Posted: Saturday, January 3, 2009, 8:39 PM | 20 comments |
 

The Speights Question
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About 80 minutes before tonight's game against the San Antonio Spurs, 76ers head coach Tony DiLeo watched as rookie Marreese Speights shot around. Once Speights finished, DiLeo called over Speights and the two had a quick chat.

The conversation seemed appropriate considering Speights didn't play last night against the Dallas Mavericks. Speights had been steadily contributing. A few minutes later, I spoke with DiLeo who said the reason Speights didn't play was simple: He didn't see a good spot to put him in the game. Thad Young was playing well on Dirk Nowitzki (until the fourth quarter, as we all remember).

DiLeo said he wanted to have a short conversation with Speights to emphasize that the DNP (did not play) had nothing to do with how Speights' had been producing. It was a smart move on DiLeo's part, because occasionally rookies can get buried by games like that. With DiLeo taking the time to talk to Speights, it likely avoids any hangover from the DNP.

Look for Speights to get considerable minutes tonight. (For him that's more than 12 minutes.)

Tonight is the last game of this five-game road trip and six-games on the road (the Boston game doesn't count as part of this swing, or so they tell me). Nothing has been too surprising so far. Sixers are 1-4 including the Boston game, 1-3 without it. A win tonight isn't likely, given the Spurs (21-11) are again one of the best teams in the Western Conference.

But would a win tonight make this a successful road trip? You would have to say 'Yes.' Considering every team except the Los Angeles Clippers were strong Western Conference teams ... on their home court. But, again, my prediction is a strong showing, but eventually a double-digit Spurs' win.

--Kate

p.s. Your Comcast team well before tip off for tonight's game.

 
Posted by Kate Fagan @ 8:39 PM  Permalink | 20 comments
20
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:56 PM, 01/03/2009
    "He didn't see a good spot to put him in the game." ... That's actually a good reason. I wonder why coaches don't respond this honestly more often when it comes to questions of minutes.
    — D3Keith
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:20 AM, 01/04/2009
    any spot is good when you lose so many games as they have.
    — Wise_Owl
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:25 AM, 01/04/2009
    A good spot might be the 4th quarter when your getting rolled and you need some points from the post. Again, this guy is getting less playing time then just about any other first round rookie, even with the starter of the position he is back up, down. Oh well, thank goodness they gave him some minutes to get some schooling from the best tonight.
    — rzzzzz
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:52 AM, 01/04/2009
    Great effort tonight to get back in the game and have a chance to win at the end. I don't fault Miller for the attempted pass to Iguodala at the end, because a clean pass and catch would have resulted in a dunk. All the Iguodala haters (IHers) say that all he does it dunk, but even they have to admit that he's one of the best finishers in the entire NBA and has been finishing especially well lately. And the IHers should have little critical to say about Iguodala's game tonight, 10-15 for 25 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists (several of them great passes in the 4th quarter), plus he's made 18 straight free throws over the last 3 games. However, I predict someone will still put up a post blaming Iguodala for the loss and saying he should be traded. Tonight, the blame, if any, goes to Willie Green (1 for 9 and terrible defense -- this is the Willie none of us could stand last year) and Thad Young, for not having any clue that the guy he was guarding was #2 in the NBA in 3-point shooting and does nothing else (Thad was good for the most part on offense, but his defense and rebounding leave much to be desired). The heroes were Iguodala and Andre Miller, who picked up right where he left off last year torching Tony Parker. If the team continues to play like tonight, more wins are surely on the way.
    — Statman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:53 AM, 01/04/2009
    DiLeo just showed why he hasn't been on an NBA bench before. Dirk was lighting it up with a shorter player on him, so why not go with someone who had more energy because he has been on the bench and is taller and bulkier. As rzzzzz says, "fourth quarter was as good as any!"
    — dapmman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:18 AM, 01/04/2009
    Tony doesn't have a clue..this kid can play and just like the other players on the bench that should see time like Rush and Marshall (3 point shooting) the sixers will continue to lose!!
    — jdunn85
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:55 PM, 01/04/2009
    Willie's minutes need to go to Lou...Sam's to Speights. Tony needs to change the starting lineup and shorten the bench so that these players get the minutes...Iguodala, Miller, Young, Brand, Williams, Speights, Ratliff. These guys can be supplemented by rest of bench based upon match-ups and foul situation.
    — JBP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:59 PM, 01/04/2009
    Starters - Iguodala, Miller, Brand, Young, Ratliff. Williams, Speights first off bench. Evans, Ivey, Marshall, situational subs. Try to get cap space for Dalembert and Green.
    — JBP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:48 PM, 01/04/2009
    TonyD is a 'smart cookie' and he is building for the FUTURE...the HOPE of the Sixers will play out...
    — john ullman
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:53 AM, 01/05/2009
    Statman - I like the new term, "IHers". I also like that he has been settling for less jumpers and looking to drive & kick or drive & score lately - has helped bring the shooting percentage (and assists) up a bit. Ball movement and team shot selection in general have also been a bit better, in my unscientific observation. I also like that Ivey has been able to knock down a couple shots lately. His pestering defense is valuable, but his lack of offense made it tough to leave him out there for long. I'm not sure what to think about this team anymore though. They're essentially the same guys who went on a tear in the 2nd half of last year without brand, so every time they start to click you feel like things are starting to turn around, but then you realize they're also the same guys who started last year headed straight for the lottery.
    — K,M
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:48 PM, 01/05/2009
    Whiskeybreath is right send DiLeo and his crony Stupanski packing.
    — rockinrob
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:45 PM, 01/05/2009
    The Sixers franchise, as a whole, is in need of a culture change. I can't believe that after all these years, not ONE coach here can teach this team how to defend the 3. How hard is it to double-double-rotate ???? I'm willing to give Sam the Starbury treatment and tell him to go home.
    — CallerNo9
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:50 PM, 01/05/2009
    KM: Happy New Year, haven't heard from you since last year. Iguodala's FG% is up because he's finishing almost everything at the rim (whereas before he was missing a lot in close) and improving slightly on medium-range jumpers. His poor 3-point shooting this year is a mystery -- coming in to this season, he was a career 33% shooter (this season 23%). The problem in end-of-game situations is that teams play him for the drive, so the best shot is usually a jumper. I've got to think he should continue to take them (as long as they aren't 3-pointers). Having other players cut to the hoop when he makes his move is helpful too, because he finds them well (they got at least 3 baskets that way down the stretch against the Spurs).
    — Statman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:18 PM, 01/05/2009
    Do we all yet understand that this team was highly overated. With the exception of Miller & Brand as legitimate NBA players, the rest would not start on any good team. Dileo cannot coach other than the women's team in Germany. Ed (this is a results oriented business), when this team doesn't make the playoffs or finishes 8th, do you fire yourself, if you don't then you are a hypocrite, which is typical of anyone in sports management !!!!!!
    — lalleva


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About John Mitchell
John Mitchell is in his first 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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