Larry Brown returns to Philly

The Philadelphia Daily News - Brown still has A.I.'s ear Looking at the schedule, this looked like a good game to attend. The return of Larry Brown, a test perhaps .... How would the crowd respond (perhaps that wasn't too hard to predict) ... How would the rookie head coach do against his mentor ... How would AI respond ...

well the game was electric ! It was a playoff game atmosphere. And the 76ers give us plenty to cheer about, with a nice victory over the Pistons. But the reefs were brutal. Steve Gabbi T'd AI up in the second period, and then the calls went from BAD to ridiculous. The Sixers 15 point lead was cut in half. But late in the 4th period with the Pistons mounting a charge, John Salmons hit a HUGE bucket with time running out on the clock to seal the deal. Salmons played well against T. Prince from Detroit, the kid we had no answer for in the playoffs last year. So much so, that McKie played sparingly ... We were happy not to see him touched by Prince again.

This was a great game to be at.

ESPN.com - NBA - Orlando Magic fire Rivers after 1-10 start

ESPN.com - NBA - Orlando Magic fire Rivers after 1-10 start
Can I go on record here to say that the decision to fire Doc Rivers Suxs. The problem with the Magic is management not coaching. Rivers managed to post winning seasons with gross weaknesses (no height, no experience, etc..) Firing the coach is a cop out. ... and I'm sorry to say that Johnny Davis is not the answer ... The Magic just tanked their entire season after 11 games!

Undermanned Sixers beat World Champs at Home!

MySA.com: Spurs

WOW!

This game was HUGE. Only 9 players dressed, they contributed. Rookies Green & Korver got minutes. KK dropped the first two 3 pointers of his NBA career. McKie was 7-8 ... AI came up big with 36 points, but it was a team effort, a character builder Perhaps an identity.

Sixers score 112 against the Wizards

Ventura County Star: Nba The short handed Sixers gain a character win against the inexperienced Wizards. Washington got hot early, but AI was hot also for the Sixers playing without Big Dog or Kenny Thomas. A hobbled DC left early. So Ayers turned to his younger players and they responded. Green scored well. Korver got his first real minutes and first points. Dalembert played well for the third straight game ( including 5 blocks). And McKie scored 18.

BTW ... McKie was 2-3 from three point land and leads the league in 3 point percentage.

Sixers lose to the Pacers

NBA.com: Indiana at Philadelphia

My companion for the game last nite summed it up quite well ... He said the Sixers looked like they were running in water. They got off to a slow start, fell behind early, fought back to gain the advantage and faltered in the fourth. In fact, the 76ers lead going into the fourth by 5 and scored a mere 10 points! AI had 37 points, but the next highest scorer was Samuel Dalembert with 10. Nobody was willing to shoot, but AI. Big Dog had no bark. Without the inured Kenny Thomas, rebounding and inside scoring was suspect. No one could guard Ron Artest, who had his best game of the year. In fact, the defense looked confused. The Sixers spent a lot of time in a zone that looked like a high school 2-1-2 zone. The 76ers were constantly plagued with poor floor balance.

Looking at the box score ... the 76ers outscored the Pacers in the paint 38-36, but that was skewed by Dalembert's 10 point on garbage buckets ...

Ayers works on Sixers' chemistry (phillyBurbs.com)

Ayers works on Sixers' chemistry (phillyBurbs.com) As if to placate my fears, this article seems to explain Randy Ayers change in attitude about his liberal use of the bench in the last few games. Noticeably in the loss to the New Orleans Hornets. Whom IMHO is a train wreck waiting to happen.

Anyhoo ... The article claims that Ayers is trying to compensate for early season injuries, by playing his starting five into shape. The bench was on a short leash and I feel the loss was due to tired legs. How else do you explain getting beat by one man (Baron Davis?) and Steve Smith fresh out of retirement and driving his kids to school everyday (Mr. Mom?) in overtime.

After a character win in Portland, we are back to the identity search.

BTW ... we did not close out the periods in this game ... a loss

Spurs get bit by the injury Bug

NBA.com: at Tim Duncan goes down with an ankle injury. The champs are suffering a round of the injury bug. I hope its not serious. Duncan is one of the nicer players in the NBA (Even if he comes up soft in big games at times). ... The Spurs will be okay. Diversity builds character.

Sixers Win in "Big Dog" debut

Big Dog was a game time decision, but he started Monday nights Sixers game against the Blazers at the Rose Garden. And he contributed well with 15 points and 4 assists. AI had 31 points on an efficient 11 for 20 shootings. Just like they said, Big Dog's presence opened the floor and AI got easier shots. ... I tuned in for the second half ... The real difference between last nite and the previous two games on the left coast swing was Defense, as in the Sixers remembered how to play it after giving up 100+ points to the Kings and the Golden State Warriors. Sixers are now 2-2. BTW, Blazers head coach and former Sixer great Mo Cheeks has yet beat his old team. Philly won both matchups last year. They have not won back to back games against the Blazer on the road since 1970 somthin (okay I know that's probable a pretty useless stat).

Sixers fall to the Kings in Sacramento

It early, the Sixers played like the team you would expect if you see them on paper. They were exposed for what they may become if they do not establish an identity. AI was the injured warrior who managed 20+ points on poor shooting and a lot of courage. No spark from the other players, questionable defense inside the paint, no shot blocking presence in the middle ... The Kings went right at Kenny T (an undersized POWER forward demands that you do so) ... Randy Ayers used fewer players. But the worse thing I say, and Tom Tolbert doing the ISBN broadcast commented on this, The Sixers lost the last two minutes of every quarter! Twice they gave up 3 pointers at the buzzer! Stealing the quarter in the last two minutes is a sign of a good team ... That's the kinda of thing you want to see, losing to the Kings is not an embarrassment.