Some movies are so bad, they're good. So horrible, you can't help but watch. Drama becomes comedy, comedy becomes tragedy. You get the picture. I'm wondering if tonight's Sixers/Nets game will have that same sort of train wreck atmosphere. I guess at least the Nets have something to play for (avoiding the worst record in the history of the league). Preview and game thread after the jump.
The Sixers marketing department sends me an e-mail prior to every game, usually with some kind of ridiculous discount offer for tickets under a propaganda headline. Today, the e-mail was titled, "Come see the Sixers try to sweep season series vs. the Nets." Like that's supposed to be some kind of accomplishment.
Anyway, we haven't taken a look at the advanced stats for a while, so here's the worksheet for all games since the All Star break. Not for the feint of heart:
3-12 record since the All Star break, with 11 of the 12 losses coming by 10 or more points. Included in this stretch are losses to the Pacers and the Knicks. I think you could easily make a compelling argument the Sixers are playing demonstrably worse basketball than the Nets right now, and this very well may be the matchup of the two worst teams in the league.
I'm not sure Eddie Jordan could survive a loss in this game tonight, I think he knows that, and I think he's going to be coaching like he knows that. Whether or not that means a higher likelihood that the Sixers actually do lose this game is anyone's guess, at this point.
I'm not sure I can really come up with a reason to watch, outside of the slim chance that Jodie Meeks will see some time, and the high probability Jrue will see 40+ minutes.
This is your game thread, I'll be here throughout. Join me if you love effortless basketball played by two franchise scratching and clawing their way to the bottom.
"Come see the Sixers try to sweep season series vs. the Nets."
Seriously, If you are in the Sixers marketing department what else are you supposed to say?
You can get center court seats, 7 rows up, for $28
Why am I not living in Philly?...
Derek, did you do the worst case scenerio on Aminu!s player profile on Draftxpress? As a sixer fan it is very depressing. I read somewhere recently J.Anderson may just be a role player, do you see him as more than that ? Thanks.
I did not.
I don't see James Anderson as being anything better than a mediocre defender in the NBA, and as such I wouldn't have interest in him in the lottery.
suede: you've been drawing attention to that for a while so I looked it up....very depressing. partly because its probably objective truth from an unbiased view, and partly because its a reflection of the perceived value of our roster.
Unless you get 4 tickets for $28 with all you can eat and drink along with Sixers Dancers Calendar, VIP Valet parking, replica jerseys, and Andre Iguodala Action Figures, I'm not interested.
Per Kate Fagan via Twitter, Lou will play tonight, but will not start.
Jrue
Garbage Time
Iguodala
Brand
Sammy
Speights and Thad are both out. Tip in about 17 minutes, can't wait.
Thad expected to be out a week.
That's it? With a broken thumb?
Depends on how he handles pain and can catch/dribble. Should be 10 days at most.
Nets on second night of a back-to-back, ugh.
This is from Dei Lynam's piece, Lou Williams speaking:
Didn't think Williams would be the first to sort of attack Jordan, considering he's the only one who's actually played better under him.
Here we go. Not sure what EFJ finds so funny.
Jesus, Willie. WTF was that?
Nice little jumper by Jrue off the p&r sort of.
Jrue w/ the d-board and long kick to AI9 for the dunk. Pretty play.
"I'm not sure Eddie Jordan could survive a loss in this game tonight"
That is exactly why I'm praying for a loss. There is no way he isn't fired tomorrow if we lose tonight. I have to believe that anyway
Ha! Look how empty that place is!
I love it when our entire offense is Willie Green 20-footers.
Sixers shooting 67% from the floor so far. Only up by 2 against the Nets. That's spectacular.
Took 12 minutes of game action for me to fall asleep.
OK, I'm all caught up. There's a jumper off the dribble for Jrue w/ a foot on the line. Pure.
Wow. Jrue w/ a three off the dribble with a man in his face. Kid is 5/5 for 11 points.
Wow, Jrue with a sick pass to Sammy for the dunk.
Jrue misses a three at the buzzer. Sixers up by 11 at the half.
JH - 11 points, 2 boards, 5 dimes, 1 steal, 1 turnover
AI9 - 16 points, 2 boards, 5 dimes, 1 steal, 0 turnovers
On the bright side, if you're rooting for a loss, Philly shot 61% from the floor in the first half, no way they match that after the break. Plus, Eddie Jordan's halftime speeches seem to inspire the Sixers to suck in the second half.
