Good start, but…
The 76ers home opener has finally come tonight. Starting off the season on a 5 game road trip, the Sixers aim to hold home court hostage from the competition the next 4 games. They completed the road trip going 3-2, but easily could have come home at 4-1 thanks to a stubborn Utah Jazz team that doesn’t lose much at home. To the team and to many fans (myself included somewhat), the road trip was a success, especially considering they had a condensed mini-camp because of the lockout, and aren’t considered to be a threat amongst the eastern conference elite (or what’s left of it) by many folks around the League. But all in all, coming out above .500 is good right?
Eh…
I know it’s early, and I know that just like every other team, we didn’t have time to get some much needed practice prior to the season beginning…
But there were some problematic areas that stuck out as sore thumbs for the Sixers during the last 5 games. The main culprit in my opinion? Amazingly slow starts to every single game. If not for 3 of the teams (really 4, but Utah messed up that one up smh…) being mediocre they may have come home at 1-4, but I think we can give some much deserved credit to coach Collins for helping the team to right the ship for most of the rest of the game.
The second issue that really showed itself during the Jazz loss, is the lack of presence in the paint on defense, resulting in too many dribble drives and offensive rebounds by the opposing team. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the Sixers are bad defensively, because we all know that not to be true (especially on the perimeter). It’s just that Hawes, while being an excellent rebounder and decent shot blocker at times, lacks the foot speed and strength to push out stronger centers and small forwards. I think that’s easily corrected though. Elton Brand didn’t seem to have his legs under him until the Hornets game, and he should be able to step in and hand out some elbows and bumps to discourage anyone from trying to come in the paint for offensive rebounds, or quick guards that get by the backcourt. We will see though…
On the flip side there was much to praise in this team. Having the core back has REALLY seemed to be beneficial to the team as coach Collins thought it would. No one seems lost in the scheme on either side of the ball, and offensively the ball has moved pretty well, especially this last game in New Orleans. There’s a never-quit attitude that hangs over this team as well, which has helped them to stay in games, or helped them to come back from huge deficits. Spencer Hawes has been a double-double machine, leading the League in field goal percentage. You cannot leave him open at any time, especially in that 15-20 foot range. Evan Turner has really stepped up his game in the early going, causing many (not me) to question whether he should be starting over Jodie Meeks. I like it how it is, but the team needs that spark off the bench. Like I stated before, the Sixers have a deadly bench, which has proven to be true in the early going. No bench has been able to hang thus far, and I don’t see too many being able to do so. Lou Williams has also been really strong off the bench, and has definitely proven that he’s clutch late in games (carrying over from last year’s heroics against the Heat in game 4 in the opening round of the playoffs). The rest of the team has seemed to find themselves picking up right where they left off, still knocking off some rust though.
The Sixers showed the League they aren’t to be taken lightly in these few games. As a fan I’m excited to see what this team can do. It seems like everything has started over from scratch this year, even though it’s all the same. Let’s raise a glass to the team’s success going forward, and hope they come out unbeaten in this home stretch. Til next time…
Sixers Cruise to Blowout Win
Coming into this game, many of us pegged last night’s game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns as a track meet in the making…
We were right… Well sort of…
Both teams were coming off opening game losses, looking to rebound and add a victory to the win column. One team came to play while the other was still stuck in the locker room however. Fortunately for us the Sixers came out the gates swinging with something to prove.
Andre Iguodala led the charge on both sides of the ball, stuffing the stat sheet the way only he can do. His swarming on defense set the tone for the Sixers the entire game as they racked up on steals and deflections. It was great to see Iguodala finding his shot early and often. We hope he continues to bring that on a nightly basis.
After the disappointing loss to the Blazers a few nights earlier, the boys seemed poised to correct every wrong from the previous game. Jrue Holiday had one of his worst games as a pro against the Blazers, turning the ball over 6 times, which is very uncharacteristic. Even though he started off slow this game as well (going 0-6), Jrue finished the game strong in the second half, knocking down mid-range jumpers, and slashing to the basket. He also caused havoc for Steve Nash, forcing him into turnovers and early foul trouble which kept him on the bench for much of the game. We saw just how important Nash is to this team last night.
