Deep Sixer

AI’s Return Proves to be the Perfect Ending for the 76ers...
http://reclinergm.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/ais-return-proves-to-be-the-perfect-ending-for-the-76ers/

The fans were out of control at the game. I think most of them were simply confused on what to do. Root for AI, the Sixers both? It was clear at the end that everyone wanted the Sixers to win the game though. That game was perfect. We got a great game out of AI, the fans were loud and the Sixers won. Gotta love it. Glad I got to see the game first hand.

WTF is Recliner GM? We all know RealGM.
Anything like Son of Sam is to Sam?
The wayward child?

Screw Iverson. You got the greater game from AM, and on his birthday, which the dumbass Philly media fully ignored, or worse, had not a clue

Iverson played not a shred of defense, so what has changed. NOTHING.

That was a damn fun game to watch. I agree with Recliner, the game was perfect. Iverson had a great game, played the way we remember him playing (who didn't fully believe that 3 AI launched at the end was going in?), and the game went down to the wire, but in the end our boys gutted it out.

I'm so happy for Iggy..he's such a gamer, and seeing him throw the ball into the air at the end with such emotion was great. I don't see this team getting jaded with success.

Anonymous,
We all know you're the same guy every time. Most of the posters take the time to type in a name. YOU go to bed. You sound like you can't handle your liquor. Leave the poster's names alone, tough guy. If you're wanting to answer for yourself, you'd have the guts to call yourself something. Find a biker bar to talk tough, this blogs for sports fans.

One of the most exciting games I've seen this year. I'm glad that the fans gave AI the reception he deserved, and that he returned the favor. When he put his hand behind his ear, that brought back a lot of old times. The hug he gave Cheeks was classy as well.

Yep, Andre Miller is officially a baller. Dude got hot and scorched the Nuggets for a stretch in the third. I betcha George Karl was sitting over there with his eyes closed a couple of times hoping that when he opened Miller would be wearing a Nuggets jersey again.

That dunk by Melo on Andre Miller was nasty, although I will never know why Miller jumped.

Suede, did you notice how Jason Smith came in and impacted that game in the first and second halfs, along with Carney? Kenyon was abusing Evans in the first half and then Jason Smith came in and the team's play picked up.

Carney came in and played his 5th or 6th solid game in a row. Even his 3's look good leaving his hands now. If he gets enough confidence in his handle to pump fake for the 3, and then put it on the floor for either a mid-range shot or take it all the way to the hole, he's going to have a lot more highlight reel dunks.

Sam played real big, but, man, his hands are terrible. He had 8 turnovers tonight. Everytime he got the ball tonight I hoped that he'd shoot it, because you know if he tried anything else, it would be a turnover. He and Reggie Evans trying to pass the ball to each other belongs on a Bloopers video.

I think Lou Will was trying too hard to show Iverson how much he had grown to the point that it took him out of his game.

And how many of you, just for a second, thought about how THIS Kenyon Martin would look playing next to Dalembert. After I saw where Kenyon was making $13.5M this year and $46M over the next 3 years while averaging just 11 points and 6 boards a game this year, that thought quickly passed.

Thaddeus grabbed a lot of important boards in the fourth. I felt a little bad for him because he couldn't match up physically with Kenyon.

This team's athleticism gave the Nuggets a lot of problems. How often do you see a team in the NBA that is more athletic than the Nuggets? Dare I say we are one of the 3 most athletic teams in the league right now?

George Karl, you can step down from your post right now before you are fired at the end of the season. If this team doesn't make the playoffs, he won' be the coach next year.

Have to like the fact that our young guys are not intimidated by big games. I think they have learned a lot from the Boston Celtics beat down a couple of weeks ago.

Your thoughts?

I watched the local broadcast back here in Colorado. The Nuggets are a desperate team playing for their playoff lives these days. And this amazing Sixer team somehow figured out a way to win the game.

I went to the first meeting between these two teams in Denver. The biggest difference between that loss and tonight's game was the effort given by Sam Dalembert. He made numerous big plays down the stretch. And the rest of the guys, from the leaders like Iguodala and Miller thru the young ones in Young, Smith, and Carney, played just like they've been playing during this great stretch.

