Heard in the Cheap Seats

Game 6 between the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers had all the makings of a trap game. Dwight Howard, the Orland Magic’s best player was suspended due to his flying elbow and Courtney Lee was sidelined with a fractured sinus—also a result of a wayward elbow from Howard. The game was on the home floor of the Sixers where the team was 24-17 during the regular season. All signs pointed to a probable Sixers victory, but as my brother pointed out yesterday, signs can be deceiving.

A team official should check the tarmac in Orlando for signs of the Philadelphia 76ers, because they sure as hell didn’t show up in Philadelphia. The 114-89 beat down they received at the hands of the Magic should be evidence of that. It was as if the Sixers failed to comprehend the task at hand—win or go home. They were facing a Magic team devoid of the best shot-blocker in the league yet seemed content to settle for jump shots. A team that shoots the ball as inconsistently as the Sixers should never rely on the perimeter game to win and especially not against a team lacking a real inside presence.

On the defensive end of the floor, the problems were worse. With Dwight Howard in the lineup, the philosophy was to deal with him one-on-one and not abandon the Magic’s plethora of outside shooters. But without him in the lineup, the Sixers find out wise to ignore the three-point line all together. J.J. Redick had a field day from beyond the arc and most of those opportunities came with nary a hand in his face. I realize that Redick is not the star he was in his Duke days, but surely the Sixers have seen some tape of him knocking down threes.

From the perspective of the Sixers, the one positive of Dwight Howard’s presence in the lineup was that it forced discipline. As mentioned above, the Sixers had it drilled into their heads that he was not to be double teamed. Without him in the lineup, the Sixer threw discipline to the wind. There was no constant reminder to stay at home. There was no low-post anchor that touches the ball 35 times a game to demand the defense remain rooted on their man. The Sixers displayed an entire lack of discipline on a night that demanded execution.

Outside of Andre Miller, every Philadelphia 76er needs to take a hard look in the mirror today and question why they failed to show up last night. Why was the prospect of a Game 7 in Orlando not enough incentive to turn in your best effort? These are professional athletes, but they are also humans. They fell victim to the mind games my brother warned of yesterday.

That does not make it any less disheartening or inexcusable.