| 10 April 2010
That Sixers (26-52, .333) should have won, but they lost, 99-95.
Again, not a smart time to complain for defeats, so I'll gladly file also the Miami game under the "Useful loss" category.
And I really had to root hard for Sixers to lose, as sad as it sounds, because with some plays/calls reversed they could have taken the game.
Heat weren't as hot and focused as you could have expected, considering they were coming off eight straight wins.
Anyway Sixers' late fall continues, while other teams "fighting" for ping pong balls are (pretty unexplicably, if you ask me) rising.
It will be interesting until the end.
THREE ANSWERS
1) Yes, Sam a fantastic game but, being Sam, made the decisive boneheaded play with the interference that could have tied the game. I think Lou's layup was going in anyway.
I was never a great fan of Dalembert but I must say two things about him: a) I never questioned his effort this year, unlike his coach; and b) he's being extremely professional in not arguing with Eddie Jordan and taking the high road. He showed he's better, and smarter, than his coach.
2) Yes, I have an explaination for Brand's atrocious rebounding numbers. Against Miami, he took 3 rebounds in 35 minutes (!), and got outrebounded by Holiday AND Williams (!!), who played LESS than him (!!!!). Hey, Kapono managed to take three as well. How does that happen?
I focused on this in the last games and I noticed that as soon as an opponent releases a shot, Brands starts running to the other half court - probably thinking he's a guard or something....
If you pay attention, he's NEVER in the picture (= my computer screen...) when some of his team mates goes for the ball after a miss. You always see Dalembert there, Iguodala, many times even Holiday (good rebounder for his size and role), but not your 17 mill-per-year power (?) forward.
Brand is averaging 4.3 rebounds per game in the last twelve games and has been labeled as "a shadow" by Heat announcers (LOL). Speechless. (more after the jump)3) No, I have no idea why Kapono misses so many OPEN threes. Actually he's surprising me with nice jumpers inside the arc and even some drives, but he's failing in what should be his bread & butter game.
THREE QUESTIONS
1) Why is Iguodala continuing to shoot techs? This annoys me to death. The game started with an awful brick from the line by Iguodala. What is worse, him insisting on taking them, or his coach not changing shooter ??
2) How impressive was Wade's block on Iguodala on that dunk attempt? Never been a great fan of Wade, and I hate the superstar treatment he gets, but that play was phenomenal. Iguodala got a little revenge few possesions later, with a big reverse throwdown.
3) What's with Julian Wright's three threes in the final quarter? That came unexpected. Unlike Miami playing a lot of 2-3 zone and unlike the small line up Jordan went with down the stretch: Holiday, Williams, Kapono, Iguodala, Dalembert.
REASONS
Why we lost the game
The small things down the strecth: a questionable call (Holiday's charge), a stupid play (Sam's putback). Many turnovers and too many three point plays allowed, also.
To be optimistic
This team is playing hard. Really. Some good defense on Wade, especially in the first half (2/7).
To be worried
This teams is playing hard (LOL), but can't get the job done.
Bucks next, to continue the streak.
