Bad News comes in Threes

Yes, it's true. Bad news comes in threes. It was the Sixers three game left coast swing. They needed to win two of three to continue leading the charges for the eight and final playoff spot in the eastern conference.

Instead the Sixers suffers two straight loses to end their jet lag jaunt through LA, Sacramento, and the land of the Suns, Phoenix. So that's (1) a loss to the Kings (Kings 118 76ers 109) the Kings shot 73% from the 3 point line (11-15), five straight in the fourth and deciding period. (2) a loss to ... no ... a thumping by the Phoenix Suns (Suns 116 76ers 87) and (3) The Sixers loose Chris Webber to a shoulder injury. Webber is expected to miss the next 7-10 days.

Bad news comes in threes ...

C Iggy jump C Iggy Slam

76ers 96 Lakers 89 - Anyway you look at it, Andre Igoudola is one impressive rookie! The Sixers kicked off their 3 game left coast road trip at the LA, Staples Center, where the star studded crowd (with more than a smattering of AI jerseys) was treated to a rookie special. No he didn't shutdown Kobe like the last meeting at the Wachovia center, but you will never see anyone work harder to get 34 points than Bryant did.

It seemed like each of Iggy's 18 points was a slam dunk raining down for the sky. His shooting percentage was 61% (Slams are high percentage shots). You might think he would have hit the rookie wall by now.
To keep this game in the proper perspective ... there is no such thing as a big game. They are all big. The Sixers showed why they deserve to be in the play-offs. They won when both their stars had off nites. They won when the opposing teams star had a good nite. They won for the first time ever at the Stapels Center. They didn't lose to a team on an 8 game losing streak and they finally crested the 500 mark.

So rest easy Sixers fans ... until tonite anyway ... it's a new day ... its the next big game ... it's the Sacramento Kings ... but the King are struggling too.

Recap - 76ers at Lakers

76ers sink the Raptors on game winner from AI

Boos rang out from the crowd as Donyell Marshall entered the game. A sign of respect in a Philly "I hate Reggie Miller" kinda way. Marshall should have been proud. He had every reason to be, after smokin' the Sixers almost 2 weeks ago. He seemed to pick up right where he left off at their last meeting. Hitting 7 3's in this game. C.Webb got off to a fast start. He and AI had the two man game goin' .. they both finish the game with better than 30, but for all the Sixers offensive fireworks the score at half time was 61-61. Something had to give.

As the story was told to me, the fans behind the Sixers bench was givin' coach OB the business about defending Marshall and the rest of the Raptors against the 3. Not to mention the inexcusable 10 offensive rebounds. Chris Boss had 4 offensive boards.

This Boss kid is a good looking player with 24 points and 22 rebounds for the game. He had the post up going, he had the mid-range jumper goin' and the hunger for the rebound like someone stole his lunch money. He may be an awesome player when he grows into his skinny frame. The Sixers had no defense for him.

However, coach did make a defensive adjustment. He taps Josh Davis off the bench to give him extended minutes in the second half. Davis played 10 minutes and had 3 rebounds. Most importantly, he extended the defense enough to challenge more of Marshall's shots. So I give coach a little credit. Some post game talk radio fans gave him no such tribute. Calling him stubborn for not adjusting in the 1st half and Davis ineffective. Come on folks ... show a 'lil love for coach!

The Sixers still needed a last second shot by Iverson to beat the Atlantic Division's last place team. AI hits the shot when the Raptors have a foul to give. Oh my ...


ESPN.com - NBA - Recap - Raptors at 76ers

76ers spank the Road Weary Pistons

Sixers 107 Pistons 84 - Yes is was a good old fashion spanking at the Wac center this nite. The 76ers exiorcised many demons on this nite. They beat Detroit for the 1st time this season and avenged a wooping from Detroit the last time the two laced it up in Philly. Detroit is a potential play-off opponent, so you have to show them you can beat them. The AI - C.WEBB tandem took another positive step forward, but most of all the Sixers won a game they should have easily.

Detroit came into the game having lost the nite before to Clevland. They didn't just loose to the Cavs. The got man handled. The Pistons were without head coach Larry Brown or star guard, Rip Hamilton. Philly came out fast against Detroit. Scoring on thier first 8 basket attempts enroute to a 31-17 first quarter. The rested Sixers pushed the pace against Detroit who had no rhythm and no answer for AI or the Sixers defense. Easy as cake (or is that pie).

