Deep Sixer

I was at a Center City bar and the attention turned quickly from Temple to the Sixers when they went on the 12-2 in the 4th qtr. First time I've seen it in 4 or 5 years here...the whole bar was cheering the Sixers comeback. It was pretty cool - reminded me of the
'99-03 Iverson years.

Great win - absolutely phenomenal comeback. Let's polish off the Spurs tomorrow night. GO SIXERS!!

Great team effort. Wow, if Reggie can keep hitting from the line like that...

Great win. Give credit also to Mo, for letting the kids play at the end, and Kevin Ollie for his hustle and the great stop on Gordon at the end. I think this team is only two players away from contending.

Oh, and if its my call, Ollie gets the game ball tonight. Comes off the bench and hits the and 1, key rebound, draws key offensive foul, etc...

can't discount Carney's 3's. either, looks like he's finding his game again. I'll agree with what he said in the post-game - he's a groove type player and it looks like he's close to finding it. First time this year he's showed up twice in a row.

had a few watching myself...good times.

Marc,
Give me one well-thought out reason, why any Owner of this franchise would not already be considering where to relocate this team?

I dont know whether the Fans or the Media are the Chicken or The Egg, but, nothing personal, but again, lets agree, both are perhaps genitically?, or otherwise, fully blown high anxiety cases through either success or failure.

Perhaps the Inquirer, correction, SURELY, The Inquire has a PENN psychiatriST or three at its disposal? If only for the periodic benefit of all the players on Philly sports teams subjected to such a City's perpetual disbelief to one of its team's relative, if even interim, surprise to the upside?

Even you, who I can sense is fighting this inbred Philly negativity in, and this is as complimentary as I can share, a slightly contrarian "Maybe we underestimated the chemistry factor, the supposed INFERIOR talent, even you write with the hint of "Of course this cannot last".

Is it as another wrote, a genetic Philadelphian's serotinin lacking flaw?

Its a little humorous, but seriously, its a lot more pathetic. Ask the players,,,off the record, of course.
To them its a short term challenge to prove nay-sayers wrong; but let us not kid ourselves; in the long run, they all detest this collective Philly mindset.
Can you honestly disagree with that? Course not.

Marc.
Please. Enough with your hooey "house money" crap. Any further reference to that will deprive you of the credibility you have perhaps earned on this Blog as you attempt to gain respect for the long forgotten benefits, in Philly, of team play and Chemistry during the ill-fated doom of the Iverson era, all his years undoubtedly viewed retrospectively in a few years as the Circus Show that effectively entertained as a freak show, not as any winning team of players.

A friend of mine reminds of a quote re Phila. fans-

"Fans in Philly are the type who will always look backwards as to what they had, while being incapable, when those timing cycles scream otherwise, to having any foresight as to what just might be staring at them in the eye re their future".

Cuz the very players who the few see as that potential future core despise, and exit at all costs, before the Philly fan even opens his eyes.. too late.

Sixer fans have maybe 10 home games to appear and reverse this. Now, would you bet on that occurring? Noooooo.

KM,

I believe we had this agreement about Carney's good game bad game effort. He surprised me. He started off a little shaky at first but got it going in the second half. Good for him, but the jury is still out on him...

I just had this feeling like they were going to pull it out tonight. As soon as Mo decided to leave Dre in when he got his 4th foul, I said "we got this game"

Credit goes to Mo for inserting Ollie. With Miller's back we needed Ollie tonight. He has always been a good defensive player but tonight he was in rare form. His quickness is what brought the entire teams energy up on D. Anyone notice how he was wide open on the shot that Lou forced with a hand in his face at the end? Ollie's hands were just waiting. Lou has to learn to pass the ball to open teammates and stop trying to be the hero all of the time, to pick his spots. He keeps playing like that guy who bought him his first suit, Iverson.

Sensational win, hard to even put into words how unexpected it was. Things were going so badly that I was wondering how wise it was to put Iguodala back in the game in the 4th. But the Sixers got the Bulls into the penalty early, hit several early free throws, then got hot at the end.

