| 20 March 2010
Taking my hat off to Eddie Jordan and his Sixers (24-45, .348), really. No reason to be angry, Andre.
Losing this wasn’t easy at all, but we found a way: 92-88 New York, awesome.
I mean, Knicks are horrible even at full roster, as their record shows. Subtract two key starters as Tyson Chandler and David Lee, missing his first game of the season.
Add that they shot 37% overall. Then a question could raise: were they shooting the lights out from behind the arc? No way, 10/32, 31%.
You would think that it’s impossible not to win the game in such circumstances, right? Not for us.
Maybe the only good thing Eddie Jordan will leave us as legacy in his (too long) tenure as Sixers coach will be a strong losing effort in these last games and a better position in the lottery.
That would (nearly) make up for all of the awful job he’s done. Let’s part ways on a good note, Eddie. Keep up the good work. For another thirteen games.
THREE ANSWERS
1) Yes, one more time we actually tried to win the game. But we couldn’t beat an awful team playing without its best player. It happened the same at Indiana.
How sad is that? Or is it more stupid? Sixers lost both games to NY this week and the season series, 1-3. That gives you and idea of what we had to go through all year. Giving up three games to this year’s Knicks, and winning the only one in OT, is below pathetic.
2) Yes, we got outrebounded 50-38 by one of the worst rebounding team in the league, missing their best (only?) rebounder. What more can you add? Actually there is more.
Elton Brand, three rebounds in 33 minutes, for example. Sam Dalembert, 22 minutes of playing time (eight boards), vs Willie Green’s 30, for a mighty 1/7 from the field. See something wrong in those numbers?
3) Yes, we led by twelve points in the second (29-41) on Kapono’s second consecutive three. But we got two rebounds in that quarter. TWO !! Ouh, and we led by nine in the fourth also, 67-76. Nice killer instinct there, uh? (more after the jump)THREE QUESTIONS
1) Is there a rule that says that Iguodala must play 40+ minutes even if he’s sucking and/or his shot is way off?
It was the first night of a back-to-back and Andre played (bad) 43 minutes, and didn't get a second of rest in the second half. This tells you basically two things about Eddie Jordan: a) he’s trying to win as many games as possible b) he’s an idiot. The latter is no news, I know.
2) Are you surprised that Iguodala (badly) misfired on the three that could have tied the game? I, for one, no.
3) What did poor Jonathan Bender do in his previous life? Probably something horrible, because he’s paying a high price in this one. After getting his first start in seven years (and that would be a nice story to tell), he broke his ring finger in the second quarter and didn't come back. May I suggest a trip to Lourdes.
I used to like Bender in his Pacers years, I have a crush for soft & skinny 7-foot busts with a nice shooting touch... Bender reminded me of Brad Sellers, then.
REASONS
Why we lost the game
All of the above + Douglas' explosion in the fourth (14 points, 13 consecutive) + two costly turnovers down the stretch.
Douglas stole a sloppy cross court pass by Holiday to Kapono, to go coast-to-coast for the 89-86. Then Iguodala tried a smart (?) jump pass that resulted into another Knicks steal, this time by Walker, for the 91-86. I think they teach you not to pass while jumping when you are 10 y/o, maybe even earlier.
Allowing Gallinari a career high 14 free throw attempts is another thing Sixers' shouldn't be proud of.
To be optimistic
With this team and this coach there is always plenty of reasons to be optimistic if you are a tanker. They never disappoint you, let’s be fair and give them credit when credit is due.
Speights got back after the injury, this is good news.
To be worried
Well, other teams are making a serious push to the lottery as well, especially Detroit and Washington. Despite the remarkable tanking job, Sixers are still too high in the standings, if you think of it. We have to sink deeper.
Sixers lost their 15th game of the year by five points or less.
(Before the game I did a Q&A session with Knicks Fanatics, the Knicks blog of the Bloguin network. Make sure to check their recap of the game, also)
For the second night of the back-to-back, here come Chicago and its 10-game losing streak. Time to put an end to it, right ??? For Bulls coverage check Da Bulls' Eye.