I hope the rest of the nation got a chance to see what real Philly fans are like. The reception for Allen Iverson was as beautiful and touching as any I have seen for a player coming home.

it was a beautiful thing! perfect night in philly! i loved listening to the AI post-game audio on philly.com. AI has grown a ton, and few famous people are more "real" than him. would love to see him back in philly for a 1 year contract in his late-30's before he retires. He could be a sick 6th man, but not sure if AI would be willing to go out like that.

one more comment on AI, everyone and their cousin was saying bubbachuck's would tale of dramatically in his early 30s due to how his game is determined by speed... people started saying that from 28 on... haven't seen it yet at 32.5. He's remarkable, but yes, is a poor defender in the post and on the ball, but is great in the passing lanes...

carney needs more minutes!

I can't believe this game WASN'T on ESPN. It was the headline story on the Pre, Post and Half time shows of the Detroit-Cleveland game. How many times do I have to watch Detroit and Cleveland for crying out loud? There are other teams in the Eastern Conference.

C'mon ESPN, show us some respect for a change!

Great post Marc, There was so much electricity in the building I thought it was going to blow up. We have some great people here in philly who appreciate greatness and AI is a great player. But that was yesterday and today we are at 500 as you said and I can;t say enough about the way we are playing. I'm not trying to blow my own horn but I wasn't one of those who lost faith in this team or looked for quick fixes I just enjoy watching Sixers basketball it's fantastic!

Peace out!

Living in Atlanta I didn't see the game but instea followed it online. I wish I was there so I could feel the emotion first hand. I have always admired AI's game and heart and I'm glad the best fans in the league treated him correctly.

P.S. To the guy that commented on recliner gm, click the link, you'll be impressed with what you'll see.

Tormented, couldn!t agree more. Dre, I!m not a big Josh Smith fan, please answer 2 questions for me; 1] does he help a team win; 2] is he a good man on man defender or does he get his blocks and steals from weakside help. Don!t see him enough here and like your Atlanta opinion, thanks!!

That was my favorite game of the season. Our young guys are showing their growth, not star gazing at AI like they did when he was a Sixer. They took it to him. I am especially happy about Sammy in spite of TO's- with the 4th quarter shot. Thanks for believin', folks!

I was watching the Cleveland/Detroit game and they gave us the live look-in on the last couple seconds of the Sixers. I saw AI miss the three and Iggy throw the ball in the air, and the crowd go nuts. What a great moment for this team. I'm really looking forward to the playoffs now.

in regards to Miller getting DUNKED on by Melo, that guy has heart! AM's back is completety out of whack and he just threw himself out there to try and stop Melo.

I was kinda surprised at how Kenyon Martin played last night, I thought those knee surgeries screwed him up pretty good but I guess he still has something left with that huge contract.

btw, I think Hubie Brown is in love with the sixers, he was probably watching the whole game before Clips/GS.

anyone else at the game like me? I dealt with some Nuggets fans but we got the last laught!

Great, great game last night.

I was proud of Philly, the Sixers...and Allen.

Here are a couple of "ifs" that I'd like to throw out there:

If, from the git go this season, the Fans and the local Press were soldidly behind the Sixers...and, if the Sixers played with the confidence they are currently exhibiting, where would they be now?

Conservatively, I am thinking, they'd be 40-28 and ahead of Cleveland in the fourth playoff position.

Folks, I just don't buy all the talk of tinkering with this team. I say. As much as possible, keep this team together. Let it mature and support these guys to the hilt in the process. In my view, this course may lead to a serious challenge by these guys for the NBA championship a few years down the road.

Hey Big ED...start workin' on a new 2-3 year deal for Andre Miller. Show him the money and he won't bolt for the west. Why would he when he could have a couple more years here with a budding squad that he is the leader of! He was lights out in the 3rd...ON FIRE!!! I think he took it most personally, the trade that is and showed everyone that the Sixers got equal or better value for AI than people will credit. A true PG is the glue to a team and Denver's lack of one is why they won't make the playoffs. I love AI til death but this is some good S**t we are witnessing. Toughy against the Magic tomorrow night, gotta watch out for Turkoglu from 3 land and we'll be alright. How about some more mins from Carney guarding him and matching him with the 3 ball! Orl, NJ, PHO, then Bos...how does 3-1 sound? Are we getting overconfident or greedy with this bunch or is the bar set that high now!? What an AMAZING night!!! Had 2001 vibe stamped all over it! I think this team would run that grinder of a squad right off the floor though! GO SIXERS!!!

