The myth of "Fan Appreciation" is the ostensible theme tonight at the Wach when the Sixers boldly dare to challenge the .333 win percentage threshold, yet again. A win tonight, and the dream is impossible. A loss tonight, and they can actually do worse. Preview and game thread after the jump.
Just a simple preview. Reasons to watch:
- Iguodala and Jrue (one of them will be guarding Wade)
- Seeing if Jodie Meeks can really shoot, or if these past couple games were a blip.
That's pretty much it. If this game was truly about fan appreciation, one of the Eds would get on the mic and apologize for hiring Eddie Jordan. Then they'd fire him, on the spot, and promise to do a better job this summer in choosing a man to lead this team back to the playoffs.
This is your game thread. Believe it or not, I'll be right here throughout. Join me if you've come this far and don't know what else to do.
By the by, I won't be around tomorrow, there's a certain opening day/ring ceremony I will be attending.
i don't think the eds would have to balls to do that. if I were the Sixers I'd send Jrue out there to address the fans. At least then there won't be a cascade of boos.
Then they're fire him, on the spot, and promise to do a better job this summer in choosing a man to lead this team back to the playoffs.
You meant firing squad right?
Paul Westphal gets another year in Sacto
Firing squad may be a bit too much. How about a dunking booth with all three Eds in there? Each fan gets to throw a ball on their way into the stadium. That sounds about right.
headed down to the game tonight I really like my odds of winning one of their fabulous prizes as long as not too many people from the opener trek across the parking lot for those $5 seats
Dean, Rob, if anyone's at the game, shoot me an email (I'll be checking during the game). Round on me for making it through the year.
I would 'appreciate' a crappy starting lineup of Jrue, Meeks, Willie, Smith, and Speights.
Didn't Kapono play at the 4 at least once this year or is my memory off?
Asked Kapono and Green about their options for next year. Green said he's "almost 99 percent sure" he won't opt out, while Kapono said "I assume I'll" honor the last year of his contract.
"I assume I'll" honor the last year of his contract.
If the man knew anything about what the word honor means, he'd opt out honorable and admit he's been stealing money for a while now.
I used the word "honor" -- not him.
Actually, I think he would've been more effective if he actually played from mid-December through mid-March.
He wasn't very effective in Toronto - i was talking more about the life of his contract and the sixers need to be under the luxury tax (ok not need, but obvious urgent desire, like a crack ho who hasn't smoked for a few weeks)
I asked Stefanski pregame what's going to happen when the season ends. "We’re going to evaluate everything top to bottom. We’ll make changes that are necessary. Nothing’s been done."
Yeah, but who is going to evaluate stefanski
or does top to bottom mean top to bottom as long as top doesn't include the gm?
Thanks for asking about the options, Tom. Sad to hear the responses.
Ugh, they're missing O'Neal, Haslem and Wade are both hurting. Come on, can't we catch a friggin' break?
Not sure if you read the NBA chats from last friday - but Toronto fans having apoplexy cause Lebron played against them but not the Bulls (then again T-Dot choked against the bulls yesterday) Chicago still needs to win though since I believe Toronto owns the tie breaker
God, that would be huge if the Pistons took down the cRaptors tonight.
One thing the Sixers did right this season is their warmups. I bought the jacket. If you're in NYC and see a guy wearing that red warmup riding a bike 100% chance it's me.
So don't laugh at him him
And we're off. Same starting lineup.
Second night of a back-to-back for Miami as well.
Sick lob from Jrue to Sammy. No idea how he saw him and extremely surprised Sammy recognized the pass was coming and finished it.
Sixers shooting the lights out early, Miami looking sluggish. Ugh.
DiLeo's coming on in the second quarter to talk about the draft.
Christ, Jrue. Calm down man. 5 dimes already.
Sixers 11/14 from the floor now, 8 in a row.
6 assists for Jrue.
I can't tell whether Speights has lost some explosion because of the knee issues or because hes gotten kinda fat. Either way, he doesn't look right
It's a combination of both, I think. He's one of the few guys capable of getting fat during an NBA season.
Derrick Coleman also had that rare skill if I remember correctly
Well, they finally went cold after 4+ quarters. I counted at least two air balls in the final 2:30 of that quarter.
Tie ball game, 27-27, after one.
DiLeo: "Top ten is very good. We think we'll get a very good player anywhere in the top 10. Star or superstar if we're lucky enough to get into the top three."
But the Sixers have worked to get the "good player" instead of the Superstar this last week.
Yep. He also said they'd use trades and/or free agency to fill the holes they think they have. Talking about background checks etc now.
Bwahhahahaha
Sure you will Tony
"Jrue was one of they players we targeted in the draft. We tried to trade up to get him."
