| 17 February 2010
The whole team, I mean. Just swap the two rosters.
With trade deadline approaching, and Sixers likely to make no moves (Jamison to Cavs while I'm typing this), I watched the 78-105 butt kicking against the Heat that brought Sixers to a pathetic 20-33 (.377).
The good thing about these kind of games is that they allow blog posts to be very short.
I know many are focusing on management's (lack of) moves, but I'm afraid we will be stuck with this team (and coach...) until game 82. Let's try to talk "actual" (?) basketball (??).
THREE ANSWERS
1) No, Stefanski apparently is not willing to "blow this team up". Fine. How about hiring a decent coach? Ok, this summer?
2) No, he's not focused enough, perhaps. Speaking of blows, Thad missed two dunks, one fromtrimmed (in the pic), the other just... blown. Ironic how the two worst plays of the night came from the only guy that played overall a semi-decent game. Ok, nearly decent.
3) No, it seems like Brand cannot rebound anymore. 1 in 16 minutes at the half, 5 in 35 at the end. Dude, box the fuck out and shut the fuck up. I backed you up when you deserved it, now time to do something on the court.
THREE QUESTIONS
1) What's with the Young-for-Dalembert substitutions? Twice last night, in the first and in the third quarter. Wise move as Sam (one more time) was the only guy boarding in a night where Sixers got outrebounded 37-50... small ball, small ball...
Williams-Iverson-Iguodala-Young-Speights to start the second wasn't bad either: how about taking a step further and put Ivey in instead of Speights, moving Thad to C? Or add Kapono (SF or PF, it doesn't matter) to the "All defense" back court of Williams and Iverson? (more after the jump)2) Why can't this team put it all together? I say this time coach did "only" a small part, all guys played horrible, they looked flat, rusty, "cold". Forget the rotations, Princeton/non Princeton offense, defense or lackthereof: it was just a pathetic bunch of Sixers asses out there.
3) Is the O'Neal that scored 20 on 66% shooting the same one that at 33 y/o should be on his way down? Talking about "Sixers effect", definitely refreshing.
REASONS
Why we lost the game
Outplayed on every aspect of the game, in which we led 2-0 and trailed the rest of the way. Extended, awful draughts: eleven straight misses in the second quarter (2-16 run), nine in the third (0-17), including many open looks and pretty easy mid range shots. 0/11 from three point land until Holiday hit one in garbage time, with 1.33 left before the final buzzer.
To be optimistic
The "Fire Eddie" chant at the end of the game was nice. While it's still unsure which Eddie fans were referring to, it's definitely a good sign.
To be worried
The conference looks even weaker after the last trades, if you take out the first four teams (Cleveland, Boston, Orlando, Atlanta).
This could mean we will win those 3-4 extra games that would put us in the perfect position to be 100% f'd up, with no playoffs and no access to the lottery either. Wanna bet?
On Friday against San Antonio, at least Sixers-Spurs games are usually fun.
