With Shelvin Mack in hand and a couple days of practice under their belts, the Sixers will look to right a wrong tonight at the WFC. Nine days ago, they laid down in Toronto and let the Raptors have their way with them. Tonight, they better stand up.
Richardson and Kwame are both listed as questionable for tonight's game. Richardson, for his knee. Kwame is listed as questionable for personal reasons. This is the second or third time I've seen personal listed as a reason for his unavailability, then nothing is said about it. I suppose it doesn't matter, since he doesn't get off the bench most of the time anyway. They could probably use him in this game, though, considering how easy things were for Ed Davis and Amir Johnson in their first meeting.
I don't want to spend too much time talking about their previous meeting except to use it as an example of why the New Orleans game left me very worried about this team. When they got back from the west coast, this team was tired. Tired and a little beaten down. They came home, lost to the Nets, then immediately headed back out on the road on the second night of a back-to-back. They were dead, and they certainly looked it on the floor. No energy at all, no effort...just lazy. When a team plays like that, you expect them to get killed, no matter who they're playing. Here's the thing that worries me. Against New Orleans, they didn't look like they lacked effort, or energy. They just looked like they lacked talent. Just plain overmatched when they were on the defensive end. There's a phenomenon in the NBA, when your opponent thinks you can't stop them, you can't stop them. This used to happen to Kyle Korver all the time. Korver was for the most part a terrible defender, but there were times where he'd really play solid defense. It didn't matter. The guy he was guarding just knew Korver couldn't stop him, so even if Korver forced him into a tough shot, it would drop. The Sixers are on the verge of becoming a team full of Kyle Korvers on the defensive end.
The problem obviously isn't that simple. There are plenty of examples of just piss poor defense. Turner couldn't stop his grandmother from getting by him on the dribble. The weak side "help" is laughable. But it is a systematic problem in that you give a team enough easy looks, the basket starts looking bigger and then they start hitting some harder shots. The Sixers need to find a way to get back to their defensive principles. Stop penetration, chase guys off the three-point line, encourage them to take long twos. In the pick-and-roll, unless Thad is the big, they need to go back to leaving Jrue on an island. Hawes and Lavoy should just back out of the situation, clog the lane and cut off that easy dive to the hoop. As for penetration from the wings, tonight I'd like to see Turner back off DeRozan and Landry Fields, see if you can entice them to take long twos.
The tip is at 7pm. Use this as your game thread. 12 games to go until the All Star break (and hopefully Bynum's return). 7-5 over that stretch. Too much to ask?
A team full of kyle korvers! Ha.
Love it !
If only they could hit 3s like him :).
to go 7-5 they need to beat the 5 non playoff teams(TOR, WASH, SAC, ORL, CHAR) then split the 2 games vs MIL and then steal 1 game vs SAN, NYK, MEM, IND and LAC
dont think it will happen
Sixers D: 5 tigers chasing opponents' tails around a tree until they, the tigers, have melted into butter.
Opp PTS/G: 97.2 (16th of 30); Def Rtg: 106.5 (18th of 30); Pace: sedentary; soporific.
Jrue Holiday's D has been sufferin' like your grandmother's succotash. Principles steadily applied - the first one being 'keep yourself between your man and the basket', the second one being 'see the ball at all times' - not occasional diva gloppings of a singular hounding mania, please. (Cannons aren't known for precision or maneuverability.)
As was disappointingly learned, Sixers can't afford the billable hours of the firm of Williams, Vasquez & Gordon. Tonight they'll try Casey, Calderon & Lowry.
Doug is bringing his red, white & blue Everlast silks in which to answer post-game questions. "In this cor-ner... ."
Hey, Mack, how's it goin? Welcome to Philadelphia, home of heartbreak and psoriasis and artery-clogging gastronomical delights and some of the world's finest bowling alleys. Good luck!
'see the ball at all times'
There was one play where Jrue followed Vasquez to the baseline, was basically face guarding him when Turner completely got burned on the other wing, if Jrue sees it, he can at least make a play to help. Noticed that one.
