AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- In a move that wasn’t surprising, 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks said at this morning’s shootaround that Thaddeus Young would start at power forward in tonight’s opening playoff game with the Detroit Pistons.
Reggie Evans, who started all four regular season games against the Pistons, will come off the bench.
After Friday’s practice Cheeks said that he was looking for more scoring from the power forward position, hinting that Young would be in the starting lineup.. The Sixers averaged just 85 points per game in their four regular season meetings with Detroit.
“Thaddeus, when we have him inside we score more,” Cheeks said after this morning’s shootaround at the Palace of Auburn Hills. “We get more opportunities to run up and down the floor and he runs extremely well.
Cheeks also mentioned that he likes the energy that Evans brings off the bench. Young started once this season against the Pistons, but that was at small forward when Willie Green missed a game with a back injury. The Sixers won that game, 83-82 on March 12 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
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Thad To Start Against Pistons
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Marc Narducci is in his 23rd year as a sports reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The 2007-2008 season will be his first as the 76ers beat writer. For the past two seasons, Marc had been the backup writer for the Eagles. Over the past few years Marc covered the NBA, NHL and Major League baseball as well as writing on sports media. Prior to covering professional sports, Marc was a long-time high school sportswriter for The Inquirer's South Jersey section.
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Comments (33)
Amen brother! The Greek Gods must have been listening. Unleash the Beast, FUTURE DREAM TEAMER Thaddeus "The Prototype" Young!
Posted by The Greek | April 20, 2008 12:15 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 12:15
The only thing I don't like about this is it means Green is starting. However, he does play better against Detroit, so we'll just have to see how everything unfolds. I hope Cheeks will be ready to pull Green for Carney if he starts taking bad shots. Let's go Sixers!
Posted by Kramer | April 20, 2008 12:25 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 12:25
Seems Mcdyess posts up more than Sheed, does Thad cover Sheed to keep Sam closer to the basket? Curious to see who steps up, logic says Sam and A.Miller [experience] but need Iggy and one of the young guys to play above their norm to have a shot.
Posted by suede | April 20, 2008 12:47 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 12:47
Let's go Sixers!! For the record, as I said earlier, the Sixers will prevail in 6 games. The top 8 (starting 5 along with Carney, Evans, and LouWill) must all play well, but I think the Sixers have a much better chance than peopple think.
Posted by Dean | April 20, 2008 2:37 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 14:37
Nice - Mo is winning my approval more and more.
Posted by hugh | April 20, 2008 3:55 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 15:55
Also agreed that this is a good decision by Mo to get Thad into the starting lineup. Gotta take a risk when you are the underdog. McDyess obviously has size, but Thad has speed and athleticism, jumping ability, etc. As long as we play our game, this should be a decent move. If I recall correctly, McDyess is not a pure post player, more like a 15 ft and in jump shooter.
Posted by Morty | April 20, 2008 4:08 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 16:08
Of course I would prefer Thad at the SF spot, but you take what you can get. This puts our 4 best players on the court to start the game. The other key to good starts will be Mo's leash on Willie. If Green is hitting shots, awesome, if not, will Mo cut his minutes from the 25ish he averages?
In my opinion, I would make Carney the 1st sub off the bench for Green in the first quarter, if needed, and bring in Lou as normal at the end of he 1st, beginning of the 2nd. I would also try to play Lou at the point to match him up against Billups as much as possible, because Billups can't stay in front of Lou, no way.
Posted by Morty | April 20, 2008 4:24 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 16:24
Mo should have started Miller Iggy Young Evans and Sam..If you have a recipe for sucess why change the ingredients? But I wont question him lets get this win.
Posted by Zeru | April 20, 2008 5:45 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 17:45
Marc
Between Moe playing Iggy for almost 40 minutes in a meaningless game when he should have been resting..And him starting Thad at the 4 instead of 3...I'm starting to believe Moe might actually listen to you. Is that true?
Posted by Zeru | April 20, 2008 5:50 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 17:50
Iggy is killing us so far but we know how that goes with our team. Detroit can laugh now but they will cry later..
Posted by Zeru | April 20, 2008 6:58 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 18:58
They are hacking Iggy...At least we are getting to the line
Posted by Zeru | April 20, 2008 7:07 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 19:07
6ers seem a little nervous out there.
Posted by dbeas | April 20, 2008 7:40 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 19:40
6ers seem a little nervous out there. igoudala is incognito.
Posted by dbeas | April 20, 2008 7:41 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 19:41
THATS WHAT THE HELL I"M TALKING ABOUT HUGH AND DERRICK IF YOU DIDNT KNOW BEFORE WELL YOU KNOW NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Zeru | April 20, 2008 8:47 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 20:47
THE SERIES IS OURS DETROIT IS NOW DEMORALIZED!!!!
Posted by Zeru | April 20, 2008 8:49 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 20:49
I'M SPORTS PROPHECING OVER HERE NOW EVERYTHING I SAID WILL COME TO PASS LMAO HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!!!!!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
Posted by Zeru | April 20, 2008 8:52 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 20:52
guess its a p,us the Philly media geniuses avoidVegas betting lines...
