Sixers Make Pistons & Predictors Look Bad
After checking with the NBA office, it's now official, this reporter's pick of Detroit beating the 76ers in five games can't happen.
The Sixers made sure of foiling that prediction with Friday's 95-75 pounding of the Pistons to take a two ga
Sixers Make Pistons & Predictors Look Bad
After checking with the NBA office, it's now official, this reporter's pick of Detroit beating the 76ers in five games can't happen.
The Sixers made sure of foiling that prediction with Friday's 95-75 pounding of the Pistons to take a two games to one lead in their best of seven series.
It helped to be energied by the crowd, but the Sixers also made the Pistons look like a tired, old team.
Detroit has the capability to come back in this series, but not if the Pistons don't show more energy.
All the talk this series was how the Sixers would struggle in the half-court offense.
Well, Detroit missed 17 consecutive field goal attempts beginning early in the third quarter.
The Sixers made the Pistons look their age, which is old. While Andre Iguodala continues to struggle with his shot, the Pistons Chauncey Billups isn't faring much better. Billups, a notorious Sixers-killer, shot just 2 for 11 and is shooting just 30.8 percent for the series.
It's surprising to see a Pistons team that prides itself on taking care of the ball, commit 25 turnovers.
Considering how dominant Detroit was in Wednesday's 105-88 win, this may have been one of the Sixers most impressive victories.
It also was their best defensive effort of the season.
And now the Sixers are likely laughing at all who picked the Pistons in five. And those who made those picks, deserve any jeers for once again underestimating the will and ability of the surprising Sixers.
Comments (56)
Everyone needs to take a step back with Igoudala. Despite his poor offensive play, the Sixers are up 2-1. Let's let the rest of the playoff run play out before killing his eternal future value. Mo needs to tell him what he is ding wrong because he keeps doing it. If he took the ball and rove hard without the dribbling around stuff, he would be ding a lot better.— Morty_- I have to say it now...I love being right!! When Marc asked for predictions on the series, I said they could win more than one game. Unfortunately I think that this may be all and that makes me sad. The Pistons now know they aren't playing some push over. I applaud the Sixers for coming back after being humiliated in game 2 and dishing it right back out to Detroit but if there's one thing we've seen over the years with this Detroit team it is this...it's time for them to play basketball with a hair on fire urgency. Don't be surprised if the Sixers lose the next 3 and get blown out in game 4. I wish them all the luck in the world as I'd love to see them pull that gigantic upset!!— cg
- This format stinks. Sorry for the typos.— Morty_
- Morty - obviously you have more patiences than I do, but what do you think Cheeks and the rest of the coaching staff is saying to him? "Keep doing what you're doing Andre?" I can't believe that. Which begs the question what is going through his head right now? Because either he isn't listening (big problem if that's the case) or he lost his mind and his game somewhere between the end of the regular season and the beginning of this series. When he drove last night he turned the ball over so that isn't working very well either. I am at a lost with Iggy right now I really am. I feel for him because I think he is lost too.— ReclinerGM
- GM: I think the talk about Igoudala to SG, and his problems against Prince, comes from the fact that he is actually an undersized SF. 6'6" is kinda short for a SF, but pretty well sized for a SG. If I'm Mo, I'm trying to find ways to get Prince off Igoudala either through screens or what. I'm not seeing that. I'm seeing too many iso type plays run for Igoudala against Prince, and we def agree that those are not his strength.— Morty_
- I crack on Green, but he displayed a lot of smarts last night by realizing that his shot was not going down, and for once, not continuing to jack it up. Only 5 shots in 22 minutes for Green, as he looked to push it on the break, but not force it in the half court game. Nice one.— Morty_
- Recliner GM: How likely do you think it is that Iggy will accept being demoted to the 2nd or 3rd option regularly? Since the original AI was traded, all appearances are that Iggy was being groomed/developed to be the go-to guy. All season long in the 4th quarter of close games what did the Sixers do? Give Iggy the ball at the top of the key, clear everyone else out, let him pound the ball to run the clock, then, with 8 seconds left on the 24, try to break his man down 1 on 1 and create something. Over and over again they put the ball in his hands at crunch time and basically said "You are our #1, we will win or lose with you controlling our offense over the last few crucial possessions of the game". To me, that is sending a pretty clear message to a player. Now you think the Sixers should go against what they've told him the entire season, tell him to defer to other players, and make him the 2nd or 3rd option. I'm not saying I disagree with you or that I think Iggy can develop into the #1 on this team and the offense should run through him. I just don't think it is very likely that Iggy will accept that situation. He is saying all the right things now about believing in his teammates and that he doesn't need to score to be effective and he may actually mean it now in the short-term. I just think he believes he has been growing into a #1 little by little over the last few years and he will not accept this development being stunted by the organization, especially considering he is looking for max dollars.— bski
