Cavs snap Sixers 1-game winning streak
by Jordan Sams on Dec 16, 2009 7:53 PM PST
28 comments
The Good
Jrue Holiday continues to be a baller. The 19-year-old added Mo Williams to his list of point guards who "Kissed The Baby" during his three December starts.
- Russell Westbrook (Dec.2) 1-11 from the floor.
- Monta Ellis (Dec.14) 3-14 from the floor.
- Mo Williams (Tonight) 2-8 from the floor.
In the past three games Thaddeus Young has three double-doubles. In the 183 games prior to this stretch he had three total. My two biggest criticisms of Thad have always been defense and rebounding. His offense will come, and he'll eventually average 20 PPG, but averaging four rebounds a game isn't going to cut it. For someone who plays significant minutes at power forward, Thad needed to rebound for his team to be successful. How does 35 boards in the past three games sound? Message receieved. The only difference has been Thad's effort, but it's been a huge difference. If he keeps this up I see a 20-10 season is in his future. Oh by the way, he's 21 years old.
For those of you scoring at home, that's two future studs at the ripe ages of 19 and 21.
As a Sixers fan, I was pretty happy with what I saw tonight as far as development is concerned. The four guys I'm interested in (Jrue, Andre, Thad, Speights) all played pretty well, and showed glimpses of a possibly bright future for the franchise. Speights was somewhat rusty in his return from injury -- as expected -- but still managed to score 14 off the bench. I don't consider him a stud like Holiday, Thad or Andre, but still a big part of the team's future. Andre was Andre. I still cringe every time he takes a jumper, but once a legit franchise player comes to town (John Wall), Andre will become Robin instead of Batman where he's much better suited, in my opinion.
Just remember, as long as Eddie Jordan is the head coach the scoreboard doesn't reflect wins and losses, the development of the young guys does.
The Bad
Speaking of Eddie Jordan, his coaching skillz lost the Sixers another game. He's the basketball equivalent of a rooster-block. Just when things start to look promising and the players say to themselves, "Let's seal the deal!", he pulls super-rookie Jrue Holiday for Billy Green. Not only did he pull his one of his best defenders/facilitators for free-firing, no defense Green, he took Iguodala off LeBron and gave Green the assignment of Queen James. Really? You decide to put Bill Green, of all people, on LeBron James to end a game? If I was a conspiracy theorist, I'd accuse EJ of trying to lose the game. Maybe he's on the John Wall bandwagon? Yes, the Sixers were already losing when Jordan made the switch, but who says the Sixers couldn't have gotten a couple stops with Jrue on Mo and Andre on LeBron? It's not like they were down 10. It was a two possession game, Sixers ball, and 2 minutes and change. Alas. The move perfectly sums up the Eddie Jordan era.
If you're into the +/- stat, Allen Iverson was the worst Sixer with a -11 tonight. Don't worry, it was strictly a basketball decision.
0 recs |
28 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
i just think it is somewhat worth noting
that allen iverson has quietly been playing really solid ball. how much he is helping or hurting us i cannot say. but tonight, for instance, he had 16 pts, 6 boards (all defensive) and 5 dimes. yeah he did shoot 4-12, but he got to the line and hit all 8 of his free throws. bottom line, when louwill comes back, we play iverson and holiday as our guards off the bench ( NOT GREEN!)
Agree. I'm happy he's not dominating the ball
Never though AI would let a 19 year old run the show when they are sharing the same backcourt. But then again AI doesn’t look quick enough to ruin the show right now. maybe its his knee?
Either way, glad AI is playing within himself and not being a distraction.
http://www.phillyarena.com - Philly sports forum/blog
AI had the worst plus/minus on the team of -11. plus/minus really tells a players value, look @ Durant last yr he was well in the negatives and his team was awful, this yr he has a plus and they are winning (well .500 but that is an improvement and they are a young team).
If you play 34 minutes at either guard spot you should get at least 2-3 dimes (so 5 isn’t that impressive). Rebounds for small guards mean nada, as they are all off long rebounds, not boxing out, etc.
He also took 12 shots and only made 4 that is horrific, 25% for a starting NBA guard!! Yes Jrue did not shoot well but he is still 19 (probably should still be @ UCLA) and had 10 dimes and 1 TO.
