76ers Stumble in Utah 99-102

Well I guess our wishes for the Sixers go above .500 was not to be.  I watched this one Tivo delayed. I probable started mid way thru the 3rd period. I resists skipping ahead. It looked like the Sixers had the game in hand.

I had a feeling this was going to be a loss when Iggy hits a 3 pointer, get’s fouled but failed to make the free throw. Then he comes down and misses 2 free throws on an ensuing possession … ugh!  No comeback tonite. No matter how much the Jazz wanted to give it away.

The good thing about the NBA and this expedited season is that you don’t have a lot of time to sit and ponder a loss. There’s another game tonite. The Sixers will be in Oakland to face the former broadcaster now coach Mark Jackson and his Golden State Warriors

Hmmm .. it looks like the Warriors new front office has there hands full with “Golden State Warriors Face Multiple Sexual Harassment Charges, According To Report”.

Retweet: Retire Moses Malone's #2 Sixers jersey !!!

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@Mo_Sweat Miquel Pérez

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This is a no branier right?

Sixers Rock in the Valley of the Suns

Thank goodness the first win of the season was nothing like last year's. This 76ers pop their cherry in only their second game with a romping 103-83 win over the Phoenix Suns. They even their record at 1-1. That's the kind of game I was looking for. Not only did they beat a team the should be able to beat, but the did so in convincing fashion.

The game started out just as one would hope.  (1) Iggy came out like a man on fire. He was all over the floor ... dropping 3's, grabbing rebounds and playing in your face defense. He finished the game with 4 of the Sixers 11 steals. (2) the Sixers took better care of the ball (only 3 turns at halftime) and (3) they played great team defense. Granted the Suns are Steve Nash & JBOD (just a bunch of dudes), but the Sixers did what they had to. Which was hound Nash, not collapse too much when he penetrated, rebound the ball and get out on the break.

They were up by 7 in the 1st period and 14 and the mid point. Then the 2nd half is was like WOW!

As the game tracker shows it took the Suns almost 6 minutes to score a basket. The Sixers scored 19 point during the stretch. At the point the game was essentially over.  The route was on.

Garbage time!

Time to rest some starters and give the second team some playing time.  The rookie Vucevic got some extended playing time. He looks like a keeper (6 pts, 6 rebs, 2 dimes). You can tell the boy’s got skills. It would be nice to see him become more aggressive. But you have to like what you see.

But the primary reason to sit starters when the game is out of reach is you don’t want to see anyone get hurt.  My heart skipped a beat when Jrue went down on an awkward play where he was stuffed by two Sun defenders. I was just thinking to myself “What he doing in the game?”  Coach Collins admitted to the this foolishness in the post game press conference. But Jrue was ok. No harm no foul I guess.

ROFL

Spencer Hawes has been playing well this season. But I could have died laughing when he batted a pass away from his opponent and proceeded to rumble down  towards the basket to score. I’m thinking to my self “Pass it” “Pass it” . I did not want to see him get embarrassed.  But he scored the basket. That just the kind of nite it was.

Sixers drop 1st game in Portland

Common sense tells me that the Sixers can’t win them all. Logic tells me that they would probably not win Monday nite against the Blazers. But I’d be lying if you told I didn’t expect them to pull out the game. Because the team I have come to love does not give up. Rarely do they fold like a cheap tent. Instead they just keep plugging away and something good happens.

Well I guess something good did happen, but it was just short of a win. The barrage of 3 pointers in the fourth when down by 15 was really good. But They just dug too much of a whole fueled by 20 turnovers. Jrue Holiday committed 6 turnovers! Much to many for your floor leader. He just did not seem himself. I kept waiting for him to take charge in the 2nd half. But it never came. Not what I was expecting from him either.

But I’m  going to keep a positive attitude. They made the game completive. Let see about a win in Phoenix.

The NBA is Back

Chocolate Thunder

Sixers finish Preseason with a sloppy win

It was a stark contrast to the previous tilt with the Wizards, but the Sixers did find a way to win (101-94). You had to know the Wizards would give more effort this time around after getting spanked last Friday.

