This Friday 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 Miami Heat (31-11), who currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference..   

We actually debated not writing a preview of tonight’s game down at the Wells Fargo Center vs. the Heat.  The reason for our hesitation – we questioned whether or not this run against Miami is a “big” or “key” game on the schedule.  Yes the Sixers are ballin against the Heat — arguably one of the, if not the best team in the NBA — tonight.  So obviously this is a highly anticipated contest in Philadunkia nation and there will be a packed house tonight down on Broad Street. 

But from a basketball perspective, we still wonder if this is a “key” game for the 7-6.  That debate stems from the fact that the Heat are clearly a better team then the Sixers and have the 76ers “number” as they say.  Anyone who watched these two squads battle during last year’s playoffs and on two occasions earlier this season, should have come to this realization by now.  And please don’t give us the, “But now Evan Turner is starting.” line either.  While Turner has given Philadunkia’s home team a huge boost, ET’s recent stellar play wasn’t enough to down the hot shooting Pacers Wednesday night and it certainly won’t be the answer for the Sixers in their efforts to finally overcome the Heat tonight.    

Now take the above items we already know about the mighty Heat and throw in the fact that tonight Wade, Lebron & Co. come into the WFC angry after their unexpected loss in Chicago on Wednesday night to the D-Rose-less Bulls and the Sixers chances of winning this game get even smaller.  (FYI…back on February 3^rd, the Heat came into Philly off a loss @ MIL and simply dismantled the Sixers, 99-79.  Thanks for that CHI & MIL.)

So our advice is to just sit back and enjoy this game tonight between two defensive minded and athletically gifted teams that like to get out on the break and play above the rim.  If the Sixers somehow manage to hijack a W tonight then rejoice in the huge upset.  Should they lose yet another one to the Heat, then simply shrug off the L, pop open a cold one and turn your attention to the NCAA Tourney, because tonight is not a make or break / “key” / measuring stick game for the 76ers and thus yet another L to the Heat should not cause you any stress.

For a little more insight into the Heat team the Sixers face tonight, we turn to our man Tom Haberstroh at ESPN.com’s Heat Index to answer four questions on Miami from us here at Philadunkia.

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Following the Game 3 defeat, everyone in America had written off the 7-6.  Game 3 was the one they were suppose to win if they wanted any shot at shocking the Miami Heat in a first-round upset.  But after losing Game 3, the Sixers’ motive and confidence should’ve been depleted for Game 4 and led to an easy sweep for the Miami Heat.  Instead, the young Sixers came out re-energized and inspired. 

Thanks to a succession of buckets from our young stars Evan Turner, Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams to close out the game, we were able squeak a victory over South Beach’s finest.  The Sixers know their outmatched, they understand their opposition is the better team.  Yet, they still are fighting for their lives in an admiring fashion while not folding under the pressure of the spotlight.   

Sound like any movie icon we know and love here in Philly?

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Game 2 in Miami was torture for 76er fans.  Everyone expected the Sixers defense to struggle against the Miami Heat’s superstars, but you probably will have a hard time finding anyone who expected the Sixer offense to be this pathetic.  Thirty-one first half points wasn’t laughable, it wasn’t embarrassing.  It was a sick joke.  It was unwatchable.

In the biggest road game of the year, one that could’ve shaken the foundation of the Heat, the 76ers instead curled up in the fetal position.  Evan Turner— of all people—was the only Sixer with any scoring ability in the first half.  Even Miami center Joel Anthony, one of the most uncoordinated NBA players ever, was getting his flow on against the lifeless Sixers.

Many things have to drastically change for the Sixers to not get blown out of the water tonight at Wells Fargo Center.  After the jump I am going to point out 5 keys to tonight’s game for the Sixers.

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This first-round of the NBA Playoffs edition of “Fo’ with the Foes” — Philadunkia’s advanced scouting series which withthe help of an accomplished journalist from around the NBA beat or blog world, previews upcoming 76ers opponents — features the foes in this upcoming best-of-seven series, Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.  

Today we’re going to put a little different twist on “Fo’ with the Foes”.  Typically we would have a single Philadunkia writer preview Game 1 of this series as well as publish some thoughts from an online Heat expert.  Instead, all of the scribes here at Philadunkia have submitted deeply analyzed and well thought out predictions of what is going to happen in this playoff clash between the second seeded Miami Heat and our seventh seeded Philadelphia 76ers. 

Complete 76ers first-round predictions after the jump… 

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This first post All-Star break 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 upcoming 76ers opponents — features tonight’s opponent, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.   

Tonight’s game down at the Wachovia Center will be a match up of two teams with very little in common during 2009-10.  The Miami Heat are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, while our 76ers are improving on defense, but statistically speaking are still one of the most defensively challenged squads in the League.  This Miami team is comprised of an All-World superstar in D-Wade and some decent complimentary pieces.  On the other hand, the Sixers have no real superstar and a number of complimentary pieces that don’t mesh together all that well.  The Heat are directed by a solid head coach in Eric Spoelstra.  The Sixers, well we have Eddie Jordan.  The Heat are currently in the NBA Playoff race and expected to be a “buyer” at the trade deadline.  As you know the Sixers are not currently in the playoff race and are expected to be a “seller” on Thursday.

But this preview theme for tonight’s game is not all doom and gloom for Philadunkia’s home team.  In fact, we think the Sixers have a great chance to win this contest and here’s why…The 76ers were hot (5-1) heading into the All-Star break, Miami was not (2-5).  The 76ers should be well rested, as none of the Sixers players participated in the NBA All-Star weekend events.  Miami should be a little tired as three of their players – Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley and Daequan Cook were in Dallas over the weekend for the on-court events and the off-court festivities.  Finally, with the trade deadline looming on Thursday, this could be the last game as a unit for this current 76ers roster and we think that will provide some extra motivation for the team to go out a play well.  We think that extra push will enable the Sixers to overcome their deficiencies when compared to the Heat “on-paper” and win this one.

On last note…We’re very interested to watch the return of Allen Iverson tonight after 6 games away from the team.  For us here at Philadunkia, we’re more interested to see whether or not Allen is immediately inserted back into the staring lineup, who’s minutes will be impacted by his return and what kind of shape Iverson is in, more so then how he actually plays.  If Iverson squaks at the reduced role we’d like to see him have in his latest return to the Sixers, it could be a career defining mistake.  If he accepts a reduced role, doesn’t upset the chemistry that developed while he was gone and provides a needed spark at times, he could be a valuable asset down the stretch.

For a little more insight into the Heat team the Sixers face tonight, we turn to our man Matthew Bunch from hothothoops.com to answer two questions on Miami from us here at Philadunkia as well as provide us with two points of analysis on this Heat squad from an insider’s perspective. 
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