His on the ball defense was there all night though. Probably too aggressive at times (jumping over a screen too early, leaving the back door open), but if not for Jrue's effort, would've been a much, much worse team defensive effort. His DFR bears that out. They were only terrible defensively when he was on the floor (115 DFR), pathetic when he was out (the rest of the starters DFR's were between 126 and 132)
So a few bad plays, a few really good plays. Could've been better, but the best of the bunch. And he's the one you lay the blame on. Which is shocking. The Sixers win one matchup on both ends of the floor, and he's the problem.
Not a one game deal and you know it, but you clutch to your latest romance and drumbeating promotion of a young, growing but flawed, selfish-leaning player. (Hey, whatever happened to Iguodala, that recondite rambunctious rim rattler?)
Many have faced Jrue, many have toasted him... Hornets guards did what they wanted; Calderon, D. Williams, Parker, Westbrook, Dragic recently found comfort; only one effectively curtailed in last 7 was "Spaghetti Legs" Lin.
Holiday's a capable defender when he chooses but allows penetration too often (a negligence of job #1), which sets team to scramble mode. Takes plays, segments off. (Yes, I know he's tired from weavin' and jackin' at other end.) D is not his top priority nor is setting the table for others (577 shots taken, 72 more than #2 man Turner in 80 fewer minutes). Takes great pleasure in the unharnessed mano-mano, decision-removing "you score, I score" volleying. Slow wings and cheesecloth bigs not the only defensive problem of 5 Sixers players, whether you cop to it or not.
Athletic, ambitious player, but often not a cohesively smart or tough player.
What happened to Iguodala is he left Philly, and their defensive ranking went from #3 to #18. He joined Denver, and theirs went from #20 to #14.
And I realize nothing is going to stop you from blaming everything on Jrue, but you might want to consider some facts when blame him for losses. Like the fact that he plays with a number of useless players. For example, during his time on the floor against New Orleans, his teammates shot 16/43 from the floor. Which seems like a bad number, but it's much worse when you dig a little deeper. This team that Jrue is holding back by hogging the ball? They shot 9/21 within 5 feet of the hoop. 42% inside of 5 feet. Totally Jrue's fault. He's such a selfish bastard, how dare he take 17 shots.
You just hear that I blame everything on Jrue. Certainly not the case. The organization is ailing.
I'm kind of surprised that Denver isn't better defensively. Though if you look at Iguodala's on/off court numbers, they're basically getting killed in the quarter of the game when he's off the court, and really strong when he is.
recipe for win:
1) defend as a team
2) rebound as a man
3) share ball as a team
4) drive ball as a man
5) make FTs
6) expect spells of opponent success
7) keep cool head
8) persist in countering
9) keep persisting
PHL 55%, TOR 45% [basketball-ref.com]
anyone else worried that the magic number to make the playoffs is actually going to be a few games north of 500 this year? 500 isn't going to cut it.
I really wish they would get rid of this "stand out star" segment of Sixers pre game live. Its so pointless. And there reasoning it never based on match ups, its based on.... not really sure.
they won the tip!
Disjointed start here.
Thad steal.
ugh Thad stolen..
Their defense has been majorly porous for a while lately. It's never a chore for an opponent to get deep into the paint.
et 3
And they're just as fucking lazy at the other end too. Jumpers jumpers jumpers ... short, short, short
ET3!
Jesus, we're going to score 60 points tonight
That was a great decision on that pass by Jrue on that break.
When I sometimes watch these guys, it's like somebody forgot to wind them up.
jrue long 2
Deep post position by Amir, another easy look in the paint. Lavoy the culprit that time, just no resistance on Amir going to the spot he wanted to and setting up shop.
In other words, LAZY ******* DEFENSE
Our body language and energy level just says, blah. Lifeless-like.
What's the deal guys? Ed Davis picks his favorite hole of the D to exploit. sheesh this is really fucked up
and by effed up I meant, Spencer's only attempt at Ed and a layup was a to-the-side whiff and flail of his arms. Pitiful.
ugh wide open 3 from Jose. terrible
Jrue just keeps taking mostly tough shots. And JRich wishes it was a barn up there.
Thad putback.
jrich shot is really bad lately
sissy jumper
Amir to Ed Davis dunk. Sweet effort on D guys. that's just nothing but effort.
But I guess when his big sissy ass is on the court, effort is often outdone. Only you big fella, only you.
Another pass right into the teeth of the D in the paint. Bucket TOR. This is becoming a trend.
