Sixers and Bulls set to face off in Game 6 tonight
The Sixers can close out the first round series against the Bulls tonight when they host Chicago at the Wells Fargo Center. Getting off to a good early start is very much a key.
Sixers and Bulls set to face off in Game 6 tonight
Bob Cooney
The Sixers had a chance to close out their first round series with the Bulls on Tuesday night in Chicago, but the wrestling match that was the fifth game of the series went to the Bulls by the paltry score of 77-69.
Tonight at the Wells Fargo Center the Sixers will again try to close out the series. In all but Game 2, the Sixers have shot the ball horrendously, but somehow have managed to lead by 3 games to 2. Tonight the key for them, they say, is getting off to a quick start.
"Early on, we need to look to offensively be confident," said forward Andre Iguodala at this morning's shootaround. "We need to go out there and try to have a sense of groupness out there, getting guys the ball and not make it tough on ourselves."
What has made things especially tough so far this series has been the play of Bulls reserve forward Taj Gibson, who has not only been a force offensively but has also taken Sixers forward Thaddeus Young out of the equation with his defense. Gibson twisted his right ankle in Game 5 in Chicago, limped badly to the locker room in the third quarter, but returned later and played the last few minutes of the game. Gibson stated that he is ready to go tonight.
"He's a guy that's going to iimpose his will on the game, I've always been a big fan of his," said coach Doug Collins of Gibson. "With his high activitiy the fact that he can guard, can get out on the break...They have made a conscious effort when he's in the game to post him against Thad (Young). We have to do a better job at that. We have to take away the primary offense that he brings because normally he's a guy who plays off people. In our series they made a conscious effort when he's in the game to go to him. The one game in here he had 10 or 12 points in the paint in the second quarter. We can't let him come in and make that kind of impact. He's always going to have an impact on the game, the question is how many points is he going to score for them. We'd like to make him be a guy that has to make jump shots than be able to score in the paint."
Should the Sixers get off to that fast start they talked about, it would help negate the advantage Gibson brings when he comes off the bench, usually late in the first quarter.
"We have to get off to a good start and be aggressive early," said center Spencer Hawes. "We need to get some momentum early and get into that good flow."
We will find out if that happens at around 7:10 tonight.
Tom Thibodeau weem to be prepared for anything the Sixers do offensively...But one thing that may mess up the Bulls is a true effort to outlet the ball...even if Iggy or ET garner the rebound, as it would get the ball upcourt quicker, and even give the athletic wings a chance to be trailers....The 94 feet of Iggy or ET taking the ball and going has not resulted in effective early offense to date...— bearsfriend- Iggy and Brand have to give the sixers something on offense. I hope this is the game where that happens. Brand has been nonexistent since the first game where he had 19. If they can get 30-34 from those two I think they can easily take care of business. Turner and Holiday have stepped up in the past and they helped us get 3 wins. We need something from the bench plus our two veterans- and I dont mean Iggy taking 3s. He's got to knock down some short jumpers and get to the line plus a few dunks to get the crowd going. A 20pt effort would be much appreciated.— Yakov
- The Sixers also need to man up and stop letting the Bulls push them around. Iggy needs to stop being so afraid to fail. Go up strong! Dunk in someone's face ... don't worry about getting blocked!! Taj Gibson is no Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett. He's a reserve forward - that's all. Elton needs to deliver an elgow to his ribs. Hustle for loose balls, box out strong and move the ball on offense. Do that and this series is over tonight.
— Copper34 - Consider this and i mean this in a nice way.The Bulls -most of the time-
according to the writers etc had 3-4-5 players in the lane to block shots .Now if so dosent that mean drive and kick out?
The problem is when they did no one could hit the shot.
If they play--the Sixers-their over dribble game they will be going back to the windy city.The younger players ET etc-got their com uppance at serious playoff ball(total different game -res-intensity etc).
Its on them tonite-just play your game and you should be ok.
— HO HUM - Doug needs to put Lavoy on Gibson.— JBP
- I've been calling for DC to post ET up. This wrinkle will open up the lanes since none of the bulls guards are great post defenders. Make them defend and double team the post.— NYC - Philly
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.
