Monthly Archive  May 2012

 
 

WANTED: A SHOOTER (PART II)

Posted by: Jerry Scherwin
05/31/12 1:51 pm EST

Yesterday in Part I of this post I looked at just how bad the the 76ers shooting woes were in 2011-12 (regular & post season).  Today I am going to look at a few solutions for the 7-6′s inability to put the ball in the basket.

For starters, the Sixers as a franchise need to decide who they are and what style of basketball they are going to play from this year forward.  As of right now they are comprised of athletic guards and slow big men.  Because of the two front court starter’s inability to move, well, gracefully, Philly has to slow down the offense to get them involved; often using Spencer Hawes in a side pick-and-roll to get him open for an open 15-foot jump shot (his only bread and butter).  When Hawes and Elton Brand are off the court, the team seems to be geared toward a faster paced type of game; suiting for an athletic and youthful lineup but difficult to maintain and continue running if you sub in one of the slower/older big men.

Which one suits the Sixers better?  That’s what this franchise needs to decide and stick by it. 


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WANTED: A SHOOTER

Posted by: Jerry Scherwin
05/30/12 9:09 am EST

You remember that “good guy” in high school that had a noble head on his shoulders, a bright future, looked a little young for his age, and roamed the halls with a tight circle of friends that were all generally overlooked?

Now do you remember how he always seemed to befriend one of the most beautiful/outgoing/popular girls throughout his four years of school?  Do you remember, during his junior year, when he had finally had enough of listening to firsthand accounts about how all of the “D-Bags” took advantage of that girl?  Do you remember when he worked up enough courage to finally ask her to Prom in hopes of building a foundation for their last year as pre-collegiate adolescents?

Do you remember how he sent her on an anonymous scavenger hunt around the town, leading her to a tucked away bridge in the middle of a mindless gap of town?  Do you remember hearing the story about how, when she arrived, he stood there in a button down shirt and dress pants; sweating his butt off and holding a single rose in front of a giant poster that read “Prom?” in scribbled red marker.  Do you remember hearing about how, after providing a constant shoulder to lean on for the better part of two years, she slowly walked up to him and said “I’m sorry, I can’t” because she already said “Yes!” to the senior starting quarterback that would eventually become a giant flame out?

Well that boy is exactly what the Sixers are in the crowded Eastern Conference High.  They are the young, bright future boy that just got denied everything they deserved.

 
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MORE PLEASE

Posted by: C. Smith
05/29/12 10:51 am EST

I know in the entertainment world the saying is, “Always leave them wanting more.”  Based on the number of sequels and then prequels that get pumped out of Hollywood, it seems that line of thinking is highly successful for the television and movie business.

However, I have to say that mantra does not work well for NBA franchises and their dedicated fans.   

To say that I was disappointed in the 76ers Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics is an understatement.  To be honest, I was downright pissed off.  I threw things and yelled at the dog for no reason.  It’s been a long time since I was that angry over the Sixers (Which I guess is a good thing — but that’s a different post for another day.).  I was not ready for the Sixers season to end.  I wanted more!!

I thought my disappointment would subside over the long weekend, but it didn’t.  Now I know the 7-6 had a very interesting and all together solid season in 2011-12 and that many of you will say that I should be happy that pro basketball is relevant again in the City of Brotherly Love.  I hear you.  Still, three days after Phialdunkia’s home team was eliminated in an ‘win or make tee times’ Game 7, I am left wanting more.    