"In this draft, where we're drafting, no foreign players are really going to come into consideration."
Maybe the whole not getting Dirk thing, but the sixers just don't seem 'euro friendly' to me
Fan base wouldn't like em - not blue collar enough
Apparently DiLeo isn't a big fan of Veseley and Montijunas
10 better players than them both, huh?
I don't think he's really alone in that assessment.
Wow, he just said he likes the guys nationally in the top 10 better than the Euros available. No Motiejunas or Vesely, I guess. I like Donatas myself.
So it sounds like they have a list of 10 right now. I'd pay serious money to see that list. I'm especially interested in #3 on the list. Chad Ford has them taking Cousins if they get the third pick.
But it's hard to see how they could have a set list w/o any personal workouts or interviews.
He didn't say it was written in stone, just seems to think the draft is at least 10 deep.
DiLeo is apparently a big fan of Iguodala. Rightly so.
Sit Meeks down, for fuck's sake.
Ed Pinkney has the worst questions. Seriously, this guy sounds like a high school reporter when hes asking DiLeo these questions
"We will get a great player in the draft, maybe make a few trades and sign a free agent... We think WE CAN TURN THIS THING AROUND QUICKLY."
Honestly, if I were the Sixers GM a quick fix would not be what I was looking to do. They are not well positioned for a quick fix that gets them anywhere beyond a Bucks/Bobcats type second levell team.
They need to think of building for long term success.
Or am I over-reading into what he said?
ehh... i'm sure he sees the big picture. It's just diffucult to say "well, were probably gonna be bad for a few years before we can realistically turn things around"
No, you're not. They're still holding onto the same flawed vision. Which is why I want, at least, Stefanski to go, and soon.
If the rumors about Larry Brown coming back as GM/Coach are true, we can probably say goodbye to Thad, Speights, and Lou.
and i can only hope that those stay just that - rumors. Screw LB.
that actually surprises me that you aren't an LB fan. You wouldn't have to worry about a lack of effort if hes around. I don't think I want him here but thats moreso because hes going to be 71 soon and I don't know how long of a commitment hes willing to make to Philly
Oh, I value his defensive coaching and the effort he requires but when I saw how in-the-back-pocket he was with Snider (b/c he actually let him leave w/o ANY compensation), I was done with him, not to mention his swelled up Tar Heel sense of entitlement. Snider likes him too damn much personally. To sacrifice the business aspect for his 'likes' of the guy was astounding to me. I've never considered him an upper echelon coach (as I've stated before it's overrated in general).
Tough to win a title in both the college game AND the pro game. I'd walk around with my chest out too. I think hes an incredible coach, but like you I do question whether it would be the best option for this franchise.
i don't think LB would mind Thad too much. as for speights and lou - honestly, if I could get some value for them I'd ship them both out too.
Agreed. I do remember hearing LB rave about Thad (he wanted the Sixers to take Al Thornton that year).
I could really see a guy like LB or Scott Skiles getting Thad interested in defense again, and he could be our Trevor Ariza.. except he can score in ways other than jacking up 3-pointers.
well one thing is certain - the sixers aren't going to blow it up this summer. i could see them trading a couple of their assets on rookie deals but i don't see anything major happening with brand, iguodala, or dalembert.
dileo's also very high on jrue holiday, i don't think he's going anywhere.
The STH wearing the neon pink shirt thinks we should take "Monroe, from Syracuse."
he was probably hammered, i would be too if i were a STH down there every night
biggest cheer from the night: d-wade's tomahawk jam.
Fucking joke. Jrue sat the entire second quarter.
Get Kapono off the floor, what the hell is he doing? Fuck.
brian, or anyone, say we get the 7th pick. would you be willing to trade iguodala and our pick for say the 3rd pick and take favors?
i don't know if anyone would do that to be honest but if it was an option would you
You couldn't do just that trade, you'd have to take back salary. It would depend on what else was involved in the trade. On the surface, I'd say no.
Ok, looks like we're going to win this game. Is this win going to do even more damage? Or are we still at 7th even with the win?
I have a feeling Stefanski;s done in Philly. I think Dileo or Brown is our next guy.
I really hope its DiLeo. He's done enough to prove that hes a competent basketball mind,give the guy the promotion he deserves.
Yeah it seems to me Dileo has more control of this franchise as oppose to Stefanski. He has a better feel with talent and reading players.
Tony Dileo has done everything to prove he's quite good at evaluating talent and drafting it.
Keep him where he is - it's the only god damn strength the sixers organization has right now (though thad and speights this year do give me pause)
Meeks on fire. ugh
Jodie Meeks is on fire. Lets lock him up on a 5 year deal now, I'm sold.