2 big games lately against good teams where we basically competed for the entire 48 minutes(Spurs/Nuggets).
Good point xing. Seems like they know they now belong. no more deer in the headlights.
Will be interesting game against Celts coming up. See if we can get over that hump BUT the Celts did the same to Houston as they did to the Sixers twice. Turn on the 'D' in the 2nd half.

Sixers shot 60% from the field. Defense must be driving George Karl nuts BUT when you have AI & Melo, that's what you get.

Great to be a Sixers fan AGAIN!

Ed, it takes a good bit of the season to figure out who you are and get some solid rotations together. We have also suffered no injuries, really, so I think even with support this is where they would be plus or minus a few wins. The fact that no one beleived in them is a big part in why they have come together so much. Proving the haters and doubters wrong sparks these guys and I think they will ride it out all year. Having a tough, playoff and championship tested coach goes a long way too! I guess Ivaroni can't say the same thing in Memphis though, although he wasn't quite the player MO was either. But, look at all of the tankers and crap teams out there...MIA, MEM, LAC, MIN, CHI, MIL and of course the KNICKS...hahahahaha the Knicks...need I say more!

It just came to mind that the last time these 2 teams played, AI was pretty much saying that the Sixers were a bunch of amateurs. Don't take that as a direct quote, but that's what I remember. After he lost last night it seems he's gained some respect. He said that he wishes the trade never happened? Just a few months ago, I remember him being quoted by Denver writers that he was happy with the trade.

There are some blogs where people are saying ES should go get him after the season. THIS team was built by staying with quality guys that work hard. Don't get me wrong, AI is a great player, and I love watching him. He is exciting and electric to watch on the floor. For years I was very much against people that wanted to trade him- butthead on WIP in PM's comes to mind-- but AI is not the Answer here anymore. If Ed brings him back, we can watch the team take 3 steps backwards.

In Denver, he is forced to pass the ball as there are 2 1/2 (I'll throw 1/2 at Martin) other superstars on the team. What I remember of him over the last few years is that when the game was on the line, he would get into a frenzy trying to score. Here, he was the man, and the other teammates would just stand back. Defenses started to catch onto him over the years, and if doubling didn't stop him, they would triple team him. If normal fouls didn't deter him, they would smash him. I know he played through much of that, but he was worn out the year he was traded.

Another gripe with him was that passed to teammates very late on the shot clock. My concern is also that AI is not someone wanting to build up those around him- inspire those around him. His focus is that if others can't be trusted, I'll keep the ball. He wasn't willing to slowly allow the others to grow- like AM. To sum it up, he wasn't as effective in creating wins during his last 2-3 years here.

I believe we got the better end of the trade at this point.

The most amazing thing to me about this run has been that we are doing it without Kyle Korver! I know, it's amazing!

But seriously, folks, the introduction for Iverson was a great moment, and shows how Philly fans get a bad rap. It was also classic that as soon as Iverson's moment was over, the cheers turned back to quiet boos for the rest of Denver's lineup.

As for the game, well, what can I say? This team has realy turned me into a believer. For me, as great as the 2 Andre's played, and they both played fantastic, the bench won this game. They just killed Denver's bench. Carney is begining to enter "non-fluke" territory. Smith has regained his legs or his confidence or both. He still needs to get stronger at rebounding, but I see no reason he cannot. And Thad continues to amaze, the way he makes it look easy out there.

Bubbachuck:

I'm with you all the way. Definitely need to sign Andre Miller for a few more years. They need what he brings every night. Love what I'm seeing night in and night out. Cheeks deserves coach of the year for what he's done. He has them playing great and continuing to get better. He has them prepared and believing they can win anywhere, anytime. Think about what they have been doing. Beating the top tier teams in the league, winning on the road, overcoming big deficits, and crushing the weaklings. Hate to see them trade any of the top 8 in the rotation, no need. We will be losing a few free agents off the back end of the bench so that will clear room on the roster. Use the cap space to sign a stud PF and we're good to go. I don't want to see them mess around too much.

I was at that game and the atmosphere was terrific! The last couple minutes felt like a playoff game, people were on their feet, yelling at the refs, groaning at missed shots and finally high-fiving strangers after we pulled it out. That's what an experience at an NBA game should be like.

