Free Throws! Sixers Sleepwalk Past Cavs 99-84
by Michael Levin on Feb 11, 2012 9:00 PM PST
in Philadelphia 76ers Recaps
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PrintIn what may have been the sleepiest game of the season thus far, the Spencer Hawes-less Sixers spiked the Cleveland Cavaliers minus Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao. The 76ers yawned their way to a 15 point second quarter win and never looked back. In fairness to the Cavs, they were without their two best players and are forced to play their home games in Cleveland. Bummer.
There were some good things and some bad touches tonight, as there always are, and I will outline them below, using as many incorrect usages of the word "Cavalier" as I possibly can in honor of Marc Zumoff and Malik Rose. Plow ahead.
Jrue Holiday finally relented to our constant urgings and found himself at the foul line a season-high 8 times on the night. This is good. The stats reflect it, with Jrue scoring 20 points (superstar) on just 13 shots and dishing out five assists to no turnovers. 9 of his 13 shots were taken within 10 feet of the basket, and it's amazing how much difference that makes. With a team-leading 35 minutes, Jrue cavaliered his way to his most efficient game of the season. Hopefully this continues.
The team took 30 foul shots tonight, one shy of their cavalier high. Three guys (Jrue, Louis Williams, Elton Brand) had over 7 FTs, the first time that's happened all season. They responded by making 23 of them, good for a 76.7% and the admiration of all fans everywhere. They should be better from the line, but as we said earlier today, it hasn't made much of a difference thus far. Free throws are just an easy, tangible stat to point to that "proves" why they won/lost a game. They're important, but extrapolated over the season so far, the issue is the lack of attempts, not the percentage of makes.
In other news, the team is still cavalier at not turning the ball over, Evan Turner is still outside pawing at his wet food and looking for his bone, the Night Shift outscored everyone, and Andre Iguodala took 5 shots (5 too many if you ask me, heh heh), blending into the general sleepwalkingness that was tonight's win. But a win's a win and there are a few other points with which I'd like to share.
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Thaddeus Young leftied his way to a decent night. It's been a while, young T-Haddeus.
- Mr. 500 Lavoy Allen started and Tony Battie'd his way to a rebounding-heavy, point-deprived night.
- Boss was Bossy, how good of him, but he was efficient in knocking down WIDE OPEN looks that Boogie Gibson kept daring him to take. He's been absolutely phenomenal at not turning the ball over. I'm ticklingly impressed.
- This is my first recap this year which has incorporated bullet points. Cash in your chips now, folks.
- Nikola Vucevic hit four shots then got all handsy and tried himself a few long two's and awk-hooks. They didn't go over too well.
- I don't know where Elton Brand's jump shot has gone, but if you see it anywhere, tell it I would like my letterman's jacket back and to give it to my mom next time it sees her at the hardware store. 31.7% shooting from 3-9 cavaliers this year. Yurgh.
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Alonzo Gee is either Ricky Davis or a really good impersonator of Ricky Davis.
- I don't think Christian Eyenga is a very nice guy. Malik Rose compared him to Luc Richard Mbah a Moute for obvious spelling and pronunciation reasons.
- Semih Erden played like that guy in video games you put in because you see he's tall, then try to cover every ball handler with him only to find that he gets tired after putting his shorts on and starts to sweat profusely. Like that.
- Oh yeah, Frozone came so close to playing. But then they realized he wasn't dressed so he had to sit out. Like, he was naked. Completely naked. Surprisingly, they let him watch the rest of the game from the bench without his clothes on.
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Tristan Thompson was still a bad pick.
- Samardo Samuels and Luke Harangody reminisced about their cavalier days at Louisville and Notre Dame. Boy, they had some good times.
Sorry for being so cavalier about this recap. Hope no Cavs fans are offended and that Kyrie Irving gets better soon. Your team is infinitely more watchable when Ramon Sessions and Daniel Gibson aren't sharing a backcourt. The Sixers traverse to Charlotte on Monday in search of their 20th win. Five of their six games before the All-Star Break are on the road, where they'll hopefully play some teams that matter that aren't missing any players/coaches/cheerleaders so they can finally put a signature win on their resume. Chicago, Atlanta (twice), LA (purples), Orlando, and Indiana notwithstanding, natch.
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Watching this game made me feel cavalier.
Editor at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
Issues rebounding
As much as I hate D Howard, do we have any chance of making a play for him? We can’t rebound for shit as proven against the CAVS of all teams. I hate to trade guys who play as a team, but it is the NBA. Can we give Evan (who is not consistent at all), Meeks, Allen (preferably Brand), and two first round picks to get D Howard? I am oblivious to cap considerations, but it is painfully obvious to make a playoff run we need a legit big guy.
I think the Sixers would be reluctant to do that for a half season rental. I also think the Magic might rather have the 1st round picks of the Nets and their scumpty billions in expirings. It would be nice to not have to worry so much about the glass. Going into the post season with Hawes/Brand/Thad as your top of the BIG rotation means we will continue to give up O boards. I think that becomes a bigger problem in the post season than now, when we are often playing lesser teams.
