| 10 February 2010
Too bad I couldn't enjoy the 119-97 trouncing of Minnesota (yet) because Int'l League Pass broadband decided to go back sucking again and made the game unwatchable due to constant buffering.
Definitely annoying.
Sixers won their fifth straight (20-31, .392) and face Toronto today, in the second night of a back-to-back, the last game before the All Star break.
As usual in these cases, I'll just make few thoughts on what is 100% sure (numbers, play-by-play, highlights), waiting to edit the post once I'll be able to actually watch the game.
THREE ANSWERS
1) Yes, the lesson was learned. This time Sixers didn't stop playing in the second half after building a big lead and kept T'Wolves at distance.
2) No, don't think this streak means much, to be 100% honest. I stand with my initial thought: this team has a good amount of talent, is awfully coached and should be higher in the standings.
But don't get carried away, we struggled to beat the Nets, topped the Paul-less Hornets and destroyed Minnesota. The two best wins were vs the Bulls and at Houston: nice, but far from impressive. The winning streak must reach sixteen only to get to .500...
3) Yes, having a deep bench helps. Fourty-nine points (minus Speights...). How did you like the seven man rotation Eddie Jordan used to go with? (more after the jump)THREE QUESTIONS
1) Why has Speights fallen so badly in the rotation? I'd be happy to say "because he wasn't performing" (this would actually show that coach has a clue) but it's not. "Recovery" of Jason Smith is nice though.
2) How could we blew a 17 point lead against this same, horrible Minnesota team, and lose to it? Now this is a tough one to answer...
3) No Iverson = more balanced team? My answer is "Yes", as much as I love the guy. I repeat for the 135th time that I wouldn't have signed him, remember. If you wanted another proof that we absolutely didn't need Iverson, here you go. Longest winning streak of the season and he played (bad) only in the first of the five games won, vs the weakest opponent.
REASONS
Why we won the game
Uhm, because the T'Wolves suck and we are a better team? But seriously, 73 first half points is huge reguardless.
To be optimistic
The 8th seed is pretty close. Miami currently holds it with a less-than-mediocre 25-27 record, meaning a 4.5 game edge.
To be worried
I have a strong feeling we can screw everything up with a horrible trade before deadline. Then I think to myself: "What can be 'screwed', exactly? With this team we are eleven games under .500 and have very good chances to miss the playoffs AND the lottery !!".
And then I realize I really don't know what I would do.
