Milwaukee loses again, Sixers close to playoff berth
The Indiana Pacers defeated Milwaukee on Thursday, dropping the Bucks to 29-33 and three games behind the Sixers for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee loses again, Sixers close to playoff berth
Bob Cooney
It's getting close to the point of not wondering if the Sixers are going to make the playoffs, but who are they going to face.
The Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, 118-109, its third-straight loss and dropping them to three full games behind the Sixers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers (32-30) and the Bucks both have four games remaining.
Each of the Sixers' remaining games are on the road: Saturday at Indiana, Monday in New Jersey, Wednesday in Milwaukee and Thursday in Detroit.
Milwaukee will host New Jersey on Saturday, Toronto on Monday and the Sixers on Wednesday before finishing out its season at Boston on Thursday.
Should the Sixers clinch that spot, they will face either the Chicago Bulls or Miami Heat. Chicago's lead in the Eastern Conference dropped to 1.5 games over Miami Thursday as the Heat beat the Bulls, 83-72 . In order to win the East, Miami would have to win out and Chicago would have to lose to a divisional foe. That would give Miami the second tiebreaker if the two teams finished with the same record. The first tiebreaker would be negated as the teams split their four meetings this season.
The Bulls (47-16) have just three games remaining, hosting Dallas on Saturday, at Indiana on Wednesday before hosting Cleveland on Thursday.
Miami (45-17), which beat the Sixers in five games in the first round of the playoffs last season, has four games left. The Heat wil host Washington on Saturday and Houston on Sunday before finishing out the season in Boston (Tuesday) and Washington (Thursday).
Should the Sixers make the playoffs the challenge that will await will obviously be a daunting one. While Miami has owned the Sixers over the past few years, Chicago has proven to be an interesting matchup. But the way the Sixers are playing right now, losers of 13 of their last 20, there is no matchup against any Easter playoff team that would be in the least bit favorable.
Comments (43)
- It was only apparent to those who see the world thru Turner colored glasses. The rest of us either think he's a pg or are reserving judgement.
We have proven that LouWill's stats blows Turner's away in similar minutes so I won't repeat myself. Here's a project for you. Compare Turner to his peers, other young guards who play similar minutes. Look at scoring, assists to turnover ratio and PER. Kemba Walker, Goran Dragic, George Hill, Ramon Sessions and Isaiah Thomas. They're all outperforming your boy and aren't getting any more playing time. - How many shots does lou take per game again? and comparing stats to turner's isnt the biggest issue its why isnt he used correctly and when pressure games are on why is one of your best rebounders on the bench in favor of meeks or lou. the point is you made an investment in him period. he should b out there and being put as the future wit Jrue because of that.everyone knows who lou and iggy and brand is we need to know who evan and jrue are and are they something together. turner colored glasses got nothing to do wit it. i tell you what you go buy a luxury car and start drag racing in it and then take it back to the dealer and tell them it aint handling like you thought it would.. see how that turns out bro! — Phillyphan@27
- Unfortunately we didn't buy a luxury car we overpaid for a Hyundai that has lemon written all over it.
- PP@27:It's about pt off shots taken...Lou hits 3s and scores from the FT line at a pace that dwarfs ET's, in addition to a team leading and near league leading assist to turnover ratio...He, like ET, plays much better with the ball, and has had to sacrifice his improving all around game to embrace his role and DC's scheme...If we came down to Earth from Mars in July, 2010...and had to pick out the league's #2 draft pick, I doubt highly it would be Evan Turner...Sorry. — bearsfriend
- Perhaps you were sleeping yesterday when the majority of the board agreed that Holliday is best suited for the SG role. What you refuse to grasp is because we think Holliday should be at the 2 does not mean that we are saying Turner will be an All Star. We don't know what Turner can be, because Doug has done a poor job of developing him.
As for Lou Will, as I said in another response, I really like him in his current role. MY only criticism of Lou Will has been that he is not a go to guy at the end of a game.
