actually tune in
This is your game thread. The tip is apparently at 9:30pm, meaning the game will end right around the stroke of midnight. Believe it or not, I'll be here throughout. (When you have two infants, you celebrate New Year's in the afternoon.)
I've got a deal for you guys, if you're home and watching, I'll reward you for participation in the thread. The first two people to post at least one comment in every quarter of the game get a free ticket to a game later in the season.
If you can't make it, check back tomorrow for a full recap. Otherwise, enjoy and be safe, guys. A new year starts tomorrow, hopefully the Sixers will close 2009 with a 37-46 record.
Being drug to an 80's party and I'll be that miserable guy on the couch in the other room swallowing beers and cursing at the TV by myself. So they at least will have 2 watching.
I'll be watching, not sure about how much commenting, only 7:30 here, despise crowds, and only get to see the sixers play so often so i'm going to endure the misery
Still not sure if I i'm going to stay and watch or go and see some fireworks...probably going to stay.
Probably will watch.
Playing "Where's Andre" during the 1st Q and 3rd Q will be fun.
Will he guard Davis, a big bearded bully of a PG whose likely pissed at his 2-15 performance during a loss against POR last night? Or will he guard Thornton, a strong scorer who would love to spend his New Years Eve shooting buckets over AI or AI-Wannabe?
Not too mention the joy that will be had watching Lou lose track of Gordon.
This could get ugly quick
Portland just beat the Clippers with, as we saw the other night, a soft frontcourt. For somr reason Kamen, soft, and Camby, won!t shoot much, don!t take advantage of these situations like they should. Thornton worry!s me though, this could be one of those nights where he looks like a young Dominique. Somebody on the last threat mentioned L.Will. improved defensively, it looked to me like he was covering guys recently that tried to post him up and he looked better denying the ball in those situations on the block than up top trying to keep somebody in front of him.
Absolutely, positively, love the picture/caption and the last three words of the last paragraph of the original.
Three the hard way...
Man, this Miami game is going late, I wonder if we're going to miss the first quarter of the Sixers game on TNT. Bastards.
do you know what time is tip off? or has it already started
It was supposed to be 9:30pm. Not sure if they held it.
Kaman has played great this year all star caliber, I want to see Brand early in the game and hope for him to have a monster game
OK, same starting lineup. They finally finished the early game, hopefully the tip was delayed.
So I guess we get JVG and Marc Jackson. Marv did the early game.
My guess for matchups: Iguodala on Baron, Lou on Gordon, Iverson on Thornton. Should be fun.
If marc is in were going to hear a hand down man down on Lou, He doesnt put his hand up to defend shots
is Reggie Miller and thinkin about it marc does the ESPN games with van gundy
Butler is starting, is thornton hurt?
Doug Collins in the booth.
Rasual Butler is starting at SF, Iverson on him, I guess.
Alright, first quarter officially begins now.
Iverson on Gordon early, Lou getting abused by Baron. Iguodala on Butler. This is not good.
I love how when Sammy gets the ball, it is a shot. Rarely, if ever do I see him pass the ball anymore!
You are right, sir and when he gets and offensive rebound no matter is he is falling down he's going to shoot it
beautiful alley oop
awesome blocks by sammy
Sick lob by AI to SD. Not so sick from LW to AI9.
Dalembert is bitching Kaman early. I think he might've gotten a piece of a third.
Damn Kaman is strane he's a right handed but around the basket only shoots with his left....and that was a travel by gordon but is fuck that the NBA lets them go
There's the size mismatch killing them. Two easy passes for an easy dunk.
Man, I am not a fan of this starting lineup at all. Wasted minutes having AI out there w/out Brand or Speights on the floor IMO.
What do you mean wasted minutes? I see him playin great, gettin fouls and findin open guys
I mean Iverson is making bigs better on the offensive end. It's really useful with Brand and Speights in there, less so when you have passes going off Sammy's hands out of bounds.
Oh okay I see you are right but at least sammy is finishing the easy ones
Strong finish by Thad on that break. Butler wanted no piece of that poster.
I wish Doug Collins was our coach...
SexualTyranosourus that may be the best username ever LOL
amen.
Wow, Kaman is 2/7 already, they did give Sammy the third block btw.
Dammit, I am sad I missed the pre game show. I wanted to hear what Charles had to say about how bad the team is.
I am still down about the Sixers jerseys and how they look like the Clippers without the USA piping, but I they have won me over with their stylish simplistic design.
Also, look at AI finding Sammie as usual. Too bad Sammie has Kwame hands.
Again sammy travel but the refs never count it...gordon travel a few minutes earlier
2/9 for Kaman, 4 blocks by Sammy. Wow.