The bench play of the Sixers continued to shine in last night’s game, with Lou Williams, Thad Young, and Evan Turner leading the charge. Their energy was too much for the Sun’s bench (and starters for that matter) to handle. Evan Turner continues to impress in the early going of this season. His work in the off season on his jumper continues to be evident. Like I stated before, the most slept on bench in the League…
Nikola Vucevic came off the bench and looked really solid in his NBA debut. We got a glimpse of what he can really bring to the table, and he seemed a lot more comfortable on defense last night.
The game was never in doubt. If there was any daylight for the Suns, it was shutout with the opening of the 2nd half. The Sixers ripped off a 20-0 run to start the 3rd quarter, and the route was on. The Sixers never let off the gas, and still ended the game up 30. Even though this was a blowout, it was great to see the Sixers finishing a game out. These types of games were the death of us last year. Big leads would seem to dwindle regularly against this team, with the Sixers seemingly taking their foot of the opposing team’s necks. If last night is any indication, this won’t be the case this season. If the Sixers can continue to keep this level of play up, good things should continue to come for sure. See you guys Friday night…
Late Rally Falls Just Short
0-1 to start the season…
Take away the first quarter of the 76ers’ 107-103 loss to the Portland Trailblazers on Monday night, and the 76ers win the game. Unfortunately the hands of time are fixed forward and we are now left with starting the season on a sour note.
The Blazers are coming into the season minus All-Star guard Brandon Roy, and center Greg Oden. Unfortunately for Roy and the Blazers organization (and the NBA and real fans alike), Roy had to retire early due to knees more reserved for someone around 80 years of age. Oden had yet another microfracture knee surgery, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he follows in Roy’s footsteps in the next year or so if this keeps up. But back to the game…
The 76ers scored the first bucket of the game, but quickly lost the lead as the Blazers went on a 10 point run and never looked back. LaMarcus Aldridge led the charge for the Blazers, scoring 25 points and pulling down 7 boards. He proved to be no match for the Sixers’ bigs, rendering Elton Brand almost obsolete for the entire game.
The Blazers let the lead get away from them in the 2nd quarter however, behind the play of Lou Williams, Evan Turner and Thad Young. The smaller, quicker lineup proved problematic for the Blazers, as the defense effort dialed in, causing fast break after fast break to help the Sixers close the gap. Williams finished with 25 points, and also helped spark another rally late in the 4th to get the Sixers within 3 points. Andre Iguodala had a solid game, contributing 22 points and 8 boards. It was great to see Iguodala find his shot again after a not-so-great preseason. We will probably see him continue to be aggressive in these next few games.
Jrue Holiday and Elton Brand turned in disappointing efforts, with both scoring 10 each, but being burnt on the defensive end time and time again. Holiday never seemed to get it going, turning the ball over 6 times, something you almost never see him doing. Brand looks like he’s still working himself into game shape, and I’m sure the both of them will turn that around in the game tonight in Phoenix.
It was a game of good and bad for the team, and obviously we would much rather for them to get the lumps and pull out a win. But the Sixers just couldn’t get over that hump the entire game. We can say the game was mainly attributed to the poor play of the 1st quarter, but the hustle and never-quit attitude kept them in the game til the end. It’s only the first game, and I’m excited to see what the boys pull out in the next few games. Til next time…
Most Slept on Bench?
The lockout’s over, pre-season has come and gone for us, and now we await the first game of the regular season on the 26th in Portland.
We got to see the 76ers in action against the Wizards in the only 2 pre-season games, both of which they won (first game especially with the blowout). We got a chance to have some questions answered that were left unanswered at the end of last season. Would this nucleus be strong enough to bang with the Atlantic Division heavyweights? How much would Evan Turner benefit from a long off-season? Would a disgruntled Iguodala be back for his 8th season with the Sixers?
Jrue Holiday and Jodie Meeks picked up right where they left off, and then some… Spencer Hawes and Elton Brand both dropped some weight (Spencer especially), and handed out double-double type work in limited minutes. Iguodala was probably the biggest letdown (offensively) until the 4th quarter of the second game, having some serious issues finding the bucket. Let’s hope that’s just rust and he gains some momentum going forward. Defensively the team was really solid at times, moved the ball extremely well, while falling asleep on rebounding too much, which I’m sure coach Collins will address.
