It seems like wraps fall into one of two categories: either a blowout win over a bad team or a heartbreaking loss to a good team. This one was the former as the Sixers made a fool of the apple of so many fans' eyes, Monta Ellis. The man who made him look the fool? None other than Andre Iguodala, the one so many want to trade for Ellis. (
game capsule)
Here's your rotation chart. I highlighted the beginning of the first, third and fourth quarters and then the second unit in the first because it was an odd substitution pattern that I thought took the pressure off the Warriors and kept them in the game longer than they should've been:
Bullets only today:
- I'm sure a lot of people will say Lou should get player of the game, and it was certainly nice of him to show up for the fourth quarter in this game (when it really wasn't needed) since he's been absent in the fourth for so many other games (when it really was needed) but turning a 10-point win into a blowout doesn't get you POTG.
- Solid game from Jrue (5/9, 13 points), Brand (5/12, 14 points, 14 boards), Lavoy (5/7, 10 points, 7 boards in only 20 minutes) and Thad (6/13, 16 points, 7 boards in 28 minutes)
- The Voose got his burn despite the poor play against OKC, and looked pretty bad again. Hope he snaps out of it soon
- Meeks is still in a cold streak from three, and was using his dribble far too much for my taste. He was limited to 21 minutes.
- Turner looked better to me. He was at least getting into the lane instead of heaving jumpers, but it didn't translate into more production (2/6, 4 points) or more minutes (17).
- Overall, the Sixers played really strong defense against one of the best offenses in the league (albeit minus Steph Curry), took care of the basketball and dominated the defensive glass (85% DREB rate). That's a recipe for success.
Player of The Game: Iguodala gets the nod because he's the reason they won the game, rather than the reason for the blowout. Monta Ellis came out and scored 12 quick points (on one layup and a series of stupid shots that fell). When Iguodala switched onto him, he couldn't even get those stupid shots off. AI9 didn't score efficiently (5/12, 1/3, 1/2 for 12 points), but he dominated the glass with 11
defensive boards, handed out 6 assists, only turned the ball over once and turned the "scoring machine" into a pile of goo with his lockdown defense. This wasn't a tough call for POTG.
Team Record: 22-15
Up Next: Los Bulls. On Sunday night
Jrue's Goal: 0 to 2. Failure. Good game for Jrue, but not a single trip to the line. (2-7-2 since inception).
Apologies for the brevity, but I'm playing the busy weekend card. Bulls preview up late tonight/early tomorrow. Big game.
Interesting ESPN trade proposal. If the Lakers offered Andrew Bynum for Andrew Iguodala straight up (big if), is there any hesitation in pulling the trigger?
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/5-on-5-120302/nba-making-deal-five-teams-need-one
After seeing all of those boards he put up when the LAL were hear, you *almost* have to pull the trigger on that right away...if Bynum is healthy this season, does he make this team good enough to beat Miami, and if you lock him up for massive amounts of $$, wouldn't he then be on the books even longer than AI9's contract has left with extension time for Jrue coming soon?
I would definitely do that trade. While there are some risks to it, like bynums health, I think the potential is too great.
I pulled the trigger as soon as I read Lakers offer Bynum.
Bynum is a top 5 center and he's only 24 years old. I'd make that trade without hesitating. Why would LA do this?
They wouldn't.
done. Was that too fast?
interesting that the sixers were playing against the (philadelphia) warriors on wilt night, the franchise wilt was actually on when he scored 100. I wonder if they did that on purpose
https://twitter.com/#!/SixersCEOAdam/status/176054670068957184
Adam Aron‏ @SixersCEOAdam:
No accident. I requested it from NBA. RT @robcurrran: @univalveeye5 The @sixers just happened to play a team called the Warriors last night
^^ so yes it was intentional, pretty sure the Warriors have played here in December the last few years..
Andres Nocioni + Lou Williams for Josh Smith, would you do it?
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=82y7akz
The real question should be why on earth would the Hawks do that trade?
Would you do it for ray allen if you had to include the 2012 first round pick (it works)
So basically would you be willing to give up your first rounder in the upcoming draft for maybe a better shot to win this season. I think it depends on how much better you think Allen makes you. Do you get out of the first round w/out him? W/ him? Maybe to the conference finals w/ him?
If you think he's the difference of a round in the playoffs, I'd probably do it. Don't know how much value that pick holds, this is supposed to be a deep draft, right?
I like Ray Allen but I wouldn't make the trade. He's 37 years old and he isn't going to be the difference between winning or losing a round in the playoffs. I would trade Meeks because I think his ceiling is low and I would trade Lou because I don't want to resign him at market value next year. Ray Allen has 2 seasons left in him. He makes the Sixers better but not by much.
