The Next 5
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The Next 5
Sixers play Chauncey and the Nuggets on Wednesday. ( Jeffrey Boan)
As necessary as the break is -- these guys needs a few days rest, after all -- it's does feel like the season lost a little bit of momentum. And for the Sixers, who were rolling, that's not a good thing. They'd won four straight, bumped their record to 27-24, had the rookie Marreese Speights playing like a champ (although Speights probably needed the break more than anyone), and were climbing up the Eastern Conference standings.
Since we've covered so many topics on here (three-point defense, halfcourt offense, Speightyman ...) I figured we could take a look at the next five games and do a quick breakdown.
Game 1, Tuesday at the Indiana Pacers: It would be easy to say this should be a victory, since the Sixers just beat Indiana on Feb. 5. But that was at the Wachovia Center. The Pacers are a much better team at home. They beat the Cavaliers at Conseco Fieldhouse just before the break (96-95). Still, I think this is a game the Sixers will win -- heck, it's a game they should win if they're going to get to the four seed. And the Sixers have experience beating the Pacers in Indiana -- they came back from, I believe, a 27-point hole earlier this season. Indiana is 21-33. If the Sixers can contain the outside shooting of Danny Granger, like they did (for the most part) in that Feb. 5 game, they should be able to get out of a here with a win. That makes them 28-24.
Game 2, Wednesday vs. the Denver Nuggets: Okay, as much as I think this could be a victory, I think it's going to be tough on a back-to-back to beat the Nuggets. Especially since Chauncey Billups is Chauncey Billups. Here's my X-Factor in this game: Denver's J.R. Smith. He's inconsistent, and in the Sixers loss at Denver, he was really effective -- went off for almost 20 points in the first half. If he has one of his non-existent games, the Sixers will win. Still, I'm putting this as a loss, making the Sixers 28-25. (This is not scientific, nor do I expect everyone to agree.)
Game 3, Saturday at the Miami Heat: Wow. This is tough. Sixers lost by 23 the first time in Miami, but just beat the Heat at home. Plus, Miami has Jermaine O'Neal now -- instead of Marion. I think that improves the Heat considerably. I'm giving the nod to Miami on this one, although I will hedge my bet by saying that if Willie Green or Lou Williams can score 15-plus points, the Sixers will win. But, still, I'm going with a loss: That makes them 28-26.
Game 4, Monday at the New Jersey Nets: This is a victory. Sixers will not lose this game, specifically because they lost that last one against the Nets. Yeah, it's in New Jersey, but that's never been on top of the list of scariest NBA arenas. Sixers win this by at least 8 points. That makes them 29-26.
Game 5, Wednesday at the Washington Wizards: This, too, is a victory. If this isn't a victory, it will be the worst loss of the season (and there are some bad losses fighting for that honor). If the Sixers are allowed, as is standard with NBA rules, to play five players at a time, they will win. That makes them 30-26.
I think making sure to get three wins -- wherever they might come -- in these first five games after the break is going to be important. There are absolutely three winable games, and the realistic potential they could win all five.
I spoke earlier today to Tony DiLeo before the team boarded their flight to Indianapolis (they're practicing tonight in Indy). DiLeo said he believes the most important things going forward will be defensive rebounding, pick-and-roll defensive execution, and continued strong play from the bench. DiLeo also mentioned improving the half-court execution. As for these next three days (trading deadline is Feb. 19), I asked DiLeo if it was difficult during such an up-in-the-air time of the season. DiLeo said, "The team we have is the team we’re going to continue with unless Ed [Stefanski] tells me otherwise. That’s the mindset. I know around the league a lot of players names have been out there speculating. My mindset is we’re going to go with the team we have right now. Unless Ed tells me otherwise. And I don’t anticipate a lot happening with our team."
Of course, these things change in a second. Right after I post this, a trade could happen. But, for this moment in time, those were DiLeo's words. Now, we're not sure right now if they'll make a deal or not, but I think they have a strong enough team as is to fight for the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference and give themselves a chance to surprise people in the playoffs.