But I want to highlight something that I don’t hear many speaking of…
I would venture to say that the Sixers have one of the most slept on benches in the League, especially in spots 6-8. Lou Williams, Evan Turner (who looked REALLY good in PS play), and Thad Young pose a formidable threat to any team they face. Williams is our mini-microwave, usually scoring on the first play right off the bench. All three bring much needed energy to the game, not to mention that Evan and Thad will most likely finish out games as we saw last night, with Holiday, Turner and Iguodala complimenting each other extremely well on the defensive end. Williams is in the fourth year of his extension (1 more left). Turner is in his sophomore season, with Thad just inking a 5 year/42 million dollar contract a week and some change ago. Barring any major changes to the starting lineup (which I honestly think will actually happen with Turner, if not this year, the next), we have a great bench to last another year at least.
If the pre-season proved anything, it’s that these guys have embraced their position in the lineup, and we can already see how it’s benefitting the team as a whole. It seems like everyone has completely bought into coach Collins style of play, and now all we have to do is enjoy and see how far it takes us. Til next time….
We finally made it. The first day of real basketball (albeit preseason hoops), of the 2011-12, NBA season. After a grueling summer of negotiations between owners and players, and the recent Chris Paul circus, it was finally time to actually suit up and play.
With many teams revamping completely, and other teams mixing and matching for cap reasons, the 76ers pretty much remained put with it’s core from last season. The team looked to carry over the momentum from the end of last season, beginning tonight with the turrible Wizards…
And I mean TURRIBLE.
I’m pretty sure we all expect some form of rust from every team right now, with this being the first formal game for many guys since Spring earlier this year. But the Wizards were just plain horrible tonight on both sides of the ball. The very first play of the game ended with a turnover by John Wall, and it spelled doom for the rest of the game.
On the flip side of things, the Sixers looked really great tonight. The final score doesn’t really tell the whole story, as the game wasn’t in doubt from the tip. At one point the Sixers were up by 40+, which led to a lot of garbage time the majority of the 4th quarter. Six players finished the game scoring in double digits, with Lou Williams leading the way with 19. Jrue Holiday came right out of the gates setting the tone, charging to the basket off the dribble and handing off some sweet dishes to Spencer Hawes in the paint and on the low block. Hawes looked a lot quicker on his feet (on offense), having lost some considerable weight this off-season. Elton Brand welcomed back that great mid-range jumper tonight, finishing with 11 points and 5 boards in just under 20 minutes of play. Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner and Lou Williams showed everyone that the Sixers bench will have to be reckoned with this season, pushing the rock on every rebound and Wizard’s turnover. Andre Iguodala couldn’t get it going on offense tonight, but was his normal self on the boards, in assists, and on steals. It’s still the preseason though, and his legs seemed a bit tired. Look for him to get it together over the next few games.
Overall this was a great showing for the Sixers, and not so much for the Wizards. The Sixers seemed to be extremely comfortable in the system from jump. It was great to see guys being aggressive, dropping open jumpers, and swarming on defense. Let’s hope this is a sign of things to come. Until next time…
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
We’re talking about practice… Not a game, not a game, not a game…
I had to do that sorry! I’m overly excited about the season finally starting, as the Sixers open up camp today. The boys have a full year under their belt with coach Collins, and he’s looking to maximize the small amount of time given. Devising a master plan to get the Sixers into the playoffs will be tackled. In their plan to bring out the best on both sides of the ball, coach Collins said:
“We’ve figured out what would be the best offensive things we can teach that, No. 1, our guys know, and, No. 2, they did well,” Collins said. “Things out of transition, things out of sets. It should trigger [in] them a quick memory, once they see it, they should pick it up quickly.”
Last year the boys stepped up in a huge way on the defensive side of the ball, especially after the break. This year we all are hoping that the off-season was generous to to everyone, especially Evan Turner (who worked on his form with Herb Magee over the summer). Coach Collins seemed excited about his progress last week when questioned by the media. While I wish we could keep both Turner and Iguodala, I have the sneaky feeling that if Turner comes out with guns blazing on offense, the Sixers might be more inclined to trade Iggy away (though the chances of getting something in return of equal or greater value is minute). But that remains to be seen, and at this point things look to continue as usual.
Stay tuned for my perspective on the free agency battle to keep Young in the red, white and blue…
*Quote from Kate Fagan Column
Geeeeeeeeeeez….
The schedule for the new NBA season dropped yesterday. 66 games total for all teams, with each team having to play one back to back to back series (I’m sure I’ve never seen an NBA team play 3 nights in a row). On the surface this condensed schedule could possibly make for laughable play, but that remains to be seen at this point. The best we can do is hope the rust doesn’t carry over past February.
