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Sixers Stunned By MavericksFebruary 19, 2012 9:34 am
Edited on: February 25, 2012 4:04 pm
Posted:Saturday, February 18, 2012, 12:54 AM Bob Cooney At halftime of Friday's Sixers-Mavericks game, Sixers CEO Adam Aron asked me if I could believe his team was winning by 14 points. I told him it was impressive. He then wearily asked me what I thought might happen in the second half. I say wearily because Aron knows me as a realist, not a cheerleader for his team. I said one of two things could happen. Either the Mavericks come out in the second half and miss shots the way they did in the first and, without bench spark Jason Terry (our for personal reasons), the Mavericks could lose interest. Aron liked that answer. Then I said that Dirk Nowitzki is going to hit shots (he was 2-for-11 at the half). How many he hit could be a big factor. That didn't please Aron. Nor did the final outcome of the game. Nowitzki scored 24 points in the second half - the same number as the Sixers - and the Mavericks rode that to an 82-75 win that improved them to 20-11 and gave the Sixers their second loss in a row, also dropping their record to 20-11. Where did it all go wrong? Well there were plenty of areas, first and foremost Nowitzki. In a 24-8 third quarter blitz by the Mavs, Nowitzki scored half his teams points, missing just one of his six shots, making two three-pointers and repeatedly draining his patented fade-way, one-footed, turnaround jump shot. All he did after that impressive third quarter stint was duplicate it in the fourth. Perhaps enamored with Nowitzki's outside game, the Sixers decided that was how they were going to conduct business at the offensive end. Problem was, they couldn't hit any shots, making just 4-0f-20. It appeared as if there was an electric fence around the lane and the Sixers were wearing shocking collars because they never ventured there, instead relying solely on mostly mid-range jump shots. And when you consider that they got only 29 points of offense from their starters, including 0-for-12 shooting from their starting backcourt of Jrue Holiday (0-for-9) and Jodie Meeks, the puzzle of this loss starts to come together a bit. "It was a tale of two halves to say the least," said coach Doug Collins. "The first half we were active, in the open court, moving the ball, then the second half we started missing shots and I really thought we got discouraged. We got in the halfcourt and we couldn't create anything. That's a very good defensive team. I thought we missed a lot of shots that we normally make. We could never get anything offensively generated." Many Sixer fans will point to the fact that in that decisive third quarter Dallas had a star to go to, knowing he alone could bring the Mavericks back in the game. And when that happened, the Sixers don't have that type of player to answer. That fact is known, but that's the way this team is currently built. What was most revealing was how no one appeared to even try to turn things around in the third. There were few, if any, hard drives to the basket in an attempt to get to the foul line, get a couple easy points and temporarily slow down the Dallas onslaught. Instead there appeared to be hesitency. Of the 20 shots taken, each of the nine by the starters missed. Rookie Nikola Vucevic scored a career-high 16 points to lead the Sixers, while Lou Williams added 12 and Andre Iguodala 10. It was the second-straight poor outing for Holiday, who finished with three points and just two assists. That followed a five-turnover and 1-of-8 shooting performance for him in Orlando on Wednesday. He is clearly struggling. When asked about his point guard's game, Collins replied: "Gotta keep fighting, man. It's a tough business. Tough business." It only gets tougher as the team will fly to Minnesota on Saturday afternoon after a brief workout then face the Timberwolves on Sunday. They'll then face Memphis on Tuesday and Houston on Wednesday before heading to the All-Star break. After that they'll return to action on Tuesday in Detroit before hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder the next night. I'm not all that disappointed in this loss to tell you the truth. The defending champions did what they were suppose to do in the second half. Can't hate on that. It's clear that this team is not ready to take on the big boys of the West or against Miami in the East. Their top scorer comes off the bench (Lou Williams) and their two highest paid players (Elton Brand