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PLAYOFFS, GM 13: RAPID REACTS

Posted by: Tom Sunnergren
05/26/12 11:39 pm EST
Philadelphia 76ers 75 FinalRecap | Box Score 85 Boston Celtics
Elton Brand, PF 34 MIN | 6-11 FG | 3-4 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 15 PTS | -8

Brand did about as much as you could reasonably expect from him in this stage of career. While Garnett, his charge for most of the evening, scored 18 points, it took him 17 shots to get them.
Andre Iguodala, SF 44 MIN | 5-11 FG | 5-8 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 18 PTS | -6

Iguodala was great. His defense was typical–which is to say excellent–he hit several clutch shots late that, had the Sixers won, would be celebrated, and he attacked the rim throughout the game with the sort of purpose fans, and bloggers, have been clamoring for. It was an outstanding end to a quietly outstanding season.
Spencer Hawes, C 18 MIN | 2-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 4 PTS | -10

Exiting the Chicago series, the story was that Spencer Hawes had returned to form–that after a second half of the season marred by injuries, had reemerged as the sharpshooting, near-All-Star caliber center who propelled the Sixers to their great start. No more. Hawes struggled to the point of invisibility for much of the Boston series and did the same in Game 7. It’s going to be an interesting offseason for the free agent.
Evan Turner, SG 31 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 8 REB | 0 AST | 6 PTS | -23

Turner struggled, badly, from the floor for most of the series and mercifully stopped shooting in Game 7. It was a puzzling performance from a player who delivered a fistful of them in 2012.
Jrue Holiday, PG 41 MIN | 5-17 FG | 3-3 FT | 3 REB | 9 AST | 15 PTS | -7

It’s admirable that Holiday became more offensively demonstrative in some very large moments this postseason, but, dude, how about some discretion with your shots. Shooting itself doesn’t help the team if your shots aren’t falling.
Lou Williams, PG 26 MIN | 2-9 FG | 3-3 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 7 PTS | +3

Lou, again, struggled. When he isn’t able to score, whether it be from 3-points or on one of his patented driving layups, the Sixers are a very bad offensive basketball team. He shot 2-of-9 tonight, and the 7-6 scored 75 points.
Thaddeus Young, F 24 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-1 FT | 10 REB | 1 AST | 6 PTS | -1

Like Lou, Thad really struggled to make an impact in the Boston series, save one 22-point anomaly, and the playoffs in general. His work on the glass was impressive, and welcome, but like everybody in a Sixers jersey, he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn from the floor.
Jodie Meeks, G 5 MIN | 1-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | +1

He scored the final points of the season, so he’s got that going for him.
Lavoy Allen, PF 17 MIN | 1-4 FG | 0-1 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | +1

He was, as usual, very good when he was on the floor but didn’t spend nearly enough time out there. Doug Collins has some ‘splaining to do.

After the jump, six things we saw


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GAME 7 PREDICTIONS

Posted by: Philadunkia
05/26/12 8:37 am EST

Alright, NOW tonight is officially the most important game the current roster of 76ers has ever played in. 

Win and it’s on to the Eastern Conference Finals, a place no one, not even the most dedicated member of Philadunkia nation believed we could go.  Suffer a loss and it’s a lock that tonight is the last time you’ll all be together in the Sixers locker room.

Really there’s not much else left to say.

So just go out and win the damn thing. 

Tonight, prove all the “experts” wrong.  Go out there and play your asses off; end the hated Boston Celtics season and send “The Big Three” into trade bait mode. 

It’s that simple.  Now go do it.

Our Game 7 predictions after the jump.


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OHH WHAT A NIGHT

Posted by: Jerry Scherwin
05/25/12 10:37 am EST

The 2011-12 Philadelphia 76ers, that it is to say our 7-6, forced a Game 7 with the heavily favored Boston Celtics and I am extremely impressed.  Actually, I’m more than impressed; I am stunned.  I am Bud Selig after walking into a restaurant and accidentally bumping into Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, and Rafael Palmeiro.  I am Stuart Scott during the Top Ten plays on SportsCenter.  I am Dwight K. Schrute during a fight between two black bears.  I am Tiger Woods on  an Arkansas campus tour with Bobby Petrino.

Too soon?

This series has been wild.  This series has been close.  This series has been a roller coaster of awful offensive possessions, an abundance of mental mistakes and what would be defined as defensive prowess (or, again, terrible offense).   But it’s been nothing but exciting for those invested in the two teams and that cannot be argued.

Nobody seems to know, including me, how the Sixers are getting the job done at this stage in the playoffs.  One could point out a few things here and there that the 76 have done well; but nothing that you could consistently put your finger on. 

