| 13 March 2010
I mean, what more can you ask at this point of the season?
Sixers play hard, show they can be competitive, prove that with a decent coach their record would have been better than 23-42 (.354), provide a good amount of highlights plays and eventually fall 95-100 against the best team in the League, all in front of a packed arena.
Perfect uh? Buddy Rob_STC on Twitter called it "a quality loss", and that's a good definition that I can subscribe.
It's pretty common that bad teams play well against good teams, and we saw Sixers confirming it very often this season. Last time it happened, it was at LA Lakers, in a very similar night, but the last Celtics game was no different.
So a close one, many lead changes, no long runs for either team, and the better, veteran squad that escapes with a tough victory down the stretch. The common thing is that Sixers are always on the losing side.
I must say I liked the game, I was entartained by the dunks, the alley oops, the hustle plays, the intensity. I am not disappointed by the loss, obviously.
THREE ANSWERS
1) No, I don't think Sixers played this hard because they wanted to prove how they like their coach. I think it was more matching up with LeBron James and the NBA's top team, in front of a sellout crowd.
Iguodala's first quarter was simply phenomenal (16 points including two terrific flushes), Brand started with 4/4 as well, Cavs responded with 5/7 from behind the arc, while James had 12 + 5 dimes (!). I told, you, a nice show (more after the jump).2) Yes, I think limiting the Cavs to 39 second half points was a good effort. Cavs missed a lot of wide open shots, but made the right plays on the defensive end. When Sam fouled out with 4.22 to play, they had the game in their hands.
3) Yes, remember Cleveland was missing Shaquille O'Neal and Antawn Jamison. Still, they got a great lift from the bench (44 points), one of the keys of the game.
THREE QUESTIONS
1) Was it a bad turnover? Yes, it was, Sixers could have tied the game or cut Cavs' lead to one. But when Jrue Holiday (in the pic, facing a random opponent) gave away the ball with the score at 95-98 and 20 seconds to play, I immediately thought that would have been just another step in his learning processs.
I am pleased with what he did last night, and happy that he stayed on the court for a good 41 minutes. Give Jordan credit for this.
2) What was worse, the 2/15 from downtown or the sixteen free throws attempted? I'd pick the second one. Cavs were undermanned in their frontcourt (not a surprise they got outrebounded, 44-36, and outscored in the paint 66-40 !!!) and we should have been ,more aggressive, especially with Lou and Thad.
Brand played a solid game (finally) but he didn't have a single trip to the line. Of course, all those fallaway jumpers don't help in that.
3) How stupid were Sam's last two fouls? Pretty stupid, especially the sixth, that was whisled because he pushed Varejao while the brazilian was trying to set a high pick: completely unnecessary foul, far away from the rim. He left the Sixers without a presence in the paint.
REASONS
Why we lost the game
Made a couple of silly turnovers down the stretch against a veteran team, that made us pay immediately. Had few FT attempts, and missed many of them. Didn't shoot the ball weel from the perimeter either.
To be worried
No particular reason to be worried this time, we just have to keep this trend going (sadly).
To be optimistic
I don't see us snapping the losing streak on Sunday at Miami, that is fighting for a better position in the playoffs.
