Nuggets @ 76ers 3/19/08

[THFM]

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Allen Iverson complained after the season was over about how Jim O'Brien didn't play much zone when he was coach. And, it's Maurice **** Cheeks. Even I was upset with how the offense was being ran.

In the years Cheeks was coach and Webber and Iverson was there we averaged 99 points. Right now we average 96. So a whopping three points less. Here is another fact. With Cheeks as coach and Iverson and Webber on the roster we were giving up 100 points the first year and 98 the second. Now with the current team we are giving up only 95.

Listen don't get me wrong Iverson pulled this franchise out from the ground and made us respectable again. But at the same time, his antics lack of commintment to defense and playing the "right way" cost us at least one championship.

[76erinSJ]

Ai was not the reason we couldnt win a Champ, it was the front office. We never made a legit try to get a allstar next to him. Webber does not count. Big Dog, Vanhonh, freakin DC! BK and Snyder were the reasons, not AI.

[THFM]

Ai was not the reason we couldnt win a Champ, it was the front office. We never made a legit try to get a allstar next to him. Webber does not count. Big Dog, Vanhonh, freakin DC! BK and Snyder were the reasons, not AI.

It was hard to get another superstar on this team because of many reasons:

AI's contract didn't help, he deserved the money but also she took up a lot of cap.

The contracts of Eric Snow and Mckie etc etc made it almost impossible.

Larry Brown traded a lot of our draft picks so there were times we didn't even have a 1st round draft pick so no young talent could develop.

But look at AI and Melo. Melo has to be almost a perfect fit next to Iverson and they still give up way too many points. They have the reigning defensive player of the year and still they give up 105 ppg.

As good as Iverson is he will always be a defensive liability due to his size. Bigger players just post him up and leaving the team to help Iverson and always leaving one person open.

[bebopdeluxe]

I'll be there with my older son and two of his friends...and I'm gonna make sure that we are there early. When Allen is announced, I will hopefully join over 20,000 people and give the man a long standing O for all of the memories...I was blessed to watch him play.

Along with an early Barkley, the most amazing things that I've seen live in sports came from A.I....I saw him score SIXTY points - live. I saw him carry a team of muckers and grinders to the Finals.

(I've also seen him do some first-class bonehead things on the floor...but that's not what that standing O will be all about).

And....once they throw up the ball...

I hope he goes 4-for-29 and we win by 30.

[76erinSJ]

The contracts of Eric Snow and Mckie etc etc made it almost impossible.

Larry Brown traded a lot of our draft picks so there were times we didn't even have a 1st round draft pick so no young talent could develop.

But look at AI and Melo. Melo has to be almost a perfect fit next to Iverson and they still give up way too many points. They have the reigning defensive player of the year and still they give up 105 ppg.

You proved my point. Who caused those probelems? The front office. Mckie and Snow should never have gotten those contracts.

Anthony is not the perfect player to put next to AI. He is just a taller version of AI. A player like Garnett or Shaq or Boozer would be perfect.

[Dedicated_76ers_fan]

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In the years Cheeks was coach and Webber and Iverson was there we averaged 99 points. Right now we average 96. So a whopping three points less. Here is another fact. With Cheeks as coach and Iverson and Webber on the roster we were giving up 100 points the first year and 98 the second. Now with the current team we are giving up only 95.

Listen don't get me wrong Iverson pulled this franchise out from the ground and made us respectable again. But at the same time, his antics lack of commintment to defense and playing the "right way" cost us at least one championship.

I don't care about the points. Points mean ****. You score garbage points in the final minutes that dictate games. When you SEE the games you know what's happening. I hated the "offense" that had AI and Webber putting up jumper, after jumper, after jumper. Wanna know when we won our basketball games? When A few swingmen by the name of Iguodala and Korver actually got touches and made shots. Iguodala was never a "pansy", he never got signifcant touches. Period, and if he did they were low in the shot clock. Jim O'Brien knew Webber didn't wanna play the post, so he had Webber become a perimeter player to pass the basketball and as a result we made the playoffs. Mo? Mo? Oh for the love of god.