2nd half collapse please.
why in christ's name would magic johnson go to this game? i was asleep the first quarter and a half so not sure if i missed anything about that but this must be awful for him
He gave a talk to the Wharton School on urban business. I wonder if anyone was given a million dollars a year for 25 years on a "personal services" contract that Magic was given by Jerry Buss could they parlay it into a successful business. I would say you would have a pretty good chance.
If the 700 level was just sold to Comcast is Liberty Ballers next?
Dalembert scrambling for a ball on the floor. Jesus, the players really don't want the embarrassment of losing to the Nets, huh?
come on nets we need this loss. i feel like they played us harder in the earlier games this seaswon
Williams pregame: "I expected to (start Wednesday). I didn’t see a reason to … We’ve been changing up the lineup a little bit. I guess this is another episode of us doing that. We’ve had some changes (this season). Like I said, whatever (Jordan is) doing for us to try to win games, hopefully it’ll work out."
wow. at least try to hide it.
Kapono just missed getting his 9th offensive rebound of the season.
Nope, they gave it to him. Good work, Kapono.
1 offensive rebound per 67 minutes. Sweet ratio.
Jason Smith is extremely uncoordinated
CDR is a taller version of Willie Green, I'm convinced.
nice 3 at the buzzer hopefully they keep it up and we stick with kapono and willie.
Up by 13 heading into the fourth. I think Nets pull to within maybe 5, but get no closer than that. They're just horrible.
Kapono's second offensive board of the game. The miracles will never cease.
Jrue's been on the bench for too long, and Meeks should be in this game right now.
Agree the ONLY reason I an staying at this "game"
Jrue player of the game at the Wac 2 games in a row.
He's been really impressive.
2:45 to go and he can't get Meeks in? Come on.
Smith is so bad.
Sixers win! Yay.
Final is 109-97.
My wrap will be up later tonight. Thanks for hanging in.
Magic's daughter plays for Jrue's mom - heard on the radio earlier. Probably why he was at the game.
Magic's daughter plays for Jrue's mom - heard on the radio earlier. Probably why he was at the game.
JORDAN: "This is a package this week. We said there was a 12-game package before the break if we can come out of this with seven wins or more, it’d be great. We started off with a loss in that package and we ended up winning seven. This is a four-game package and we started off with a loss against New York. Hopefully, we can finish 3-1 this week. That’s our goal."
12 game package? Thats hysterical, he won't even say the word "playoff" anymore. Astonishing how this guy turned a team that had consecutive "package-off" appearances in 07 and 08 into an embarrassment.
JORDAN: "It’s sort of lost in all the expectations – this is not last year’s team. This is a different, young team. You gauge a team by what this team does, not what last year’s team does."
Holiday is shooting 60-for-99 (60.6 percent) in 10 games during March.
“He’s smart and makes great decisions,” Brand said. “He’s really stepping up on offense. For a guy that wasn’t even playing much at the beginning of the season, he’s got to be one of the top young guards in the league right now.”
Tom, does it seem as thogh Jordan is just going through the motions at this point?
If EJ isn't, then I sure as hell am.
If he were, I think Meeks would be playing more.
Blog on Holiday's terrific offensive March.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/opinions/blogs/intell_blogs/tom_moore.html
Iguodala drove the ball and scored 14 of his 20 in the first quarter. He only took one 3-pointer after going 0-for-7 from downtown Monday.
Igudala: "I just tried to set the tone early and get the guys off to a good start — get that pace we wanted and carry it over for the rest of the game."
Jordan: "He needs to stay aggressive. It’s a new role for him."
Iguodala: "This game’s over. That’s it. We’re on to the next one (Friday) to play a New York team that beat us the other night."
haven't gotten to the DVR on this one yet but...did we at least get to see Maggio wearing one of those green hats?
Jrue Holiday 19pts 8/11 fg, 7 boards 7 assist....
what up! encouraging line from him, but then again this is against the Nets...
He seems much more confident in his offensive game now.
Hey Brian, I have a suggestion. Do you think that you could give us a preview of the couple players that the Sixers would draft anywhere in the lottery? Could you give us a scouting report on them, and tell us ow they would be implemented into our lineup? Don't want to be demanding, but thought that would give us something to hope for. Just a way to make an already great blog even better!
Hey,
When we get closer to the draft I'll definitely take a look at the guys who may be available when we pick. We're also going to spend more time on the draft on SixersBeat, so tune in on Thursday nights, or you can download and listen any time.
Thanks Brian,
I will definatley tune into SixersBeat.
Keep up the great blogging!