Sixers Showed Little Urgency In Loss To Pistons
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The 76ers played like a team that was satisfied with a split. Despite the Sixers being more athletic and having younger legs, it was the Detroit Pistons who looked fresh and certainly rejuvenated during Wednesday's 105-88 wi
Sixers Showed Little Urgency In Loss To Pistons
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The 76ers played like a team that was satisfied with a split. Despite the Sixers being more athletic and having younger legs, it was the Detroit Pistons who looked fresh and certainly rejuvenated during Wednesday's 105-88 win over the Sixers to even their best of seven series one game apiece.
"They not only hit us, but continued to hit us," Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said.
Everybody knew the Pistons would come out with their best shot, playing with a sort of desperation that they haven't shown in the final few weeks of the season, when they had already clinched the No. 2 seed.
With their collective backs to the wall, the Pistons showed pride, not to mention pretty good defense.
Now it's the Sixers turn to counter, but it won't be easy if 40 percent of their starting lineup is MIA.
Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert have shot a collective 8 for 40 in the first two games.
Iguodala had just four points in Game 2 and appears to be getting frustrated by the defense of Tayshaun Prince.
Prince is among the better defensive players in the league and he is causing Iguodala to force shots.
Dalembert has had his trouble on offense, but what is more cause for concern is his defense. While he made some good defensive plays in Game 1 and had four blocked shots, Dalembert didn't block a single shot in Game 2.
In two games, Rasheed Wallace has taken Dalembert to school, scoring a total of 40 points.
So the Sixers have a lot to work on before Game 3 on Friday. This was the type of thorough beating that can demoralize a team. Now the Sixers have to show the same resiliency that Detroit displayed after lbeing stunned in Game 1.
Comments (55)
Hobbes, Why you dismiss the fact that Iggy is a "punk." A punk in my book is someone who sucks, and constantly complains to the refs about getting cleanly stripped or blocked. Also, a punk is someone that wears an IPod to a Phillies game so that no kids will bother him (last week). And what evidence do you have that shows he is "hard-working." A "hard-worker" would learn how to driible. A punk is someone who thinks they are a superstar when they are NOT. Besides, that your analysis is spot-on. EXCEPT, it is ridicously stupid to say that Thad will only be a #3 or 4 offensive option in the future. He is 19 ! I don't think it is a stretch to think that he will be an all-star one day.— Zeke- Morty, You're right about LW floor time - he can't choose it. And he was assertive, offensively, when on floor. Didn't mention before but imo 4-12 shooting isn't "bringing it," it's just shooting it. Of course, all shooters have nights of those numbers. Given his HS Super background and forfeiture of a strong college coach and related experience, he'll never have a problem with cranking 'em out I'm afraid. He's learning, but, at this juncture, too weak defensively for my taste. Offensive heads are common and don't win championships without mucho support.— jjg
- JJG: I think you are, perhaps undervaluing consistent FT attempts. It's how better players help their team even when their shot is not falling, as I'm sure you know. Witness Kobe, LeBron, Iverson and even our own Igoudala. It's the main reason Lou is a better offensive player than Green. If Green has the shooting night Lou did, he ends up with 8-10 points.— Morty_
- I'm not disturbed by the inability to stop Wallace. What is disturbing is our inability to rebound, defend the paint, or show some urgency. Guess we're all discovering Iggy isn't an All-Star. Yes, the Pistons are a great defensive team, but true Superstars have multiple ways of scoring and helping their team. Iggy should have helped out on the boards. What's glaringly obvious is that the team suffers without consistent scoring from anywhere other than Andre Miller. When Iggy wasn't scoring last game, W. Green and R.Evans picked up the slack. Hopefully, Iggy will get untracked (and Mo will figure out ways to help him) and Sam will remember that he's making 12 mil a year to guard the paint and rebound, not wave at Sheed from 10 feet away. But really, we need another scorer/hero other than Reggie Evans. Lou? The ever enigmatic Rodney Carney?
- Zeke, sorry if I offended. I guess I just reserve "punk" for players that cause trouble on the court, in the locker room, and outide the gym. I won't name names, but you know the ones. I don't get the impression that he's guilt of all three. On the "hard working" comment, I would point to the general respect Iggy gets by analysts (Hollinger, etc.) and players (Kobe has remarked as much) regarding his defense. His rebounding stats are respectable (nine a game). Some guys consistently loaf on one side of the court, and I don't really see him doing that. But he's a 8-million man, that's it.— Hobbes
- Iguodala played about 5 minutes in the 4th quarter and had 2 assists and was 0-1 from the field in that time. Cheeks took him out and put Thad back in when the Sixers were down 21. I think part of it is a confidence thing, but I also think it is also a "he may not be ready for this stage" issue as well. He doesn't need to be dominant but he can't be 5-24 in two games either. One on one he can't get good shots against Prince right now. That's not max-deal player performance even a little bit. Hopefully getting back to Philly will blow some life into him. Because the series is over if he continues to play this way. That's just reality. http://www.reclinergm.com— ReclinerGM
- Oh, and, no, I'm not willing to announce that Young is destined to be a superstar, or even an offensive stud. He did not become a serious scorer this year. He didn't make the rookie all-star game, he doesn't not have a go-to move, is not yet a bonified post-up player or shooter, and has a weak right hand dribble. He did shoot well at Georgia Tech, so there's potential and I suspect there's lots of upside. But the "stupidity" that you mention should be reserved for people who want to make preposterous predictions about his destiny, having only one year to base their predictions. He's athletic, has upside, is energetic, and can do a little bit of everything. And he's 19, so there's lots of time to grow. That doesn't mean he'll be great. The only thing it means right now is that he was a good pick and that he can probably do what Iggy does. That's it, for now.— Hobbes
- Another thing: can we please stop calling for J.Smith to get more burn? Everytime he's out there Detroit takes advantage of his defense. and if we're going to pay Iggy 12mil a year, shouldn't that mean we require him to develop at least one go-to move? Thad looks good but isn't really being called on to do much - Mo and ES have done a good job of bringing him up and putting him in a position to succeed. The reason we don't start R.Evans and move Iggy to the 2 is that it would weaken our bench, give us less outside shooting and clog the lane (b/c nobody from Detroit would have to guard Evans). And does everyone see now why we should be fielding offers from anyone and everyone to upgrade our talent? It takes at least one true superstar to succeed in this league, and we don't have one.
