If we are 0-2 in overtime this year, 2-10 including last year (have to check that).

The 90-97 OT L to New Jersey was as hurting as you can have it for the Sixers (12-6, .667), that saw their eight game winning streak against the Nets snapped and fell to 8-2 at home.

You may file this game under the "One of those nights" category: no Hawes (who missed his fifth straight, and it's starting to show), no Vucevic (2nd in a row for him), two banked three pointers by the Nets (one from their halfcourt, at the 3rd quarter buzzer...), 12 treys allowed, the 0-9 final run in overtime, a lot of BS calls - and many BS non calls as well - often going the wrong way.

But you would be wrong.

Sixers should have won this. Despite playing uninspired basketball.

We just made too many mistakes, against a bad team that btw was missing a good player in Brook Lopez. Nets overcame that absence playing hard, playing team basketball. Also, they relied on their true superstar/go-to-guy/leader or however you want to call him. A guy that proved he is able to deliver with the game on the line. Something Sixers sorely lack, still.

Deron Williams' late show was sensational. Similar to what Andre Miller did few games ago. Two point guards. Uhm.

I don't know if you can blame someone in particular this time: while Miller did the most of the scoring over Iguodala - not saying we lost that game because of Iguodala, ok? - , Sixers were using an extra small lineup for the final minutes of regulation and overtime, and were basically switching on every screen that the Nets were using to give the ball to their top player. (more after the break) no comments

Wizards fired coach Flip Saunders following his third loss to the Sixers (12-5, .704), this time 103-83.

Yes, Saunders insists on keeping his horrible mullet at 57 y/o, but other than that, he didn't deserve this end...

Hey, the final score may mislead you: Sixers win was waaaaaaaay easier than it shows.

Talking about a +30 halftime lead, and a game that basically lasted 20 minutes, as Sixers built a seven-sixteen-nineteen cushion in the first quarter (closed at 31-12), that was stretched to twentyfive and eventually thirty at the end of the second: 62-32.

Half time stats were self explaining: Sixers shot 65% (4/9 from three), had 20 assists to 26 fgs (on 40 shots), hold a 22-13 rebounding edge, turned the ball over only four times.

The Wizards, on the other side, shot 42% but mainly were 0/5 from behind the arc and shot only two free throws, both (badly) missed by McGee, adding seven turnovers.

End of the story, and of the game.

All Sixers played well, making up for the absence of both Hawes and Vucevic. Rookie Lavoy Allen was the nicest surprise of the night, connecting on all of his five shots, including the one that got free Big Macs for the crowd, as Sixers surpassed 100 points. Perhaps the biggest shot of his career (lol).

Iguodala and Brand (in the pic) set the tone from the very beginning: the first play of the night was a steal by Andre that dished out to Elton for an easy fastbreak dunk. More nice passes and baskets by the two followed, as Iguodala closed the quarter with seven dimes, while Brand had eleven points on 5/7.  (more after the break) no comments

There is still a step between the Sixers and the "elite team" status.

The 113-92 L in Miami proved that.

Also, there must be a reason if Sixers (11-5, .688) lost eight of their last nine games against the Heat.

Not much to recap on this game: Sixers were again playing without Hawes, and it showed, because we got KILLED under the boards: 52-31 Miami, to go with 10 blocks to 5 (a sample in the pic).

Heat were playing without Wade, but few noticed as LeBron James and mainly Bosh more than made up for his absence, even in limited playing time, scoring 28 points in 36 minutes and 30 in 34, respectively.

The so called supporting cast did his job very well, with the "blue collar frontcourt" of Joel Anthony (nice player, btw, the kind of guy you always want in a winning team) and Udonis Haslem dominating the glasses.

That was a key: Sixers weren't simply outrebounded but also beaten on many hustle plays. Also, we basically could never get a defensive stop, allowing Miami to shoot 55% in the first half, 54% at the end. That won't cut it, simple as that.

Three players, three issues.

Iguodala: invisible all night. A 28 minute-waste. And please save me the "Things-that-the-boxscore-doesn't-show" crap, LBJ scored at will from tip off (4/5 in the first quarter).

Elton Brand: 3 rebounds in 26 minutes, vs Haslem's 10 in 22. You do the math. Unacceptable. (more after the break) no comments

And mainly thanks to this man (= Collins, not Lou...)

Really, I just realized that I rarely give credit to Doug Collins. Time to make up for it.

