After playing their worst game of the series in a killer game 5 loss, the fate of the Sixers season will rest in the hands of the man pictured above for the next 24 hours or so. Dwight Howard should be suspended for game six. The league has a clear history on things like this. He intentionally elbowed Sam Dalembert in the face, it was not in the heat of action. It was a cheap shot and he should be sitting out game 6. We all remember what happened in the Suns/Spurs series a couple of years back, the league made it very clear that exceptions are not made in the playoffs. No we have to wait to see if they follow the same credo in this situation.
This was a disheartening 48 minutes of basketball to watch. The Sixers were never really in the flow, in fact several times in the first half I had to double check the score to make sure they weren't down by 15 points, but somehow, they hung on.
They played their worst game of the series, by far, and still cut the lead to 6 points with 3:11 remaining. They can thank the Andres for that. Iguodala did his best to pick this team up and carry it on offense, Miller used his veteran guile to come up with 4 second-half steals, each one coming at a critical time in the game. Even with those two playing their hearts out, it was never meant to be. Orlando finally broke through from three-point land (8/23), they abused the Sixers on the offensive glass, grabbing 15 boards. Those are obviously the two biggest keys in any Sixers game, they failed at both, and still, somehow, they were in the game.
I don't know what to think right now. I have no feelings whatsoever about game six because I just don't know what the league will do. I know I should be disappointed in the showing on the floor tonight, but I just don't know how I can be disappointed by the effort. They should've been blown off the floor. They should've lost by 30, but they wouldn't let that happen. They somehow willed themselves back into the game. Unfortunately, the lion-sized hearts of a few players can't overcome some things, and tonight, there was plenty to overcome.
The kids seemed to wilt under the pressure. Lou played one of the worst games I've ever seen from him. Stupid, stupid plays on both sides of the floor. Thad was ineffective, again, and thoroughly abused by Rashard Lewis on the defensive end in the second half. The bench, as a whole, contributed next to nothing. Sammy played a fine 20 minutes, but the fouls really hurt, especially picking up his fourth on the first play of the third quarter.
Andre Miller had stretches where he looked his age. He had lapses on the defensive end, and he certainly didn't shoot well (6/15), but as I said before, he was all over the floor down the stretch, somehow coming up with a huge stop/steal when the team desperately needed it. Iguodala bounced back from a quiet first half to put the team on his back with an 18-point second half. The biggest thing about Iggy's game was that he took the ball to the rack. 10/13 from the line.
I decided to track Iguodala's game throughout. You'll see the results below and we'll talk a little bit about them after.
What we're looking at here is a chart of Iguodala's touches throughout the game. Quarter on the left, # of touch, whether or not he was double-teamed, description of the play, points scored by the team, field goals made and attempted and finally Iguodala's points.
On 44 touches, the team scored 45 points (offensive rating of 102.3, on the other 40 possessions, the team's offensive rating was 82.5). Iguodala was doubled on 25 of his 44 touches, on those possessions the team scored 28 points (112 offensive rating). Iguodala himself scored 11 points on possessions when he was doubled.
My takeaway: The double is not working for Orlando, and Iguodala is doing an excellent job of eitther (a) finding open teammates or (b) beating the double on his own and scoring. In game 6, I'd go back to the one-four iso and run it to death until Orlando proves they can stop it. Honestly, that was easily the best offense the Sixers had tonight.
That's all I have for now. Tough loss, with a huge questionmark hanging over Thursday's game. With or without Howard in the lineup, I'm expecting a battle on Thursday. Just get to game 7 and take your chances. That has to be the attitude. Good luck sleeping, everyone.
Player of The Game: Iguodala Series Record: 2-3 Up Next: @ the FU center, Thursday night.
Here's the post-game video. DiLeo basically says the refs let Howard camp out in the lane on both ends of the floor:
And Stan Van Gundy, playing the role of sore-winner to perfection.
Rule 12A--Section V--l(5)
l. A player, coach or trainer must be ejected for:
(1) A punching foul
(2) A fighting foul
(3) AN ELBOW FOUL WHICH MAKES CONTACT ABOVE SHOULDER LEVEL
q. Elbow fouls, which make contact above shoulder level, and punching fouls, although recorded as both personal and team fouls, are unsportsmanlike acts. The player will be ejected immediately.
If Howard is not suspended it is just because the NBA wants to market him in the next series and not ruin his reputation as a squeaky clean star.