Thad putback.
weirdly big crown
Dorell fouls the guy shooting a 3. Just a stupid finish on the contest. Can't do that. You force the ref to react.
Dorell at least penetrates, it was ugly as hell but he attacked.
Ugh Lowry 3. Great closeout here team.
Jrue CLANK on a 3.
Heh
We have 1.9 secs left to get a shot off and they pass it into Fucking Hawes just past midcourt and his lumbering self can't even get a shot off. Clown.
this is just terrible. can't get a stop, and it's the raptors.
Oh, just for good measure
TOR is shooting a blistering 70%.
Great rim protection Spence. You go bud!
total bloodbath without jrue
when doug puts in a lineup like that facing an 8-point deficit, that's when people question if his head is straight. hawes/wright/wilkins/turner/ivey. seriously?
seriously, your head wouldn't be straight either as a coach if the good slop you threw out there was looking as bad as that was, so why not try the bad slop, I mean how much worse could it possibly be?
the effort has been unbelievably bad. it is the coaches job to elicit effort from his players
yes sir
never mind any intestinal fortitude, to hell from anything comin' from within
I get it
don't the ads promise that doug's pride elvel wiwll be seen on the court?if he can't get a team to play with pride he is totally worthless as a coadch and should be removed
I don't know nothing about no ads. Sorry.
ads or no ads, the point stands. when a team plays without pride it is a very poor reflection on the head coach
OK
but forgive me if i'm very sorry for my lazy non-caring ass not being my coach's fault, that lies with me the player, sorry if you disagree
GOOD ANSWER
Heh, Evan pulls up on a secondary break just to try like hell to get a pass to Spencer, and he finally delivers the pass and Spence flails the ball away. Turnover, Dunk the other way.
This notion that you can get away with Ivey/Wilkins on the court oat the same time seems nuts.
And Hawes is terrible.
FUCK YOU HAWES
just cut to thad and jrue on the bench looking for all the world like they were mocking the current lineup
really?
Nick YOung gunning. SHORT
Lavoy to Hawes. I love you man.
good hustle lavoy
shelvin mack: "i'd rather be here than in maine"
that says it all
It might sound mean, but these guys are pussies. Straight cunt. This sometimes looks worse than the EJ punkout year, cause a lot of them showed their softness back then too. I know the most are not talented but they can be bad players and at least play with toughness. Hell, Reggie Evans and others do it every night.
ed davis with the uncontested dunk off halfcourt offense
and another wide open 3. lazy transition
It's pretty damn funny that the Sixers sound man keeps playing this beat to get the crowd involved, yet the crowd is just as mundane as the played out repetitive beat.
second that
terrence ross looks good
you would too if you played against the Sixers defense
its true, i can shoot uncontested jumpers
ha me too lol
i agree
Wide open 3. Ross. Great D guys. Way to pick up the trail man and match up. Sweet.
No interior D whatsoever. And Toronto doing very well exploiting it.
Nick shaking and dancing to a bucket. I didn't even smile. Fraud.
ED Davis dunk and foul. Good job guys. Lavoy you specifically you lazy bum.
jrich made a jumper
Fouled them shooting a 3. again. wow.
JRich fouls on a 3 pt attempt. Real smart.
thad
Ross 3. Good hard D there Nick Young, for like the 3rd or 4th time when your man was out at the arc. He must be scared someone's gonna blow by his weak D.
They're going to give up 60+ pts to the Raps in a half. Too bad the coach can't get out there and play.
Evan gets his shot blocked w/ the clock running down.
Amir jumper. splash. heh
Turner misses the 6 footer to end the half. Perfect
lets see what arnett moultrie and shelvin mack can do
Raps announcer just said "this does not like a Doug Collins coached team". They're absolutely astounded.
Well Hey Evan, there you are. throwing up that ugly shit. didn't even realize he was playing tonight.
This team isn't a little bit good right now.
It's therapeutic to just sit and laugh at what you're actually witnessing. If you didn't, you'd need to be admitted. It'd be like Cee Lo's "Crazy"!
Raps still shooting 58%, 19 dimes on 24 made. What does that tell you?
bad team is bad
Harris and Co. had better do something about Doug being the coach and the GM. These were his moves. Why pay Kwame if you are never going to play him? Dorell and Nick are super redundant. No back-up point guard. 2 more years of Hawes? These are really bad personnel moves and someone needs to be held accountable. I used to think that Bynum would cure all ills, but we are just not athletic enough. Add Bynum and subtract Turner for a 3 that can get by someone and kick to these shooters, please.