- Can we please stop using the term "burn"? Please? JJG - Iggy must develop his post game - he is one of the bigger guards/SFs in the league and it is a big advantage that he is not using. If I was faster than the guy guarding me - I would use my sped to blow by him - if I was bigger and stronger, I would post him up. That is not as profound as it might sound. I hate to complain - but this format is pretty weak - lol - I am actually enjoying reading everyone's complaints though.— hugh
- This is not that big of a surprise. What will be interesting is will Mo be able to make some effective adjustments ? Lets face it , they have more bullets than we do. I'd like to see JSmith and LouW get some earlier minutes or better yet move IGGY to the 2spot so that he can get away from Tayshaun Prince. JSmith could at least follow Sheed out to the perimeter and leave Sam inside where he belongs. Just a thought.— thurman
- To Neldogg77: If I'm not mistaken, we did offer Iggy a 5 year/57 mil contract, which would be roughly 11.5 mil a year on average...so assuming he wants more than that, well you can determine the rest. (New Paragraph) But yea, this whole new site is somewhat of a disappointment...reiterated i know but still...and I kinda think everyone knows that we may be a couple of years (trades, drafts, development, etc.) from being able to make some real noise in the postseason, speaking realistically. Our main offensive weapon has pretty much been defunct and I've unfortunately seen some of the things that Hobbes has pointed out when watching Iggy. I mean, he managed to get it done but it doesn't seem like he'll have the pure scoring ability a max contract SF/SG should have as his offense seems...awkward. Not wanting to bash him cuz he is our best player but...(New Paragraph) Moving on, Sam's been a bit disappointing as he seems to have regressed from when the last time Philadelphia was in the playoffs vs. Detroit...he actually played quite well in those five games (12 pts, 13 rebs, 1.5 blocks, 55% FG per game) and I kinda expected him to put up similar numbers, given his increased numbers this season, his "breakout" year. That's it for now...waiting until next game...— Mercurial41
- Hugh, I agree with you in theory - a 6'6" guard with fairly long arms should take advantage of smaller opponents by posting up. However, Iguodala doesn't have the on-court patience and skill to actually do it. Hell, he's off-balance plenty when facing the basket and shooting. And though he carries a sculpted frame, he's got pretty skinny legs and his lean athletic appearance doesn't translate to heavy roadwork inside. Back-to-basket isolation and block work requires balance and strength (legs, trunk, shoulders), footwork, along with repetitive drilling and applied practice. Iguodala is light in some of these respects - and noted others.— jjg
- This format is terrible, indeed... I still have hope for this series, let's take it one battle at a time... The person who absolutely killed us was McDyess, I think he was the wildcard the Sixers were unprepared for. Sammy was tasked with Rasheed, how about Reggie and Jason are tasked with McDyess, to make sure that he doesn't have as good a game as he did yesterday. During the Sixers' comeback in Game 1, McDyess wasn't on the floor. I'm fully aware that's not the answer, but I'm sure it'll help, keep the game a little closer.— sixerzguy
- I'm sure everyone remembers the last game in Chicago, right? Remember the Sixers were down - who did they turn to? Jason Smith and Rodney Carney. Jason for his ability to do something, anything down low, and Rodney for his outside shooting. Does Mo have better offensive options? If the Pistons have to respect Carney, doesn't that spread the floor a little better for the Sixers?— sixerzguy
- Not just Jason, but also Reggie should get more touches down low. I thought his low post scoring was decent in Game 2. One strategy I would try is to just get to the line as much as possible. I loved what LouWill did in the 2nd half, just drawing foul after foul. How about starting that a little earlier? Let's start the parade to the line from the get-go, I want the first shot NOT to be a jumpshot, I want something where someone takes it down the lane strong and tries to draw a foul. Give the ball to Thaddeus against McDyess, over and over again, like how Detroit keeps giving the ball to Sheed against Sam. Speaking of the Haitian, I DON'T want to see a play run for Sammy. It's Game 3, first home playoff game in a while, and the first play Mo runs is something for Sam... that'd be... ugh...— sixerzguy
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About this blog
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
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