76ers: On the Warriors' loss
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76ers: On the Warriors' loss
Sitting here waiting for my flight to Phoenix and contemplating the 76ers. Sixers flew to Phoenix after last night's loss to the Golden State Warriors and they will not practice today. They'll hold a morning shootaround on Wednesday in advance of Wednesday night's game against the Suns.
Here's the injury update, as far as we know it right now: Andre Iguodala (Achilles tendinitis) is listed as day-to-day. Before last night's game, Sixers coach Doug Collins seemed hopeful that Iguodala would be available against the Suns, especially given the off day between games. No official word yet on Iguodala's status for that game. Forward Jason Kapono (strained calf) has been on the inactive list for the previous few games, even before he injured the calf on Saturday. He's day-to-day, although his activation status depends on if Iguodala plays. Lou Williams is expected to join the team in Phoenix and play tomorrow night.
Last night's loss to the Warriors was interesting for a few reasons: Basically no Marreese Speights, a struggling offensive game for Evan Turner, and absolutely no perimeter defense against the three-point line. It's difficult to say how much of the wide-open shots were a result of Iguodala's absence. It's tough to imagine that D. Wright would score 28 points if Iguodala was swarming the perimeter. Regardless, Iguodala's absence, coupled with Williams' absence, seemed to open the door for Turner, whose minutes have been limited lately. If there was any game in which Turner should have exploded offensively, this was it. Golden State isn't very good on defense and Turner could attack offensively without worrying about deferring to Iguodala or Williams. On Monday night, it seemed, we'd really get a chance to see what Evan Turner is all about.
What we saw instead was a guy who seems unable to create much offensively. He seems to be attacking the basket with the mentality that he's going to be rejected and he's shooting the perimeter shot like he expects to miss. As a result, he's getting rejected and he's missing. There's nothing wrong with Turner's effort, it just seems like he's not checked into doing the little things that make a play. At one point on the right wing, while trying to make an entry pass into the post, he couldn't even get his wrap-around bounce pass past his own defender. And then we saw that in the third quarter, Collins went with Nocioni and Craig Brackins before he went back to Turner. The worrisome part of all of this is that now that Lou is back, and now that Iguodala is likely back, Turner has kept himself in a position to play limited minutes. After what we watched on Monday night, you can't really argue that Collins needs to give Turner more than the obligatory minutes. The minutes Turner does get will be because of his status as the No. 2 pick.
As for Speights, he didn't seem overly eager to check into the game with about 2 minutes left. Speights spent the entire game sitting all the way at the end of the bench, past even Kapono, who was dressed in a suit. If that doesn't tell you exactly what Speights was anticipating from Monday night's game (i.e. he wasn't anticipating playing) then nothing will.
Losing Monday night's game was disappointing because it really was a game the Sixers should have won, even if they were shorthanded. The good thing is we'll get to see a more complete unit take the floor against the Suns.
And the road trip keeps on chugging along. Time to board this flight to Phoenix.
--Kate
Each week, Kate will check in from the road and answer fan questions about the Sixers. Click here to ask Kate a question or e-mail her at kfagan@phillynews.com.
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Kate - hope you had a nice Christmas. Keep up the good work and hope with me that things get resettled and the team gets better.
russ— russ4philly
Kate your take on the game was right along with mine. Turner will figure it out, just needs consistent minutes. Speights doesn't fit with what Collins is trying to do, as long as Meeks is producing a wee bit, Kapano is done. 6 million for that junk . Uye Uye- Kate, it is time to write the obvious truth: Evan Turner is a complete bust. Period. Another Sixers' screwup.— TheSage
Comment removed.
watched last night, and was also looking forward to seeing turner get some time, but, alas, he seems unable to place the ball in that metal ring with the string hanging from it.
