 Utah Limps Into the Wach The good news first: Deron Williams will not be available for the Jazz tonight. And now the bad news: Without Williams the Jazz officially go from a formidable opponent, if slightly weakened, who will bring out the best in the Sixers, to a perfect opportunity for the Sixers to underwhelm against a shaky squad.
Obviously, if you have to play Utah you'd rather face them with Without Williams the focus of Utah's team shifts dramatically to the front court. Brewster is a good defender at the two, but has no range on his jumper. The Sixers need to worry about Mehmet Okur, Carlos Boozer, Andrei Kirilenko and Paul Millsap. Millsap and Boozer will both do the bulk of their work in the paint, and Brand should be able to handle either on both ends of the floor (both are undersized for the PF position). It would be very, very silly to go small against Utah with either Boozer or Millsap on the floor. They'll kill you on the boards, and overpower you in the lane if they get a matchup with Thad or Kapono at the four. Keep an eye on this. When the Sixers are playing big, priority number one is sticking with Okur as he drifts out to the three-point line. He's shooting 38.1% from downtown and leading the active roster for tonight's game with 8 makes. He and Kirilenko are the team's only legit threats from deep, this needs to be taken into account when the helping and over-helping gets revved up, which we know it will. Leave Brewer, leave Maynor, leave Wes Matthews, just stick to those two guys like glue. Please. On offense, it's about time the Sixers took advantage of weak point-of-attack defense on the other team's part. Maynor can't hang with Lou, get into the lane and raise some hell. I'd love to say I'm looking forward to seeing Jrue match up with Maynor, but the odds are stacked against any playing time for the Sixers rook. Brewer is one of the few SGs in the league who can match Iguodala's size, but we still need AI9 to win the matchup, he's got the talent edge. The Jazz are amazingly thin at the guard positions, so make them work on both ends all night long. It should pay dividends down the stretch. Defensively, you know the Jazz are going to try to throw the pick-and-roll at you all night long. Make Maynor prove himself, don't lose the big for open threes (if it's Okur) or wide-open jumpers from the foul line (if it's Boozer) or dives to the hoop (if it's Millsap). On the bright side, this may is one of the few games where going in I'm not afraid that the three is going to kill the Sixers. Utah just doesn't have enough weapons. Honestly, I think the only thing that has the potential to kill us tonight is defensive rebounding. That should be the number one priority. Keep Millsap and Boozer off the glass, especially. Key to the Game: Clean. The. Glass If _______________ the Sixers will win: Elton Brand plays 32 minutes, plus. Mainly because this is a good matchup for Brand, and having him on the floor for heavy minutes will mean Jordan didn't try to get cute with small lineups. Plus, I don't think Elton will see this much time from Eddie Jordan again unless he's just having an unbelievable game. This is your game thread, I'll be here with my clipboard for another schizophrenic wild ride on the Sixers train. Join me if you can. 
Latest Posts• Twelve is Looming • More Distractions • Moving Day • There Is a Precedent • First-Person Report: Sixers vs. Pistons • At Least It Wasn't the Threes • Our Weakness is Weaker Than Yours • Thriving At the Two? • Eddie Jordan Confidence Meter (1/4 Seaso • The Day After • Sixers All Over NBA.com Video • First-Person Report: Sixers vs. NuggetsSearchBlogs in The NetworkSixers BlogsPassion and Pride Sixers 4 Guidos Liberty Ballers Recliner GM PhillyArena Heard In The Cheap SeatsSilver Dollar Slots | ||||||||||||||||
I guess they have a better shot but how confident can yo be about a team that barely put away the only winless team left with only 8 active players...
1. Sorry you will miss out on seeing them gird their loins.
2. Fearless prediction:
Okur hits six 3's in a Sixer loss. EJ in the post game states something to the effect that Okur just got lucky, and when a player gets hot like that its just not your night... subsequently several Sixer bloggers blow a gasket.
Do you think playing the Sixers adds 5% to opponents' three-point percentage, or closer to 10%?
Well, given opposing teams are shooting the 3 at 40.6% against the Sixers, I'd say 5%.
