Overall Brand had a solid night. The NYK bigs present some problems for Brand, but he did a decent job on the defensive end. He also had several very solid weak side help plays. He didn’t shoot the ball all that well, but he put in some big baskets when the 76ers needed them. Despite all the rest he got against the Pacers, EB still looked tired tonight.

To be honest we were disappointed in AI9′s game tonight. He wasn’t horrible, just disappointing. We know he’s not going to shut down Melo, but at times he got simply abused by Anthony. On the offensive end, he waited to long to get going. Everyone in Philadunkia nation saw this as a big game as did all in the Sixers locker room. Your “star” player can not wait until 5 minutes left in the 2nd Q to get on the scoreboard in a “big” game.

A surprising start led to a decent effort by Battie. Who knew he could still dunk?

Do we have enough evidence yet that Meeks is not the answer at the SG spot? You have one job — hit open jumpers! Meeks doesn’t do it enough.

Jrue Holiday, PG 32 MIN | 8-13 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 8 AST | 17 PTS | +22
A rocky night for Jrue as well. He had a few moments of brilliance, but also some very troubling plays. Jrue seemed to have trouble with the pressure applied by Shumpert and Douglas and he settled for too many jumpers in the game. Your starting PG has to get to the FT line, especially when you are trying to claw your way back from a 14 point deficit. To have zero FT attempts for an entire game is unacceptable.

See what had happened…

A poor shooting night for Thad resulted from the fact that “yungsmoove” hoisted up too many 14-16 footers. However his energy and defense were great again tonight. His 10 fourth quarter points (including 8 straight) keyed the Sixers 12-2 run and made this game interesting for Philadunkia nation.

Another solid effort from Turner. We could have lived without one or two of his forced mid-range jumpers (especially the bad leaner in the late 3rd), but we’ll consider those as growing pains. We’re not in love with how much Collins is having ET handle the ball. There’s no doubt that Evan Turner can dribble for a player his size, but over the last two games we’ve noticed that he has significant trouble holding on to the rock when he encounters traffic on his way through the lane.

Decent effort by the rook. He was simply out classed down low tonight.

Brand is slowly becoming a non factor with each passing game.  He didn’t produce much offensively and wasn’t involved in the action at all.  His defense wasn’t applause worthy.  His 5 rebounds spared him from get a failing grade.  “Just a guy” would be the proper term based on his performance.  His five fouls didn’t help much either.

Iguodala carried the Sixers on a night where he needed to.  He didn’t shoot the ball well, despite his improved jump shot, but provided almost everything else.  His game is built on penetration, and that was a big lift for his teammates who were set up with scoring opportunities because of it.

Hawes has had a sparkling start to this season but on Monday night, he was outclassed by Roy Hibbert.  Hibbert abused him inside and Hawes was not as efficient on the boards and in field goal production.  Like Brand, he also ended up with 5 fouls.  Getting rejected by Dahntay Jones on a bunny was embarassing as hell.

Meeks didn’t hurt the Sixers but also didn’t give them anything that lifted them in the victory.  At some point, Coach Collins should consider giving Evan Turner a shot at the starting lineup.

Holiday had a rough start (again).  But, he ended up with a decent game, knocking down some big shots in the 2nd half.  It’s obvious Jrue has become comfortable closing out games for the Sixers.  Although, so far this season he has not been the floor general that many thought he could be.  2 assists and 7 turnovers is a complete disaster for a starting point guard.

Lou couldn’t guard Darren Collison at all and his nonstop shooting was not so effective on Monday night.  But he is always a spark plug and provided tons of energy off the bench.  He also came up with some key loose balls and got to the FT line at some important moments in the game.

Young showcased his new found mid-range jumper and continued his solid start to the season.  His defense has simply gone to another level — that rejection from behind he had in the 4th was a Lebron-like thing of beauty.  Collins had nothing but praise for Thad in the post game presser.  He didn’t light the world on fire on offense tonight, but he didn’t make mistakes on a night where his teammates made plenty of them.

Turner didn’t get much playing time and that was probably because he didn’t deserve it.  He made some bad decisions with the basketball and that earned him a spot on on the bench for the majority of the game.  But man can he rebound.

The Box Score tells the Story.  In only 17 minutes Vucevic looked good in the paint, knocked down mid-range jumpers, and even drained a shot from downtown.  On defense he looked no worse then Spencer Hawes.  The kid is a lot more NBA-ready then many people believed.

Is this game that gets Brand’s season on track? We hope so, because if EB can give us a double-double every night or get back to his 2010-11 form this could be a great season for the 7-6. Brand did have trouble on defense — especially defending the NOH pick-n-roll and for that we dropped him a grade. But overall a very solid effort.

Hopefully this outing ends AI9′s love affair with his 3-point shot as he was simply awful from behind the arc tonight. He wasn’t much better from inside the 3-point line either. Overall it was one of the biggest train wreck games we have seen out of Dre in a long time. His follow slam in the 4th saved him from getting a D.

What is left to say about Spence’s play so far in 2011-12? He was simply great again tonight and was one of the bright spots in an otherwise brutal first half for the 76ers. If Hawes can keep this up and Brand finds his 2010-11 game, the Sixers frontline could be a force on offense. Spence also had some issues on defense and that’s why gets the A and not the A+.

Tonight was just further proof that Meeks is not a starting SG in the NBA. He doesn’t just miss shots, he misses WIDE OPEN shots. His defense leaves a lot to be desired as well. We’re not sure he would start at Kentucky this year. How this glaring need for the Sixers was not addressed in the off-season is still a mystery to us.

Jrue struggled to find his game in the first 4 contests, but tonight he located it and then some. When he got off to a slow start in the 1st Q, we feared the worst. But he recovered nicely and Jrue went on to be simply filthy tonight, especially in the 4th. He played all 12 mins. of the final stanza and was good for 14 points on 3-4 shooting from deep.

Louis cooled off some tonight, but along with Spence and Turner, he kept this team in the game during the 1st half when the starters struggled out of the gate. He was also a key part of the Sixers “small” lineup that got this game turned around in the 4th Q. It was actually a relief to see that the Sixers could win a game without LW shooting the lights out. His defense (along with the rest of the Sixers wing players) left much to be desired for most of the game.

Not an eye popping game from Thad, but he too was instrumental during the run in the 4th Q by the “small” lineup that got the Sixers back in this game and allowed them to take the lead. Early on he (along with every other Sixer) Thad settled for too many J’s, but he git that corrected after the half. The spinning, put back, lay-in he had in the 4th was huge.

Arguably his best overall game as a 76er. He exploited the mismatch with Belinelli and exploded for 11 points in the 2nd Q (and 4 rips). To be honest Turner was the only reason the Sixers were in this game at the half. ET’s amazing night continued in the 2nd half with some fantastic slices to the tin for buckets. He was also money for the charity stripe — 5 for 5. The was the type of performance you expect from the 2nd overall pick in the NBA Draft. Please let this be the start of a trend for ET.