Great, great first half for the Sixers. Three factors were key.
  1. The Bigs - Dalembert and Evans are playing inspired ball on both sides of the court. They're owning the defensive glass and they've chipped in 15 points.
  2. Defense - 9 steals in the first half. They're gambling out there, but their quickness is making it pay off. 12 turnovers total for Detroit. The open shots are going to happen when you gamble like this, but when you're forcing turnovers and getting steals it's a good trade-off for this team.
  3. Playing their game on offense - We're seeing the Sixers play their game on offense. Miller has taken Billups down to the post a couple of times. Lou Williams is abusing whoever guards him off the dribble and after a bad start, Iguodala has stopped forcing his shots.
24 minutes of ball left to play. They need to keep up these three keys. A weird wrinkle by Mo early on, having Green bring the ball up the floor so they could get the ball to Miller without an immediate double. Good work.

Continue the conversation on this post throughout the second half.

Check out this blurb from Henry Abbott's live blog of the game:
Thaddeus Young is fantastic. He is a little better at everything than you'd expect him to be. Some of his mediocre looking shots find home. His screens get people open. And his defense is frequently excellent. For instance: Theo Ratliff was mauling Jason Smith. Young, who is by nobody's estimation really a center, came in and gave Ratliff a run for his money, including preventing Ratliff from getting an offensive board on the half's last possession.




Also on the Network:
√ Pie Walking in Iowa [Cobra Brigade]
√ Crazy Ideas [Depressed Fan]
√ Bulls opinions from all over [Tremendous Upside Potential]





[April 25, 2008 8:37 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

The Sixers draw first blood, literally.

[April 25, 2008 8:40 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Tray replied to Brian

Agree or disagree: Thad will, by any measure, be a better player than Iguodala in two years.

[April 25, 2008 8:41 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian replied to Tray

Agree.

[April 25, 2008 8:53 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian replied to Brian

By no means should the Sixers not sign Iguodala, he'll be the perfect #2 if Thad does, in fact, become the #1.

[April 25, 2008 8:46 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Mike replied to Tray

After these past three games this sounds stupid but I think Andre will be better driving into the lane and on the break.

RIP is so dirty. I think he is just bitter that the back of his head is so big.

[April 25, 2008 8:51 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin replied to Tray

Agree. Question is how long it will take. Certainly, if he gets more chances at the offensive end we'll get a better gauge.

[April 25, 2008 8:38 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin said

I can't hype Thad Young enough. It is so rare to see a 19-year-old play so smart and so hard. There's no telling how good he can be.

[April 25, 2008 8:40 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian replied to Alvin

Sixers are playing tough now. Lot of fouls, but they're hitting the Pistons now, this is what I wanted to see.

[April 25, 2008 8:40 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Mike said

I guess I was the only idiot commenting on the other post

[April 25, 2008 9:24 PM]  |  link  |  reply
JoshG replied to Mike

nah I did that too

[April 25, 2008 8:42 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

Pistons draw second blood.

[April 25, 2008 8:49 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin said

Is that a double tech on Evans and Rasheed?

[April 25, 2008 8:49 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

Reggie is taking this game over.

[April 25, 2008 8:50 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Mike said

What happened. Did espn have better camera work? Comcast wasn't on either of them

[April 25, 2008 8:51 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian replied to Mike

Sheed was complaining all the way down the floor, looked like Reggie told him to shut the fuck up.

[April 25, 2008 8:53 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin said

Willie Green 6 assists? Where Amazing Happens, indeed

[April 25, 2008 8:54 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian replied to Alvin

He should have 7, Iggy missed that easy alley-oop earlier in the third.

[April 25, 2008 8:56 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin said

Daly you're doing well tonight at what you're good at but please don't throw up another 21-footer.

[April 25, 2008 8:57 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

There can be no letdown from this point on. I want a 20-point win.

[April 25, 2008 8:59 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin replied to Brian

I will take a 1-point win to be honest.