Do you think he'll get suspended? The entire TNT studio were all adament that he should and will get suspended for game 6. C-webb pointed out that you could see howard look at dalembert and then throw the elbow.
But in that case, should've been a dead-ball foul too, right? I mean, physical contact like that, say he elbowed him in the chest, or just shoved him. That's a personal foul, right?
Yep, according to those rules above it should have been a team and personal foul with a subsequent ejection for the unsportsmanlike act.
I mean, what was that ref thinking? He blatantly elbows him and you feel the need to immediately blow the whistle and call him for a tech, but with that much physical contact it wasn't a personal foul. But on the flip side a simple reach in with contact is? I'm obviously perturbed by the guy being allowed to stay in the game tonight. ugh.....
I suppose they'll suspend him. They really have to by their rules, for one thing, and for another, it's the only way they could possibly drum up any ratings for the remaining games in the series. ESPN loves a suspension. Besides, if they were willing to suspend Amare and end Phoenix's season, back when they were so popular, they surely wouldn't go out of their way to save the Magic.
couldn't watch the game tonight b/c of work, but heard about the elbow and saw SVG's smug postgame comments. if this doesn't fire up the sixers and the home crowd, i don't know what will. this series was on before, but now IT'S REALLY ON; next game here's hoping they run the magic off the court, howard or not.
he called out dileo for claiming Howard camps in the lane all game. Dileo also said that he thinks Howard should be suspended and the team has sent in the tape to the league. Stan came up to the podium and said are we going to talk about the game or lobby for calls for the next game?
Perhaps you four would like him to lobby for his own best player's suspension. He has to at least pretend to think he doesn't deserve to be suspended and that calls for his suspension are misplaced, that's his job.
Then perhaps you'd like him to lobby for more three-second calls against Howard. This is the playoffs, one coach bitches about calls, the other coach mocks him for bitching. Tony's right of course, but you don't see a ton of 3-second called in the playoffs.
Charles Barkley on TNT said he will be and should be suspended. They have a seat for him on TNT. Barkley said he should have gotten tossed and Orlando is lucky he did not get tossed. Could he get suspended for 2 games???? I know that is not possible but he should, IMO as a sixers fan!
I didn't really process the thought and ramifications at the time it happened - but we got shafted, by him not being ejected from that game at that moment. According to the rule book posted above, the ref did not act properly. Son of a ...............
Wish I had DVR b/c I really did not pay close enough attention to DH being in the lane. Was watching more of the screening and switching on the perimeter. Wonder if DiLeo really has a valid argument or just reaching for straws with us being one away from elimination.
Tony should have went public with why the refs did not eject him immediately, too.
Yeah, I haven't noticed or paid attention to that. Mostly, I've been concerned w/ the offensive fouls he commits, the traveling and the moving screens. :)
Usually Dre Miller alerts the refs and us at home by hollering it out on the 3 seconds, but I guess he couldn't by all the switching going on keeping him occupied on the perimeter.
As I hit upon in the pre-series posts, Lou defines sporadic. The 3/4 of the season Lou has reared his ugly head. Really, what did this guy do so differently in game 1 to score like that besides knock down those 3 three's?
And it is eating away at me that we are FINALLY getting some offensive output from Willie, and if everyone else on our roster would hold serve with their usual scoring, we would win these games. Paging Lou?? I'm looking at you too Thad.
But Lou feels my wrath b/c as far as the bench is concerned, you can't expect Reg, Theo, or Ivey to give you offense. So Lou carries the burden, fairly or not.
Lou, you need directions to the Wach Thursday night? We're in game 6, by the way. Game 1's don't win the series.
Great recap, I just disagree about Dalembert, he was terrible in his 20 minutes, despite decent rebounding numbers
he committed three of the most stupid fouls I ever saw from him (and this is saying something), two on offense (...) and the fourth after 14 seconds in the third on a stupid, stupid, stupid double team
his limited minutes, due to these stupid fouls, were one of the reasons why Orlando got so many off rebounds, that asbolsutely killed us, as you correctly said
few def rebounds = few fastbreak points, also
Sam was a HUGE factor in Magic's favor, he even added two stupid (needless to say) goaltendings in the fourth that didn't help either...
the rest of the recap is perfect, as usual
let's move on to Game 6 and let's see what will the League decide about Howard
I think that if Dalembert did not rebound the ball and block 2 shots like he did in the first half, the game would have been a blowout from half-time onwards.