Nearly everyone who played in the 4th was heroic in some way: (1) Carney was the 4th-quarter MVP again, 4-4 with 3 3-pointers [all huge at the time, including the go-ahead 3 with under 2 minutes to go]; (2) after missing a couple jumpers early in the quarter, Iguodala hit his first second-half jumpers in 3 games, including the huge tying 3-pointer, plus went 4-4 from the line; (3) Lou Williams broke out of his horrendous shooting slump just in time, hitting 2 clutch baskets in the last two minutes, as well as contributing all his assists [3], steals [2] and rebounds [2] for the game in the quarter; (4) Jason Smith hit 6 big free throws early and forced Drew Gooden to the bench for a while; (5) Dalembert had the huge tip-in and pulled down a big def. rebound at the end; (6) Ollie defended Gordon perfectly on the 3-pointer at the end.

Even more amazing about the 4th quarter was that the Sixers didn't really force a lot of missed shots: the Bulls were 9-17 from the field and 2-2 from the line. The big difference was 7 turnovers forced on the Bulls (to 0 for the Sixers). But most amazing about the 4th quarter was that the Sixers -- last in the league in both 3-point pct. and free-throw pct. -- went 4-4 from 3 and 14-16 from the line. They essentially won the game with half-court offense. As Marc already pointed out, the 40-44 from the line for the game was totally unexpected, as was Reggie Evans' 6-6. The Bulls' announcers kept grumbling that the Sixers were shooting free throws way over their heads.

Next up, the Spurs. I give the Sixers a very good chance to win that game, if they come into it in the right frame of mind (they really seemed too excited for the Boston game). I look for the Sixers' athleticism to give the Spurs lots of trouble, just as it did when they played in San Antonio earlier in the year. Don't look now, but the Sixers are just 2.5 back of Toronto for 5th, and Toronto still has some tough games on its West Coast trip (and is falling apart without Bosh). Good times to be a Sixers fan!

This is what a consistent 3 point threat can do for you! This is the value of having a Kyle Korver type player can do. Demoralize a team when they felt they already beat you. For all those people who didnt understand the value of a Kyle Korver/luxury...For all the ones who couldnt comprehend how Kyle could have gotten us a win two games ago...All you need is ONE shot ONE 3 to put fear in a opponents heart then this thing called MOMENTUM is on your side. Then everybody around you starts playing like they still have a chance..Ask Reggie Miller about the MOMENTUM shifting 3 that defined his career. Ask Larry Brown about Miller's lack of defense or reluctance to do anything else. NAME ONE TEAM THAT WON A CHAMPIONSHIP WITHOUT A SHOOTER...ONE...And if you cant tell you the value of a "luxury" CONGRADULATIONS RODNEY!!!WAY TO GO IN HOLDING US DOWN!!! GO SIXERS!!!

How can you NOT love this team! Kudos and Props to Jason Smith for sticking his nose in the trenches and holding his own in the post. Props to Kevin Ollie I wasnt a big fan of yours but your man to man defense after a hurt Andre Miller came out was crucial. And AGAIN Lou Williams makes good decisions with the ball in his hand..kickouts to the hothand Carney and and taking it to the whole off of pick and rolls...And ANOTHER SOUND DEFENSIVE EFFORT!!! Frustrating Larry Hughes into an offensive foul without using his hands was wizardry. Defense played by moving your feet and positioning...WHAT A CONCEPT!!lol There is no team at the top of the east that wants to see us in the playoffs..NOBODY

Where are all the Carney haters now? He was the best player on the floor in the 4th quarter. This team needs someone like him who can put the ball in the hole during pressure-packed moments.

The Regulator continues to do his thing, on the boards and on the free throw line, and Jason Smith seems to have found his legs and is playing aggressively again. I agree with the person who said earlier that the 76ers athleticism could give the Spurs a little bit of trouble, especially on a back to back.

If they can get this game tomorrow, that would really show how far they have come. It will be good to get Willie Green back tomorrow. He helps spread the floor for this team and takes some pressure off of the shoulders of A. Miller and Iggy to have to score.

Still, a tremendous win for this team. The Bulls announcers, team and crowd was just shell-shocked at the end. It's not often that you hear the hometown announcers be down on their team, but when things started to go south, they talked about all of the dumb and "stupid" plays that the team was making. Too funny.

You can tell outright that they are particularly down on Tyrus Thomas and Ben Gordon.

