The Sixers return home tonight to take on their left conference whipping boy, the Portland Blazers. If you've been MIA over the past two seasons, you've missed the Sixers handle the Blazers in almost every imaginable way. Let's hope tonight is no different. Preview and game thread after the leap.
Here's the only question that really matters: Will Andre Iguodala guard Brandon Roy? He did the last time these teams met, but since then Eddie Jordan has opted to use Lou Williams and Allen Iverson on Tyreke Evans, so I'm no 100% confident Jordan will make a quality decision.
Once that matchup is settled, and for the moment I'm going to give Jordan the benefit of the doubt and say he will use AI9 on Roy (who's coming back from his malingering just to play the Sixers), that leaves Allen Iverson on Martell Webster and Lou Williams on Andre Miller. No mismatches there.
The good news is that Nate McMillan isn't a big fan of attacking mismatches and would rather follow this pattern:
- Walk the ball up the floor as slowly as possible.
- Put the ball in Brandon Roy's hands
- Run a pick-and-pop with LaMarcus Aldridge setting the pick, then fading for a 20-foot jumper.
- Have Roy dump the ball to Aldrdge to take that shot
- If the LA shot isn't there, Roy drives to the hoop or takes a jumper.
Occasionally they'll mix in a corner three for Steve Blake or Webster. Andre Miller may take matters into his own hands if he can actually get his hands on the ball, but that's a rarity. The Blazers are one of the only teams where I think the best way to defend them is to allow them to do exactly what they want to do. I'd put Thad on Aldridge, double Roy hard every time he comes out to set the screen, and then maybe run out on Aldridge, but not too hard. I want him shooting 20 footers all night long. The only thing I'm really worried about is leaving the shooters open on the wings and/or allowing Aldridge to dive to the hole. This is probably an oversimplification, but honestly, I'd rather give Aldridge 30 wide-open long twos than alert McMillan of the mismatches he has all over the floor.
The good news for the Sixers comes mostly on the other end of the floor. Miller is going to have to guard either Iverson or Lou, so that should mean penetration galore. The Blazers don't have anyone who can handle Brand inside, should the Sixers decide tonight would be a good night to actually give EB a couple shots. With Oden and Przbylla on the shelf, the Blazers don't have anything even remotely resembling a shot blocker. Their 6'11" "power" forward has fewer blocks on the season than Andre Iguodala. The offensive philosophy should be quite simple. Go to the hole, go to the hole and go to the hole some more. There should be no settling for jumpers tonight.
I believe Sammy will be back for the game tonight. I hope he's safe, but I can't imagine he's gotten any rest since the disaster happened. He's playing on nothing but adrenaline and heart right now and I can't help but feel for the guy. No idea what to expect from him in basketball terms and I'm pretty sure it doesn't even matter.
So, do I think the Sixers will win his one? No idea. Nothing, and I do mean absolutely nothing surprises me where the Sixers are concerned these days. I'd kind of like to see them make
Andre Miller eat his words, and I will be rooting for a win, as usual.
Key to The Game: The size mismatches. Will McMillan attack them?
If ____________ the Sixers will win: Hmmn, let's keep it simple tonight and just say if Allen Iverson doesn't play the entire second half without a rest, the Sixers have a decent shot. (Yes, I've completely given up on meaningful minutes for Jrue under Eddie Jordan. I've accepted the fact that he's getting his token run the first half every night and will only be used after the break in case of extreme emergency, or injury to Willie Green.)
This is your game thread. I plan to be here throughout, but life may intervene. Join me in mocking the softest power forward west of the mighty Mississippi!
According to Kate Fagan Sam is expected at the Wachovia Center at around 6:30 tonight - I applaud his trip to haiti so have no problem even if he missed tonight's game (I expected as much actually), but I won't be surprised if he looks slow and beat and emotionally drained tonight.
A good coach would optimize on something like that - cruel or not
Millers comments earlier today did piss me off
Why are they are so efficient offensively? They play at a snails pace, which is interesting because they are labeled as the "up and coming young team." Still, they are the 6th most efficient offense in the league. With a team full of jump shooters, how are they so efficient?
Jordan will see that efficiency skyrocket tonight.
According to the Yahoo "pre game" line up listing - Sam made it back in time to start.
Rich - a possible answer to your question as to how they are so efficient with the slowest pace in the NBA would probably be their offensive rebounding rate and FT/FG rate and TO rate all being top 10 in the NBA, and their eFG rate is 12th...
http://www.knickerblogger.net/stats/2010/o_oe.htm
Want to start a quick running list of why the Sixers are playing some sort of bizarro basketball:
Your best defenders... are your best scorers.
You don't need a PG in THIS system.
You start a 6'0" 170 pound SG.
Is this the shorting starting back court (combined height) in the history of the NBA?
Ask Nellie?
Probably the worst defensive backcourt.
Your "Power" forward is 6'8", skinny, and the softest player on your team.
You install the Priceton Offense, who uses a high post center as the focal point through which to run the offense... when your starting center is Dalembert.
Willie Green gets minutes.
Thats not bizarre... Willie "gets after it" and I read he's their veteran leader.
Willie is also your "defensive stopper."
Your best offensive players are your best defenders :)
Your veteran leader:
Sir William Green.
side note: Iverson brought in for his leadership qualities.
Elton Brand - better off the bench
your best player and best scorer is relegated to 6th man
lou williams is looked upon as a leader
Really glad Sammy made it back healthy.
My guess is the usual starting lineup, unless Jordan penalizes Dalembert and decides this is finally the game to get his secret weapon into the starting lineup.
Whose that steamin Willie Beamon?
Mr. Primoz Brezec, who I believe will be loaned out to the NY Liberty when the WNBA season starts.
Team fluffer?
Ok - so stupid sports radio commercial as I listen to 'hacksaw' online for those 'centers' that help men with their problems.
When did it become 'pre-mature stamina' - that's not even a phrase that makes sense in the english language is it?
Usual starting lineup.
There we go, one possession, one long two-point jumper.
Weave and heave in full effect.
There's another long two.
And three possessions, three long twos. Iverson drew the foul on Roy that time.
Fourth long jumper falls, at least that one was a three.
I wonder what under 6-2 sg's the who can't hit three's the sixers are scouting this season in the college ranks?
Finally a shot in the lane, hit by Iverson.
Every time Miller scores, Iverosn will take the ball down the court all by himself for the whole possession - my prediciton
Aldridge is so soft.
Speaking of soft. Sixth long jumper, airball three by Thad.
7th by AI3.
you said in case of an extreme emergency or willie getting hurt jrue will play. i think those are the same thing in eddie jordan's eyes. plus wow nice shot thad, you almost hit the rim on that wide open 3!
oh Thad
There's the post game by Iguodala. Spin to baseline, draws the foul.
Does anyone else have the nba package? Because for some reason it seems as if they are always showing the game from the other cities feed. Out of the 40 games or so I would say that there have only been 3 games shown from the philly side. Why is this?
It's funny getting the other cities perspective though, they all think that Willie G is a gifter scorer and they all bitch at the sixers for having the announcers table stationed in the upper deck.
I have league pass and I'm seeing the Philly feed. Actually, this year they've mostly been showing the Philly feed, whereas in years past it was always the away feed. Might depend on where you are, geographically.
Until the last season or two Comcast used some sort of loop hole to keep the sixers/phillies broadcasts (from the comcast feed) out of the league pass package - it used to be you'd get less than 5 sixer broadcasts a year
Im in North Jersey, I can't freakin believe that you get the philly feeds and I get stuck listening to doosches like Tommy Heinson!
Philly feed on league pass here in California.
8, Iverson.
Ignore the comments from Zum and Pinckney about how while Iguodalas points are down in the past 14 games but the sixers in that stretch are a 'much better team and a lot of that has to do with his floor game'
Completely irrelevant
9, Thad. Miss.
Come on Sammy, don't jump. You don't even need to jump to block Miller's shots.
AI9 in the post again, that was a nice move.
2 on Sammy, in comes Brand and Jrue. Pay close attention, this is probably the only run for the kid.
especially if he plays well
Jrue Holiday has officially moved ahead of willie green in the first half rotation - but when it 'counts' willie gets those minutes baby?
Every time I see this Sixers camp commercial I want to call Child Protective Services.
Brand from the foul line to Speights on the baseline for a j.
Then Iguodala from 20 with 20 left on the shot clock. Ugh. That's 10.
What a play by Jrue.
Come on Speights, grab the fucking rebound. That's twice he was out-hustled on this possession.
Sixers were one pt underdogs today. I knew I should have bet my house against these shitbirds
They play four quarters in the NBA
no fukn shit
Down by 1 after 1. 10 long jumpers, but some things I definitely liked on the offensive end.
Two post-ups for Iguodala (resulting in 4 points)
Iverson and Lou going to the rack
Brand to Speights, sort of a hi-low post thing, but Speights leaked out for a baseline J.
Defensive rebounding needs to be better.
11 long Js. Willie, miss.
Why the hell is Willie on Bayless?
Sick lineup, Willie at the three.
Brian is it possible that we are trying to lose on purpose. Willie G is good for that no?
Willie at the three. That's just superb.
How does Willie continue to get this much playing time off the bench?
Willie has pictures of team ownership getting fisted at a christmass party, didn't you know that?
It might be his 38.5% form 3 PT land so far. Guess Eddie figures you need someone to attempt 3 PT since Kapono is growing a beard and well might be on his way to going for the Unabomber look with so many DNPs.
Too bad we didn't draft Rudy with that 2nd pick
Any reason that sub wasn't Carney for Iguodala? Or maybe Thad for Iguodala?
I wonder how much Dalembert is going to be mentally in the game tonight. Can't imagine that he is exactly that focused after seeing what he did the last few days.
The big soft guy is killing us. We need to give the ball to Brand so he can own that bitch on the other end.
Nice pass Lou, that's stellar.
He keeps getting it ALMOST right
Lou
Jrue
Thad
Brand
Sam
Thanks for coming Jrue, 8 minutes is enough for you tonight.
Every time Jrue makes a turnover I get the feeling he'll be subbed out the next opportunity. I hate EJ.
Nice foul by EB. He's got three now, none of them were cheap.
There's Miller in the post. He could go for 30 tonight if he wanted to/was allowed to.
No, he takes too many shots, remember?
Against Portland, with EB and Sam in foul trouble would you guys consider putting Jason Smith in? Yes he's soft but he does defend the P&R decently and he's 7ft so some rebounds have to fall to him, by the laws of nature.
My guess is a whole lot of Speights/Thad if Sammy and EB are limited by fouls in the 2nd half.
Another reason I hate Eddie Jordan. Thad should be playing the 4 only from time to time. Playing him against Aldridge just doesn't make sense. 6'8 and soft against 6'11 and soft just doesn't cut it. Due to size Aldridge gets more rebounds, and he can actually score more.
Brian when do you start writing for IN MO WE TRUST? pitchers and catchers?
I probably won't write there regularly, just don't have the time anymore.
At least the yanks give us the enjoyment of watching winners.
I like what Brand has done. When he gets on the floor we need to give him the ball in the post, we all know how well he did in the previous Portland game and we know that's no fluke. Against Aldridge, that's a great mismatch we need to exploit.
Roy's a bitch, huh?
Heh, Jrue 3/3 in the first half with that step-back three.
By the way, Lou Williams was your small forward in that last lineup.
He is as much a small forward as he is a point guard.
100% correct.
Down by 5 at the half. Roy's probably done for the night with a tweaked labia. Wonder if the Sixers can put together a solid second half.
Not a good sign. Normally when players from the other team go down this team for whatever reason plays worse.
Roy probably just doesn't want Iguodala in his face.
OK, over/under for Jrue's minutes in the second half is set at 1.5. Place your bets.
Under
Yup, Roy done for the night.
Attaboy Sammy.
Good job taking the ball to the hole here early in the third.
9 boards in 19 minutes for SD.
Nice dunk, Thad.
With Roy out, they are really gonna go to Andre and he seems to be getting whatever he wants out there. We should just put Jrue on Miller.
Damn if we had a coach...
Need to tighten up the D.
Moved AI9 on Miller, good move, a better move would be to put Jrue in for Lou or AI3.
I keep forgetting how loud andre miller was when he drove to the basket. he probably isnt as loud in other arenas because their fans actually make noise when they are at games
9 points for Miller so far this quarter, but three of them you just sort of laugh at. No reason to ever guard him beyond the three-point line, as far as I'm concerned.
Miller for 3 damn that came from nowhere. I used to get excited when it happened. Geez.
Did Sam develop a jumper in Haiti or what?
YES! An Elton Brand sighting! Now here's a guy who really "gets after it".
Sammy and Brand padding their rebounding stats.
I just saw Jrue get up off the bench, got excited, then realized he was just getting up to clap for the effort Sam was putting in.
Shit, Jrue is coming in. How about that?
You gotta think that Stefanski outside the locker room after that embarassment in Minnesota did lead to a quiet conversation that goes something like this "coach better or you're fired"
Gotta love the missed free throws.
Is that #11 on the court?
Great job by EB defending Miller.
JRUE +1.
Aaand, Willie gets toasted on the other end by Miller.
Down three heading into the fourth.
Speights and Green watch Miller get an o-board right between them and lay it back in to end the quarter. Lovely.
Jrue is at 11 minutes now, that's been his limit recently. Wonder if he's still in there to start the fourth.
I don't see any reason Thad should come back into this game.
3/12 for 7 points, 2 rebounds in 26 minutes.
Only way to get out of a slump is to shoot your way out baby
Willie Greene is the worst shooting guard in the history of the league
great job by Aldridge sealing off Sammy on that board
Brand really is doing a good job getting the ball out of the double tonight.
Damnit, should've doubled Bayless when he picked up his dribble.
Why isn't Sam in the game right now?
Could be exhaustion - according to some folk he hasn't slept more than a couple hours in a while.
Of course it could also be that Eie Joran is an idiot
Speights is just out of control out there.
Fucking Holiday is a stud.
Jrue and EB.
Thank God! Sam for Speights at last.
We can win this, the right lineup out there.
That was probably the nail. I'll be surprised if they can come back from 7 down w/ 2:59 to go.
How do you suck so bad with the best possible lineup on the floor?
Tough call on Sammy there, need this stop in the worst way possible.
Because collectively they stink of sheep shit
COME ON!!!!!!!! DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
10 points so far in the fourth - is that clutch?
put him in the hall of fame
Brand has eight points in the quarter too.
He's not clutch
Sammy's done, that was a BS call.
That's what his rep is going to do - he's going to get BS calls because he's known for making sutpid fouls
51 seconds left. Dead ball, down by 2 points. Get Iverson the fuck out of there for Carney, please. We need this god damned stop.
You make me laugh - and no - not like a clown - clowns aren't funny - they're evil
Willie for AI3, that's a defensive upgrade I suppose. Beggars can't be choosers and all.
this is iggy time boys, bricks and mortars
great pass by iggy to brand there,lol
I go to Brand here.
nope, off-balance iguodala 3. i wish i were surprised
Why call a play for an early three there?
At some point you have to accept that Joran doesn't coach like a normal person would...
