The Sixers need to figure out how to mesh

[Sixerscan]

So your thought to improve the team is to draw up a play where the end result is us scoring.

And that play is Andre Miller and Elton Brand running a pick and roll.

[sixerswillrule]

It seems that a big problem is Miller's lack of range. On the pick and roll last night he was wide open on several occasions but didn't shoot because he can't shoot. Not only from three, but even a few feet inside. Hell, when he has shot the 15 footer this season it's been off. The team has to find other ways to score. If this continues to be a problem, I would be all for trading Miller for a PG who can shoot.

[Philly_King]

^Yea I agree. 99% of the time we got the ball to Brand yesterday they doubled him with Miller's man leaving Miller wide open for 3 or a long range J which he can't/doesn't shoot. We need to get some 3pt shooters on the court when Brand is on(Rush,Lou) and work an inside-outside game or distribute the ball on offense to try and find a high % shot. Miller is doing a horrible job thus far controlling the offense. He overdribbles the ball, passes it to Brand who is doubled and passes it back so Miller gets it back and shoots a wild J as time expires. No one is driving to the hoop, there's not much ball movement and it just looks awful out there. It doesn't help that Miller's J is pretty much horrid at this point. The stats don't lie, Miller has taken 1 less shot than Brand so far.
Thad doesn't even touch the ball on most possessions. Heck Sammy and his god-awful mid-range J get more looks than Thad.

[76ciology]

It seems that a big problem is Miller's lack of range. On the pick and roll last night he was wide open on several occasions but didn't shoot because he can't shoot. Not only from three, but even a few feet inside. Hell, when he has shot the 15 footer this season it's been off. The team has to find other ways to score. If this continues to be a problem, I would be all for trading Miller for a PG who can shoot.

Yup, I agree with this one.

One of the reason why we looked great with our offense against the Knicks, aside from our dominance inside, is Andre Miller was waxing hot with his mid-range shots.

I guess, we need Louis Williams to have a bigger role on this team. I'm not saying that he should have the starting role, but he needs to play more minutes to give us some stability in our halfcourt offense. And hopefully, his offensive capabilities can create a lethal two man game between him and EB.

[geiger]

The lack of shooting from the guards was always going to be a problem. Iggy is not a pure SG and Miller is not a good shooter at the point. Thad is still young and inconsistent. Still, Miller has a half decent mid-range jumper, even though we haven't seen it yet. He is a notriously slow starter and also started slowly last season and Iggy is still getting used to a new position, as is Thad, who also has a big learning curve. We'll see where they stand in 25 to 30 games. The first few games don't make a season.

[Sixerscan]

The problem hasn't been shooting it's been the TOs. We aren't going to keep turning the ball over 19 times a game so peeps gotta cool out.

[ChuckS]

[quote] The lack of shooting from the guards was always going to be a problem. Iggy is not a pure SG and Miller is not a good shooter at the point. Thad is still young and inconsistent. Still, Miller has a half decent mid-range jumper, even though we haven't seen it yet. He is a notriously slow starter and also started slowly last season and Iggy is still getting used to a new position, as is Thad, who also has a big learning curve. We'll see where they stand in 25 to 30 games. The first few games don't make a season. [/quote]

I really think that the above post "hits the nail on the head".

I personally believe that Miller is the most important player on the team. And he is probably my favorite because he is smart and competent, and one of the best passers I have ever seen. I think that, if he did not have one of the worse shooting games I have seen from him, we would have made the comeback more difficult and won the game. Crap happens, though, and always will. Hence I am reluctant to over-react, particularly so early in the season.

I question the characterization of someone with a 46% career and 49% last year FG% as a poor shooter. Unfortunately, I also believe that he might be the only guy on the team that, because of his great handle, and instincts, and experience, can always create a shot...for himself or someone else. He has had a few horrible shooting games before, and will again. They have been (fortunately) somewhat rare (because he takes high percentage shots), but when that happens we will likely have difficulty winning a close game.

I believe that our offense is even more abominable with Lou at the point. But in the Hawks game I was begging for him, or Green, to come in for Andre. Even though both can create a shot, in retrospect I realized that were I the coach I, too, would still go with Andre, to minimize chances of what oftentimes is a chaotic offense when he is out. There was some rationalization for Andre's performance in the above post. He has been a slow starter. I would just add that the early (lack of ?) conditioning is magnified with an older player in a "back to back". His shots were straight on but generally short.

Ultimately, I suppose, it did not matter. I, also, thought that there was very poor to no ball or player movement in crunch time. There was too much one on one, and it is sometimes difficult to get the ball inside. Iguodala played a nice game but made some late stupid and forced decisions. (In spite of that, I don't think we have been going to him enough so far this year.) Some day we'll learn that it is, at best, difficult to penetrate a collapsed defense. But again, as pointed out above, I suppose there is not much choice, or even great percentage in moving the ball, if we have no one who can hit from the perimeter. That is why I have so regretted the losses of Korver and Carney.

One other minor point. In a close game it sure is nice to have a great natural scorer like Joe Johnson.