If after the impressive, exciting 90-76 W over Atlanta Sixers are 11-4 (.733), currently holding a FIVE game lead over the Knicks in the Atlantic, it's because they are a focused, committed, organized, spirited, energetic basketball team.

To say it simple, Sixers are EXTREMELY well coached.

And even philadelphians seem to love it: almost 17,000 of them came to see the latest game, that was perhaps the brightest sign of many things that already turned around.

Yesterday night Sixers simply tooked it to another level in the second half, both offensively and defensively.

Hawks were hold to 29 points after the break, 10 in the third quarter, including a buzzer beating three by another red hot former Sixer, this time Willie Green (obviously undeservedly booed, lol...).

That didn't ruin Sixers' third quarter show, with Meex connecting from behind the arc, Jrue Holiday setting his team mates nicely, Iguodala flying for thunderous dunks, and all guys playing stifling defense and running on fastbreaks for easy points. Willie's last second shot "improved" Hawks' shooting percentage to 4/17 in the period.

Playing without Hawes for the second consecutive game, Sixers dominated under the boards (51-32), taking advantage of Horford's absence, thanks to a finally decisive Elton Brand: 16 rebounds to go with three blocks. (more after the break) no comments

Boy, this one hurt.

The 104-108 OT L to Denver was the most entertaining game I've seen in a while.

Basically 53 minutes of pure delight for almost any basketball fan: make it 52 and 1/2 for Sixers (10-4, .714) fans.

It took a memorable (unbelievable? stunning? unreal?) game by Andre Miller to give the Nuggets the win

The former Sixer nearly posted a triple double, singlehandedly kept Denver in the game in regulation, scoring the last 10 points for his team, and finished knocking down the game winner with 43 seconds left in overtime (in the pic) and adding a key steal in our final possession. (Ok, that was actually more Jrue Holiday throwing the ball away, but whatever...)

Hey, I've always been a fan of Andre Miller, but, jeez, dude never, ever played like this in Philly... THREE treys ???? That is usually what he puts together in a season... I checked and he hit 4 last year in Portland, in 81 games played. WTF.

Hawes-less Sixers played a great game from tip off, even allowing a 6-26 Denver break in the second quarter. The comeback in the fourth quarter was exciting: Sixers turned a ten point deficit with nine minutes to play (72-82) into a three point lead (85-82) picking the best moment to go on a 13-0 run.

From there on, Miller took over, scoring ten straight and missing only the last shot at the buzzer: the fourth trey, honestly, would have been too much... Denver really looked like a one-man team. (more after the break) no comments

Ok, I have to admit it: I COMPLETELY missed Martin Luther King Day.

Therefore I watched on replay, same as always, one of the few games that I could have watched live... could should have done better on that one, yep.

Sixers (10-3, .769) hold a four game lead over NY (6-7) in the Atlantic after the 94-82 W over Milwaukee, that kept their record at home perfect: it's 6-0 now.

Not much to say on this game, Sixers led for more than 40 minutes and took over in the third quarter (76-62), with Hawes scoring all of his eleven points in the period, including TWO treys, and Holiday (POG, in the pic) adding nine of his season high 24.

Three point shooting (11/23, it started with 5/5) and perimeter defense, besides the "usual" balanced offense, were the keys to this game, in which Iguodala shined as well, on both ends of the floor.

Today Sixers trail Chicago by only one game for the first place in the conference. Yes, I said conference, that thing that includes three divisions, exactly....

Now it comes a fun part of the season: top seeded Sixers will play the Nuggets (8-5) on Wednesday, Atlanta (10-4) on Friday and will fly to Miami (8-4) on Saturday.

Tough matchups, uh? True. But I'm 100% sure none of these (good) teams is particularly happy to meet us, either.

Take a look at these stats I've just found, aren't they encouraging? (more after the break)
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That's impressive to read in a Sixers blog, right?

Sixers got their eight W in nine games beating Washington 90-103 to increase their lead over NY to three games (9-3, .750).

Even if it came against what is clearly one of the worst teams in the NBA, I think we shouldn't underrate this win: on the road, second night of a back-to-back home-and-home, following a blowout, seventh game in nine nights.

That's not easy in this League.

Sixers showed mental toughness, at least, in this little maturity test: the focus was there (only 7 turnovers + 85% foul shooting, finally), the defense was, too, same story for the hustle, as the 12 steals would tell you.

After a slow 1st, in which Wizards outrebounded us 16-5 (!), Sixers took control in the second quarter, taking full advantage of the ton of turnovers that Wall (7 at the break !) & co were amassing.