But for a good or streaky 3pt shooter like JRich or Sheed I'd say more like 20% better if you leave them wide open all night and let them get in a good comfort zone.
Leave a guy like Kapono open all night and he will hit 65% or better more often then not. Its nothing for these guys to hit 5-10 3's in a row if they have nothing else to worry about.
Guess we could look that up? Right? The Nets have shot 7-28 (25%) for three against us; against other teams, 20-68 (29.4%). Phoenix shot 15-30 (50%) against us; against other teams, 95-208 (45.7%). Detroit shot 3-16 against us (18.8%); against others, 32-97 (33%). Boston shot 14-20 (70%) against us; against others, 55-153 (35.9%). New York shot 14-41 (34.1%) against us; against others, 62-220 (28.2%). Bucks shot 7-23 (30.4%) against us; against others, 33-98 (33.7%). Orlando shot 16-29 (55.2%) against us; against others, 69-198 (34.8%). So, teams we've played have shot 40.6% against us, and 366-945 against others, or 38.7%. Not a huge difference at all. We've made 4 of our opponents (counting the Nets twice) worse, and 4 better.
Um, I made a mistake - 366/1038 against others, so 35.3%. We make teams 5% better.
http://twitter.com/yungsmoove21/status/5689472401
@yunsmoove21: Now I'm bout to get ready for this game going early to warm up this bum shoulder so I cud be ready this game tonight
Bum shoulder? Is this something we were aware of?
He's a game time decision. I think he hurt it in practice or last game.
btw, i read your post on realgm and completely agree (i posted it below for those who do not know what i am talking about). it might not happen, but it definitely seems ideal.
1. Publicly announce that after 2 years of relative inactivity Brand needs an extended training period to get get back his "game legs." Sort of like what the Eagles said about Vick when they signed him.
2. Move Speights to starting PF. Say he has earned it, but it is not a demotion of Brand.
3. Give Brand lots of touches in the post against 2nd team defenders. This will best utilize his current strengths. It could help his confidence and help him learn to best use his current skills.
4. If/When Brand starts dominating against second teamers (and gets his mojo back) move him back into the starting line-up FOR SAM. If he never fully recovers then he can just stay with the 2nd team, and you were able to do it without ever really "demoting" him.
Yeah, I heard it earlier today somewhere. I think he missed practice yesterday. I bet he plays.
Nice preview, Brian. Very well constructed. Have to say I really hope Jrue gets some burn, but like yourself I'm guessing he won't. Ahhhh, that Eddie Jordan of ours.
Speaking of Wesley Matthews I wanted the Sixers to sign this guy as a free agent after the draft or give him a look after he got cut a few weeks ago, but no luck. Interested to see him tonight against the Sixers pick your lanes perimeter d.
Their first round draft pick can't get minutes - no reason to pay an undrafted free agent not to get it
Thad is playing, according to Kate Fagan on Twitter.
Matthews is starting, no Kirilenko. Thad should be a handful for Brewer, no?
Here we go.
Brand stripped on the first play. Turnover Lou/Thad on the second. ugh.
There we go, Thad had an open three, drove to the hoop instead. Like to see that.
And a backdoor lob! Excellent pass from AI.
Matthews with 2 threes in the first 3 minutes. Awesome.
2 on Sammy at the 8:22 mark. Speights or small here?
Got here a little late. Nice play by Elton, he really could do work against Okur and Boozer.
Man. Lou just cannot stop anyone from penetrating. He just lets people go wherever they want with the ball.
Not a big fan of the three he just took either.
Yep. Way too many open shots early.
Sloppy early with turnovers and D. AI and EB picking up the slack though.
Nice strong move by Brand, missed the and-one.
Thad strokes the open three.
Lou is just lost on D.
Interesting to see Dalembert on Boozer with Brand chasing Okur around on the perimeter.
Yeah Lou, do that. And chill with the offered up three's everyone is giving you. You do have a good first step, you know.
Small lineup early. MS at the 5, Thad at the 4. See if it kills them on the glass.
Good look, Dala..... to Kapono.
Two really nice passes from him so far. He's playing well.
