| Philadelphia 76ers Game Thread #8 | ||
|---|---|---|
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@ |  |
| 6-2 | 5-2 | |
| Location: Wells Fargo Center | ||
| Time: January 9th, 2011, 7:00 PM Eastern | ||
| Channel: CSN, NBA League Pass | ||
| Probable starters: | ||
| Darren Collison | PG | Jrue Holiday |
| Paul George | SG | Jodie Meeks |
| Danny Granger | SF | Andre Iguodala |
| David West | PF | Elton Brand |
| Roy Hibbert | C | Spencer Hawes |
| Advanced Stats: | ||
| 97.3 | Off | 106.7 |
| 95.8 | Def | 94.2 |
| 44.4% | eFG% | 51.7% |
| 46.5% | deFG% | 43.1% |
| 14.5% | TOR | 12.5% |
| 28.8% | ORR | 25.0% |
| 75.8% | DRB | 73.2% |
| 32.3% | FTR | 26.4% |
| Mortal Enemies: Indy Cornrows | ||
Lineup notes:
For Indiana, Roy Hibbert (ankle), George Hill (back) and Danny Granger (food poisoning) are all game time decisions, but are expected to play. For the Sixers, Spencer Hawes (back) is expected to play.
Streaks:
The Pacers have won 3 of their last 4, with wins over Charlotte, @Boston, and @New Jersey. They lost in a blowout loss on the road against Miami.
The Sixers have won 4 straight, having beaten Toronto and Detroit at home, and New Orleans and Golden State on the road.
Superlatives:
The Sixers are second in the league in offensive efficiency and third in defensive efficiency, 3rd in eFG%, first in eFG% against, and 2nd in opponents free throw rate.
The Pacers are 10th in opponents eFG%, 8th offensive rebounding rate, and 9th in opponents offensive rebounding rate, which places them 5th in the league in overall rebounding rate.
Thoughts
- Keeping the Pacers off the offensive glass will be key, especially with Jeff Foster returning, who has grabbed 6 offensive rebounds in his last two games (27 minutes of playing time). Foster/Amundson/Hibbert/Hansbrough are all capable offensive rebounders.
- Roy Hibbert's growth has been key, particularly his growth on the defensive glass, where he went from below average to well above average. As previously mentioned, keeping him off the offensive glass will be key, and Hawes/Vucevic will have their hands full tonight.
- Danny Granger has struggled so far this year, and with him being sick, could struggle even more. Iguodala shut him down in 2 of the games last year.
- David West is another guy who has been struggling on the offensive end, and who Brand shut down last year.
- Jrue Holiday. 23 assists to 3 turnovers the last 3 games. Going up his former UCLA teammate, will he try to do too much? Last year was turnover city for Jrue, albeit the Sixers won and Jrue held Collison in check.
- Can the Sixers please, pretty please, not start off the game playing horribly? Eventually, the slow starts are going to come back to bite them.
This is the Sixers 2nd game against potential playoff opponent in the East, and the first of a back-to-back-to-back. A win here would be nice.
Prediction: Sixers 101, Pacers 95