A step toward worrisome
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A step toward worrisome
Minutes after Monday night's overtime loss to the Utah Jazz, 76ers coach Doug Collins used phrases like "concerned," and, "terrible," and "frustrated," and "not liking what I see." For so much of the game, the Sixers looked disinterested and disengaged. Their saving grace on this night was their swarming comeback in the final few minutes (Sixers were down 21 in the first half and 15 early in the fourth quarter) to take the lead with just over 1 minute remaining in regulation, an effort that ensured this wouldn't be the second blowout loss in three nights and also an effort that fended off the impending panic of, "What's wrong with the Sixers?!"
But what tonight's loss left us with is now two things: concern over the initial bland performance and concern over the team's inability, once again, to close out this game at the end. Jodie Meeks missed the second of two free throws, giving the Jazz possession with about 11 seconds left and facing only a two-point deficit. The Sixers then allowed perhaps the easiest bucket of the game, a little layup off of a curl cut by C.J. Miles with about 9 seconds left. Collins gave the ball to Andre Iguodala, who played very well in the fourth quarter, but missed what would have been the game-winning jumper at the buzzer. In overtime, Iguodala was not as effective and the Sixers played from behind the entire five minutes.
This morning at shoot around, both Collins and team president Rod Thorn addressed the players, both talking about how nothing as yet been achieved this season. It's in hand, it's there, but it's not yet theirs. Also, Thorn said he talked about going after the sixth seed and how the team isn't yet out of the running for the fifth seed. It felt like both guys -- Collins and Thorn -- weren't in the slightest concerned about Saturday's 28-point loss to the Miwaukee Bucks, nor should they have been concerned. But through the first three quarters tonight, the Sixers did not look like the team we've seen the last 55 games. They looked, quite frighteningly, like the team we saw the first 16 games.
Collins lit into his guys early and often. He thought they were playing soft, ambivalent, as if they felt they could now shift into cruise control and pick up victories. Collins reminded them that if they don't play hard, they're not a good team. End of story.
"I was very frustrated," Collins said. "I told our guys, early in the game, I said, 'I don’t even know why we have a walk thru if you’re just going to give the team 30 points in the first quarter ... if we don’t give great effort, we’re no good. We’re not going to go out there and Cadillac into a nice little win."
Added Collins: "I told our guys, ‘If you don’t play hard, I’m going to find somebody that will.’"
Moreso than any night this season, Collins was visible disappointed with his team's play and effort. He said the only difference in the fourth quarter was that they decided to start playing hard. That roaring comeback went a long way toward increasing confidence that the team's play the last few days is just a little dip due to scheduling and fatigue, nothing more, nothing that will threaten for the remaining 15 games of the regular season.
A few observations:
*Jrue Holiday was absolutely picked apart by Devin Harris. Holiday could not slow him down in transition, or even when Harris grabbed the inbounds pass after a made basket. Holiday got stripped by C.J. Watson at halfcourt in what was a crucial possession late in the game. Collins pulled him after that turnover, but reinsterted him only moments later. This seems to be the second such dip in Holiday's play this season (the other a few games before the all-star break) and the last time he responded well.
*Collins started the second half by using Iguodala as the point-forward. The Sixers immediaitely responded, opening the half with a nice run that made sure this game wouldn't turn into a blowout.
*Sixers had no answer for Utah's Al Jefferson. This guy always seems to kill them (he did last year at Minnesota, too). Marreese Speights tried to guard him, Spencer Hawes did, Elton Brand, even Tony Battie. When the opposition has a guy like Jefferson, the Sixers are behind the eight ball.
Injury update: In the locker room after the game, Brand had both hands and both knees wrapped in ice. The Sixers and Collins say Brand is totally fine, but this seems like something on which to keep an eye. Iguodala looked gimpy in the first half of the game, wearing a sleeve on his knee that we haven't seen before. After the game, he was on the training table getting evaluted. Later, the Sixers annonced he has right knee chondromalacia (irritation on the underside of the kneecap) and is listed as day-to-day.