and Andre Iguodala) stay outside and shoot jumpers instead of going to the rack and drawing fouls. To be honest, I won't want Iguodala shooting free throws because his percentage stinks but Brand use to be a low-post player until after his string of injuries and now he's fallen love with the elbow jumpshot. I rarely see this guy go to the foulline yet he's our highest paid player and the ball doesn't even go through him when it's crunchtime, I don't get it. I set my expectations low this season and I stated that if this team can get to the second round then it's a successful season. I think they will do that easily if they can keep this lead in their division, but I just don't see this team beating teams like the Chicago Bulls, Celtics and the Miami Heat this season because of obvious reasons. They don't draw enough fouls, they don't have a inside/outside game, they rely too much on fastbreaks and jumpshots and they don't a legitimate low-post player or a legitimate go-to guy in the closing minutes of the game. Jrue Holiday gets torched by the top point guards in this league, yet everyone wants to believe he's a superstar in the making. I personally don't believe that. I think he will be a good solid point guard in this league, but a Superstar? I think not. Doug Collins has made this team relevant again, so I give him all the props in the world. This new ownership really want to win and I give props to that as well, so I'm going to enjoy this season and hope they can meet my 2nd round expectation and improve through the draft and free agency the following season. Out. 2012 Category: NBA Eagles Disappoint Late againNovember 14, 2011 5:05 pm
Posted: Monday November 14, 2011 7:51AM by Peter King of S.I. Week 2: Up 31-21 at Atlanta with 14 minutes left. The Matt Ryan-led Falcons twice drive 80 yards to touchdowns. Eagles lose, 35-31. Week 3: Up 16-14 over the Giants at home with 10 minutes left. Eli Manning takes the Giants on 54- and 56-yard touchdown drives. Philadelphia offense snoozes again. Eagles lose, 29-16. Week 4: Up 23-17 over San Francisco at home with six minutes left. Alex Smith drives the 49ers 77 yards to a touchdown. Jeremy Maclin fumbles with the Eagles on the doorstep to win late. Eagles lose, 24-23. Week 9: Up 24-20 over Chicago at home with 14 minutes left. Jay Cutler drives the Bears 51 yards to a touchdown and 54 yards to a field goal. Eagles lose 30-24. Week 10 (Sunday): Up 17-14 over Arizona at home with five minutes to go. Arizona's third-string quarterback last year (behind Derek Anderson and Max Hall) and its second-stringer this year, Fordham Ram John Skelton, drives the Cards 87 yards in 11 plays. On third-and-10 from the Eagle 38, rookie safety Jaiquawn Jarrett, making his first career start, is left alone in coverage on Larry Fitzgerald, and Skelton rainbows a pass to Fitzgerald to the one-yard line. The Cards score three plays later. Skelton throws for 166 yards in the fourth quarter. Eagles lose 21-17. That, folks, is how to blow a season right there. This team is god awful and it's due to the same problem the Eagles had back in 2005 when TO didn't get his money. He divided the lockerroom and players quit on the team. The same thing is happening with DeSean Jackson who hasn't received a new deal but is being asked to put himself in harms way for $500,000 which is well below his worth. He's not as loud and animated as TO but he's a diva nevertheless and he's doing his damage quietly. Reports out of the lockerroom stating that DeSean Jackson was told to go home because he missed a SP teams meeting and he was tardy for a few other meetings during the week. Other players were tardy too so it's apparent that he gaining more support from other players who have given up on the team concept and playing for themselves. Andy Reid is losing this team as his decision to bench Jackson costed the Eagles the game because he was the most important player on the field. Defenses plan against him but when he's not there, they just stack 8 in the box and go after Vick and McCoy because they are not threatened by Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant or Steve Smith. What a terrible way to end this season and if Andy Reid is given the OK to come back and coach or even worst get an extension then the fanbase will have use the power they refuse to use and stop buying tickets because as long as fans are on a 10,000 waiting list the Owner will NEVER get rid of Andy Reid. Out. 2011 Category: NFL Eagles Could Be Interested in Brett FavreJuly 25, 2011 2:58 am