Yes, Daly does some stupid things but overall having him on the floor is beneficial to the team, even though sometimes it is himself that limits his minutes.
I hate to be those sour grapes kind of person after a loss...but two things to think about. If the rule was upheld, Howard out of the game...and then SVG (smug jerk) would be forced to scramble. and if I'm not mistaken Howard had a prety deccent game...now even if the rule is and should be upheld, and a suspension granted, now the Magic have time to prepare for a game without him. I usually say let them play...which is why i have hated the ticky tack fouls on our big men against Howard....It is amazing how specially he is treated for someone who has won 1 playoff series. also, still up in Boston, got to hear Doc Rivers talk about Rondo's foul. He called it a good foul, and that even it Rondo didn't slap Miller in the face, Perkins would be over for the block. if anyone could see that replay, miller had a clear lane to the basket and would have scored, would not have been blocked by Perkins. I guess that is what he is supposed to say, but I ask what would happen if it was Iggudalla throwing a blatent elbow at Pietrus. Do you think that would be ignored...or if it was peirce who was whacked in the face, tooth chipped and missed a free throw...I can hear Tommy Henishon now crying for a flagarant foul.
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Rule 12A--Section V--l(5)
l. A player, coach or trainer must be ejected for:
(1) A punching foul
(2) A fighting foul
(3) AN ELBOW FOUL WHICH MAKES CONTACT ABOVE SHOULDER LEVEL
q. Elbow fouls, which make contact above shoulder level, and punching fouls, although recorded as both personal and team fouls, are unsportsmanlike acts. The player will be ejected immediately.
If Howard is not suspended it is just because the NBA wants to market him in the next series and not ruin his reputation as a squeaky clean star.
They didn't give him a personal either. Just the tech.
Do you think he'll get suspended? The entire TNT studio were all adament that he should and will get suspended for game 6. C-webb pointed out that you could see howard look at dalembert and then throw the elbow.
And according to what you posted above, he should have been ejected immediately.
And a tech doesn't automatically count as a personal like in college?
Oddly, no. It counts towards a separate count of technical fouls. If you get two T's you're out.
But in that case, should've been a dead-ball foul too, right? I mean, physical contact like that, say he elbowed him in the chest, or just shoved him. That's a personal foul, right?
Yep, according to those rules above it should have been a team and personal foul with a subsequent ejection for the unsportsmanlike act.
I mean, what was that ref thinking? He blatantly elbows him and you feel the need to immediately blow the whistle and call him for a tech, but with that much physical contact it wasn't a personal foul. But on the flip side a simple reach in with contact is? I'm obviously perturbed by the guy being allowed to stay in the game tonight. ugh.....
I suppose they'll suspend him. They really have to by their rules, for one thing, and for another, it's the only way they could possibly drum up any ratings for the remaining games in the series. ESPN loves a suspension. Besides, if they were willing to suspend Amare and end Phoenix's season, back when they were so popular, they surely wouldn't go out of their way to save the Magic.
couldn't watch the game tonight b/c of work, but heard about the elbow and saw SVG's smug postgame comments. if this doesn't fire up the sixers and the home crowd, i don't know what will. this series was on before, but now IT'S REALLY ON; next game here's hoping they run the magic off the court, howard or not.
What did SVG say in the post-game? I tuned out.
he called out dileo for claiming Howard camps in the lane all game. Dileo also said that he thinks Howard should be suspended and the team has sent in the tape to the league. Stan came up to the podium and said are we going to talk about the game or lobby for calls for the next game?
I hope he's back making cheap porn this time next season. I bet Dwight Howard does too.
What did SVG's smugness consist of? Was it related to the possible suspension? Or just his usual...
I believe his comments were to the effect of, "Oh so I guess it's all about lobbying to the officials now."
Dag, where did you guys catch these post-game comments since NBA TV went to the next game? Online?
Perhaps you four would like him to lobby for his own best player's suspension. He has to at least pretend to think he doesn't deserve to be suspended and that calls for his suspension are misplaced, that's his job.
It wasn't about that. He was whining about something else DiLeo said.
Then perhaps you'd like him to lobby for more three-second calls against Howard. This is the playoffs, one coach bitches about calls, the other coach mocks him for bitching. Tony's right of course, but you don't see a ton of 3-second called in the playoffs.
I posted the videos above, both DiLeo and Van Gundy's comments.
