Heard in the Cheap Seats

For the sake of full disclosure, I must admit that I am a very emotional person.  For better or worse, that emotion always transfers into my love for sports.  Well, I am going to try and stay level headed and let things play out for once instead of making an emotional declaration.  What I am referring to is, the other day after Thaddeus Young went down with an injury, I proclaimed that the Sixers would have no shot at earning the 5^th seed or of winning a first round playoff series against the Hawks.  Now, I consider myself very knowledgeable when it comes to sports, and I will say that the statement wasn’t made based on just pure emotion, but it was definitely fueled by it.  From a purely basketball standpoint, losing Thaddeus Young hurts the Sixers in a big way.  Young had become the Sixers most reliable scorer, even more so than Andre Iguodala.  His ability to run the floor is unparalleled at his position.  If Young was out for the entire year, the Sixers would be in big trouble, but the hope is that he can return for the playoffs.  So, what I failed to take into account, is that other Sixers now have a chance to step up.  In a short term situation it is actually possible to have a little success.  I guess what I am saying is that I am retracted my statement that the Sixers have no shot at the 5^th seed.  I’m doing it, because I can.

 

We had our first chance to see the Sixers in action without Thaddeus Young last night against the Milwaukee Bucks.  The Sixers trailed by 13 in the first half, and 8 at halftime, but outscored the Bucks 55-36 in the second half to win 105-95.  While one game, especially against a crappy and depleted Bucks team, certainly isn’t anything to hang your hat on, there were some positive developments. 

 

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING MAY CONTAIN POSITIVE COMMENTS ON REGGIE EVANS, WHICH MAY LEAD TO YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN EXPLODING.

 

I was hoping that Tony DiLeo would start Speights at power forward in place of Young, but just as I was expecting, he went with Reggie Evans.  My guess is there were a lot of reasons for this move.  He probably preferred having Evans’ defense to start the game as well as not putting too much pressure on Speights.  I will agree that having Speights come off the bench and provide scoring is a definite boost.  DiLeo’s decision didn’t look bad at all as Reggie Evans was on fire in the first quarter, including two 3 point plays.  He ended the night with 13 points and 7 boards, with 4 of those coming off the offensive glass.  Yes, my friends, I am giving kudos to Evans.  I thought DiLeo did a nice job of splitting the minutes up in the frontcourt between Dalembert (19), Evans (26), Speights (27), Ratliff (8), and Marshall (16).  Speights contributed nicely with 14 points and 6 boards, now if he can just figure out a way to stop getting dumb fouls.  Speights and Lou Williams were my two favorite developments of last night.  Speights had been in a bit of a funk and his minutes had been cut, but he seems to be rejuvenated, and Williams played great last night.  DiLeo gave Williams 31 minutes and he responded with 21 points on 7 for 10 from the field, went to the line 8 times, and chipped in 4 assists.  These are the two guys that can soften the blow of losing Young.  Lou Williams is capable of getting his own shot, and if he takes it upon himself to shoulder more of the load, we may see him grow right before our eyes.  The key will be for Williams to continue being aggressive and taking the ball to the basket rather than settling for the jumper.  Last night was a good start.  Sometimes when a teammate goes down, it motivates others to step up in his absence.  That is why I jumped the gun a bit.  In the short term, the Sixers may be able to succeed.  To do it, they will need contributions from everyone, but to me, it is Speights and Williams that hold the keys.  We already know what we are going to get from Miller and Iguodala.  I hope DiLeo is able to find 30 minutes a night for Williams, because I think if he does, we may be seeing a lot more 20 point nights.  No matter what, there is an opportunity for the Sixers to do some growing here.  Will they step up or will they falter?  The last 8 games will answer that question.

Going into last night’s game against the Phoenix Suns, I felt pretty damn good that the Sixers would come away with a victory.  The Suns are an older team that typically struggles in the second game of a back to back.  More than that, I loved the match up.  The Suns don’t play a lick of defense, and basically just hope to push it up the floor every chance they get.  Teams like that play right into the Sixers hands, in my opinion.  You may beat the Sixers, but it certainly won’t be at their own game.  Not to mention, the Suns tend to turn the ball over a lot, and when teams do that against the Sixers, they are just asking for trouble.

 

Well, last night’s game ended up playing out exactly how I thought and hoped it would.  The Sixers led the entire game and crushed the Suns 108-91, leaving Stoudemire, Shaq, and Nash sitting on the bench for the 4^th quarter.  This was the third win in a row for the Sixers, and brought their record to 17-10 under Tony DiLeo.  That’s a far cry from the team’s 9-14 start.  Last night, the Sixers were led by Thaddeus Young and Marreese Speights.  The two young guys put on a show that was fun to watch.  It is hard for most teams in the NBA to compete with the athleticism of the entire Sixers team, and specifically their frontcourt.  The Sixers took care of the ball with only 10 turnovers, and conversely forced 18 turnovers by the Suns.  Steve Nash and Shaq were nothing more than also-rans in this game.  Three Sixers ended up with more than 20 points: Young with 25, Speights with 24, and Iguodala with 22.  Honestly, I could rattle off a bunch of stats, but the bottom line is, the Sixers dominated the game from start to finish, and seem to be continuing to improve as a team.  Because of that, I just wanted to quickly touch on a few positive developments that I have seen in this team.

