Notes on the Jazz Game

I don't want to spend much time commenting on the game last night against the Jazz because it went as expected. Last year, the Sixers beat the Jazz at home and it was surprising to see quite frankly. This year, the Jazz are a better team and the Sixers are a worse team so the outcome was easy to figure. I just want to note that Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer are going to be a formidable duo in this league for a while. Boozer has great size/strength and also a nice touch from either hand. He really asserts himself in the lane. Williams has matured quickly and it's nice to see a true PG developing - someone in the likeness of a Jason Kidd. Jazz fans should notice a strong resemblance to a former great duo they used to have - Stockton and Malone.

Imagine if Boozer hadn't fled Cleveland just a few seasons ago but actually stuck around and continued to play with LeBron. Hard to say that team wouldn't be the class of the East.

I'm heading to the Wizards game tomorrow. Sixers are right in the middle of a '5 games in 4 nights' stretch but I think they have a shot tomorrow. Gilbert Arenas is out and having Korver back now could make a difference.

Sixers Come Up Just Short

This picture says it all - how the Sixers have a lack of a reliable go-to scorer in crunch time. They lost to the Warriors in overtime last night despite having a 12-point lead at halftime. They shot well, rebounded well, played nice defense, and hustled in the first half, however, several of those elements did not carry over to the second half. Iguodala settled for a jumper at the end of regulation from a spot that he's not in love with but came back to put them up by one with a superb driving, hanging, high-off-the-glass basket with under a minute in OT. After the Warriors took the lead on a 3-pointer by Kelenna Azubuike (yes, Kelenna Azubuike), the Sixers went to Lou Williams for the needed basket with about 6 seconds left. Now I don't necessarily have a problem with the ball going to Lou here. Iguodala had his chance and usually will get his number called, and sometimes there will be plays set for Korver when he is available, but after them Lou is the next best option because of his speed and ability to create (you could argue Willie Green but he seems to have a lot of turnovers while driving and hadn't shot well). Lou looked like he had an angle to the basket and the speed to get around Monta Ellis, but he slipped on something and tossed the ball futilely at the basket. It was weird being there and having it just kind of end awkwardly, the crowd really didn't seem sure about what happened since it looked like he might have gotten fouled. No foul. Game over.

This team has been in a few spots this year where they have needed one shot at the end of the game. It succeeded in Chicago and against Portland, but not last night and not the other night at Detroit. Just tough when so many games are ending up close and that one go-to type of player could key it for us.

Another thing I'm starting to notice that is troubling is the play of Rodney Carney. It does not seem as if he has progressed in the past year. He still does his drive floater and dunks from the wing. He also still has his hustle but he has not stepped up to take it to another level on defense and lock out guys on the wing. They seem to be able to drive around him and consistently make plays. I'm not surprised he's starting to lose more and more minutes to Thaddeus Young. Something to monitor when the rumors have started about packaging him with Miller in some trade offers...

Rollins NL MVP!

Congratulations to Jimmy Rollins who won the NL MVP today. Although he didn't have all of the numbers of Matt Holliday in regards to average, HRs, and RBI, he achieved some significant milestones this year. He also played in every single game and played a valued position (also getting a Gold Glove). Perhaps the thing he will most be remembered for was famously claiming the Phillies were the team to beat and then leading them all year and winning the division on the last day from the reigning champ Mets. Congrats Jimmy!

What A Game!

What a great game last night. More people should have been there to witness it but for those of us who were, it was great. The announced attendance was 11,483 which means that there were about 9,000 more fans that could have witnessed something fun and special. It did not, however, start out all that special . The Sixers were losing by 18 at half and were only shooting 30%. Apparently a rousing halftime speech (i.e. tirade) by Cheeks got through to the team. They did go down at one point by 25 in the 3rd but then Lou Williams entered the game....

I know many people saw what Lou did in the summer leagues and had some seriously guarded optimism. Could he maintain that level of play? Many early season indications are that he can indeed play at a high level in the NBA and it's exciting to see the pick start to pan out. He has come into some games already this year and given a great boost to the team when they've needed it. He came in and was hitting shots, getting steals, dishing assists, and just being a playmaker in general. The crowd was really responding well to his play too. He finished the game at +15 (gotta love the new +/- stats!).

It was a strange night in general because Dalembert got in early foul trouble and couldn't stay on the floor and the Sixers were already without Korver. Miller was replaced by Williams and it was interesting to see the lineup of Williams, Ollie, Young, Smith, and Iguodala making it happen. Check out that average age when you take away Ollie. At one point in the 4th I got a text from my buddy stating, "Win or lose, gotta love the heart of the young guys". He was right, it was great to see them step up and give the effort and play as a team and get rewarded for it. You cannot get down on this team and demand to much from them, nor can you wish them to tank for picks. You want them to progress and develop and last night was a great step for a lot of guys and the team psyche as a whole. I especially loved the defense they started playing and the discipline they exhibited to shift with the passing and not take stupid fouls. After LaMarcus Aldridge posted up a few times on Smith, Cheeks reinserted Dalembert who did a wonderful job of denying Aldridge on the next possession. Kudos to Iguodala for stepping up and hitting not only the go ahead free throws but also the jumper with about 30 seconds to go that put them up 3. Great postgame vibe and it was neat to see Iguodala giving the fans who were there some love by heading into the stands. Definitely will be one of the more memorable games this season.

