Hornets nail 10 triples, and the coffin

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.

4th straight loss could be a season killer

Looking at this picture may cause blindness or nausea. It's a half court game winner thats why.

Don't let this one get to you. Thats the best advice I can give.

After Devin Harris hits a fumblerooski 48-footer with Andre Iguodala in his grill to win the game, there's just nothing that you can do except shake it off. It's a fluke play and if you replay is 10,000 times, 9,999 times it goes your way. Hell, probably 10,000 times it goes your way. Not this time. If that makes sense?

This is the sort of loss that can sink a team, and the 76ers are right now on the cusp of a knockout punch. It sounds like i'm getting ahead of myself, because really the Sixers are still within the top eight teams in the East. But losses like this hit deeper.

They hit deeper because it was a game that after one quarter was 12 points in the Sixers favor. It was a game in which the Sixers missed 14 free throws in 37 attempts, an absurd amount on the road. That number itself basically gives you an amazing edge away from home; rarely will a road team see so many trips to the stripe. The Sixers also did what they do best, force turnovers, 16 to be exact. It was still not enough.

In trying to search for the positives, it's hard to get past one fateful play thats so freakish its hard to explain. All five starters got into double figures, led by Andre Iguodala and his 21. But again, the three-point shooting was non-existant and the free throws were even more of a gut punch.

All in all, loads of opportunities to win the game, yet the Sixers capitalized on none.

Willie Green finally snapped a streak of putrid basketball, putting up 14 points on 6 of 9 from the field. His two triples accounted for 66 percent of the Sixers output for the night, which is a good sign for Green, but on the whole, not so good for the team.

Sam Dalembert was an anchor in the middle; I guess the crying did wonders. He grabbed 10 boards and had three blocks, but again, had a few head scratching plays on the offensive end.

Defensively, there isn't much you can complain about. Outside of Devin Harris, who poses a problem for all teams, not just the Sixers, the Nets were shut down. Vince Carter had just 10 points and was ineffective in his 36 minutes. Keyon Dooling did hit dagger after dagger off the bench en route to 16 points in 30 strong minutes. Harris put up 39 points and per usual, made a team pay for their inability to stop a quick point guard.

Devin Harris is an incredible talent, and he got away with one at the end. It's one of those inexplainable shots that somehow falls. The important is getting past it quickly and while on that ride past Perth Amboy and Elizabethtown, looking forward to the task at hand. The lowly Washington Wizards are on the agenda. Not Devin Harris, not the New Jersey Nets, not a half-court, buzzer-beater to win it. None of that.

Though it does sting a bit, no?

Week in Review: Not good

Dalembert was seen wearing this

The All-Star break can be a help or a hindrance. In this case, it was the latter.

The Sixers came out of the long weekend and now find themselves losers of three straight, and in each loss the team failed to score more than 91 points. So much for pushing the pace.

In the three games this past week, their shooting percentages have been downright awful, hitting 38.5, 32.6, and 37.1 against Indiana, Denver, and Miami. Their three-point shooting has been a major problem as well, going 2-13, 4-13, 4-18 over the same three games. The Sixers needed to upgrade at the deadline by adding a shooter, but they could not get a deal done and are paying the price. They continue to heave up three's that they have no business shooting. Their so-called outside shooters, Willie Green and Lou Williams, are struggling. Williams is hitting less than 29 percent of his three's while Green is knocking down only 30 percent. It's hard to win in this league when you can only shoot inside of 18 feet.

While the defense has been good, it's just not enough to offset the ugly perimeter game. The inside game hasnt been there much either, as Sam Dalembert, an avid complainer, is not getting it done. Dalembert continues to make excuses, but the fact of the matter is, his offense sucks. He is complaining about a lack of playing time, but does he really deserve to be on the court for more than 25 minutes?

