| 20 December 2010
The first of Sixers' eight-game road trip was a 89-97 W in Orlando against what was left of the Magic immediately after the Carter-Pietrus-Gortat/Arenas-Turkoglu-J Rich trade.
How does the rest of the longest trip of the season look for the 11-16, (.407) Sixers? I say not so bad.
Let's take a look at the schedule and try to make some observations, remembering the team's latest, encouraging progresses. Predictions in italic.
Tue 21 @ Chicago (L)
This is gonna be bad, I'm afraid. Bulls are 3rd in the conference, 7-3 in the last ten and are a tough, complete, skilled team. I think we don't match up well with Chicago, they are just as athletic as us, with a powerful combination of reliable veterans and stars in the making.
Only advantage for us is obviously at SG, but given Meeks' recent struggles (3/20 from behind the arc over the past five games) this is not 100% sure. Sixers' might have a chance only if they manage to run.
Key player: Jrue Holiday, facing Derrick Rose (but Brand-Boozer will be interesting as well).
Wed 22 @ Boston (L)
Forget the fact that Celtics will be without Rondo: it's the second night of a back-to-back against the best (and hottest), team in the League, that already beat us playing with Semith Erden at starting C... Next.
Key player: Andre Iguodala, trying to shut down Pierce for the second straight game. (Speaking of Andre, he's 9/16 from three point land in the last five - more after the jump)
Sun 26 @ Den (W)
This is gonna be fun. Denver will be on the second night of a back-to-back and (hopefully) they will be pretty tired following what's probably going to be a tough game in OKC. Sixers, on the other side, will enjoy a 3-day rest before coming to Colorado, so I say we are going to take this one home (?).
Key player: Melo-vs-Iguodala will obviously get all the hype but probably a great game by Hawes against the soon-to-be-all-star Nene could spark us. Starters will have to be managed carefully (see below)
Mon 27 @ GS (W)
Another back-to-back, but I refuse to think we will lose in Oakland. Unless Warriors, losers of 13 of their last 15, knock down like 10+ threes, of course...
Key player: Elton Brand: feed the big fella in the low post please.
Wed 29 @ Pho (W)
Sixers extend their winning streak to three beating the revamped (?) Suns, aging and badly assembled. Phoenix is a place where Sixers played great games and had some nice Ws in the last years, even when they were really bad (worse than this year, I mean...).
Key player: Thad Young, slicing Suns' defense (?) at will with his drives and some low post moves.
Fri 31 @ LA Lakers (L)
I hate to say this, but we will end the year in the worst possible way, with a loss to the f'n Lakers, playing in front of dozens of Hollywood superstars, such as Andy Garcia, Bubba Smith and Rick Fox.
Key player: Darius Songaila, thrown in in the 4th to guard Joe Smith.
Mon 3 @ NO (L)
On paper this might look as a winnable game, but keep in mind that it will be the eighth of a long, exhausting trip. I don't see the Hornets scoring 23 in a half again, they surely will try to delete the memory of the egg they laid few days ago in Philly and played spirited basketball.
Key player: Iguodala again, playing against the poor man's Iguodala (= Trevor Ariza).
So I say Sixers will finish the trip 3-4, 4-4 if you consider the W in Orlando. That would mean a 14-20 record on Jan 3rd.
Too optimistic? Let's talk again in a couple of weeks !!
