Posted: Friday, May 2, 2008, 12:14 AM | 93 comments |
 

Pistons Put Sixers In Place
options
 

Some could say the 76ers finally ran out of gas. Or that the Detroit Pistons finally woke up.

Or maybe a combination of both. However the season is officially over after Thursday's 100-77 loss to the Pistons.

In reality, the Sixers probably won one more game than many (including this reporter) expected against the Pistons.

The problems that plagued the Sixers from their first game of the season in Toronto, didn't go away. They had trouble defending the pick and roll. They allowed too many wide open shots. And they didn't have a lot of success defending off the dribble.

In addition, the Sixers had difficulty executing their half-court offense. The most misleading stat of the game was that the Sixers outscored the Pistons, 21-9 in fastbreak points. Of course, 14 of those fastbreak points came in the second half, when the game was already over.

At least by losing decisively in the last 10 quarters, starting with the second half of Game 4, the Sixers won't enter the off-season with false hope.

The roster doesn't have to be totally revamped, but a minimum of one impact player at shooting guard and/or power forward has to be added.

And there will be questions whether the Sixers should upgrade at center, especially with how inconsistent Samuel Dalembert was against the Pistons.

But there is a lot of time for those questions. For now, the Sixers should be proud of the fact that they overachieved, but should also realize that the last three games of this series showed how much work the organization has to do during this offseason.

