Fo’ with the Foes: Boston Celtics

Posted by: C. Smith
04/04/14 2:15 pm EST

mariaThis 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 Boston Celtics who have lost six straight and took their worst beating of the season (26-point loss to Wizards) on Wednesday night, but boast the lovely Maria Menounos (pic at left) as their #1 fan.

After the jump, I’ll look a Fo’ key items for tonight’s game.  Additionally, we’ll get a little more insight into this Boston team (23-52) the Sixers face tonight from our colleague Kwapt B at red’sarmy.com, as Kwapt B will answer Fo’ questions on his Celtics squad from us here at Philadunkia.


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GM75: Rapid (Big AL) Reacts

Posted by: C. Smith
04/03/14 11:03 am EST
Charlotte Bobcats 123 FinalRecap | Box Score 93 Philadelphia 76ers
Thaddeus Young, PF 34 MIN | 4-13 FG | 3-3 FT | 5 REB | 4 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 11 PTS | -21Here’s a line I never thought I would write: Last night Thad got shut down by Cody Zeller.

Henry Sims, C 31 MIN | 5-13 FG | 5-7 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 15 PTS | -28Last night was the first time I have seem Sims struggle on defense as he simply got abused by Al Jefferson.  But I’ll give Sims credit he was one of the few Sixers who got involved early in this game with 4 points in the 1st Q.

Michael Carter-Williams, PG 27 MIN | 10-18 FG | 2-4 FT | 7 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 22 PTS | -18MCW came out firing in the 1st Q (3-5 on FGAs) and other than Sims was really the only bright spot on offense for the Sixers during the early going.  MCW also put up 12 points in the 2nd Q including a filthy AND 1, but by than the Sixers were trailing by 15+ and this game was essentially over.  I really liked that he only turned the ballover 1 time against a good defensive unit in Charlotte.

James Anderson, SG 25 MIN | 0-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | -16The journeyman comes crashing back to reality.

Hollis Thompson, SG 26 MIN | 3-5 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 9 PTS | -22I have a hard time grading “The Keeper’s” performance last night.  His numbers are decent, but if you watched the game, you know that he was invisible during the 1st and 2nd Q’s while the Sixers weer getting steam rolled.  Of course, he wasn’t the only one.


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Avoid the Mistakes Made By the Lake

Posted by: Josh Newman
04/02/14 9:43 am EST

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
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

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
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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Tonight: Remember the Plan

Posted by: Rich Iacuzio
03/27/14 10:40 am EST

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

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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Is the 76ers Defense Improving?

Posted by: C. Smith
03/24/14 2:39 pm EST

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

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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