The blow-out made it easier to appreciate Igoudola's first career triple double. Iggy had 7 assists in the first half. Many of the "did you see that" variety. One would guess that double figure points and rebounds would come naturally. But he was two rebounds short during garbage time when coach took him out. Marc Jackson gave coach OB a clue that it would be a nice gesture to put the kid back in. Which he did and Igoudola finished with 10 assists, boards and rebounds. So here's a little insight into the kids character. You're 2 rebounds away from your first triple double and somebody else has to mention it to the coach when you get taken out of the game. You gotta love this kid.

ESPN.com Recap - Pistons at 76ers

From Coach to Coach

With the dismissal of Cleveland Coach Pail Silas the number on the NBA coach carosel is Nine. Earlier in the season I told you there would be at least 4-5 head coaching changes. Well you can just call me swami!

Of course a few of the changes where other than the conventional "This team sucks. You're fired coach!" variety. Indeed, the Lakers Rudy T and the Grizzles Hubbie Brown retired for health reasons. Mavs coach Don Nelson stepping down to dedicate more time to a team consulting role last week has to be one of the oddest. There was no mystery that ex mavs and 1st year assistant coach Avery Johnson was the heir apparent. On many an occasion it was Johnson not Nelson doing all the talking in the Mavs huddle during a timeout. I had assumed that Nelle would be handing the reigns over to his son who often filled in for dad when he was having surgery, tending to a family matter or got kicked out of a game. But that was not to be. Nellie's no dummy, that "consulting" gig is a sweet deal.

But most coach's get fired the old fashion way. The Orlando Magic coach Johnnie Davis was canned last week as the Magic's free fall from the playoffs continue. The interesting thing about these mid season replacements. They seldom make a difference. The Blazers are 1-10 since Mo Cheeks was fired March 12. Kevin McHales Timberwolves is barley above 500 since firing Flip Saunders. His team may go from being in last years conference finals to missing the playoffs.

So what's the point? Teams usually fire thier coach, because thier teams sucks and they can't fire the players.
NBA.com: From Coach to Coach

Heck yea its still shameful to lose to the Bulls

BULLS 94 76ERS 88 All the accounts I heard or read about the game was conciliatory. It was "well the Bulls are a decent team now" or "they played with C-WEBB". I even heard "that AI's 11 turn-overs" was "not bad considering the fractured thumb". That's a load of horse manure. A good team wins that game. Eleven turn-overs for one guy is a lot if your offense runs thru that one guy. The Bulls are a sub-500 team and you need to beat them if you are going to be an above 500 team.

The Sixers were not "stifled". They stunk! Scoring only 33 points in the entire second half! No one is going to confuse the Bulls with the Detroit Pistons any time soon. Ben Gordon and coach Scott Skiles did not come up with some masterful defense to stop AI that no one else has thought of this season. Maybe it had something to do with Kyle Korver contributing only 4 point on 1-2 shooting, because he sat out most of the second half. "They were playin' a big 3 guard line-up" coach says. So now the other team is dictating to you "Mr. High priced" NBA coach?

Now I admit there was some work on hand when Chris Webber pulls up lame before tip-off and Rodney Rogers was hobbled with foul trouble almost immediately. But the Sixers' Bigs where being dominated by Othello Harrington not Shaq!

Then it was that lame play at the end. Where the sixers fail to score and down by 2 positions ... Coach decides not to foul! The Bulls run it down to 11 seconds and we didn't have a shot to win.

Whazzup wit dat coach?

Bulls Stifle A.I., Sixers After Break in Win

Now that's just they way Philly sports is ...

Maybe its was that hang-over from the Eagles Super Bowl loss that lowered the heat on the Sixers so far this season. But that has all changed as of late. Local sports talk is now calling coach OB the worst coach in philly history after the 3 point massacre in Toronto. He was placed in the same light as ex football coach, Rich Kotite!

While I don't think he is that bad (although his shoot the 3 and play no D is reminiscent of the Doug Moe debacle). I have gone on record plenty this season about the Sixers' poor coaching. I may have given Billy King a passing grade when he pulled off the Webber trade, but he's the one who hired coach and dismantled the team to get "coach's" kind of guys. If this mad scientist year of coach Jim O'Brien is just an experiment, he's got to blow the team up again for the next guy. That aint progress and the philly fans are gonna let you know it.