I've supported Turner since day 1 and for 2.5 years i have been watching and praying for signs, but this is it. He's had his audition and now it's time to raise the white flag. We have to dump him as soon as possible. We could literally get a small forward from the D league that would be more efficient.
What is that quant they hired doing? He must be crunching the numbers on this team and just be flabbergasted at the negative impact Turner has on the team.
csth
One thing I am sick of hearing is that Turner needs to play with confidence. Bottom line, if you can't maintain your confidence level in the pros then you shouldn't be a pro.
on a side note, i hope they keep losing now. They don't have enough pieces and drafting at 10 at least gives them a shot at landing a solid rotational player.
Playing Toronto is akin to the plague for the Sixers. Or either they just don't give a shit I'd assume. They seem about as happy as the fans that Bynum is nearing coming back.
Is it Evan just doesn't even want to shoot, or he just can't get one off? He's not even looking at the rim.
Jrue saga off, Calderon 3. Bad D man come on.
dont know how much is his fault but jrue's d has been bad lately
I don't see how all of it can't be his fault.
Evan good pass down low to Allen. Hook.
ET pats one behind the back, stop pullup J.
one of them Y moves, ol' man I guess heh
JRich even blows a wide open floater in the lane. ugh
Of course, they're gonna make their usual little mini run. It's all part of the tease.
jrue
Jrue abuses Jose. 10-0 run.
Turnover Toronto. Lowry in.
Zumoff just said he thinks the D is picking it up, and Malik says that it's "frustrating" that they need to get down double digits before they pick up the intensity. Fucking A right it is
nice pass evan
Evan scoop pass Lavoy dunk.
Get JRich out of the game. Just saying.
He went to the ear doctor today JRich 3!
how did he make that
Lowry hits a lucky ass 3.
ET baseline J. Steal Evan fouled on a would be break.
Evan with a nice paced pass to Nick for a J.
Down to 5. 19-5 run
Evan o-foul and he continuously bitches at Garrettson, totally in the wrong, Ron told him "enough" by way of hand and probably mouth. He's the cryingest mofo.
jrue went to the bench and the offense has been blah
NYoung guns for one in the lane.
Evan commits another foul and is whistled for it by a different ref, but he immediately seeks out Garrettson to give him some more shit again going to the timeout huddle.
I don't like Turner's body language and antics towards his teammates and coaches, but why do people care when he (or anyone on the team) bitches at the refs? I'm not being a smartass I seriously would like to know.
Short answer - I don't particularly like it when any player does it. But as usual, .... anyway
as usual what? I have nothing but bad things to say about Evan Turner, are you going to say I'm defending him again?
I ain't saying shit man, let it go...
thad jumper
Evan kickback to Thad. Swish.
Oh snap that was off Toronto, no?
free
jrue
huge third quarter from one evan marcel turner. need this win
good quarter, wont mean anything if you dont keep it up in the 4th
damn lou got hurt and it looked bad.
fu hawes
I can only sit here and wonder is the tease still on?
Down 1. Oops, Spence putback. First lead of game. 29-9 run
Fuck you Spencer
AWesome contest by Spencer to protect the rim vs Lowry. Superb. You go boy you go!
put wright in for Wilkins
bad shot jrue leads to an Anderson 3
Bad shot, Jrue.
Annnnddd of course after that bad shot, they get a 3. shit
and guess who had like their 5th or 6th late contest for a 3 from his man? yep NYOung
bad shot jrue. that was about as bad as a turnover.
jrue to thad
Jrue with a nice find and finish by Thad.
Who had Anderson on that one? huh?
NYoung gunning a 3, clank
So is the tease over? A 14-4 run for TOR.
back up to 9, here comes the Toronto run
Yep, it's over, they give up the lane again. And foul.
why double!
Thad gets stuffed. come on man.
At least Spencer went out, but the bad news is Lavoy has been half-asleep all damn night.
Lavoy gives up an o-board putback.
Welcome to the Thad and Jrue show.
They're thinking of adding a new character by the name of Andrew I've heard. Nothing official.
thad
Jrue to Thad for a drive. Down to 6, one more run?
