David West made it look easy.It’s true, Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala are the clear-cut, no-brainer, leaders of this team. Miller sets the pace, Iguodala runs in it.
But lately, it’s become a theme that these two guys take over the game. And in some situations, there isn’t anything wrong with that. But in this case, it usually means the rest of the team is out of sync.
Against the Hornets last night, it was a valiant effort by the 76ers. In the end, New Orleans held on 98-91 behind 30 points and 10 rebounds from David West. Chris Paul had a relatively quiet 16 and 12 assists, but was certainly in the mood for finding others.
For the Sixers, Iggy and Papa Miller once again ran the show, while the other three starters struggled. Willie Green continues his desecration of the three-point arc, going 1-of-5 from beyond and 3-of-12 overall. Sam Dalembert played an uninspiring 13 minutes, scoring two points and grabbing four boards while looking genuinely disinterested throughout. Thaddeus Young struggled as well, hitting just five of his 12 shots in 41 minutes
-How can Andre Miller be a better shooter? The guy is filling it up lately, and we are finally getting the whole package from a guy who was destined to be a pass-first player his whole career. Miller is now shooting over 48 percent from the field and over his last five contests he is 41-of-68, a sweltering 60 percent clip. Miller is the undeniable MVP of the Sixers this season.
-David West is good. He smacked the Sixers around between 12 and 19 feet, hitting elbow jumper after elbow jumper. West made the defense pay for over-committing to the defensive switch. West and Paul together are one of the greatest combo’s of this new generation of basketball. The Hornets don’t play a fast-paced game, but they do so much in the half-court set. It’s your basic, run-of-the-mill pick and pop stuff, but it’s impenetrable from a defensive standpoint. When things are going well, it seems like everyone is open for the Hornets. That said, the Hornets shot over 60 percent from three, and most of that was predicated on the two man game. Paul and West found the open men and threes rained.
-Chris Paul hit a dagger late in the 4th, and is fast becoming one of those guys. He is beginning to show that killer instinct that few have. Kobe has it, Pierce now has it, Wade's still got it, LeBron is close, and Paul is joining him.
-Maybe the most impressive Hornets player was James Posey. He showed he was a glue guy last season with the Celtics and is playing the same role one again this year. With 16 points and 12 rebounds off the bench, Posey is the spark that is so vital when the postseason arrives.
-Why the Sixers haven’t moved Willie Green to the bench is beyond me. He is a shooting guard who cannot shoot, and for a team that clearly lacks that particular characteristic of the offense, it’s an ill fit. Replace Green with Lou Williams and go small, or put Speights in the lineup and move Iggy to the deuce.
-Speaking of Marreese Speights, the starting five from here on out should be: Miller, Williams, Iguodala, Young, Speights, now that I think about it. With Green not getting it done, and Dalembert becoming an increased liability, this has to be the lineup to go with. RUN, RUN, RUN!!!!
-The Sixers need some sort of change, they have become too complacent and maybe the joy of playing old-school basketball will refresh the players psyche. Or would that be asking too much? It’s become the No Balls Association, and this is one reason why. Too many half court sets, not enough flair. The Sixers need to bring the flair before the flame out.
-I do commend the 76ers on a nice comeback after a horrific first quarter in this game. They were quickly in a 21-8 hole and the second unit lit the spark and a 17-4 run ensued. That’s clearly why the Williams/Speights combo should be inserted immediately. No time to wait. The Pistons, Bucks, Bulls, and others are lurking.
-Sam Dalembert continues to disappoint. Instead of complaining, he should be trying to earn his $60 million.
