For the second time in three days, the Sixers are underdogs playing sub-.500 teams on the road. Chicago's record isn't really a good indication of the type of basketball they've been playing since the trade deadline, though. In fact, they've gone 12-1 at home since then, so being six point dogs seems more logical than insulting. After the jump: Stats, Keys, Discussion.
Look at the stats, then throw them away. This is not that Bulls team, blah, blah, blah. I'm sick of talking about how good these teams are playing, or how much they have to play for. The Sixers
need this win. They need any win they can get at this point. They lead the season series 2-1, with the first win coming in Chicago and the second at the Spectrum, in dramatic fashion. The win at the Spectrum was really a statistical anomaly. The Sixers attempted only 3 three-points the entire game, they only got to the line 14 times and they still scored 104 points.
Of course, 31 of those points came from Thad, and yes, they're really going to miss him tonight. There are several things I think we need to keep track of heading into the game, here they are in bullet form.
- Miller guarding Rose is a mismatch, but is it more of a mismatch than Rose guarding Miller on the other end? The last time they met, Miller was quietly dominant with 13 points, 13 boards, 4 assists and 2 steals. Rose led the Bulls with 19 FGA, and 20 points, but he didn't go to the line a single time. Advantage Miller. The game before, the roles were somewhat reversed, with Miller putting up 26 shots for his 28 points, while Rose needed only 19 shots for 24. In that game, the Sixers scored 103 points, despie shooting only 39% from the floor and hitting only 2 threes. In the first meeting, Rose made the highlight reels with a nice crossover on Miller, but Miller played a much more efficient game than Rose, again. 15 points, 10 assists, 3 steals and zero turnover. Overall, I'd say Miller has outplayed Rose in the series and if he's smart tonight, he'll make it three out of four.
- Willie on Gordon - This is a rare game where I believe Green will start on the opposing shooting guard, rather than the point guard. I'm actually far more concerned with his defense against Gordon than I am with Miller on Rose. We've all heard the chatter about Willie's on-the-ball defense, personally, I think it's over-rated and his work on-the-ball only looks good in comparison to what he does when he's not guarding the ball. More than any other perimeter player, he loses his man off screens, loses track of his man and just generally gets beat by his man moving without the ball. I'm crossing my fingers that Gordon doesn't shake free for too many threes in this one. If Willie can play like he did in the third quarter at Charlotte, he may be able to match Gordon's scoring for a stretch, which would be a big help.
- A strength advantage - I always felt that John Salmons was a little soft when he was with the Sixers, and while he's made a ton of strides offensively, I still feel like he isn't quite up to the task defensively at the three. He definitely doesn't have the size or the strength to keep Iguodala from doing whatever he wants to do on the offensive end, and there really isn't much help coming off the bench at the three either. With the off day, the national coverage (Iggy sat down with Craig Seger's suit earlier today for an interview which will be aired during the game tonight), I'm expecting big things from Iguodala tonight. In fact, I'll be disappointed if he doesn't assert himself and take advantage of this mismatch.
- Which Sam will show up? This is a tired question to ask, but it's relevant because the motivated Sam was on full display the last time these teams met. He was able to avoid foul trouble and dominated the paint throughout the night. His 19 boards and 4 blocks absolutely controlled the paint. He was on the floor for 35 minutes. In the other two games, he managed only 26 minutes and 7 rebounds total.
I feel like I could go on and on with the keys for this one, but let's leave it at this. The Sixers need a win tonight. Maybe they don't realize it, the certainly haven't played the past two games like the must-wins that they were, but it's a fact. A win tonight, and they're tied for fifth. A loss and I don't think the sixth seed is even a guarantee anymore.
The tip is at 8pm, on TNT.
for some reason I'm really looking forward to this one. I think they are going to play well with their backs against the wall. Also, at this point Miami has to choke a but to give up the five seed, so I can focus more on the game and be less distracted by the playoff implications.
Miami could very easily lose 3 of their last four without it really being considered a choke. @ Atlanta, @ Boston and then closing the season out against Detroit. That game could mean the difference between facing the Cavs or the Magic for Detroit too. If the Sixers win this one tonight, they still have a very, very good shot at the #5 seed. This is the key game, though.