I'm also intrigued by the draft. Guys like Patric Young and Ezeli are projected to go in the 20s. Who knows? Maybe the next Serge Ibaka or DeAndre Jordan can be found in this draft.
Monta Ellis looked good for a bit last night till Iggy shut him down. I would never trade Iggy for Monta---but Lou and draft picks, maybe Nocioni ? Absolutely. I think it would make the Sixers a better team but certainly not good enough to contend. Still hoping they can somehow find a way to get Dwight Howard and keep Iguodola and Jrue.
A lot of interesting stuff on the annual sports analytics conference this year again. The most interesting one, that i have read so far is a paper claiming that mid range jumper possesions are far less likely to end up with an offensive rebound than any other possession. This is interesting for the Sixers because it does sort of explain their lack of offensive rebounding.
Is it really that interesting? I thought it was fairly common knowledge.
It's one thing to intuitively think something's the reason why somethng else is happening, it's an entirely different thing to have proof about it.
I found it interesting, but it might be a professional habt to like those kind of stuff :)
I have a question without attempting to inflame.
Looking only at ET's current abilities and weaknesses, and ignoring drafted position/potential... Which current NBA teams would he start for and who would he replace? You can include Meeks on the list if you want.
I just thought it would make an interesting exercise.
You can start him at PG, SG or SF. As long as you think he would upgrade a team's starting lineup. As with the Sixers, the question is not whether he is more talented than a given starter, but whether his insertion would lead to an overall improved unit on the floor- so look at teams as a whole.
Lakers at PG over Fisher comes to mind. I'm sure there are others.
Nets- Stevenson
Knicks- Fields
Raptors- DeRozan
Bobcats- Walker
Cavs- Gibson
Pistons- Stuckey
Warriors- Monte
Rockets- Parsons
Clippers- Foye
Bucks- Livingston
Wolves- Wes Johnson
Hornets- Belinelli
Suns- Dudley
Kings- Thornton
Jazz- Bell
Wizards- Nick Young
A lot of these are debatable but it's over half the league.
Thanks. I'll have to review the rosters to see if I agree with all of these, but it helps get a better sense of what might be his value. If he is worthy of starting now and perceived as having upside then that suggests value.
I don't think any of them are debatable honestly. The only one that is in Turner's favor is maybe Wes Johnson and the Timberwolves, though you could argue he doesn't even improve that unit with them starting two capable ball-handlers already along with his poor shooting. The rest are easily against Turner. The exerecise was posed as based on improving the unit on the floor and upgrading it. Turner doesn't do that on any of these listed.
You wouldn't start Turner over Stevenson? I think in most of these situations, Turner's defense and rebounding should be enough to make those teams better.
Not really, because Stevenson plays just as good defense, maybe better, and he can at least knock down a three-ball. As is the case with the Sixers, and in the majority of these situations, Turner's defense and rebounding isn't needed as much as the shooting provided by the guys you're saying he will replace.
Turner's defensive effort individually is sometimes good but he has major lapses in team defense. He does aggressively rebound, but besides that, he's usually not making any impact on the game at all.
Defense and rebounding are always needed, unless you're Don Nelson. He is a better rebounder than everyone on that list. He is a better playmaker than everyone except Monte on that list. And he is a better defender than at least half of that list, maybe more.
They're all debatable, but anyone with an IQ of 80 or above would start Turner over most of that list. He upgrades most of those starting units.
Will be @ the game tomorrow against Chicago
Speaking of Turner, has anyone else noticed that Favors has made absolutely no strides whatsoever from his rookie season, aside from fouling people a lot less? With slightly increased usage, his TS% has actually dropped this year from .542 to .516. His rebounding's down (very) slightly. Maybe there weren't many great choices in that draft. I know I like Cousins, but that's a controversial view, and no one seems to have seen Monroe being half this good.
You can't discount the fact there is a guy named Kanter in Utah now that might impact Favors numbers.
He ha been disappointing thus far i agree, but he was always a long term prospect as in production should come 3-4 years down the road.
Favors, Turner, Cousins, Johnson---what a garbage draft at the top end. Wall I thin will be OK once he gets some players around him. Damn why couldn't the Sixers have gotten the 2nd pick the year Durant came out. Although somehow I feel they would have found a way to draft Greg Oden instead and then we would have really been miserable.
Trading for Andre Miller and Joe Smith led to an 18-7 run to close the season killed their chances that year to get Durant or Harford.
Sorry, phone typo.