The Sixers somehow succeeded in making an
embarrassing home loss into a non-story tonight. Their diversions: Cutting ties with a legend, a coach meltdown and a possible serious injury to their $80M power forward. Yep, that'll do the trick.
Since I'm not a mainstream media outlet, I'm going to lead with the actual game. Here's your rotation chart:
I can spare a few bullets to sum up my thoughts:
- By far Jrue's best offensive game. 23 points on 13 shots, 6 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers. He also had two sick passes (one to Thad, one to Dalembert) that should've led to dunks, but the shots were botched.
- This was also Jrue's worst defensive game. Jameer Nelson simply had his number. He was getting into the lane way too frequently, and while Jrue contested most of his jumpers, he just couldn't miss. Holiday made a couple nice plays on defense, including a strip of Howard on a double down, and what should've gone as a blocked shot on weak-side help against Howard, but overall his defense was a problem.
- Herein lies the problem. Basically since he took over the starting point guard position, Jrue has turned in some truly stellar runs in the first quarter. He's played devastating defense, run the offense, and pretty much without fail, he's been the first guard sent to the bench. That has consistently been his reward for excellent defensive play, a seat at the end of the bench. Tonight, when his defense was lacking (and the team defense was even worse), but his shot was falling, Jordan pulled Lou Williams instead. The message is extremely simple: Score the ball, you get more minutes. If you don't score the ball, you're going to sit no matter how good your defense is. That is the culture Eddie Jordan has brought to the Philadelphia 76ers. The result of this reward system? Giving up 126 points on 77 shots.
- To be fair to Jordan, he was operating with a shorter bench due to Elton Brand's absence. To be fair to logic, Jordan is still a complete idiot. With the team struggling for stops in the second quarter, Jordan decided to go to Jason Kapono instead of Rodney Carney when he needed to get Iguodala and then Thad a rest. Carney wouldn't see action until there was 4:33 left in the third quarter and the Sixers had already yielded 89 points.
- Since we're in the spirit of being fair to Jordan, Kapono did grab two rebounds in his 22 minutes of work. He also missed three wide-open threes, and didn't really come close on any of them. Spoon-fed wide-open looks and the guy can't hit one. Kapono seems like he's become a charity case at this point, with Jordan desperately trying to get him to break the 0-fer 2010 streak.
- You'd think that with Elton Brand out we may finally get a decent look at a Dalembert/Speights front court. Obviously, you'd think wrong. Those guys didn't play together until the very end of the fourth quarter when Jordan put his non-essential players on the floor. Yes, Dalembert and Jrue are considered non-essential by Eddie Jordan.
- If it seems unfair to you that I've spent the bulk of this post picking on Eddie Jordan when the players clearly didn't have "it" tonight, you're either related to Eddie Jordan, completely delusional or both. This guy has done nothing but destroy this team this entire season and the product we're seeing on the floor right now, the team that's been absolutely blown out in three of the past five games, is a product of his "system," his personality and his immature head games.
If you don't agree with that final bullet above, let's take a look at
Jordan's post game quotes (all emphasis is mine):
"We try to address it," Jordan said of the coaching staff. "We try to get them with some more spirit and some more positive energy. And it's just hard when you don't have that sort of internal leadership."
Kate Fagan does a great job of pointing out how Jordan
never refers to himself and the players as we. It's always us (the coaches) vs. them (the players), and it's something I've been harping about since very early in the season. Not only does he refuse to take any responsibility for the shit job he's done coaching this team, but he continually plays this "Well, I just can't win with this roster," card. At every opportunity, he shifts all the blame off himself and places it on the players, and really indirectly on the man who hired him, Ed Stefanski. A question I'd love someone to ask him is why he came here in the first place? I mean, he spent how many hours during that disastrous "chalk talk" convincing Stefanski that he had the magic formula to take this roster "uptown," so what happened? What happened to the miracles he was going to work? Why was this roster so perfect for his beloved system back then, and it's just a complete disaster now?
But wait, there's more:
"We saw some poor body language, and there was a couple of time-outs [when] we addressed it. And I wasn't going to have it. I addressed it a couple of times; I addressed it right now. It's leadership or lack thereof. . . . One guy's miserable, and it's contagious throughout the team, and we just can't have it."
You know, in a way it's a shame that we don't have some loudmouths on this team. It's a shame that this coach goes to the press and calls out his players and they have too much class to return the favor. It seems pretty clear to me that Jordan's talking about Iguodala here, and this was Iguodala's response:
"You start to play the blame game and it really leads to a dead end, it doesn't go anywhere," said Iguodala, who scored 19 points. "I'm just going to go out there and keep doing what I've been doing my whole career, which is play basketball the right way."