Jodie Meeks is multiplying, he has a clone out there with him, but the clones jersey says Green on it and is wearing number 33
All this time and all of these questions about the team's future for DiLeo on the broadcast? You're looking at your next General Manager.
I think Dileo's eyeing a big man in this draft. He keeps on mentioning how rare and hard it is to find a big man in this league.
Trading hoops. Get Wade back in there, Miami.
1-point game. Kapono at the four doesn't seem to be working.
Jrue has 10 assists and only 1 turnover and he's rotting on the bench.
LOL!!!! Kaponos Kings!!!!
Kapono was floundering in his role as tank master, luckily Elton Brand has accepted the role gracefully.
You jinxed it.
jinxed it...
Jordan has no need for viagra when the Sixers are trading baskets like this.
Raptors blowing out the Pistons, Wizards beating the Knicks. We have to lose this game.
I think the Sixers should bring back Jordan next year for a little halftime celebration when he gets the braces off.
Alright, take this game over, Wade.
YEAH! D Wade bring this baby home. Come on.
Can we get Jrue and Dre on the bench, maybe? Please...
Or maybe Kapono? Shit, JK with the drive and lefty scoop
ugh
I hope I never watch another game coached by Eddie Jordan again. 56% from the floor, 50% from three and down by 1.
So, we've both made it this far and you're not going to watch Wed. night?
After Wed, I meant.
On DiLeo being the next general manager: It's hard for me to see that happening. Because why did Snider/Luukko go to another organization and get a protege with no GM experience when they could have promoted from within back then? It's not like they didn't have a knowledge and history with the guy.
This would be a soul crushing victory. I still think we can catch washington and detroit.
Iguodala is going to screw everything up with his defense and wingspan.
I will be damn Dre, your selfish ass :)
footonthelinefootonthelinefootonthelinefootontheline
Come on. Wade game-winner, please. 20.4 seconds, milk the clock and fucking end it.
Iguodala seeing the fans cheering for the Heats.....say F you!!!
No turnovers. No time left on the clock.
I bet Kapono is still in there for defense :)
Fuck me. Too much time left on the clock. God damnit.
Iguodala three to win it here. Book it.
ive got a bad feeling that were going to see something unfortunate. Crappy bank shot for the W
Haslem couldn't have pump faked, used the rest of the clock? Motherfucker.
come on ej work some of your magic. let the ball end up in sammy d's hands somehow
Thank Christ.
Hope is still alive, folks (sort of).
Whewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww....
sure looked to me like Meeks would've had a really good look for the tie.phew....
"we didn't really get a clean shot there at the end. It was a play I drew up, not one we had really gone over"
He actually said this.
Why did the Knicks have to come back? They were up big when I left Wachovia. Officially eliminates us from catching the Wizards.
At least the Knicks are out of reach. A win for the Clips and we can't finish any worse than we are right now.
well i think we can rule out a win for the clips tonight.
Kapono: "Camaraderie- and chemistry-wise, we just haven’t found our flow, whether we’re playing a big lineup or a small lineup. We haven’t really found a consistent style of play. We don’t have anything to fall back on. Are we a scoring team or more of a half-court team? Are we a fast-breaking team or more of a trapping, attacking team?"
Stefanski on this year: "Disappointing. I think the big word is inconsistent throughout the season. Players are embarrassed. We have to rectify it. We will next year. We’ll look at every option that’s out there. We’re going to evaluate everything top to bottom. We’ll make changes that are necessary."
Does he impress you as someone who is even slightly worried about his job security?
I notice in his quote he didn't say the coaching staff was embarasssed...
BTW folks - i wouldn't read too much into what DiLeo says publicly about the draft - it's public - you don't give away your hand - and the sixers are quite good at not showing their hand until it's time to make the pick.
Dileo didn't say anything about particular players in the draft.
Well he's not that stupid - but it seems he said things to indicate he has it narrowed down to 10 players (without any workouts) and has no interest in Euros
I've got night class tomorrow. I won't be able to see the final game of the Eddie Jordan era, dissapointing that I've come this far and won't be able to celebrate the end of the nightmare.
It's not tomorrow, it's Wednesday.
How do you know he's not somewhere it's already tuesday but wasn't when the game started (like about 30 degrees east of philadlephia :)
The bittersweet end of the Eddie Jordan era.
you got some extra letters before the word sweet - i think you may have slipped when typing
I'm bitter. Jordan's departure is sweet.
How can you be bitter. Hiring Eddie Jordan was an amazingly effective tanking strategy. After all, you can't blame EJ if there was just too much talent on the team to get all the way to the bottom. He did his best - and probably didn't even know he was the tanking strategy.
Insert smiley face, just kidding I don't roll like that. Don't worry dude, the nightmare is almost over. I like what I saw out of Meeks today.