It seems like the Sixers got the shortest end of the stick with their scheduling for the first set of games. FIVE games on the road to start the season. Yes, read that again. FIVE GAMES. Most folks don’t even like extended road trips in the middle of the season, let alone at the very beginning. Did I mention that they will start in Portland? Literally on the opposite coast…
This will be a serious test for the boys for sure, but I’m confident coach Collins will have them ready to give 100% every night. If not, I will surely be tossing the remote at the TV frequently. On a serious note though, I am thoroughly excited for the season. The boys finished really strong, mounting the most impressive post-all star weekend showing. They even played the Heat really tough in that first round last season, with many of the younger players getting their first taste of NBA playoffs. Let’s hope this carries over. Tickets go on sale Friday morning, but if you sign up for pre-sale, you can go shopping tomorrow (that’s what I’m doing). Til next time…
Is this really going to happen?!!
I’m still leaning towards the side of keeping Iggy here, mainly for being (arguably) the best perimeter defender in the League. Iggy shuts down rival stars consistently, something that you don’t find regularly in the NBA. He’s also a gifted passer, and can rattle off a good 8-10 rebounds a game if put in the right position.
His main issue? Way too inconsistent on offense. He’s grown leaps and bounds though offensively since his first days here back in 2004, as Iverson’s Robin. He’s become a fan favorite around the league for his aerial acrobatics around the rim. Stand in the lane with Iggy coming at you at full speed?? No, sir. Take a step back and rescue yourself from the future posterizing to come. Even with all that, his lack of offensive prowess has caused him to gain much criticism over the last few seasons, especially in the first round of the playoffs earlier this year.
Now enter Monta Ellis, the offensive juggernaut. Averaged about 24 per last season (45% FG), and even garnered a smooth 2 pick-pockets per game. He’s pretty much going to get his offensive numbers every game, sometimes maybe without sharing the ball as much as he should, while getting opposing teams in foul trouble early and often. The thing that scares me though, is that Monta can be a liability on defense at times. He’s also an undersized SG, and would basically match in height with his possible backcourt mate, Jrue Holiday. I can only seeing this really workout if Evan really has stepped his game up in the off-season, on both sides of the ball, and Monta can commit to coach Collins’ style.
I’m not going to lie… The more I think about it, the more the trade is tempting to make. We haven’t had a dominant scorer on this team in quite some time, and it would surely fill the WF stadium every night. What say ye?
Whether you believe this or not…
This is the MVP of our team. This is no disrespect to Iggy, or Elton or Evan… But without my man Jrue Holiday, started PG hailing from UCLA, the Sixers are pretty much not maximizing their push to be a contender in the eastern conference. He stepped up in every category this past year from his rookie season, and will most likely put up greater numbers this season, especially in the assists and steals categories.
If you’re a hoops fan, you know good and well who Jrue is. But the casual NBA fan will most likely overlook him. There’s no flash or flare to his game. He just shows up to work, does his due diligence, and goes home. You could see flashes of an All-Star guard this past season, and maybe if our record wasn’t so putrid before the break, he would’ve made the roster as a backup PG (you never know). As the season progressed he slowly bought into coach Collins’ system, and this year should be no different. Let’s hope Jrue leads our team to the playoffs again, continuing the success as the floor general last season.
OH YES.
The lockout is OVER (kinda sorta….).
If you’re like me, I saw the lockout coming since the last CBA was signed and sealed. We have superstars hopping on teams together to win ‘chips, while smaller city markets suffer and falter. More importantly, I was upset because my Sixers had some momentum going into the playoffs last year, which I prayed would carry over at the beginning of this season. The fellas seemed to finally buy into coach Collins’ game plan, and the wins started rolling in as a result. But those prayers were dashed as the fans waited and waited and waited… But glory to be, we are looking to see some great hoops on Christmas day!
By the way… Welcome to the new site! I’m a 31 year old life-long fan of the red, white and blue in the city of brotherly love. Blue-collar minded like my city, waiting for the day my 6 year old daughter (and myself) can witness a parade on Broad Street in honor of our Sixers. 2001 was so long ago now it seems, it’s time to get back. We have new ownership now (Thank God, I was ready to throw Snider from the top of the Well’s Fargo Center), and I’m liking the direction they’re already taking. I’m looking forward to sharing some of my perspective and insights on the team, and hearing feedback from those who follow along. Guts and glory battled on a 94 foot court in South Philly at the corners of Broad and Pattison!! LET’S GO SIXERS!