Shooting 12/18 and tied at 30. I bet Jordan's thrilled.
Jesus that was one of the most poorly defended quarters both ways that I've ever seen.
Small lineup was a quick +5 there. Nice push to end the quarter.
Good D, Thad on the last play of the quarter.
Trying to be optimistic but, this felt like another Nets-type game coming into it whereas now the team seems to have more adrenaline flowing and in more of an attack mode - taking it to the opponent, not going through the motions.
Maybe, maybe not, guess we'll see.
Yeah, J Smith!
Irrelevant of his deficiencies, he sure has a pretty jumper. All of it.
AI9 drive and kick to Smith for a corner three. Good offense.
Kapono with a major bail out right there. That's just lazy.
Dag, good cut by Speights but a bad pass by Dala. Too hard, not enough touch.
Speights can't handle Boozer down there.
Looks like Carney's coming in after this commercial.
I feel like this is a lot of one on one moves. Dare I say a lack of help so far...
Yeah I know on Reese, but I would like to see Sam get back in. Don't know who he would guard, but put Sam in there with Sp8's.
If J Smith keeps working on the blocks like that, then don't put Sam in then.
Good footwork that time on Booz by Sp8's.
And that was Sp8's on D.
So there are five guys on the floor
none of them start
none are named holliday
none are point guards
WHAT
THE
FRACK
I didn't think Speights played particularly bad D on the two post moves by Boozer, they were just good, quick moves. Not sure Sam could've done better on those plays, other than not letting him get such good position for the catch?
Willie and Kapono go up for a rebound, Millsap comes down with it. Shocking.
Oh yeah - bench sucks too
How many friggin layups are we gonna give up? Damnit
This is a team with no backcourt. Their only active PG is on the bench in foul trouble. And they're just abusing us on the offensive end.
Green, Carney, Speights, Kapono, Smith
Why are you surprised - seriously - upper echelon division 1 teams could abuse this line up on the offensive end
if only there was a guard who was strong in defense and played the point naturally
What happened to Price?
Toe? This is the second in a row that he's missed.
Oh yeah - bench sucks too
Good or bad. Rodney always plays with good energy. Would like to see him mixed-and-matched in a l'il more.
-9 since Willie came in at the point.
That's three threes for Matthews.
This is fucking pitiful.
I'd agree with you... but this is the same basketball we've been watching all season.
Maybe not. Don't know where it went....
Iggy's been on the bench since the 8:30 mark...
I hate this team right now.
Jordan made the worst defensiv team out of them. I hate basketball like that. Just pitful.
Every non coach sees that Lou should be on the bench. Holiday should have seen already 5+min. Iguodala is way too long on the bench.
Fire Jordan!
Still no AI9. Makes sense.
Did Lou just foul a jump shooter as the shot clock expired?
Boos for Brand, and they're loud. Must be all 5,000 people in attendance booing at once.
EB bricks another J. This is painful
Smart foul by Sammy there.
Daly's fault for committing his 3rd, but Thad should never have gotten caught in the air having to pass, and to him at that.
how can a coach seem like he knows what he's doing during the offseason and show us how much of an idiot he is once the real games start?
What was worse? The playing of the coaching there?
I'm going to say playing. I can probably pick apart 10 things Jordan did or didn't do in that first half, but the players just show no interest at all in playing D. It's a joke. That's the culture Jordan's building, apparently, but these guys are in the NBA, some of them are vets, they need to take it upon themselves at some point.
Nothing but the truth. So, so true.
Down by 14 at the half. Jordan's rotations were moronic, but this team could just care less about defense. At some point you'd think pride might kick in, but I guess not. 50-64.
On the bright side, Matthews finally missed a three. Granted it was from 75 feet, but still, that's a positive.
That's kind of what I mean too. Jordan can be questioned, but, the one's that he does put out there have to show something. Where's the pride?.... As so eloquently said.
I'd say expect to see a small lineup in the second half, simply because MS, JS, JK, AI and LW was the only lineup to have a positive +/- in the first half, but I'm convinced Jordan doesn't even look at stats. Possibly ever. It'd be fun if Jrue got off the bench. Maybe when they're down by 40.
