Game 79: Cavs @ Sixers preview

by Jordan Sams on Apr 9, 2009 9:17 PM PDT in Philadelphia 76ers Previews

	@
91.2	Pace	92.8
14.9	Ast	14.4
22.1	TOR	23.6
27.4	ORR	31.0
74.5	DRR	71.7
51.9	RR	51.2
51.7	eFg%	48.4
55.8	TS%	53.0
109.3	Off Eff	104.4
99.2	Def Eff	103.9

Tonight's game should be an easy win for the Philadelphia 76ers. The Cleveland Cavaliers have complied the best record in the NBA, but have done so though pure luck and biased officiating.

Teams often over-look the Cavs, and I can see why by glancing at their roster. LeBron James is good -- not great. He has done nothing to warrant himself as one of the premiere players in the league. As for his teammates, they're all garbage -- I mean complete scrubs. I see no reason why the Sixers can't put it in 'cruise control' and come out of Wachovia with win number 41.

SIKE!

The Sixers have no chance. None. With a way they've been playing since King Thaddeus went down with the ankle sprain, this could be a playoff preview. That's right folks, we've went from pursuing the four seed to trying to avoid the eight seed in just 48 hours.

My view on the whole situation is, at least we'll have another playoff series under our belt. Then come next year, with a healthy Thad and a healthy Brand, we can focus on earning home-court advantage and actually winning a series. Patience my children.

And who knows, maybe the Sixers will run the table, grab the fifth seed and beat the Hawks in the first round. They've proven me wrong many times before, so why not again? I'm not giving up by any means. I'm just keepin' it real.

For now, I'm just going to enjoy the rest of the season; however long that may be.

See you tonight in the game thread where we'll have to think of some new and exciting rule, much like we did with a Pacers game earlier this season.

Until then...

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Start Speights tonight

Might as well take the rest of the regular season to see what you’ve got.

by zfg on Apr 10, 2009 5:20 AM PDT reply actions

Actually, eff that

if the Celtics and Cavs are coming to play, just rest the starters altogether. If Thad comes back healthy and Iggy and Dre Miller are rested, the Sixers might be able to give the Celtics or Magic a real series.

by zfg on Apr 10, 2009 6:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Seems logical, but there's zero chance it happens.

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Apr 10, 2009 7:03 AM PDT up reply actions

We have won our last 7 of 8 at home so maybe that could give us a little chance in this one.

by The Legend on Apr 10, 2009 8:33 AM PDT reply actions

Back to back – small time zone change – cavs rested – cavs playing high level and still having something to play for – sixers playing like crap and seeming ‘content’ with a low playoff seed

That chance is equivalent to the chance jsams has with jessica alba :)

"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 10, 2009 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions

In that case.

I predict a Sixers win. ;)

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Apr 10, 2009 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions

I’m not sure I’ve liked these last few weeks from DiLeo. He’s been making some questionable decisions with playing time and substitutions. He calles TO’s better than Mo used to and isn’t as opposed to playing the young kids, but overall, I’m not sure he’s an upgrade.

Thoughts?

by doubleh on Apr 10, 2009 9:12 AM PDT reply actions

Never thought he was an upgrade

"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 10, 2009 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions

He's been a cost containment strategy

Has done a O.K. job with the offense, but not much with the defense.

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

by tk76 on Apr 10, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions

Exactly – but the point is that he hasn’t done anything i think to ‘win’ the job – or even earn a second shot
they started out slow – caught fire – and back into the end of the season
smell familiar?

His rotations are horrible, his moves have hindered speights development

I HOPED when he was given the job that he’d be coaching not just for this season but for the long term future of the team because he was told ‘just this season then back to what you’re expert at and we’ll bump your salary’

Sadly it doesn’t even seem that the front office could do that correctly

"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 10, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions

I think DiLeo needs to get some credit

The team’s record is well over 500 since he took over. Not enough to extend him, but he must have done some things right.

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

by tk76 on Apr 10, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions

The sixers went on a run after the andre miller trade
after a slow start LAST year they played well over 500 to sneak into (and get walloped) in the playoffs

I don’t see anything different from this dileo coached team than I saw from the cheeks coached team – i see no indication that dileo did something that ‘made them better’ – miller starts off slow cause he comes in out of shape -it happened last season it happened this season

The fact that the sixers might end up around the same record as last year is more indication that dileo makes no better or worse than cheeks to me

What has IMPROVED for this team over last year – not just the small things but overall

"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 10, 2009 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

DiLeo's done a decent job under the circumstances.

I’d give him a ‘C’. Turns out he’s no better than Cheeks though. Sucks that he’ll become the full time coach because the Sixers aren’t willing to shell out cash or any of the other options.

The economic situation is going to eff with the Sixers chances of contending anytime soon in my opinion.

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Apr 10, 2009 10:57 AM PDT reply actions

And cheeks never deserved the job in the first place (in my opinion)

"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 10, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions

I can't remember that far back.

Who else was available?

Liberty Ballers.com.

by Jordan Sams on Apr 10, 2009 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions

I don’t know and I don’t like the question cause all it does is target retreads and has beens – it doesn’t promote creative ‘outside’ the box thinking.

It’s the assistants we didn’t know about who have been hired since – maybe thibodeau was available back then – never know

"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 10, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions