| 13 February 2010
Will post the recap of the 104-93 loss at Toronto this late only to keep track of all games.
At the All Star break Sixers hold a putrid 20-32 record (.385), "good" for the 10th position in the Eastern conference.
Here is what happened in Canada.
THREE ANSWERS
1) Yes, the comeback was great. From 76-53, 2.55 to play in the third, to 93-93, 2.20 left in the 4th.
I believed we could fininish the job, but an unlikely four point play by Calderon sparked Raptors' final, decisive push, that was completed by another three, this time by Bargnani (100-93).
2) No, with Sam out, NOBODY can protect the rim or provide some toughness in the paint. When Dalembert was pulled out, the game turned into an alley oop & dunk party, just as enjoyable for them as annoying for every Sixers' fan.
I lost the count of highlight plays that Calderon & the flying Raptors crew put on, especially in the second quarter. As much as I love to pick on Dalembert, this pretty much always happens, and speaks volumes about our defensive "ability".
3) No, the small ball crap didn't work, again. You gotta love a lineup with Green at SF (??), Iguodala at PF (??!!) and that's exactly how Jordan started the second half, adding Ivey and Holiday in the back court, and Dalembert at C.
"I went with a small lineup and it backfired," Jordan said. "It happens."
First time, uh? (more after the jump)THREE QUESTIONS
1) What's with the love for Royal Ivey? 14 minutes again, while a promising start by Jrue Holiday was evidently the reason to keep his minutes to just 20. File this under the "classic Jordan coaching" category.
2) How did you like Lou Williams' furious fourth quarter? Fourteen points. When he catches fire he's pretty much unstoppable, he can shoot from the outside or take it to the rim at will. I think Lou isn't appreciated enough by fans, had he continued to be a starter after the injury, we'd talk about a breakout season for him now, even with his (persistent) defensive shortcomings.
The broken jaw and the Iverson signing marked two tough breaks for him, reducing his role and minutes. I think we have to blame the coach AND the GM for his, another wasted opportunity in a troubled Sixers' year.
3) Will we ever see Lou starting WITH Holiday? Don't think so but I'd like that.. maybe that's the reason why it won't happen.
REASONS
Why we lost the game
Ran out of gas after that impressive rally: when we tied it at 93, Toronto closed the game on a 11-0 run. The unbelievably stupid lineups used by our coach didn't help also.
And how about this: Jordan didn't call a time out in the third until we were trailing by 23... in his mind, this was probably a (smart) way to make players accountable bla bla bla.... idiot.
To be optimistic
Young, Williams and Jason Smith looked good out there.
My boy Reggie Evans made his debut as a Raptor and gave me one good reason to follow Toronto more in what's left of the season. Welcome back Reghanistan !!!
To be worried
Brand played a really poor game: four turnovers, blocked by Bargnani and DeRozan (!) on a fastbreak. He struggled guarding the guido forward, also.
Iguodala had a tough night offensively and completely missed Wright on a couple of plays down the stretch, something unusual for him.
After All Star St Valentine's weekend, Sixers play host to the Miami Heat on Tuesday 16. Curious to see with which roster.