If he does look at them, I hope he doesn't take into consideration that one. Just too many variables. Way too many.
During that half we had some good looks at shots too but didn't convert. They go down and make theirs, we just don't have the feel for shooting but most other teams do.
But when are they going to stop looking like they are pouting and at least try to play together. Put that crap aside, whatever it is....
You see a well-coached team can put Maynor and Matthews in the backcourt and still play well and win a game on the road. A badly-coached team, well, is gonna play badly.
At least Ayers kept it honest, with the defend in the half-court mention.
Sick pass from AI9 to EB.
It's not going to come from the crowd, the coach can't do it either, like he subtly mentioned the other day, so when does the motivation and competitive nature kick in?
Bad floor balance on that last play when they got the ball to Brand on the blocks. Wound up with an open three, but it was Lou that took it.
Sammy picks up his fourth on an 18-foot jumper by Boozer, and he hit the shot anyway.
Sam being lazy right there. These guys seem to be a bunch of pouters that don't want to adjust to or accept change. They better turn on the comeback and win this game tonight. Again, there is no alibi here either.
I think Sloan is giggling on the sideline. Bad spacing again when Brand gets the ball. No outlet on the strong side. Bad shot by him against the double.
You know, Brand isn't even rebounding particularly well this year. Or well at all.
Thad looks like he has some want-to at least, but only on the offensive end although I haven't been paying close attention to his defense.
Did they switch Iguodala onto the ball, or was that just a result of the press?
I'd have odd-as-hell rotations too if I was getting this effort out of certain guys. It's a joke.
This defense is a pure joke.
How long till Williams finally goes to the bench? He's so bad right now it's not even funny. Holiday just has to come into the game.
We can't defend P&R to save our lives.
Down 18. Jordan calls a timeout.
And you're right, Brand isn't rebounding well.
I think Iguodala's taking it upon himself to do that. In an earlier game I saw Iguodala point Lou Williams to guard the off guard. I want to say out of all the players Dala is the guy who's bothered most by the defense this squad has been playing. This team needs a Reggie Evans (never thought I'd say that) or a Theo Ratliff to set a tone, we're missing that defensive intensity big time.
Well that was a strong move.
Excellent. 23.8 seconds of defense. Then an open three for Okur. Just spectacular.
well, considering that's an improvement over the D they usually play, it's not too bad. Jazz shooting 83% from beyond the arc.
So does Jrue get in the game when they're down 20+ in the fourth quarter?
There's plenty of time to come back, you know. Anytime....
5 on Sammy, I believe.
How many more seasons do you think Brand will play in the NBA?
You've seen the best he has to offer over the past 3 minutes or so.
Actually I didn't see it - currently in negotiations with my DirecTV subscription-wielding landlord to let me buy League Pass. She's an old lady and is struggling with the whole concept.
To answer your question, he's around for 3 more no matter what. He's not walking away from that contract.
Brand is playing like a beast. Doesn't really matter though.
can Iggy get a 5-by-5 tonight?
1 more block. I was hoping for a triple double, just so I'd have something to root for. I guess the quadruple nickel will do.
OMFG Lou
Come on Dala that's twice you have forced it.
And that's all for EB. Only one who showed any heart there. Wonderful.
He sure did on the heart. He just had the look that so many of them are missing, including him at times.
dammit. green in again for lou. Bring in Jrue this game is all but over.
Shoot it Reese cause you were in the lane 3 sec if you didn't. Bad pass.
And here come the offensive boards.
And it's at 20.
Sound the horns...
Alright, Ivey's in. Kickass sub.
I quit on this team as long as jordan is the hc. How bad can you be to make a potential top 5 defensiv team into the worst in the league (yeah, even worse than the knicks).
How bad can you be to not play Holiday when it's clear that Lou plays like a chicken without a head. How can you bench Brand when he's the only one who can limit Boozer? How can you even like one bit of this coach and his system he puts on the court? How bad can it get?
Not sure it can get much worse than this. Unless they start selling players off to cut their losses, which I'd guess is a distinct possibility.
