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.
Just win on Saturday. Then discuss Monday. Then......By the way, start Sam to defend. Jodie isn't scoring anyway
— philsix6- way to fall bass ackwards in to a playoff spot. They deserve to be swept. Unless for some unknown reason the intentionally planned to get the eighth seed this season is a failure.— BigVilFromWestPhil
- Didn't the Giants slip into the playoffs this Winter?...And the Cardinals last Fall?...We all know the inevitable fate, but your only as good as your last game..They've played better the last two games...shooting,sharing the ball...even a pulse again with Hawes.It's not like the Sixers were so good at WFC anyway...Even if they were a 4 seed, they'd have to show up to win in the playoffs anyway. They still have 4 games to right their ship...compete...and play hard. (That's the best Kotite I can do). — bearsfriend
- The Sixers will get in, and they have to have short memories with all good thoughts going into Saturday...they've played well the last two games, and now they'll face the Pacers again, a team that shot lights out on them Tuesday. Hibbert is their Goliath, but who will be our David?...— bearsfriend
- David West-with NO last year--indys glue--shoots an EB shot 15 ft in jumper--went 21-14 and 7--it was a game of runs and he was the stopper. Lets see what kind of energy the sixers come with Sat.Its theirs to win or lose.
— HO HUM - Get the eighth spot and catch a Bull or Heat team with a key Injury and overconfidence = a first game win = home court advantage = happy Sixer fans for a minute = you never know....
Win Saturday!— philsix6 - I just sat down and ran stats of wins and losses depending on how DC uses the depth of the team. I think it's telling that when he uses depth they win games. When he doesn't they lose. They are 1-3 when playing 8 players or less. 11-18 when playing 9 players. 10-5 when playing 10 players. 8-1 when playing 11 players. 4-2 when playing 12 players. 1-0 when playing 13 (I think Hawes was injured in a game and somehow they got 13 players according to the 76ers schedule & stats). The bigger number to go by with how they play best is that they are 10-5 when playing 10 players and 8-1 when playing 11. If DC wants to go by numbers there you go. Quit playing 9 players and GO DEEP! This is supposed to be a deep team. Use that depth! Of course the numbers would change the more often they play but I'd go with what works. Play a 10 player or 11 player rotation. Get Battie-Sam Young-LaVoy in the game at least a few minutes a game. It allows Iguodala-Brand-Hawes etc to rest and come in fresh. Playing 9 players explains why they have fallen off as the season progressed with them being 11-18 with 9 players. Never play them less than 9 with a 1-3 record. For a guy who micromanages how can he miss those glaring numbers? Knowing DC and how coaches have to follow a system of shortening rotations the 76ers won't have much of a chance if they play 9 or less come playoff time. He's gonna run Iguodala-Brand-Jrue into the ground and probably rely on his glue guy to play way too many minutes. I hope for the best but expect the worst...— joecooler2u
- Bears - You always have good analysis but come on this is the NBA...in football, baseball and even hockey a hot team can win it all. However, the Sixers aren't a hot team and they can't win one or more 7 game playoff series.
Also, Miami is closing the gap and only 1 and a half games behind the Bulls...that would be tragic if we get the 8th seed and Miami is there.— The Villain ET - @Bear.. Unlike the NBA the NFL isnt "as" fixed. The NFL promotes their teams more so over individual players. So if you work hard, compete and get lucky you might be able to pull it off. But in the NBA playoffs Stern goes arena to arena guaging attendance. Its not the same. Thats why most teams in the NBA are so fixated on getting a star player. Because actual basketball and team play is not how you win in this league. You need a player the league respects in regards to Jersey sells in order to be successful. Thats why most posters are so upset with Collins because Turner has the talent to potentially be that player for us.— Zeru
- Zeru - Exactly. Why are Evan and Jrue not playing together? They need to learn they will learn. We know Jrue likes to shoot and is good at it and we know Evan likes to pass (barely took 5 shots the past few games) and is good at it. They don't even have to define the positions just go out and play. If they are losing but developing like they should have done last year and this year we might have been players in the really good lottery with a chance to get a difference maker as well. I am not saying Turner is going to be this amazing player but he can definitely be a top guy on a winning team because of his skill set.— The Villain ET
- Cosigning Villian— Zeru
- Cosigning Villian— Zeru
- Villain and ET:I'm aware of the differences between other Pro Sports and the NBA...but to miss the playoffs to have the bottom rung in the lottery is not going the alter the positioning of talent on this roster...that will happen with free agency and trades to balance the roster out(as well as making a good selection no matter where they pick)...Question: if the SIxers had the same roster this year, but had Tyson Chandler instead of Spencer Hawes, what would their record be right now?...Having a good friend pretty close to the situation at Villanova in 1985, there is no way I would ever advocate missing out on a playoff or a tournament...If they were,the Cleveland,New Orleans, or Washington, I'd be all for maxing out ping pong balls, but not in this case...Go Sixers.— bearsfriend
- By now the Sixers should be showcasing two Young players as their future. Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner. They would win just based on the team defense alone. Iggy is already established as a glue guy who doesnt mind playing the background. The NBA would also showcase the two in commercials when describing the Sixers season which in essense would give the team an identity and two players the rest of the league would have to respect in regards to getting calls and fouls. Instead Collins opted not the allow his best most promising players flourish while promoting inconsistent veterans who wouldnt be starters anywhere else. And in Andre's case a high priced role player. By going down the road for two years Collins has doomed his team to his own coaching ability that has proved to be lacking just watching his lineup decisions alone. LIke another poster pointed out he had Don Reid playing over Theo Ratliff before Larry Brown saved his career. And Richard Hamilton was one of the best midrange game players in the league. Coming off screens and everything. Isnt that the game Doug wanted Turner to have? Dude is a basketcase. It would benefit Ownership to make a quick coaching move before it starts to mess with their money. Because bottomline is when you develop your young players and stars it generates national and media attention. And you can do that with a guy who wants to showcase a role player thats paid like a superstar and a post player that is 2 years away from taking Doug's old job at espn.— Zeru
- They mind as well make the playoffs. They blew this season as an opportunity for a developmental season. Even during the good start, it was apparent that Jrue was better suited for the SG spot. They could have had 40+ games with the possible backcourt of the future. Instead Doug had to 'teach' Turner something in that Orlando win.
The only salvageable thing in this season now is to get a little more playoff experience, hopefully against the Bulls.— blah
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.