Making the Clips look slow and Baron has 2 fouls now. If Telfair comes in, the size mismatch goes away. Telfair is garbage too.
Whenever Sammie gets those early points it seems he goes nuts on the blocks.
Ha at the Elton boos.
It's also strange to hear people say "that's just good coaching" when referring to Eddie Jordan. I don't know how to respond to that.
There haven't been a ton of jumpers taken tonight by the Sixers, they're really attacking.
Please stop saying good coaching in the same sentence as Eddie Jordan.
Iguodala has 4 or 5 dimes already.
yeah, that's as bad as Cooney always referring to Willie Green as a defensive stopper.
NOTHIN easy for Kaman, Dalembert is guarding him lookin like mutombo out there
Somehow Brand and Iverson seem to have galvanized Sam. He's been producing very well the past few games, stone hands and all.
Boos for EB.
OMG Sam is dominating big time.
Good sub by Jordan here, EB for Thad, Jrue for AI3.
SD, EB, AI9, LW, JH
You can defend with that lineup.
Iverson has such an impact on Dalembert.
Iverson 7 pts on 1/1 shooting with 4 assist playin awesome but nice sub he can't play lots of minutes. Dalembert with 5 blocks
EB!!!!!!!!
For me the clippers are a playoff team with griffin the thing is they are on the west
Great dunk by Brand. Gotta love that D leading to a solo
Elton! Boooooooooo!
I guess when the Sixers are on national TV it is basically a bizarro event so they decide to play like the bizarro sixers.
Anyone else wonder why the clippers keep going to kaman even though sam keeps sending it back?
Can't go under that screen w/ Gordon, Jrue.
Do you notice how the sixers tend to avoid Jrue like the plague after he passes the ball?
Up by 5, I want Brand to have a monster game with the fans booing
Sixers up 5 after one.
Second Quarter starts now.
Elig for the tickets:
rswknight, eru the phenom, sexual t-rex, Bob, Alvin, Mike P, Khalid, Dean H.
-6 after sammy left with 2:04 to go in the first.
Eddieeee hahaha
Whenever I see him talk, all I hear is "I'm a moron, I'm a moron, I'm a moron."
EJ, He's an idiot
I like Collins' comparing Dalembert and Dawkins. They both are kinda goofy guys that erratically alternate between being totally dominant and almost invisible.
And notice how the sixers go cold when Jrue is on the floor? No shots by him so not his fault.
great move by dala
too many jumpers.
They are doing what they are told to do!
that wasn't a change of position the shot clock shouldn't have restarted
Pretty, pretty play AI3 and Brand, give and go.
I love how Iverson is playin
Drive and kick by EB. Heh.
Anyone else feel like Collins is going out of his way to make sure it doesn't look like he's lobbying for the HC job in Philly?
like they're gonna pay collins on top of eddie jordan's contract?
Clips are shooting 53.8% from the field. Not sure why Sammy is still on the bench.
Wasn't Collins in consideration?
I remember Thidibiddiboh and Avery Johnson. I'm pretty sure Collins was in the mix too.
He was rumored to be, yeah.
I seem to remember Collins not being interested in the job. Something like "No one has contacted me and i'm not interested in any case."
14 shots for Kaman already? Wow.
Dalembert needs to get back into the game. He's the only guy on the roster that can cover Kaman.
Just imagine how good of a year we would be having if Collins was our coach!
Depressed Fan.
I hope EJ puts sammy in out of this TO
Odds?
There we go sammy with brand
lol and they run a postup for Sammy. Good thing Elton was there to clean things up.
He did it.
EB with two quick hoops.
that behind-the-back pass from AI to EB brings back (bad) memories of pick and pops with Iverson and C-Webb.
SAMMY! 6 blocks. Man, I hope he gets 10.
Seconded. He did have a game earlier in the season when he had 6 at the half but didn't reach 10..
When was the last time someone blocked 10 shots in a game?
For the Sixers? Probably before my time.
I think Hakeem had a quad double once for Houston.
YEAH now brand has it going
Fuck, man. EB is a stud.
Thad at the 3!
lol, Brand mishandles a pass, it goes right to Dalembert who somehow swipes it out of bounds.
Iguodala needs to come back in after this break.
Sammy has a legit shot at a triple double if he gets 30+ minutes. 6 points, 4 boards, 6 blocks.
If ______ Sixers win this game.
Sam plays at least 18 minutes in the second half.
Dalembert with a +17
The starting lineup to start the season is in
Bailout call against Sammy.
This is a nice lineup, SD, EB, TY, AI9, LW
6/5/6 for Sammy.
They didn't give sammy a rebound on that foul?
Damn, they just took a block off the board for Sammy with that whistle.
