 Iguodala Wilts, Joe Johnson...Not So Much This one bothers me. The opening night loss you can chalk up to jitters, I guess. Tonight, you could make the excuse that it was the second night of a back-to-back, on the road, against a well-rested team in their home opener, but you can shove that excuse when you have a 23-lead. Absolutely forget it. This was an embarrassing loss.We'll get to the good stuff after the jump, if I can stomach it. Right now, we're talking about the end of the fourth quarter, because I really think Iguodala was trying to prove he's worth that monster contract, and he wound up doing exactly the opposite. It started well in this sequence, he blocked a Joe Johnson shot from the baseline with the game tied at 86. From there, it was all downhill. On the very next possession, Iguodala was handling the ball at the top of the key, three-point range. With plenty of time left on the clock and Joe Johnson basically in his jock he decided to go for the dagger. He raised, kicked out his legs, completely bricked the three, then flopped to the ground, I guess hoping to draw the foul. Josh Smith gathered the rebound and hit Joe Johnson on the other side of the floor for the dunk and the lead. Fast forward to 42 seconds left in the game, Sixers still down by two. The offense starts with Brand on the left side of the floor, he's doubled, outlets quickly, the ball swings all the way around to Thad in the corner, but the defense recovers. Thad swings it back to Iguodala who immediatly drives into the crowded lane, he tries to do some kind of a spin, and walks. This was reminiscent of the play where he tried to go behind his back in traffic to Brand for a dunk but threw the ball away. On the ensuing possession, Mo actually put Thad on Joe Johnson, who torched the Sixers all night. Thad kept up on him and tried to draw a charge all the way out by the timeline with 5 seconds left on the shot clock. There was no whistle, there shouldn't have been, but Johnson was left 30 feet from the hoop with 2 seconds left on the shot clock. That's excellent defense in that situation. Unfortunately, Johnson drained the miracle three and that sealed the game. Earlier, in the comments, gdog asked if I'd trade Iguodala straight up for Michael Redd right now. My answer was, and still is, no. But if you asked me the same question about Joe Johnson, I'd make the deal in a heartbeat. Johnson was a complete stud tonight, and there's no question who the Hawks are going to ride down the stretch in tight games. There were several other notable plays in the fourth, good and bad:
After the jump we'll talk about the two bright spots. I think you can probably guess their names.
I lied, I'm not done with the bad things yet. A couple more points...
Thad was all over the floor, driving to the hoop with that awesome out-of-control-but-somehow-still-under-control spinning lefty dribble and converting at the hoop. Punishing the Hawks every time the gave him a centimeter of space behind the three-point line. I think it's time we stop this whole, "We don't need to call plays for Thad," thing. You may not have to, but you should. He's the second-best option on the court when Iguodala's playing like this. One more thing. Where did Andre Miller's jumper go? Last year he was deadly from about 18 feet in. Absolutely could not miss. He can't hit the broad side of a barn right now. The other highlight was EB. I'd love to see more points from him, and I think they'll come as soon as they realize they need to get him more shots, but his work on defense and on the glass has been amazing. 17 points and 16 boards tonight. The big theme of the night was Josh Smith vs. Elton Brand. Smith hit a couple of prayer threes (anytime he sinks a three it's a prayer, but the one he hit over Reggie Evans as the shot clock expired was beyond belief), but otherwise he was a trainwreck on offense. There's really no comapring these guys. I love watching Smith play, and his athletic ability is a sight to behold, but there's no way the Sixers would've been better off with him. That's all I've got. Do your worst to Andre Iguodala in the comments. This is one of the few times I won't defend him. Player of The Game: Thaddeus Young Team Record: 1-2 Up Next: Kings in Philly on Monday Night Almost forgot: This is the second loss of the season and it's also the second loss that has been nearly a mirror image of a loss from last year. Toronto torched us with a ton of threes last season and Atlanta came back from 20+ down against last season as well. I'd like to avoid any more deja vu performances, at least the bad ones. 
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Yeah, Miller's shot has become this very flat, line-drivey thing. Iguodala wasn't just bad at the end of the fourth, though; he had three turnovers in the first three minutes of the quarter, one or two of which turned into Hawks scores. Basically he singlehandedly fueled their comeback. Iguodala for Redd - I mean, Redd's a guy who (a) does virtually nothing for you but score, and (b) isn't actually nearly as good a shooter as he's given credit for. Though he is a very good scorer. With the right coaching, I think Iguodala's more valuable to us than Redd would be.
Other than that, it's huge that Thad can apparently shoot threes. The release is a little slow, but he has nice touch. And he can also do stuff off the dribble and get by people. If he keeps producing, I think Cheeks will call more plays for him. He's proven to be a reasonably adaptable coach. Brand - I wasn't aware he was such a mid-range jump shooter. It's almost reminiscent of Webber. And in the post, he does look a little rusty and earthbound. Gets stripped a lot, doesn't handle double teams well at times. We are going to be quite a good rebounding team, but offensively - eh, off the bench we've got these very streaky, not very smart guards, they don't really seem to know how to use, when to use, or how to play off Brand yet, our starting guards can't shoot from outside of 18 feet, and we continue to be very turnover-prone - I'm just hoping we work out some of these problems and Thad continues to look this good.
Oh, and you also see, tonight, how nice it is to have guards who can shoot. Bibby's shooting kept them from not totally falling out of it in the first half, Johnson's scoring and outside shooting carried them in the second. Shooting can save a lot of bad possessions - obvious example being that last possession with Johnson.
Johnson's post-up game was what impressed me most. That 30-footer was luck.
Thad's release is still a bit slow, but doesn't it look quicker than it was last year? For me, the most encouraging thing is that he's looking for his shot, but isn't forcing it if it isn't there. Still shooting an excellent percentage even though he's taking more jumpers.