 
Posted by Marc Narducci @ 12:14 AM  Permalink | 93 comments
93
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:39 AM, 05/02/2008
    A great and unexpected season overall. This team overachieved quite a bit considering a sober look at the roster. As far the the Detroit series, we won one more game than most of us thought. That said, there is one thing that really bothered me about this team in this particular series: The stunning overall mental toughness and tenacity. Besides Reggie Evans, no one played with the necessary attitude and for this I blame Cheeks. I can't remember one hard foul or altercation. We developed no manufactured 'hatred' for the Pistons and showed them way too much respect...and yes, even love. Cheeks was often seen laughing and chatting it up with Rasheed. I think a flagrant foul (level 1) is often necessary to set the tone. The tone that says, there are no free layups in this series. We could have really gotten under their skin and maybe threw a few of them off their games. It was like a layup line out there. You can show them all the love and respect AFTER the series, but the great teams all have a cut-throat attitude during the competition. Did anyone else notice this was the only series where there were no (ZERO) altercations. Even the start-up Hawks mixed it up with Boston the other day. Stackhouse took the head off a couple of Hornets in an effort to inspire his team even as his Dallas team was going down in flames. When you are getting your butt kicked, show some pride...knock someone down and get a flagrent 1 if that's what it takes. Why are we joking with them and helping them up. Sorry for the long post but I had to get that off my chest. I still love this team overall and Cheeks as the coach...and I'm not saying we should ever play cheap or dirty. But we really could have used an enforcer in this series.
    — moonbear
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:04 AM, 05/02/2008
    Great season, terrible finish, but this schooling makes the changes Ed will try to make easier. There is no denying the strengths and weaknesses of this team and the individual players. Ed will try to bring in a major upgrade at ANY position and he has some nice pieces to use in that quest. There is no untouchable player on this roster IF you can get a major upgrade at ANY position. Closest to untouchable for me is Thaddeus. I am excited to see what the off season will bring. I believe this team will take another positive step forward next year although it may take another deal or two at the trade deadline next season. It will be very interesting how Ed goes about moving the puzzle pieces around. Thanks MO and TEAM!
    — JBP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:54 AM, 05/02/2008
    Would love to ask both Dre!s their honest opinion of Sam!s performance. Only 2 untradables to me are [Iggy and Thad]. I love A.Miller but unless Iggy is dealt we need to add shooters to this roster. Watching Detroit play makes you appreciate having everybody on the floor be a threat on the offensive end.Sam and Reggie made it 4 on 5 too much for this team on offense. Have a feeling A.Miller won!t admit it but would like to go to a team closer to winning it "now".His expiring contract adds major value to him on the market and I hope he gets a chance to win somewhere. You look up the word " class" in the dictionary and his picture is under it.
    — seude
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:16 AM, 05/02/2008
    Thanks for a great, totally unexpected season, regardless of how it ended.
    — RG
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:37 AM, 05/02/2008
    The season is over but let's put things in perspective... NO BASHING ANYONE. Did we expect make the playoffs? And for the most part we did equip ourselves well against Detroit. Remember, 59 vs 40... we did do very well. Mo and all the team should hang their heads up high for the season we have had. Anyone (ANYONE) who wants to knock this team (or anyone on the team) for what they have achieved this season should switch their support to horseshoes... no support, no respect...
    — giacometti
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:57 AM, 05/02/2008
    Suede - couldn't agree with you more. I was mystified at Sam's and Reggie's inability to finish off plays when they get the ball in the paint. For a $10MM / yr center, that play should be automatic. Unless we can get a real PF, we will continue to suffer in the paint. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS...I'm just glad to be blogging about a Sixers game in May. We should be proud that we brought out the best in the Pistons. They couldn't walk over us like a door mat. Unfortunately they realized that midway through Game 4 and played like a Champion from there on out. Considering how young our team is and how we played in the first half of the year, that's very encouraging.
    — TormentedinBeantown
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:18 AM, 05/02/2008
    For as long as we have Iggy around and playing sg our half court offense will always be stank.
    — The Greek
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:19 AM, 05/02/2008
    "The roster doesn't have to be totally revamped, but a minimum of one impact player at shooting guard and/or power forward has to be added." Guys what do you think about that statement? Now I know an "impact player" doesn't have to be a starter but to me it sounds like that means no plans to move iggy to the shooting guard position and having Thad be the small forward of the future.
    — ReclinerGM
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:31 AM, 05/02/2008
    What a fun ride it has been this season watching a team search for any kind of identity and then find one for the final third of the season. The loss last night was painful but to make the playoffs and get a pair of games against a team as solid as the Pistons speaks volumes. While much of the discussion in the near future will be about Andre Iguodala and his contract, the real issue for the Sixers is in the frontcourt. I donb't think Sam Dalembert has the goods to get the Sixers to the top of the Eastern Conference. Reggie Evans doesn't have enough offensive game to be anything more than a spot player off the bench. Jason Smith is young, skilled, and unproven re: the physical demands on an 82-game NBA schedule. It will not be as simple as signing a free agent with an inside presence. I'm also not sure that any top big man will want to come to the Sixers when the only thing they seem interested in using the bigs for is high screens and garbage around the hoop; that's not the path to an All-Star career. Which means a complete revamp of the Sixers half-court sets where they actually run plays for the 4 and the 5 is an off-season must. I really look forward to the draft this year to see what new players will be added to fill out the team and to see what direction the team may be headed.
    — SwollCracker
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:53 AM, 05/02/2008
    Thad will be the Sf, he better f'n be the sf next year! Like recliner said, we need a Pf and a SG who could actually shoot unlike the larks that we have.
    — The Greek
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:02 AM, 05/02/2008
    Also can we ship Sammy the Idiot off to some other team where he could find his role. What a magical place that would be where Sammy Idiot would bring the ball up, throw behind the back wild passes, shoot 18 foot jumpers, or wildy drive to the rim and shoot off the wrong foot. Sam, your garbage just like your hair.
    — The Greek
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:06 AM, 05/02/2008
    GM: I agree totally. The goal is to add above average players.
    — Morty_
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:07 AM, 05/02/2008
    I am loving how much criticism Sam has been getting - loving it. I also enjoy how everyone is now clamoring for a PF who can score in the post. I do remember everyone talking about CDR about a month ago. NBA basketball was played last night by Detroit - Defense, post play, jump shooting. This is how you build a team. Start in the post, and work your way out. A solid PG who can penetrate and get players open shots - and players who can knock them down. It is obviously not that easy to put together, but this is how it should be done. It also helps to have smart players, who know where they should be at all times - this is partly coaching, partly focus by the players. We have money and a mid first rounder and trading chips (Miller) - this should get us some of the things we need - don't draft guys from the Senegal who don't know the game and who are raw, we don't have the time to develop them or the money to resign them while they are still developing (i.e Sammy). We have a lot of flexibility this off-season - lets see what Ed will do.
    — hugh
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:12 AM, 05/02/2008
    Hugh: Of course you are loving it! We have a lot of flexibility this off-season, and we also have some pieces in place. I'm of the opinion that if the Sixers add 2 quality players, 1 forward and 1 guard, to the roster, it's then a question of how much the young players improve over the summer.
    — Morty_
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:12 AM, 05/02/2008
    Hugh: Of course you are loving it! We have a lot of flexibility this off-season, and we also have some pieces in place. I'm of the opinion that if the Sixers add 2 quality players, 1 forward and 1 guard, to the roster, it's then a question of how much the young players improve over the summer.
    — Morty_


93 comments | View All Comments | View All By Latest
View comments: 1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  | 
About John Mitchell
John Mitchell is in his first 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.

Follow on Twitter

Advertise Here