You really need to stop telling other posters what they think and actually read what they post.— blah - Bear I can appreciate your optimism but what part of the Sixers game can you point to and say this is winning basketball. The have to play the perfect game to beat any of the teams ahead of them. That mean under 7 TOs. They can't afford to be out rebounded. They have to get to the line and make FTs. This team is as lost a leaf in a hurricane... Never mind the fact that Collins doesn't allow this team to play to their strengths... I will have to burn my keyboard if i give the Giants any praise. But they rallied and played winning football. But those weren't seven game series. But stay positive. The funny thing I used to be that guy on these boards. This is the first time I have even seen my team not look hungry.— BigVilFromWestPhil
- You say one thing here that is so true...and that's a dereliction to playing "winning" basketball...While both Iggy and Jrue have vastly improved their perimeter shots, while Thad has improved somewhat his halfcourt offensive play with his 15 footer, while Hawes experienced good all around play pre-Achilles, while Lou has become a gem in ball security while still being potent,while ET has shown glimpses of gamechanging play...the Sixers have not put together perfomances...But I do think it's the players...they lack decision making late in games, physicality in a consistent screen game, and an ability to fend off physical rebounders...Their late game rotations against the elite teams have been killing them...There's no TRUE shotblocking presence (despite EB's penchant for it), and players that all too often settle for jump shots....But MAKING the playoffs,the experience of playing in games when they really count, is way more important than deciding between Terrence Jones or John Henson....Regarding Collins, while I've enjoyed the improvement in valuing the ball, I too can't stand some rotations, and hate overpassing, using shot clock and ending up with the WRONG guy taking the shots...As up and down as this season has been, it still will end with improvement over last season's .500 record...While many want the whole thing turned over, I feel real production from 4 and 5 could let them take the next jump ahead....That being said, I still would rather see the 3.2 dunks a game Faried has averaged this season. Sorry for the excessive rant. — bearsfriend
- bearsfriend your assessment of the individual improvements are dead on. Unfortunately individual improvement doesn't always lead to team improvement because of the combinations on the floor. Holiday plays well with Meeks be wise Meeks doesn't want the ball and let's Jrue do his thing. Holiday plays well with Lou because they've learned to play off each other...I dribble, you shoot, you dribble, I shoot. Holidays game completely disappears when playing with Turner. The lack of a true inside presence and having players that can't or don't play well together are the main reasons this is not a "winning" team
- I don't even believe its the players. I don't think that there needs to be a drastic a drastic change in philosophy. Just post up the guards!!!!! Good things will happen by posting up Jrue, Evan and Igoudala. That will make the other teams adjust. Posting up the guards will lead to a lot of open looks for Thad, Brand, Hawes and Vuc. You can pack the paint because our bigs can shoot... If Collins can't see that then there really is no reason to watch our team be run off the floor.— BigVilFromWestPhil
- The Bucks got worse since adding Ellis
joecooler: ur stats are flawed because teams play more players in blowout wins.
peas in a pod zeru, blah and villian. Same old same old
As long as the Sixers play the best combo, Holiday and Lou Williams over 30 mins/game thay have a shot vs the Bulls. They got no shot vs the Heat.
— OG - Well, I see you missed my point, and are choosing to make your own. I said this season missed opportunity for development. Turner and Holliday could have been developed.
I like Lou Will. I think he is great in the position he is playing currently. I don't believe you are going to get any more value from Lou starting him and playing him over 30+ per game. He is going to tire and be taken advantage of defensively.— blah - blah:many are with you on this opinion, but on what basis I have no idea...My point is, as DC has thrown paint on the wall 20 different ways this season, starting Lou Will and utilizing him on the ball is the ONLY thing he HASN'T done...The closest was when Jrue committed thos 2 early,lay turnovers against the Kings in the Winter, and Lou came in and ran pass first PG en route to a really clean game...To me, with this roster,ET coming off the bench, playing with Jodie, would ensure him much more time with the ball in his hands to boot. — bearsfriend
- Didn't we already try Lou Williams as a starting guard? Seemed he lacked a little something. Again, I think it's because he's too short and he loses some of his effectiveness if he goes 35 minutes per night. It takes away his ability to score because he gets tired legs. And again he can be taken advantage of defensively.
Now, if the idea is to use Lou as a PG while DEVELOPING Holliday as a Shooting guard, I am not opposed to that per say. Especially if it also is meant to develop Turner as a PG as you mentioned. Eventually though you are going to have to see how Turner and Holliday play together as a backcourt.
— blah - That's what I am talking about...and Lou only started a handful for EJ pre broken jaw....He has matured into a different player..>While DC says he's fearless, I''m not buying that a bit...Lou had his minutes shaved last year if a turnover,bad shot, or defensive lapse ensued...To me he has become a steadying force and an on court leader to a degree...I don't believe in the word "development" for a #2 pick who has average over 26 mpg and has gone over 40 like 5x, but I do agree to find out everything possible about him, so having him on the floor with the ball (not with Iggy, who demands it, or Lou, who is better with it) paired with Meeks or Sam Young would have made sense...to me at least. — bearsfriend
- I think we can all agree on a few things. 1. LouWill is the only Sixer that other coaches gameplan against. 2. Jrue Holiday has the entire skill set to be a pg 3. Turner has no range on his jumper 4. Holiday performs better with Lou or Jodie on the floor. 5. It's obvious blah has never played or coached basketball at any level.
Popular Posts
About this blog
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.
Classifieds:
Site Services:
Partners:
Powered By:
