Don't let Wall's garbage-time, stat-padding fool you. Jrue Holiday absolutely dominated this basketball game. He carried them to a big win in the first game back from the Ice Capades trip with some big help from Lou Williams and left John Wall still wondering what it feels like to win a road game in the NBA.
Charts
Thoughts
- This game shouldn't have been close for 3.5 quarters, it really should've been a blowout from the first quarter on. Washington is probably the worst defensive team in the league and the Sixers kept taking their foot off the gas (or shooting themselves in the foot).
- That being said, the first game back from a long road trip, against a pitiful opponent, is the definition of a trap game. It's very, very easy to have a hangover from all the travel and the Sixers shook it off for a tremendous finish and a much-needed win, without Andre Iguodala. Kudos to those guys for getting the job done.
- John Wall is an impressive rookie. He's tough to contain off the dribble, for sure. He's a good playmaker. And he was clearly the second-best PG on the floor tonight.
- Big game for Lou, 25 points on 10 shots and 11 trips to the line. I wasn't very happy with how he was running the offense, but when he's scoring like that, you can obviously overlook him killing ball movement.
- I liked what I saw from Speights early on. He's still just terrible defensively, but he was moving the ball on offense and even drew a charge. If he plays like this, he's an upgrade to Hawes, but that's not saying much. Hawes is both hurt and terrible.
- One bone to pick. Elton Brand was completely unstoppable early in the game. He had 10 points in the first quarter, and for the most part, he was ignored for the rest of the night. The Sixers put the game away with a Jrue/Brand two-man game late in the fourth, but why did they ignore that mismatch for so long?
- Andray Blatche may be the worst player in the league. That's not an exaggeration. There are many, many less talented players, but you'd be hard pressed to find a guy who does more damage to his team and plays as many minutes as Blatche. Washington found a way to trade Arenas, so maybe they'll find someone dumb enough to take Blatche off their hands. Who knows. I will say that if he ever winds up wearing a Sixers jersey I may stop watching the games.
- It has to be said. There's absolutely zero chance this game is even close if Iguodala was playing. Rashard Lewis treated Nocioni and Thad like ragdolls on the defensive end. He was the guy Washington relied on for offense for long stretches in the game. That doesn't happen if Iguodala is playing.
Player of The Game: Jrue Holiday. 10/14 from the floor, 6/9 from the line, 4 boards, 9 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers and 26 points. Plus, solid defense on John Wall all night. He also made the defensive play of the game, drawing a key charge on Wall when the Sixers were in the midst of a big run in the fourth quarter. Yes, he dominated this game.
Team Record: 14-21
Up Next: vs. Chicago, Friday night.
Game Capsule
Agree with the analysis. Brand was a beast in the 1st quarter, and then he barely played in the 2nd quarter as we lost the lead, and they didn't go to him at all in the 3rd. Collins needs to remind his guards to go down low to the big guy.
Flip Saunders did the same thing with Rashard Lewis. He was dominant, had 15 points 1 minute into the 2nd half, and then barely got the ball the rest of the game. Very odd.
Blatche is pure garbage, always has been. I would cry if we traded for him. Get Sean Williams, the guy is tearing up the d-league.
Another thing that has to be said - there's absolutely zero chance Iguodala is 'holding' Evan Turner back. That much is proven more nights than not.
Evanordinary!
Trade him while you still can, Thorn. I mean, even Josh Davis can have a good game or two every 35 or so.
Tired act.
yeah eddy, I can see why your Turner thing is annoying.
Sixers get overdue win over Wizards:
http://ow.ly/3z7R6
Iguodala pregame: "It’s a big difference (how the Achilles feels after six days off). I haven’t had to deal with the pounding and playing a lot of minutes. Hopefully, I can get to a point where I’m not thinking about that at all, but I doubt that. ... Sometimes it feels really good and a couple hours later (it doesn’t). I don’t think it’ll ever be 100 percent. I just need to get where I feel confident and it’s not weighing on me when I’m not playing."
He said he'll resume on-court activity Monday, but doesn't know when he'll be ready to play in games.
I wonder what kind of numbers Jrue would put up if this team had a legit pick and roll threat in the front court
Very, very good numbers is my guess. That's a HUGE missing element on the offensive end. I'm thinking about a post on this, but seriously, think about how many lobs Dalembert got for dunks last year, and think about how many times it's happened this year? Maybe once or twice?
That reminds me, what the hell happened to Speights athletic ability? I thought for a time he could be that athletic big they could use to dive to the bucket. He used to be pretty entertaining above the rim, its just not there anymore.
Weight gain plus leg injuries, I guess. He's fairly earthbound now.
Diving to the bucket off pick and rolls was pretty much his entire offensive game (with o-boards) in college. my how times have changed.
Lol Vince Carter, with 1:20 left in PHX/Lakers drops a huge defensive rebound, then down 4 with 10-15 seconds left, he has a 3 blocked. Was pretty funny to watch. You could feel/hear the Phoenix fan base just lose all hope after his shot got blocked.
Wow box score checking, Deandre Jordan 14 pts, 20 rebounds, 6 blocks :O.
I thought Jrue's defense on Wall was just ok. he should have used his head more, though much of the living-in-the-lane Wall was doing was mostly a team defense thing plus his ridiculous speed.
Honestly if I am Doug Collins, I tell Jrue; "When in doubt, go to Brand". Its the one thing this season we have actually been able to depend on offensively.
Nice to see Holiday coming into his own.
Chi town
Their size will give us problems with the small lineup that DC loves, but at least they won't be hitting jumpers like the 06 Suns on Friday.
Is the fan version of Synergy (http://www.mysynergysports.com/ right?) available for purchase? It says if you want to get the full version "click here" but it just brings you back to the same page in a different tab.
D. Jordan seems to be blossoming in the last month or so, maybe Kaman becomes available, but not for Iggy but a package of Hawes, an expiring and a pick.
It looks like Jrue is becoming a legit scorer and with Turner and Iggy able to act as facilitators at the 2 and 3 we need a center that can score the ball. Hopefully Spieghts grows into that.
Could Thad become a pick-n-roll target for Jrue? He seems to be stronger this year and would it play to his strengths or would they rather keep him facing the basket and attacking.
When did Turner start facilitating at the 2? Or anywhere for that matter? His assist numbers are pedestrian, like the rest of his game right now.
Kaman would be interesting, not sure how I feel about having the former clippers bigs as the sixers Starting 4/5. Doesn't seem like it would end well for the sixers and Kaman's production is way down and he's been hurt all year and I don't know if he's healing or if he's in an Iguodala situation with constant pain. I would be ok taking a flier on him for expirings, but giving anything up would be embarrassing.
I wonder if Dalembert would be available for expirings. I know he's an expiring but if he yells loud enough maybe they would just let him go for free for locker room reasons. Maybe wishful thinkig.
Just as I posted this realized that there is no way the sixers would give up expirings for Kaman. Would put us in a luxury tax situation again next year right? They'd have to take back Nocioni or some other contract so I don't see Kaman being an option at all.
Kaman is kind of garbage anyway. Garbage with a bad contract. I'd rather stand pat than make that kind of deal.
I agree. No more getting former clippers players for way more than they are worth
how bout blake griffin?
suede: Thad is an ISO specialist to the core. Pick and roll is possible if he has the discipline to wait but he's a monster scorer left alone by himself, why mess with it?
nice article, keep it up!