--Kate
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Does this team look tired? Their jump shots look flat, not finishing at the basket and the defense is now a good step or two slow. Glad to see Collins tear into them and threaten to "play somebody that will" go hard.— pzales- Hey the wins and a playoff birth were worth it!! Why be bitter about not trading Iggy, now 27 and showing increasing signs of breaking down physically, before the deadline and before a new CBA that will make his 14 and 15 million in the coming years look totally unappetizing?! Why be upset that Holiday looks suspect, especially when we'll be famous for popularizing the "point forward" position?! Still a lot of weak teams left to play, and the 76ers will again look good on paper as they limp to the playoffs. But the REALITY is and has been that we're a team of uniformly lower-middle, middle, and upper-middle talents, and many of the talents overlap and do not sufficiently compliment one another. The record is better, but we're no better off today than we were this time last year. Sorry!— Hobbes
- Trade Iggy - if this team is ever going to get better he needs to go. Another missed game winner and then he starts shooting 3's in overtime - he sucks.— JB215
- I, for one, don't think Iggy "sucks," I just think he was our most valuable trade asset on a roster of mostly expendibles. And I do emphasize "was," as I think it is now exponentially more difficult to trade him: he's got injuries that suggest he's breaking down, which isn't good for a guy who's kinda' low on skills and high on athleticism; and a new CBA looms, making those 13.5, 14.7, and 15.9 million dollar years look painfully high for a guy who can keep you in games but can't ever really win them when everybody else is cold.— Hobbes
- Someone please make 2 free throws when it counts. Holiday has been awful for weeks.— 7mel11
- if iguodala doubles someone has to help the helper.. but i feel iguodala should either switch or not help at all.. he doubled and no one helped him kirelenko got the dunk. i like what i see from iguodala. we know he can grab 10 boards. we know he hand out 10 assists. now he has to iprove his scoring rate.. doesnt have to but if he does its a plus. 14 pts in the 4th. ill take that.. and the last shot miss at the buzzer. ill take that. i like the walk jumper attempt as opposed to forcing a drive thats not there. take the j. live with result. if players are tired.. REST THEM!! Dont let the problem linger.. shut em down for the entire road trip if you have to. and start the bench. that can only make the starters better by playing v 2nd line players.. COME ON COLLINS!— combocancer1975
- Did you watch Iggy after he made some clutch shot in 4th Q. He gave impression of being so cool and pleased with himself causing him to drop too far off Kirelinko (sp) to recover and letting him score several key baskets. Seriously, his off ball defense is lazy and gets him in trouble -- too late to recover. I really do not want him taking the last shot ever; at best he is 1 for 10 in those situation. It really hurt to see Meeks miss that freethrow.— gba
- What a shocker, The Sixers front court got torched...again. That's what happens when your biggest post player is the softest center in the NBA and his back up is Maurice Speights. The Sixers perimeter defense is among the best in the league, but their front court defense is atrocious. I witnessed it first hand last Wednesday's loss to the Thunder when I watched Nick Collison, I repeat NICK COLLISON, burn Speights, Hawes, Young, and Brand in the 4th quarter and overtime. Anyway we can trade up for Jared Sullinger now and avoid the rush?— whowantstosexmatombo
- I'll tell you what, Al Jefferson would have looked good in a Sixer uniform. He is exactly what they need to step up to the next level. He is not a superstar but he is 7ft. player who can absolutely play the game. Coach would have this team over the hump if Jefferson were on the team and to think that could have happened if the front office were proactive, what a shame.— BCRock
- ...Collins gave the ball to Iguodala and he missed the jumper. Why is 1 player bigger than the team?— justacarpenter
- For all of Collins' achievements this season, and they are many; for all of Collins' gifted insights about matchups, and they are many; for all of Collins' preaching about team play, it is sadly and frighteningly apparent that he has some huge mental defect when it comes to TooManyDala taking any kind of a jumpshot. TooManyDala should NEVER be shooting at the end of a game. EVER! That is the matchup every team in the NBA wants against the Sixers. Utah got it last night, and they won. What is Collins' problem that he does not see this? I am Oppressed.— Nuutron
- Holiday makes too many turnovers. I don't know what his stats are, but he shows lack of alertness. Lou is a ball hog. There were several times when he could have passed to an open man, but chose to Shoot and miss. No wonder the Sixers dug a hole for themselves.— Sixersorever
- *Cj Miles
not CJ Watson, he plays for the Bulls.
Sorry to nit pick but have to give credit where credit is due as a Jazz fan, and he absolutely came through for the team on this evening.— mspecht - She was referring to Earl Watson... — incog69
- Sixers almost beat the Thunder and beat the Celtics last week. They've been playing great and have hit a little bump on the road. They'll heal and get back home and finish strong.— Leegles
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.