6/6/6 for SD now.
worth noting: Chris Kaman has 16/5/5 on the other end.
Where do you get the second 5? I see 16 pts, 5 boards, 1 assist, 1 block. He's also taken 16 shots.
Brand was 5/9, missed his last three shots (one baseline J, two tips)
just kidding: yahoo has a "blocked attempts" stat and I mistook that for blocked shots. I was just thinking I didn't recall seeing him block that many
If you count the really obscure passes, I'm sure Sammy's at 6/6/6/5 right now, with the 5 being dropped passes :)
Alright, up 2 at the half. Thought they played well, and still only a 2-point lead after 24 minutes.
This closes Q2, still alive or the tickets:
DeanH
rswknight
EruThePhenom
Mike P
Alvin
Bob
+14 w/ Sammy on the floor, -12 with Sammy on the bench. Ugh.
Is +12 and -10 but still hope he plays a lot in the second half with brand
ESPN has +14/-12. I didn't do the math yet on my rotation chart.
Im on sixers.com so I don't know maybe ESPN is right
I actually have him at +11.
You know, it cracks me up how short-sighted talking heads and announcers are. The Sixers have won two in a row, so Jordan's a genius and Brand coming off the bench is a master stroke. They pay no attention to the mess that got the team to 7-22, and honestly, they're up by 2 right now and LA is scoring at will, shooting 54% from the floor.
It's like they have to be positive about our ridiculous coach. The thing is: he is coaching a little better the past few games. Is it because Iverson is back? Because Willie Green is hurt? Because he's reluctant to play AI9 or Carney at the PF on national TV?
Coaches are notorious for not slamming their brethren on air.
but but but... They emphasize D, the Eds told us so!!
So, who thinks they are going to collapse?
Third quarter starts now.
Clear path?
Never mind
go sixers
Am I crazy or does this team play better when Speights minutes are limited off the bench? Yeah he had 4 pts off the bench but his defense was garbage as usual and he had no rebounds in 8 minutes.
Hell, what which of their younger building blocks besides Holiday is really a decent defender or consistently exerts himself on the other end?
That was a bad start
wasn't that a dumb foul by AI?
Sloppy start to the third.
Check that, ugly start to the third.
These announcers seem clueless of the 76ers!
there goes the lead
AI followed that up with a dumb shot.
6/7/7 for Sammy.
It's raining threes. Awesome.
Now we see the Eddie Jordan 76ers that we all love!
And the Sixers are building a house. 11-1 run for the Clippers to open the third.
This is all off the mismatches at the guard positions, btw.
you don't stick iguodala out on an island and have him cover a shooter. He needs to be involved defensively, put him on davis or gordon. without him on one of them this game is just both guards romping right to the rim, every possession.
young and dala combine for 4-18 11pts
this is rubbish. All i'm interesting in now is whether Sam can get the 10 blocks, or even the triple double.
I'm scratching my head and trying to figure out. Its just mind boggling the way his rotations are set up.
Check out that great play after the time out!
6/8/7. Come on.
wow um, good shot coming out of a time out.
Fuck out of the TO a missed three from the corner 5 secs in to the shot clock.... AWESOME
Nice recovery by Brand after he gave the ball to Camby
OMG. no defensive substitutions during timeout.
I thought EB could not run with this team?????
Gee, EB comes in, things settle. Yeah, keep him on the bench.
elton brand sure screws up that fastbreak.
8/9/7 for Sam
8/10/7 for Sammy.
damn looks like it's not gonna happen.
Brand should have had a easy 2 but couldn't handle the pass
Fuck, that's 4 on Sammy. We probably won't see him again.
Kapono coming in. He'll help.
can he really hurt right now, Brian??
Probably not. I just want Sammy back in the game, I actually have something to root for that might have a chance of happening.
If he puts Jason Smith or Thad in for EB right now it will be the worst possible defensive lineup he could ever put in a game. I'm rooting for that.
1 over/under Speighs passes the ball
Long two for Kapono. Missed. Awesome.
Why not Carney, who played so well against Sac? Plus Iverson is great for 15 minutes then he's essentially done for the night.
That makes sense, that is why not.
Look at Brand picking on second-stringers. Like Marcus Camby.
LOL at reggie miller "you know that if the balls goes down to speights its gonna shoot it"
Speights nickname - 'Black Hole' because the ball enters and never leaves
Why not Camby for 3
Camby w/ a corner three. Sick.
I believe this one is over, folks.
This one ended at halftime, when Special Ed failed to adjust.
Yup, coming off his best game of the season, not one second of PT for Carney.
he played 25 secs in the 2nd quarter LOL
This team is such a defensive juggernaunt! Isn't that what our GM thinks?