The Season So Far

I haven't been able to post a lot of material lately due mostly to me being busy and out of town but I've still paid close attention to the team. They say the easiest teams to comment on consistently are ones that are either good or bad; mediocre teams are tough to write about because there is no consistency. I'm stating plainly that this Sixers team is expectantly less than mediocre. We knew that going into the season. The things that have plagued them in the early-going are the obvious factors of no depth, no consistent scoring threat, and no semblance of a half-court offense. They can certainly score on the fastbreak but the more I think about it, what NBA team can't score on a fastbreak?? I know some teams like the Suns and Mavs use this as a strategy and truly excel at it but most teams certainly have the ability to score on a break. I just don't see who on this team can carry us in scoring down the stretch when we need a basket. Andre is not yet at the point where he can create his own shot through defenders AND drain it from most places on the floor. He seems to do only one of the two. There have been times where Lou Williams has taken big shots down the stretch and this is mostly because he has the hot hand at the time. Now Korver is out with this groin injury.....

Tangent Warning: To tell you the truth, I was worried about this injury in the preseason because those things linger. It's clear it's bothering him if now he is missing the most significant time of his career. I don't necessary think that's what is contributing to him missing shots more so than before though. I think his play right now is a factor of what they are forcing him to do each night. Korver is not Rip Hamilton with an ability to run off screens and knock down all kinds of mid-range jumpers nor is he Kobe or Iverson with the ability to consistently hit off-balance shots. Korver is best used in penetration-kickout plays where he can get a good look and set shot from the perimeter. Right now he's not being used in that regard. Don't put blame on him when he's not in a great position to succeed.

.....anyway, the team is understandably struggling and this is what was fully expected. It's not fair to overlook some highlights and strengths though. I do like how this team is playing overall better defense than we've seen in the past few years. Cheeks has gotten them to subscribe to a system he's probably been trying to implement for years. They are forcing some people into some tough shots, blocking shots, and getting decent rebounding (yes, that is mostly from the addition of Reggie Evans who is also being asked to perform in a role that's not his strength but I appreciate the effort). They still have to identify where guys are succeeding on the floor and react to that like in the case of Mo Peterson the other night.

It's a shame to see the Wachovia Center so empty but you can understand the reasoning. We shouldn't be surprised by this. Teams who struggle don't get crowds. Even the Sacramento Kings finally broke their long standing sell-out streak this season. Actually the Hornets draw less than the Sixers but they deserve more fans with the way they are playing in that division. I'm heading to the Portland game tonight for the first of many tickets I have this year. Trying to do my part people!

First Game, First Loss

I didn't find the need to give a preseason projection of the Sixers because of the overwhelming consensus that they will be a mediocre to bad team. This is expected and we cannot get mad about it. This team will struggle throughout the course of the season. They do not have a true identity and that is something people look for. They aren't known for offensive flash, defensive lockdown, fast-breaks, shooter's touch, etc. They have people that can exhibit those various qualities but no overall team identity. They have young talent that is developing and need to focus on making sure everyone matures and grows during the season. Cheer for them to win because that is the best way for this team to grow - to experience ups and downs and fighting in the 4th and holding leads etc.

That being said, I enjoyed the opnener last night. I was watching for a couple things in particular: how Dalembert looked back from injury, what role Reggie Evans played, how Jason Smith did, and minor other things that will take time to sort out. Specifically I wanted to see if the team as a whole looked like they knew it was the first game and played that way. Had the coaching staff prepared them well enough? We knew the constants - that Miller would do his thing, that Iguodala would have his typical numbers with probable increase in turnovers, and that Korver would do his typical thing that I really embrace off the bench. Those were spot on. Getting back to the others, I found I was impressed with Jason Smith as a whole. Yes, he missed cuts and was overwhelmed at points but I liked his effort and his ability to adjust and keep fighting. By the end of the year, we will be happy we got him and he will gain much more this season than Thaddeus Young. Dalembert was his typical self, taking a few ill-advised jumpers that are not his game, blocking shots, and playing with energy but I was a little worried he might not be ready to be back. Remember Marc Jackson's stress fracture a few years ago? It took him a while to come back. Hopefully this isn't something that lingers because I want him out there and I want him commanding the paint and stepping up. Reggie Evans I loved. Finally we have a pure rebounder that has that nose for the ball. Amazing how he has 15 rebounds in 22 mins of play. I can guarantee I'll be marveling at his rate all year. The only thing is that he's probably best suited for 22 mins off the bench and not in a starter's role. Overall, nice comeback, effort, and sharing of the ball. the only problem was what happened to get them behind so much so fast. Was it lapse of judgment? Mismatches? Poor shooting? Hard to say. This teams will struggle for stretches in games all year. I just hope they have the will and the determination to fight through it and bear down and develop for the future.