Doug Collins said it best, the Sixers played poor defense, gave up too many offensive rebounds and had too many turnovers. You’re not going to win may games that way and everyone knows it. But is was a good thing in this regard, the humbling experience will help them focus. You’re not playing a team as dreadful as the Wizards every nite.

The other good you can take from the game was the play of Jrue Holiday. In a nutshell the win was all Jrue. He scored 15 points in the 4th period and limited the number of turn-overs. I think you are looking at the future. Holiday should be the Sixers 20 & 10 guy this year (Points & Assists). He is on the verge of superstardom.

Ok, preseason’s over. Let’s get ready to lace ‘em up for real.

Malik Rose joins Sixers broadcast team on Comcast SportsNet

I missed the announcement the other day about Malik Rose doing color for Sixers broadcasts this year. As a Drexel Alum Malik has a special place in my heart. I remember watching him in College. Everyone knew that he was special. If you to went to game at the DAC (Drexel Athletic Center)  back then you’d see rows of students with skull caps on emulating Malik’s bald head. No one was surprised to see him go on to be a 13 year NBA veteran.

Malik did a good job. He started off a bit nervous. But struck a good balance between critical analysis and cheerleading. You may have noticed the awe the Wizards announcer had when he made note of Malik’s NBA championship ring ( He has 2 with the Spurs). So I guess that’s why Malik let ‘em slide when he referred to a cheesesteak as a “Steak n Cheese” and thought a “Steak with or without” meant what kind of cheese you wanted.

Malik Rose, Welcome back.

Don't call it a comeback

Don't call it a comeback I been here for years Rockin my peers and puttin suckas in fear

With apologies to LL Cool J ... I'm back from an extended hiatus. It's been over a year since I posted. No there was nothing wrong. Thanks for asking. Sometimes life happens while you are making other plans. So I sat the blog aside for a while. But now I'm back.

Makin the tears rain down like a MON-soon Listen to the bass go BOOM

That's not to say I have not been paying attention. My boys made some noise last year and I was loving every minutes of it. Doug Collins came in a righted the ship after the year of living dangerously under Eddie Jordon. Collins gave me a good vibe. It was enough to entice me to view last years model. After all, how could it be any worse? Collins came in and instilled some discipline, defense, and accountability. And guess what? After a horrendous start they managed to make the playoffs. Yeah ... I was the that Sixers playoff win versus the eat. I wasn't blogging but  I was soaking it all in.

Explosion, overpowerin Over the competition, I'm towerin

So like the NBA I'm back. I am relieved for not to having to comment on the stupidity that was the NBA lockout. In the end little was accomplished. But to remind the common man that rich men, celebrities, and stars don't really care about us. Given the opportunity to fix the sport (we all know it's broken), the league and the players reverted back thier cocoons until they noticed none but a few faithful cared. Then the magic that is Christmas inspired them all to throw in the towel and agree to continue what we been doing before. Owners & GMs handing out foolish contracts and players being greedy, both putting themselves above team and sport.

Wreckin shop, when I drop these lyrics that'll make you call the cops Don't you dare stare, you betta move Don't ever compare

But I realize now that there was no one else like me out there. There is so much content out in the blogsphere. And much of it is good. Now that the Depressed Fan has gone All Sixers All the Time you can't find a better Sixers blog. You can't compete with that. And you gotta love the Liberty Ballers. But it seems like everybody is a reporter or analyst. I'm just a fan. I'm a season ticket holder (for longer than this blog has existed). I were my heart on sleeve. This blog is about that perspective. Sure I have an opinion on just about everything. I'm Joe fan. But I'm not an expert (and I don;t play one on TV). It's about how I feel, how I think, what keeps me going. It doesn't matter if you read this. It's not about you.

Me to the rest that'll all get sliced and diced Competition's payin the price

Those of you still with us ... I am sooo friggin juiced for some basketball. I didn't realize it until I watched the preseason game against the Wizards on Friday. I was pumped after the blowout. Watch out world ...

Mama Said Knock You OUT!