[April 25, 2008 9:00 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

Dalembert with the backdown in the low post? Who is this guy?

[April 25, 2008 9:20 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin replied to Brian

DALEMBEAST!

[April 25, 2008 9:05 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

12 more minutes just like those last 12.

[April 25, 2008 9:09 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin said

What have the guys been smoking? Seriously this is unreal.

[April 25, 2008 9:09 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

Carney busts the zone!!!!!

[April 25, 2008 9:09 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Mike said

Rodney F'ing Carney

[April 25, 2008 9:14 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Mike said

Posted by me on Truehoop

I guess Detroit isn't trying again? When will people give the Sixers SOME credit? I'm not claiming the Sixers are a better team, but anytime the Sixers beat them (tonight could be the 4th time this year) everyone focuses on what the Pistons did wrong and how they lose focus. How about they aren't used to playing teams who aren't afraid to punch them straight in the face? How about the Sixers athleticism is something they aren't constructed to play against?

Sixers deserve credit, thats all

[April 25, 2008 9:23 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian replied to Mike

Amen.

[April 25, 2008 9:16 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

ANDRE MILLLLLLLLEEERRRRR!!!!!

I'm sorry, but this game is the Sixers dominating, not the Pistons being lazy.

[April 25, 2008 9:21 PM]  |  link  |  reply
joejoejoe said

I went out to get ice cream at half-time and I don't think the Pistons scored the whole time I was gone. You're not going to beat St. Joe's turning the ball over 20 times but all credit to the Sixers for frustrating the Pistons into those turnovers.

[April 25, 2008 9:22 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Tray said

I think the Pistons are 5 for 27 or so in the second half.

[April 25, 2008 9:25 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin said

Andre Miller is unconscious. I've said it so many times this season but this is the playoffs, baby!

[April 25, 2008 9:25 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

Does anyone else have a goofy smile plastered on their face right now?

[April 25, 2008 9:28 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin replied to Brian

You bet. I look retarded and I'm loving it.

My brother supports the Pistons so it doesn't get much better for me right now.

[April 25, 2008 9:42 PM]  |  link  |  reply
JoshG replied to Brian

Mine could be described as shit eatin

[April 25, 2008 9:28 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Brian said

Holy shit. Willie Green has more assists than field goal attempts. That has to be a first in his career, right?

[April 25, 2008 9:28 PM]  |  link  |  reply
JoshG said

I hope the storyline changes after this game; but I'm gona bet that all I hear is "the Pistons slacked off again, we will see if the3y show up again in game 4".
It gets annoying when even in a blowout, proper credit isn't given. The Sixers rotation defense has especially been phenomenal tonight.

[April 25, 2008 9:32 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin replied to JoshG

Yeah JoshG no one wants to give this team credit but who cares we are doing well the way we are let's enjoy this among ourselves.

[April 25, 2008 9:39 PM]  |  link  |  reply
JoshG replied to Alvin

I hear ya, F em; like Brian said before the series started, this team is better with a chip on their shoulder. I like it that way.

[April 25, 2008 9:30 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin said

The whole Zoo Crew is in? Come on now give Thad and Smith some minutes. Heck, even Louis Amundson

[April 25, 2008 9:31 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Mike said

LOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[April 25, 2008 9:32 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Fennis Dembo said

I'll give you P****s credit. You beat us down tonight. Outplayed and outworked us, then mentally broke us. Couldn't have flipped the switch if we wanted to. Stones will need to come out hard and tough in game four, and win a nail biter if they want to stay in this series. That said, i fully expect them to do it.

[April 25, 2008 9:34 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin said

What are our starters doing out there give them some rest and let Smith, Young play.

[April 25, 2008 9:36 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Mike said

I rewinded and double checked, Sammy was getting the crowd up in the middle of live action there right before Lou hit that jumpshot. Hilarious

[April 25, 2008 9:40 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Alvin said

I spy Shavlik Randolph this game is overwhelming.