Philadelphia falters on the road in Orlando

The Sixers lost a game they could have won. Inspite of playing a back-to-back game on the road. They missed good shots! It was a close game in the fourth Qtr. AI had 2 turnovers in the last 2 minutes that were critical. Trying to get other players involved, where in the past you would expect him to shoot. This was a team loss or perhaps a Magic win .. Magic 105 Sixers 97.

Grizzles Head Coach Hubie Brown Announces Retirement

I'm sure this was a surprise story to everyone. Hubbie Brown comes out of the broadcast booth a couple of years ago to be head coach of the Memphis Grizzles (a wrethced expansion team) at 70+ years of age. I could be wrong about the age, but he is old by almost any standard. But he was a great basketball commentator because he would actually explain to you what was going on!

It was a questionable move by GM Jerry West. The Grizzles were refugees from Vancouver. They were a team with talent but no discipline, and had never won anything. Hubie turned them around with old school discipline. They are a legitimate contender now.

The illness must be serious for him to retire suddenly. I hope all goes well for a class guy in the NBA. Lionel Hollins will be the interim head coach for the Grizz. Sixers Connection: He played on the '77 Trail Blazer team that came-back from the grave to beat the Sixers in the NBA finals.

Story: GRIZZLIES: Grizzlies Head Coach Hubie Brown Announces Retirement

Sixers when another game in Overtime!

SIXERS: 0405 Postgame Report -- 041126 In this young season, OT is AI time. Iverson wins another with the game on the line. Another sign of his maturity as a player. Go Sixers!

Davis Shines; Sixers Roll

Boston stinks! I am already on record for saying something to that effect. I am also on record for saying that Doc River can coach. So that leaves the GM to blame. Danny A. joins a long line of Boston players coming home to thier teams undoing.


Anywho ... I was present for tonites Sixers 110-97 win over the Celts ... sigh ... This fabled rivary no longer has its charm. But and win is a win. The thin crowd (14,901) on a week nite before Turkey day got treated to a scoring clinic. The 76ers jumped out to a quick lead that they never relincuised. Josh Davis (who I had labeled as a stiff) started the game and had a career high 19 points, Not bad. But he is a unkown commodity in the NBA and has not been scouted yet. Future tests are in order before he's anointed a real steal from the CBA. Playing against Boston's soft Defense can't hurt one's performance. But it looks like coach is still stirring things up. Kenny Thomas didn't see the court until about 2 minutes left in the 2nd period. It's playing time for those who perform, not those making the big money (AI not with standing).

AI sliced the Boston D like a Thanksgiving Turkey. Leaving plenty of leftovers for his teammates by dishing out 10 assists. Just like Jimmy O'brien write the script. Still you gotta be concerned about the 3 losses preceeding this game. All 3 were poor defense performances ... we can't play Boston every nite ... can we?

The Brawl at the Palace at Auburn Hills

There has been so much media coverage about the brawl last Friday at the Pacers-Pistons game, my 2 cents hardly matters, but let me go on record as saying that I was appalled at the episode, I am appalled at the media coverage, I am appalled at the number of times I've seen it replayed, I'm appalled at the countless references to how it parallels to our society ... and I applaud the commissioner's suspension of Ron Artest for the rest of the season.
Yes its harsh! Yes its unprecedented! But so was the act. So has Artest's behavior since he's been in the NBA. I am tired of headcases being tolerated, because they have talent. I thought Jackson's actions were worse than Artest! He wasn't provoked and came out slugging.
Yes, Stern's ruling is part damage control. He has a BIG problem on his hands. This sports has lost the luster he's work so hard to create. This event could revebarate for longer than anyone would care to admit. The level of play in general is bad. The Olympics debacle underscored that. The Kobe Bryant thing. About the only things that has gone well recently was the dethroning of the Lakers by Detroit last year. The NBA hasn't had this feeling that anyone could win it all this year (well almost anybody), since Michael Jordan retired from the Bulls. I love this game, but something has gotta change.

Sixers win one in Regulation

Hey! We won 1 w/o going into OT. Sunday crowds seem to be a different breed. There aren't many during Football season, and its no coincidence that the 76ers two Sunday games are when the Philadelphia Eagles are on MNF. Sunday crowds are lined with the more casual sports fans, the family outings, the weekend Invaders. On this Sunday its was the invasion of Hawk Hill ... An extremely large contingent of St. Joe's faithful at the game to see Jameer Nelson's NBA debut in Philly.

