Maybe we're not as good as we thought
by Jordan Sams on Nov 5, 2008 9:41 PM PST
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PrintIt's five games into the season, so it is entirely too early to jump to any conclusions. I think the 20-game mark is a good barometer to anticipate how a team is going to play for the rest of the reason, with a few exceptions. Sometimes teams suck (Thunder and Bucks) or coast through the beginning of season (Pistons and Spurs), but at the very least, after 20 games teams develop a certain identity. Through five games our identity is an over-hyped team, with no go-to scorer, an inept coach and a tendency to beat down horrible teams and lose to mediocre/solid teams. It will definitely be interesting to see how we fare in Orlando tomorrow, against a top-tier Eastern Conference team.
I haven't been able to narrow our struggles down to one problem, but tonight I noticed an attitude change in our team, as opposed to last year. Last year, we came out with energy every game, for 48 minutes. We embraced the underdog role and out-hustled our opponents with our young, hungry, athletic guys. This year I feel like we are playing with way too much confidence. We are trying to make SportsCenter with fancy passes and alley-oops on every fastbreak. We just look like a team that expects to win now, and it's not happening. I don't know how to fix it either.
As for tonight's game, it sucked. There's really no other way to put it. We turned the ball over nearly 30 times, shot under 40%, blah, blah, blah. It's hard enough for me to write this right now, so I'm going to look at the positives. And how very few there are.
Likes:
-Thaddeus Young. He's so awesome and the only bright spot of the season thus far. His jump shot is silky smooth and he's obviously worked very hard in the off-season. The problem is, for whatever reason, he absolutely goes off in the first quarter and then stops shooting. That needs to change. He's our most effective player right now.
-Lou. The offense still stalls a tad when he's running the show and he dribbles around a little too much, but there is no denying that he's a talented scorer. He continues to impress me with his ability to get to the basket and finish.
-Marreese Speights. What's not to love?
-24-26 from the free-throw line.
Player of the Game: Thaddeus Young
No one wants to see the box score, so check this out instead.
Record: 2-3
Favorite Open Thread Comment: "Iggy…kinda…sucks"--FuqaManuel
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Last year the ‘experts’ were too down on the sixers and people thought they ‘over performed’ – this year everyone freaked out cause they thought that elton brand was the missing piece and that a bigger contract would make andre iguodala a different kind of player than he’s ever been and improve his outside skills. They also seemed to think that Andre Miller would play at the same level he played at last year (which could be argued as the best overall season of his career) and that Mo Cheeks was a good coach.
Therefore maybe the expectations were off by more than a bit on the other side this year.
Like I said, 3rd place in the atlantic is what I see coming, cause the nets and knicks just aren’t all that good…this isn’t a championship contending roster folks – it’s better – but it still needs work.
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 8:19 AM PST reply actions
Why do you like what Lou Williams is doing so far?
He has become a complete gunner. Bad part is he is shooting under 40% from the field and 31% from three. The offense is horrible when he is in the game and is dominating the ball. This team is a mess and it starts with the head coach.
Louis Williams is doing what Louis williams does – he does it ‘better’ than willie green – but if anyone is still under the delusion he can be a starting NBA point guard they should poke themselves with something sharp cause they’re sleep walking
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 9:06 AM PST up reply actions
He's basically A.I. 2.0.
He’s doing his job. I’d like to see him shoot a little better, but his ability to score has impressed me thus far. jemagee is right. He’s not our point guard of the future, so the offense stalling while he’s at the point is mostly Cheeks’ fault.
Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.
Actually – the only viable ‘back up’ point guard being royal ivey isn’t mo cheeks fault
Thinking Louis Williams can be a point guard and not having a legitimate ‘real’ back up just in case isn’t mo cheeks fault
THis is on fast eddie
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 10:02 AM PST up reply actions
Iguodala could always run the show.
I’d feel more comfortable with him than anyone we could’ve picked up this off-season.
Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.
That’s too convoluted thinking for these guys.
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 10:14 AM PST up reply actions
The Warriors are doing it with Steve Jax.
The Lakers have done it with Odom, the Blazers with BRoy.
It happens all the time, but the Sixers don’t seem to get it. I’ve seen Willie Green bringing the ball up court more often than Iguodala. That’s not good.
Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.