I am truly and completely on board with the fire EJ idea. This was the game that officially did it. He was not my top choice anyway. I would not have minded Thibodeau, but I really wanted them to at least interview Elston Turner from Houston. I talked myself into being okay with it, especially with the offensive approach which I like, but no more.
There is no excuse for a team with this level of talent to suck this badly on D. None!
Oh please don't mention Turner cause I wanted him to get a look too. But where is the talent on D you speak of?
Lou - we all knew, Thad - never proven could guard 3's, Brand - may be a step slow, Sam - no telling what he's thinking, Dala - legit. Why couldn't they suck?
Mainly because they were not even close to this bad last year with basically the same team Lou would not be getting as many minutes. They should not be playing small ball except on very rare occasions. Just too many issues EJ has created to make a mediocre thing horrible
Can't disagree on the mediocre thing horrible.
But, after further thought, this isn't the same team minus Lou getting his minutes. They, in fact, did succeed when playing small-ball last year.
How can it be issues EJ has created when DiLeo played the same way going small? (you know, playing Willie G instead of Marreese last year when EB went down....and he still IS in the organization, valuable in his own way).
I would argue why hasn't EJ deviated from what the company line is? He just seems to be going with the directive and acquiescing.
Meaning they weren't this bad last year even with Lou on the court less. And they were playing small-ball while not being that bad.
the sixers still have their first round pick for this year right?
Yep, probably gonna be somewhere around the 8-12 range at this rate.
Start looking for guys who can't spell defense in college. That's who Jordan will want.
Our coach may be bad, but we have too much talent on this team to be 23 bad at the end of the 4th. There is dissension. And a lot. Whew...
Offensive rebound.
Utah's compact and crisp offensive sets are a beautiful thing to watch.
Charge on Speights after 14 seconds of Willie dribbling at the top of the key.
Offensive rebound.
Wide open three. No one within 20 feet of him.
Smith jacks up a three on the other end.
OK, J Smith, that's enough gunning for you from deep. Where's the ball movement, pretty much the whole game.
In all seriousness, what possible reason could Jordan have for not putting Jrue in this game by now? He's watched the team continue to slide further down into the abyss no matter what he's tried. Why hasn't the kid taken his warmups off yet?
Because he's an idiot who tries to coach by using the gut. Dubya liked his gut too, see how that worked out
Garbage Time is smiling on the inside. Shoot, shoot, shoot and shoot some more, Willie.
Has a coach ever lost a team before they played 10 games under him?
J. Smith just tipped one into the Jazz bucket.
Microcosm?
Great offense being run right now. Three, three, three, three, three, three.
But that's how you get back into games where you're down 25 points. A couple more scores and we'd have a bit of a shot at this.
They aren't getting back into this. They never had a chance.
Of course not in reality but a 14 point lead in 6 minutes is theoretically doable, and the threes got us there.
I want to cry. This team is so bad.
Where 'rookie can't get a minute even when a team is down by 26 in the fourth' happens.
I would like to ask the question, "why in God's name hasn't the rookie played yet?" But no one can answer that question.
Sick shot by Ivey there. At least he committed the foul on the rebound to make up for it.
Soft foul by J. Smith.
AI9, 1/3 from the line after being fouled on a 3-pt shot.
Boozer still in there padding his stats and talking trash. I hope someone clotheslines that bitch.
I'm not upset with Boozer, as I am with the players for seeing Boozer in there padding his stats and talking trash and yet not play like they want to kick his ass. You're wearing the team's jerseys for goodness' sake. Embarrass yourself if you want, don't drag the ball club with you.
And it feels even worse after watching that heart and desire displayed last night on NBATV by a team of the past. How can you not merely represent? Just show the F up!
After reading again, this post says more than a mouthful.
Words cannot describe my frustration with this team and disgust for Eddie Jordan. His inability to realize weaknesses and attempt to correct them have me questioning my commitment to this team that I have followed for 20 years. I can't even comment lately because all that has come to mind are four letter words.