By Gil Alcaraz IV 12 hours, 16 minutes ago It seems that the Philadelphia Eagles could be considering signing Favre as a backup to starting quarterback Michael Vick. The Eagles will most likely be trading away current backup quarterback Kevin Kolb as soon as the lockout ends, so they'll need some security. If Vick happens to go down with an injury, someone with more experience than Mike Kafka will need to take over if the Eagles hope to have a shot at the Super Bowl this season. Apparently, this is where Favre comes in. However, I find it hard to believe that Favre would be willing to just sit on the bench and play second fiddle while Vick shreds opposing defenses. He's a man with an itch that only playing time can scratch. Even for a handsome amount of cash, he won't be willing to stand by idly as an insurance policy. He'll be clawing at Eagles' head coach Andy Reid's back by the second or third game of the season. The Eagles could put Favre's recliner from Mississippi on the sidelines during games and it still wouldn't be enough to counteract his inability to simply be a spectator. This quandary is what makes me believe that this Favre talk is all made-up hoopla that's supposed to stir speculation and give fans another reason to hate or love one of the most unpredictable players in recent NFL history. When he mulls it over, I can't see Favre choosing the dizziness that comes with being pounded into the turf over the comfort of his nice, quiet Mississippi home. It may be real football talk that doesn't have to do with revenue shares or salary limits for rookies, but I doubt a "Favre Watch 2011" is what NFL fans were hoping would materialize this weekend. Lockout stories laden with lawyer mumbo-jumbo may even be more appealing. I can only hope that this rumor is nipped in the bud before it gets out of hand, but you never know what you're going to get when Favre is involved. They usually say that where there's smoke, there's fire; hopefully it's just Favre starting up the barbeque and finally enjoying retirement. It's nice to hear some old football rumors as the lockout comes to an end. A backup QB is not the biggest need of the Eagles so I don't think this rumor is true. The Eagles have stated that the rumor is NOT true but they have a history of deceiving us over the last few years. Only the reason why it could be possible is because Andy Reid worked with Brett Favre when he was on the staff of the Green Bay Packers and we all know that Andy looks out for his boys....just ask Doug Peterson. Whether it's true or not, I'm glad that the lockout is almost over and I can prepare for training camp in Leigh. Go Eagles!!! Category: NFL Tags: Brett Favre, Philadelphia Eagles
Bautista's 27th HR helps Blue Jays Avoid SweepJuly 4, 2011 3:28 pm
Associated Press Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 27th home run, one of three Toronto homers in a four-run eighth, and the Blue Jays snapped Lee's scoreless innings streak at 34 with a 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep. "(Lee) had a clean seventh inning," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "All of a sudden in the eighth inning, things kind of fell apart." The Blue Jays also hit three homers in an inning on April 25 victory at Texas. Lee, who had not allowed a home run in 49 innings, disputed Manuel's assertion that his pitches were up in the pivotal eighth. "I felt like they were decent pitches but obviously that doesn't matter," he said. "The result is what matters." Octavio Dotel (2-1) pitched 1 2/3 innings for the win and Rajai Davis went 3 for 4 with three stolen bases for Toronto, who had lost five of six. Lee (9-6) gave up a season-high seven runs -- six earned -- and 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings. He walked none and struck out nine. The left-hander, who went 5-0 with an 0.21 ERA in five June starts, had not lost since May 31 at Washington and came in having pitched three consecutive shutouts. "I don't really care about the month I had," Lee said. "I care about today and giving the team a chance to win." Lee extended his scoreless innings streak to 34 before giving up a run in the third. It's the second longest in Phillies history. Grover Cleveland Alexander threw 41 consecutive shutout innings in 1911. The Phillies jumped on Blue Jays left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes with a four-run second. Shane Victorino doubled and scored on Ben Francisco's single, Domonic Brown singled and Carlos Ruiz drove in Francisco