15 result(s) displayed (61 - 75 of 148):
This team has me completely tied in knots. When I read rumors that Elton Brand is being shopped, I just don't know how to feel about the situation. Earlier in the week, I posited a couple of trades (one involving Brand) which could clear significant cap space this summer, and the logic for making the moves. The logic still holds, but it still just doesn't sit well.
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Eddie Jordan is the Sixers' coach. He's got his system, he's got his idea of the type of players who fit that system. Until he's no longer the coach, he's going to utilize this roster to fit his system. This means, among other things, that guys who may be perfect fits in other systems aren't going to be as useful for the Sixers, even though other teams may value their services. There are four ways this situation can go, we'll examine after the jump.
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I came to a startling realization tonight as I was laughing this loss off over dinner with my wife. She asked me why I was laughing when in the past I've basically been catatonic after a game like this. I thought about it for a second and then the reason hit me, it's because I never, ever, not for one single second got caught up in their fourth quarter run. I never believed they'd win the game, not even when they scratched and clawed their way back to tie it at 102. It was a sad moment, definitely the low point for me since I started this blog and I'll explain how I got here after the jump.
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As I said last night, I'm cutting the Eddie Jordan grace period off early. His rotations infuriate me, his comments have my systolic skyrocketing, his logic is anything but logical. I was unhappy when he took the job, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. From this point forward I won't be hedging my criticisms with "give it time" or "yet" disclaimers. I've seen enough to form an informed opinion of his coaching style, skills and approach, now he's going to have to actually do something to change my mind. Tonight will be his first opportunity to surprise me.
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Finally, optimism isn't laughable. Make no mistake, if the Sixers can bottle the basketball they played from minute 12 through minute 36 of tonight's game, they're going to be in the playoffs. They took it right to the Cavs on both ends of the floor, against the subs first, and then against the starters. It was impressive, it was uplifting and I'm hoping it's a sign of things to come. Unfortunately, we also need to talk about the other 24 minutes.
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Nine made threes. Career game for Lou Williams and clearly his best of the year, on both ends. Elton Brand continues his resurgence in a big way, four more blocks, four more steals, 8/14 from the floor, 6/7 from the line. Only three made threes for Memphis. Still, somehow, a loss. The reason is clear as day, we'll explore after the jump.
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Latest comment: from eddies' heady's
All very fair and valid. Esp the 'we' part, I had overlooked that amidst my own frustrations and suffering....
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I'll admit it, Elton Brand's play against the Bobcats has me excited. Yes, it was one game, but he did things in that game that I worried he'd never be able to do again. Forget about the dunks, the guy is 6'8" with a standing reach of like 11 feet, he should be able to dunk when he's 60-years-old, the thing that most impressed me was that ability he showed to get off the floor quickly for blocked shots. That's explosiveness and timing, two vital pieces of the puzzle for a guy like Brand.
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Latest comment: from Sean
Agreed....
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If you're looking for a celebration for that win, you're going to have to look elsewhere. It took a monster effort from Elton Brand, in 42 minutes of work, to squeak out a two-point win over a hapless Bobcats team, at home. That's really not something to celebrate.
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Three tweets from Kate Fagan during the Sixers practice today left me feeling empty inside. Details after the jump.
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Bob Ford's column today is mainly about Elton Brand's newfound position at the end of the bench for the bulk of the second half, and how this must look to the team's owner. Personally, I don't care how much each player is making. In a perfect world, you wouldn't dole out minutes based on salary. Not if your goals are winning and/or developing a roster. If your only goal is saving your job, then yes, coach by dollars. That's not the point of this post, however. I want to talk about the theory behind the moves Jordan is making.
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Latest comment: from Tray
Yeah. He's a good writer though, I enjoy his stuff....
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After a solid start, the Sixers sputtered in the second quarter, but were definitely born again hard when they came out of the locker room for the second half. I would've loved to have been a fly on the wall in there for Eddie Jordan's halftime speech. The Sixers are back to .500 after cruising though the fourth quarter to a 99-86 win over the rudderless Milwaukee Bucks.
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I have legitimate concerns about Elton Brand at this point. I haven't seen anything which points toward him making a full recovery from his achilles injury. The shoulder isn't an issue. Last season, before the shoulder injury, I saw signs that we was rounding into form, this is why I'm still holding out hope. Through the preseason and the first game of the season, those signs haven't returned. But before we sign off the failure of the Elton Brand contract, can we let him play more than 25 minutes in a meaningful game? Apparently, Tim Povtak of Fanhouse can't, and he won't be the last to jump the gun.
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It wasn't pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a win. The Sixers fourth in a row to open the preseason, in fact. After the jump I'll give you my first-hand notes on the team's performance at the Garden tonight.
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The Sixers will officially unveil their new uniforms today at 2pm (The picture above is the accidentally leaked road version). If you're in Philly you can head down to the Wach, the event is open to the public. Thad Young and Elton Brand will be doing the whole runway thing to show off the new threads. If you go, e-mail me a picture and I'll post here. Bonus points if you're in the picture with Thad or EB. (Pic is up after the jump, thanks to TK76)
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Latest comment: from Tom Moore
Link to today's blogs: http://www.phillyburbs.com/opinions/blogs/intell_blogs/tom_moore.html...
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We're down to our final two Sixers in the Predicting 2010 series. I saved these two for last because the question of whose team is this looms large. Elton Brand, paid big money to come in here and take this team to the next level, or Andre Iguodala. Brand goes under the microscope after the jump.
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Latest comment: from Drew Nanny
Good post about home improvement. Occassionally, I will do a search for a good blog to read. I reckon I came upon one here....
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