i beleive he is a "shooting" guard. hmm.- Kate, great observations. I couldn't help but notice that about Speights as well. He was in that same seat the night before. If you were hoping to get in the good graces of the staff then maybe you would want to sit near the assistants so they can at least point things out during the game. He clearly isn't learning or listening and I would have to think he will be part of any package that the Sixers make. The only odd thing is that it seems like his teammates have faith him. I saw Jrue quoted the other day that he felt Speights could be a good option for the team for offense with them being shorthanded. His work ethic, maturity, and desire have been questioned since he was at Florida and clearly he hasn't grown. I wish him the best on his next stop, but if he doesn't wake up, he will find himself in the D League playing with Sean Williams.— Mattb
- What good nba player has ever been produced by a big ten team in the last twenty years? Big Dog Robinson? Turner is a nice person who is in way over his head in the nba. This years draft class may be a total bust w/the exception of Wall.— ceage
- Too early to pass judgment on Turner. I say (as Kate has said) that they need to continue to give him minutes.
Speights doesn't play because he doesn't play defense. He also doesn't like to pass. Dump him as soon as possible.
Last night notwithstanding, it is really refreshing to watch the team play defense under Collins. Phoenix is definitely beatable. I like watching them without AI2, as it gives us a look at what the team will look like after they (hopefully) trade him before the deadline...— troubledog - Repeat after me, Evan Turner is a point guard. When the rest of the league gets that message they will overpay us in trade value.
It is not a lack of patience as much as recognizing his ultimate value.— Rick Wise Guy - It was a huge opportunity wasted for Evan Turner. If he could have shown he belonged, it would have allowed the Sixers to be more aggressive re trading Dre. Turner reminds me of John Salmons...struggled early in his career but eventually found a role. Sure doesn't look like a starter anytime soon.— JBP
- As poorly as Turner played last night, and he certainly played poorly offensively, he needs more consistent minutes, which he will not get unless Iguodala takes more time off for his foot. Right now, as with many rookies, the game is going 90 mph and he looks completely out of sync, not even remotely comfortable on the court. None of the other draft picks are contributing much either, except for Wall, who has been great when on the court, but he has already missed 12 of the Wizards 29 games, a team that is 0-15 on the road; Favors gets about 19 minutes per game and has been about average for a dreadful Nets team, Cousins is a head case for a woeful Sacramento team probably about to fire its GM and coach, and is heading for the D League, and we know about Turner. Ironically, considering the glowing praise heaped on him by Doug Collins prior to the draft, Wesley Johnson has garnered quite a bit of playing time, primarily as a starter, for the equally hapless Timberwolves, but the Sixers did not need yet another tweener. Right now, Turner is not trade bait, but do the Sixers trade Iguodala without knowing whether Turner can play in the NBA and how can they find out whether he can play if he does not play?— chuckw
- What are some recent examples of highly drafted players that struggled in summer league and then their rookie season, but came back later to develop into a very good or great player?
I'm trying to be hopeful with Turner.— DeanoP44 - There clearly have been high draft picks that have taken a while to develop, but most of those ended up being solid NBA players, but rarely stars. A player like Tyson Chandler took a while to develop, but he also came out of high school. The issue with Turner is that he played three years in college, so you would expect that he should be the most ready to contribute at this level. One player who reminds me a lot of Turner's struggles was Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy had a terrible rookie year, but turned into a solid nba player, but never became a star. Michael Beasley got off to a tough start with the Heat, but now is looking like a top level player. Mike Conley is another recent high draft pick that took a while to develop. Lets hope Evan just needs time. Trying to stay positive, but early observations show a bad shot and a lack of athleticism.— Mattb
- Turner is horrible! Playing a whopping 22 minutes a game and not being able to play through mistakes and getting benched for a 45th pick who didn't play the first 10 games along with watching Meeks, Williams, Iguodala, and Jrue play through horrible games after he gets benched for one bad play or shot. I wonder why his confidence is shot? I think it is such a great idea to bench your #2 pick one of only about three guys with potential on this horrible team to win 28 games instead of 27! If you get the #2 pick your team blows...please don't let us think otherwise. Also, the Sixers were down 16-4 when Turner and Thad came in...and finished the quarter up 30-25. Then what does Collins do? Brackins!!! Come on in while Turner and Thad sit on the bench...I am beginning to think this logic isn't adding up.— TradeIggyNow
say it after me.. i miss willie and jason.. lol.— combocancer1975
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.