Fuck him, his braces, his ugly face, his shit smirk when he gives his dumb ass post game comments, and this supposed miracle offense. Give me someone who cares about defense can teach spacing and a few pick and roll sets. I will NEVER ever ever ever pay another dime to support this team until a change is made. The management needs an overhaul. We have a player with too much promise buried on the bench who is 5 times as talented as any of our guards and can shoot the ball, he is already better defensively than Ivey or Green and he could possibly turn this franchise around. We have Elton Brand who rarely ever gets the ball in the proper spot, and looks like shit because of it.
I hate this franchise right now, absolute hate it, and the fact that I have spent around 10 whole days of my life and thousands of dollars watching them, to be left with this product that could be much better if were managed properly.
I feel so bad for the players on this team that have talent and the fact that they're stuck in this shit hole organization. I can't believe that there are this many people in attendance. I wouldn't go to a game for 50 bucks.
So I take it you're not in for the field trip anymore :)
I'm in for it because I want to get as close as possible to voice my displeasure, no matter the direction of the venom from the stands.
As long as DF makes it on the big screen, I'll convince myself I'm paying for advertisement for a quality site.
Tailgating should not be allowed as well as any beers in game, shit could get ugly.
Can we get some shirts made with DEPRESSED FAN in big letters on the front and one of the following on the back...
1. Tom Thibodeau..the right choice
2. A pic of ES with the caption.."And you thought Billy King was an asshole?"
3. FREE JRUE!
4. Perimeter Defense, ehh fuck it..
5. 41-41, 2001 - 2041
I love the t-shirt idea. We need a t-shirt with 'DEPRESSED FAN' in the front with the picture of Brian's head in his hands (see top of the page).
I think I may need to get 7 of them, one for each day of the week.
No, 14 for each night, too.
Kapono should have to do a set of 20 pushups every time he shoots a long two.
Stefanski should have to do multiple sets of bleachers.... And Snider, endless laps around the concourse. Well not that many, but you get the idea.
Then everyone else should do 40 for each long 2 that they miss. Kapono's argument (which would be very valid) would be that he and speights are the only ones making them.
112-90, simply one of the most disgusting displays I've ever witnessed from the Sixers, and it's coming on the heels of a few others.
I'm going to eat some dinner, then I'll have my wrap up with the rotation chart.
Utah limps in. Sixers limp out!
Comment of the day.
Well the comment of the year is.......... Been Limpin'
Wow Jrue's in with 1 minute remaining. Willie really needed the time in the 4th qtr.
Jrue's in, by the way. Just picked up an assist. Yay.
I was going to get my sister courtside-ish tickets to the Hawks game for her birthday, but now I'm wondering. Although I guess we'll get to see one good team.
Can't wait for the press conference!
My guess is that he licks his braces a bunch of times, then talks about how Willie Green really "got after it."
How does it feel to have two of your favorite team's coaches wearing braces?
Wouldn't it have been nice to give Elton some time in the 4th qtr. This guy has no clue and the team is quiting on him. Did you here we have 5 games in 7 days????? I guess just prepping for an ass kicking tomorrow.
Could be worse. Could be 2012!
My comments:
- Thad Young looks capable of scoring effeciently like old times
- I was expecting Speights to run past Boozer for several easy buckets at the hoop, but it didn't happen.
- The only possible explanation for the players' lack of effort is that they want to throw games and get the coach fired.
- These 9 games are probably the worst 9 games since I started supporting this team. And it is ridiculous seeing the talent.
I have concerns about EJ too but these guys are spoiled-like. They just don't have a damn clue. Why come out and play as if you don't even care? Mostly all of them. No excuse, none. There's more going on here than the coaching being that bad and the playing following suit.
Right now, I feel exactly like it looks on the header of this site.
The picture and title is pure genius and it hasn't been more apt than tonight.
my spin.
The team is really have no confidence in how they are being coached.
- Lou Will more than AMill is not preventing the other team from getting into their offense easily. AMill again, would have kept us in this game. Iggy just doesn't have the consistent will to do that.
- Brand is playing tight and not getting enough time to work his kinks out. The time is there but the coaching staff is not giving it to him.
- no effort/ no defense!
When Royal Ivey is the best on the team at -1, you know +/- can't be considered seriously. If that isn't proof...