Holiday was the Jrueth last night. So if the Knicks were to offer Lin straight up for Jrue (completely hypothetical and less likely than Clarence Witherspoon returning to glory) but you had to take the deal today, would you take it? Would you?
by Blunt Philly Guy on Feb 12, 2012 5:19 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions
He scored 20points last night!!! On 8/24 shooting!!! Yay! He’s an allstar!
He’s basically turned into carmelo with his high usage, and remember, this is before he makes it to a lot of scouting reports. Let’s see how he adjusts once carmelo comes back and doesnt let him touch the ball, and defenses learn how to stop him.
"If Iguodala were a legitimate "true" 17 PPG scorer, we’d be a better team. When at least 8 of those points come off the fast break, his true offensive production is a reality: 8-11 PPG." - LeQuan Glover
by jefu on Feb 12, 2012 7:56 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
Right, so toward the end of the game when he was 8/19 somehow he found it necessary to take five more shots.
Im not hating (although he does play for the knicks) im just not believing. four games are a small sample size.
"If Iguodala were a legitimate "true" 17 PPG scorer, we’d be a better team. When at least 8 of those points come off the fast break, his true offensive production is a reality: 8-11 PPG." - LeQuan Glover
by jefu on Feb 12, 2012 8:13 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
I agree with the not believing. But he has been extremely good in his few starts. I just wanted to point out that the bad shooting night that you mentioned was the only bad one of the five starts he’s had.
Though who else on that team is going to take shots right now? 8 players played for the Knicks yesterday: Lin, Tyson Chandler, Landry Fields, Jared Jefferies, Bill Walker, Mike Bibby, Iman Shumpert, and Steve Novak. Not exactly much offensive firepower.
I don’t see him having as much of an impact when he’s not taking the shots. His assist-to-turnover ratio is pretty terrible for a PG. He has been racking up some steals though. I don’t know if it’s him taking risks or if he’s actually a good defender.
I dont usually like to associate steals with good defense. Wuth that said, youre right in that there really arent other guys capable and worthy of taking shots.
With his high a/to ratio im wondering if he’ll produce as much once he’s taking less shots.
"If Iguodala were a legitimate "true" 17 PPG scorer, we’d be a better team. When at least 8 of those points come off the fast break, his true offensive production is a reality: 8-11 PPG." - LeQuan Glover
by jefu on Feb 12, 2012 8:43 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
He’s only faced one good defense & one average defense so far. The good defense(the Lakers) happened to be a good matchup for him since they have Derek Fisher starting still(they are rumored to want Sessions from the Cavs don’t know why they haven’t made that deal yet) & the average defense(Minnesota) who doesn’t have a old PG who sucks at defense he has his worst game
The Legend
Contrary to popular opinion
Rubio is actually a pretty good defender
Nope.
Absolutely, definitely not.
Editor at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
Im cracking up from the missaneli piece on philly.com
according to him we need to trade for a guy like paul pierce who can hit the big shots, and also due to the lockout it’s impossible to tell what teams are actually good.
"If Iguodala were a legitimate "true" 17 PPG scorer, we’d be a better team. When at least 8 of those points come off the fast break, his true offensive production is a reality: 8-11 PPG." - LeQuan Glover
by jefu on Feb 12, 2012 8:16 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Yes, trade for a clutch 34 year old and hopefully sign him for 4 years. That way wee can be clutch and gritty. (sarcasm)
It is odd how the media forget that players don’t earn that “clutch” label until they win several years in the playoffs. So to say any of the Sixers young players are or are not clutch is way premature. And to want to overpay a second level older superstar because they hit some big shots in their late 20’s and early 30’s is absurd. And put some of these current Sixers on a high profile team and I bet they would gain the “clutch” label quickly… heck, put them in NY and they will me media sensations… Lou Will would win some games and suddenly be a star who came “from nowhere” (since South Philly is nearly parts unknown in the NBA.)
I’m not against acquiring a good vet player- I’d certainly sign a guy like Ray Allan to a reasonable deal because he is a pure shooter. But trying to add a “clutch” player is chasing a false pretense. For example, Barea was “clutch” for the Mavs last year. He is all of the sudden a whole lot less clutch on the T-Wolves (shooting 30% from 3 and 35% overall.) Did he leave his clutch gene in Dallas, or maybe playing for a vet star team had something to do with it?
The media also doesn’t know how to determine “clutchness”. They see a guy make a bunch of game winners but don’t realize that he’s missed twice as many as he’s made in the same situation. See: Bryant, Kobe.
At the risk of sounding like one, I would have maybe pulled off a trade for him back when the Celts were playing poorly. I’d rather pay him this year, and the two after that, then Thad, Lou, and Hawes all on 8 million dollar deals. Pierce, despite being ancient, is still pretty darn good. If you’re lucky enough to get one more high quality year out of him, then you trade his expiring.
the casual, dumb fans wouldn’t be playing Jodie Meeks over Evan Turner, so they aren’t as dumb as you think they are.