A little quicker, maybe. It's very smooth though.
Sickening loss. I watched it on delay as I was out earlier...(thankfully).
I cant really say the sixers "blew" the lead so to speak...Atlanta just kept playing...HARD.
Iguodola looked ok till the game mattered and then he looked terible...at least offensively.
Honestly I dont really know where you play this guy...we have a shooting guard who cant shoot. I know your saying he blew it at the end...but who else are you going to give it to ?
Brand...nope. double and triple teamed. Sammy ? Next. Miller who missed 3 critical shots earlier ? nope...Thad...--maybe...but maybe hes not ready yet. Andre is paid to be the man if Brand cant...tonight he wasnt. Honeslty I dont know if Andre is capable of being a clutch scorer...so it brings me back to my post from a few days ago. WHO is the sixers clutch scorer when the game is on the line ? Its rarely a big man...because you have to get the ball to a big man. Its usually a small forward or SG who can create his own shot and make it. We dont really have that...think of EVERY playoff team from last year...lets just say the final 7.
Lakers-Kobe
Boston-Pierce
Cle-James
Det-Billups/Hamilton
New Orleans-Paul
Utah-D Williams
San Antonio-Ginobli
The Sixers do not have a icewater veined closer...Maybe Thad will be that guy.
Its not Iguodola.
It completely slipped my mind, but I wanted to say that the Sixers by no means gave this game to them, the Hawks played awesome basketball for the final three quarters. My disappointment is that the Sixers couldn't close.
Thad could be that guy. Let's hope.
I don't really think that Thad has the quickness or handle yet to deal with double teams, which he'd start to see if you elevated him into some kind of go-to guy/closer role. But Andre... I really do wish they had worked some kind of sign-and-trade. Such a frustrating player.
Sign and trade wasn't really an option. Basically, they had to sign him long-term, or lose him.
Andre Miller started slow last season also. And trade chants came out early and then he makes people question why they wanted to trade this guy by all-star break. Lets hope this is just tradition and not his age starting to creep in. Still too early to tell though.
Yup, Iguodala got off to a really bad start last season as well. They should both bounce back, I just hope it doesn't take too long.
May I introduce you all to the 2008 Southeastern Division Champions and Eastern Conference #5 seed... The Atlanta Hawks!
Joe Johnson is really stepping up. And Brian, I've told you this before, if Josh Smith can spend a whole summer practicing shooting a 3 then he'll be SO tough to guard.
Smith didn't look good at all last night, but Joe Johnson was unbelievable. If Johnson can be their #1 weapon, and Bibby, Horford and Williams are just OK, it doesn't matter much what you get from Smith, you just don't want him killing you with bad shots.
I think Thad is our 2-guard.
I'm not going to dump on Iguodala yet; we're three games into the season. He's definitely trying too hard, which he also did last year to start off. Then he settled down and had a good year up until he ran into Tay and the Pistons.
That said, the guy does not have a pretty stroke. I think he's about where he's going to be - solid from mid-range, but never more than an average 3-point guy. Thad, on the other hand, has a great stroke. I don't think his knocking down 3's is an accident at all. He has the mechanics and the mentality, and he'll keep getting better off the dribble. He's not a more complete player than 'Dala, but he's a better shooting guard.
I dont think Thad can play shooting guard...
Not good enough ball handling skills.
I realize there are only so many Kobe/Lebrons...
I guess I am just dissapointed that we have 80 million invested in a guy who cant shoot. I love his defense and his overall game. But he may be better suited to just being a sixth man defensive stopper or something. Of course this wont happen BECAUSE we have 80 million invested...it has to work.
So far with all these great additions we have beaten a surefire lottery team, blown a 23 point lead in the 2nd half, and got spanked in our home opener. Beating the kings means nothing...
No, I don't think thad is the shooting guard. He is maturing nicely as a three. Give him more experience and he's a star there because his stroke is better and I believe his range will be too. It's plain to see. I think this team 2 MAJOR problems right now.
1. There is a black hole at the 2 right now and iggy is trying to prove he's worth the money, and that he can play the 2 (mostly by throwing up long range shots). I had to look away when he tried to match Johnson. Head to head offensively at the 2, they aren't even in the same universe.
Iggy is a good player but he has to stay within himself. His defense, slashing, transition game is his bread and butter. That's what this team needs him to excel at. If he continues to force things we are cooked. We are going to have problems closing games out.
2. Mo is not subbing well at all. He is struggling to get a rotation down and he is not staying with the guys he should (speights, thad) and he is playing too much of the guys he shouldn't (willie, lou). Not to mention Mo hasn't really had a feel for the game yet. He is staying too long with the lineup giving up the lead. I like lou, but if he doesn't start swinging the ball around I will reach through the TV and choke him myself. If Mo can't get a set rotation and maximize his talent it's going to be a long year.
Oh, and by the way, we have WAY too much veteran talent on the bench to not be utilizing. I have to believe Ed is going to have Mo's ear and mention this one of these days much the same way he did last year with utilizing the young guys more when Billy was fired. Boston managed a 10 man rotation there is no reason we can't either.
When are we going to start playing Rush? Where is Donyell Marshall? He doesn't even get a DNP-CD in the boxscores; is he hurt?
Haven't heard anything about an injury for Marshall, I think he was inactive after the first game. He made room for Speights.
Agreed on Rush, he should be seeing some time.
Speights should be active. But what about Ivey? We don't need four guards off the bench. If you can't even get playing time over Willie Green, you're not very useful.
Ivey was serving out a suspension from last season. He had to be on the active roster, but couldn't play. I think it was 3 games, so he should be back on Monday, I'm just not sure he'll see any minutes.
It bothers me that Mo hasn't given anyone new to the team a real look yet.