[bebopdeluxe]

I know that it is still early, but...

Gotta LOVE the offense that we got in the guts of the game from our $80 million SG.

And that wasn't Tayshawn Prince guarding him, either.

When I see the difference that one offseason has had on Thad's offensive game...and then look at our $80 million boy and see virtually ZERO improvement in his game or decision making...

Uh-oh.

I really hope that Iguodala makes me eat the words I posted here this summer...but the early returns are not encouraging.

[IversonsMother]

We need to start giving Rush some minutes to spread the floor.

I would even consider starting him and bringing Thad off the bench..

A bench of Lou, Green, Thad, Evans and Theo is pretty freakin good.. It would also allow Iggy to go back to sf, where he belongs.

[Philly_King]

We need to start giving Rush some minutes to spread the floor.

I would even consider starting him and bringing Thad off the bench..

A bench of Lou, Green, Thad, Evans and Theo is pretty freakin good.. It would also allow Iggy to go back to sf, where he belongs.

I would've agreed with that before but Thad's J looked surprisingly good against the Hawks(he hit 4/5 3s i believe and had a good inside-outside game going with Brand). I'm all for getting Rush minutes though. His 3pt shooting is greatly needed and he should get some of Willies mins imo

[IversonsMother]

Until Thad hits the three consistently, teams will continue to give him some room.. Rush on the other hand is a proven natural shooter. Teams have to respect his three point ability.. What use is having Brand in the low post if every player around him is a mid range shooter?

I do agree that Thad needs to be on the court 30+ mins a game though.. Problem is, whos minutes get cut??

[Phillyboy]

Proper spacing in the halfcourt is key and the Sixers are not doing this very well. I can only hope this is because they don't quite know how to use EB correctly yet.

In the Atlanta game, for example, when Brand would receive the post pass the topside defender cheats in too close waiting for Brand to put the ball on the floor so he can double team. Brand should be able to get to a second dribble and fight through the double team but with the topside defender so close it becomes more of a trap than a double team. This is problematic because if the guard who makes that pass steps back then his defender can't cheat. If he does then the shooter has a half step better look, if he doesn't then Brand can see single coverage or split the weak double team.

This is what Toronto did to us and we need to learn the lesson. Their 3 point shooters were open when their man dropped down to double team. It killed us and exposed a gaping weakness in our team. Mix used to say KYP (Know your personnel). Lou Williams, for example, can't leave Kopono to go for a steal in the passing lane or hard double the post because that mistake costs 3 points every time you make it. And don't get me started about Joe Johnson. Was anyone actually guarding the guy?

Tonight Brand should own the post. My humble advice to the SIxers. Get the ball to Brand as often as possible.

Oh and of course my hat's off to the Denver Nuggets for unloading Iverson. There's another team that had to find out the hard way but at least they didn't waste too many years before bailing on him.

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

Philly: Has Brand been everything ya expected . Guy is beast in the post

[Phillyboy]

Philly: Has Brand been everything ya expected . Guy is beast in the post

Hey Dedicated, how you doing, man? Been a while. Hope all's well.

Yes I'm extemely pleased with EB. As you know he's my favorite player in the league and to have him play here was like a Christmas present to me. He's the post presence we haven't seen since Barkley and even then he's a better defender than Chuck.

He just needs to knock a little rust off and more importantly, take charge when appropriate. In the loss to Atlanta the Sixers seemed to forget about EB in the 4th quarter. Let's hope they have better sense this evening.

If I had a worry, it would have been in regard to the injury from last year but with a spring in his step, it's clear that he's overcome it. As nice a guy as he is I'll be happier when he asserts himself more and I'm sure that will come with time and familiarity.

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

If you watch the tape closely, they seem to forget about Brand and/or put him in the wrong spots on numerous occassions. I constantly want to throw something when I see Elton Brand out at the 18-19 range. Where clearly, his shot is alot more deadly 15-17 in. And when he's one of the best post players, I've EVER Seen. I've seen Shaq, I've seen Amare, I've seen Howard. And they were all great because of their strength. But Elton Brand has both strength and fundamentals.(I guess that's what happens when your coached by Coach K). Being on the Clippers hampered his career. Hopefully he wins like 2 rings here in Philly.

[Phillyboy]

Ded, I agree completely.

The Sixers have a rare 4 days off early in the schedule and they should use the time to practice court spacing and perimeter defense (the second problem is a carry over from last year and I'm disappointed that so far it doesn't look like it's any better this year)

In addition to his great post game (notice that he's a two handed player unlike too many in this league) EB is a solid 17 foot jump shooter particularly when he's the trailer on the break. Andre Miller, who has played with him before albeit years back is one of the best in the league at getting the ball to a player in a spot he likes.

Once they learn how to utilize Brand correctly this team will get better a la the rock in the pond ripple effect.

[tk76]

New strategy for the perimeter game: give the ball to Thad and get out of the way

Repeat until the other team adjusts or submits. Send everyone to the boards and get the O-Board on the off chance Thad misses.

When Thad needs a breather try and do the same thing using Lou.