| 21 February 2010
I told you (via Twitter4guidos) that Sixers-Spurs games are usually very entertaining.
Friday night's 106-94 W was no exception, as Sixers improved to 21-33 (.382).
You know how these kind of games go: bad teams beating good teams, but still remaining bad...
Anyway, I was extremely pleased with the effort, the comeback, the intensity.
Really a fun game to watch, with a sweet end: Sixers made Spurs look old and slow, kinda of played out, so to say, with their key players - minus Ginobili - limited to marginal roles.
THREE ANSWERS
1) No, I can barely believe that Sixers closed the game with a 40-20 run, going from 66-74 on an unbelievable "catch-and-shoot" long three by Ginobili as the shot clock was expiring (1.32 left in the third), to the final 106-94.
That streak included a 15-0 fourth quarter break, with Lou Williams playing a phenomenal period adding steals, assists and even some defense to his 14 points. Another proof he's Sixers' best player when there's a need to change a game offensively and spark a run.
2) Yes, Sam's ejection (6.01 to play in the third) clearly lighted a fire, and all guys stepped up, starting from Elton Brand, who scored ten points in the third quarter.
3) Yes, Iverson is still struggling: 1/8 with a lot of easy, makeable shots missed, especially mid range jumpers. Allen has yet to find a rythm after his long absence. But eight boards (!!) and four dimes in 24 minutes were a good contribution, we appreciate... (more after the jump).THREE QUESTIONS
1) Any doubt that Iguodala was the MVP last night? I think there is no question. Eight assists vs zero turnovers in 41 minutes is the most impressive number in his (impressive) stat line. Great, great game on both ends: Jeffferson's 3/8 has an explaination, also.
2) How could Spurs miss TEN straight shots in the second, and still get to the break with a seven point lead (45-52)? Well, Sixers didn't take care of the ball like they should have done in the fist half, with ten turnovers, and weren't aggresive at all: only four free throws attempted.
3) Was the officiating actually bad? I think they blew a couple of calls in the Dalembert-Duncan duel, but honestly I thought the one on Brand for the offensive foul on that fastbreak dunk was fair enough.
Elton did change direction, going towards the defender instead of straight to the hoop, and shoved him with the right hand. It was the call that got Dalembert mad, and that led to his second technical foul.
REASONS
Why we won the game
We run the Spurs off down the stretch and overwhelmed them with our atheticism: some three point plays and fastbreaks in the fourth were really amazing, I enjoyed stretches of excellent, team baskteball and 2-3 highlight plays.
To be optimistic
Jrue Holiday had a terrific game in a season high 44 minutes: to me, the best news of the night, more than the win itself. Parker shooting 1/9 is linked to that, also. Thaddeus Young played with intensity, something that is becoming usual, fortunately.
To be worried
Meeks really looks like a poor man's Willie Green: it took him less then ten second to release his first (missed, forced) shot.
Zero rebounds in fifteen minutes is something Marreese Speights shouldn't be proud of, also.
Sixers start a four game road trip on Saturday in Chicago.