At this point, the Sixers best bet would be to go small and run, run, run. The lack of an outside threat hurts that notion, but the slowdown half-court sets are getting uglier by the quarter. They have the speed and athleticism to run people out of the gym, but shy away from the up-tempo game unelss it is off of turnovers. Instead of Dalembert, try Speights in the starting lineup and keep running. The rookie mistakes will be there, and the interior D may take a hit, but the fast-paced game would proivde the team a spark it really needs.

Luckily, Andre Miller's calf injury was not as bad as it looked, or the Sixers would be in trouble. He was fine on Saturday, putting up a season-high 30 points. But when your starting point guard puts up 30 and you're team as a whole scores just 91, something is missing. The 32-year old PG can't do it all, so someone needs to step up.

Andre Iguodala is somehow shooting 46 percent on the year, because his three point percentage is an awful 26 percent. Since the break, Iggy is just 13-40 from the field, and has hit one triple. For a guy who supposedly worked on his outside shooting, whatever he did didn't work. The $80 million man has to step up IMMEDIATELY.

Another loss or two, and the Sixers could be on the outside looking in. Thankfully Detroit is playing sloppy too, or this team would be sinking deeper. The fourth seed seemed like a reality seven days ago. Now, it's a fantasy.

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.

Sixers first half review

It's actually not the end of the first half, since most teams are 50-plus games in already. The All-Star break is a nice defined line though that splits up the season and helps us decipher a beginning and end to the NBA year.

The 76ers began the year on a down note. They came out of the gate 9-14, Mo Cheeks lost his job, and Elton Brand began his Sixers career floundering. Tony DiLeo took over; the former Senior Vice President and Assistant General Manager, and the team took off with him. Since his inception, the Sixers have gone 18-10 and now sit in the sixth position in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt. Nice turnaround, I'd say.

While things haven't always been pretty, DiLeo has made it a priority to run more than they had through the first 25 games, and he has also implemented the three-ball into the game plan. The Sixers still rank dead last in three-point percentage, but it's a work in progress.

In breaking down the Sixers first half of the season, I will use General Manager and General Bad ass Ed Stefanski as a meter to guide you. With one Stefanski Head being bad, and five Stefanski Heads being downright awesome, let's breakdown the team through 51 games.

Offense:
-The offense gets 3 out of 5 Stefanski because it is still not where it needs to be. The shooting from the outside is horrendous, though the Sixers say they have outside shooters in Willie Green and Lou Williams. This is not a perimeter oriented squad; they are built to attack the basket and run out on the break. Their quickness has been exceptional, especially using defense as a starting point for the offense. They normally turn those turnovers in to points, which makes the offense look efficient.

Speaking of efficient, the most productive rookie so far this season has been Marreese Speights. No, he hasn't put up the same numbers as Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook or O.J. Mayo, but when he is given playing time, he certainly uses it to his advantage. Speights' game has soared in the last few weeks, culminating with a 24-point, seven rebound performance against the Suns in just 24 minutes of action. His PER (player efficiency rating) is through the roof at over 21. His true shooting percentage is also a paltry 57 percent, fifth for rookies. Needless to say, when DiLeo puts him out there, Speights rarely disappoints.

The stalwarts of the offense have been Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller. Iggy and the Stooges, as I like to call this team, have been able to make teams cower to them when they run the break, and that is predicated on these two gentlemen leading the charge. Miller is still putting together fabulous numbers at this stage of his career, posting, by far, a career high from behind the arc. His .333 percentage betters his previous high by about eight percent. He has the green light now, as do all of the Sixers, from the perimeter.

Iguodala has been on a tear since beginning the season with no 20-point performances through the first 17 games. Iguodala played the first few weeks with Elton Brand and seemed out of sorts. He figured it out once Brand his the injured list and hasn't looked back since. He's not up to 18 points per game and his peripheral stats are looking fine as well. Iggy is shooting 47% from the field, a career high, and 6.1 rebounds per game is also a career-best.