1)       The continued development of Speights- I like the fact that Speights seems to be getting more and more minutes, especially late in games.  He is gaining confidence each game, and is showing the ability to score in a variety of ways.  Also, I think he brings some swagger and attitude to the team when he is on the floor, and they need that.

2)       Defense- While the numbers may not show it, I would argue that the Sixers defense has significantly improved under Tony DiLeo.  The rotations are much better, and Dalembert is doing a nice job challenging shots in the lane.  The Sixers definitely need to defend the 3 much better, but if they continue to improve on their team defense, those numbers should improve as well.  We all know that when the Sixers can get stops and turnovers, it allows them to play up tempo much more.

3)       Lou Williams- Even though Williams has struggled of late with his outside shot, he has continued to help the team and contribute off the bench.  To me, it is a great sign that he is taking the ball into the lane and either finishing or getting to the line, as well as developing into the leader of the second unit.

4)       Elton Brand’s Injury- I have said many times that I thought eventually the Sixers would be better with Brand.  Still, with the team knowing he will not be back this year, it allows them to establish their identity.  They understand what their roles are, and exactly the type of basketball they have the most success with.  There will be no worrying about trying to gel with Brand.

5)       Offensive Efficiency- It is obvious to me that the Sixers are much better under DiLeo in their half court sets.  They seem to have a clear idea of where to be and what they are running.  We have seen a lot of back doors, alley oops, and even a few jumpers coming off screens.  They look to be taking advantage of mismatches on that end of the floor more than they used to.  Now, I realize they still don’t have consistent shooters, but even given that I feel much more comfortable with the team when they have to slow the game down.

6)       Attitude/Energy- I am going to shock some and say that Evans helps in this category from time to time!  But, overall I think the Sixers are developing a little bit of a swagger.  They play aggressively, and I like seeing guys like Dalembert give hard fouls near the basket.  I think Speights and Ivey, along with Evans have given the Sixers a little more “in your face” nasty side.

The team is playing well and I think can continue to improve.  I have felt all along that a minimum of a 5-2 home stand was necessary heading into the break.  Well, they have that opportunity if they defeat the Grizzlies tomorrow night.  I am hoping that all the points are touched on are areas that continue to improve as the season winds down, and then we will see where that puts the Sixers at the end of the year.

I wanted to go back to a format I enjoyed using last year during the NBA Playoffs for tonight’s Sixers game against the Miami Heat.  I have to give credit where credit is due here.  I am blatantly copying my favorite sports writer, Bill Simmons.  Simmons periodically writes a running diary for a particular sports event.  So, that’s exactly what I’ll be doing here.  I enjoy this because I think it gives a great fan perspective throughout the course of a game.  I must admit before I start that I am a highly emotional fan, so there may be times when I make assanine statements, so bear with me.  I just try and call it like I see it.  So here goes…

 

6:40PM- I need to run out to pick up some takeout before the game gets underway.  I can’t concentrate on an empty stomach.  But, before I do, the obvious key to the game is making Dwayne Wade earn his points.  One way to do that is make him work on the defensive end throughout the game.  My guess is the Sixers will use a variety of defenders on Wade from Willie Green, to Royal Ivey, as well as Iguodala.  The Sixers were destroyed by the Heat earlier in the season so I hope they come out to play tonight.  They had trouble taking care of the ball in that game, so that will be crucial tonight.  The Sixers could use a win to gain some ground in the standings on the Heat.  Controlling the glass and getting out on the break will also be keys.  Maybe whoever took over Dalembert’s body against the Pacers will possess him again tonight!  I’m hoping Speights gets more minutes tonight, screw Reggie Evans.  Okay, time to feed my gut.

7:12PM- Courtside reporting is pointless to me in the NBA.  I have yet to hear anything of substance from any of them.  Thanks for not letting me down Dei!

7:14PM- First bucket by Thad.  I hope Haslem guards him all game and Thad takes him to the hole all night.  It could be a big night for him if that is the case.

7:20PM- First timeout of the game.  The Sixers are out to a nice start with a 13-7 lead.  Four of those points coming on the break so that’s a good sign.  I have to tell you that I really like Sammy’s activity on the defensive end.  He is aggressively hedging on screens and then getting back to the lane.  I have to give him credit for his play lately.  On a side note, I will never order vodka rigatoni from this place again.