You look at the Bulls squad and you see all of the pieces that they have acquired but they don't have an identity. Their two best players last night came off of the bench, Sefolosha and Nociono. Deng and Gordon haven't been the same since they turned down those big paydays. Looking at them play, you can tell their heads are gone.

And by the way, if you didn't know how much each player made, how much would Carney have been worth after last night's game?

I'd give Carney 6 million per. I'd still like to see his shot selection start to develop comfortable spots on the floor but that comes with MINUTES. But i'm happy Rodney Lou Jason are getting opportunties to shine so when the playoffs come we have a complete team we arent afraid to put on the floor

You know one of the things that hit me last night is how little credit the Sixers personnel people are given when you think about the post-Iverson Sixers. I am an NBA fan and I did not know how good Andre Miller and Reggie Evans are. Kudos to Tony DiLeo and Billy King. They always say, "you never get value for a superstar". Well, I think we got a guy (Miller) who, at this stage of the game, helps you win more games than Iverson. And, Reggie Evans makes such a difference in the way a team plays, it's incredible. What a joy to watch him do what he does every night.

Finally, I know Lou Williams came when Iverson was here but what a talent they found at No. 55 in the draft. And Marc forget the "house money" thing, this team keeps getting better and I expect a great effort tonight.

You know one of the things that hit me last night is how little credit the Sixers personnel people are given when you think about the post-Iverson Sixers. I am an NBA fan and I did not know how good Andre Miller and Reggie Evans are. Kudos to Tony DiLeo and Billy King. They always say, "you never get value for a superstar". Well, I think we got a guy (Miller) who, at this stage of the game, helps you win more games than Iverson. And, Reggie Evans makes such a difference in the way a team plays, it's incredible. What a joy to watch him do what he does every night.

Finally, I know Lou Williams came when Iverson was here but what a talent they found at No. 55 in the draft. And Marc forget the "house money" thing, this team keeps getting better and I expect a great effort tonight.

Went to bed after half. Taped 2nd half. Get a wakeup call from Suede around 10:30pm telling me that sixers will go 2-2 in this stretch with a win over San Antonio. Just finished watching the game. Oh Yee of little faith!

Going to the game tonight. Let's go 3-1!

Hate to bring up the KK trade again but after that trade the extra minutes going to TYoung, etc...
With WGreen inactive. All of a sudden those minutes are going to Carney. Better defense. Better shot! More confidence! Rather see Rodney get that time.........

Kudos to KOllie!

Pleasure to root for this team!

Yeah Baby! Can you believe this? So what no KG, Koby, Shaq, Howard and no super star I'm being treated to some of the most exciting basketball in the league!

Yeah Baby!

Preacher Mo and those "dumb" wins at the end of last season have given this team RELIGION. Give Mo credit for the great D the 'Ers are playing and, posthumorously, Billy the K's rotations are looking pretty sick good.

Moe for coach of the year!

What an amazing team and what an amazing win over the Bulls last night! I was only able to follow the game via an Internet Gamecast last evening and it sure was fun watching the Sixers score roll like the symbols of a slot machine in the fourth quarter as they completed their comeback.

There is something special going on with this team right now. Guys get injured or key players have an off night and others immediately step up their games. Green goes out and Carney plays like an All-Star. Miller gets injured and Ollie comes off the bench and delivers. Kids like Williams, Smith, and Young deliver veteran performances at key times. And Evans going perfect from the stripe is inexplicable. But that is how good teams perform. And win games.

Credit to Mo Cheeks and staff for finding the right combinations last night in that fourth quarter. Who would have thought that a line-up of Smith, Iguodala, Carney, Williams, and Ollie would trigger the comeback. And Cheeks' timing of replacing Smith with Dalembert to finish the job was spot on.

I wish I was living in Philly. I would get my butt down to the Wachovia Center and cheer this team on tonight against the Spurs. This Sixer team sure deserves some love.

Spurs top 3 played over 35 minutes each last night in tight loss to Pistons. Our minutes were very balanced except for Iggy. Could give us a bit more energy tonight.

Letdown My @#$ - Sixers’ Comeback Quiets the Skeptics...
http://reclinergm.wordpress.com/2008/03/15/letdown-my-sixers-comeback-quiets-the-skeptics/

SFW - I am with you. I think the Sixers will be pretty fresh tonight for the Spurs game and I hope to see another win against a top team first hand at the Wachovia Center.

