How do you explain it?
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How do you explain it?
That's the challenge right now. How do you explain back-to-back losses to the New Jersey Nets and Charlotte Bobcats? Losses that come at the worst possible time: When the 76ers could be in the hunt for the fourth seed.
If the Sixers win both those games, they are 42-35, and would have put some distance between themselves and the Miami Heat, 41-37. I think we've said enough how important the five seed is. But, also, the Sixers could have been right on the Atlanta Hawks tail for the four seed -- and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Hawks are 44-34. But that's all passed at this point. The reality is the Sixers have reacted to winning just as they have all season: By going on a down swing. We've seen it all season. Great wins, bad wins. Great stretches, bad stretches.
Maybe the reality is as we've suspected all season. This is a .500 basketball team. No matter how many times they prove they are better, with huge road wins on long west coast swings, they can't play that way on a nightly basis.
As everyone says, the NBA game is a game of runs. It would make no sense to go crazy over a 11-2 run the Sixers allow in the third quarter. Those things happen. Almost every game. What doesn't seem to make sense is starting the game -- coming off an embarrassing, 29-point loss to the Nets -- by shooting 29 percent in the first quarter, scoring 19 points and allowing 28 to the Bobcats. It seems that would be the one 12-minute stretch you would make darn sure you played strongly.
After the game, Sixers coach Tony DiLeo seemed as angry as we've seen him all year. Since he's a low-key guy, that's not saying a lot. But it's saying something. He seemed to have an edge of frustration with how the team played against New Jersey and the first half against Charlotte. He said something along the lines of: 'We can't just go out there and be. We're not good enough.' True statement.
Here are a few things that stood out last night at Time Warner Cable Arena (what a name).
1.) Andre Iguodala on Gerald Wallace. Iguodala did not seem entirely interested in locking down Wallace. It's a tough matchup for Andre, since Wallace is bigger and more physical. But Andre seemed to concede that Wallace would overpower on a few occasions. And that end-of-game play where Raymond Felton airballed and Wallace slid behind the defense and laid in the winning basket -- the defense was Iguodala's.
2.) Slammin' Sammy. Not sure why he wasn't in the game down the stretch. I think Statman discussed this on a different post today. But it's worth noting. While Sammy isn't always effective. And can seem disinterested, he was more effective than Theo Ratliff last night. Theo, especially in that second quarter, seemed concerned with getting his offense going. Never a good sign.
3.) Willie Green. Willie was the reason the Sixers made that third-quarter run. He should have played the entire fourth quarter, also. At least until he cooled off. I understand the rotations are difficult because Lou Williams was scoring, and you want Andre Miller and Iguodala in there also, but Green's outside shooting was the difference.
I think the overall frustration is the lack of understanding about why the Sixers "lose focus" and can't "maintain intensity." Maybe every NBA team has the same problem, but we're tunnel-visioned on the Sixers. Perhaps. I'm sure other middle of the pack teams have the same issues. But the top 10 teams don't seem to have these issues. And if they do, they present themselves rarely during the season.
--Kate
Only Iguodala knows the root of his FT woes, but its hard to imagine that the combined physical/mental fatigue plays a role. Still, thats on him to correct this Summer, return to his 82 pct a couple yrs back.— Sausalito Slick- Iguodala cannot be on the Court for the first 18 mins of ea game, and entire Q4 of every close game. No other player in NBA is asked to do that, let alone defensive duties he must take on this squad. Is this not evident to all?— Sausalito Slick
- Just play the entire Bench more minutes, as almost every other NBA team, playoff ptcpnt or not, and let the chips fall where they fall. Odds are, the results may just surprise to the upside. Its age wise a YOUNG team; the Blazers play 10 guys a game, none exceed 37 mins.Regardless of their deeper talent, they only improve by playing, thru the ups/downs.— Sausalito Slick
- Yes, I went overboard. But consider this- playoff Upsets are rare enough. I see other teams, playoff teams, also stumbling to the finish line. But is there any logic for Sixers, given present players available, ( btw, is Sam available, or hurt, or what, and given Reggie as starting PF) to obsess over who they play, vs having the key players as fresh as possible to TRY and be competitive? The Burnout extends past the Minutes pgm, its the Mental toll that has been accumulating with a weakening roster, that already, given injuries and bench lack, has overachieved YTD. The PPG combined of the Starting Center, current PF, and starting SG has got to be close to all time record low for a team headed to playoffs. Can Mgt wake up and rest, however defined, the 2 Andres for balance of regular season somehow? Heck, would rather face ORL as fresh as possible, than ATL w a roster replete with utter fatigue. Thats my humble op.— Sausalito Slick