Now, back during the pre-season Maurice Cheeks ran a press and trap style defense and although we lost the games I was excited about the different philosophy and I thought it would lead us back to the glory days.(Pretty much every 76ers fan thought this.) Where are those traps? Where are those presses? Except in critical situations (See Chicago and Detroit game) they haven't been there. His in-game and pre-game adjustments sicken me. On and on we go. I'm proud of these 76ers. But I can guarantee that Mo's not the one doing the coaching.

[STChaser]

It is undeniable. These Sixers are a lot easier to like and a lot more boring than the teams that were built around Iverson. This group reflects its head coach, Maurice Cheeks, and its veteran point guard, Andre Miller, in the way it approaches the game. It couldn't be less like the Iverson teams if everyone wore white shorts and started playing cricket.

But the current Sixers are a lot less interesting, too. There is no soap opera around the team, no central figure for everyone to love or hate. There is no Allen Iverson.

I don't think the current sixers are "less interesting" or "boring" as the writer put it. In fact, I think in many ways they're more interesting and much more exciting because we have a lot of young talent that should only get better and we play a fast paced game that's exciting to watch. Lou Williams is no Allen Iverson BUT it does seem like he's got the ability to get to the hole any time he wants. Finishing once he gets there has been his major obstacle. Then there's Thaddeus Young, and I think the sky is the limit for this kid. Of course, Iguodala has really progressed this season as well and really looks to be leader material. Who else here really thinks that our current team is "less interesting" to watch than the post Finals AI teams?

STChaser

[Don_eMOCION#31]

how i missed the wachovia center i still love the unique look of the court in philadelphia. always fun to watch two teams you love but i want the nuggets to win this one because it doesn't hurts the sixers' playoff chances much

btw iverson deserves the win IN philadelphia i think. should be a very NIIIICE game to watch

[barkley34]

Who else here really thinks that our current team is "less interesting" to watch than the post Finals AI teams?

STChaser

I agree, this team isn't boring, it is fun to watch the young guys get better plus we are finally playing at a high level and beating elite teams. Our AI/Webber team was stuck in the mud going nowhere.

I disagreed with his statement about the AI teams not being as easy to like. I loved that core of guys from the 01 finals team. That team was a pleasure to watch almost as rewarding 1983 season because the injuries they had to endure and the heart they all showed.

I'm with Bebop, if I was there I would give him a standing ovation for 10 remarkable seasons than I would want us to get the win.

[tk76]

How many former Sixer now Nuggets fans do you think there are out there? You know, the "I don't root against Philly, I just root more for AI" crowd. I wonder if you will see many of those posters here- I guess more on the Denver board.

[bech01a1]

I just hope I get there in time. I am leaving work early, but this damn problem with 95 is really gonna make it interesting.

[Johnny Broad-Street]

That 95 thing is ridiculous. My heart goes out to those who use it daily.

[ChuckS]

[quote]Now, back during the pre-season Maurice Cheeks ran a press and trap style defense and although we lost the games I was excited about the different philosophy and I thought it would lead us back to the glory days.(Pretty much every 76ers fan thought this.) Where are those traps? Where are those presses? Except in critical situations (See Chicago and Detroit game) they haven't been there. His in-game and pre-game adjustments sicken me. On and on we go.[/quote]


I apologize for the failing eyesight of my old age, but I could swear that I've seen us press and trap, on occasion, throughout this whole season. In fact I was actually stunned, I think against Chicago, when late in the game Mo switched to a 1 2 2 trapping zone defense. I've liked our 2 3 but had never noticed this before...so I could be wrong. Whatever it was, it kept them from hurting us when they needed a three, and wreaked havoc on their back court. I also think Rick Pitino proved you cannot trap 48 minutes a game for 82 games, so you probably will not see long periods of all out trapping and pressing.



