Sixers Won't Depart Quietly
It's hard to find anybody who feels the Sixers can extend their playoff series to a seventh game.
The fans don't seem to be too excited about things, especially since as of late Wednesday, only 12,500 tickets were sold for the game.
If
Sixers Won't Depart Quietly
It's hard to find anybody who feels the Sixers can extend their playoff series to a seventh game.
The fans don't seem to be too excited about things, especially since as of late Wednesday, only 12,500 tickets were sold for the game.
If the Sixers have done nothing else this year, they have at least earned respect for never quitting. And if their season ends on Thursday against the Pistons, it probably will be because they were beaten by the better team.
What would be surprising is if the Sixers bow out meekly. They have scrapped all season and while they looked tired and demoralized in Tuesday's 98-81 win, their history suggests that they can bounce back.
That doesn't mean they can win the game, but it would be surprising if they don't put out a first-rate effort.'
As for winning, they need a better performance from Samuel Dalembert. While so much attention has been paid to the struggles of Andre Iguodala, Dalembert has been outplayed this series by Rasheed Wallace.
Another key will be getting a spark off the bench. And in that respect one of the few promising signs from Tuesday's loss was the play of Lou Wililams, who had 16 points and shot 6 for 9. Williams is now 9 for 14 in his last two games and he has adjusted to the physical play of the series and how defenders aren't making it easy for him to get to the basket.
Most of all, it's interesting to hear coach Maurice Cheeks talk about the Sixers' need to defend the screen and roll better Haven't we been hearing that all season?
While getting off to a good start is sometimes overrated, the Sixers must have it happen in Game 6. The last game was lost in the first quarter when the Sixers fell behind 35-21 and never recovered.
The Detroit players have talked about the importance of knocking the Sixers out now and not allowing this series to extend to seven games.
The Pistons seem determined, but the Sixers have surprised observers all season. They are built on grit and determination and those qualities don't allow a team to simply fold. Which is why the feeling persists that nothing will come easy for the Pistons in Game 6, while the possibility of a Game 7 can't be discounted, although few seem to believe it can happen.
Marc, it!s funny you mention Sam, I just commented about him on the last blog. This last game could, if they get manhandled, leave a bad taste in the team!s and fan!s mouths. Don!t like the glowing praise given Pistons by players and coach. I!ts almost like they didn!t have a shot but they do.Hope they finish, win or lose, with best"effort" of the year. I picked Det. in 7 before the series started and I hope they prove me wrong.— seude- Marc, it's not about effort, we know the Sixers will try hard, they have no quit, blah blah blah... What's gotten the fans down is that Mo has made no adjustments whatsoever to what the Pistons are doing to us. I'll reiterate something I mentioned earlier - after losing Game 4, did we do anything different in Game 5? No. I bet the Pistons' practice was really light today. I bet Jason Maxiell fell asleep while watching game tape. It's not about FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! It's about using your head, and the Sixers have shown that they don't. Underdogs win not because they don't give up, but because they out-strategized their bigger, badder, and better opponent.— sixerzguy
- Sam's shy. Wanted to have his head examined. Didn't know how else to go about it. Unbelievable. After 6 years of on-the-job training, his most determined game 5 effort was a spectacle haircut. 4, 6, -26 +/-. And only 60 million. Except for lax effort in game 3, Wallace has toyed with him, and stuck dagger in Sixers twice. Dalembert should play better in Wachovia cocoon but his essence was on display at The Palace. Goofball.— jjg
- I wonder about the struggles of Andre Miller this series, and significance for future, if any. While all players should be given leeway, his last 2 give me pause. Maybe he's exhausted from 87.— jjg
- The Sixers won't quit I don't think anyone believes that, the question is have the Detroit Pistons figure us out?— ReclinerGM
