In a season full of surprising wins, we find ourselves needing a few more as the Sixers head into the final 10 games of the season. Tonight's game, against Atlanta, needs to be the first.
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Latest comment: from John
It would also be a mistake - of the coaching variety - but would not be surprising...
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Let's face facts, the number 4 seed is a long shot. That's not the home court advantage I'm talking about right now. I'm talking about a HUGE three-game homestand and how we, the fans, can do our part to lift this team up. It hasn't happened often this season, but with games against Atlanta, Milwaukee and Detroit coinciding with a three-game road trip for Miami, this team needs any edge it can get. So how about this, how about the guys on this blog do everything we can tomorrow night against Atlanta. So far, I count 6 of us who will be in attendance. Here's the great news, Dean has two more tickets, so if you want to join us, it won't cost you a dime.
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Well, Miami continues to do its part. They coughed up a fourth quarter lead at home to Orlando tonight. The Sixers again control their own destiny. Miami still holds a 1-game lead, but they're even in the loss column. None of the other important teams played tonight. Possibly the biggest development was Orlando continuing to push for the number two seed. Given the choice between Boston and Orlando in the first round, who do you want?
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The Sixers have been talking about bad calls, non-calls and officiating since last night's loss. They've been delicate in choosing their words, and I don't really know if they should be. I do know that Detroit didn't commit one defensive foul in the entire fourth quarter, so draw whatever conclusions you will from that. I'm not going to worry myself with poor officiating. To be honest, I'm more shocked when the refs do a good job these days, and I count myself lucky whenever I'm lucky enough to turn the TV on and see that Violet Palmer is not on the floor. After the jump, we'll look at the stretch that cost the Sixers the game.
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I can only assume that the headline is the general feeling in the locker room. I mean, I don't know how else you can explain the lack of a sense of urgency on the floor. I don't know how else you can explain not hustling after loose balls in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. I don't know how else you can rationalize not giving a foul when you're down by 4 points with 10 seconds left. I guess they felt like they didn't need the win.
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Let's face facts, the Palace at Auburn Hills has been very kind to the Sixers lately. They won game 1 on their first round playoff match there last season, they beat the Pistons there the past 2 times they've met in the regular season. Maybe that annoying "De-troit Basket-ball," guy gives them a little motivation. Who knows why, let's just hope the trend continues today.
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Latest comment: from Mike
we will see them again next weekend and have to split...
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Well, if you were even tangentially in a playoff race with the Sixers, Saturday was your day. The Heat, Pistons, Bulls and Bobcats all won, so while the Sixers were resting up, the competition was gaining on them, and separating themselves a little bit.
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During the in-game discussion last night I was pretty critical of Reggie Evans and some people may have thought it was unfair. After all, he was on the court during the Sixers' comeback. I slept on it, and I don't think it's something I should apologize for. But I will explain, quickly, exactly what I think Reggie is.
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Games like tonight are what make me fairly certain the Sixers would have a better record right now had Elton Brand not gotten hurt. There's no way they would ever get destroyed on the boards like that if he was in the lineup. As it was, Larry Brown out Larry Browned Tony DiLeo and the Sixers squandered another opportunity.
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Latest comment: from Brian
Should a team in a tight playoff race lose back-to-back games on the road to teams under .500?...
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There is one coach in this league who I fear, now that Jeff Van Gundy is in the announcer's booth. That man is none other than Larry Brown (AKA, The Rat, frequently in our comments section.) I don't fear Phil Jackson, I don't fear Jerry Sloan, I fear their players maybe, but not the coaches themselves. Larry Brown, though, is a guy who I think could probably take a group of five stiffs and get them to put up a decent fight. If the Sixers are going to win tonight against the Bobcats, they're probably going to have to win ugly.
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Latest comment: from Bryon
Exactly....
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A quick public service announcement. Dean H (officially known as Commenter Of The Season from here on out), scored 4 tickets to Tuesday's game against the Hawks. He's been kind enough to invite myself and my brother and now we're going to open it up to you guys to fill the final seat.
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Latest comment: from Brian
Cool, you're in. Send me an email so we can coordinate. [email protected]...
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Now is not the time to start thinking about seeding. Now is not the time to be checking the out-of-town scoreboard. It happened to this team at this time last season, and it cost them down the stretch. They cannot afford to look the big picture, they cannot afford to focus on anything other than tonight's game with the Charlotte Bobcats.
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Latest comment: from Real and Speightacular
"Which fits nicely into the subset of the desire not to see reggie at all" *slaps table* LOL!...
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