- People, this is not that hard. When you subtract Thad, Brand, & Jason Smith from this team, you are left with approximately the same roster as when they traded AI. That was a team that finished 35-47, if you recall. Take that team, with its ups and downs, subtract Kyle Korver, and a dramatic regression by Sam D, and you have this team right now. Iguodala is not a dominant scorer, he is a facilitator by nature, but right now he lacks consistent finishers around him, which makes loading up on him easier. Philly fans seem to lack perspective. The bottom line is that this team's core nucleus is 25(Iggy), 20(Thad) and 21(Sp8s). By definition, teams that are young are inconsistent. Rome was not built in a day, though, so chill out and enjoy the ride.— rswknight
- Kate...I still have hope for this team. We have some nice young pieces going forward which hopefully coincides with the Celtics, Pistons, Cavs, etc. getting older over the next few years, and maybe we move up into that top tier in the East. We just have to live with the growing pains of Thad, Lou, Marreese and even Jason Smith. I do agree with MFECANI that we need to trade one of the $80 million dollar contracts, and I would agree it has to be Iggi, because Brand is the 4, Thad should be the 3, and Iggi's inconsistent shot makes him the odd man out for the 2. We need to get a center who can block shots and does not make dumb mistakes that lead to opposition runs. We need to get a young guard who can learn from Miller and fill his shoes in a few years. And most of all, we need that scorer at the 2 guard who can attrack attention...open up the middle for Brand and Thad. Don't give up just yet////— Fo Fo Fo
- Igoudala and Miller looked fine on the offensive end versus Charlotte so Im not sure what you are talking about. Sure they play a lot of minutes and in certain situation it takes it toll. Like the New Jersey again. Against Charlotte though to the naked eye it sure looked like Igoudala was intimidated by Gerald Wallace. Andre Miller couldn't guard Felton earlier in the season when he was presumably fresher. Sure Thaddeus Young not being there hurt. Don't forget they lost to Charlotte with Thaddeus Young a few games back. Maybe we are being a little too critical but you are going too far in the other direction making too many excuses for this team. They had a day off between these two games there is no excuse for the poor start against Charlotte.— brannigan73
- I think statman has it right, the margin for ertror is much finer with Thad out. In NJ the team was tired. Frankly the starters looked tired against the Bobcats. With Thad this is a .600 ballclub. Without him and two tired Andres we're closer to .500. But notice that not once has Dileo stated Speights or even tried to develop him in the low post. Had he done this months ago, we could have dealt with Thad's absence better. Instead, Dileo is starting Evans. He only has himself to blame- no long-term strategic thinking.— ricky
- I thought Censorship was a 20th Century phenom? Still in practice here, at Philly Inquirer? Sad, if so— Sausalito Slick
- Umm, the Bobcats swept the Lakers? Ya think there is an explanation for THAT, TOO?— Sausalito Slick
- Gotta make one wonder re Jon Barrys quote- " While as a Visiting team, it was always a drag to play in Philly w their fans. But that was a heckuva lot better than playing as the Home team in this City". Makes ya wonder how the team players feel, no?— Sausalito Slick
- Gotta make one wonder re Jon Barrys quote- " While as a Visiting team, it was always a drag to play in Philly w their fans. But that was a heckuva lot better than playing as the Home team in this City". Makes ya wonder how the team players feel, no?— Sausalito Slick
- Has any poster or the author have any clue re the rigors of 82 game schedule? Or those who actually played in all to date, at League wide highs? Anybody remember the Hawks game as Joe Johnson and Bibby shot what 2-17? BURNOUT.— Sausalito Slick
- Youngs absence is a problem. Sam's disappearance is far worse— Sausalito Slick
- Where is my post re back to backs scheduled at years end by Stern, and how EVERY team w rest, and players vying for new contracts, rested, arent advantaged over teams w teams playing w Cause, let alone, inept frontcourt Bigs? Is dissension here a sudden taboo?— Sausalito Slick
- Explain what? An inept Center and PF- Rryzbilla has 17 boards at SA, Oden 7. Why are the Andres 2 of top 5 NBA minutes played? Thats BURNOUT.— Sausalito Slick
- Statman- its all about MPG catching up with this squads 2 Andres on verge of burnout. I posted more in depth, perhaps I was censored for criquing production LOL of the Starting Bigs. Sit out Iguodala v Bulls, let him be "rested" next nite v Bron, Cavs.— Sausalito Slick
- Wait a second....this team has been playing .600 ball since Brand went out. They had the Pistons on the ropes last season in the playoffs and that was a very good Pistons team. The younger guys continued to develop. Trying to acclimate Brand at the beginning of the season set them back, but they had been playing good ball the last 40 games until Young got hurt. The obvious factor in the equation of why they've tanked the last few games is the fact that Young is out. The guy had been on fire the last few weeks and was often scoring 20-30 points per game. They were able to pick up their games with him out for a few games but they've lost their steam now. Losing him has taken the wind out of their sales. This has nothing to do with Iguodala or anyone else.— JimG