- Someone made a comment on my blog (www.reclinergm.com) that I completely agree with: "If you want to stop the Sixers, all you have to do is stop Andre Miller. It looks like Detroit figured that out..." The Sixers have proven their ability to win without Iggy but Miller had by far his worst game of the series and the Sixers were never in it. If you noticed Detroit almost effortlessly went under every screen and role involving Andre Miller and he didn't have open lanes to penetrate and he forced it a bit. The thing Miller did so well was get very good and open shots. In game 5 Detroit seemed to take the open ones away and Miller took a lot more contested shots than he normally does. Without the threat of him pulling up behind the screen for 3 I think that is the best way to defend him and Detroit figured that out last game.— ReclinerGM
- RecGM, I think they have. They came into the series thinking Ig was the guy to stop, and now they've realized that Miller is the motor behind this team. He has been consistently scoring in bunches over the last half of the season- during their last 20-30 games. Miller's ability to score and pass has been integral in most of their wins. Ig's been dogged by Prince. I think that Ig had better looks because of Detroit's focus on Miller last game. jjg- Sam's really showed us last game that he's lost. He said this afternoon on the interview on WIP that he doesn't know his role. It took him this many years in the NBA, 60 mil, and a 5th game in the first round of playoffs to determine that much.— xing
- "Sam does not know his role?" We heard that before. That is pathetic! Does he realize how dumb that makes him sound. Sam has to be a bit of a head case. On another point, I do expect a strong team performance next game because Miller will adjust -- he does not need Mo to tell him what to do.— gba
- ReclinerGM, I agree with Miller quote too. How many times this season when Sixers were sagging did he will them back into games with penetration, resulting in a bucket or foul shots, or his line drive 12-15 footer? To counter, ya gotta jump him with double team, take ball out of his hands. From there, Sixers' good decision-making wanes. xing & gba, Listening to Dalembert chatter reinforces disbelief; he's delusional.— jjg
- Jumpin, I don!t think Iggy and A.Miller backcourt can work and if one of them have to go it is probably A.Miller[ 8 years older]. A.Miller needs spot up shooter and Iggy needs pt. with range on his shot. If A.Miller goes we lose about 60 % of our "smarts".— seude
- I'm with you guys. Dalembert is a major head case. During their great stretch back in February-March he talked about how he wasn't having any fun out on the floor. Huh? This season he has averaged a career high in minutes per game but about a month ago he complained about being yanked in and out of games and being uncertain about his minutes. Okay then. Almost to a man the players laud Cheeks for letting them play through mistakes but recently Sam talked about looking over his shoulder toward the bench while playing worried about being pulled out for making a mistake. Right. Dalembert makes a handful of boneheaded plays almost every game, yet I've seen Cheeks leave him out there over and over again. I certainly would have yanked him, but Cheeks didn't. Now, after 6 years, he says he doesn't know what his role is. Great. How can we possibly count on this space cadet to be our anchor in the middle?— bski
- suede, Good points regarding respective needs of AM & AI. Don't like Iguodala at SG; not a natural there. ES revamping roster with bold moves would excite rather than bother me. Sixers try, but the collection is wanting. Big guy with presence and a pure shooter please! Miller is a wily vet, knows his way "around town."— jjg
- bski, re Sam as anchor: One can't & one shouldn't. But invite him to your party for sparks & comic relief.— jjg
- You figure the Pistons would play better defense at some point just due to better effort/figuring out that you just have to clamp down on Miller to kill the Sixers offense mojo most times down the floor. What I have been disappointed in is the weak effort by the Sixers on the defense-end of the floor the past 2 games. No adjustments by Cheeks or the players on the floor (love how the Pistons run the high-screen on multiple possessions in a row yet still have a ton of open looks), wide-open shots galore (really high number of open jumpers beyond 12 feet it seems), and lack of intensity down low even from Evans. Yeah, the Sixers need to pick it up on the offensive end but if they play defense this poor in Game 6 it won't matter.— MG77
- MG77, Some say it's pick your poison against balanced Pistons. I agree with you, it's turn it up a notch or two defensively. Even great players games can be altered through pressure and uncertainty. D, D, & more D!— jjg
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.