God forbid Philly Media ever support undedog;esp. own team.
A-hole Philly media. Always a year behind reality
Posted by West Coast GM | April 20, 2008 9:08 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 21:08
Holy moly!
Congrats, Sixers. Way to go, guys!
Keep playing hard...and never, ever quit.
Posted by Ed RosenBerg | April 20, 2008 9:20 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 21:20
NOw, all can comprehend why Phila. athletes have zero interest with local media idiot morons.
Any bright sports reporter has long left Negadelphia. One has to be brainlocked not to deal with that sad reality
Posted by Anonymous | April 20, 2008 9:22 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 21:22
I only have one word for the victory:
Sweetness.
Posted by Chris E. | April 20, 2008 9:23 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 21:23
igoudala's defense and rebounding more than made up for his lack of offense. willie green didn't back down from the big bad pistons and played a very solid game. THE SIXERS ARE SCARY.
Posted by dbeas | April 20, 2008 9:23 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 21:23
iguodala contributes in more ways than 99 pct of you idiots here have any idea-which is why he is outtta Philly Hell next year,along with usual anti-Philly reasons.
Philly media and fans are equally clueless as to components of team success. CLUELESS.
Posted by Anonymous | April 20, 2008 9:37 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 21:37
Good job Zeru, I hope you put your paycheck on the game since you were so sure of it.
Great games by Miller and Evans - Thad's start was also very impressive. Iggy played more aggressively in the 2nd half, which was good to see - given the frustrations he had in the 1st. But Miller was really the player of this game - he brought us back in the 2nd half and was getting big baskets when the rest of the guys are struggling.
Who would have thought Billups and Hamilton would miss 4 foul shots late in the 4th and Evans would hit 2 in a row - not to mention a turn around 18 footer?
Posted by hugh | April 20, 2008 9:38 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 21:38
whats the sad part ofthis franchise is the fact that the players have zero idea what a home crowd sounds like.
Shame on Negadelphia crap.
Get over your sorry, self-pity aerses.
Posted by Dr.WTF | April 20, 2008 9:53 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 21:53
whats the sad part ofthis franchise is the fact that the players have zero idea what a home crowd sounds like.
Shame on Negadelphia crap.
Get over your sorry, self-pity aerses.
Posted by Dr.WTF | April 20, 2008 9:53 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 21:53
Miller really is amazing, isn't he? I love his fire and he only turned it up tonight. So tough.
It sure is nice to steal one in Detroit.
Posted by bob | April 20, 2008 9:54 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 21:54
feel ya. if this franchise was the OKC
Sixers, imagine the media and fan support.
Posted by Mike | April 20, 2008 10:01 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 22:01
Great win. Everyone not talking about the win and complaining about some nonsense ... please go elsewhere!
Posted by Morty | April 20, 2008 10:18 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 22:18
For Jumpin':
Very nice game by Willie, keep taking it to the weight room, young fella!
Posted by Morty | April 20, 2008 10:20 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 22:20
Great game by Evans as well, though I'm not counting on turnaround 18 footers becoming a part of his game.
Posted by Morty | April 20, 2008 10:23 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 22:23
Nice win boys! keep it up! I liked Iguodala guarding Billups at the end of the game. He forced Mr. Clutch to give the ball up to others who missed the shots. If I remember correctly the Pistons were bringing the ball down the court down by 1 with like 30 seconds to play and I could just picture Billups hitting a game winner like he usually does. Great job Iguodala and nice creativity by Mo Cheeks
Posted by bball | April 20, 2008 10:31 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 22:31
Great Game, Really exciting I did not pick the Sixers to win but I love the effort and am rooting for them really hard. Reggie Evans has so much heart, scratch that the whole team has sooo much heart it is great to watch.
I did get to the net also while watching the game and it was pretty fun. Would like to see some regular posters on here, participate in the live chat.
Peace,
GO SIXERS!!!!!!!
Posted by 2one5 | April 20, 2008 10:44 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 22:44
Man, oh man, what a win! The Pistons could be in trouble because the 76ers played far from their best game. The young players -- Thad, Jason Smith, Carney and Jason Smith -- will play a lot better at home than on the road in this series.
Willie Green is always up for the Pistons and the team got a lot of confidence this first game. I could see the smoke coming out of Joe Dumars ears. I did like a lot of the matchups at the end, with Iggy on Billups and Thaddeus on Prince. The length of both of Iggy and Thad seemed to bother both of the players.
Where are all of the Steven Hunter fans now? Reggie Evans made D-E-T-R-O-I-T Baskeball his own personal play pen tonight. The 76ers can play much better than this. There will be a lot of pressure on Detroit to get this next game.
Suede, what are your thougts on the way things played out and what do you expect to see the next game? I think Carney and Williams can cause some havoc before this series is over with.
Posted by datruth4life | April 20, 2008 10:58 PM
Posted on April 20, 2008 22:58