Sixers head back to Philly down 3-2
by Jordan Sams on Apr 28, 2009 9:13 PM PDT
in Recaps
31 comments
Our backs are officially against the wall. Game six could be the last we see of the Sixers until the November. Can they shock the world one (two) more times?
Tonight's game sucked, no doubt about it. The fact of the matter is, the Magic are a better basketball team. They have better shooters. They have more depth. They execute better. Does that mean the Sixers are out of the series? No, absolutely not.
First let's talk about the giant elephant in the room, Dwight Howard's pending suspension -- will he or won't he? Dwight threw a Chuck Liddell-like elbow in the direction of Sammy D's dome in the first quarter. Chris Webber, Kenny Smith and Sir Charles are all on record saying he should and he will be suspended. My gut says D12 will be watching game six from the bench. Will I be surprised if I'm wrong? No, this is a star's league and it wasn't as malicious as it could have been. However; this comes straight from the NBA rule-book.
l. A player, coach or trainer must be ejected for:
(1) A punching foul
(2) A fighting foul
(3) An elbow foul which makes contact above shoulder level
If Dwight is indeed suspended, game six becomes a very, very winnable game for the Sixers, but I'll save the analysis for another day.
There are a few more things we can take from tonight's game. Number one, Andre Iguodala is amazing. The only thing I can complain about is his awful free throw shooting. Other than that he's been brilliant. One of Iguodala's biggest criticisms coming in to the series was his inability to "flip the switch" and put the team on his shoulders. Problem solved. In the Sixers ever-problematic third quarter, Iguodala felt the game slipping away and took over. He continuously put his head down, drove to the basket and got to the line. He also hit a big three to cut the lead to eight and grabbed a man's rebound over two Magic players. Andre needs to do two things this summer, shoot nine million free throws and get some rest. The dude has to be tired from all the minutes he's racking up (47 tonight).
On the other side of the spectrum, Lou Williams officially sucks. He's the worst perimeter on the team. He's the worst team defender on the team. He hurts the offense more than he helps. And I'd even go as far to say that I'd rather see Bill Green on the floor than Lou Williams. I cannot tell you how pissed off I was with Lou-Will tonight. Missed shots I can live with. The palming violation I can live with. Those things happen. What I cannot live with is him allowing J.J. Redick wide open threes, allowing 900-year old Anthony Johnson to blow by him or weak double-teams on Dwight Howard. Does he seriously thing that his 6-foot, 180 pound frame is going to affect Dwight Howard by just standing next to him with his hands up? You either double hard or don't double at all.
The only other guy worth mentioning is Thaddeus Young, and not because he played well. I've been super disappointed with how quiet Thaddeus has been this series. For the final month of the season, Thaddeus was dominant on offense. He was oozing with confidence. This series? Not so much. He's hesitant. His offense isn't there. His defense is average at best. And his inexperience has really shown. Maybe his ankle's a little worse than he's been leading on? Regardless of what it is, I'm not worried about "Baby Legs" one bit. He has a good head on his shoulders. He has all the tools to become a great player. And he has an awesome work ethic. Expect the big "third year jump" from him next season.
The same cannot be said for Lou Williams sorry butt. Sorry, I had to get one more cheap shot in there.
Down 3-2, we're about to see what this Sixers team is made of. Game six is on Thursday, and I'll wait and see what happens with Dwight Howard before making any hasty predictions. We're not done just let.
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I, for one, would be shocked if Dwight's not playing. I just don't see a suspension.
It was a little dirty, but it didn’t merit anything more than a regular foul in the game itself, no one was injured, and it didn’t escalate. I can’t imagine the league suspending him. It frankly didn’t even cross my mind until they mentioned it at halftime. If he is suspended, Magic fans will be very rightly shocked and extremely upset.
That said, I certainly wouldn’t complain. I would love to see the Polish Hammer and Adonal Foyle try to hold down the paint against us.
I also didn’t consider it until the C-Webb brought it up, but rules are rules. If I was walking down the street in a bad mood, got shoved and proceeded to stab the offender with my mechanical pencil, I’d still get in trouble regardless of whether it was malicious or not.
If anything, this suspension is more warranted than the Amare one a few years back.
That's a suspension
if any player in the league does it under any circumstances in the regular season. If it is not in this case, that’s complete B.S. on the league’s part.