+/- does not really tell a players value because it exists in a vacuum
by jemagee on Dec 17, 2009 8:36 AM PST up reply actions
Agreed it is not a tell all, but if a team loses (and everyone has a – or nearly everyone does-with one or two at like +1 or +2), and one guy’s minus number is significantly lower (as AI’s was last night) then anyone else’s it shows something. He can’t play deff and his awful shooting kills us. He is not helping us win @ all either so what is the point? He also is not helping with attendance much after night 1 (last night was for King James). If he is going to take a dozen shots he needs to make more than 4. I’d rather have yng players doing that and gaining experience (once Lou is back) then a vet in his last yr.
The Jrue Holiday / Andre Iguodala back court combo had a -40 something before heading into last nights game.
It was the worst back court combo of any sixer team
(courtesy brian at DF)
by jemagee on Dec 17, 2009 9:36 AM PST up reply actions
I am not arguing for those two @ the guard positions at all for the long term.
I’d rather Jrue and Lou get more playing time (and even if have to play Bill or bring in a d-leaguer) then waste their development & have AI here. I think long-term we need a 2/3 who truly can shoot and score as go to guy, not Andre who plays more like a 3/4 but because of size is a 2/3 tweener.
Also if already have a bad +/-, why bring in AI who does not have a good one at this point in his career?
AI wasn’t brought in for basketball reasons, he was brought in for financial reasons, and anyone who says otherwise is just lying or delusional (but I’m a hater remember, cause I think it was a bad idea and ask for proof when people assert that Iverson makes players more efficient)
I want Jrue and Iguodala as the back court because that’s the best defensive option you got…I like Jrue, really I do, but he’s 6’3 – he isn’t guarding 2 guards in the NBA – he isn’t going to stop a guy like Kobe or Wade whereas Iguodala can stay in front of them.
Iguodala IS a 2 guard, and I’m not even going to bother defending it any more…the best starting line up for the LONG TERM success of the sixers is to me
Jrue
Iguodala
Thaddeus Young
Elton Brand
Speights
When I say LONG TERM – i mean beyond this year – and remember, I hate sam anyway…
Yes this team will lose a lot at first, jrue needs to run the offense and get comfortable with open shots, Speights needs to learn to defend better – but that’s the starting five right there that if this team is going to contend at any point during the Iguodala/Brand years that’s going to get it done.
It puts Lou Williams on the bench, where he belongs, AND should marginalize Willie Green. It puts Sam Dalembert on the bench where he can be used ‘as necessary’ as opposed to starting and picking up his two fouls in under 6 minutes (plus hurting the offense because he has no offensive game)…Sure you still have to wonder why the hell rodney carney, jason kapono and primoz brezec are on the roster, but to me that’s your starting 5, they should all play 30-35 MPG barring foul trouble and the rough spots should be worked on but not punished.
And that’s why I hate the Iverson move (among many reasons) is that it gives Jordan an excuse to run out the wrong line ups (even worse than usual) and to me gives him more rope since you can’t run the princeton offense with iverson on your team
by jemagee on Dec 17, 2009 9:53 AM PST up reply actions
Agree with every point here.
Does that make me a sycophant?
http://www.phillyarena.com - Philly sports forum/blog
It makes you a hater of Iverson I think…
Not sure how it affects the health of your aunt? (yea I know, it’s a stretch)
I think for some people, agreeing with me is just wrong :)
by jemagee on Dec 17, 2009 10:21 AM PST up reply actions
Your argument is convincing and I agree. Have been wondering for a while (again only watched limited and see stats). How does Speights look playing center this yr?
I agree that AI was brought in for butts in seats and really has had no effect except for the first game.
I do like Lou W, in the long term as a back-up PG./SG who can get you a dozen points a night off the bench.
by fantasybc88 on Dec 17, 2009 10:42 AM PST up reply actions
Seriously, I’ve been listening to the Glee MP3’s a lot the past couple days so that freaking song is stuck in my head :)
It’s well known that I don’t really have any well thought out opinions…i just hate and am super negative, i thought you all understood that already
Raise your hand if you’ve read Blink
by jemagee on Dec 17, 2009 11:48 AM PST up reply actions
Jrue
Is 6’4 with a 6’7 wingspan, so he’s not some short stack, he just doesn’t have freakishly long arms like Tyreke Evans (who has like a 6’11 wingspan but is only a half inch taller than Jrue). As I mentioned in another thread, I don’t think anyone is truly going to slow down Wade or Kobe in the grand scheme of things, and Iggy does tend to do better against SFs than SGs on the defensive end of things.
