Archive: December, 2010
Bob Cooney
Coach Doug Collins called the drubbiing an aberration.
Andre Iguodala said that his team hasn't been playing that well, and against better teams it shows.
Whatever the reason, the Sixers 121-76 loss to the host Chicago Bulls was as ugly as it gets.
Bob Cooney
The Sixers caught a slight break on Saturday night when they played an Orlando Magic team that was in the process of a trade, thus leaving the Magic with only eight players. The Sixers took advantage, improving to 3-10 on the road this season with a 97-89 win.
Tonight they'll also face a team that is a bit depleted as big man Joakim Noah is out after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb. Noah is averaging 14 points and close to 12 rebounds a game. Also, forward Taj Gibson is a game-time decision as he suffered a concussion on Saturday.
The Sixers have been getting good contributions from almost everyone of late as they have won eight of 11, including consecutive road games. With the Bulls so bare in the low post, expect the Sixers to make an effort to get Spencer Hawes and Elton Brand off early.
The sister of former Sixers guard Willie Green and her cousin were killed on their way home from watching Green play for the New Orleans Hornets in an overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons last night at the Palace of Auburn Hills, the Detroit Free Press.
Green played collegiately at Detroit Mercy.
Tamara Lynette Green, 30, and her cousin, Gary Benjamin Green, 27, who was driving, died heading southbound on I-75.
Bob Cooney
Video: Bob Cooney of the Daily News talks to CineSport's Noah Coslov about the Sixers' recent success, and the tough road trip awaiting the team after hosting the Lakers on Friday.
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Bob Cooney
Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers make their first appearance of the season at the Wells Fargo Center tonight to face a Sixers team that has won 6 of their last 8 games. The Clippers have lost three in a row and seven of their past nine.
Griffin has been tremendous in his first season (missing all of last year due to injury in left knee), averaging 20.3 points and 11.9 rebounds. He has benefitted from the play of guard Eric Gordon, who is averaging 24.5 points a game.
The Sixers surivived Tuesday in an 82-77 win over the Nets, despite getting killed on the boards and again playing shaky down the stretch.
Bob Cooney will chat Sixers for the Hot Button in a live chat Wednesday beginning at 1 p.m.
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Bob Cooney
The road has not been good for the 76ers so far this season, but the past two-plus weeks have.
The Sixers are just 1-10 on the road this season, but have played better overall of late and won five of their last seven. Tonight they face a New Jersey Nets team that has struggled even more than the Sixers and are riding a seven-game losing streak.
Here's some keys for the Sixers tonight up in North Jersey:
Bob Cooney
The Sixers face the struggling New Orleans Hornets, who have lost 7 of their last 10 after starting the season 11-1.
Here are some keys for the Sixers today:
*Get good bench production from others besides Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams. The Sixers have five games in the next seven days. Coach Doug Collins can't rely solely on the seven-man rotation he did last week.
Bob Cooney
The Boston Celtics, who have owned the Sixers in recent years, visit the Wells Fargo Center tonight, looking to expand on their 8-game winning streak.
Here are some keys for the Sixers tonight, as they'll be looking to win their sixth-straight at home.
*Show patience in the halfcourt offense. Ideally, the Sixers will get out and run and get some easy baskets. But the Celtics don't allow many of those. During the winning streak, Boston has allowed an average of just 87.3 points a game. When the Sixers are in a halfcourt set, they'll need to make sure to get good shots, not settle for mediocre jumpers.
Bob Cooney
If there is a team in the NBA the Sixers are familiar with so far this season it is the Cleveland Cavaliers. The two teams have already faced off twice this season, with Cleveland winning both.
The Sixers will be looking for their fourth win in five games and fifth in a row at home.
Here are some keys for the Sixers tonight.
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
