31 games to go

Stretch. Run.

There isn't much time left. Just 31 games remain in the 2008-09 NBA season, and in those 31 games, a lot can go right, or wrong.

At this point last season, Sixers fans were worrying whether or not this was a playoff team. Their 23-30 record was an abomination for those who though the team would take another step forward. Last year's squad used the All-Star break as launching pad, and the Sixers finished out their final 29 games with a 17-12 record. Overall, 40-42 is not normally a positive sign. But a playoff berth in the weak Eastern Conference set them up with the Pistons in round one, where an upset brewed.

This season, things were certainly different heading to the break.

The Sixers sit three games over-.500 (27-24) and are vying for the fourth position in the East. It's a progression that has been one year in the making, but hasn't come without the bumps in the raod. The team was supposed to be in this position, or an even better one than 27-24, after the acquisition of Elton Brand. Needless to say, everyone knows how Year 1 of the Brand Project turned out.

Without Brand's help, the Sixers must focus on the checkered flag at the end of the course. That flag is less than two months away, and waiting for them is yet another step forward.

There is plenty still left to be accomplished by this team. The main objective is to secure a playoff spot, however, that's not thinking big enough for this team. This is basically the same Sixers club that took the Pistons to six games in round one last season, so they are chomping at the bit once again to get back there and make more noise.

In their sights is Atlanta, just three-and-a-half up in the standings, clinging to a small lead over the fifth seeded Miami Heat. The #4 seed is #1 right now for the 76ers. With no shot at the top three positions, they would be wise to make a move north in the standings, so as not to deal with Boston, Cleveland, or Orlando in the opening round. It is certainly possible.

The priority of this team is defense. Through 51 games, the Sixers have struck fear into their opponents by swarming to the ball, causing turnovers at an alarming rate, and quickly turning those mistakes into points. It is the essence of this ball club, and to lose sight of that would be inexcuseable. The 76ers are what we think they are; a group of long-armed, quick-footed workers who tirelessly come after you every possession, every quarter, every game.

Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller are the stalwarts and will be looked upon for guidance down the stretch. Iguodala wants to show the world he is a superstar and belongs on the same court as LeBron, Pierce, and Wade. There is no better time to prove it than now.

Miller believes he still has fuel left in the tank, and not just for this season, but for a few more following. The veteran point guard has been a lead-by-example player, and his quiet motivation has not ben mistaken for weakness by teammates. Everyone on the Sixers understands the value that Miller brings to the table. He is their rallying point.

Sammy D needs to bring just that. And Thad Young and Willie Green need to be their shooters unless a marksman is brought in pre-deadline.

The Sixers bench has been outstanding as of late, with rookie Marreese Speights turning the corner quicker than anyone expected. But what was once unexpected is no required, and this team knows that they need outstanding play from Speights off the pine. Along with Speights, Reggie Evans will continue to bring passion and a fervency that won't even be asked. He simply brings it every night. Lou Williams has to take a step forward too, giving good minutes as a backup to Miller.

If the Sixers keep the pace with which they are at, a 17-14 finish would be respectable. But to reach the next level, they must outdo Miami and Atlanta ahead of them, and stave off Detroit and others lurking in the rear veiw.

It won't be an easy challenge either, as 18 of their final 31 are on the road. And still to come away from the Wachovia Center are visits to Miami, Los Angeles (Lakers), Phoenix, Golden State, Portland, Detroit, New Jersey, and Cleveland, among others. That's a tough road ahead, and in their way is a ton of desperation. Miami is fending off the Sixers, Phoenix is trying to turn their fortunes around, Portland wants to move higher in the West, and Detroit and New Jersey want to overtake the Sixers and their sixth spot. A lot of animosity is on the way.

It's that time of year again and the Sixers still have proving to do. But this time, they are prepared for things to go their way.

Alchemy the death of Sixers in New Orleans

Peja is God.

Peja Stojakovic is a new archenemy of the Philadelphia 76ers, joining the ranks of Dirk Nowitzki and Tony Parker (buzzer-beaters anyone?). In the process, the Hornets forgot all about a nine point deficit in the first half and blew past the Sixers 101-86.

A stretch of the fourth quarter looked like this:

11:15 63-72 Peja Stojakovic makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ryan Bowen assists)
10:47 Lou Williams misses 23-foot three point jumper 63-72
10:45 63-72 Chris Paul defensive rebound
10:41 63-75 Peja Stojakovic makes 25-foot three point jumper (Chris Paul assists)
10:37 Philadelphia full timeout
10:23 63-75 Ryan Bowen shooting foul (Reggie Evans draws the foul)
10:23 Reggie Evans misses free throw 1 of 2 63-75
10:23 Philadelphia offensive rebound 63-75
10:23 Reggie Evans makes free throw 2 of 2 64-75
10:11 Elton Brand personal foul (Chris Paul draws the foul) 64-75
10:04 Reggie Evans personal foul (Chris Paul draws the foul) 64-75
9:59 64-75 Reggie Evans blocks James Posey's layup
9:56 64-75 Ryan Bowen offensive rebound
9:53 64-78 Peja Stojakovic makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ryan Bowen assists)
9:38 Lou Williams makes 16-foot jumper 66-78
9:26 66-81 Peja Stojakovic makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ryan Bowen assists)
9:11 66-81 Antonio Daniels shooting foul (Lou Williams draws the foul)
9:11 Thaddeus Young enters the game for Andre Iguodala 66-81
9:11 Lou Williams makes free throw 1 of 2 67-81
9:11 Lou Williams makes free throw 2 of 2 68-81
8:55 68-81 James Posey misses 24-foot three point jumper
8:52 Lou Williams defensive rebound 68-81
8:48 Lou Williams lost ball (James Posey steals) 68-81
8:40 68-81 Lou Williams blocks Antonio Daniels's layup
8:37 68-81 Chris Paul offensive rebound
8:33 68-84 Peja Stojakovic makes 25-foot three point jumper (Chris Paul assists)

Good lord. That pretty much ended things for the Sixers, after 15 points in less than three minutes from just one gentleman of three-point leisure. That’s also a good adjective to use for the Sixers' closeout defense: leisurely.

Reggie Evans was guarding Peja mostly during that stretch, and countless times Evans did what he is supposed to do, normally; head to the basket. But Peja made him pay for the mistakes. The Sixers tried Evans and others, but nothing worked. A few of those triples were in transition and the defense was searching for Paul and sagging to the hoop in the process, therefore leaving the perimeter unmanned. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me five times, well I should be pissed.

The heat emitted from the fingertips of Peja blew even Marc Zumoff away. He let out a yelp usually saved for a Dalembert block or a Miller pump fake. After his fifth triple, I screamed an obscenity too. Peja nearly made things even more ridicufied (just made that up) by flipping in a 27-footer that thankfully did not count as the shot clock had expired. Stojakovic finished with this: 26pts, 10-18FG, 6-11 3FG, 39min, 5 back-breakers.

As for Evans, his -10 in nine minutes was indicative of just how out of place he was while Stojakovic was hurling seashells into the ocean. Likewise, Royal Ivey guarded Chris Paul during his 11 minutes on the floor and was sent packing with a -9. Gross.

Before the game I text messaged a friend with what I thought the numbers would be for Chris Paul. Twenty-seven points, 13 assists, seven rebounds and three steals is what I came up with. Chris Paul came up with something better:

27pts, 15ast, 10reb, 7stls, 1blk, a few more MVP votes.

A few positives of note for the Sixers were Thaddeus Young and Andre Miller. Young was spry and played decent defense on Rasual Butler (Philly son). He put up 22 points and shot 11 of 16 from the field. Young was also just a -5, not bad for playing most of the second half in which the Sixers were smoked 61-39.

Miller at times played spirited defense on Paul, but its hard for me to make that statement, then look at Chris Paul’s numbers, and not roll my eyes.

Things actually looked good in the first half for the Sixers, as they sprinted to a 47-40 lead at the break. Their bread and butter has been the fast break lately, which they showed in the first half. However, 21 turnovers just ain’t gonna do it.

Elton Brand played just 18 uninspiring minutes off the bench, going 0-for-3 from the field, finishing with no points. Need a little more than that, Elton.

Sam Dalembert rebounded well, which he should have with a depleted front line for New Orleans. His 12 boards were a bit of an anomaly, as the Hornets went without David West and Tyson Chandler. In their place were Sean Marks and Hilton Armstrong, not exactly perennial all-stars. Or even perennial starters for that matter.

Is Dalembert tradeable at this point? At times, he can be a dominating rebounder. But give him the ball in the post and he looks like a young fawn sprawling about, legs barely beneath him, just extracted from the womb. His offensive game just has not come around; if anything it has regressed. Dalembert was a team-worst -18 in 27 minutes. Obviously whatever he was doing, wasn't working. Tony DiLeo dropped the ball by leaving Marresse Speights out, allowing the team to slowly perish with Dalembert and Evans.

So where was Speights? With his hand on his chin watching the debacle from the bench. In his last five games, Speights had been playing 20 minutes per contest and put up decent numbers of 9.2ppg, and 3.8rpg. So instead of giving Dileo giving the Sixers a shot of life in that destructive second half and playing Speights, the rookie totals just three minutes. Really? Come on Tony. Playing Evans and Brand were clearly counter-intuitive moves and the rookie, who plays with at least some passion, saw nary an opportunity to get in the game. Rubbish.

The Sixers need to learn from their mistakes, which were many in that defining second half. One would be closeout defense on the three point shooter. Another would be to steer clear of New Orleans for a while. Just until things blow over.

Alchemy (n.): Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something precious.

I would say a three-pointer is fairly common.

Next up: @ Houston – Wednesday, January 28