Or.......is it the obvious lack of effort?
5 out of 18 made threes. Kapono is 2 for 4 for a respectable percent..... They are not going to be better from three. Not enough decent, not elite, shooters.
Agree with everyone. The team plays stupid. Nothing like a well coached Utah team to show us the Sixers ineptitude.
I guess a well coached/prepared team starting 2 rookies at guard will out-execute a badly coached/prepared team full of low IQ players.
BTW, is it lack of coaching or stupidity that results in our starting PG continuously dribbling into trouble and then trying to make jump passes. It was an issue with him 2-3 years ago- but maybe no one ever addressed it with him?
Oh, it's been addressed, multiple times. Low IQ was the understatement in the post above.
anyone catch this unfortunately ironic tweet from @sixers:
the players have disappeared in in their place appear to be tiny children.
I thought someone from this blog may have hijacked the twitter account :-)
That's actually pretty funny.
To turn it to the ATL/BOS game, we were nearly as good as the Hawks, and it can't descend that fast b/c of coaching. Mo wasn't nearly that bad (esp considering how he finished the previous year before they brought you-know-in), and DiLeo, who you know who left a lot to be desired (but was absolutely not responsible for that Game 6 pasting), and now EJ, who can certainly be questioned.
At what point do you look at the personnel? Jrue may have very well deserved minutes but that wouldn't have solved, or even helped in the slightest, what was really going on.
I now miss Mo Cheeks! Sad.
Our defense and rebounding is suffering, and I attribute a lot of it to coaching. Mo was opposite, he made the guys work hard on the defensive end, but didn't have much of a clue on the offensive end, iso iso iso and iso some more, with an occasional back door play, that was his specialty.
Now we have a coach who has no clue defensively and just doesn't give a shit. Also, he is trying to implement an offense that doesn't fit this team. We need pick roll/pop w/ IGG/Lou and Brand/Speights/Thad, clear outs for Brand/Speights down low, and Iso's for Lou penetration and drive and kicks to shooters, thats it. Not all this dribble hand off shit where everyone is touching the ball on the perimeter. In every set we waste 5 seconds off the clock with dribble hand offs to bigs on the perimeter who have no business being there. Whatever this offense he's trying to run, its not going to work here.
Honestly we weren't even really good defensively other than getting into passing lanes and ball pressure.
Believe when I say this team's #1 problem is coaching. It may not be the sickest roster out there and we don't have a true "superstar" but there is a lot of depth and talent, it is just mismanaged. When someone is using Willie Green as a backup PG, the coach is fucked up. At least twice tonight, Willie came off a screen and had Kapono's man sucked in and 72 was standing on the perimeter lonely as shit. What did Willie do you might ask? He jacked up a 20 footer that clanked like an old Ford. If it were a real coach, he would of been up in his ass and benched him. Meanwhile a true PG, unproven sure, was sitting his ass on the bench. I would bet that if it were the "rook", as she likes to call him, he would of made the proper play. So would any real PG.
I agree with everything said here but,.....the coach may not give a shit, but what players appear to give a shit consistently themselves?
He may be a faulty coach, but any players shouldn't revolt in this way. They are using their play to revolt, when they should be doing it off the court - not displaying the chaos and dislikes within the games.
They looked way more like they didn't give a shit compared to the head man to me, even though the former resulted from the latter.
It's hard to look like you're giving a shit when you are being told to carry out the most moronic schemes ever devised.
We have guards helping every which way on drives and leaving shooters when we might have the strongest starting defensive FC in the league.
You can have 5 sick, intense defensive players on a team, but in the NBA, if you're not playing solid team defense it won't matter. Oppositions, players and offense are too good to be stopped individually.
I think what you're seeing is complete frustration from our players, but too much professionalism to come out and say "these guys have no clue what the hell they're doing."
If we had fiesty players on our team, i.e Rasheed or Jack, they would be crucifying this debacle. Would most likely have been fined by the team and asked to go home.
How would you feel playing under this madness? Not knowing when you're coming in, going out? 12 man rotations, when it should be 8. Bullshit philosophy. It is a travesty!