- With Thad, we can stink or we can be world-beaters. Without him, we're mediocre at best. Evans in the starting lineup--is that a joke, and/or proof that Speights is incapable of playing D. We may not win another game; we need everyone to bring their A game to make up for the loss of Thad.— troubledog
- This really isn't that complicated. This team doesn't have a go-to guy. You can't win without a star. The biggest mistake they're making is thinking that Iguodala is that player. He's their most valuable commodity, and they should trade him. McGinnis/Erving. They traded McGinnis. Stackhouse/Iverson. They traded Stackhouse. Iguodala/Brand...Its inevitable,and its the only way they will get better. It won't happen through free agency or the draft.— mfecani
- JonKap - Well said. Anybody that watched the Detroit series last year knows that Iguodala isn't worth superstar money. He's the third best player on our roster (4th if Brand is included): 1. Miller, 2. Young, 3. Iguodala. Too much big money tied up in small talent.— dgreils
- kate: all too true observations as usual. as stated elsewhere, this team simply does not have top ten talent (even with young and brand) and cannot consistently sustain a high performance leve. lack of intensity/focus/bb smarts has been a fairly continual problem since the larry brown era (last year's run notwithstanding). w/o two key players (seeting aside integrating brand), it will simply be difficult to see more than occassional stretches of top-notch play. have to agree with statman and you concerning iguodala-some rest is critical. and any coach should stick with the hot hand until it cools off rather than rigidly stick to a formula (just like baseball managers overplaying right/left match-ups: there is so much more involved). and no pics, no chats and the tigers are 0-2. tough sports stretch for some fans...!— 127sixer59
- Sixers are content to have made the playoffs...they know they are not going to win a Championship, so they figure why stress over position...that, folks, is the reality!— JBP
- Stefanski has already stuck the team for the next 5 years. First he signs Brand, a set up down low type player on a team with no shooters to compliment him. Then he gives Iquodala superstar money when no other GM was bidding for him after last year's playoff disaster. Iquodala has shown he is a solid player who tires by the end of the season and who comes up small in the playoffs. Players like that make $50 million, not $80 million. The Brand and Iquodala contacts are going to stick this team at 42-48 wins and maybe a round deep in the playoffs until they expire.— JonKap
- Kate, the disappointing thing about Iguodala's defense on Wallace is that Iguodala had done an excellent job on him in the first 3 meetings (11, 6, 14 points). It seems to me Iguodala has hit a wall: after going head-to-head with many stars/superstars over the past several weeks (and mostly winning those matchups - Kobe, Wade, Roy - culminating with a domination of Prince in the Detroit game), he seems to be playing on fumes now. This is partly DiLeo's fault for playing him 43 minutes a game, partly the front office's fault for *not having any other small forward on the roster* now that Thad is hurt (so that DiLeo only gives Iguodala 2 minutes rest at a time, it seems). I'd rather see Iguodala play 34 minutes "hard" than 43 minutes "soft," but I also hate to see the 3-guard lineup when he's not in. One other related note: you mention the consistency of the top 10 teams, Kate, and I think one big difference is that the top 10 teams simply have more overall talent than the Sixers do (esp. now that Thad is hurt). Right now, the Sixers have no margin for error: for them to win, both Miller and Iguodala have to play well, as well as at least one of Lou/Speights/Green. Miami, who has an unquestioned superstar in Wade, is in the same boat, perhaps even worse: Wade can have a big game (as he did last night against the Hornets), but the Heat can still lose if he isn't perfect (and he wasn't last night, making mistakes at both the end of regulation and the end of OT). All that said, Kate, how many times a day do you think the reporters (and others) ask Thad when he will be back??— Statman
- The way they came out last night was inexcusable. Regardless of whether they are only a .500 team or not I think most teams around .500 would find away to beat either New Jery or Charlotte especially considering the circumstances and the fact New Jersey was already 3-0 against the Sixers and the Bobcats embarrassed the Sixers at home only a little over a week ago. No Pride? To me a continuing problem with this team is the defense. Charlotte, one of the worst offensive teams in the league, hit 100 points in both games again the Sixers. Now there have been games where the D looks good but really defense is something you should be able to be more consistent in then they have been.— brannigan73
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.
