Sixers Can't Run On Empty Against Pistons
The 76ers will be distributing 20,000 t-shirts for fans at tonight's Game 3 with the Detroit Pistons that say "Run with us." Now the question is whether the Detroit Pistons will allow the runnning to occur?
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Sixers Can't Run On Empty Against Pistons
The 76ers will be distributing 20,000 t-shirts for fans at tonight's Game 3 with the Detroit Pistons that say "Run with us." Now the question is whether the Detroit Pistons will allow the runnning to occur?
The Pistons ability to shut down the Sixers transition game was one of the reasons they won so handily on Wednesday, 105-88. The Sixers had just one fastbreak point in the first half, when they trailed by 17 points.
The Sixers were forcing one shot after another and never got into an offensive rhythm.
Coach Maurice Cheeks has emphasized the importance of getting easy baskets in transition. Yet Detroit rarely allows easy baskets. In the opening 90-86 win, the Sixers earned 16 fastbreak points. For a Pistons team that allowed 9.6 fastbreak points per game during the regular season, that was good production for the Sixers.
Without those easy baskets, Andre Iguodala has been struggling, relying too much on his jumper. He has had to shoot the jumper over the long-armed Tayshaun Prince and the results haven't been pleasant. Iguodala is shooting 5 for 24 and he remains the key in this series. Yes, the Pistons did a good job of slowing down Andre Miller with a variety of traps in Game 2, but the biggest key is for Iguodala to get untracked on offense.
Now the Sixers have to adjust, which means Iguodala could be handling the ball more in the open court. And if he could get a few easy baskets early in transition, that would give the Sixers some needed momentum.
Cheeks preached before the postseason that it would be more difficult to get in the running game in the playoffs, but he said the Sixers wouldn't be backing off.
So the Sixers will continue to try to run because the option of attempting to win while primarily executing their half-court offense, isn't the best way to go about beating the Pistons.
Sixerzguy, What it is , is we are Detroit when they were in their early 20!s without the big reputations yet. If we get a smart, stay at home 4,[E.Brand] then we should be able to defend the perimeter better. Hey, we will find that out, maybe, in the next series; hopefully!!— seude- Greek, I'm with suede in that patience is needed with Iguodala. Definitely don't overpay, and agree that he's showing his offensive limitations, but I'm sure there's a role for him, a groove he needs to find. But what he's obviously trying to do - be like Kobe or LeBron - that's definitely not what he should be doing... Suede, based on these playoff games alone, what kind of personnel change do you think would help the Sixers the most? I'm still thinking we pry Vujacic away from the Lakers somehow. datruth4life, I know you out there reading, come on back...— sixerzguy
- Morty, did you get Willie!s autograph ?— seude
- Last one for the night, just some feel-good reading from TrueHoop: http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-32-118/Liveblogging-Sixers-vs--Pistons.html— sixerzguy
- Sixerzguy, Everybody has an incomplete grade thus far. Things change from game to game, look at the varying opinions on this blog. If Rodney stinks up the place Sunday and Teusday, who knows. Jason from L.A. said Vucicic is a turnover machine, he has seen him a lot. After the eastern finals, just kidding, we will have some good G.M.ING,— seude
- Great game. Can't wait to be there Sunday when we go up 3-1.— ReclinerGM
- suede: Willie played very well in the 2nd half, started concentrating on his fast break opportunities. Played tough. I sit on the opposite side from the bench so not many autograph situations. Lou was high fiving fans after the buzzer. At this moment, it's hard to see this group losing 3 in a row to Detroit. This series might just go 7.— Morty_
- Sixerzguy - what it is is effort and a no back down mentality. In the NBA everyone is good, they are pros, but when the perceived lesser team plays as hard as possible for 48 minutes while the more skilled team is half assing it you get a 20-point blowout like we saw tonight. Sheed looked like he didn't feel like playing at all. Must have been that down home Philly home cooking. And what is up with Billups? He looks like the no name dude he was back in his earlier career years.— ReclinerGM
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.