Does it sadden anyone else that our 26-year-old best player is more mature than our head coach? Does anyone else find it ironic that we have a coach going to the press to bitch about a lack of leadership, cohesion and camaraderie, and does so by throwing his players under the bus? It frightens me when I think about the lasting affect of Jordan's reign as head coach of this team.
in other sad news, Kate Fagan is also reporting Allen Iverson will not be back with the Sixers this season, which basically means he'll never be back with the Sixers. This wouldn't be bad news, necessarily, if not for the rumors that broke last week. The Sixers haven't made an officials announcement, yet, but no matter what they say, I tend to believe this came from their side. I'm not sure if it was Stefanski, Jordan or both of them, but someone did not want him back, and they got their wish.
The Iverson signing was doomed from the jump. He played better basketball than I expected, he sold a few seats, he put on a show against Kobe for a couple of minutes, but overall, it was meaningless stunt that backfired for just about everyone involved. I feel so bad for Iverson, I wouldn't wish what he's going through on his worst enemy and i hope he can block out this terrible organization and focus on the important things from here on out. He was a true warrior for this franchise and I'm going to miss him.
And finally, if haven't heard, Elton Brand's "sore calf' has suddenly turned into Achilles tendinitis in his right leg. You never like to see the word Achilles attached to a guy who has already torn the tendon on his other leg. And while this injury isn't nearly as serious as that one, I believe there is cause for concern. When Brand tore his Achilles, he first hurt it late in the previous season. It hampered him, he played through it, then working out over the summer, the weakened tendon finally gave. At this point, it just makes sense to shut Brand down for a significant period of time, I believe. I know there are cynics out there who are saying, "Hey, if he tears the other Achilles, maybe we can get out of his contract," but come on. No one wants to see the guy go through that.
That's all I've got. I'm thoroughly disgusted with this franchise from the last guy on the bench to the owner. The players may have been dealt a bum hand when Eddie Jordan was named their head coach, but they have to show more pride than they showed tonight. I have no idea how Eddie Jordan can look at himself in the mirror. It's my belief that he's the worst kind of narcissist and he's too stupid to realize what a buffoon he is. Each passing day makes it look like Ed Stefanski is even more over his head at the helm of this team and Ed Snider, well, just because you're filthy rich doesn't mean you have any common sense. He's living proof.
Player of The Game: Jrue, I guess. Even though his defense was poor (for him), you can't ignore 23 points on 13 shots and 5/6 from three.
Team Record: 22-37
Up Next: @ Atlanta, Wednesday.
Yes the sixers lost the game, iverson was never a factor,period.I read this blog all the
time and everbodys always bragging on brand,no matter how good people think he is they
are still losing.when his #s are up,the rest of the team #s are down.The team is a product of horrible coaching,period.so on losing brand(who gives a flyin f$$k)?dignity,please
Well when he's signed to such a large contract over such a long period of time, it would be nice to see a healthy Brand producing. So we as sixers fans should give a "flyin f$$k."
And no, you're wrong. There were significant games this season when Brand produced and the team was not only productive as a whole, but won.
I would suggest actually doing research before you're going to make such bold claims.
http://nba.phillyarena.com/teamstats/
(thanks Derek)
Shut him down. Nothing good can come from him playing at this point.
Last night I dreamed (no really) that I was asked to deliver a message to Aaron McKie that certain players (a number of them) were unavailable for the next game, but that could change if he were willing to coach them. And in my dream, Coach McKie didn't say anything, he just smiled.
we are #9 in the lottery and 2 games out of #4. its silly to be the best of the worst. whatever it takes to lose.
With Eddie Jordan as the coach, we sure do have what it takes.
Boy I sure am glad we didn't trade Iggy away cuz about now EJ would be throwing Stoudimire under the bus! But doesn't it have to be getting crowded down there with Brand, Stefanski & the Princeton offense there already?
NBA teams are always lethargic first game home after a west coast trip. With EJ's vast experience you'd think he would've taken that into consideration before opening his mouth.
The more EJ talks the sooner he'll be gone. He's implying the best player on the team who the GM decided not to deal for cap space is not leading. I think he's even starting to bug the GM with his statements. Just a matter of time. Maybe, he's intentionally talking his way out the door.
Brian, as far as bad body language, my bet would be on Lou or Rodney. Both because Willie and Kapono take minutes away that this past week were theirs and they seemed to be playing well, though with this coach, that doesn!t matter. And if Jason is available, why the hell no Sam/Spieghts earlier? He coached like he had no other bigs; I am real curious how this year plays out, will we ever see lineups featuring our future? As of now a Sam/Spieghts/Thad/Iggy/Jrue lineup would have me at least watching, but without another big is that possible?