By the way, Reggie Evans did not come in the Iverson deal. BK (for all his faults) should get major props for the Reggie Evans - Steven Hunter / 2nd rd choice. He should also get props for getting Andre Miller and 2 #1s for Iverson. I didn't like the deal at the time, but Miller has obviously exceeded everyone's best expectations.

Korver is GONE get over it Zeru!(lol) but I understand the theme of your argument. Lets hope Carney has truly found his "groove" and is not just going through a hot streak. If he can be a consistant 15ppg guy we'd be in great shape.

It!s nice having three long [6!6" or bigger] wing players at the 2 and 3, loved A.I. but we always had to worry at the defensive end of the floor.Zeru, R.Miller was pretty good defensively and Carney was covering Deung at the end of the game. Korver couldn!t of done that.Okay, my last mention of him, sorry!! We looked in the mirror at our future selves in the Detroit game; if we add a stud p.f. over the summer[Brand,Randolph,healthy Oneal] than tonight we may look in that mirror again. With A.Miller being our slower version of Parker and Iggy working his way up to a Ginobli type level it would be nice to find a Duncan type 4.The rest of the pieces seem in place.Has the level of play gone up since Mo!s extension ?

Suede, did you enjoy that loss er.. win last night!

Go ahead, let me have it. I!ll take credit for the win, they played better after I got home and put the game on, so there!!! If your Mo, who gets Duncan to start tonight, Sam or Reggie?

No quit.

Its' 75 degrees and sunny as I wake up on this Saturday morning in lovely Orlando, Florida. A cup of coffee in one hand, my big toe in the pool and this laptop on my, um, lap.

But I'd trade it all for a trip back to Philly tonight to see a full house against the Spurs.

And please, I'm begging all of you, never mention Zach Randolph again.

Dean,

Nice to see you back. You been here since the beginning, don't fade away now, even if we do disagree about Jason Smith. BTW, notice the bad body language isn't there anymore? Did you have a little chat with the guy or something?

Chicago,

What did I tell you? I told y'all you'd be hurting after tonight's game. I told y'all there was a reason we're in the playoffs and you're 5 back.

Suede,

I think you have it all wrong about Carney's improvement, it's not about the 3-point shooting. It's about how Carney was still playing aggressively when his offense wasn't going for him at first. Mo's dead on about what Carney needs to do: focus on his non-shooting responsibilities, and if he does, then and only then does he get minutes, in turn getting a rythm for the game, and THEN getting the chance to put up some shots.

I'm glad he made those 3's, but he's not going to go 3-3 every game. It's just law of averages, Sammy usually plays MUCH better than he did last night, and Evans is usually more effective. What I'm happiest about is that he's asserting himself on the court, no matter what's going on in the offense - that's where the foundation should start, not whether or not he makes his first shot.

Last note: I loved what I saw from Jason in the post yesterday, it reminded me of Thad's baby steps way back at the beginning of the year. Remember when Thad would show us glimpses of what he could do at the beginning of the year, and then made good on that early promise later on? I think this is what's happening with Jason's low post game. Last night, against an average power forward in Gooden, he showed a great ability to get his shot off, even if it didn't go in. That's only gonna get better over time.

I know everyone on this board can't stop slobbering over themselves about the potential personnel changes upcoming, but think about how it affects the team we're seeing now. They're winning without all the changes everyone's cooking up. You get that impact big guy, whose minutes does he take? For everyone who's penciling Thad in at the 3 and Iggy at the 2 (BTW, that wasn't very wise of Stefansky to say that, who plays and when depends on the game situation, of all the things he's done so far, that's gotta be the most negative), you can't ignore how good that combo has been against a lot of teams. And the new guy would definitely take some of Jason's minutes. I'm starting to think that we don't need to make such a huge splash at the 4 spot - just a guy who can play a role when we need to go big, has better hands than both Sammy and Reggie so that he can handle Iggy's drive and dishes, and can defend and rebound, someone we can add without losing anyone from our rotation now, and he MUST be able to handle it when, for certain situations, a lineup without him is a better option.