The standing O for Iverson was classy, but was anyone else annoyed by the fact that people were cheering after made baskets? Paying respect to AI is one thing, but once the game starts, he's the opponent. Not a big deal in the end though, since we were able to pull it out. Andre Miller has made me a believer, that guy is always under control, always makes the right decision. We lose that game without him.

Roman, maybe some 'AI' only fans were converted to Sixers fans!

"The fact that no one beleived in them is a big part in why they have come together so much. Proving the haters and doubters wrong sparks these guys and I think they will ride it out all year."

Excellent point, Bubba.

Adversity, criticism, hate, doubt, and negativity can be powerful motivators. Personally, they have fueled my effort for the inclusion of all for many years. Goodness, I've successfully spread my message throughout our nation and around the globe because of them...and have become a better person, to boot!

Hmmm...I doubt the Sixers can move any higher than they are currently positioned in the playoff standings.

Prove me wrong, Fellows!

I can't agree enough with the previous posts... I have to say, this team has so much to love. I was, and still am a big fan of seeking a big man to complement this team. Carney seems to have stepped up to the three ball shooter of late. Regardless of what happens through the rest of the year, this is fun to watch. I've gone to three games this year and I watch as many as I can. The last two games that I say demonstrate how this team has changed. Toronto at home about two months ago to the game with the Spurs just last week... Cheeks has found two things with this squad. 1) Chemistry of lineup. (As much as I will always love Iverson, no egos is a nice thing) 2) Speed kills. While it might slow down in the playoffs, it might not.

Also, does anyone else see the similarity to the 2001 squad (minus the obvious Iverson)? Evans (Tyrone H), Dalembert with nice interior defense but rocks for hands (theo R. before he got injured nice blocks and speed on the break for a big man) guards that can drive the lane and break on transition.

The biggest thing Cheeks has accomplished though is the defense. During the Spurs game it was like Spurs passes were at half speed, I haven't seen so many picks on a quality passing team like that.

All I can say is, no matter where this goes this year, it's already one to remember, and I'm going to enjoy and root for a hard working, deserving team like this with joy!

suede, Josh Smith can change a game WHEN HE WANTS TO. He can defend man-to-man WHEN HE WANTS TO. I think with all of the organizational problems and lame-duck status of Coach Woodson, J-Smooth freelances alot. Get him in a situation where there is leadership like Miller and Igoudala and I see a guy that could be better that Jermaine O'Neil on both sides of the ball.

Another great win by the Sixers, this time they got away with missing 18 free-throws and giving the ball up and still won.

This team is where it is, because it has taken this long for the young players to learn their roles and execute them properly.

No one worries when we start Willie Green, the way he started last night, I thought he was going to match AI bucket for bucket. He probably would have, had MO let him. Instead Andre Miller, the birthday boy, decided to let the Nuggets know how dumb they were, and proceeded to abuse Iverson on the defensive end.

The start of the fourth quarter with the Sixers down one was amazing. The lineup was Young, Carney, Miller, Williams and Smith. That's two rookies, a second-year player and a third-year player, plus A. Miller. In a little under 2.5 min. they had pushed the Sixers to a 7 pt. lead, that propelled them to the end of the game.

That was something the Sixers could not have done at the begining of the year. Most teams could never put that young a group of players on the floor! This is a reflection of the development of these players, their potential and hard work.

You don't trade 2-3 year players. You have to see what they are first. Jason Smith might turn out to be the PF we dream of. I loved the long shot fake, drive to the rim! How does Thad Young know where to be all the time like that? Can anyone stay in front of Lou Williams?

The team is better, because the young players have a huge amount of talent and ability. The Sixers are deep and athletic, have just enough maturity to keep everyone in line and working the right way.

We now have the chance to capture the 5th spot or even the 4th spot in the EC! We are a game out of 5 and only 4 games out of the 4th spot and home court advantage in the first round, with 14 left.

It is very important that the Sixers don't let up. Orlando and NJ this weekend. We have to win both games. One, to send Orlando a message, two to knock NJ out of their misery. But more importantly, to build up their confidence so they can give Boston a Phila. Welcome.