I’m still wanting to see ET play well against longer defenders.
I don’t understand why ET can defend big, athletic SF’s, but he can’t seem to score against them- or maybe I have not paid attention to when he has done this. To my eye it seems like his offense works best when he is being guarded by a smaller player- and that has been the case since college.
I appreciate what ET brings, but he looks to be very much still a work in progress. Keep giving him his 20+ minutes a game to learn to be more efficient on the floor and hope he becomes their Harden (or better) or maybe can replace Iggy or Lou when they are gone.
The problem right now is that the Sixers have too many players with poor TS% and low eFG%. Iguodala, Jrue and ET do not get to the line enough. But at least Iggy and Jrue hit enough 3’s to get a respectable eFG%. You need at least some semblance of floor balance, and Meeks at least provides that as the only guy with a reasonable eFG% and TS%. And you don’t need a great defender with your 3rd best perimeter defender most nights.
TS%:
Meeks 60%
Iggy 53%
Lou 53%
ET 51% (which is nearly league average of 52% and much better than 48% last year)
Jrue 49.5% (down from 53% the prior 2 years)
eFG%
Meeks 57%
Iggy 50.5%
ET 48% (again, much improved from 43% last year)
Jrue: 47%
Lou 47%
So looking at the numbers you can see ET has made huge strides in his shooting efficiency (by scoring more in the lane, since neither his 3pt% and 16-23ft % is improved.) You can make a decent argument for him taking more minutes from Lou, Jrue or Iguodala. But Meeks is their only player who spreads the floor, so I still don’t see how playing Turner in place of Meeks works in terms of the team concept.
I think ET would be perfect in the 6th man role with how it’s constructed right now then he can backup all 3 spots on the perimeter. Then hopefully in the draft if he doesn’t go in the lottery we could trade up for someone like Terrence Ross
The Legend
I would not mind them trading Lou and letting ET step into those minutes. Lou will likely be up for a raise after this year assuming he opts out of his final year (which makes sense given the cap goes down after next year.
I’m not sure ET would want the Harden role long term, but he would work well in it for another 2 seasons until Iguodala expires.
With three other guys shooting near 40% from 3 land, how is Meeks the only one who spreads the floor? People are jumping out on Lou bigtime, now. And if Jrue is taking catch and shoot jumpers from 3 land, he’s probably close to as effective as Meeks…..moreso in the game’s crucial moments.
Also, this only takes into account the offensive end of the floor. Anyone who thinks our defense is better with Meeks on the floor, I just don’t get it. Weirdly enough, Collins himself seems to be of that opinion at times.
the casual, dumb fans wouldn’t be playing Jodie Meeks over Evan Turner, so they aren’t as dumb as you think they are.
I will copy and paste my own post from a couple of days ago in case some haven’t read it.
Iguodala and Turner have played together for 296:13 coming into tonight for a total of +19 (or about +0.064 per minute). Iguodala and Meeks have played together for 532:58 for a total of +120 (or about +0.225 per minute).
The team has been playing (much) better this season when Iguodala is paired with Meeks than when he’s paired with Turner.
That’s because Turner is playing with Lou whereas Meeks is playing with Jrue. Lou brings down the team with his gunslinging. Turner has had the joy of playing with Lou for almost 500 minutes.
SIGN ROBERT HORRY!!!
I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, there will be no trade for Monta!
Allen is a free agent this year right? I wonder if he would leave Boston to come here? I love Jodie & think people hate on him a little to much sometimes when Turner doesn’t get to play a lot of minutes but I’d have to move him to the Night Shift if Allen were willing to come here on a reasonable deal
The Legend
Missaneli
he needs to shut it and stick to football
I love Mikey Miss’s show but he’s a casual basketball fan who doesn’t realize that he really has no knowledge of the game.
by The Crooked Man on Feb 12, 2012 10:20 AM PST up reply actions
Missaneli
He’s the most entertaining on the Fanatic..and by far the most knowledgeable on basketball matters, but he still doesn’t know shit. I like that he’s a LeBron fan though. On similar matters, Charles Barkley I don’t think is all that of an analyst myself.
Tristan Thompson really impressed me defensively.
"I quit school in the 6th grade because of pneumonia. Not because I had it, but because I couldn't spell it."
by secondroundpick on Feb 12, 2012 9:37 AM PST reply actions
doesn't surprise me
that was the rap on him since he was still in college. Now Christian Eyenga on the other hand, he was all LAWAD on ET, that surprised me
is it at all ironic that before the clippers game i rode listening to WDAS singing unshamefully whitney houston’s “are you really ready for love boy?” replacing the last two words in the phrase with LAVOY. just something i thought about deeply last night as i dont listen to whitney that often. rest in peace.
ok, now re-read in Doug Collins' voice...
by J.Michael Woodson on Feb 12, 2012 10:53 AM PST reply actions
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