BB - We sure did. If its up to me right now, Carney has earned his time in the lineup and needs to keep getting it as long as his play holds up. I've always thought he has the potential to be a more athletic Tayshaun Prince - He's got that long body, defensive instincts, and when his shot is falling... Anyway, here's hoping, haha.

And sixerzguy - good post re Jason Smith. I noticed those post up attempts too...like you say, encouraging even if he didn't hit the shots. By the way, his jumper has checked back in too... Also, Thaddeus didn't really show like we've become used to - Anyone else really hoping he can pack on a good 15-20 lbs so he can play 4 full time? On stefanski, I was wondering how the team would react to his comments too...I dont think it was so bad since they've pulled of a few nice wins since - maybe he was just trying to light a fire under some people? Biggest implications of his comments are for Willie, who was pretty blatantly left out of the picture. Looking for him to come out like a lion tonight, but hoping he doesn't play so much that Carney doesnt get to show. I ;m looking into my crystal ball and seeing Willie to start and Carney to finish...

Hey, if Carney can play like he has in the last two games, I'm all for giving him as many minutes as possible. He was phenomenal again last night.

That said, I think that the criticism that's been lobbed his way this season has been absolutely just. He's had a couple of VERY nice games in a row, but I want to see him consistently give the effort that he has this week. You're right Sixerzguy...he's not going to go 3-3 from 3 pt range every night, but he needs to continue to make good decisions on the court...especially on the offensive end. The biggest thing I've seen from him these last two games is his moving without the ball and putting himself in a good scoring position if he gets an opportunity. Before, if he got the ball, he'd try to break down the defender every time, and that's not his game. His handle isn't very good (hopefully he can improve this), but he needs to understand that he can still be an effective offensive player in other ways, specifically moving without the ball.

Some players struggle with that once they make the jump from college to the NBA because the talent level is so much higher. They're used to dominating and when faced with a greater challenge, many can't adjust their games accordingly. Hopefully, Rodney is beginning to see the light...success breeds repetition. Anyway, I hope Rodney continues to play great, and I also hope that Willie comes back and continues to light it up. It can only mean continued success for the team. GO SIXERS!!!

Suede, Seems as if Sammy's been given the responsibility of the guarding the scoring big this year. He's done a pretty good job on Chris Bosch. So, it will probably be Sammy on Duncan to start. Until he gets those 2 quick fouls......

This is purely fantasy. But just saw a little excerpt from hoopshype about the Griz getting all ga ga over Monta Ellis. I guess he's a restricted free agent. First of all would find it impossible to believe that the Warriors wouldn't match any offer. But talk about your perfect fit for the Sixers. Goodness gracious how would that look.... Miller, Ellis, Iggy, Thad, Reggie, LouWil and Sam just being all long, energetic and fast and in everybody's face.
A side note... if griz actually spend their money this summer (they have about 12 mil, according to hoopshype) and they DON'T get Ellis, would they go after Iggy? Iggy may have just earned himself that raise he was hoping for. Who will sign the checks?

I think Ed S's biggest role this year is the mind games he's played on the players and coaches. I don't think Billy put pressure on the team like Ed has. That may have been because they were Billy's players.

KM, I'd prefer Thad add a couple inches and a better handle. Like to see him swing between the 3 and 4 and become a healthy Chris Bosch.

This team has played the way I expected them to play all year... I knew coming in that this was a young team trying to find itself and it was going to take some time... I have to say I wasn't really happy with the drafting of Thaddeus Young on draft day but give Billy King his due... He knew what he was doing... I would like every one of you Billy King Bashers to send him a personal note of apology and thank him for having the courage to build this team the right way... I for one believed in the directions that he was taking the team the last couple of years... THANK YOU BILLY... You deserved better...

Marc,
Great job covering the Sixers. As I stated the other day, Carney is looking like the All American the Sixers drafted out of Memphis. Cheeks and his coaching staff have done a great job. I noticed Henry Bibby and Jim Lynam constantly switching places on the Sixers bench next to Cheeks while I was in attendance at the Clippers game in Los Angeles. This shows that he is constantly communicating and getting different perspectives as the game moves on, which is a plus. Philly fans on this blog spend way too much time analyzing their various mood swings. Appreciate these guys for what they are, an upcoming young team that can run with any team in the league. Their coach has taught them to never quit, and should be considered for the Coach of the year.
Jason --Los Angeles

Wow, what a finish. I tuned in with about 6 minutes to go and the Sixers down 11. Dre, Lou and Carney were the stars, and Oliie made some great hustle plays.