Anyone have an answer as to why you go for the early three there?
Because he wants to "run the table"?
Can you "Run the table" when you're headed "uptown?" I think they might be mutually exclusive.
Bobcats beating the Heat by 40. That Dwyane Wade is such a superstar.
Boo.
4 quarters are over, I knew that I should have bet my house and the neighbors on this game.
Maybe I should resort to starting to bet against the Sixers. That way I won't feel so lousy when they lose. Heck, by the time EJ gets fired I probably have some savings.
Ugh. My wrap is coming late, or maybe tomorrow morning. Life shit going down around here tonight. Thanks for sticking it out, guys.
at least jrue played a lot. granted he committed some stupid fouls but it's to be expected when he plays 11 minutes a night and no "good" time in the last minutes of a game. happy to see him in there for an extended amount of time though. sad loss, they all are.
Fans of unintentional comedy have a real treat tonight, Dick Vitale calling the Spurs/Jazz game. The guy knows nothing about the NBA. He just got really excited over "Jefferson with the trifecter!"
The guy knows nothing about the NBA.
Dick Vitale knows nothing, thus the NBA would be a subset of that general statement.
On another note
At some point - we all have to accept that Eie Joran's coaching moves don't make sense to anyone with sense, questioning why something unexplainable happens is just a waste of energy because there is no real rational explanation beyond the coaching 'ability' of Mr Joran (there are no typos)
He knows a little more about college. To be fair, a lot more. On the NBA level, he feels compelled to share original insights like "the Spurs like to draft unknown players baby!" Or, "Ginobili is really speshhhhhhhul." Or when he starts making George Gervin references because he and Duncan are the only Spurs he's ever heard of. And now he's talking about Chris Duhon. In a positive light.
He does know a lot about college, I mean he's the guy who thought ANdre Iguodala going to the NBA was a huge mistake and that he would be a failure.
Vitale is a clown, in the worst possible way, he's loud and boisterous and over reacts and campuses love him - but if I want an honest evaluation of a players abilities I'd go to freaking Jay Bilas before what Vitale had to say.
was that play actually drawn up for a 3pt shot or did Iguodala take matters in his own hands?
gotta blame someone here. who is it EJ or AI9?
finally got to see Jrue, AI, AI9, Sam and Brand for a good stretch.
I'd say 100% that was the play that was drawn up. The ball came in and you could see Iverson's eyes following Iguodala through a series of screens until he cleared on the wing for the three. No question in my mind.
My guess is that Mr Joran called the play, but if he throws Andre under the bus in the post game making it his fault is the only word we'll ever have on it either way
I personally don't think the 3 point shot was drawn up by Jordan (though I would not be surprised). They were only down 4, and comments made by Jordan about getting to the basket after the game are the reasons I feel this way.
IA9 just makes alot of dumb mistakes night after night. I like him alot so please don't roast me. My point being some coaching could correct it very quickly. Any he is dependable to miss foul shots in the 4th quarter.
I was happy to see Jrue play more but he is not confident out on the floor (I wonder why???). He is going to be a very good player some day post Jordan.
Who wants to bet Jrue got all those minutes because he hit his first 4 shots.
Just like how he went with Green the game befoer when he started out hitting shots.
Jordan might say "I did it for defense", but for him that's code for "he was hitting jumpers."
One would be absolutely crazy to bet you!
I mean, come on, we can't blame the superstar for trying to be the hero and jack a three when only down four can we? He is THE franchise player you know. Not to mention, the nearly full-length pass to that guy in the first row that was supposed to be Jrue with around 2 minutes left.
Heck, we're only 2-13 when Topdala scores 20+ pts this year. Hollow boxscore once again, he just doesn't put you over the top to win games. Missed free throws at crucial moments, reluctance to drive, inopportune turnovers, self-love of perimeter jumper.
Paid to be the top dog, but just another puppy in the litter.
Ping-pong!