Jrue off the dribble J. LEt's go. However false it is
thad steal and dunk
THAD!!!!
Thad steal and FLUSH! 2 pt game
Well Spencer's big ass is back in and he gives up an o-board. And foul.
of COURSE, that goes in
F me
thad, you need to make that
young to young, and the restless....
young to young, and the natives are restless
ha i was playing off the soap angle
That mess went in after Evan almost had a nice steal. Typical, the plague.
Got to have this stop here. Got it.
Down 4 clock ticking. shit Jrue oop pass kind of wild to THad, he bobble it.
Ok i give
why no timeout there?
Thad dunk, after all that chaos, why do you do this to me? Down one, just keep me in it huh?
This team fuckin' sucks right about now. Knew it was a tease.
yeah jrue!great d
jrue!!!!!!!
I'd like someone to explain to me how you give up 32 pts in the 2nd Q, yet only give up 36 in the whole 2nd half, and that's somehow on the coach?
Something's amiss here if you even attempt to.
Overtime!!!!
JRUUUUUUUUUUUUUE\!!!
shoulda been shooting one!
So the tease is back on guys? Is that so?
Jrueeeeeeee
jrue makes up for bad shot
Oh SHit Jrue steal and lay-in. Swiper!
GEt Hawes out please.
And JRich ugh.
SPencer ...JRue...to JRich. get his ass out too
Still our ball though.
Jrue ohhhhhhh no NYoung BRICK!@ what a fuckin sequence
ugh hawes
Get this lead to 4 this possession.
SPencer 3, yeah fuck you man uh huh
ugh thought we called a moratorium on hawes 3PAs in crucial moments
4 straight missed threes, how about we try something different next possession?
Gethimthefuckout Doug.
then he can't do any damage, cause he does an awful lot when he's out there.
OHHHHHH awesome positional D Thad!!!
jrue!!!
Go up 4 here. DOn't give it to you know who either.
Jrue pullup J. BLoop!
JRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE!!!!!
jrue 3!!!!
MFING JRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
JRUE IS OUT OF FUCKING CONTROL!!!!
JRich's lazy ass gives up a Jose 3.
Jrue 4 3!
Spencer's lard ass gets a flat-footed rebound. heh
Jure to the rack. Lefty FINISH!
ALL STAr, MOTHERFUCKERS
Richardson Losing Calderon, AND giving up a wide open 3, up 4 with 1:30 left in overtime is awful. He's supposed to be a vet, you can't give up a 3 in that situation.
gary payton got nothing on you MY MAIN MAN
That was off Toronto guy, come on Ron, clearly off the guys hip, no?
These suckers done made me proud.
Sike!
Even though this victory seems hollow, the game thread was the bomb. Good game guys.
What a line and performance from Jrue and Thad. Talk about efficiency. wow
Maybe Andrew will score the starring role on the show....
good job jrue and thad
Great thread guys. I was this close to giving up on the season. This team is maddening. Jrue was huge, obviously.
Thank God Coach Casey stuck with Lowry in the second half instead of going back to Calderon.
I'd like to get a guy like Jimmy Butler to play the 2 between Jrue and Thad, with Bynum. Think he'll continue to fit in well in this league.
Good thing Lowry didn't make that final shot of regulation. He would have outplayed Jrue then, I think.
Obviously. Of couse, Richardson was +13 and Jrue was only +7, so you know Jrue sucked.
Weirdest stat of the game: Sixers 51% FG Raps 45% FG, after the way it started who woulda thunk it.
jrue locker room interview was just on comcast, love that kid
Expand.
Will have to check it out. Love him too. I just hope they keep him, because he's going to be worth more than whatever his trade value is now.
Write up coming in a bit. Just let me finish wiping the sweat off my brow. Wow.
Dollar Bill will probably go into hiding for a little bit after this one.
An Alfred, Lord Tennyson Special!
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Lightweight Brigade,
Noble fourteen!
Thad's true heart paved wide the road. Jrue drove the troops home with characteristic elan. Yet Gen. Collins was bitter in victory, emotionally bedraggled, licking wounds.
The key read is always Lance Corporal's Hawes' nostrils; when they flare, Sixers have a shot.
"'s" - delete, then greet - and soldier on!