In the kiss and tell department, local TV/Radio host Howard Eskin reported that AI was out partying in Miami last week on Saturday and Sunday nite. He berated the team for reporting that Allen missed the shoot-around because he had a cold or the flu or something. Then Howard launches into his opinion of what he thinks a team leader should be and what AI should be doing for the team.

Hey Eskin ... Bite Me! I can't defend AI's actions in Miami (although I hear it's a great party town), But stop with projecting your image of what today's high priced NBA star should be on to AI. He's not Michael Jordan. He may score as many career points, but he will never be confused with Michael Jordan. Teams and coaches cover for star players sometimes. That the way it is. People like Howard want to pined for the good old days of the NBA. You know, when Charles Barlkey spilt on kids, Darryl Dawkins was breaking backboards and no one spoke about Dr. J's affair.

By the way ... AI scored 27 point in that game.

Raptors drop a record 21 three pointers on the 76ers

RAPTORS 128 76ERS 110 Donyell Marshall played like the world was running a half second slower than he was. He stood behind the 3 point line ... had enuff time to rotate the ball in his fingers until the NBA logo was lined up just right, rise up for the shot and release it before a sixer defender was near 'em. It was like the Sixers were running in water. Marshall tied a NBA record for 3's in a game (12). Coach OB's defense never adjusted. The Raptors rained 3's down on the 76ers ... the defense never adjusted ... Marshall was 12 of 19 (63%) from the 3 point line ... Coach never adjusted ... The Raptors are the 2nd best 3 point shooting team in the NBA ... You think you might extend your defense a little ... Noooo! Tha't not how Coach O'Brien does things around here! The Raptors set a record with 21 3's in 34 attempts (Yes an NBA record 61%). But we don't change the way we play do we? Noooo! The Sixers gave up double digit 3's in 3 games last year. The Raptors have done it 3 times this year. In fact, the Sixers have given up more than 10 3's in 15 games this year.
You would think such a high priced coach such as Jim O'Brien could adjust to the situation at hand. This pack it in the paint defense aint working. It's not stopping the 3 ball and its not getting rebounds. What are we payin' you for coach?

No Shade for the Sixers against the Heat

Playing their fourth game in five nites had to be tuff and it showed as the Sixers never really threatened the Heat on Monday nite (Heat 108 76ers 100). Chris Webber has not made winning games any easier for the 76ers. They escaped with a 1 point victory over the Hawks Saturday nite (loser of 11 straight). C-WEBB came in late in the final stanza to help notch a win after an extended rest. But they have yet to blow anybody out (although the Bucks game was never in doubt). The news wire ran a report today that Webber and coach OB had a 1-on-1 discussion about his playing time. Webber’s minutes are down (and his points). The coach says he does everything for a reason, but I am not so sure all will be revealed in time. The pressure is on coach to make this work. Not an easy task … with a schedule like the last five days … no practice time and lotsa new bodies. Rodney Rogers appears to making the most immediate contribution (He scored 9 in nineteen minute vs. the Heat). As I have said in the past, O’Brien is a high priced coach and I expect him to work this out.

On another tangent, K squared is getting roughed up as of late. He is stretching the defense with his shooting, but he needs to be more consistent. He gets blanked for lng stretches. We need him to average 15 a nite. With extended minutes as a starter, the scouting report out. Post up Kyle Korver. He is usually out-weighed or against a taller player. His all around play has been excellent, but he needs to score more to justify 30 minutes a nite. What about it coach?

Sixers Hold Back Cavaliers

Sixers Hold Back Cavaliers
There were a number of interesting tidbits about this game, but I would be remiss if I did not mention the Huge Slam Dunk by Iggy in the game. There's something about a dunk that gets the blood going. Iguloda and AI were on a 2 on 1 break. Allen was ahead of the play and the defender cheated towards Igudola at the foul line. You were expected the easy pass to the open man, but Iggy rose up and threw down a monstrous slam that knock me off the couch! The replay did it little justice. The Wac Center erupted at the sight of it. Wow can he get up in the air!

Lil' AI was so pumped that he rose up again a short moment later and was empathetically fouled by the Cavs tractor trailer. Isn't youth sometin'.

Other tidbits ... K Squared noted after the game that someone other than Allen put up the most shots ... The 76ers pull to an even record in the C-WEBB era ... The Cavs committed 27 turn-overs ... The Sixers did what needed to be done tonite and that's beat a bad team at home ... thats what good teams do ... th ierschedule looks ripe for a winning streak .... Boy that Iggy slam was somethin'!