Sixers youth serves them well in Washington

Sammy's 4th quarter blocked shot to fuel a Sixers fast break was charged with youthful exuberance. It was the older legs of Rodney Roger's and healthy three point shooting that paced the Sixers early. Young Willie Green was dusted off the bench to fill the scorer's role as the Sixers played without Allen Iverson, the leagues leading scorer. Wille stepped up with 20 points. In fact all of the Sixers starters stepped up by scoring in double figures.

But Sammy's block was typical of what youth can do. They played like they didn't know they where supposed to struggle with their two best scorers out for the game. They played like they didn't know they shouldn't score 64 points in the first half or lead the Wizards, a play off team at home, by 20 points. And just like a young team, they faltered in the second half. The Sixers were outscored 33-16 in the 3rd and it looked bleak when the Wizards overtook them in the fourth. But youth has short term memory and the Wizards exhaled when they reached a double digit lead early in the 4th. The Sixers went on a double digit run of their own. Sammy's block was devastating as the Wizards unraveled. Gilbert Arenas' 44 points was wasted in the Wizards fifth straight loss. The Sixers fortify their play-off position and perhaps their confidence as they win short handed on the road.