--Kate
Comments (14)
If Ed S. does nothing at the deadline re: moving Miller and getting Rudy Fernandez in here, then he'll solidify himself as the worst GM in Sixers history. He already did a bang up job gutting the team of outside shooting to sign Elton Brand and destroyed our cap space for the next 5 years, without a feasible backcourt going forward. He's making Billy King and Gene Shue look like World's Best GMs to this point.— Dean1- Dean, you're crazy. Every move Ed has made has been received glowingly by pundits and fans alike. Even with slow starts from the Andres and a major injury to Brand, this team looks improved from last year (when we were extremely lucky not to suffer any injuries to our main 8 guys). How can you ask for more? Kate, good notes, especially for the last two games. For Miami, though, I disagree slightly. I think that Miami is better off with Jermaine, but he hasn't been playing many minutes and he's on his third system in the last 6 months. It will take at least a few games for him to make the adjustment. I think this is a win. Also, I've read a number of commentators who have said that the Sixers will face a particularly difficult road because so many of their remaining games are on the road. However, a glance at John Hollinger's power rankings shows that they've already played a harder schedule than all of the team ranked above them except for Boston and Denver. This makes me wonder, do these people think that playing at home vs. away is more important than the quality of the opponents? If so, do you think there's any legitimacy to that? What are your thoughts (both as a former player and from your observation of the Sixers)?— nskaroff
- Dean, remember when Ed Stefanski signed Eric Snow, Aaron McKie, Greg Buckner, Monty Williams, Derrick Coleman, Kenny Thomas, Dikembe Mutombo, and Samuel Dalembert? Man ES has done a horrible job. I also want to look back in hindsight, which every loves doing these days, and bash BK and Larry Brown for choosing Larry Hughes over Paul Pierce in 1998. OFF WITH HIS HEAD!— CallerNo9
- Good stuff, Kate. I always enjoy the Miller/Billups matchup. It definitely seems that Billups isnt able to push miller around like he does some of the smaller gaurds, and in turn miller's not-so-lightning fast defense isn't exposed as much against him either.— K,M
There's no use crying over the Brand acquisition. That's a done deal for the foreseeable future. Bessides there's always the possibility that Tony can find a way, next year, to fit EB's 16-19 ppg into the line up. Let's deal with a problem area Ed and Tony could solve this week: Perimeter shooting. How do you feel about trading Young for Young. Thaddeus for a two-guard with equal upside potential? Nick Young of the Wizards, a 6-6 guard, 11.7 ppg, in just 22 minutes per game. Or Daequan Cook of the Heat. 6'5" He shoots three's at 41% . Scores 10 ppg in just 25 minutes. Others to consider: Thunder's Russell Westbrook (15ppg) , Clippers guard Eric Gordon (14 ppg.) Imagine playing Iguodala alongside one of these guys, instead of trying find minutes for both Iggy and Thaddeus at the small forward spot.- If they are going to be taken seriously they need to win 3 or 4 games. I have to really disagree with Jermain O'neal making the Heat a lot better. Jermaine O'neal makes no one a lot better at this point in his career even replacing another has been like Shawn Marion. I will be disappointed if they go 3-2 and fail to beat either the Nuggets or Miami.— brannigan73
Comment removed.- so much for the next five..— natedog
- Hi. I missed the Indiana game last nite. Do you know why Speights played only 2 minutes?— sesser
- Foul trouble and lousy coaching.— rockinrob
- Thanks, I'm glad it wasn't injury. But the coach needs to play him.— sesser
- i was so angry last night when we lost to the pacers. I was yelling at Dileo thru the tv screen "PUT MARREESE IN YOU IDIOT! PUT HIM BACK IN, WE NEED HIM!" I guess he didn't hear me.— deasytrent
- Sesser: it actually WAS injury. speights twisted an ankle in practice. it wasn't bad coaching. when speights came in he was hobbling a bit so dileo sat him the rest of the night. from what i've heard, it's nothing serious.— CT6ersfan
- Thanks CT— sesser
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About this blog
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.
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