If you want to know why the Sixers
lost this game, I can't really tell you. I can tell you a couple of things that certainly didn't help. Getting out-scored by 18 points from the three point line, for example, probably wasn't helpful. 2 technical fouls, also not a very good idea in a game you lose by 1 point. Absolutely no clue what to do on offense in the half-court, again, potentially part of the problem.
Coach DiLeo has finally suffered his first loss at the helm of the good ship 76ers. Was it his fault? Let's take a look at the rotations:
This game was lost in the second quarter. Since the beginning of the year, I've said a lineup with Lou at the point and Willie at the two is a horrible idea. It always seems to shoot the Sixers in the foot. The thing that bothers me most about this quarter, however, is the lineup that took the last 5:13. Ivey at the two? I just don't get it. The team comes out, lets a 13-point lead dwindle down to 5, then they push it back up to 9. Green gets hurt and DiLeo chooses this time to put Royal Ivey into a game for the first time. At that point, Lou had only been the bench for a little over a minute, so I can understand not going to him. I can even understand going to Ivey. But leaving him out there for 5:13?
The game was a dogfight heading into the second half, and I really would've liked to have seen a better offensive team on the floor to end the first half. You should coach the end of the second as if it was the end of the game, as far as I'm concerned. This is especially true when you're playing a short-handed team coming off a double-overtime loss the night before. Go into the half with a double-digit lead and they may just fold up shop and head home.
We do have to give DiLeo credit for one move, though. After Jarrett Jack abused Lou Williams on the play to give the Pacers a 93-90 lead, DiLeo switched Andre Miller onto him. Indiana went right back to the well, only Miller defended it perfectly, leading to the Williams steal and dunk for the 94-93 lead. We don't need to get into what happened after that.
Two quick things from the box score. First, Andre Miller had an amazing game: 14 points, 10 boards, 12 assists and
zero turnovers. His good run continues. Second, since being inserted into the lineup as the starting power forward, Thad has not gotten the job done. He had 2 boards in 31 minutes tonight. The Sixers actually won the battle of the glass tonight, 45-39, but when you rely on your point guard and small forward to shore up defensive rebounding, the running game grinds to a halt. It's great to see Miller and Iggy putting up these rebounding numbers, but it would be much better for the team if Thad was pulling his weight.
I would call for Speights to get the nod at the 4, but his rebounding hasn't exactly been stellar over the last couple of games either. Speaking of Speights, he's really doing the job on offense, and he's a much better shot-blocker than I initially thought. As soon as he starts crashing the boards and boxing out reguarly, he'll supplant Sam in the starting lineup. Sammy had a good showing in this one, 11 points, 14 boards and 5 blocks.
Player of The Game: Andre Miller
Team Record: 12-15
Up Next: @ Boston, Tuesday night.
tough loss against a Indy team without their best player.
Thad is turning into a major disappointment....hes very inconsistent. Iguodola appears to be the teams crunchtime player...and I mentioned this a few weeks ago..your not going to win many game with him as your crunchtime option. I prefer Lou Williams or Andre Miller in this roll. Iggy had a good game overall....but he blew the defensive assignment on ford and blew the last shot of the game. I know he was covered well and Ford hit a big shot but isnt your best player supposed to step up in at least ONE of these scenarios ?
Perplexing loss. I wouldn't say Iguodala had a poor game... his stats certianly don't look bad... but he'd do us all a huge favor by suppressing his desire to shoot from anywhere outside 5 feet of the rim. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it 'til the day he retires. The guy is a TERRIBLE shooter. If you were to do some kind of correlation between salary and shooting ability (i.e. some kind of obscure "marksmanship per dollar" rating), he'd be the worst in the league by a LARGE margin.
Brian, were the techs on just defensive 3 seconds? Or were they called on players or the bench?
Thad young is turning into a huge disappointment becvause he's inconsistent? Jesus people - he's in his second season...do realistic expectations mean any thing to you?
This wasn't a disappointing loss - it was pathetic - there's no reason this team should have lost...aside from the fact that they just aren't a good team and 3 wins against 2 very bad teams meant very little
Lou and Miller both got T's for arguing. Let's call the the Violet Palmer effect.
The third was a defensive three seconds call.
The pacers had the same refs and the sixers were at home were you tend to get the calls going your way, blaming the refs is excusing the pathetic play
I wasn't blaming the refs for anything. Just saying she's probably the reason for the techs, on both sides. She's equally horrible for everyone, and I'd love to see the average number of techs called when she's reffing a game.
Violet is awful. She tries to prove she is one the guys by putting on a tough facade. Terrible game, should never have been close.