But Wednesday night, in a “win or enjoy your summer vacation” moment, you could, which was a sight for sore eyes.

 
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PLAYOFFS, GM12: RAPID REACTS

Posted by: Tom Sunnergren
05/23/12 11:47 pm EST
Boston Celtics 75 FinalRecap | Box Score 82 Philadelphia 76ers
Elton Brand, PF 34 MIN | 5-9 FG | 3-4 FT | 10 REB | 0 AST | 13 PTS | +11

After struggling for much of the series–and the one that preceded it–Brand was large tonight for the Sixers. With 2:09 left, after KG cottoned a jumper to silence the “DEFENSE” chants echoing through the Wells Fargo Center and breath new life into beleaguered Boston, Brand buried a j to give the 7-6 a 78-69 lead and effectively ice Game 6.
Andre Iguodala, SF 38 MIN | 4-11 FG | 3-7 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 12 PTS | +2

Iguodala’s shot was absolutely brutal on Wednesday — he missed a few free throws in a way that would get a kid cut from most middle school basketball teams — but his defense was stout, he attacked the rim, and he came through when the leverage was highest.  Up six and on the line with under a minute left he drained a pair of FTs. Shades of the last series’ Game 6.
Spencer Hawes, C 21 MIN | 4-6 FG | 1-2 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 9 PTS | +8

The final numbers aren’t overwhelming, but Spencer turned it on in the back end.  As the Sixers took and protected the lead after the half, he scored seven points on four shots.
Evan Turner, SG 38 MIN | 5-11 FG | 2-5 FT | 9 REB | 4 AST | 12 PTS | +7

Entering the game shooting just 32 percent from the floor in the series, Turner had a (slightly) more efficient offensive night than we’ve come to expect and continued to do work on the glass.
Jrue Holiday, PG 39 MIN | 7-15 FG | 6-6 FT | 3 REB | 6 AST | 20 PTS | +5

Holiday was outstanding tonight.  He flummoxed the unflummoxable Rajon Rondo — who had absolutely owned the series first five games–and was perfect from the line on a night when the rest of the 76ers decidedly weren’t.
Lou Williams, PG 27 MIN | 5-13 FG | 1-2 FT | 0 REB | 6 AST | 11 PTS | +1

With Allen Iverson in the house, the hope was that his spiritual successor would recover from a sub-par Monday with a big performance.  Well, that didn’t quite happen, but ll the same, Lou, after a miserable first half, was 4-of-8 from the floor after the half.
Thaddeus Young, F 11 MIN | 1-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 2 PTS | -1

Thad struggled all game, and didn’t play a minute after the half.
Jodie Meeks, G 13 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS | -2

Jodie Meeks did about as much to help the team win as I did tonight.
Lavoy Allen, PF 19 MIN | 1-1 FG | 1-2 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 3 PTS | +4

The defense was there – the Sixers, via ESPN Stats and Information, held the Celtics to under 40 percent shooting from inside five feet — but he didn’t do much on the offensive end.  We’ll take it.

After the Jump, Six Things We Saw


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GAME 6 PREDICTIONS

Posted by: Philadunkia
05/23/12 2:03 pm EST

Tonight this 76ers roster faces the biggest game in their history.  A second round elimination game is being held down at the Wells Fargo Center tonight and in addition to possibly ending this crazy season, one could argue that it could be the last run in red, white and blue for many in this group of players. 

One could also argue that this group of Sixers have no one to blame but themselves for their backs being against the wall tonight.  Some will say they let Game 1 slip away and that Collins & Co. blew Game 5 in epic fashion.  Those among the Sixers faithful holding these opinions may indeed be correct.

But we can’t think about what’s might happen this summer right now.  Nor can we ponder how we got into this all or nothing situation any more.  Nope.  It’s now time to focus on tonight’s contest and figure out a way to force a Game 7 back in Boston.  So, we asked several of the Philadunkia scribes to type up their thoughts on a few keys to tonight’s game as well as supply us with a prediction for the outcome of the most important game in this roster’s time together.