I’m in no way advocating a LouWill/Jrue backcourt combo, but this more dealt with my Wall/Jrue fantasy combo. On the days you need the longer guard, you have a defensive-oriented one to bring in or you use Iggy.
I approve of the lineup you put forth. I wouldn’t be opposed to using Thad at the four when subs come in if he rebounds like he has in recent games as well — in other words I could sign off on that type of small ball in spurts.
One fix
Jrue is 6’3.25 without shoes, so if that’s what you meant apologies jemagee. Tyreke is 6’4 without shoes as the other confirmation.
His standing reach was 8’ 4.5. Not that I believe that measurements mean everything or are the determining factor for D, or playing sports
by fantasybc88 on Dec 17, 2009 12:36 PM PST up reply actions
May fanboy status for Jrue is officially at the Speights and Thad level for their rookie years
Don’t think I’ve ever seen a 19 year old guard go out there with the attitude that he’s going to lock down on defense whatever great NBA guard he’s playing. And then he backs it up. And the glimmers of what he can do on the break and when he gets in the lane make you excited for the future with this kid at the helm.
PG and C are the 2 toughest positions to find. Looks like the Sixers have a winner a PG. Now they need a coach who can take advantage of a lock down PG who can run a team.
http://www.phillyarena.com - Philly sports forum/blog
Seems like the Iverson experiment is working ok
He has brought some interest back to the team, the kids are developing, and most importantly the number of lottery balls isn’t being adversely affected.
Getting a little life out of SammyD too.
by andyreidswaistline on Dec 17, 2009 4:54 AM PST up reply actions
Short term no, it’s great that people care, long term it keeps jordan employed longer, delays development of the PO to see if it works, but then again Jordan being a douche bag means we’re against stuck with the piss poor line ups that think Thad Young is a 4.
by jemagee on Dec 17, 2009 9:37 AM PST up reply actions
The sixers have won one game since Iverson returned, a game they probably win anyway.
The ‘interest’ seemed for about one game and attendance is back to almost the same pitiful level it was before he was signed
When Lou Williams returns we’ll see how many minutes holiday gets not to mention the worst possible back court starting i could think of, iverson old and iverson light.
Of course, none of it really matters until coach moron is fired
by jemagee on Dec 17, 2009 6:45 AM PST reply actions
Wish Lou would be back & 100% now! So we could release AI before his full contract kicks in. I am fine playing Jrue and Lou together (Lou has a lot of experience at the 2). If need another 2, bring in a kid from the D-League give them a shot @ the association. Why not try Desmon Farmer? (http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/index.jsp?player=desmon_farmer) or Sundiata Gaines? (http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/index.jsp?player=sundiata_gaines). They are both scorers (Gaines can drain a 3), why not see if can find that one to two d-league players that make it in the league each yr? The season is shot anyways, losing 13/14 did that, why once Lou is back slow his & Jrue’s development with AI? If need another guard then bring in one of these guys to try out (or Christmas from Temple)
The Basketball decison was a blantant lie.
AI was brought back to sell tickets and get some PR in town.
But, at the Wachovia, the crowd just loves AI. With 7 minutes to go in the game, the crowd started chanting, “we want AI”, over and over.
I would love AI to be cut when Lou returns but I do not see that happening. Why in the world would they cut AI? Remember, this is the same GM that hired Eddie, the goat brace, Jordan. I use to think Ed S was a decent GM, no longer. I now see why he hired Eddy Jordan. They belong together. Sadly.
Lastly, Jsams and Jamegee, you guys above have given some of your best writing I have ever read. Thank you!
Holiday
I think this kid is a baller, the more min. we can play him the better he is and the better the 76ers are.. most kids come in and can not contribute on the def side, this kid is a big time defender.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Liberty Ballers
Related FanShots on Liberty Ballers
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
