Hawks vs Sixers

[monsterblock]

"Yo Iggs, u comin or wat?"...... "Yea yea, im comin"




"Up up down down left right left right A B"
"OOOOOOOH"
"I think theirs something wrong with my seat man, this couch is weird"


- Hawks have had a hard time with the Sixers this year, because the Hawks identity is that they are a 3pt shooting team, and unlike Orlando, the Sixers have enough lateral quickness in AIG, Holiday, ET, and Thad to take away the 3pt shot and challenge the Hawks on the perimeter.

- Still no Horford, and the Sixers do a great job at getting second chance points.

- Evan Turner has been contributing as of late. Good to see him going, it looks like he has the same problems that Marvin had early in his career.

- Marvin and Hinrich have accepted and playing their new role just fine. Production for Marvin has fallen, but offensively and defensively, he has been super efficient as of late.

- Teague and Holiday will be another great match up.

- Before this year, Josh dominated the Sixers in every meeting, but his domination hasn't been their against the Sixers this year. Alot is going to depend on Josh getting it started on the defensive end, getting blocks and rebounds to control the tempo.

[HMFFL]

Philadelphia is favored to win this one by 6 points.

Philadelphia has also won the previous FOUR meetings. I think we're due and it'd be nice to get the W tonight.

Boston took of the Atlantic last night, so it's safe to assume that Philly will be prepared tonight, but hopefully our Hawks are.

NBA Atlantic
Boston 29 22 .569 -
Philadelphia 28 23 .549 1.0
New York 26 26 .500 3.5
New Jersey 18 35 .340
Toronto 17 35 .327 12.5

[SAUCERY_SWEET]

Well done, well done. Good to see activity back on the board. I have always thought the last 2 seasons or so that OKC, Denver and Philly play a way that really is a match up problem for the Hawks. If the Hawks don't focus and start turning the ball over then these teams can really get out and run and hurt them with a lot of fast break dunks and layups. Should be a hard fought game tonight. Philly really needs this one to keep track of Boston and the Hawks have lost the last 4 to these guys and would love to come through here.

[MaceCase]

With the small backcourt we should be quicker and able to defend transition offense but then again having 3 ball handlers out there should limit the steals the Sixers rack up on us in the first place. Iggy will be looking again to make Joe his victim but if Josh can relieve some pressure and get him for some open 3s he should have a nice total. Marvin, Willie and Ivan should be able to negate their bench advantage also.

[Ruhiel]

Just got back and found out we beat the Knicks but no game thread?

For shame!!!

[Ruhiel]

@Macecase Evan Turner started and Collins was trying to Iso Turner/Iggy on him.
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Josh has been struggling in the halfcourt vs Elton Brand but then he started working the high post and got a hook shot and some plays when Thaddeus Young got in.

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Josh alleyoop lay in!

Looks like Collins is saving Elton for the end to be the Josh stopper.

[Ruhiel]

Wow. Josh Smith got called for 4 fouls in 6 minutes.

[Ruhiel]

"Dammit its just like the orlando series"

Hawks keep helping down on Brand.

[monsterblock]

i hate making game threads, it always turns out being bad luck

[Ruhiel]

Josh Smith at center. Instead of going big LD goes extra small, hoping the ball movement lets him be a hands off coach.

Elton Brand went for a Dwight Howard performance hitting shots over Josh and everyone else, but more importantly drawing fouls.

Then Turner gets a switch and hits a step back over smaller Teague.
Josh hits a 3 and fouls out for a losing 34pt effort.

[MaceCase]

Did Zaza's achilles flare up in the 4th?

[Ruhiel]

More likely Drew's paranoia about playing small perimeter lineups flared up.

Elton Brand 29 points and 5 assists.

16 rebounds earlier in the game. Sixers sweep the Hawks.

Joe Johnson 15 points. Oh lawd. GO big and go inside.

[Ruhiel]

update: Stinger called it the Dwight Howard effect.

Elton Brand post up, Hawks dig down, Iguodala 3. whatever. We'll go play the Bobcats and pretend to be worldbeaters.

[Ruhiel]

Elton Brand season high. Philly dogged us with size Just like Orlando in the playoffs.

Elton Brand with #TheDwightHowardEffectAward

[monsterblock]

Hawks were shorthanded, but everybody relatively had a good game, even Joe. Joe only had 15pts, but was efficient with 7-13 FG.

The problem for the Hawks was 3pt shooting, or the rather i say, the Sixers' defense of 3pt shooting, which i did mention at the top of the key, was going to be the most important aspect for the Hawks.

[monsterblock]

I don't think Horford is important against the Magic and Bulls, but i do think he is important against the Sixers and Heat.

a day before the Sixers got blown out by the Wizards and Nene was their best player, he got 16/8 in only 25 minutes.

i think the Sixers are weak at center and just like Nene, Horford could have made a huge difference.

[HMFFL]

Philadelphia seems to have our number this season. Even if Horford was healthy and playing, Philly concerns me.

[monsterblock]

Philadelphia seems to have our number this season. Even if Horford was healthy and playing, Philly concerns me.

Hopefully Philadelphia plays themselves out of the playoffs.