Willie Green on the court more than louis williams (hell L will should have a 2:1 minute advantage of W-Green at least)
Speights:Evans ratio – also should be 2:1 minimum
Back up point guard – iguodala
Design some plays for Iguodala
Slap Sam every time he shoots beyond 2 feet
Slap REggie Evans EVERY TIME HE SHOOTS
These are but some of the issues this team has or has had for a while now
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 10:22 AM PST up reply actions
Brandon Roy came into the league as a point guard didn’t he?
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 10:23 AM PST up reply actions
No sir.
Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.
He tried to play a little his senior year, but a true SG.
Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.
I always wanted the sixers to figure out how to get him…that rodney carney thing really worked out didn’t it?
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 10:26 AM PST up reply actions
lol
I wanted a point guard.
Rondo, Marcus Williams and Jordan Farmar all went after our pick.
I loved Rondo coming out of college.
I did love me some Rodney Carney though. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know.
Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.
Cause he jumps real high and runs real fast?
I was actually pro marcus williams but who knew he’d never get his act together.
Farmar is going to be a good starter
Rondo already is – but come on – his name is WAY too european sounding for billy king to have considered drafting him
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 10:43 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah I've always been a sucker for those super athletic guys.
Any of those guys would’ve been better than Carney though.
Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.
You’d think the sixers would have learned
Super Athletic kid coming out of memphis – sound familiar?
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 10:52 AM PST up reply actions
Problems
It definitely starts with the head coach, who’s done a lousy job so far in this short season. It’s obvious something has to be done about that fact that Iggy can’t be a 2-guard. Either Iggy or Thad has to come off the bench and, frankly, only Thad has proven that he deserves to be a starter. $80 million or not, Iggy might hasve to recognize that he can help this team most by becoming an excellent sixth man.
Let me add that Mo most be a moron if he thinks it makes sense to take out Thad in the first quarter every game and replace him with Willie friggin’ Green. Moron!
Odom and Ginobli are pretty expensive sixth men.
But who’s a better option to start?
Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.
Kirilenko will be the sixth man of the year possibly – and he ain’t cheap either :)
The problem is that let’s say you bench Iguodala – who the hell do you start?
Your options are
Willie Green
Kareem Rush
Louis Williams
As far as I’m concerned NONE of them is a better option at the starting 2 – scoring or not – because of the defensive liabilities.
Yes they had problems stopping wade last night – guess what – 100% healthy dwyane wade is REALLY hard to stop
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 10:01 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah none of those guys should start.
Lou is best suited as the sixth man.
Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.
Well...
I wouldn’t even consider Willie or LouWill. However, I’d definitely consider giving Kareem Rush a shot at it. If Brand gets double teamed and can find Kareem open, there’s a damn good chance he’ll knock down the open jumper. Name another guy on the team who you can say that about (with the exception of Thad).
Please
Iggy come off the bench? After a few games, you’re ready to make this claim?!? Sigh, there is a reason why he’s considered one of the top young guys and got that contract. 76ers and Iggy will get it together – have a little patience (slumps happen).
I'm no commie, but the Reds shall be the best again!
He’s never been considered a scoring threat – he’s never been considered an outside shooting threat
The sixers need to get creative – and iggy needs to stop trying to make the fancy passes – his turnover numbers still piss me off – every time he tries one of thos asinine behind the back passes i want to throw my remote through my tv
Convert him to a point – trade miller – find a real 2 guard – probably a better solution – which makes too much sense -
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 11:28 AM PST up reply actions
I've never thought of that but
I actually really like that idea.
Where will you be when the Sixers hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? Hopefully Liberty Ballers.
He has more natural point guard skill and instinct than Louis Williams
As for his ‘not knowing how to dribble’ – i’ll ignore that remakr like most of your guarantees during baseball games as being one of futile impotent useless rage
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 3:36 PM PST up reply actions
Dude literally cannot dribble with his head up. Not rage at all, nor is it a guarantee. It is a statement based on observable data.
If he can learn to handle the ball, his instinct would make him an intriguing 1. But until then he will be too turnover prone to be that much more effective than Miller.
He’s a better ball handler – with better point guard skills than anyone else on the roster under the age of 30
by jemagee on Nov 6, 2008 4:15 PM PST up reply actions
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