AI and the Sixers took care of business this day ... although I think the shooting was poor for both teams playing at such an odd time (2PM). Kyle Korver gotta a big ovation when entering the game. His shot was off like everyone else's early. But he managed to hit a couple of 3's. The Sixers were aggressive and Orlando's lack of inside presence made for nice Sunday drives thru the lane. Jameer's learning on a badly flawed team behind Steve Frances. A great but selfish scorer playing point guard ... Sorta what AI is purported to be, but the difference is AI had 29 points and 12 assists ... Stevie franchise had 3 points until the 4th period, but finished with 14. Result; Sixers 96 Magic 87

Sixers Win 2nd OT game in a row !

So I am watching the 3rd period and I'm thinking ... how do they keep digging a hole every game ... and expect to keep coming back ... as others have said, they have been doing it with heart. So I watched on. At the end of the 4th its a 10 point game...its getting worse against a depleted Pacers Squad without Reggie Miller (8 men dressed, the NBA Minimum). AI has had a bad night and if not for K Squared the 15,000 plus crowd would be lookin for the car keys. But Korver keep hitting 3's... 6-in-all (I think) and the defense picked up... Just like on Wednesday ... and the Cinderella story continues ... Korver hits a monster three to send it into OT and AI hits the 1st game winner in his career. Sixers 106 Pacers 104

I will accept a gutsy win and a 500 record for now ...the polish can come later

Iverson, Sixers top Nets in OT

A Win is a Win! After 3 straight Sixers losses, I was afraid I would be attending a turnover fest and another loss to the Kid-less Nets! The rather thin week nite crowd did their best to keep things going. It was turnovers that did us in the previous nite against the Knicks. They seemed to limit that problem, but the they still haven't figured out the defense. The Nets Richard Jefferson (33 points) looked like Michael Jordan out there! By the end of the game, The Nets were running everything thru him. And it showed at the end of the game when he missed two free throws in the waning seconds of the game and a Nets 2 point lead. Zo missed two also (again fatigue was a factor) and AI hits a short jumper to send it to OT. The 76ers took over the game in OT, holding the Nets to 4 point in a Sixers 108-100 victory. I don't know about you, but I love to see a win!

Sixers drop 2nd Straight Game

The sixers lost the home opener to what may be a good phoenix team and then lay an egg against the Pistons. Pistons 99, 76ers 91 the game was not as close as the final score. Josh Davis' entrance into the game signaled "GaRBaGe" time. AI shouldered the load in the first half, but could not get his teammates started in the second.

The lose can be attributed to (1) the rigors of the NBA schedule and back to back games and (2) The Pistons Defense had them thinkin' about every shot ... BTW Jimmy, I'm still looking for the "D" you promised.

No Shaq Zone

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that the coming of Shaq Diesel to south Florida will be a boring soap opera. Shaq is a impressive force, but its not like Jordan and the Jordanettes. Shaq doesn't make the players around him better. And the supporting cast at Miami needs all the help they can get. Let's think about this ... Dwyane Wade ... he's got some game, but who's gonna teach him how to play guard (Not Shaq) ... can he feed the post? What about the other; Malik Allen, Eddie "shrinking violet" Jones, Hippy Boy Christian Laettner, wesley person. Are we supposed to be intimidated by that?

Not what the Doc ordered

Not what the Doc ordered

Sixers Win!

The TV Broadcast threw out an interesting bit of triva last nite; The Sixers have the league's highest winning percentage on Opening nite in the NBA. So maybe last nite should have been a suprize to no one.

This was a game of HUGE runs. The Sixers look good at the start. Leading as much as 14 points. Then the bottom fell out ... the Sixers were down by 16 in the 3rd period. But they kept their head up ... stepped up their defense ... then got hot from the 3 point line in the 4th. K2 hit a couple, then AI and poof the lead was gone and Boston couldn't turn it on again. It was good to see the Sixers hustle!

I think Boston is still a flawed club. Pierce handled the ball more when Payton left the game w/ foul trouble. That takes away his rhythm ... no one seems to know how to get open ... just like last year.

Go Sixers!