As for Iggy, 10/13 from the line is 77%, which ain’t too bad. He had another big game, and you’re absolutely right, he carried the team in the second half.
Send GT Green packing.
The suspension wouldn’t even be in question if he landed his elbow better. He barely grazed Sammy, but if he hit him in the face or the back of the head it could have been dangerous.
Sure Iggy’s free throw shooting was better, but he’s shooting sub-70(?) for the series and I’m more confident when Dwight steps to the line than Iggy.
this is a no brainer
he’ll be suspended for game 6 without a doubt.. i just hope the Sixers come out in game 6 and embarrass the Magic to the tune of a 15+ point victory
and even though it’s a superstar’s league, you could also argue that the NBA needs all the ratings they could get.. and a game 7 in this series would be a great way to display some of the bright future that this league has to offer — Iggy, Thad, and Howard.. no i am not talking about Courtney Lee at all whatsoever
WFC
Good point on ratings.
Remember how big the Suns suspensions were a couple years ago? I didn’t watch a second of that series until the suspension-talk started. It gets everybody involved.
Magic without Dwight Howard...
See Game At Utah…
NAS designed your BLUEPRINT, who you kidding?
Is he H TO THE IZZO, M TO THE IZZO?
For shizzle you phony, the rapping version of SISQO~Nas
by I blocked Patrick Chewing on Apr 28, 2009 9:46 PM PDT reply actions
Are you talking about the game Orlando won in Utah without D12?
In all fairness, see:
-Playoffs
-Morris Almond
-Jameer Nelson
That was four months ago man. Different circumstances.
They were still the Jazz AT home and you are still the Sixers at home....
NAS designed your BLUEPRINT, who you kidding?
Is he H TO THE IZZO, M TO THE IZZO?
For shizzle you phony, the rapping version of SISQO~Nas
by I blocked Patrick Chewing on Apr 29, 2009 6:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Rules are Rules
Barkley on TNT made it clear, open and shut. The bigger question will be whether the sixers play like they did the first 4 games or like tonight. If they play like tonight, they will lose to Orlando no matter who is on the floor.
I have to admit that I am to blame for Sammy getting elbowed in the face
I paid Dwight a reasonable sum of money to get Sammy back for pissing me off this entire season, and whining like a pansy about wanting to be traded.
As for Iguodala, he had a nice game, but we could have done without the silly turnovers in the last few minutes. I understand he’s tired, though. However, I blame the loss mainly on the bench tonight. Absolutely horrible. I also agree with Dileo that Howard commits three second violations as if the rule doesn’t exist.
agree on almost everything
especially the LW/Iguodala analysis, great points Jordan
I just disagree about the “more depth” point, I think we have a better bench, and it showed in all the games before this, last night was the exception. Of course, 7 footer Gortat can make layups just under the rim, if the defender completely loses him in three occasions…
check Pietrus and Redick’s numbers and mainly check their minutes, they didn’t do shlt basically, but we could not take advantage of Lee’s absence, that on paper should have been a big factor in our favor
http://sixers4guidos.wordpress.com/
by Ricky - Sixers4guidos on Apr 29, 2009 1:16 AM PDT reply actions
For most of this series.
I think Anthony Johnson and Mickel Pietrus have severely outplayed Lou and anyone else on our bench.
suspend dH
I love Dwight but he has to learn a lesson and if the series ends up 3-3 it will give him a good one.
I hate Elton Brand got injured but it was the best thing for the sixers, last year they had a great team and EB kind of spoiled the chemistry. Iguodala plays lights out without him.
I've said it before and I'll say it again and again
With Brand, they were trying to complete no small adjustment – the difference between having a good low-post player and not having one is about as big of a difference as having vs. not having a player at any other position. It’s a whole different way of thinking about the game – one that AI had never experienced in the NBA and may well never have experienced at all. Admittedly, he did start off the year very disappointingly, and probably could have played much better. But this was a huge adjustment to make – not to mention that he was also figuring out a new position. I think that, with good coaching (which it’s questionable whether he had at all this year), he would have figured it out. But he simply didn’t have time.
I continue to maintain that it’s nonsense to even imply that this team is better off with Brand on the bench.