It sure was nice of the schedule makers to give the Cavs an off day before the Sixers play them tomorrow night in Philly, and then another off day before the Sixers play them on the back end of a back-to-back to end the season, huh?
Have you taken the time to compare schedules and see if they are "fair"?
Nothing beyond that cursory look at number of back-to-backs, the Sixers had the most out of any team I checked on.
I saw a headline last night on ESPN that pissed me off, something like "Well-rested Celtics take care of Nets. The Celts have had 3 games in the past 11 days. Odd that an older team would have such an easy workload leading into the playoffs, but they do play 4 in the final 6 days.
c'mon, like it would have mattered anyway ;)
"The Sixers need a win tonight. Maybe they don't realize it"
this is what i can't get over. the past 2 games have shown me that they don't care. now they have to play a team that doesn't lose at home.
Any chance in your mind that we see the Sixers that beat the lakers and portland over these last 5 games? I have a feeling they're going to show up at some point, I just don't know when.
not without thad. i'm sure they will play well at some point, but i'm not so sure their "good" will be good enough. they're sending out a lineup that is not especially talented right now.
I assume we're getting tnt's b team, right?
Heh. They spent the entire pregame talking about the late game and the Western conference.
Same starting lineup, here we go.
evans looks like he's getting under thomas's skin
Sure do want to see some serious defense played tonight.
doug collins kind of annoys me, but you can tell he does his research on every team in the league. he's really well informed about both teams tonight.
Collins is one of the best in the game, imo.
Why do people like Noah better than Sam?
sam has sucked longer than he has?
Fair enough.
haha. seriously though i think sam has just given more opportunity for hate bc he's been in the league longer.
Alright, 50-50 at the half. Heavy, heavy minutes for Willie so far. Iguodala has 9 assists already.
No transition defense just like against Charlotte and absolute bench-kill.
Wish he would give Donyell a run when we are ahead to maybe pad the lead, instead of only when we are behind. He can guard Brad Miller.
Every starter was + in the first half, led by Sammy at +14. Every reserve was -, led by Lou at -9. Need to get something out of that bench.
Terrible offense these last couple of possessions. Iggy finally breaks the string w/ a nice fallaway.
Well, the starters have given up the lead halfway through the third. Anyone have any confidence that the bench will at least be able to tread water when DiLeo starts bringing them in?
Running plays to get Dalembert jumpers and isos doesn't seem like sound strategy to me.
have fun with the 7th seed guys!
7th? They can still sink all the way to 8th, and that's exactly what they're going to do if they continue to play like this.
Well, it's good to see them just fucking give up. 1/4 from the line when you're trying to mount a comeback.
i thought i was being pessimistic when i said 2-4 in their last 6. it's looking more like 1-5.
Where's the 1 coming from? I have zero confidence they'll win another game this season. This has been the most pitiful display of basketball, and heart, I've ever seen. They've always been limited talent wise, but I never thought I'd see this group of guys just roll over and play dead.
Agree. Where's the heart and passion??
I give up.
Just leave the Andres on the bench at this point. No use wasting them on this lost cause.
It's so stupid to be pushing Miller and Iggy past 40 minutes in this lost cause when they have a game tomorrow night.
seriously. what is dileo thinking?
Miller chunked that ball, after the shot clock violation, all the way to the other end of the court after the whistle. Is he pissed or just me?
I knew when Thad went down that we'd suck.
Some days this team fights really hard to pull off a remarkable upset. Other days it just gives up. You'd expect inconsistency in the play of young players but definitely not inconsistency in their attitude.
Not pinning it on him, but where is our supposed leader Iguodala, he of the nine assists in the 1st half, towards the end of this game? He should have been all over the guys, either on the court or surely in the huddle. Get in somebody's face and tell them to man-up.
Miller heaving that ball was the only outward sign of anger/frustration I saw from anyone on the Sixers.
Iguodala played a good game. 19 points, 10 assists, 7 boards, only 1 turnover and he put 5 fouls on Salmons and held him to 14 points.
Unfortunately, like you said, just doing his job isn't going to cut it on a night like this. Not when the rest of the team is content to do nothing.