Eventually, this win one/lose one pattern will be broken. The Sixers only focus against the Raptors is to make damned sure it isn't broken tonight. If the Sixers are going to have a prayer of finishing with better than the #7 seed, they have to beat the bad teams. Toronto has clearly earned the adjective.
Let's get the minute check out of the way for the second night of the back-to-back:
- Turner - 40 minutes (this could be big if Iguodala can't play tonight)
- Hawes - 33 (I'd actually kind of like it if he wasn't available)
- Jrue - 32 (should be good to go, better bounce back)
- Thad - 32
- Brand - 31 (was really surprised he didn't see the floor in the fourth)
- Lou - 30
For the Raptors, DeRozan played 38, Bargnani played 34 and Calderon played 33 in a win over the Bobcats.
The Raptors are currently 19-36 and Dwane Casey has done a fine job in turning their chicken **** roster into an average defense. Unfortunately, they can't score. After a somewhat promising start to the season, Andrea Bargnani has proved to still be Andrea Bargnani.
Calderon remains a dangerous offensive PG, and a sieve on the defensive end. DeRozan isn't exactly having a break-out third season. They have some raw athleticism up front in Ed Davis and Amir Johnson. I'd say their most promising player might be Bayless, but he doesn't get enough burn to make a huge difference.
Basically, the Sixers are almost always going to have a mismatch on the perimeter, whether it's Jrue being guarded by Calderon, or Bayless trying to check Turner. They need to expose those weaknesses. Up front, I wouldn't put it past Bargnani to have a big game with Spence or Brand chasing him around on the perimeter, but they should be able to overcome it without much difficulty. If they show up, they'll win. And they need the win in a big way.
Boston plays the first of a back-to-back against the Spurs in Boston (on Thursday, they're going to meet an angry Bulls team, in Chicago). If all goes according to plan, the Sixers should be tied with the Celts heading into the weekend, but not if they don't take care of business against Toronto.
The tip is at 7pm. Game thread will land at 5.
Good article on the Sixers and Iguodala in particular. link.
My favorite quote: ""It makes no sense to me why so many good scorers can't defend," Iguodala says. "Like Lou Williams. He's one of the toughest guys to guard in the league, but he can't guard anybody. I don't get that."
Thanks to GoSixers for the link.
Andre Iguodala on ho to make friends and influence people in the locker room - maybe that's why Lou has been pouting recently :)
Has anyone watched the lou 'documentary' that's on youtube?
Is it any different from the one last year? Nothing I like more than seeing his posse kiss his ass on YouTube.
I think it's the same one, I just didn't know it existed, or was on youtube, until there was an article about it in the philly paper...something about not being able to afford first class plane tickets and how to find 'leg room' in coach cracked me up since, well, lou is one of the few NBA players i'm taller than :)
awesome
Wow. Go Iggy. I wonder if Collins will punish him for ripping the coach's son. Unreal!
I wonder if taking these shots is Andres subtle way of saying trade me already
Haha I think the whole interview was him subtlely saying that. I don't think he ever expected to be brought back after skipping his exit interview at the end of last season.
And if the old owners (and thorn and collins?) had had their way he would have been in golden state and the sixers fans would have had their 20 PPG scorer
good news
@preston76 #Sixers Andre Iguodala (left eye contusion) is officially listed as available to play tonight vs. the Raptors. Tip-off at 7:00pm.
Excellent.
Best working class acting job since Ernest Borgnine in "Marty." Went a-floppin' and a-carryin' on like he was shot. Based on histrionics, didn't expect him back until 2014.
Nice work and "recovery" Andre. Now back to that 12, 6, 5 & super-duper D. By the way, fine artistic dunks last night before "tragedy" befell, especially the baseline rush, rise and express check-out. It made me think of Wilt... palming the ball and you at your apex.
Seriously? That looked really painful.
I'm sure it hurt initially and blurred his vision but his dramatic reaction was a far cry from uncommon valor.
You're so right, the old days were so much better, when men were 'men' (drinking, smoking, beating women with impunity cause they were athletes)
Tell you what - let's have someone gouge their finger across your eye and see how tough you are
Iguodala's a she-man. I've had my eye raked a number of times during basketball games, but didn't proceed to dance like Michael Jackson on a hot tin roof.
"The old days" were better in many respects, but I'm not foolish enough to try to convince you.
Iguodala has played 603 of a possible 628 in his 8-year career. In those 603 games, he's left the court with an injury twice. You're off base.
You're foolish enough to talk in literary metaphor and jibberish for the sake of hearing yourself talk. Trying to convince me it was better in the good old days (on a device that didn't exist in your good old days) would be right up your alley, not the one you live in, the next one over
Who you tryin' to fool? You read each message and get 'em loud and clear. Communication is my sake, just as it's yours. Quit interposing like a fly; it's a rude reflex.
Devices don't equate to quality of life, though some are prone to die on that position.
Jeremiah Elfreth, blacksmith, lived in an alley.
keep on keepin' on, Dollar Bill