Other Sixers that have played well are Thad Young and Sam Dalembert. Sammy D leads the charge defensively, as the anchor in the front court. It's not always pretty with Sam on offense, as he still needs work on his post moves. He does have fairly reliable mid-range game though, but it's better that he doesn't put the ball on the floor, as it usually means turnovers.

Young is picking up where he left off as a rookie. His sophomore season is going exceptionally well, with his points per game jumping to 13.7 this season from 8.2 last. Young's newly found outside game has also been a blessing for this perimeter disoriented team. Not a bad first 50 though for these two front court mates.

Lou Williams has provided some pop off the bench, and Reggie Evans has given the team heart-pumping minutes. Willie Green can be special at times, but lacks a consistent outside jumper.

Overall, the Sixers still lack that shooter that could help space the floor. In many games early on, they have not seen consistent jump shooting, which could take them from average to above-average quickly. Still, with all of the trouble surrounding Elton Brand and his season-ending shoulder injury, the Sixers have stuck to their guns and gotten back to what they do best.

Defense:
-The defense is so good, they get four Stefanski's! The Sixers are holding their opponents to 95 points per game, on par with defensive elitists San Antonio, Houston, and Detroit. Forcing turnovers is their forte, pressuring the opposition into 16 per game, second best in the NBA. Another telling stat for this defense has been opponents shooting percentage, which is seventh best in the league at 45 percent.

Andre Iguodala and Thad Young lead the charge in forcing teams into giving up the basketball due to their length and quickness. Sam Dalembert gives them the anchor in the front court that can bang with the big guys. Dalembert is adept at shutting down some of the best, including Yao and Shaquille O'Neal recently. His penchant for blocked shots and timely rebounds makes him an interior presence that the Sixers cannot do without. Miller and Green do a fine job of taking on guard opposite them, using their size to their advantage.

Evans bench play usually brings people out of their seats and provides an unreal spark for the second unit. Through the first 50 games, Evans has seen himself in some big defensive positions, normally put up against the other teams power forward. And in the Atlantic Division, that means Chris Bosh, David Lee, and Kevin Garnett. Evans gets a A+ and five Stefanski's for his effort.

Coaching:
-I can't say I wasn't upset when the Sixers let Mo Cheeks go after just 25 games. I felt like he didn't have enough time to get this team in position to win, especially after trying to incorporate Elton Brand's different style in with the running team that defines the Sixers. Cheeks was let go, and the Sixers went on a tear up until the break. Whether DiLeo deserves all the credit is still up for discussion. DiLeo worked mostly without Brand, which seemed to be the problem. Cheeks failed at making Brand the focus of the offense, something that DiLeo did not have to do.

Overall the coaching between the two garners three Stefanski's out of five. DiLeo deserves credit for the turnaround, but Cheeks had little room for error, which was unfair.

DiLeo has allowed the team to unleash their perimeter game, no matter how sorry it is. That kind of thinking has given the Sixers confidence in that aspect of their game. They did not have a green light under Cheeks, which could have pressured them into make more plays inside the arc.

Although Cheeks did not get it done, he still should be praised for the job last season. Had he been in the same situation DiLeo was put in, he may have succeeded. The players have surprisingly taken to DiLeo's tactics and seems to be behind their new head coach 110 percent. All hands are on deck, which is vital for a young team still clawing for elite status.

Overall:
-The Sixers get three Stefanski's as they enter the break 27-24. They have played aggressive defense, which allows their offense to work freely through the fast break. It's clear the Sixers need to find a new shooter, and that could come at the deadline. However, their experiment with Brand went south quickly, and that was accelerated by his injury. We will have to wait until 2009-10 to see if Brand can connect with this group.