7:24PM- Shawn Marion officially has the most disgusting looking jump shot in the history of basketball.  

7:29PM- Wade scores on a layup when he snuck behind the defense at the end of the shot clock to cut the Sixers lead to 20-15.  How the hell does Dwayne Wade sneak anywhere on the basketball court?!

7:30PM- Another timeout with the Sixers leading 24-17 with 2:13 left in the first quarter.  So far, so good.  Does anyone else think that Heat coach Erik Speolstra looks like a kid you went to high school with?  Only, he looks like he is still in high school.

7:33PM- Sweet!  Reggie Evans is in.  Those four words make me cringe.  Maybe this will be one of those random games where Evans actually contributes something worthwhile.  Why does Bob Salmi love the dude?  We can count on Salmi using the term “lunchpailing” at least 12 times tonight.  I can’t wait.

7:38PM- The first quarter comes to a sloppy end here for the Sixers.  Take care of the damn ball!  A good NBA team does not turn the ball over like a high school team.  Still, the Sixers lead 26-23.  The bench needs to play well. The other night against the Pacers they were mostly terrible.

7:43PM- I do like Speights a lot but he just got called for goaltending and it was one of those shots where you wonder what the hell he was thinking.  At least he follows it up with a nice reverse on the other end.

7:46PM- With 7:56 left in the 2^nd quarter, the Sixers lead is down to one at 33-32.  The trend seems to be that the Sixers struggle when the starters leave the floor.  Lou Williams needs to take control of this unit.  I’d love to see him become a leader of the second unit.

7:49PM- The Executioner!  Bernard Hopkins, baby.  I love that dude.  And, of course, Salmi uses the sight of Hopkins to stroke Reggie Evans.  “One of the toughest block outs in the league.”  I hate that phrase.  It means nothing to me.

7:51PM- Reggie Evans has a nice series in the last minute.  He misses a rebound that ends with a Heat jumper, comes down and for some unknown reason decides he is a post player and throws up a left handed baby hook, and then follows that up with a loose ball foul!  Can you tell I don’t like Reggie Evans? Someone please convince me that he is worth more than one decent game a month.  I’ll wait.  Sixers lead 38-36 with 5:52 left in the half.

7:55PM- Salmi just told us that the Heat are “missing some scoring when Wade is off the floor.  Thank you, Captain Obvious!

7:57PM- Is it me or does Michael Beasley always look stoned?  Not Sam Perkins stoned, but still pretty high.

7:58PM- The Sixers break a tie and go up 40-38 on a fast break started by Dalembert and finished nicely by Miller.  Also, I am able to breathe for awhile because Reggie Evans isn’t spazzing out all over the floor.  The Sixers need to close out the half strong here.  The offense has gotten completely stagnant.

8:03PM- Smart move by Spoelstra, I think.  The Heat are throwing some zone at the Sixers and we know they are not a bunch of sharp shooters out there.

8:06PM- One last play to end the half.  But, did anyone else see the shot of DiLeo in the Sixers huddle while one of the assistants was drawing up the play?  He looked like he was trying to hold in a poop.  Speaking of that play…it doesn’t result in anything for the Sixers.  So, the score is tied at the half 44-44.  After a pretty solid first quarter, the Sixers played poorly in the second.  The third quarter will be crucial in this game.  I certainly don’t want to see a back and forth game in the fourth quarter.  That’s Dwayne Wade time. I have decided not to watch the halftime show.  Not that you care.

8:18PM- I am back in front of the TV.  I have a feeling the starters are going to have to play most of the second half.  I am looking for Andre Miller to be aggressive on the offensive end.  Iguodala has a tough match up against Marion, so the Sixers will probably need more from Miller in this game.  The Sixers, just like I said before the game, need to take better care of the ball.  Too many unforced turnovers are killing them so far.

8:24PM- The second half is about to start and I’d like to thank Dei Lynam for incorporating Reggi Evans into her report. At least, Bob Salmi is excited.

8:28PM- Not a good start to the second half by the Sixers, as the Heat go on a 6-0 run to lead 50-44.  They remain stagnant on the offensive end, as well as they continue to give up too many easy buckets.

8:31PM- I have to admit that the Heat do a really nice job of getting back in transition.  That’s not something that bodes well for the Sixers.  They need to play better on the defensive end to trigger their break.  Where the hell is Iguodala?  He really needs to get going tonight or the Sixers could be in trouble.  They don’t have enough scorers for Iguodala to have a terrible game.

8:35PM- The Sixers are already over the foul limit with 6:25 left in the quarter.  Wade will be attacking the basket, you can guarantee that. 

8:37PM- All right, I am starting to get frustrated.  The Sixers are down 58-52 with 5:32 left in the third quarter.  They are racking up fouls on the defensive end, and they just don’t seem to have any energy.  This is a big game for this team!  How the hell was that not a travel called on Wade?  It was a blatant up and down on Wade. 

