Heard in the Cheap Seats

The 76ers extended their win streak to 6 games by dominating the San Antonio Spurs 109-87 tonight.  I had said that their previous victory over the Blazers was the best win of the season, but this win was even more impressive.  The Spurs are a perennial contender, and are currently the #2 team in the Western Conference.  The Sixers continued their trend of playing efficient offensive basketball leading to great outside shooting, as well as aggressive defense leading to fast breaks.  Thaddeus Young continues to play well, leading the team with a career high 27 points, and Andre Iguodala is playing amazing ball right now, chipping in 21 points, 8 assists, and 5 boards.  The Sixers deserve a lot of credit for this streak, and I am putting the call out to the fans.  This team should be playing in front of a packed house.  They are young and play an exciting brand of basketball.  Yes, they got off to a slow start, but it was just that…a slow start. The Sixers have always thrived in front of the home crowd when the building is full.  Remember the 2001 run?  I understand that times are tough these days, and if that’s your reason for not going to the games, that’s fine.  But, I am talking to the people who aren’t going because they don’t think this team is worth supporting.  You’re wrong.  That’s all I’ll say.  I put together some notes and thoughts during tonight’s game.  Some of them are regarding the game, and some are just regarding the team.  It was the best I could do because I am tired and my mind keeps wandering to that other game this weekend.  So, here’s what I observed…

~ Overall, the defense is improving, especially the help defense, but the 3 point defense still needs to be better.  Teams are getting way too many wide open looks from beyond.

~ Andre Miller is playing ridiculously efficient basketball.  He is running this team and making great decisions.

~ This team is amazing on the break.  They had 30 freaking fastbreak points against the Spurs, and are the best in the league in that category.  But, just watch them.  They are so damn fast, it’s close to unstoppable when they are running.

~ I love that Speights is getting consistent minutes.  He has a great touch and I love his activity on the offensive glass.  When Brand returns, they need to make sure Speights continues to see minutes.

~Speaking of Speights, he was the first draft pick of Stefanski and a good one, but as much as Billy King screwed up, let’s look at some of the young guys on this team.  You have Speights, Iguodala, Lou Will, Young, Green, and Sammy.  All draft picks.  Not bad.

~ Has anyone noticed how many times Miller has hit Willie Green backdoor for a lay up recently?  Had another tonight against the Spurs.

~ Another great contribution from Royal Ivey.  He came in tonight, hit two threes, and his steal followed by a dive on the floor for the loose ball really energized the team and the crowd.  The guy just brings energy every game.

~ It seems like most of the threes the Sixers are hitting are wide open looks.  They are getting good ball movement, and a lot of drive and kicks.  A little bit easier to hit an open jumper than it is with a hand in your face.  Big shocker!

~ I have been very critical of Dalembert ever since they drafted him.  But, if he can keep giving them 20 minutes a game and rebound, block and contest shots, and occasionally get a dunk or put back, he can really help this team.  He had a nice game against Duncan tonight.

~ I am really liking the substitution patterns of DiLeo.  He rewards guys that are playing well, and he seems to have clearly defined roles for each player, as well as a good feel for the game.  A great example is how he uses Reggie Evans.  Evans stinks, but every once in awhile he comes in the game and affects it with his rebounding and hustle.  When he does DiLeo gives him a few more minutes, but when Evans comes in and turns it over and doesn’t do much else like tonight, DiLeo subs him out.

~ Iguodala is playing as well as I have ever seen him.  He is aggressively driving to the basket, and playing under control. 

~ I don’t think I have ever seen a game where one team has a buzzer beating three at the end of the first 3 quarters.  That’s exactly what the Sixers did tonight.  Good stuff.

~ One last thing…There were three BS charge calls on the Sixers tonight.  I hate the way that call is officiated in the NBA.  It is almost always called a charge versus a block, and in most cases it is a flop or the defender slid underneath the offensive player as he is leaving the ground.  They need to change the rule.  It’s a joke!

Well, it was a great game tonight, now let’s see if the Sixers can smoke another New York team tomorrow when they face the Knicks.