Agreed
This team needs Elton badly. Frankly, they need to bring in a low post oriented Center for next year as well (to supplement whatever the hell it is that Sammy does). Theo’s good for his age, but we need someone who can contribute about 18 minutes of hard work every single game and I don’t think Theo’s up to that task anymore.
Let me add that I’d love to trade Sammy, but that’s probably a pipe dream. We definitely have to trade Lou though… it’s an absolute imperative that we get someone useful for him.
+1
NAS designed your BLUEPRINT, who you kidding?
Is he H TO THE IZZO, M TO THE IZZO?
For shizzle you phony, the rapping version of SISQO~Nas
by I blocked Patrick Chewing on Apr 29, 2009 6:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Didn’ see the game – wasn’t shocked to see the final score on my phone indicating ‘ick’ – but hey – dwight howard out for game 6 there probably will be a game 7
MAREESE SPEIGHTS should have a big game Mr DiLeo
Whether that elbow ‘helps’ sam stop being a putz or not – it’s a suspendable offense, and everyone agrees on that (except maybe Jeff Van Gundy who also thinks that refs should call teh game differently in the last 4 minutes) – if Howard IS NOT suspended, I’ll be close to giving up on the NBA until they explicitly define who are the special treatment players in the NBA and require each team have one assigned ‘special treatment’ player
"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."
Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.
by jemagee on Apr 29, 2009 6:51 AM PDT reply actions
I thought the penatly for elbow above the head was immediate ejection?
He was called for the tech but the Refs missed on Ejecting him.
SO are they going to retroactively eject him?
Because that is what it will be if he is banned for game 6…
NAS designed your BLUEPRINT, who you kidding?
Is he H TO THE IZZO, M TO THE IZZO?
For shizzle you phony, the rapping version of SISQO~Nas
by I blocked Patrick Chewing on Apr 29, 2009 7:41 AM PDT reply actions
The NBA has the right to review any play and add additional penalties they feel and warranted – if they feel there’s intent they COULD suspend him for two games – they won’t (they probably would if it was a sixer though) but they could.
"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."
Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.
by jemagee on Apr 29, 2009 7:47 AM PDT up reply actions
I really hope the stature of the player does not effect their judgement...
NAS designed your BLUEPRINT, who you kidding?
Is he H TO THE IZZO, M TO THE IZZO?
For shizzle you phony, the rapping version of SISQO~Nas
by I blocked Patrick Chewing on Apr 29, 2009 7:50 AM PDT reply actions
I think Superman should be suspended too but I honestly won’t be surprised if he isn’t. They just said on ESPN First Take that Lee will most likely miss the game too so I don’t see how we lose honestly because we will also be able to use M16 on Gortat or however you spell his name I don’t care and rest Theo and Sam for game 7. We will also be able to use Sam more this game because without Superman he won’t get in foul trouble(or at least I hope). Also I realize Lewis is kind of a bad matchup for M16 when we are on defense but I don’t really care because Donny-Ice isn’t doing anything for us.
Does anyone know why Chris Webber is such a big supporter of Bill Green?
on nba tv he said Green was going to have a big game. He also said Green is a natural scorer and this and that…
Granted, for some reason he usually makes the first few field goals for the team, but don’t you think the team would be better with a more consistent shooting guard?
I wonder who he could be traded for next year…
Any ideas?
Isn't Chris a Detroit boy?
Bill went to Detroit Mercy. They played together in Philly. Maybe they bonded. He said he knew him since he was a kid.
Probably because he played with Bill Green?
Anyways I have a question because I just read post game comments, if Sammy threw the elbow that Howard threw to him would he have been ejected? I think he most likely would have.
I fell asleep at halftime
cuz I haven’t been sleeping enough, but woke up to see Sixers down 10 under a minute. It sounds like this was much what I expected out of a game 5 in Orlando. We just have to collect ourselves, win game 6 at home, and let the chips fall as they will in game 7. Chicago lost game 5 in Boston, but no one few people is are counting them out. As far Dwight, he should be suspended. Rules are rules, and if he was a Sixer, I’d say the same. I hate the “justice of the rich” (or talented in this case) which is what Dwight gets if he gets away w/o being suspended.
I've actually changed my opinion on this now, having read some blogs and some columns and looking at the rule a little more closely.
He should be suspended, and lot of people think he will be.
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