8:40PM- Theo Ratliff sighting!  The good news is that means Evans didn’t come into the game.

8:41PM- The Sixers are playing like crap and trail 59-52, but it was nice to see Magloire stomp his feet like a 2 year old and get called for a technical.  Maybe the ref told him he couldn’t have any dessert because he didn’t eat his dinner like a big boy.

8:46PM- The Heat lead by 8 now at 65-57 with 2:30 left in the quarter.  The Sixers are having one of those quarters they have become quite famous for.  Their only points are coming from the line, and they have only scored 13 so far.  There is no ball movement at all.  I feel like a broken record right now. 

8:49PM- Apparently the NBA rules on traveling apply to Andre Miller but not Dewayne Wade, as Miller just got called for exactly what Wade didn’t.  It was the right call, but I’m still angry.

8:54PM- I’m glad that quarter has come to an end.  The Sixers now trail 69-63.  I just hope DiLeo doesn’t decide that putting Evans in will turn the game around.  The Sixers did nothing right in the 3^rd.  I want to see aggressive basketball on both ends here.  Take to ball to the basket, and on defense they need to start showing some effort.  If the Sixers are going to win this game, it will be because they get stops and force turnovers.

9:00PM- Well, DiLeo didn’t listen to me.  Evans is in to start the 4^th, and subsequently gives up an offensive rebound that leads to a bucket for the Heat.

9:01PM- Great play by Lou Williams, dishing the ball inside for a possible dunk.  Evans was fouled on the play and will go to the line for two after the timeout.  The Heat are already at the foul limit with over 10 minutes left.  That’s even more of a reason to be aggressive and drive the basketball.

9:06PM- Even though it’s been ugly, a nice 13-4 run for the Sixers, and they have taken the lead back 74-73.  What a surpise that they are showing some intensity on the defensive end!  Not a tough concept here, boys!

9:08PM- It drives me nuts when an official makes a call only after the shot is missed.  Ivey gets called for a block on Chalmers.  Chalmers then misses both free throws.  As Rasheed Wallace likes to say, “the ball don’t lie.”

9:11PM- The Sixers are up 76-74 with a little more than 7 minutes left.  Wade is now on the  bench.  The Sixers need to take advantage of what will be a short rest for Wade. The Heat do not have a go to scorer on the floor.  Now is the time to make a run.

9:12PM- Nevermind.  Wade is right back.  Spoelstra heard me.

9:14PM- Man, Ivey loves that corner three!  He hits one, followed by a great block by Speights on Wade.  The next trip down the floor, Thad drains a three.  That was a huge burst to put the Sixers up 82-74 with 6:04 left.  Speaking of Speights, I can’t say it enough…get him his minutes.  He will make some mistakes, but he does a ton of things to help the team win.  Now, they need to keep up the defensive pressure.

9:20PM- Another BS call in favor of Wade.  He drove down the lane and then lost the ball out of bounds completely on his own.  Of course, that’s not possible, so the Heat kept the ball.

9:22PM- The Sixers are up 89-80 with 2:57 left to play.  Ivey is having a great fourth quarter.  Talk about someone that has earned himself a role on this team!  He has a steal and a layup, and hits another huge three.  I have to give credit to DiLeo.  He has kept Ivey, Williams, Speights, and Evans on the floor.  The lineup has worked.  I also have to say, in fairness, Evans is playing pretty well in the 4^th. 

9:26PM- Iggy and Miller are back in the game, along with Speights, Ivey, and Evans.  I love the trust DiLeo is showing in these guys!  Speights is everywhere right now.  That is the type of energy this team needs on a consistent basis.

9:29PM- What a great 4^th quarter by the Sixers, especially the bench.  The Sixers have just won 94-84.  Kudos go out to Ivey and Speights particularly.  Looks like I was completely wrong about the starters having to carry the team tonight, and about Iguodala needing to have a big second half.  I was way off on both those accounts. The game wasn’t pretty but they got the job done.  The defense really improved in the 4^th, and that’s how this team is going to have to win games. The Sixers did a nice job getting to the line, and thankfully hitting most of their free throws for a change.  Seven players ended up in double figures, which is crazy when you see that they only scored 94 points.  Lost in all of Ivey’s exploits tonight was how well Ivey played Wade defensively in the 4^th quarter.  When you can say Dwayne Wade only scored one point in a quarter, you can pat yourself on the back.  Big win tonight.  I said all along that the Sixers needed a 5-2 home stand.  Well, they currently sit at 3-2 with games coming against the Suns and the Grizzlies.  If the Sixers can win both games, they will be riding a 4 game win streak into the all-star break, and will be sitting at 27-24.  After all that has transpired in a little more than half a season, I will take that.  This was fun, and I will definitely do it again sometime.