Boston is the only team in the east that scares me. They deserve their position because they play the best defense in the league. Last time they played, the Sixer failed to execute in the half-court and were a bit intimidated. This time we need to start better, and because of their size, we should start Jason Smith at PF to match up with Perkins.

It is also very important in that game for our guards to assert themselves. Boston is stronger up front, in the back all they have is Rhondo and Cassel. Miller and Iggoudala should take it to them early and often. Break down their back-court and you can take Boston down!

Question: If we get 5th or 4th spot, we get a better seeding, but also end up in Boston's bracket. Is it better to settle for Sixth, stay on Detroit's side and go through Orlando and Detroit before facing Boston, or to get the fourth spot, face Cleveland at home in the first round, and then face Boston in round 2?

Dre, the bitch is a large financial commitment is necessary before we know if a change of scenery will make him want to play the right way. There were questions surrounding him when he was in the draft out of highschool. That's partially why he wasn't a top 10 pick. I'd be nervous about making a major financial commitment to him.

Maybe I'm just a bitter dude without Directv, but ENOUGH with the Cavs, Pistons, Celtics, Spurs, Suns and Lakers on TV. I want the Sixers to matchup with the Pistons in the playoffs so they can pound them into oblivion and break up the NBA's most brutally boring team.
1-2-3-4-5 Six-ers!

Dre, strong words of support for Josh Smith. And a nice splash of cold water from sfw.

sfw,
I feel ya on the finances becaause he is restricted. But it's good to know big Ed has options, people may actually want to come to Philly and want to play for Mo, with this TEAM. That in it's self is a major accomplishment.

Wow that was one of the best Sixers games I have seen in a while. I've been watching all year and reading this blog all year as well but haven't posted, but last night's game made me feel the need to. Iverson's return really couldn't have went any better. That was one of the best ovations anyone has ever received coming back to Philly, and A.I.'s postgame press conference was amazing. He truly did become a man in this city and it shows. Iverson will always be a representative of this city because he's just like us. We're not perfect, but we'll give you everything we've got.

It's been great to watch this team mature all year. And is there seriously a more underrated player in the entire league than Andre Miller? Any recognition he gets, it's not enough. The guy just does his thing night in and night out. Time to start looking for that 6th and maybe even 5th slot! Man three weeks ago it would be insane for even bringing the 5th slot up in conversation! What a great game. I hope the Sixers can keep it going.

Dre/Morty, It's been said before on here that winning may help recruit talent but I really wasn't a believer. I'm actually starting to buy into it. Mainly, because this doesn't seem to be a fake run. This seems to actually be a team on the rise.

Does anyone notice how Iggy is really getting on Sam's case after he misses defensive switch, or otherwise screws up. I like the leadership, but wondering if Sam is getting turned off by it. Sam is the recipient of a lot of Iggy's passes near the rim. So, that is plus.

sfw:

I have definitely been coming around to the idea that, unlike last year, this is a real run from a team on the rise, not a fake run.

is it me or does Bob Salmi spend too much time praising the opposition's best player???

Just wanted to add my two cents on the game, a bit late. I was glad for the ovation given Iverson and for his actions before the game and his comments before and after, but I hope the attitude lasts. I remember thinking during his last several years in Philly (04-06) that he had matured and finally understood what it meant to be a team leader, but his falling out at the end showed that old habits are hard to overcome. It was only in January that he said Philly (and Cheeks) meant nothing to him, so I wonder what changed in the last two months. Whatever the case, I have to think that Cheeks' steadfast refusal to say anything negative about Iverson in public, even with plenty of opportunities and knowing he (Cheeks) would have gotten a lot of agreement, had to have impressed Iverson. Cheeks' approach is in stark contrast to Jim O'Brien with Webber (by the way, how is JOB doing now?) and even Larry Brown with Iverson in the past, and it is one of Cheeks' strongest assets as a coach (and person).

Regarding the game, it's a mark of how far the Sixers have come that I was actually disappointed that they didn't win the game by more. Don't get me wrong -- it was an exciting game, and I'm happy that they won, but had they played as well as they had in some other recent games, it would have been a 10-15 point win. The importance of the game and the big crowd didn't affect the Sixers' FG pct. because of Denver's atrocious defense, but it probably contributed to their sloppiness and low FT pct.