Once again, Jordan talks about how "you" have to respond -- not "we." He also did it after the blowout November home loss to the Jazz. The coach should share in the blame, not distance himself from his players and what happened.
Iguodala tends to throw in the "play the right way" line into most of his interviews. I wonder if that was simply pounded into him by LB, or if it is a veiled reference to wanting a coach or prioritizes it?
That was my thought, that maybe that's why Joran hates Iguodala, cause Joran doesn't coach the right way
dude exactly -- it's a veiled reference to LB for sure. He's saying, "I was trained by a real coach. Brown is still my mentor, not this clown."
Iguodala came up under Jim O'Brien. He's two coaches removed from Brown.
I wonder if that was simply pounded into him by LB, or if it is a veiled reference to wanting a coach or prioritizes it?
Iguodala never played for LB, but I bet he wishes he had.
Kind of funny how Iguodala said he saw bad body language once in the fourth quarter -- he didn't play in the entire period.
Kind of funny how Iguodala said he saw bad body language once in the fourth quarter -- he didn't play in the entire period.
If, theoretically, Iguodala did show bad body language (I do remember the one play with Lou that Greek mentioned, as well as another where he stared down Sam after running into a pick and getting no help), how could he have "seen" it?
I say, kudos to Iguodala for taking the high road. It's not worth stooping to EJ's level. To blame the blowout on bad body language is to confuse effort with ability. If Jordan is concerned about body language, he should never put Tankman (Kapono) in, because the rest of the Sixers know all hope is lost when he goes in. Last night, when Kapono came in for Iguodala in the 3rd, it was a 13-point game. 2:39 later, the game was a 21-point blowout.
Seriously, I'm hoping Jordan keeps playing Tankman, and that Tankman in turn will keep up his remarkable 0-for-2010 streak in 3-pointers. It's the only reason to keep watching at the end of blowouts, sort of like how everybody slows down on the highway to get a look at a grisly accident.
Link to last night's game story:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/126/2010/march/02/body-language-translates-into-another-sixers-loss-1.html
Sometime in the 2nd or 3rd period I saw Lou pull up for a quick contested jumper, Immediately iguodala shrugged his shoulders and made a stink face. He then ran down the court and continued with the bad body language after the sixers shot the ball. Please don't get offeneded defenders of Iggy, just stating what I saw.
Magee is a frat boy on viagra when it comes to Iggy.
Wow Forrest, you're funny
it is funny. and, interstingly, thats your joke about Thabeet
At least make an effort to say something that will contribute to the conversation. "Ha ha, you suck" comments don't do anything but raise my blood pressure.
But the first amendment gives him the freedom of speech and you can't stop him, unless of course you're un-american
:) :) :)
i hear you, Brian. but cmon, it was only a good spirited joke, that i actually thought magee would enjoy....since i got it from him. i cant believe you see the need to straighten me out like Moe Green on Fredo. but you let macgee run free, insulting other bloggers with his smug and condescending ways.
Check past threads, I try to straighten everyone out and keep it on topic, including john.
straighten me out like Moe Green on Freudo
gotta admit that line is tremendous!
Next topic, is this rock bottom for a Sixers fan? I mean what a fkn waste this year has been.
Aside from Jrue development, this has been a gigantic step backwards for the rest of the team. Just terrible times.
The first Randy Ayers year was pretty bad...I think most of the post brown billy king era was pretty bad as well because King kept alive the notion that this team was one piece away and wasted years and value of certain players (though he did pull off the weber deal which got rid of the KT money a year sooner which was impressive - could you imagine if the sixers still had kenny thomas?)
The back slide of Thad is kind of disappinting, but i'm trying to write that off to 3 coaches in 3 years, mixed signals, and Randy Ayers getting in the way.
Brands injury and performance does kind of suck.
I'm holding out slim hope that the off season will redeem
I enjoy jokes that in not mean spirited or spiteful - but the jokes aimed towards me usually aren't - and pretending otherwise is just silly
Sixers NBA worst in opposing 3pt% at 40.2%.
Amazing considering the next worst is 36.7%, and 27 of 29 other teams are between 34-36.7%. The Sixers are so off the normal curve its scary.
Even more telling is the worst 6 teams in 3pt% allowed:
Sixers
Wizards
Nets
Warriors
Pacers
Wolves
So the worst 6 teams in the league have the worst 3pt% allowed. Not a coincidence, and points to the coach.