One negative has been the turnout at the Wachovia Center. The average attendance through 51 games is just 14, 747. This exciting team is not receiving the attention is should, but there are several factors that could be causing this downturn. Obviously the economy both nationwide and here in Philadelphia is a reason. People just don't have the money to come to an NBA game and spend $200 on tickets, drinks, food, and merch. It's no longer in the budget for most. Philadelphia may also still be riding high from the Phillies World Series title, as well as the Eagles run to the NFC Championship game. Whatever the case, go out and see these guys!

As it stands, the Sixers are making a run to the four seed in the East, something that seemed like a pipe dream in early December. The focus for the second half still has to be defense and intensity for 48 minutes. This team has talent, but they don't have the superstar that can put them over the edge in tight situations like a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, or even a Paul Pierce. Andre Iguodala is blossoming into a fine player, and he may very well be the biggest key to success as we hit the end in April.

Speights, Sixers slap Suns silly

Marreese Speights, Marreese Speights, Marreese Speights. It's turning into a man crush, and I don't care. Forget about my waxing poetic, the guy is insanely talented and is beginning to harness it before our very eyes. During an uptempo first half, Speights played for 11 minutes and scored 16 points on an array of alley-oop slams and jumpers. At one point, Speights scored 12 straight points for the Sixers and pushed the team out to a 13 point lead over the winded Phoenix Suns. In the end, Speights and the rest of the crew blew the Suns out of the Wachovia Center by a score of 108-91.

What more can we say about this guy? He runs with purpose, gives the Sixers a spark on the court, and has learned to minimize mistakes. Speights continues to lead all rookies in PER in the NBA, and it's funny to see Robin Lopez on the opposite bench, wasting away. The Suns picked Lopez ahead of Speights, and now have the honor of watching him soar in for dunks and scream the basketball Gods as he runs back down to the defensive end. Elton Who?

It's been a beautiful thing watching Speights flourish before our very eyes, and in this game against the Suns he has outworked everyone put up against him. Amare Stoudemire, the perennial all-star, has been thoroughly outplayed by the youngster.

In the first half, the Sixers did not shoot well, but still put together a great defensive effort. The Suns shot 43 percent and did not make a three pointer in the half, and were forced into 12 turnovers. Andre Miller and company kept the Suns offense off-balance and did not allow Steve Nash to find his mates. The Suns as a whole appeared stagnant and unenthusiastic from the beginning. Perhaps Sunday night's big win over the Detroit Pistons, paired with the fact they are playing back-to-back east coast roadies, the Suns were doomed from the start.

The second half was more of the same ineptitude by the lackadaisical Suns, and more Marreese Speights. The Sixers as a whole exploited the sub par effort of Phoenix at every turn, and ran as much as possible. Here's a noble endeavor: why don't the Sixers go after a shooter at the deadline and run like the Suns used to three or four years ago? They are just as fast, if not faster, than those Suns teams of lore. They pose problems for other teams athletically, but are not a bad rebounding team like the Suns were under Mike D'Antoni. Just a thought.

But back to the game at hand. Thaddeus Young and Andre Iguodala teamed up with Speights and combined for 47 points of their own. 'Reese finished with a career-high 24 points in 24 minutes off the bench, and has quickly allowed for Elton Brand to fade into the background. Brand had surgery on Monday to fix the shoulder that had ailed him since December 19, and Speights made it seem like he was the nine-year veteran. On top of the 24 points, 'Reese grabbed seven boards and blocked two shots, plus hit 11 of his 16 field goal attempts. All in a days work for the rookie.

This wasn't just the Speights show either. Iggy and Thad supplied the offense, Dalembert gave them an interior presence, and Andre Miller quietly ran the show en route to the bitch slapping of PHX.




It's this balanced effort that often escaped the Sixers through the first half of the year. However, since the turn of the calendar to '09, that instability is quickly falling by the wayside, and the Sixers are playing great ball against the best. This Phoenix team was supposed to provide a true test, but it turned into a laugher. The Sixers have won 13 of their last 17 and are now two games over .500.