Individually, we saw the best and worst of Dalembert, Miller, and Green. Dalembert put up tremendous numbers (17 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks, including 2 on Anthony -- 1 phantom -- in the crucial stop before Miller's 3-point play) and generally outplayed Camby. He also made an underrated play on the winning basket when he caught Iguodala's fling and directed it toward the basket. It seems Dalembert has pretty good hands when the ball is near or above his head, and his stone hands appear when the ball is chest-level or below. On the flip side, 8 turnovers (and many of them were ugly)!

As for Miller, he continues to show amazing consistency with his 12-18 ft. jumper. He was the main reason the Sixers stayed competitive in the 3rd quarter. And it was good to see him show some joy after his 3-point play at the end. It was also telling afterward that he mentioned he was 2-1 against the Nuggets; he'd never say it directly, but I know this was an important game for him. On the flip side, Miller's perimeter defense hasn't gotten any better, but he did strip the ball away from Martin with 11 seconds left, preventing the tying basket (another underrated play in the game).

Finally, Green showed great form on his jumper, but his multiple turnovers in the 3rd quarter helped the Nuggets get back into it quickly. I hope that doesn't discourage him from continuing to penetrate.

Next up, the Magic. Two keys to this game (a possible preview of the playoffs) will be the Dalembert-Howard and Iguodala-Turkoglu matchups. I imagine Thad might get the start against Lewis again. Last time around, the Sixers won because Miller & Green outscored the Magic's starting backcourt 52-2.

Regarding schedules, the Wizards still have a West Coast trip left that includes the Lakers and Jazz, so maybe the Sixers can make up ground there. The Raptors have an easier schedule and also the tiebreaker advantage over the Sixers, so passing them might not be as likely.

gba - I love how dre is getting on guys now, not just sammy. He damn near socked lou williams the other night after a series of bad decisions "in the guts of the game", as Zumoff would say. I think its a great sign of maturity. Like you say, he's rewarding the guys when they put themselves in a position to be rewarded, so its not just carping. Maybe it is a little harsh at times (and it seems like Mo gave him a talking to for being so rough on lou during the game) but he's an emotional dude, so its going to come out rough sometimes. I think he'll learn to do it more constructively as he matures more, and if he's starting to take it one himself to put his team mates where they need to be, thats whay we've been hoping for out of him, no? Just my take on the issue.

As far as the winning attracting talent thing, i do think there's something to that. I was hoping that by next year we'b be in a position to do that, so its crazy we're talking about it already, but I think ya'll are right. We could very well be in that position by the end of this year. the strides lately have just been amazing. seriously exciting team right now.

"Dre/Morty, It's been said before on here that winning may help recruit talent but I really wasn't a believer. I'm actually starting to buy into it. Mainly, because this doesn't seem to be a fake run. This seems to actually be a team on the rise."

I agree wholeheartedly, Mo has brought a calming influence to the team kinda like a dad in the driveway hoop. He seems to see what you can do and improves it then he'll teach what you don't know. Once a PG always a PG.

We should all enjoy the last few weeks of enjoyable basketball, but I worry about this team peaking too early. Remember, earlier this season the Flyers went on a great stretch. Suddenly people started talking about them taking over Ottawa for the top spot in the East. Sure enough, they hit a bad stretch and now they are fighting for their playoff lives. This is a young club that might be unable to recover from any extended losing streak before the playoffs. I guess we just gotta hope it doesn't happen, but if it does, Miller and Mo can right the ship.

Regardless, this has been a fun stretch. I agree with some previous posters who caution against tinkering with our current team. Obviously, a PF with some kind of post presence would be ideal, but I don't think Ed should break his back to make that happen via FA or trade. I say draft an NBA ready (not project)PF with more of a post game (unlike J Smith who plays more like Dirk). In this spot, I love DJ White from Indiana. I might get killed for saying this but I think the offseason would be a huge success if we didn't lose any of rotation and locked up Iguodala for the longterm. I still don't think it's a guarantee he stays here. Bottom line, he keeps improving and has yet to reach his ceiling. Resigning him is vital.

I should probably clarify. When I wrote J Smith above I meant Jason, not Josh.

Morty!

I've been slacking on posting. Notice all these new posters? Welcome, gentlemen. Enjoy the ride. We aren't there yet, but we are getting there.

Great to see AI in our place play so well.

Even better to see our guys play so hard and so well.

