| 01 February 2010
Because this one was REALLY ugly.
I mean 79-83 over the Nets playing without Devin Harris.
No wonder we "rose" to 16-31 (.340) after this dreadful show.
Better make the post short and move on.
THREE ANSWERS
1) Yes, the Nets had the ball to tie the game with 10 seconds left (77-80), but Jarvin Hayes - that had made four from behind the arc - airballed a contested three.
Thaddeus Young, and I mean T-h-a-d-d-e-u-s Y-o-u-n-g (why I am repeating this? read below..), secured the rebound, got fouled and made two from the line to close the game, 77-82.
Not a glorious end, but it could have been worse.
2) Yes, we managed to get outrebounded by the Nets, 50-47. Not bad.
3) No, I am not done with the ugly stats. What's worse, shooting 36%, missing ELEVEN free throws or letting Jarvin Hayes score 18 off the bench, with four identical corner threes and eight rebounds? Tough race here.
THREE QUESTIONS
1) Why wasn't Carney used in the second half, since he was so good in the second quarter (nine points)? Jordan put a spirited Rodney back with only 30 seconds left, to protect our six point lead.... he surely felt great.
2) What did Jrue Holiday do so wrong to deserve not getting any minute after he played the first eight? Yes, he missed some shots, but it's not like his team mates were shooting the lights out...
3) How about Brand's 'clutchness'? Or lackthereof? After blowing a layup in Milwaukee to tie the game in the finals moments, this time he bricked a couple of free throws with 22.8 seconds left and Sixeers leading by only three (77-80, right), leaving the door open to New Jersey.
Pretty scaring to me, but also telling about what's on his mind in this (sad) moment of his career (more after the jump).REASONS
Why we won the game
Shot 3/19 in the decisive quarter. Wait, no, that should't be mention as a good thing. Uhm. Nets shooting 6/20 in the third and not getting to the line once?
Ok, Iguodala knocked down a nice long jumper to make it a four point game with 1.30 to play (74-78), at the two teams' scoring rate that was a pretty safe lead... it could perhaps be considered the decisive field goal. Jeez.
Dalembert had a nice start (ten points on 4/4 in the first quarter + four rebounds).
To be worried
I lost the count of missed putbacks, lauyps and alley oop passes that actually resulted into a turnover. Awful offensive game by the Sixers, really. Even Speights took a night off, missing three from the line and a dunk.
To be optimistic
I can still make it to NBA.com's editorial staff. From their recap of the game:
There were only 8.9 seconds left after the Nets' miss. 76ers forward Jason Smith made it a two-possession game, at 82-77, with a pair from the line.
Guys, Jason Smith = Sixers #14. Thaddeus Young = Sixers #21. Also, one is white, the other is black. Not so easy to mistake the two of them, uh? So that was Thaddeus Young at the line. Ok? Deal.
Well, nice defensive effort, at least, right? NO !!! Wrong !!
If you take out the final play, Sixers' defense was far from impressive. It's just that the Nets suck and are damn soft. Ten free throws attempted ??? Brooke Lopez wasn't 100%, to be honest.
Chicago coming on Wednesday. Will we play with this same roster? Not so sure.
