Don’t call it a comeback

Because the Sixers keep playing sloppy basketball. Eighteen turnovers is not what I call smart play. They get a bit of a mulligan by bringing it all the way back from a 14-point deficit in Houston where it is tough to win. The Sixers did just that, splitting the quick excursion to the Gulf Coast Region after a 95-93 win over the Rockets.

If you feel like this is a roller-coaster ride - watching the Sixers play for 48 minutes, raise your hand. Throughout a game, at several points I want to do a number of things, including: throw the remote, watch another game, watch the oxygen channel, flip back, hold my breath, scream obscenities. It’s like menopause for NBA fans. My chest feels heavy and it makes me want to lay down. It’s heart attack-worthy.

It’s so frustrating to watch leads slip away, yet incredibly rewarding when they provide an awesome turnaround like they did tonight.

The Negatives:

Sam Dalembert played incredible defense on Yao Ming. That might even be a bit of an understatement. He battled hard in the low block trying to keep the 7’6 Yao away from the hoop. Dalembert would seem over matched but really held his own.

So why is he on the negative list? Bonehead plays. I will call him “Brain Fart”. At times it looks like he has no idea why he’s in the arena. At one point he grabbed a rebound and tried to throw a fade route to Lou Williams streaking down the sidelines, only to have it go over his head and bounce out of bounds. Another sequence had him grab a great offensive rebound along the baseline, only to jack up an ill-advised shot over the long arms of Yao after getting the fresh shot clock. Although he dominated at times on defense, he ended up with a team-worst -11. Roller-coaster.

The turnovers are a real problem. The total stands at 39 over the last two games, an exorbitant figure. Their 15.5 per game is 25th in the league, so it’s amazing that they are even in some of these games. You have to take care of the ball, and right now it isn’t happening. If they could bring that number down a tick, there could be another win or two on the board.

Lou Williams also made some bonehead mistakes and did not shoot well. On a fast break during the second quarter, he tried to make a fancy pass to Marreese Speights on the right wing and threw it two feet in front of him, into the front row. His 17 points were deceiving because he took more bad shots than good in my opinion.

The Positives:

Sam Dalembert! Great defense, son! His four blocks, including the game-sealer out on the arc guarding Tracy McGrady, were huge. Sammy D, you must be this tall to ride the coaster.

Elton Brand made a statement as well, both offensively and defensively. In 26 minutes he put together a healthy stat line: 14pts, 7reb, 6-10FG, 6 blocks. Six blocks is the telling stat here. The Sixers had 14 altogether, exerting themselves defensively and taking no prisoners in the paint. Brand, teamed with Dalembert, shut down Yao, holding him to 13 points in 34 minutes.

Teamwork was also on display, and within that, they didn’t seem to miss a beat with Brand on the court. There had been so much talk about how the team would respond with Brand back and they showed tonight it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Marreese Speights lack of playing time had also been an issue, as he tallied just 15 minutes in the past two games; tonight, 21. Tony DiLeo listened to my constant bickering and kept him in the game long enough for him to be a +12 and score six points to go with six boards.

Andre Iguodala nailed a beautiful high arcing jump shot with 37 seconds left in the 4th quarter that put the Sixers in control down the stretch. In the first quarter, he also threw down a silly alley-oop dunk over Yao that should be on Sportscenter tonight. He took three 3-pointers tonight and did not make any, which is his Achilles heel. He did have 20 points however, including those big two late in the game.

An impressive stat came from the free throw line, another sickly part of the team. They usually shoot 74 percent, which is 29th in the NBA. Tonight, 20-for 21, a complete turnaround, and the Sixers needed every single one of them.

This is the kind of performance that leads to a nice winning streak. Beating a member of the elite club makes you feel all warm inside, doesn’t it?

Next up: Washington – Friday, January 30, 7pm

Game Time

WHO: Sixers (21-22) @ Rockets (28-18)

WHAT: The Sixers face off against the Rockets having won 8 of 10. However, two nights ago in New Orleans was a game to forget, as they allowed Chris Paul to walk all over them and Peja Stojakovic to rain three's like it was a strip joint. A 101-86 loss ensued.

Tonight is yet another tough battle as the Sixers take on the Yao-less Rockets as part of their quick two-game jaunt to the Gulf Coast. Houston poses different problems for the Sixers, providing two superstars (Artest/McGrady) and a large group of role players. They will not kill you with outside shooting or a point guard who wont stop. The Rockets will deftly maneuver and kill you softly in a myriad of different ways. Houston is also a saucy 15-5 at home, so a win won't come easy.

WHERE: Toyota Center; Houston, Texas - Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia

WHEN: 8:30 EST

WHY (The Sixers need this win): To prove that their debacle in NOLA was not a precursor of things to come. A win in Texas would be a statement for this Sixers club that has been rolling along as of late. Elton Brand will play a few more minutes, and it's imperative he bring his A-game against a hard working front line.

HOW (The Sixers will win): Brand also needs to show that his 18-minute, zero-point performance on Monday was just him swatting the cobwebs. He also has to put behind him the trade rumors that have suddenly surrounded him. They must run and run in this game and try to keep the Rockets off-balance. If they fall into the half-court trap, Houston will suffocate them and the Sixers will die. Figuratively speaking. Getting to the rim is also a must. If the Sixers can get the ball in deep, they can overpower the undermanned front court of the Rockets. They must also frustrate McGrady and Artest by keeping them on the perimeter and force them to take bad shots. Andre Iguodala has to come up large defensively against two premier offensive performers.