THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
We're about 45 minutes from the tip of the 76ers second game of the season, this one against the New York Knicks.
The big news coming out of the Wachovia Center is that new Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni placed Knicks star point guard (well, he used to be their star point guard) Stephon Marbury on the Inactive List. D'Antoni's reasoning: He just didn't have enough minutes for Marbury, and the minutes he did have, he thought might insult the $22 million/year guard.
Marbury was chillin' in the Knicks locker room before the game. And I say "chillin'" because that's what he was doing. He was dressed in black converse sneaks, jeans, and what looked like a cowboy button down. (Great details, I know.) He was talkative and upbeat.
D'Antoni said he and Marbury came to the conclusion, together, that Marbury should be inactive. Said D'Antoni: "Until something changes, he'll be inactive."
From the Sixers locker room: Marreese Speights is active for tonight's game, Theo Ratliff is inactive.
Sixers head coach Maurice Cheeks said the Knicks' size and quickness (smaller and faster than Toronto) was the reason for the swap.
I spoke with Speights a few minutes ago. Speights said he "wanted to play the first game."
Added Speights: "I'm anxious to get out there."
Speights learned he would be active tonight not from Cheeks, but from an assistant coach. Ever the well-spoken rookie, Speights said he did learn about the speed of a regular-season NBA game from watching the season opener against the Raptors.
Tonight's game should be high scoring. Both the Knicks (with run-and-gun D'Antoni in charge now) and the Sixers want to push the ball in transition.
"I don't mind it being a high-scoring game," Cheeks said. "As long as we score more."
Ahhhhhh ... Isn't this always the case?
--Kate
post-script: I think the Phillies hysteria is officially over. We've been laying low, letting the crazy storm pass. Has it passed? Did it pass with today's city-wide party? Starting Monday (because I keep forgetting we can't do Live Chats on the weekend), we will attempt to return Deep Sixer to its previous glory (this statement humored me).
Photo: That's Mike D'Antoni on the Knicks bench with Italian superstar, and Knicks top draft pick, Danilo Gallinari.
It wasn't what the city expected from these new-look 76ers. They expected more half-court offense, better defense, improved shooting.
(But, really, whom are we kidding? The city's eyes were, and still are, on the Phillies. We'll wait out the wave of hysteria through tomorrow's parade down Broad St.)
Instead, what filled the Wachovia Center last night (a 95-84 loss to the Toronto Raptors) looked more like the Sixers from last November, than the NBA team that made the most waves this off-season.
But it's only the first game. After the game, head coach Maurice Cheeks was disappointed, but it's only one of 82 games. Cheeks said it was the defense and shooting that most concerned him.
1.) The Defense: It wasn't the 95 points allowed. That's not even that high of a number. It was the quality of shots the Raptors managed to get the last three quarters. And the quality of shots (Jason Kapono ... Jason Kapono! ... wide open) at the end of the game. Last season, a big problem for the Sixers was allowing open 3-point shots. This was also the problem last night. The Raptors were 10 for 16 (62.5 percent).
Another problem with the defense: It didn't create enough transition opportunities. The Sixers need to score more easy buckets (we all saw what happened in the stagnant half-court sets).
2.) Shooting (specifically from beyond the arc): Yikes. It looked good in the beginning. The first possession, Andre Miller dished to Thaddeus Young in the left corner. Young made the shot. The Sixers started 4 for 10 in the first half, which is solid, if not remarkable. They finished the game 5 for 20 (25 percent). This 1 for 10 effort in the second half was crucial to burying the team. What was particularly worrisome was the way in which some of these threes were taken: they felt desperate.
But, going forward -- and forward comes quickly, with another home game tomorrow night against the Knicks -- Cheeks said these aspects will be improved. I agree. While I don't think the Sixers are going to be a great outside shooting team, I don't think they should, again, be the league's worst. Lou Williams is better than 2 for 7, Andre Iguodala is better than 0 for 5 (perhaps he should only be shooting, at most, two a game?).
The Knicks are coming into the Wachovia Center undefeated. And even though that undefeated record is 1-0, these are the Knicks about which we're talking! I must harp upon anything positive.
The Sixers are currently practicing at PCOM. They watched film from about 11 a.m. to noon. We're going to hold off on any more Live Chats until the craziness of the Phillies washes through with tomorrow's victory parade (read: next chat will be Saturday from Atlanta).
Inactive List: Will Speights remain on the inactive list? That would be surprising. The Sixers must submit the list an hour before tomorrow's tip-off. I think tomorrow we'll see an active Speights, an inactive Donyell Marshall. Also, Royal Ivey will serve the last of a three-game suspension.
Until tomorrow (or perhaps later) ...
--Kate
The 76ers just confirmed that rookie Marreese Speights will be on the Inactive List for tonight's season opening game against the Toronto Raptors.
Speights had an impressive preseason, starting the last preseason game against the New Jersey Nets. Cheeks did not speak further about the decision to deactive Speights.
Also, Royal Ivey is serving the second game of a three-game suspension incurred last season. Ivey will not be in the arena tonight or on Friday.
The Sixers will have 11 eligible players.
Here are the offensive points as listed on the Sixers' pre-game whiteboard: Push the ball, execute, spacing, set screens to get people open, attack basket don't settle for jumpers, take care of the ball, throw ahead, swing the basketball.
I probably won't list those every pre-game because, I think you'd find, they're often the same.
Tonight's starters: point guard Andre Miller, shooting guard Andre Iguodala, small forward Thaddeus Young, power forward Elton Brand, center Sam Dalembert.
Photos: The first photo is Donyell Marshall taking some 3-pointers from the top of the key. The second is Jose Calderon, whom many of you might remember from the Spanish National team that played in the Beijing Olympics this summer ... and gave the U.S. a very tough game.
Cheeks on opening night: "I don't necessarily get crazy. I think players are more into the first game because they've been practicing. We all realize it's one of many games."
Be back later ...
--Kate
The 76ers held shootaround this morning at PCOM (see photo for PCOM banner). Also starring in the photo with the PCOM banner is rookie center Marreese Speights.
Here are your starters, not shockingly, for tonight's season opening game against the Toronto Raptors (remember, 6 p.m. start to allow all Philadelphians to attend both the Sixers game and watch the Philllies in Game 5):
PG: Andre Miller
SG: Andre Iguodala
SF: Thaddeus Young
PF: Elton Brand
C: Sam Dalembert
Head Coach Maurice Cheeks said the final decision on the Inactive List will come exactly an hour before tip-off (per NBA regulations).
Quick hit: The Raptors are known for effectively using the pick-and-roll, which happens to be a lingering deficiency in the Sixers' defensive efforts. Cheeks said the team has been working on pick-and-roll defense all week. Obviously, it isn't just the Raptors who use this offense effectively, it's most of the NBA. Some coaches have one philosophy when it comes to stopping a pick-and-roll, and their teams use the same method (i.e. trap the ballhandler coming off the pick, show hard and recover, have the defender slip behind the pick with no help ... ) regardless of the skills which the ballhandler possesses. Cheeks said his philosophy is to play the pick-and-roll dependent on who is coming off the screen.
We'll chat more about all things Sixers in a few hours. If you have some time around 2 p.m., that's when we'll chat. Here's the link: Sixers Chat.
Be back soon ...
-- Kate
In honor of Opening Night (and with a slight nod to Phillies hysteria, yet plugging forth and carrying on the Live Chat tradition) we'll be holding a Live Chat today at 2 p.m.
76ers open the regular season tonight at home against the Toronto Raptors at 6 p.m. We have plenty of topics to cover: Royal Ivey's suspension, Thad Young's back, the Inactive List ...
So. 2 p.m. If you have a few minutes and you'd like to join, click here: Sixers Chat.
