Sixers @ Magic 11.6.08

[kanga]

[TheAnswerAI]

Another tough game and I think this will be another loss. Cheeks has to play Dalembert more, he is our heart on the defensive end. Iguodala has to figure it out. He looks completley lost on the offensiv end. We're playing 4 on 5 when he plays like last night.

Brand has to be more dominant. Shoot less, drive more! And the bench has to do a better job against teams which are better than the kings and knicks...

A lot of work to do for this team. Why do we start so bad every year since AI left? I hope that we get it started soon enough to get a good spot in the playoffs (should we even talk about that right now?)

[IversonsMother]

Last season Lou absolutely owned Nelson.. Hopefully Mo recognizes that and plays him early and often.. Also, STOP THE DAMN SMALL BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dond]

The Sixers have a lot of work to do in the halfcourt set. I am sure they haven't fixed it since last night so it stands to reason they will be bad again tonight. The only way they win is to shoot lights out. That makes everything look good.

[The Guilty Party]

Which Sixers team will show up? The team that looked great against the Knicks, Kings, and the first half against the Hawks? Or the team that looked terrible against the Raptors, Heat, and the second half against the Hawks?

I honestly have no idea and I don't think Mo Cheeks knows either.

My Prediction: No f'n clue. I'll say the Magic by 5+.

[Don]

I am shocked that the Sixers looked so chaotic last night. Maybe the level of intensity will pick up when playing a better team.

[The Guilty Party]

Also... road games on back-to-back nights, this doesn't bode well for the good guys.

[Chocolate or Thunder?]

This is an L. There was no excuse for last night's loss. That was pure effort on the Heat's part that beat us. No excuse. This team seems to be smellin' themselves a little.

[76ciology]

On the brightside, our press and transition offense might work well this game. Since the Magic has poor ball handler in Jameer Nelson and I don't think that the Magic is quick enough to match up for our transition offense.

IMO, the key here is to dictate the tempo. If we can keep this game into a running game then we might have the edge. But if this game ends up to a halfcourt game, this ought to be a block party for Dwight Howard.

[bigdavid]

It seems crazy the way we triple and double team players and leave other players wide open for easy shots. This is the NBA players should be able to guard one on one except for a few high impact players,

I believe our defense is horrible. I agree we need to keep sammy in there longer. He clogs up the middle and should not go outside to cover 3 point shooters. Thats when we need to switch.

The magic will be tough. Iggy must find a way to get to the basket his outside shot is not working.

[tk76]

I'm not so focussed on getting the W tonight- as hopefully the Sixers will be a better team later in the year.

I do want to see improvement in certain areas:

1. Closing out on 3's. We ccan't see another Kapono situation against a team that lives and dies by the 3 ball. Plus, the Sixers have the long/quick defenders to stay with and bother Pietrus, Turk and Lewis. They have to at least force contested jumpers. Wide open shots would be a sign that the team is just not figuring it out.

2. Force turnovers. This might be limitted by trying to stay with the shooters, but I would think Iguodala and Young are good enough to disrupt an offense without gambling too much.

3. Quicker passing in the offense. The ball cannot be held by players for 2-5 sec before making a pass. Yes Iguodala, Sama and Lou i am talking to you. This used to be WG's big problem, but he has been way more decisive than Lou and Iguodala this year.

Granted, if the team does these things they probably win. But if they do these things and lose because its one of those nights that the Magic hit contested 3's I'm fine with that.

[TheAnswerAI]

I would be happy IF we would contest those three pointers at least because I think that won't happen tonight (like almost every other night).

As long as Thad continues to impress He's really the only one so far who showed me something. I'm a little disapointet by Brand. I thought he would be more dominant in the paint. He just has to take the ball to the basket and not try these turnaround jumpers with the defender all over him.

Please Mo, no Rush in the game before Green or Williams. And let Sammy play more than 30minutes (if it's possible against Dwight).

I too would be happy to see just an improved play to last night. on the other hand, that shouldn't be to difficult to accomplish

[Mik317]

You know you suck if people are asking for Willie before you....

as long as we don't get threed out of the bulding (lol, Iggy is going to get Turkowned) and somehow stop the awesomness that is Dwight (uhhh yeah) we can be in it......I have no faith.

[Phillyboy]

Which Sixers team will show up? The team that looked great against the Knicks, Kings, and the first half against the Hawks? Or the team that looked terrible against the Raptors, Heat, and the second half against the Hawks?

Your question itself might be an indicator of it's answer. Look at the list of teams we looked great against versus those we didn't. Relatively poor teams and relatively good teams. Hope that's not a discouraging trend emerging.

Sixers will have matchup problems tonight. The beast Howard notwithstanding, the 3 point shooters of the Magic should have a field day. I love my Sixers but this game might be painful to watch.

[Nofx8881]

sixers by 9

[EasternMagic]

Nice game thread, good luck tonight guys.
Better hope this guys not in the house though, Samuel might freak out.

[Tension]

Let's just hope we don't embarass ourselves on national TV. ._.

BTW, anyone that watched the pregame about Barkley discussing Iguodala's jumper disagree? I think his jumpshot improved, it's just the fact that his selection is terrible (fadeaways, and of course that crucial 3 in the Atlanta game) and he has a TERRIBLE scoring mentality.

[Don]

If we can get some blocks from the 4 and 5, and get to running, this might be a game. Unfortunately we're still a running and poor half-court team. I expect Brand and Sammy to double on Howard all day and for Miller, Lou, and any other Guard to get their butts out and guard the outside. Tired of them giving up easy baskets and not guarding the 3ball.

[Loose Cannon]

We lost, won, lost, won, lost, so from irrefutable logic, you can diffuse that the Sixers will win tonight.

[Mik317]

DWIGHT IN FOUL TROUBLE.........HELLZ YEAH!!!