Sixers 94 Heat 84

by Jordan Sams on Feb 7, 2009 7:33 PM PST in Philadelphia 76ers Recaps

The Sixers came out of tonight's game with a very, very solid win. It was an all-around team effort. Not a single player scored more than 15 points. More importantly, they played awesome team defense in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Heat 31-15 and holding Dwyane "clutch" Wade to a whole 1 point.

Tonight was also a key win when it comes to the playoff picture. With the W, the Sixers move within one game of the Heat for the 6th seed. With 33 games remaining, I have two personal goals I want the Sixers to achieve by season's end. Number one: get into the playoffs with a better seed than we had last season (7th). Number two: Finish over .500, preferably at 45-37. Tonight's win gets the Sixers over .500 yet again, and hopefully there is no looking back. It would be wonderful to go into the all-star break at 27-24.

On to individual performances. Tonight was not Andre Iguodala's night. He wasn't able to get anything going throughout the game. Call it an off night, call it Shawn Marion's defense, but Iggy had an off night. I'd be willing to bet that he blames it on his new shooting sleeve. Expect his left arm to be bare next game.

Willie Green's stat lines are always fun to look at. He had 10 points on 12 shots. He did not get to the free throw line, nor did he come down with a rebound.

Marreese Speights was an absolute monster tonight. He was very active. He was blocking shots. He was dunking. He was hitting his free throws. He was making J's. It was a thing of beauty. The last couple minutes of the game turned into Speights vs. Beasley. It was pretty entertaining. The big difference between to the two is Speights activity on defense and on the boards.

Samuel Dalembert had another decent game. He was limited to 22 minutes because the Heat went with a small lineup for most of the game, but while he was in there he pulled down 10 boards and blocked 3 shots. He also didn't miss a shot or commit a turnover.

Lou-Will basically sparked the 23-5 run the Sixers went on in the fourth quarter, but he still takes way too many stupid shots and commits way too many stupid turnovers. He's by far the most frustrating Sixer to watch.

Royal Ivey played good defense on Wade and hit two big time threes. Him and Reggie Evans are the team's true "lunchpail" guys.

The bench as a whole really bounced back tonight. They've been struggling to build on the leads, or keep them when the starters rest. Tonight the bench scored 41 and was on the floor for most of the dominating fourth quarter.

Next up are the suddenly sliding Phoenix Suns.

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Ivey's Defense

As you pointed out, Royal Ivey’s defense was critical tonight. His ability to make Wade work hard on the offensive end of the floor was one of the primary factors in the win tonight.

A lot of credit has to go to DiLeo tonight as well. He seems to have a knack for finding the right lineup and is willing to let the unit playing well stay in. Too many coaches get caught up in the minutes game or sticking to predetermined substitution patterns. When DiLeo finds a unit that is working he sticks with it. Tonight, he allowed the bench to play the majority of the fourth quarter and it payed off.

Chris Iafolla http://heardinthecheapseats.com/

by Chris Iafolla on Feb 7, 2009 7:56 PM PST reply actions

Great win

A great comeback from the 3rd quarter deficit to take the win. Maybe we’ll spark some momentum!

www.WinningIsAnAttitude.blogspot.com

by Owlified. on Feb 7, 2009 9:23 PM PST up reply actions

As for DiLeo's coaching.

Cheeks did the same thing last year didn’t he?

Pimpin' ain't easy and neither is being a Sixers fan. I manage to do both. Join me at Liberty Ballers, the SBNation 76ers blog. Don't make fun of the name either. It has nothing to do with the New York Liberty of the WNBA.

by Jordan Sams on Feb 7, 2009 11:33 PM PST up reply actions

the kids are all right

the team is playing well without E Brand.

i don’t know if they’ll still make the playoffs, but they seem to be coming together. they have been disappointing this season and Brand’s injury is depressing, but just like last season the Sixers are making themselves interesting to keep an eye on.

by oahu dawg on Feb 8, 2009 12:51 AM PST reply actions

if they don’t make the playoffs it will be extremely disappointing.

by Ben16 on Feb 8, 2009 5:30 AM PST up reply actions

barring some unexpected setback (injury/etc.), how could you not expect them to make the playoffs?? The 8th seed (NJ) as of now is 24-27 and the bucks are the next closest at 24-29… you really think the sixers will fall that far?

by phils11 on Feb 8, 2009 6:08 AM PST up reply actions

yeah they'll definitely make the playoffs

like i said i want 4-6 seed and a record above .500

by Jordan Sams on Feb 8, 2009 9:22 AM PST up reply actions

that’s just it: the team probably won’t survive another key injury or and extended slump by one of it’s important players.

they’ve won 12 of 20 without EB and if they continue to play .600 ball the rest of the way they might actually finish 4th with a 1st round playoff home court. but with over 1/3 of the schedule left, a lot can happen.

by oahu dawg on Feb 8, 2009 9:58 AM PST up reply actions

yeah, the playoffs arent the goal…their ceiling would be to get the 4th seed and homecourt but the 5th seed would be essentially almost as well. Beating Miami, Detroit, and Atlanta is key. Stumbling against worse teams sucks, but its gonna happen and its offset by beating a lot of the better teams in the NBA.

I cant believe you think Lou is the most frustrating to watch. He was key in this win(like you said). Hes aksed to run the offense which hes still learning to do. Hes gonna shoot poorly many games because he just throws up some shots when he doesnt see anything else develop, but he can hit from anywhere. A couple of his shots just barely rimmed out last night and hes always aggressive in getting to the line and getting steals. His 2/9, 6/6 is essentially the same as Willie Greens 5/12, 0/0 if you convert the FTs to 3/3 FGs. The difference is that Willie is usually given wide open shots and he bricks more than half of them.

Lou-Will is huge for one other main reason: his connection with Speights.

by jmorcate on Feb 8, 2009 8:22 AM PST reply actions

Lou played some of his best actual PG min in a while last night. Agree he still has a long way to go. esp when trapped.

http://www.phillyarena.com - Philly sports forum/blog

by tk76 on Feb 8, 2009 9:04 AM PST up reply actions

lou was good last night

but i have really high expectations for him, which is why he’s frustrating to me.

by Jordan Sams on Feb 8, 2009 9:21 AM PST up reply actions

yea but you have to remember he is only 22. He still has a lot to learn and still has some years left.

by Ben16 on Feb 8, 2009 10:53 AM PST up reply actions

i know

tough love

by Jordan Sams on Feb 8, 2009 11:11 AM PST up reply actions

Right now I think Speights is the biggest tease. He pits up 10 min runs where he is the best player on the floor. I will never understan how he fell to 16.

On the other he’ll go days where he brely rebounds.

http://www.phillyarena.com - Philly sports forum/blog

by tk76 on Feb 8, 2009 1:50 PM PST up reply actions