Look, I don't disagree with much of what you say. Except maybe the moronic schemes thing. If Ayers was running the D in ORL, why weren't they this bad? If you say Howard was a shot-blocking presence, well so is Sam.
And I'm not trying to excuse the coaching but you would have 10-12 man rotations too if you were getting some of the lackluster effort and hard-headedness given by some of these cats.
Like when B responded to my comment last week on the Stand on your feet thread, these players have to show the smallest of attempts to execute these systems whether they agree with the principles of them or not. I just don't see the willingness of adaptability from any of them. They merely resemble spoiled babies that have inflated senses of self-worth. Everyone of the starters thinks they are better than what they are. They may not agree with what they are being taught or told to do but they don't have to go all Marbury-like with it.
EJ may very well leave a lot to be desired but he is searching for someone or something to show up, and the guys aren't giving him any reason to think he has seen either. Dala's suppose to be the star (at least in his own mind), thinking he is suppose to consult with management on offseason moves, so why isn't he stepping up on the court leading, or more importantly, behind closed doors voicing his displeasure. Or better yet, why is his effort lacking on the defensive end (on J Rich the other night and Matthews last night)? Hard to blame the scheme as a whole when you get shitty and half-hearted effort from your wannabe top dogs and the rest of the goof-troop.
That's what I'm screaming, where's Mo? I mean, how much analysis can you give this mess we're all watching. It's beyond repair, it appears. I don't like to make drastic impulse decisions, but blow it up. What else is left?
Mo was not a good coach, but his teams always seemed to give effort. This team leaves little to root for, even in the wins.
I'll try to be less negative. I guess I'll just watch the individuals and try and block out the whole team/coach/organization thing (if that is possible.)
Don't just zero in on the players, it is definitely from top to bottom.
I'm not praising one over the other, but the players stand out exponentially to me (their lack of), while in no way excusing the coach.
Just to be clear, I thought Mo was a horrible coach. Just gives you perspective on Jordan.
Just think, Jrue is not good enough to play for the sixers but Lawson (a lower draft pick) is good enough to play for Denver against the Lakers. Enough, getting more depressed!
I guess this is what its like to be a Knicks fan.
The Knicks have more fight in them than we do.
Yep, and maybe a better coach?
I didn't just say that did I?.........
Oh, the depths it has sunk to.
Why did they show that archived game last night?................ The memories......
I was listening to the end of the game on the radio (610 WIP). After the game Gary Cobb comes on and starts his show by saying, "The Sixers played a game tonight. They got slapped and then they got pimpslapped by the Jazz." I don't think I could have said it any better.
Tonights game brought back a memory I had going to a game down the spectrum 15 years ago. It was a Rockets game and they bent the sixers over that night, by 50 I believe. Olajuwon was great. Great Rocket teams back then. Burton and Barros were the sixers "stars". B.J. Tyler, Sharone Wright, bunch of other stiffs. THAT team showed more effort than THIS team is showing. I'm embarrassed.
If anyone wants a sneak peek at the field trip t's, click here, you can actually buy one now, if you want.
After the game, Iguodala said that it is "hard to win the game when you don't defend."
Really?
Jordan calling this team out is laughable. This team is as dysfunctional as ever. We've got at least 1.88 seasons of this crap to deal with...no way Comcast fires Stefanski and Jordan before the end of next season. No way they spend money or eat salary (including the coach's) tyo make it better before then...they figure that they're going to draw like crap - so limit the losses.
Sweet.
Any chance they sell the team? There have to be a couple more Russian billionaires out there.
i'm just trying out my new profile picture.
BTW, anybody see the end of the Lakers/Nuggets game? LAL getting dusted...and at the end, Lawson walks down the lane and flushes over Mbenga. Wow. Not that I regret getting Holiday, but I think I would be infinitely more psyched about this team right now if we were a Thibodeau-coached defense-focused team with a guy like Lawson at the controls. Looking at the Nuggets - a team that made a couple of key changes and learned how to defend a little - and then thinking of the the Sixers and where they are right now...and I throw up in my mouth a little.