- Morty - I agree with that. I think the coaches need to take some of the blame for Iguodala's poor play. He isn't a true scorer at all meaning he isn't particular great at anything from shooting, to moving without the ball to creating a shot off the dribble and I don't think strategically they are putting him in good situations to be successful. The way they are getting him the ball it looks like they believe he is a good scorer that is a huge flaw in judgment and player evaluation. Having played basketball for a long time I could go on and on about what the Sixers should be doing - but after 3 games it's probably a mute point because I don't see any changes to the offense coming.— ReclinerGM
- bski - I think it is very likely if Iggy is all about one thing - winning. Winners do whatever it takes, so if that means they defer then they defer. If he has an advantage to score then he takes it. They do whatever it takes to win. But understand go to guys don't have to defer why, because they can get a good shot on anyone, in any situation. That is why they are go-to guys. Iguodala is proving not to be. ------------- You're right many times they put the ball in his hands end of games this season, but 1. how many times did he toss up a terrible, terrible jumper or off-balanced driving shot? 2. did you also notice how many times they didn't? I been keeping an eye on this and mentioned it a few times in passing but often when Lou Williams was also in the game late in the 4th quarter they were giving Lou the ball at the top of the key to be the go-to guy. And note he didn't really have a huge offensive advantage either. That would never, ever happen with a true #1 go-to guy. ----------------------- Further, we all agree the playoffs are what really matter right? This is the first time the Sixers have to evaluate these guys in this pressure-filled all or nothing situations. And if he continues to prove he is not capable of getting it done during the real "money time" then the Sixers need to do what is best for the club as a whole. Just my opinion.— ReclinerGM
- first comment on the new version of the blog Marc, I made a 4-1 Pistons prediction as well, I think we both have to keep on, it brings good luck !!! My next prediction is that Detroit will win the next three games, eheheheheh— Ricky - Sixers4guidos
- GM: No doubt that Igoudala is not that type of player, and the Sixers are doing themselves a disservice by treating him like that. But all indications are that Igoudala is not a selfigh player, and a young guy with his talent who is not selfish is rare to come by. I understand you are not in the "dump him" camp so that is good. We are in the very begning stages f becoming a quality team, and who knows what players will be added and/or step up their play. I goudala seems like a quality character who will not demand a certain type of play when the team will do better in other ways (i.e. Iverson). Besides this series has at least 3, probably 4 games left in it. Let him stink it up for the 3-4 games and then come to conclusions— Morty_
- Weird, my post praising Willie G was lost. Seriously.— Morty_
- I think Iguodala deserves a break. Down the stretch he was phenomenal and there's no way we are at this point without him. Sure, he's put up a few stinkers but I'm confident he will turn it around. My only real complaint about him this series is that sometimes he is forcing his shot too much... I really think the Sixers win tomorrow. Last night was different than Game One... Just bought tickets for tomorrow's game. Can not wait...— JYurk
- ReclinerGM and others: I think you're being WAY too harsh on Iguodala's offensive game. If he were as bad as you make him out to be in the halfcourt, he would have averaged 12 ppg on 40% shooting instead of 20 ppg on 46% (50% 2-pt, 33% 3-pt). Check the detailed shooting stats at http://www.82games.com/FGSORT7.HTM. While he isn't great at jump shooting (38% 2-pt shots), it might surprise you to see that several other "better" shooters aren't that great either: Kobe 41.5, Ray Allen 41.2, Pierce 40.8, Anthony 40.4, Stojakovic 39.2, Turkoglu 39.0. And you're completely leaving out that Iguodala is one of the best open-court players in the NBA. He was #5 in the entire league (and #1 among small forward/guards) in dunks and among the top 5 small forwards in "inside shots" percentage. Now you might argue that one can't rely on dunks or open court play to win games, but that has to be considered when evaluating a player's offensive arsenal. (NEW PARAGRAPH) Regarding his halfcourt decision-making, I disagree even more that he's not a good decision-maker. He set a career high this year with an excellent (for a forward/shooting guard) 1.83 assist-to-turnover ratio, and he's easily the best Sixer at penetrating and kicking for open jumpers or dishing for dunks. (As good as Miller is, that is not a part of his game.) If you don't think the Pistons had noticed that and factored that into their decision to focus their defense on him, you haven't been watching the Sixers closely enough this year. (NEW PARAGRAPH) And ReclinerGM: I think you've got too selective a memory when evaluating Iguodala's end-of-game performance. I'll name you four games off the top of my head where he delivered down the stretch this year: at Memphis (buzzer beater), at Miami (clinched the game in OT with isolation move), New Jersey (drew fouls and hit free throws), at Boston (clinching jump shot). Were there times when he failed? Sure, but it wasn't as often as you make it out to be.— Statman
- Thank you Statman! How was the other AI at the end of games? I remeber maybe 1 buzzer beater? Let's ease up on Iggy and let this play out. He has time in this series and maybe the next to shift this sentiment. Let's wait for his entire body of work this year. By the way, pass the swedish meatballs dear................— sfw
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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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