If the Sixers continue to run and force turnovers, they can be an absolute force. They turned 18 Phoenix turnovers into 20 points and sped out to 19 fast break points against a slow team, which helped put Phoenix to bed early. The Sixers now find themselves just three games out of the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Quite a turnaround from that 9-14 start to the year.

But that's way behind this basketball team. It's all about looking ahead, and forgetting about what could have been. It's all about what CAN BE.

Keep runnin' boys.

Sixers week in review 2/2 - 2/8

The optimist would look at this past week in a positive light. A last second loss to the best in the East, the Boston Celtics and two wins against Eastern Conference opponents Miami and Indiana gave the Sixers a nice start to the month.

The pessimist would turn it around and say that the Boston game was theirs and they blew it in the end. And don't forget about Elton Brand being lost for the season, which puts another ugly spin on the week that was.

So which was it? Was it a good week or a bad one?

I'll take the former. Anytime you nearly beat the Celtics and enjoy a nice win over Miami, who sits a spot ahead of them in the East, it's looking good.

On Tuesday, the Sixers were crushed by a Ray Allen three-pointer with 0.5 seconds left, and went down 100-99. A valiant comeback was overshadowed by the final play. But looking back, it is a learning experience for a still inexperienced club. There had been much discussion about that final play and who should have been guarding Allen in the corner, Thad Young or Sam Dalembert. No matter the answer, it was a mental mistake a time where they needed to play perfect basketball. Remember though, you have to expect this.

Indiana came to town Thursday and gave the Sixers a run for their money, but eventually went down 99-94. The incredible defense was back on display against the Pacers as they held the team to just 39.4 percent shooting, and shut down all-star forward Danny Granger. And while the Sixers did not shoot well themselves, they put the clamps on down the stretch and held Indiana to 38 points in the second half. The defensive pressure started in the middle, as big man Dalembert snagged a season-high 20 rebounds and gave them the interior presence they need to make a run. It has been up and down with Dalembert, but if he can harness any sort of consistency, he could be a major force. It's that sort of effort that can take this team a long way.

Two night later, Miami came to town and didn't stand a chance. The Heat was burned by seven Sixers in double-figures, led by Marreese Speights and his 15 points off the bench in 22 minutes. Speights immediately makes an impact when he steps on the court, and it will be more evident now that Brand is on the shelf for the year. Coach Tony DiLeo needs to find 18-25 minutes for Speight every night, and in doing that on Saturday, Speights did not let him down.

The biggest factor in the win over Miami was the balanced play of the entire team. Seven guys in double figures, while scoring just 94 points is pretty hard to do. No one shot the ball more than 12 times, and three bench players put up 10-plus points. That's exactly the sort of game the Sixers need to play. Defense first, get out and run on the break, and keep the balance.

The week started off tumultuously, but in retrospect, it ended great. The Sixers are over .500, and this could be the beginning of a special end to the year.

I just threw up in my mouth, thanks Ray Allen

Jesus kills. And I mean that in the most figurative sense.

Jesus Shuttlesworth, aka Ray Allen, hit two threes in the final 31 seconds, including the shank in the side with .5 seconds remaining to give the Celtics their 12th straight win. It was like popping a balloon and watching the air quickly leave it. But that's what happens when you leave one of the greatest three-point shooters open for a split second.

A triumphant comeback by the Sixers after a brutal opening quarter turned this into an amazing game from the second quarter on. In the end though, it was a breakdown on defense that led to the loss.

The defense had been stellar all night, pestering the Kevin Garnett-less Celtics into 21 turnovers and turning those into 30 points.

Here are some negative notes:
-The Sixers somehow left Ray Allen wide open. Whatever the case may be, under no circumstance is this allowed. He has hit the most three's per game in NBA history. That's a nice lesson.

-Three-point shooting continues to be an ongoing process. The Sixers shot just 1-of-8 from downtown on the night. The three-ball has been more prevalent lately under DiLeo, but that doesn't mean its been all good. Sixers need a shooter to step up.

