| 19 November 2009
Ok first off vote in the brand new Brand poll.
Questions are basically: is he REALLY back? Or was it just a game, vs a weak team? Or, my pick, let's wait a little bit more, and in the meantime PLAY HIM ???
Brand's impressive game is by far the best indication we got from the 86-84 W over the Bobcats. The low quality of the opponent and, mainly, the 5-6 record (.455) must necessarily keep us cautious and humble.
Nothing to celebrate, one more time, it would have been embarassing to lose to Charlotte, that not coincidentally was coming off five straight losses.
Still, a stat line with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and SIX blocks is something you don't see often.
Yes, Brand did that playing against Diaw, because Chandler got hurt and played only 15 minutes, Mohammed - healthy but... still Mohammmed ! - only 10.
Brand, before the game rumored to be brought off the bench, set the tone in the first possessions, with a couple of steals, a nice block on Stephen Jackson and a pair of putbacks, showing great effort and focus. With Sam (unusually !) plagued by early foul troubles, Elton played center most of the night, helped by the fact that Chandler had to sit with back spasms and did not return in the second half.
The move paid back. I must repeat that I don't like the idea of Brand covering that position for extended minutes, but yesterday was one of the cases in which that had sense. Jason Smith had a couple of nice baskets but one rebound and three fouls in eight minutes won't get the job done, obviously.
Another move I liked was letting Carney on the floor for 30 minutes. As you might remember, I am not a fan of Carney, but yesterday he was very effective, doing a lot of things that he usually doesn't do (like rebounding the ball, hitting threes, mixing jumpers and drives - on one, he had a fantastic two handed dunk). Jordan went small when Sam picked his second foul, substituting him with Rodney.
Let's try to get deeper in the analysis (after the jump)THREE ANSWERS
1) yes, our back court had a very good offensive game. Fittingly, Lou Williams made the decisive basket, closing a fastbreak with three seconds left, off a nice defensive rebound + assist play by Iguodala.
2) no, Jrue Holiday didn't play. Glued to the bench for 48 minutes. Ivey got 6 minutes and did shlt.
3) no, I have no idea why a totally uninspired, soft, lazy Thaddeus Young played 40 minutes. Really shocking decision by Eddie Jordan as Thad did absolutely NOTHING in all that time, on both ends on the floor (at least he was being consistent in that...).
THREE QUESTIONS
1) how we could NEVER make a real break and shake off the Bobcats? After a nice 13-1 run in the first, that put us up 29-22, we kept the lead until 2.10 left in the fourth (81-82 on a three by Jackson). But leads were all between 7-8 and 2 points. Bobcats actually missed a lot of opportunities to take the lead earlier, turning the ball over or missing open shots.
2) why Kapono got only three minutes, with Sixers struggling offensively (1/9 to start the third, for example? Larry Brown played even some zone defense (!) but Jordan decided to put him in only with 3.40 left in the third.
I know Kapono gets/got abused defensively - every Sixers opponent, and I mean every, runs isolation plays for whoever is 'guarded' by Kapono, and yesterday was no exception - but if you don't use your best shooter agains the worst offensive team in the League, I don't know when you can play him.
3) are Sixers playing in a sports arena on in a theater? Attendance was officially at 11.585 last night but judgting from the empty seats and the 'atmosphere', it was more like 7-8.000 (silent) fans at best. Pretty depressing.
REASONS
Why we won the game
Charlotte coulnd't finish the job down the stretch, when they seemed to have the game in their hands (81-84, 1.50 left, and Sixers looking lost). Diaw missed an open three from the corner immediately before William's decisive layup, and the last inbound pass was deflected by Brand first and Iguodala later, with Carney grabbing the ball as the buzzer sounded. Bobcats were shorthanded in the frontcourt and really struggle to shoot the ball and put points on the scoreboard (two players in double figure).
To be optimistic
This game could be a huge boost for Elton Brand's confidence. I'm curious to see how he, and mainly Jordan, will handle this situation. Carney giving signs of life is also big. Iguodala had a very solid all around game and is continuing to put great numbers, I guess his haters will have to STFU.
To be worried
It was the 3-7 Bobcats, and again we couldn't close the game earlier, coming to the last possession to seal the win. Sam disappeared one more time. Rotations have a rollercoaster trend, to the point that one (myself, for example) could think the coach still has no clue. We let many open looks on the perimeter, but their shots didn't go down because... it was the Bobcats, exactly. If you do that vs Orlando, Boston or even Toronto, you easly lose by 15+.
Sixers take on the Iverson-less Grizzlies on Friday, the last home game before playing seven of their next eight on the road, a tough schedule that includes stops at Cleveland, Boston, San Antonio and Dallas.
We better reach .500 tomorrow or it's going to be ugly.