At halftime the 29-18 Wizards rebounding edge was more than overcome by the 21-6 points off turnovers scoring: Iguodala led everyone with 17 points, but McGee had 15 on 7/7 +9 reb + 3 blocks....

Sixers managed a 10-12 point lead throughout the third, energized by a very active Young (8), and extended the lead to 20 at the beginning of the fourth: 64-84 on a lefthanded hook by the same Thad. Game over, despite some stupid three points plays allowed in the final minutes, that reduced our lead to twelve.

Lou Williams' scoring was unbelievable, 24 points in 25 minutes, and on only 12 shots (in the pic), simply mean deadly efficiency: that was just as perfect as an offensive game you can possibly play. But we all know - Wizards fans particularly... - that Lou LOVES to play Washington and usually catches fire when he sees those jerseys. (more after the break) no comments

Or Sixers made it look easy, which would be even better.

Wizards were BURIED 120-89 by the Sixers (8-3, .727), led by torrid shooting Jodie Meex (in the pic, celebrating with Iguodala).

Jodie, that basically struggled all year so far if you exclude a couple of games quarters, tied a career high with 26 points on an unbelievable 10/11 from the field, that included six treys (on seven).

But seven players in double figures, 55% overall shooting and 12/18 from behind the arc should tell you everything you need to know about this game. “The box score don’t lie”, as some would say (lol), at least this time.

The game basically lasted one minute: that’s what it took Collins to pull Holiday out after a couple of bad turnovers, and talk to his playmaker as Jrue took a seat next to him on the bench. In the meantime, Holiday’s early substitute, Lou Williams, was carrying the Sixers’ offense, scoring eight quick points and adding two dimes in the first, 33-23.

Williams closed the second on his patented pump fake-18 foot jump shot + foul, to complete a three point play that sent the two teams to the locker rooms with Sixers up 54-40.

Then came the third quarter embarassment for Washington, with Meex and Lou drilling treys like crazy and Iguodala, Brand & co following the trend with a flurry of steals (the pitiful Wizards turned the ball over five times on six possessions…), dunks and three point plays. (more after the break)

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They looked like. Barely a surprise.

But, down one man (Hawes), down 17 points in the fourth (78-61), playing their third game in three nights, Sixers fought back to -4 before eventually losing to the Knicks 85-79 to see their six game winning streak snapped: 7-3 (.700).

I think we should be proud of them anyway, because guys never gave up, one more time, even if clearly legs were wearing down in the final minutes, and no shot was falling.

It was a very intense but overall ugly game by both teams, that included some stretches of horrible basketball, quite frankly: neither team scored a FG in the last six minutes, for example...

Anyway I am not disappointed by the loss. The Anthony-Iguodala matchup was phenomenal (in the pic) and it probably ended up with a tie.

Andre made it really hard for Carmelo to score (only 9/24, with a ton of tough shots, fadeway jumpers etc), pushing him also to turn the ball over five times with his great, great, physical defense.

Anthony, on the other hand, clearly took it personal and managed to score 27 (nine in the opening quarter). He was able to get to the line a lot of times, collected nine rebounds and dished out five dimes, making his game a positive one (+5 in the +/-).

With Hawes and with a "normal" contribution by Lou Williams this game would have been a very different story, probably. Same had the two team met two days ago and not at the final stop of a three-game series.

But let's not use this as an excuse, Sixers took advantage of important absences from other teams in the previous nights, so it should go both ways.

Some bullets to close this: (more after the break)
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If only someone in Philly would care.

Sixers went for their sixth consecutive win (7-2, .778), after the 112-85 demolition of Sacramento, to remain undefeated at "home", 4-0.

I feel really frustrated by the lack of attention this team is getting from the town, but that is not going to take anything away from what these guys and their coach are doing in this start of the season.

Last night's game, second of a back-to-back-to-back, was another cool, "boring" one, in which Sixers overcome a slow (not sloppy) start to progressively take control.

Vintage Elton Brand abused Cousins on both ends all night and scored 12 in the third, Meex had 10 with three treys, and the 11-0 initial run was the decisive one.

Sixers quickly jumped to +21 after the break (63-42 with 9 min left), to basically make the rest of the game an extended period of garbage time.

Sacramento - that was missing Marcus Thornton btw - is simply a dysfunctional team, with too many guys looking lost out there and not playing as a unit: as soon as they fell down by double digit, Kings gave up, even if the (much) time left could have suggested the opposite.

Now Sixers have a chance to make history (...) winning their third game in three nights, tonight at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks. (more after the break) no comments