After the jump, Game 6 keys and predictions.  


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THE KID’S KICKS

Posted by: Philadunkia
05/23/12 9:45 am EST

Obviously the 76ers have a huge, must win game (literally) tonight and we’ll have plenty to say on that later today.  But for now, we just wanted to lighten the mood a little with this post.

As you may or may not know, sneaker companies frequently hit their NBA endorsers with special edition sneakers for the post season.  A number of the 76ers have been rockin’ new shoes during the playoffs and so far we like what we have seen.  With a little help from our friends at Li-Ning, we’re going to take a look at the kicks Evan Turner (11 & 8.6 a night in this series) has been wearing vs. the hated Boston Celtics. 

After the jump, a sneak peak at the shoes Turner will be wearing tonight in what hopefully will be a big 76ers W ….


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PLAYOFFS, GM 11: RAPID REACTS

Posted by: C. Smith
05/22/12 10:53 am EST
Philadelphia 76ers 85 FinalRecap | Box Score 101 Boston Celtics
Elton Brand, PF 30 MIN | 8-13 FG | 3-4 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 19 PTS | -10

After scoring 17 total in the first four games of this series, the “Ol’ Skool Chevy” put up an electric performance last night that unfortunately went to waste.  EB came out aggressive and looking for his shot.  The result was a 6-7 start on FGAs. He played with energy and passion and it seemed to catch on with the rest of the team (until the 3rd Q).  He still had a ton of trouble guarding KG and that caused some issues for the Sixers.
Andre Iguodala, SF 35 MIN | 3-10 FG | 1-4 FT | 6 REB | 3 AST | 8 PTS | -13

Just when you thought he had become a big game player, Dre goes out and lays an egg like this one.  But the thunderous dunk he had in traffic during the 2nd Q will certainly make SC.
Spencer Hawes, C 24 MIN | 4-8 FG | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 3 AST | 10 PTS | +4

10 & 5 is a serviceable night from Hawes, but if you watched this game closely, you know Hawes was a roller coaster on offense last night and could have had a bigger impact.  One moment he’s hitting a J, the next he’s bricking a bunny.  On one trip he puts the ball on the floor and drives to the rim for a nice lay-in.  Two possessions later he throws the ball away.  Such a frustrating game from Spence.  Of course, he also has to do a better job with KG on the defensive end if the Sixers are to win this series.
Evan Turner, SG 37 MIN | 5-13 FG | 1-2 FT | 10 REB | 3 AST | 11 PTS | -10

Even though his shooting touch still seems to be off, a solid night from Turner.  We love that he posted up Allen on several occasions for buckets and routinely drove the ball to the rack against the C’s.  The Sixers should have gone to ET vs. Allen more in the desperate 3rd Q.  He did struggle to contain Rondo in that 3rd Q, but what Sixer didn’t struggle in that stanza?
Jrue Holiday, PG 36 MIN | 4-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 7 AST | 10 PTS | -11

A great first half — 10 & 5 — including an ice water in the veins 3PM with Ray Allen all over him is overshadowed by the disappearing act ‘The Jruth” pulled in the 2nd half.  Unfortunately hot starts and weak finishes have been a trend for Jrue in this series.
Lou Williams, PG 28 MIN | 3-10 FG | 3-4 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 9 PTS | -9

One game after carrying this team to a W, Louis craps the bead in Boston.
Thaddeus Young, F 18 MIN | 3-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 6 PTS | -14

After excellent performances in Game 3 and Game 4, we thought Thad had found his game.  We were wrong. His two TOs during the game breaking stretch of the 3rd Q were simply brutal for the Sixers.
Lavoy Allen, PF 19 MIN | 6-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 12 PTS | -15

So Collins doesn’t want to disrespect Brand by starting Lavoy in his place.  Does the same hold for Hawes?  The kid has been the steadiest player on the Sixers in this series.  FYI…As soon as KG got rolling in the 2nd Q I would have put Lavoy back in the game — even with his 2 fouls.

After the Jump, Six Things We Saw


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