[quote] But I can guarantee that Mo's not the one doing the coaching.[/quote]


Isn't it strange how great minds think alike? I believed the same thing. We have so much inexperience, and some glaring needs. How can we be playing this well? First I thought it must be some genius like Larry Brown, by BlackBerry. But it can't be. He hates zones and I cannot imagine him switching so many defenses on the "fly". Anyway...I think someone is doing a great coaching job. Last night that dumb old Charles Barkley said it was Mo.

[STChaser]

Do we run against Denver tonight? I've read a lot of articles saying that we'll get blown out if we do this against Denver but we ran against the Suns, who are arguably the best running team, and we won that game. Also, just how well will Denver run tonight coming off a game last night? On the other hand, our team should be fresh. Keys to winning this game: don't get too far behind in the 1st half. Denver may come into this game in rhythm while we've been off the last few days. We need to keep it close in the 1st half and run away with it midway through the 3rd. Thaddeus needs to have one of his better games on offense and Williams needs to attack their big men in the paint and get them in foul trouble. WG, Carney, and Ollie need to by Xtra physical on AI. The achilles heel for AI is when he transforms a game into an individual challenge and forgets his teammates.

STChaser

[noone]

Do we run against Denver tonight? I've read a lot of articles saying that we'll get blown out if we do this against Denver but we ran against the Suns, who are arguably the best running team, and we won that game. Also, just how well will Denver run tonight coming off a game last night? On the other hand, our team should be fresh. Keys to winning this game: don't get too far behind in the 1st half. Denver may come into this game in rhythm while we've been off the last few days. We need to keep it close in the 1st half and run away with it midway through the 3rd. Thaddeus needs to have one of his better games on offense and Williams needs to attack their big men in the paint and get them in foul trouble. WG, Carney, and Ollie need to by Xtra physical on AI. The achilles heel for AI is when he transforms a game into an individual challenge and forgets his teammates.

STChaser

You most definitely run against the Nuggets. That's when they get lax and stop playing defense all together. I watched the Detroit game and they were making fast breaks out of everything. They had 42 assists and shot 60% from the floor. The most favorable stat for us is that Detroit grabbed 14 offensive rebounds to Denver's 18 defensive boards. That's horrible and definitely something we will/should take advantage of.

Another big factor will be outside shooting. Detroit made it all possible by hitting their outside shots early. Denver won't guard the 3 point line too hard (until they fall back by double digits) early on, so we should have some nice looks to get a rhythm early.

I have the Sixers by 6.

[freshie2]

You can run with them, you just need to defend as well. The Pistons 'outscored' the Nuggets last night. You will get good looks, but you have to make sure you defend first. If neither team plays defense, the Nuggets win...they have better offenseive weapons, and that is their game...no defense.

[STChaser]

The most favorable stat for us is that Detroit grabbed 14 offensive rebounds to Denver's 18 defensive boards. That's horrible and definitely something we will/should take advantage of.

And hopefully Reggie Evans plays this game with something to prove...


STChaser

[ChuckS]

[quote]And hopefully Reggie Evans plays this game with something to prove... [/quote]


I agree. The last game Martin only had eight points, but he seems rejuvenated lately and has been scoring very well.

The Sixers have made a believer out of me, but certain things worry me. The Nuggets biggest weakness is their perimeter defense. But, alas, our biggest weakness is our perimeter shooting. We compensate with our penetration...but their greatest defensive strength is Camby (and KMart) inside.

I see this as winnable, but a dogfight. I hope Miller, Green, and Carney, keep it up, Sam and Reggie stay out of foul trouble, and Jason and Thad can overcome their physicality or, as someone already suggested, pull their bigs outside. Lou could also be a handful for them.

Most of all I hope they are beat up and tired after the Pistons, instead of angry.

[noone]

I'd like to see Smith get his fair share of minutes unless Evans is strong on the o-boards and the defense is causing a lot of turnovers. Otherwise with Sammy and Evans in, we play right into their strengths. Camby and Martin will be standing around the paint all night.

[The Guilty Party]

Man... this has been one helluva layoff for the team. Hopefully Miller's back has gotten better but I fear that our team will suffer from a bit of rust in the 1st quarter.