Ho Hum. Sixers Tame T-Wolves, Move to Within 7 ½ Games of a Playoff Spot

The Sixers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight, 85-77. It was the Sixers first win of the season. It was the first Sixers win for my dog, Rupert, who was born in August. And it was the first Sixers win since April 16th, when they beat the Miami Heat.

The actual details and events of the game aren't particularly relevant (but more on that below). It was an ugly, ugly, Tyrone Hillesque (Hillovian?) win. The T-Wolves are the Midwest Chapter of the Sixers, or the Sixers are T-Wolves-Lite, or something. The only discernible difference between the two clubs right now is that the Timberwolves have Mo Williams running amuck in the backcourt. Minnesota, without the likes of Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin, and Nikola Pekovic, are a shell of an NBA franchise. The Sixers didn't so much win tonight, but rather, they didn't lose it.

With the win tonight, the national media is forced to scurry back to their shanties, as the Sixers avoided the longest losing streak in NBA history to start the season. (I hear there's a quarterback controversy in Cleveland). Now, call me old-fashioned, but I prefer to watch my losing teams with quiet dignity, in the privacy of my own home. So the excess media attention the past few weeks has been an unwelcomed guest. Now would you please get off my lawn? The Sixers sit just two games behind the Knicks in the loss column. Leave us be.

Without any other point guard active tonight (Where have you gone, Antonio Daniels? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you - woo, woo, woo), Michael Carter-Williams played a whopping 43 minutes tonight. It was an up and down performance for MCW, but he carried the team down the stretch and finished with a solid 20 points (9-20), 2-7 FT, 9 boards, 9 assists, and 3 steals. Carter-Williams is the King of the Counting Stats, and it's best to just bow at the feet of his royal stat line.

KJ McDaniels finished with 12 points (4-13; 2-9 from three), and 9 boards. He also air balled an egregious amount of jumpers - like he missed really, really badly - but glass houses, right people? I've seen a lot of you guys play pick-up. McDaniels, to his credit, looked more in rhythm offensively in the second half. He also blocked four shots which is becoming Standard KJ^TM at this point for the rookie.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Ill-advised shot? Nothing&#39;s ill-advised for Bob Convington. Bombs away, young fella!</p>&mdash; Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Liberty_Ballers/status/540343376756101120">December 4, 2014</a></blockquote>

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There's something to be said for a player with no conscience. I want to live vicariously through that Sixer. I want someone with a little Vernon Maxwell in them, a little Chuck Person - a little rock, a little roll. Someone who walks in, demands the attention of the room, and airs it out from a deep without a care in the world. It's 2014. That doesn't seem like an unreasonable request. Please, Bob Covington. Be that person. Shoot until your little heart is content. Covington scored 17 on 5-13 shooting (3-6 from deep).

The Sixers next put their one-game winning streak on the line Friday, when they host the OKC Thunder.

Former Sixers

-Thaddeus Young recorded 16 points (6-16; 4-4 from foul line) and 6 boards.

-Andrew Wiggins has 11 points (4-12, 2-2 FTs), 5 boards, and 1 steal.

-Anthony Bennett played just four minutes.

-Zendon Hamilton: DNP/CD

Winning Streak

One game.

Rupert's Thoughts on the Game?

Optimistic for the future.

76ers vs Timberwolves coverage

Canis Hoopus