Also not a coincidence that last year the Sixers ranking in this stat was 15th, right around their finish in the league standings.
TYou can also see how this stat reflects team play looking at OKC. This year they are second best to the Lakers. Last year they were middle of the pack. When you have a defense that denies point shots you have a winning defense... and then you have the Sixers.
Except that the sixers have been one of the worst in 3PT% allowed the past couple years haven't they, independent of coach?
As To said (and as I wrote), they were middle of the pack for 3pt% prior to this year. But they were 6th worst last year in 3pt makes allowed, and 5th worst in 3pt differential. So there was an issue.
But stats like 3pt differential are somewhat dictated by style and shot selection. 3pt% allowed is IMO a better reflection of your defense.
Huh, see that's where perception blinds reality I always thought they were much worse at the 3.
However, I think differential might matter in that the 3 is a major part of the NBA game, you need a 3 point shoorter, and the sixers really don't have one
Sixers were tied for 16th last season at 36.7 percent (Kings set an NBA record at 40.6 percent);
They were 15th in 2007-08 at 36 percent.
They were tied for 10th in 2006-07 (35.3 percent).
did AI get to 20,000 pts as a sixer?
He's 69 points short -- No. 2 all-time behind Hal Greer.
:(, i was hoping to see him hit 20k, not like this season matters anyway.
Every passive aggressive comment by the coach, every loss that demonstrates that 'defense' isn't a priority for this coach even though the GM says it should be, every silly substitution or rotation that an NBA coach with a clue wouldn't run, just reinforces to me that he stays employed due to financial reasons and not basketball ones.
Three possible reasons why Jordan is still employed by the Sixers:
1. Financial
2. Stefanski is covering is his ass (can't fire him without losing his own job)
3. Stefanski and Snider still believe in him.
Is any one of those reasons any less damning than the others? Not in my mind.
Oh - well I disagree with you on more or less damning...#3 is a lot more damning than the first two. If the other two ed's believe in Joran - the franchise is even more doomed than I thought.
The funny thing is Stefanski and Snider would absolutely have to say #3 is the reason he's still here.
Well saying it and believing it are two different things, it's what I would expect them to say - but hopefully they don't believe it.
Believing it just frightens me.
The sixers are 2 games 'behind' the 3 teams currently tied for the fourth pick...it's within reach - but i don't think this week - the pacers have a crappy west coast trip.
If Brand is out for a significant amount of time I think we have a legit shot at the #4 pick.
Well I did my 'weekly preview' like I said and I expected the sixers to be one of two teams to go winless this week (pacers being the others) making up at least 1/2 a game on everyone and possibly 2 on the knicks.
If Joran keeps coaching and keeps losing the team and Brand is out for a significant period of time I think four is possible, but the pacers are really really bad too
Did you take my advice and write about how the Great Andrey Blatche will lead the Wizards to more wins then the shitty sixers?
Well no - but the wizards have an easier absolute and relative (location) strength of schedule this week with a home at home against the bucks. I figured they'd go 1-2 this week and the sixers would go 0-4
Most people are not buying into the 'great' Blatche because they've seen this before and realize he'll regress to his old ways sooner or later
But he was never given the keys to the team until now. Sooner or later you will come around on the great Blatche, have you seen his numbers since we had our debate on him last week?
Yes
Have you seen his numbers for his career as opposed to the good week or two he has every once in a while...so far it's a small sample size and jump to conclusion
Like I said this is the first time he has been given the keys to the team. I have seen there last 6 games on tv, the kid is a beast. You can wait for him to turn into a turd again, and then tell me I was wrong. I understand that. But his offensive game is just devastating, and I will not bet against him to reach his potential.
Unfortunately, thanks in part to fans like yourself who wanted us to rack up meaningless wins and build a team premised around a really good defensive backcourt, management didn't make the moves that would've assured us of that fourth pick or probably better. There's no reason why we couldn't or shouldn't have finished with the third worst record this year.
Fascinating Jim
If fans like me had a shred of influence over the decisions this franchise makes Eddie Jordan would've never been hired, and he certainly wouldn't still be coaching at this point.
IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT
If your saying do the Houston deal and get the 3 pick or don!t do it and get 4 through 11 and keep Iggy and have Sam!s expiring next year I choose #2.
Well I don't think the sixers were getting the #3 pick with or without the Iguodala deal...the problem is that Sam's expiring contract for next season doesn't solve the sixers immediate problem of thel uxury tax (presumptive) bill for 2011 whereas the Iguodala / Sam Mcgrady/Budinger trade did solve the problem.