Two things to note, this is back to back games Carney and Lou finished strong on their weaknesses - shooting for Carney, and defense for Lou, who was also a great play maker in that stretch.

We can't expect that 3 point shooting from Carney every night, obviously, but it was a good demonstration of the benefits of getting it from a multi talented player.

Now, this is probably influenced by my not seeing the first 3 quarters, but I just like the team better with Carney getting Green's minutes - if he can consistently bring it like the past two games. Carney offers much more upside.

BTW, Evans hitting six of six FT's is almost inexplicable.

I just am not seeing Kyle ever fitting in here. He couldn't handle the ball, was nominal on 'D' and just wouldn't fit with these young studs.

I'll take Thad, Rodney, Lou and Iggy together anyday..with Miller leading them and Reg banging bodies.

And all you Ollie haters need to recognize the immeasureable contribution he gives this team in the locker room, on the bench and when he comes in. This guy has been around, knows the game and Mo wants him around these young guys because of his character and (right) heart.

The Stefanski move was right. The only thing that isn't right is that sad one year extension they gave Mo. They also need a power forward. Andre will leave and they'll get someone for him. He's a West Coast boy. Too bad. This team is dangerous, young and fearless.

Spurs tonite. I'm hoping the Spurs are tired and feelin' overconfident about being in Philly.

Desixersfan:

The problem was, and the biggest move ES has made, is that the Sixers earlier this year were a young team that wasn't playing it's young guys. Now, we trust and play the young guys, and we also play to their strengths.

So we must give credit to BK, but also recognize that it has taken a different approach than his own to get the most out of the players. And we must still recognize that we need probably 2 more difference making players to become a true contender for the East.

iSpec - I agree I think Kevin Ollie could be key for the Sixers come playoff time. He should be the backup PG, especially if Lou gets too erratic in order to keep the game under control. I love Lou but he isn't a point guard at all.

How do you guys feel about Lou running the ISO at the end of games instead of Iguodala? Last night Lou pretty much waved Iguodala off when he came to get the ball - intersting. This is something I have noticed many times this season.

The Recliner GM Sports Blog:
http://reclinergm.wordpress.com

Sixerzguy:

Despite what I said about 2 players, I can see where you are coming from with a lower key approach. However, I think that approach relies upon Smith, Carney and Lou becoming consistent and reliable. And it's a hard position to be confident about, despite the past two games. Maybe the remainder of the season and playoffs can show us the light.

Morty - BK does deserve some credit. I think his drafting ability has been severly overlooked because of his terrible contract negotiations and weak/questionable free agent moves. He has drafted pretty well, but never insisted those players be on the floor the way Ed has.

Sixers need an inside scorer and a more versatile 3-point threat. Someone that can shoot it but also either D-up, rebound, or play the point. I am trying to be realistic in thinking we won't find a player that can do all of those, I'll settle for shooting and defense. Korver didn't fit that mold.

Iguodala at the SG position has been a revelation, I hope Mo considers leaving him in that spot. Props to Carney, he was supposed to be a good 3pt shooter coming out of college... But man, I really wish I was going to the game tonight! For those who go, have fun and support your team.

ISPEC, you're nuts for even suggesting that iggy walks. He is one of our core guys right now on this team along with thad, lou, carney, and miller. Ed has to resign iggy because he has an important role on this team right now as our starting 2 guard. He has proved over the last couple of games of his consistancy at the 2 guard. I think next year it is very likely that he could start at the 2 guard and Thad at the 3. As for an outside shooter I agree with you that korver was just not made for this kind of fast and athletic team. Sure he was our only 3 point threat, but he was just not on the same level of athletic ability that the other guys on the team have right now and he also was not a great defender. If we go after a good 3 point shooter off the bench, that player cannot be just a one dimensional player like Korver was. We have either draft a guy in the second round we is athletic and can effectively shoot the 3 point shot or someone that could at least can be a good lock down defender and can shoot the three.

