2009/01/29

Sixers Quietly Playing Great Basketball


With all the talk about the end of the Eagles season, and the Flyers battling for 1st place, we are missing out on the Sixers quietly playing some very good basketball lately. The Sixers beat the Rockets last night to even their record at 22-22 on the season, and they are 8-2 in their last 10 games.


You would think the Sixers would benefit from the return of Elton Brand from his shoulder injury after being out a month. But questions are out there as to whether Elton Brand fits the mold of this running team, and Brand is even being mentioned in trade rumors for the upcoming trade deadline. I think the Sixers can definitely be successful with Brand in the lineup, they just need to find a way for him to fit in. This Sixers team is still a very poor half court team, and it seems like every time they come down court in a half court situation, they find Brand on the blocks, and the double team comes immediately on Brand. Brand is then forced to give it up, and the Sixers will then miss an outside shot.


Under Tony DiLeo, interim coach, the Sixers are playing better, and DiLeo seems to be getting more out of his players than Cheeks was. DiLeo has also found a way to get Lou Williams, and Marreese Speights more playing time. We definitely want to see more of those guys, while seeing less of Sammy D. and Willie Green. Dalembert is a clown on the court, and a joke that he still doesn’t even really know how to play basketball, he is just a freak 7’0" athlete who pulls down rebounds that are near him. Willie Green is the epitome of the phrase "dime a dozen."


Anyways, as of today, the Sixers sit in the #7 playoff spot. The Eastern Conference features a "Big 3" teams at the top, in Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando, all three of these teams already sit at at least 20 games over .500. If the Sixers can get into the 5 spot, they would have a chance at winning a first round series, and with the way they are playing, they can definitely achieve that. Come playoff time, the Sixers will definitely need a veteran like Brand in the lineup playing at his best.


If the Sixers can find a way for Brand to fit in, and get the most out of him, while still maintaining their running, high-tempo style, this Sixers team could be a team that no one wants to play come playoff time.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

eleanor the dog owns Dr. G.

Anonymous said...

http://ihatekaty.com/?id=1365184#6dzz5z54fsdq7ez78z8d

Anonymous said...

Anonymous, the only thing you will ever own is permanent shrinkage...

Anonymous said...

How could you call Dalembert a clown after seeing his performance against the Rockets? 10 points, 3 blocks, SEVENTEEN boards. He's been playing really well lately, and is a key to their strong play as of late.

Anonymous said...

tjc, have you watched Sammy the past few years? all he does is play well for a few weeks, show us all the potential he has, and then suck the rest of the season

Kotite's Corner said...

Dalembert is the key to the Sixers success lately, that's an absolute joke. I put in the article that Dalembert is a freak athlete who can rebound, he's nothing more than that though. Speights is better already, Brand is better. If Dalembert has proven anything since hes been in the league its that he isn't a starter, he's a guy who can come off the bench and give you some good minutes, get some boards, and block some shots.

Anonymous said...

dr. g, for someone on the level of your skill and knowledge, that come back was rather weak. you may want to run them by Mr. Green or Roget for approval, before embarassing yourself.

Anonymous said...

Actually, Anon, Dr. G got you good. A bit subtle for your IQ maybe, but no doubt accurate. And by the way, the Jerk Store called and they're out of you! T-Bone, T- Bone!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks, T-Bone, but the Nameless One isn't even worth acknowledging -- "Anonymous" is probably the pet name his girlfriends gave to his naughty bit...
I wanted to second the comments by Mr. Green and -- hard to believe! -- eleanor the dog about Sammy D. Dalembert a "key to the strong play as of late"?!! A key?!! What are you smoking while watching the games, TJC? SD is AT BEST an occasionally successful role player, whose occasions depend entirely on whether he happens to feel like being in the building any given night. This guy's work ethic would make Bush Junior look like a workaholic. He mentally checks out of the vast majority of games every season, showing a few flashes of talent before returning to whatever Fantasy Island is playing in his head. The fact is, Sammy D is stealing money from the NBA.