Avoid the Mistakes Made By the Lake

Posted by: Josh Newman
04/02/14 9:43 am EST
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anthonybennett76ers General Manager Sam Hinkie entered this season with a very specific plan on where he wanted to take the franchise and so far, he has done a phenomenal job.

He’ll never admit it, nor will the word ‘tanking’ ever come out of his mouth, but Hinkie wanted the 2013-14 Sixers to be bad.

Historically bad.

Which they are.

The plan was to bottom-out, stock up on draft picks and build from the ground up.  As the regular season moves inside its final 10 games and teams are jockeying for position, both in the playoffs and the Draft Lottery, the Sixers currently are in line for a ridiculous seven draft picks.


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GM74: Rapid (LouWilVille) Reacts

Posted by: C. Smith
04/01/14 9:43 am EST
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Philadelphia 76ers 95 FinalRecap | Box Score 103 Atlanta Hawks
Thaddeus Young, PF 36 MIN | 7-10 FG | 4-4 FT | 3 REB | 4 AST | 4 STL | 3 BLK | 3 TO | 23 PTS | -11A hot start included Thad drilling 3 of his 4 3PAs in the 1st Q and 11 points total in the Q.  But it was his play in the 2nd Q that really stood out for me last night.  In that Q Thad blocked shots; had a couple steals; handed out several pretty dimes and drained a 3-ball.  Thad hit another big three to get the 7-6 within 92-89 in the 4th Q.

Henry Sims, C 27 MIN | 3-8 FG | 2-3 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 8 PTS | +11The stat sheet says Sims played a decent game last night, but I don’t have a single note jotted down for him.

Michael Carter-Williams, PG 34 MIN | 7-14 FG | 2-2 FT | 9 REB | 9 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 16 PTS | +1Three things really impressed me about MCW’s near triple-double last night. (1) He took smart shots and that produced a 50% shooting night; (2) He didn’t get his first bucket until the 7 minute mark of the 2nd Q and still contributed nicely to the Sixers scoring effort; (3) MCW had only 3 TOs…MCW’s drive and kiss for two in the 3rd Q was beautiful.

James Anderson, SG 35 MIN | 8-16 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 19 PTS | -3JA had 6 points in the 2nd Q and 10 overall in the 1st half.  He drilled a big 3PA in the 3rd Q, but could not make one during clutch time when the Sixers desperately needed a big hoop.

Hollis Thompson, SG 25 MIN | 2-3 FG | 0-1 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 5 PTS | -4“The Keeper” played solid considering the few looks he got last night, but I need more from a starting SG.  Sorry.


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Fo’ with the Foes: Atlanta Hawks

Posted by: C. Smith
03/31/14 5:20 pm EST
One comment

hawks-a-town-dancer-opoc-45643This edition of “Fo’ with the Foes” – Philadunkia’s advanced scouting series which with the help of an accomplished journalist from around the NBA beat or blog world, previews key upcoming 76ers games – features tonight’s opponent, the Atlanta Hawks, who have lost six in a row yet still cling to the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

After the jump, I’ll look a Fo’ key items for tonight’s game.  Additionally, we’ll get a little more insight into the Atlanta team the Sixers face tonight from our colleague David Menze at Soaring Down South as David will answer Fo’ questions on the Hawks from us here at Philadunkia.


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GM73: Rapid (Freakin’ Winning) Reacts

Posted by: C. Smith
03/30/14 11:03 am EST
8 Comments
Detroit Pistons 98 FinalRecap | Box Score 123 Philadelphia 76ers
Thaddeus Young, PF 35 MIN | 9-17 FG | 1-1 FT | 6 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 21 PTS | +19Thad came out and played with a high level of energy last night and basically set the tone for the 7-6.  His twelve 1st half points pushed the Sixers out to a big lead at the break.

Henry Sims, C 27 MIN | 8-14 FG | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 16 PTS | +12I have written this before — it’s a pleasure to watch a Sixer big (outside of Thad) who works hard on D and understands the rotations.  Sims exploded for 8 points in the 2nd Q when the Sixers put this game away.

Michael Carter-Williams, PG 31 MIN | 6-14 FG | 8-10 FT | 7 REB | 4 AST | 4 STL | 1 BLK | 4 TO | 21 PTS | +20An 11 point 1st Q for MCW gave the Sixers an early spark and showed the Pistons that tonight was going to be the night the losing streak ended.

James Anderson, SG 22 MIN | 2-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 5 PTS | +8What did you expect?  The Sixers did not play the Rockets again last night.

Hollis Thompson, SG 22 MIN | 5-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 3 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 14 PTS | +13Yes, Thompson put some solid numbers up, but only 3 of his points came during the 1st half when this game was remotely competitive.  But when you hit 4 of 4 from deep, I have to tip my cap.


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GM72: Rapid (26ers) Reacts

Posted by: C. Smith
03/28/14 9:12 am EST
8 Comments
Philadelphia 76ers 98 FinalRecap | Box Score 120 Houston Rockets
Thaddeus Young, PF 33 MIN | 6-16 FG | 1-2 FT | 9 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 6 TO | 15 PTS | -29A 9 point 1st Q nearly led a double-double for Thad, but if you watched the game last night you saw that he looked tired, did not shoot the ball well and was sloppy with the rock (6 TOs). There was a very un-Thad-like play last night where D12 blocked #21′s shot and Thad fell to the floor. By the time he got up, the Rockets were scoring at the other end.

