76ers @ Cavaliers 3/30/08

[carlos1223]

The wizards just beat the Lakers. We're not gonna catch them

[Temple2k2]

last time I checked the Lakers won 126-120

[Sixersftw]

yeah tor and the wiz lost...making this an even worse lose.

[barkley34]

Was Jason Smith hurt or sick?

[LongLiveHinkie]

The downfall for the Wizards begins now.

[ryst]

Was Jason Smith hurt or sick?

no , Mo is just not a good coach

[ITK9]

-= original quote snipped =-



Have you seen Washington's schedule? And we're only 1 game behind Toronto anyways. I'll make you a deal, keep this in your sig:

I (sixers238) will not post on realgm anymore if the Sixers do not get the 5th seed.

dude, you think i don't want the 5th seed? i only said that imho we won't get it but i really hope i will eat my words!

[ChuckS]

I ain't smart like lotsa folks, some who obviously should be coaching in the pros. And Lord knows I don't want to step on Dond's toes. But, golly willikers, I cannot understand all the hysteria over the starting lineup in this game.

We handily won the first quarter while Willie was, admittedly, stinking it up, and when Reggie was doing his best Malone impression by missing multiple layups...except Moses always made them eventually. We lost the game much later, when it was not Reggie who missed chippies that resulted in four and five point turnarounds, and it was not Green whose shooting hurt us.

I'm really scared about seeming to defend Mo, where anyone who does is called a broken record for responding to one in every fifty "Mo is much dumber than me" post. But shucks! I think he might have noticed that Green and Carney did not have their shooting touch, since they only played nineteen and twelve minutes respectively, and Green mostly early in the game. They played fewer minutes than any in the regular rotation. And I do not remember Reggie in the fourth quarter. Some, who must be critical of Mo, might suggest that there is where he went astray. But no one will, because we lost the game late, but with fan favorites. So of course it was caused by Mo's first quarter lineup.

[SendEm]

Willie Green played Lebron well as usual, too bad Willie shot himself out of the game. Willie definitely is a player that Lebron doesn't feel right about going up against for whatever reason. It was evident that Lebron would pass the ball and not even penetrate when Willie was guarding him but as soon as Iggy switched on to him his first reaction was to drive. He had so many driving layups, dunks, and draw/kick plays off of Iggy's defense. The only time Lebron had trouble was when Willie and Miller guarded him. Miller had like 2 steals and Willie was the reason why Lebron had such a cold first half.

Lebron knows that Iggy is a lanky player with slower recovery and poor quickness. That dunk Lebron had where he drove from behind the 3 point line on Iggy was a prime example of that. He brought the ball down, stopped, then SPEED BURST to the hole. Iggy couldn't even move his feet to defend.

Iggy is our Craig Ehlo, Lebron is their Jordan...

[STChaser]

Things that killed us in this one:

-Cheeks leaving WG in the game rather than Carney
-Where the hell was Jason Smith?
-Delonte West having the best game of his life
-Iguodala getting mauled at the end of the 4th and not getting the call (even the Cavs announcers were laughing about the no-call)
-Thaddeus having an off night on offense
-Too much Reggie Evans in the 1st quarter. Mo needs go revert back to his other starting lineup.

STChaser

[ankle420breaker]

So of course it was caused by Mo's first quarter lineup.

Cleveland took control of the game in the 3rd quarter when we did have Willie and Reggie on the floor. The two of them combined for a lions share of missed field goals and cleveland capitalized on the other end...

Mo has done an exceptional job this year, but this was a winnable game.... Its almost becoming standard operation where our bench (lou, thad, carney) has to come in and re-gain control of the game.

[tk76]

Lebron knows that Iggy is a lanky player with slower recovery and poor quickness. That dunk Lebron had ...

Lucky Lebron gets to go against Iguodala- otherwise we would never get to see him dunk or score. Against real NBA defenders he gets shut down routinely. What does he average- 12 points or something? I hear he'd be out of the league in a year or two if he dodn't get to play against Iguodala.

Seriously though, I think I will stand up a bit for Mo. He has recently cut Green and Evan's minutes to about 20-25/game. I agree, ultimately we are going nowhere starting one or both, and they probably need to be on a shorter leash- but I think Mo realizes this too. He goes with our best squad for the final 15 min of the game- but last nigh our best couldn't quite close the deal.

Also, good job by Mo and the players mixing it up against Lebron. I though they kept him relatively in check by rotating thee different defenders (Dala, Green and Miller) and rarely sent double teams.

[freshie2]

Lebron knows that Iggy is a lanky player with slower recovery and poor quickness. That dunk Lebron had where he drove from behind the 3 point line on Iggy was a prime example of that. He brought the ball down, stopped, then SPEED BURST to the hole. Iggy couldn't even move his feet to defend.

Catch that highlight on SportsCenter??

[ChuckS]

[quote]Cleveland took control of the game in the 3rd quarter when we did have Willie and Reggie on the floor. The two of them combined for a lions share of missed field goals and cleveland capitalized on the other end...[/quote]

That is an excellent observation, with some merit. But I do have a few disagreements.

There was a nine point turnaround in the five minutes Green was in the game. At best it could be said that his three misses did not help. Although keep in mind that one of them we rebounded. Since he is arguably our best defender at guard, one could also blame him for Delonte West.

Since it is a team game, however, it is not unreasonable to believe that uncharacteristic turnovers by Miller, Iguodala, and Dalembert, were even more harmful.

Someone else might say that there is always somewhat of a run by a good team with a great superstar. But it would sound like rationalization if I said it.