Let's not rip BK for not getting the younger guys on the floor this season. He had a whole 14 games or so before he was fired at the beginning of Dec. It would have been an unwise move to start Thad Young or even give him consistent minutes at the beginning of the season. He's 19 years old and had played one season of college basketball. Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, etc. did not get consistent minutes their first year in the league.

And, I'm sure as the season progressed, Thad would have seen more playing time...you can't say that BK wouldn't have insisted that the young guys play. Otherwise, how do you explain Jason Smith playing right from the get go. And, by Thad's own admission, he needed 6 months or so from training camp on to kind of figure everything out.

Gotta love Mr. Carney!

Whoa. I live in New Orleans, and I don't have NBA League Pass, so I was "watching" the game on my computer, using ESPN. I turned it off when the score was Bulls 78, Sixers 60. ...This morning, I checked the final score to see how badly we had lost... and I was stunned. Go Sixers!

(And bring back the classic uniforms.)

They sure have made a beleiver out of me. Mo has done a fantastic job with this team, they just don't quit.

Me and my wife were at the game last nite (in our sixers shirts and hats). We got hassled all thru the game but then at the end everyone sitting around us just got up and left with out a word. Made us smile even more. I was shocked at how many Bulls fans got up and left when the Sixers tied it. Great game. Never before have I sat thru a sporting event and was so miserable at what I was watching and then had it all change so quickly........

Dean:

Agreed. I'm sure that as the season went on, BK would have traded away Korver, asked Mo to start playing a more aggressive trapping defense and pushing the fast break whenever possible. I'm sure we would have started playing to our players' strengths - speed and athleticism.

Why, oh why, was poor BK sacrificed on the alter of no paying customers? Damn this cruel world!

Seriously, folks, why wasn't Billy given a 4th chance? He promised not to give out any more outrageous contracts ever again. I think he meant it this time.

I'd kill to see this game - up by 8 at the half!

Dean/Morty
You made an excellent point while Morty feveriously trys to defend everything Ed does or doesnt do while he fights to give him more credit than he deserves. First Ed tells Moe to play the young players then Ed tells Moe to make them run...Now Ed is responsible for a trapped defense implimented before he even got here? When does it end? Did Ed build the Spectrum too? You have always seemed to have a problem giving credit to the source. Grudgingly even...Why? Why does it matter at this point? Arent we winning? Lets be realistic for a moment Morty because you seem infatuated with creating your own reality. Ed has brought nobody here so far..All he told Cheeks to do is play the young players so he could evaluate the team. What do you have against Cheeks and King that you grudging give them credit for the team that THEY BUILT. Really..All you can give Ed credit for is executing a lopsided trade. And pinning Larry Browns personell decisions on King is like blaming a passenger in a drunk and drive crash.

...yeah King was there but who was driving the car? Do the cops give a record to the passenger or the one driving the car?

Morty

Arent you the one trying to ship everybody out of here for players less than we had as short as a couple of weeks ago? Really what your problem man? Take that Prozak and chill.

Didnt you want to get rid of Sam? He shut down the best powerfotward in the game tonight. Can you give him credit for that or was Duncan sick? I'm sure you will come up with something. How about you just be a Sixers fan...Damn

At the game tonight. couple things...

Andre Miller is the man. Great game.

Carney is drawing attention of the opposing team AND taking Thad Young's minutes. He played small forward for critical parts of the game. His stretching of the defense may be the reason we are playing better in the half court.

Sammy came up big on 'D'.

Everybody now...

1,2,3-4-5 Six-ers
10,9,8, Seventy-Sixers

..here they come, every-BODY...
Phila-DEL-phia... Seventy - SIX - ers

Harvey, Love it!

sfw,
you were there, which team set the tone for the style of play. Did the Sixers impose their style and the Spurs were forced to adjust and failed? Or did the Sixers beat the Spurs at their own game? I think the answer to this question says a lot. If you make the reigning world champs adjust to your style of play, something tingly is going on here.
And the biggest question of all... do they still play that little sing-along?

I'll be honest. Seemed like San Antonio lacked the energy of the Sixers from the git go. So, we imposed our will on them. Could be different under different scheduling circumstances. Not sure about the sing along. Was a bit disappointed in the attendence. Looked like 75% full at most.