Henry Sims, C 26 MIN | 6-11 FG | 6-8 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 18 PTS | -12Sims only scored 4 points while this game was competitive (in the 1st half) but he hustled all night and has likley earned a roster spot ofr next year. That of course assumes Hinkie is not going for the double-tank.

Michael Carter-Williams, PG 28 MIN | 2-11 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 10 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 4 PTS | -17Casper Ware (5) scored more points in the 1st half than MCW (2)…Enuff said

James Anderson, SG 29 MIN | 11-18 FG | 2-2 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 30 PTS | -15Congrats, you lit up the Rockets again. Now try and do it vs. a team you don’t have a grudge against and one that plays defense.

Hollis Thompson, SG 20 MIN | 2-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 6 PTS | -7“The Keeper” started again and didn’t score a single point in the 1st half.


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Tonight: Remember the Plan

Posted by: Rich Iacuzio
03/27/14 10:40 am EST
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bretbrowncarterwilliamsThe 2013-2014 76ers season has not been for the faint of heart, and tonight in Houston it will get a little more painful for us die-hard fans.  Tonight the Sixers will match the NBA record for most consecutive losses at 26 straight.  Two years ago when this franchise was one quarter of solid basketball away from the Eastern Conference Finals, a losing streak of this brutal nature seemed impossible.

What makes this season even harder to swallow is that according to Brett Brown, all this losing is just the beginning.  Brown’s vision requires this once proud franchise to plod through the rebuilding phase for the next “three to five years”.  Sure, that sounds like a very long process, but we all know it’s the right thing to do. 

But will the rebuild truly take three to five years as Brett Brown claims?

 


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Wiggins Watch: The One is Now Done

Posted by: Alex Gorge
03/26/14 12:18 pm EST
2 Comments

wigginsblackbckdropAfter two years of Lebron like hype building around potential lottery pick and college freshmen Andrew Wiggins, it’s time to prognosticate about what happens next.  My take: the net result from one year of solid college play is that in Wiggins, an NBA team will be drafting a solid prospect, but one that is a project.

Yes I said it, a project.

A lot of people had Kansas as a lock to at least reach the Elite Eight of this years tournament, nope, the Stanford Cardinal clearly didn’t care about anyone’s bracket.  After smooth sailing in the second round versus Eastern Kentucky, Kansas was surprisingly beaten by the Cardinal 60-57.  Against Stanford Andrew had just four points, four rebounds, one assist and four turnovers.  For many this leaves a lot of questions still to be answered about the NBA future of Wiggins.

 


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GM71: Rapid (Happy 25th) Reacts

Posted by: C. Smith
03/25/14 9:27 am EST
One comment
Philadelphia 76ers 91 FinalRecap | Box Score 113 San Antonio Spurs
Thaddeus Young, PF 35 MIN | 7-20 FG | 3-5 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 17 PTS | -3Thad scored 7 of his points in the 1st Q and than went ice cold. His brutal shooting night doomed any hopes the Sixers had of staying competitive in this game past the 1st Q.

Henry Sims, C 33 MIN | 5-8 FG | 0-2 FT | 7 REB | 7 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | -8After a very slow start (zero points in 1st half), Sims recovered to stuff the stat sheet.  However, he did have a couple nice dimes and two steals in the 1st half.  Still the game was out of reach when he did most of his scoring damage and that’s reflected in his grade.

Michael Carter-Williams, PG 38 MIN | 5-20 FG | 5-7 FT | 7 REB | 4 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 17 PTS | -5Another poor shooting night for MCW who will be spending a tremendous amount of time with Brett Brown this coming summer working on his stroke.  He only committed 3 TOs, but handed out only 4 assists.

James Anderson, SG 33 MIN | 4-9 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 10 PTS | -15Anderson’s defensive lapses last night were comical.

Hollis Thompson, SG 37 MIN | 3-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 8 PTS | 0Thompson scored the first 5 points of the game for the 76ers and than checked out of this one.  His grade is a D+ (technical difficulties).


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Is the 76ers Defense Improving?

Posted by: C. Smith
03/24/14 2:39 pm EST
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Hollis-ThompsonondeeditedfWith March Madness in full effect this weekend and the 76ers underdogs in their match up with the Knicks on Friday and the Bulls on Saturday, we decided to give the usual Rapid Reacts post the weekend off.

Despite the most recent set backs — a 1-point loss at the Garden against the Knicks  and a 10-point defeat in Chicago — as well as a losing streak that has now stretched to a historic 24 games, we found something positive to discuss about the 76ers.

That one item of sunshine we have noticed happens to be the Sixers’ recent play at the defensive end of the court.  That’s right, after months of bashing this team for their inability to play defense at a respectable level, it appears we may have to back off a little because the 7-6 have improved in that area over their last five games.


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Fo’ with the Foes: New York Knicks

Posted by: C. Smith
03/21/14 12:32 pm EST
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nyk_dance07_305x350_2This edition of “Fo’ with the Foes” – Philadunkia’s advanced scouting series which with the help of an accomplished journalist from around the NBA beat or blog world, previews key upcoming 76ers games – features tonight’s opponent, the New York Knicks, who have won seven in a row and now feature Zen Master Phil Jackson as the savior of their franchise.

After the jump, I’ll look a Fo’ key items for tonight’s game.  Additionally, we’ll get a little more insight into the New York team the Sixers face tonight from our colleague Sam Spiegelman from theknicksblog.com which covers the Knickerbockers for SNY.tv, as Sam will answer Fo’ questions on the Knicks from us here at Philadunkia.


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