My problem isn't whether or not they made the moves as much as I have no faith that the GM knows how to evaluate a roster.
I thought I read they added salary in the Meeks deal, could they possibly bite the bullet if young talent is added?
I don't think the luxury tax is something they'll go over...no. The amount of salary they added for next season was minimal - they still have to pay their draft pick - and the better the pick - the more money he makes - Meeks saves them singing a 'vet minimum' player in the off season.
A guy like willie/lou/kapono will have to be shed this off season - while taking little to no salary back - some team with cap space will help the sixers out
You know what would be ideal, if Lou plays his ass off the rest of the season and the Sixers are able to work out a deal to trade up in the draft, sending Lou and their first rounder to a team with cap space who's higher in the draft. Dare to dream.
I just looked at Draftxpress and entertained moving down. Minnesota has #12 and #25 and if they get stuck at #6 or lower maybe that becomes an option.
No, moving down would be a mistake
If no stud is available than it might not be. The guy they like may be available at #12 [Monroe, as an example] than they get who they want, plus.Right now #9 gets you Patterson and #12 and #25 gets you one of the young foreigners and D.James.
I see the logic, but I highly doubt they'd pick up a late first pick. Those picks are garbage, guaranteed contracts for guys who have about the same odds of panning out as a second rounder (whose contract isn't guaranteed). Of course if the second rounder is named Jodie Meeks, well, he's worth much more.
Thid draft it seems close talent wise from #9 [Patterson] to the end of the first [James] but getting a top pick, of course, is the right move.Derek I am sure could fill us in better.
And there's a reason patterson is projects at 9 and the other guys are lower...the nba is a stars league, the higher you pick, the smarte ryou pick, more likely you are to get a star, moving down to get two more guys who might be 'above average' won't help you win.
The sixers position is still greatly up in the air as they are currently tied for the 8th pick with the wizards...the sixers could draft as high as 4 (assuming lottery goes to form) and as low as 9.
And there's always the demarcus cousins factor
I keep picturing Chris Washburn with him, a risky move in the top 5, but worth the risk at 6 or higher. Favors is going through what Jrue went through last year, sorta. The other big, Lawal stayed and is getting a lot of his touches but in the top 5 I think he goes over Cousins.
On pure talent Cousins is probably the #2 pick in the draft because of the position he plays, but his 'issues' and 'coachability' make him more likely to slide down a bit, but he's the kind of guy you do a thorough interview on and with a commitment from him - I think you take the risk because his upside is sick.
I think the only 'fixed' positions in this draft are 1 and 2 - and even Thorpe tried to say that if a team like the t'wolves got the #1 pick they should take turner over wall
There does seem to be questions about Cousins athletism at the next level according to draftxpress but his demeanor reminds me of K.Martin, something our team genuinely is lacking in.
I'm not sure about his 'demeanor'
The concerns are have are the coachability and maturity issues that have been raised...i don't really care about his demeanor as long as he's willing to do the work and listen to the coach and franchise - which is why he probably isn't the consensus #3 right now
I think, like Sam, that Lou is what Lou is and the league knows it, Sam's 'good play' recently didn't make him more valuable at the trade deadline this year seemingly and I don't think a couple months will make people forget that he's an undersized two guard off the bench.
If the sixers can dump lou to ANYONE without having to give up a future first round pick I'd consider it a success
Commence TANKAPALOOZA!
The Sixers should not win another game all season. They need to get into the 4 spot in this draft. It looks like a 4 man draft and we cannot afford to miss out. Shut Brand down and tank. I wasn't always a tanking proponent but now i am convinced. We need to up our odds of winning the lottery.
CSTH
who's the fourth guy?
Favors or Cousins? Or in our case maybe Johnson, if he can be teamed with Iggy at the 2/3 or 3/2 because of his jumper.
For some reason I thought Favors had dropped off. Wall, Turner, Cousins.
Favors, I believe, was more of a defensive presence in high school and if Sam is leaving he may be the better pick over Cousins for a lot of teams. I have watched G.Tech about 5 times this year and like Henry at Kansas he just doesn!t get touches, but he doesn!t force things either. He fits more under our teams, pick the good kid approach, though that might not be the right thought process all the time.
I like Johnson!s upside and would take him for his possible star quality.
DeMarcus Cousins is a headcase. Stay away from DeMarcus Cousins.
I want Henry or Favors if we can't get Wall or Turner.
Stupidest thing about that retarded deadline trade where we gave up our second pick for nothing is that lots of players are going to come out early this year to get more money before the the CBA. Hurry for Jodie Meeks!
Tankapalooza should have started when we lost 12 straight games.