-Elton Brand needs to shut it down. He is hurting this team when he is on the floor and he is hurting himself, literally, by playing on a bum shoulder. He should shut it down, learn from the team during his time off, and start afresh next season. It's really the only option left in the bag.

-I continue to harass Sam Dalembert, even though he had a decent game. He just doesn't look like the same player to me that averaged a double-double last season. He should play no part on offense unless that entails grabbing an offensive rebound or two and the occasional dunk.

-Letting the opponent shoot 54 percent = not so good. Lucky they were even in this game.

A few positives:
-What a comeback! After the first quarter I was ready to write some downright mean things about how ugly it is watching this team, and how they can't hand with the C's. Boy was I wrong. They made a valiant comeback in the second quarter after being completely blown away in the first. It's games like this that build character, and even though they lost, they should be proud of the job they did in even being in this game.

-Andre Iguodala hit a huge shot down the stretch, and played pretty well overall. He continues to flourish without Elton Brand, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing, or a bad thing. His 22 points, six rebounds, and six assists show he is involved in every facet of the game. But the question begs asking: can they win with him being "the man"?

-Reggie Evans is a monster. He came off the bench for 24 energetic, pulse-pumping minutes, giving the crowd something to cheer for all night. They even chanted his name a time or two. He finished with eight points, 10 boards, two steals and was a +14 on the night, meaning they played their best ball with him on the court. Every game needs to be like this when Evans is on the court. It shows you how some people can just turn a game around on their own, even if they are not a special talent.

-Mo Speights continues to play decent basketball, when he is in the lineup of course. He played just six minutes, but had a couple of dunks, played some spirited ball, and was quickly taken out. Not sure what his role is, and I'm not sure Tony DiLeo knows either.

Next: vs. Indiana, Thursday 7pm.

Sixers end the month still riding the coaster

"I believe diversity is an old, old wooden ship"


The ride continues. I'm getting nauseous. January went pretty well for the Sixers, ending it 10-5 with blowout victories over playoff teams in Portland, San Antonio and Atlanta and a nice road win over Houston.

They made those statement wins because they smelled what Tony DiLeo was stepping in. The Sixers are shooting the three better now and are running the break. However, the end of the month was not as forgiving.

How can you end the month by losing to New Jersey? After racking up some very big victories and looking as though you're ready to hang with the big boys, you crap all over the place, to be honest. The Nets are a borderline playoff squad, boasting an incredible back court tandem of Devin Harris and Vince Carter. Forget about them; it was rookie Brook Lopez who laid them out.

Lopez, the 10th pick in the 2008 draft, lit them up to the tune of 24 points and 17 rebounds. Calling Sam Dalembert! Sammy D, who D'ed up Yao Ming a few nights earlier, played just 15 minutes and was hobbled by a sprained ankle. Whoever was on Lopez couldn't stop him.

A positive on the night was the shutdown of Harris and Carter, who combined for just 24 points on Saturday night. So the defense was sturdy. The offense, though, was anything but.

Shooting under 35 percent will get you nowhere, and that's exactly what the Sixers output was. Elton Brand was the main culprit, coming off the bench to shoot 2-for-10 and finish with five points in just 18 minutes. Ugly.

One offensive positive was...

Scratch that. The Sixers went 5-of-17 from three point territory, which is a bit much for a suspect shooting team. Keep that number to around 12-15, and your good to go. That means you're getting to the hoop and not settling, which is what the Sixers enjoy doing. I'm going to start calling them the Mayflowers instead of the 76ers, because they keep bringing settlers every night. Ok, that was bad. But you catch my drift, so to speak. Don't settle for outside shots you cant make. The Sixers don't have a three-point shooter, which means getting to the basket should be their main objective. Diversify! Use all weapons.

Now, their objective must be staying in the game with the Celtics on Tuesday night. Easier said my friends. Easier said.

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

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