Charles Barkley on TNT said he will be and should be suspended. They have a seat for him on TNT. Barkley said he should have gotten tossed and Orlando is lucky he did not get tossed. Could he get suspended for 2 games???? I know that is not possible but he should, IMO as a sixers fan!
Two games is pushing it.
I know, I was joking or wishing? I thought I made myself clear that I was not serious in believing that!
I didn't really process the thought and ramifications at the time it happened - but we got shafted, by him not being ejected from that game at that moment. According to the rule book posted above, the ref did not act properly. Son of a ...............
Wish I had DVR b/c I really did not pay close enough attention to DH being in the lane. Was watching more of the screening and switching on the perimeter. Wonder if DiLeo really has a valid argument or just reaching for straws with us being one away from elimination.
Tony should have went public with why the refs did not eject him immediately, too.
Yeah, I haven't noticed or paid attention to that. Mostly, I've been concerned w/ the offensive fouls he commits, the traveling and the moving screens. :)
Usually Dre Miller alerts the refs and us at home by hollering it out on the 3 seconds, but I guess he couldn't by all the switching going on keeping him occupied on the perimeter.
As I hit upon in the pre-series posts, Lou defines sporadic. The 3/4 of the season Lou has reared his ugly head. Really, what did this guy do so differently in game 1 to score like that besides knock down those 3 three's?
And it is eating away at me that we are FINALLY getting some offensive output from Willie, and if everyone else on our roster would hold serve with their usual scoring, we would win these games. Paging Lou?? I'm looking at you too Thad.
But Lou feels my wrath b/c as far as the bench is concerned, you can't expect Reg, Theo, or Ivey to give you offense. So Lou carries the burden, fairly or not.
Lou, you need directions to the Wach Thursday night? We're in game 6, by the way. Game 1's don't win the series.
Great recap, I just disagree about Dalembert, he was terrible in his 20 minutes, despite decent rebounding numbers
he committed three of the most stupid fouls I ever saw from him (and this is saying something), two on offense (...) and the fourth after 14 seconds in the third on a stupid, stupid, stupid double team
his limited minutes, due to these stupid fouls, were one of the reasons why Orlando got so many off rebounds, that asbolsutely killed us, as you correctly said
few def rebounds = few fastbreak points, also
Sam was a HUGE factor in Magic's favor, he even added two stupid (needless to say) goaltendings in the fourth that didn't help either...
the rest of the recap is perfect, as usual
let's move on to Game 6 and let's see what will the League decide about Howard
I think that if Dalembert did not rebound the ball and block 2 shots like he did in the first half, the game would have been a blowout from half-time onwards.
Yes, Daly does some stupid things but overall having him on the floor is beneficial to the team, even though sometimes it is himself that limits his minutes.
I hate SVG with a passion now. What a piece of shit.
I hate to be those sour grapes kind of person after a loss...but two things to think about. If the rule was upheld, Howard out of the game...and then SVG (smug jerk) would be forced to scramble. and if I'm not mistaken Howard had a prety deccent game...now even if the rule is and should be upheld, and a suspension granted, now the Magic have time to prepare for a game without him. I usually say let them play...which is why i have hated the ticky tack fouls on our big men against Howard....It is amazing how specially he is treated for someone who has won 1 playoff series. also, still up in Boston, got to hear Doc Rivers talk about Rondo's foul. He called it a good foul, and that even it Rondo didn't slap Miller in the face, Perkins would be over for the block. if anyone could see that replay, miller had a clear lane to the basket and would have scored, would not have been blocked by Perkins. I guess that is what he is supposed to say, but I ask what would happen if it was Iggudalla throwing a blatent elbow at Pietrus. Do you think that would be ignored...or if it was peirce who was whacked in the face, tooth chipped and missed a free throw...I can hear Tommy Henishon now crying for a flagarant foul.
I hope Gortat doesn't get the majority of the minutes.
No one wants to hear it, but Gortat is a player. He is still better than Sammy IMO and he will outplay Sammy or at least cancel him out.
Battie is atrocious.
Well, if Orlando's center is merely canceling out Sammy, I like our chances.
oh yeah. For sure. lol. I'd rather have a distinct advantage though and if Battie plays a lot... that will be the case.
Get ready for Saturday Night Fever.
Time: TBD
Place: Amway Arena
Looking too far ahead? - Naw, just confident our guys will come out like gangbusters and spank that ass in Game 6 Thurs. night.