I'm gonna praise Rodney Carney and Dala's D on AI. AI we all know is just a freak and do anything he wants in the offensive set. I really can see Carney turning into a Bruce Bowen type player.

Now for the negatives. One negative really. The last five minutes of the game where we went into a scoring drought, free throw futility aside, shows how much we need a 4 spot. Our half court set is rough to watch when opposing teams dig in. It'd be so nice to dump that ball in the post and swing the ball around for easy shots or rack up fouls and have a big man that can hit a clutch free throw to ice a game.

Again, great win. Great 2008, honestly. If only we had Kyle Korver!

This was a revenge game for the Sixers. Earlier in the year Iverson stated that the Sixers were not exciting and boring to watch. I wonder what he thinks of them now. The Sixers are one of the most athletic teams in the league, and have a top 5 point guard in the NBA. Stefanski has the easiest job in the world, he doesn't have to do anything and certainly doesn't have to trade anyone. Carney is playing so well, just like the All American Billy King drafted out of Memphis. Billy King deserves credit for this team, through his draft. Time will tell if philly boy Stefanski can draft anyone for the future.

Statman:

God observations. As good as Green was in the 1st quarter, he was bad in the 3rd.

JYurk:

I would prefer a PF with more experience, a young vet type, although K Love is intriguing. But I do agree with you, that if the team continues its' good play into the playoffs, ES would be wise to wait for the right deal and right player, rather than grabbing the best he can get "right now."

Our cap space does not evaporate and could be used to take advantage of a Gasol type situation. Such a deal may or may not be available this summer, ES may have to wait until during next season. I hope he has patience.

Theo, welcome back, man. Lots of new posters here, and lots of non-Korver related posts as well. Both developments are very cool, ain't winning great?

I sooooooooooooooo wish I was there last night to experience an energetic, enthusiastic Sixers crowd once again. The only game I was able to make this year was the GS game back in Nov. It might have been one of my lowest moments as a Sixers fan. Here's why:

I'm at midcourt, about 3 rows from the floor. Only about 8K people are in the building - no one is within spitting distance of me though, despite the prime location. Less than 1 minute left, we're holding onto a 1 or 2 point lead, which had dwindled down from about 10 over the 2nd half. I stand up and to show some support for the team coming out of a timeout. GS is about to inbound the ball when behind me I hear this:

"Sit down!"

To which I reply "There's a minute left. Aren't you going to stand behind your team?"

From across the way I hear "Show the guy some respect and sit down."

I look around and realize only about 5 people in the building are standing up. We're in a close gain against a Western Conf playoff team and people aren't even willing to stand up for the final minute. As a Sixers fan, it was demoralizing.

The encouraging thing was finding this blog and realizing that there was still a small community that believed in the team. Guys like Suede, Morty, DaTruth, etc continued to show their true spirit. Now we're back in it and everything is okay. Hopefully those jerks actually got out of their seats last night to lend a hand.

Tormented:

I've been to 7 games this year, and none of them have been of the full stadium variety. In fact, the buddy who I go with and I have been betting over/under on the attendance, usually under wins. Especially the 1st half of the season, the atmosphere was awful just terrible. To be fair, the team was awful as well. My tickets are exhausted for this year, but would like to sneak another game in with a larger crowd. Watching on TV last night was great, but second best.

You guys wanna see how much respect is out there for the sixers..... check out nba.com and click on the standings tab.....it's obviously and error, but still.......try it out and let me know what you think

hi Dre, re: Josh Smith, no thanks. I don't want a player to bring it when he feel like it.

For the money he makes(even on a rookie scale), there should be no reason why he shouldn't bring it all the time. Then again, I could see that kind of image rubbing off from anybody else on that Atlanta team. I haven't seen him in high school so I dont know if he has a good work ethic or not.

rick,

I'm also very high on Jason, it's unlikely but it would be frickin' awesome if he became our answer at PF. And why not? They keep winning without that stud PF. They keep beating teams with supposedly good PFs, maybe Jason's all they need for that spot. AND he comes cheap for the next 3~4 years, right? We'll see come playoff time.

