If you want to break down this game, don't watch the fourth quarter. I could talk about the horrible job the refs did in that final stanza. I could talk about the killer instinct the Celtics had, or even the pure frustration on the Sixers' faces. I could talk about questionable substitutions, but it didn't matter. As soon as the Sixers relinquished the lead in the third, this game was pretty much done.
If you missed it, the Celts turned a barn-burner into a
116-89 blowout with an explosive 38-16 final stanza. The story of the game, though, was the Sixers inability to build upon their 12-point lead in the third, despite clearly out-playing the Celts.
This is what you get with a young team, the Sixers absolutely dominated on the glass, shot the ball well, and put two early fouls on Ray Allen, knocking the most-effective scorer out of Boston's lineup early in the first. Unfortunately, they also missed 14 free throws (19/33), turned the ball over 23 times and allowed Boston to shoot 63.6% from three (14/22).
The Sixers failed miserably to take advantage of Boston's lack of a point guard. They rarely pressured the ball, even when they had the personnel on the floor to do it effectively. Andre Iguodala was absolutely abused going to the hoop on at least five occasions, no fouls were called. Again, neither here nor there. This game should've been a win. They should've been up by 20 at least in the third quarter. They let Boston hang around and it got really ugly, really fast.
Player of The Game: Jason Smith, 10 points on 4/5 shooting.
Team Record: 15-25
Fun Stat: Reggie Evans had half of the Sixers three pointers in the game.
yeah, refs were horrible, I forgot to write that. But on both ends I must say.
anyway it's impossible that every single night we allow 50% and over from 3 pt land... how come we can't fix that perimeter defense... check my recap, C's are 24/44 from 3 point in the two games vs us... and it's not only them, remember the three games vs Toront, for example... what is that, the rotations? we can't guard anyone out there
not a bad game overall, I am pretty much satisfied for what we did for 43 minutes. Yes, we could have pulled this one out, we should have closed the first half up 10, I think that was the key, we couldn't keep them away
I've been thinking about the 3pt problems, I think it's just a matter of being young. They're so active in switching and closing out early in the shot clock that they lose their assignments. Usually 4 passes means an open shooter. They have to identify the dangerous shooters and stick with them.
The San Antonio game is a great example. Iguodala doubled off Ginobli 2 times in that minute AFTER he'd hit 2 threes in a row. Of course, he hit two more wide open threes. I think it's up to Mo to let them know who they can help off of and who they can't help off of.
Honestly, my sole interest in this season is the development of Thad Young, Louis Williams, and Dalembert (I'll get to why the rest don't interest me in a second). As far as wins and losses, the more they lose the better. Somehow working our way into the late-late lottery or a first-round annihilation can only hurt this team's long-range prospects. Once you get past ten in this draft you're looking at a lot of stiffs, guys with great talent but really questionable makeup, and rotation players. In the top six, you can get a franchise talent or at least a long-term answer at various positions. Thaddeus Young may be an instance of a late-lottery pick who will end up being great and simply slipped because he was so raw - he may even end up being the best player in the draft not named Oden or Durant - but that's an exception. I'd much rather draft higher and I don't mind sitting through a terrible season to have that happen (especially being away at college and not being able to watch the games).
As for the players we currently have, I'd argue that we're as thin on real talent as any team in the league, except for, maybe, the Heat (other than Wade, Haslem and Daequan Cook, I really see no one worth keeping there). Dalembert's probably worth keeping; he's not great in any particular facet of the game, even shot-blocking, but he's above-average. If Miller and the "core" continue to develop chemistry, maybe you re-sign him next year. I would prefer a point who could shoot, but there's something to be said for continuity. Louis Williams has the makings of a very good sixth man, and Young could be anything from a superstar in the making to an extremely gifted garbage man. Developing some sort of working handle will be key. Jason Smith should be a nice big man off the bench. Other than that, though, there's not much - Carney's nothing more than a dunk contest participant and Green, though no longer horrible, has no place on a contender - and I'm particularly down on Iguodala. To me, the notion that this is a guy you who can build around or entrust major scoring duties to is kind of absurd. He's had tons of time to develop a three-point shot or a better handle, and I have to conclude he's just not able to. He doesn't have a scorer's mentality, but more than that, he doesn't have a scorer's ability. The reality is that this is a guy straining to average 19 a game. The more you ask of him, the more inefficient and turnover-prone he becomes (down to just 43% from the field and 33% from three, with three TO's a game), and ultimately we just have to realize that, yeah, he can score without the ball, he can finish, but he's not someone who can shoot or create his own shot very well. He's not going to turn into even a Richard Jefferson clone one day, however much we might hope he will, and I would question whether we should extend his contract for the huge sum it'll cost when (a) it may prevent us from signing a better player like an Elton Brand, (b) he'll never be anyhting more than a third option on a good team, and (c) he may well be blocking a better talent - namely Thaddeus Young, who already looks like more of a scorer at this embryonic stage in his basketball career than Iguodala does now. If Young's a better long-term answer at the three, I don't know how you justify keeping Iguodala. He's certainly not a two.
I agree that we should keep Miller and Dalembert. I'm sick of hearing all the trade talk about those two. Lou WIlliams is not a good point guard and without Miller you left with Kevin Ollie. Stefanski has said nobody is untouchable but I think Dalembert and Louis Williams are pretty safe.
It hurts me to say this but I agre with you. I don't think Andre Iguodala is a go-to-guy. He doesn't have that mentality. It's not really something you can develop. You either have it or don't. However, he is a great compliment like his famous comparison Scottie Pippen. He could be a a great 1B option to a nice free-agent.
Thaddeus Young doesn't have that mentality either. He is more of a Shawn Marion type who gets his points of hustle and rarely creates his own shot.
Tray,
I agree with you, to a degree. Iguodala shouldn't be a team's number one option on offense, but that doesn't mean he isn't a key piece to the future of the team. The problem, which I think you touched on, is that he's going to want to be paid like the centerpiece. If they give him a max deal, which I doubt they will, then they'll have less flexibility to go out and bring in a true #1 guy.
As for his development, his mid-range and long-range jumpers have both improved drastically this season. His FG% is down because he's taking so many more jumpers. I completely disagree with the thought that he's standing in Thad's way. Starting Thad at the 3 and Iguodala at the 2 is a good direction to go in, as far as I'm concerned. you don't have that true shooter on the floor, but their work on the defensive end of the floor more than makes up for that shortcoming. Thad and Iguodala can and will lock down players on the opposing team, and they can switch anything.
Iguodala is absolutely one of the building blocks, at this point, he's the main building block. The only thing that can throw things out of whack is an insane contract demand, or an insane contract on the Sixers' part.
Not too many teams are going to have the cap space to throw a lot of money at him in restricted free agency. Barring something crazy, he's going to be on the Sixers next season. It may not be the worst-case scenario if he stays a Sixer for the qualifying offer ($3.8M) and tries to test the waters as an unrestricted free agent the following year. Presumably we'd get to see how he plays with a better team around him next year, and Andre Miller would come off the books after next season so the Sixers can pay him whatever they need to to keep him.