I mostly disagree with the statement that the Cavs took control five minutes into the third with a four point lead...particularly when we were tied to begin the fourth.

I also maintain that we got that five point halftime lead back in the fourth and lost the game in the last forty seconds, and it was not Green who missed the shot leading to a James score, or who fouled Smith, or who missed the shot before Andre's desperation heave.

But back to the third quarter. I suggest no one without a Thad fetish could possibly blame anything on Evans. He went one for two shooting, blocked a shot, and had four rebounds in his seven minutes. He really got Varejao out of the game and played excellent defense. Their bigs had only one basket and two foul shots in the period. I think he did a nice job.

I guess I'll have to agree to disagree...or maybe agree and disagree.

[dond]

no , Mo is just not a good coach

LOL ...

[dond]

I ain't smart like lotsa folks, some who obviously should be coaching in the pros. And Lord knows I don't want to step on Dond's toes. But, golly willikers, I cannot understand all the hysteria over the starting lineup in this game.

We handily won the first quarter while Willie was, admittedly, stinking it up, and when Reggie was doing his best Malone impression by missing multiple layups...except Moses always made them eventually. We lost the game much later, when it was not Reggie who missed chippies that resulted in four and five point turnarounds, and it was not Green whose shooting hurt us.

I'm really scared about seeming to defend Mo, where anyone who does is called a broken record for responding to one in every fifty "Mo is much dumber than me" post. But shucks! I think he might have noticed that Green and Carney did not have their shooting touch, since they only played nineteen and twelve minutes respectively, and Green mostly early in the game. They played fewer minutes than any in the regular rotation. And I do not remember Reggie in the fourth quarter. Some, who must be critical of Mo, might suggest that there is where he went astray. But no one will, because we lost the game late, but with fan favorites. So of course it was caused by Mo's first quarter lineup.

Nice to hear from someone else on this. I have pretty much stopped defending Mo now because it has become more apparent that he doesn't need defending and also because that ones continuing to attack him as a poor coach really have no basis for it anymore except the dream world of perfection that they demand. In other words, I think they are now in the vocal minority and their comments really do not represent real and knowledgable fans. That being said ... it is still nice to hear from the silent majority now and then. Thanks for taking the time to voice your opinion.

[dond]

Its almost becoming standard operation where our bench (lou, thad, carney) has to come in and re-gain control of the game.

Well, I consider the bench players part of the team and that is what they are supposed to do. It is quite probable that if you started the bench players you would find the same thing to be true. The Sixers are very deep with good quality players but not exceptional with any player(s). Therefore, they have to win with depth. And, if you leave any one player out there too long he will tire and become less effective, so you try to give each of them adequate rest. It is a long game and who starts or gets an extra minute here or there has little effect on the outcome and I find it silly to suggest that playing someone too long in the first quarter is the reason they lost the game. The reason they lost the game is because the players in the game in the last 2 minutes were not successful in what they were trying to do ... Nothing more.

[dond]

Cleveland took control of the game in the 3rd quarter when we did have Willie and Reggie on the floor. The two of them combined for a lions share of missed field goals and cleveland capitalized on the other end...

That is an excellent observation, with some merit. But I do have a few disagreements.

There was a nine point turnaround in the five minutes Green was in the game. At best it could be said that his three misses did not help. Although keep in mind that one of them we rebounded. Since he is arguably our best defender at guard, one could also blame him for Delonte West.

Since it is a team game, however, it is not unreasonable to believe that uncharacteristic turnovers by Miller, Iguodala, and Dalembert, were even more harmful.

Someone else might say that there is always somewhat of a run by a good team with a great superstar. But it would sound like rationalization if I said it.

I mostly disagree with the statement that the Cavs took control five minutes into the third with a four point lead...particularly when we were tied to begin the fourth.

I also maintain that we got that five point halftime lead back in the fourth and lost the game in the last forty seconds, and it was not Green who missed the shot leading to a James score, or who fouled Smith, or who missed the shot before Andre's desperation heave.

But back to the third quarter. I suggest no one without a Thad fetish could possibly blame anything on Evans. He went one for two shooting, blocked a shot, and had four rebounds in his seven minutes. He really got Varejao out of the game and played excellent defense. Their bigs had only one basket and two foul shots in the period. I think he did a nice job.

I guess I'll have to agree to disagree...or maybe agree and disagree.

Wow ... where have you been. Finally, some logic ....

I do not have the energy to present these types of arguments anymore but I welcome them as a ray of sunshine within these discussions. I wish you luck ...

[MicrOLak3R]

Willie Green played Lebron well as usual, too bad Willie shot himself out of the game. Willie definitely is a player that Lebron doesn't feel right about going up against for whatever reason. It was evident that Lebron would pass the ball and not even penetrate when Willie was guarding him but as soon as Iggy switched on to him his first reaction was to drive. He had so many driving layups, dunks, and draw/kick plays off of Iggy's defense. The only time Lebron had trouble was when Willie and Miller guarded him. Miller had like 2 steals and Willie was the reason why Lebron had such a cold first half.

Lebron knows that Iggy is a lanky player with slower recovery and poor quickness. That dunk Lebron had where he drove from behind the 3 point line on Iggy was a prime example of that. He brought the ball down, stopped, then SPEED BURST to the hole. Iggy couldn't even move his feet to defend.

Iggy is our Craig Ehlo, Lebron is their Jordan...

Come on man. Lebron does that to 99% of the League. Regardless of who's guarding him.

[Mozy-76er Fan]

This loss was disappointing, but if we win the next two games I'll be ok with it. I was hoping they take 2 of 3 on this 3 games road trip against decent teams trying to secure a playoff spot/better their playoff position.