I'm also looking forward to the Boston game, that and The Return of Gordan Giricek. But the matchup between Jason Smith and Perkins/Powe, we do it to get Perkins/Powe away from near the basket, so collapsing on drivers gets much harder for the Celts. With Jason's jumper, he's gotta play Jason honest. And Jason's gotta be ready for drive and kicks. Let Sammy and Reggie battle for the offensive boards.

Boston counters that by putting Garnett on Smith, since Perkins' low post defense is better than KG's. But even then, it's okay, it still just leaves one guy to defend the basket for Boston.

steve,

More minutes for Carney means less for Thad and Green. Mo's rotations are fine. Don't say Carney is better than Green, I don't think so at this point. Everyone was piling on Willie at the beginning, and look how he responded. That's character. He's been more consistent since his slump than LouWill and Carney. You watch, he's going to become our version of Rip Hamilton, not in terms of skill set, but in his role as an essential cog in our team-oriented offense. He's perfect for this motion offense that Cheeks runs, and he's the best on our team in creating a good shot for himself. He's really valuable now. If people would just keep thinking of him as Rip Hamilton II, people wouldn't be so quick to ship him out of town ASAP.

I wish everyone could get over the Sixers NOT being a conventional good team. Philly's now got a team that's very much their own, they're not copying anyone else, and out of everything they've done so far, this is their greatest achievement. And this is the biggest problem with the big NBA media guys, they're too lazy to look at and study the Sixers' unconventional success, so they just don't say anything - it's pathetic.

You guys wanna see how much respect is out there for the sixers..... check out nba.com and click on the standings tab.....it's obviously and error, but still.......try it out and let me know what you think

Man, all of this winning and solid team play has me excited for the team to say the least. Talk about a trial by fire type situation. But weirdest thing, when I went to go to NBA.com's official conference standings, Philadelphia wasn't listed...maybe it's a sign as to how Philadelphia came on the scene, lol...

We got two games with the two teams hunting us down: Atlanta and New Jersey. Also got two with LeBron James and the Cavs. I think that we match up well with them athleticism wise and that we have proven to be a better defensive team against the Hawks and Nets and we won the last game against the Cavs. We got a chance to redeem ourselves in Boston and got another date with Detroit as well.

Needless to say, this will be an exciting finish of the regular season with all of us crossing our fingers for Philadelphia to make it.

I guess Jesse noticed the whole standings thing too, obviously...lol

Sixerzguy:

Wouldn't it be great if Jason Smith could develop into that guy?

As gar as Green, however, I'm not on the same page as you. This year has been his best by far, yet all the advanced statistics (PER, Wages of wins, +/- rating, win shares) rate him as a net negative.

Carney, if he can hit his shots, offers so much more than Green. Meaning, averaged out for minutes, Carney gets more rebounds, gets to the FT line more, gets more steals, blocks, turns the ball over less.

Is it wrong for me to think this team has a shot at the 5 spot in the East????

Fantastic win.

Unbelievably, they are only 4.5 games away from getting homecourt for the 1st round.

Preseason, this team was buried by virtually everyone.

And with only one change to the roster(KK for a guy that played 110 minutes), they are that close to the 4 spot.

Like him or not, give Mo his due.

It is astounding to think that after a loss to Atlanta, in a game where they were up 20 pts in the 1st quarter, the sixers were sitting at 18-30.......................that's a 16-4 run they've been on, with wins over San Antonio, Detroit, Phoenix, Denver, to get back to .500. Incredible run, incredibly fun team to watch too!!

Morty,

Jason has the same negative statistics, except for +/-, but you can see how much he can influence the game without generating big box score numbers.

All that's being asked for Willie is to generate some points efficiently while he's in there, and not turn it over. His job isn't to get rebounds or assists. And look at the team Carney runs with (Thad, Jason, LouWill, a starter), with that team Carney needs to do more, they play differently, it suits him better. But with the starting lineup, assists (Miller, Iggy) and rebounds (Reggie, Sam) are taken care of, so Green doesn't get to work on other categories of the box score.

Again, he was in a big funk at the beginning of the year, shooting .380 in November, but for December, January, February, and March he shot .486, .456, .497 and .522. Put that up against other shooting guards, and you'll see that we get a lot of value for the guy.

Art, going back to the advanced statistics, the wages of wins site offers an analysis that based upon his statistics the Sixers are right where they should be, a .500 record. I suppose that in his view this run is merely regression to the mean.

I take intangibles more into account, and so gi