That is a fantastic stat. 7-22 when they fail to shoot at least 55%. That's crazy
The Clippers backup coach made adjustments, Special Ed didn't
Special Ed. LOL
Fourth quarter starts now (with the sixers down by 13)
Still alive for the tickets:
Bob
DeanH
EruThePhenom
Alvin
rswknight
Anybody thinks they have a comeback in them?
Winner.
Hells Yeah LOL
Eddy's just getting the Clips overconfident and he is going to unleash the scoring machine in the 4th qtr to rally for the win.
game
So, how close does Jrue have to be to Davis to be covering him?
Winner.
Sixers are not inconsistent, they are only as good as their offense. That's consistent
Winner.
Thanks!
Our 3 point specialist! 2 points!
Lou was literally 25 feet away from his man, with no clue where he was when he took that three. Luckily, he missed it.
The only guy playing defense out there is Jrue!
Speights plays Billy Donovan defense, didn't you hear?
Actually haven't done a bad job of getting to the line tonight and passing the ball but man when this team doesn't shoot pretty much lights out, they have no chance. Especially on the road. Ugh.
Nice powerful move by Brand he should do dat everytime on Kaman
Is anyone shocked the Sixers are getting no defensive stops with Lou, Speights and Kapono on the floor?
But Stefanski said they were the 90s Knicks!
"If you don't defend, you don't play!"
lol
I think he meant "if you don't defend Jordan, you don't play."
No
Love how the TNT announcers laughed when Speights jacked up a quick jumper early in the 4th...Harlan asked how many assists Speights had and Collins said 11...
All season.
Just when I thought that EFJ might be saving his job, the Sixers are showing the nation how bad they are when they don't shoot 55% from the field.
Hope you are right! Maybe management will be embarrassed by this game and replace EJ? (I feel like I am telling an April Fools joke, sadly).
He's going to be here through the All-Star Break
Fucking put Sammy back in already.
Jordan thinks we need points, even though Doug said a few stops will get them back into the game
No sub needed, just keep jacking threes.
Love the way Lou stands there like an idiot watching the bigs go up for a block and allows Jordan the offensive rebound stuff.
There you go.
Winner.
Alvin, Bob if you guys are still around, leave a comment and you get a ticket.
Thanks Brian but I wouldn't be able to make it for the game even if i got a ticket.
And i don't think it would be a good thing for anybody if I went to a Sixers game. It would be much more brutal to watch it in person, I might just attempt to hit or strangle Eddie Jordan.
Jrue!
finally! He tries so hard to get dimes but his team mates cannot shoot. Need to take the ball and shoot tonight, maybe he will get hot and embarrass EJ in playing him????
What cracks me up is how Kapono had a dribble drive to create an open 3 for Iguodala.
Isn't that Bass-Ackwards?
Yes. I think him and Sammy make good team mates!
lol
Down 12, 4:44 to go. Come on, bring Sammy in. He can get 2/1/3 in 4:44.
That would be too much like right
Not competing for a ticket; I'm on the wrong coast. But thanks. And Happy New Year to everyone in Philly.
After winning 2 in a row, the Sixers resume their place in the league in the EJ era:
As the Clips feel-good game
NOt fair, Jrue gets fouled driving to the hoop and gets called for a foul on the other end.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Yes, Happy New Year to all! Maybe this will be the year the 76ers get a real coach!
happy new year Brian and everyone else!!
HAPPY NEW YEARR
Happy New Year Folks!
A Jason Stiff sighting, and Rodney Carney's great game the other day at least earns him more than 25 ticks of PT tonight. Even though Thad and Iggy had all sorts of trouble trying to make a hoop.
Winner.
There is our man Carney! Just in time! If any of this team other than Jrue would have played defense, we could have come back. Awesome coaching!
DeanH, I think Sammy was trying to play D. But of course, he's the only player in the NBA that fouls out with 4 fouls.
SOrry, you are correct. Did not see Sammy at that time. I wonder if even AI9 is starting to get tired of playing defense since the coach does not care???
One last comment. Notice, the last drive, Holiday shot a 3, there were not 1 guy on the sixers anywhere near the hoop. And, he did not rush up to shoot it. We have guys who do not believe in defense anymore and see no use to rebound. That is how awesome our coach is this year! Great job, EJ.
Love Chuck's comment: "You want Princeton people to work for you, not play for you"
Nice.
Alright guys, I'm going to spend the rest of the night w/ the family. Really appreciate you hanging in there. All ticket winners, I'll have the details in my wrap tomorrow.
For now, it's a new year. Wipe these past 32 games from your mind, anything's possible (at least until Saturday!)