-- Kate
Here is the official release from the 76ers about tomorrow's season opener against the Toronto Raptors:
Philadelphia, Pa. – Oct. 28, 2008 – The Philadelphia 76ers today officially moved the start time of their home opener against the Toronto Raptors at the Wachovia Center on Wednesday, October 29 to 6:00 p.m. (from the scheduled 7:00 p.m. time) in anticipation of a World Series game being played at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex on Wednesday, October 29.
The Sixers had their last practice (not of the season, but before the opener) this morning at PCOM ...
1.) Thaddeus Young practiced. He'll be ready to play tomorrow, and I would expect him in the starting lineup with Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, and Sam Dalembert. If Cheeks decided to start someone else, it looked as if that someone else would be Kareem Rush, thus bumping Iguodala to small forward.
2.) Marreese Speights: The NBA released Opening Day rosters with Speights on the Inactive List. This can be changed by the Sixers before tomorrow night's tip-off.
3.) Guard Royal Ivey will serve the second of a three-game suspension tomorrow night. He will not be allowed at the arena, but he must be on the active roster.
4.) Consensus was that today's practice was one of, if not the, best of the preseason.
I'm going to do my best to organize a Live Chat for tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. If not for the season opener, then when? Yes, the Phillies will be playing (see top of blog), but I'm thinking we can make this happen.
Until tomorrow ...
-- Kate
post script: Oh yeah, the photo. How could I have forgotten? That's Andre Miller posing with a woman from a contingent from Greece and Cyprus. Miller is standing in front of "The Gun," which is a rebounding machine. Miller shot for an extra hour after this morning's practice.
With the start of the NBA season one day away (read: season opens tomorrow night). The NBA released each team's Opening Day roster.
The Sixers Active List: Elton Brand, Samuel Dalembert, Reggie Evans, Theo Ratliff, Willie Green, Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller, Kareem Rush, Donyell Marshall, Royal Ivey, Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams.
Inactive List: Jason Smith, Marreese Speights.
Yup, you heard it here first ... Or maybe you didn't. But Speights *could* start on the Inactive List. The Sixers can change this roster before tomorrow's home opener against the Raptors.
(Note: This is my mistake to post earlier that Speights was a definite on the Inactive List. The NBA released Opening Day Rosters and it was my assumption that these were the solidified rosters for opening day. The Sixers can, and likely will, shift players around tomorrow.)
If Speights were inactive it would come as a surprise (to me at least ... check out previous blog). Also of note, Ivey is suspended for the first two games of the season because of a three-game suspension he received with one game left last season. Ivey must be on the Active List while serving the suspension. Technically, the Sixers will have 11 eligible players for the first two games of the season.
I tried, in vain, to fix the tabbing to post the complete list of opening day rosters on the blog. I couldn't. Here is the entire list of NBA Opening Day Rosters, as posted on insidehoops.com (It pains me to link you away from Deep Sixer): NBA Rosters.
Until tomorrow ...
-- Kate
This morning, the 76ers held their second-to-last practice before Wednesday's season opener. I know we posted the potential time change, but let's reiterate: If the Phillies go to a Game 6, Wednesday's game against the Toronto Raptors will be bumped up an hour to 6 p.m.
Here are some details coming from PCOM (One more time: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine).
1.) This isn't breaking news, only a reminder: Guard Royal Ivey will be unavailable for Wednesday's opener due to a three-game suspension he earned at the end of last season. Ivey sat out the last season's finale, but must serve the remainder of the suspension this season. Ivey will be back for the Nov. 1 game at Atlanta. According to NBA News, Ivey's suspension came for "punching Bulls center Aaron Gray in the groin." (Um ... ouch?) Ivey will not be allowed in the arena and will count against the Sixers' 12 active players. That is to say, head coach Maurice Cheeks will still need to place one of his 12 healthy players on the inactive list for Wednesday's game.
After practice this morning, Ivey said of last year's incident: "That’s something I have to deal with. I made a mistake last year, and I have to serve it out. I made a mistake, got ahead of myself, and caught up in the moment. It won’t happen again."
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