with a ground-rule double to right-center. One out later, Jimmy Rollins capped the rally with a two-run single to right. Toronto scored the first run against Lee since June 11 when Davis tripled to lead off the third and came home on John McDonald's grounder to shortstop. Davis was involved again as the Blue Jays made it 4-2 in the fifth, reaching on a single and stealing second and third before scoring on a two-out hit by Aaron Hill. For Davis, the stolen bases were his first since June 4. The Blue Jays cut it to one run with an unearned run in the sixth. Bautista singled and went to third when Francisco made an error on Lind's bloop single down the line in left. Juan Rivera followed with a sacrifice fly to center, with Victorino stumbling and falling as he tried to throw to the plate. Victorino stayed down and appeared to twist his left ankle on the play. He was tended to by trainers and remained in the game. "I just got my cleat stuck," Victorino said. "I was coming in and I saw Bautista was going to tag, then I realized that (Adam) Lind, I could have doubled him up at second. I paused and gathered myself and tried to throw to second and when I did that my cleat got caught and everything else fell forward." A baserunning error by Victorino cost the Phillies an insurance run in the eighth. Reliever Marc Rzepczynski left after Victorino's double to right and Philadelphia sent pinch hitter Raul Ibanez to the plate to face Dotel. After Victorino was caught in a rundown between second and third, Ibanez doubled to left but was stranded when Brown flied out to end the inning. "He was jumping around like he was going to steal," Manuel said of Victorino. "The guy put an inside move on him." Thames immediately made the Phillies pay by crushing a leadoff drive to center in the bottom half, his third. Bautista followed with a towering drive to left off his fellow All-Star, the fifth time this season the Blue Jays have hit back-to-back homers. Adam Lind singled and Rivera flied out before Encarnacion chased Lee with a two-run blast into the second deck in left-center, his sixth. Game notes My boy Cliff Lee got roughed up in the eighth inning of yesterday's game. You know, with all the struggles the Phillies have had with hitting and pitchers getting hurt, they still manage to lead the league in wins. The problems the Phillies have may come back to bite them in the playoffs if they don't correct them soon. I've seen this many times with the Eagles when fans and media ignore the obvious issues with the team during the regular season because they are winning and when the playoffs come around those weaknesses get exposed in a big way. I'm glad that the Phillies are leading the league in wins but I wish they would produce more runs to help out the pitching staff when they have an off night or day like Cliff Lee did. Even Cole Hamels (who I'm not a big fan of because of his whiny attitude) would have more wins if the hitters produced more runs. The Phillies can't expect the Pitchers to keep teams at 1 run game in and game out, so they better get their act together or they will fail to reach the World Series or even worst....the NL Championships. Go Phillies!!! Out. 2011 Category: MLB Sixers Pick Vucevic At No. 16 In DraftJune 26, 2011 5:04 pm
Edited on: June 26, 2011 5:20 pm
June 24, 2011 By Kate Fagan, Inquirer Staff Writer There was some concern in the days leading up to the draft that the Houston Rockets, drafting two spots ahead of the Sixers at No. 14 and in need of a center to possibly replace the injured Yao Ming, would take Vucevic. But as the draft played out, and as Philly native Marcus Morris, predicted to be a lottery pick, dropped into the Rockets' lap at No. 14, the Sixers knew that Vucevic would be available for them at No. 16. In the minutes after making the selection, Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski explained that the Sixers were so sold on Vucevic that they considered moving up in the draft to secure him. Vucevic, 20, said he "had an idea" that he would be coming to Philly. "He was in the mix for us all along," Stefanski said. Continued Stefanski: "This was a brutal draft. . . . There were surprises all night long. In the draft room, we were shocked at where particular players went. Again, we were just looking to see if Vucevic could fall to us." Vucevic, 20, played three seasons for the Trojans. He was born in Switzerland, raised in Belgium, and moved to Montenegro with his family as a teenager. His father, Borislav, played professionally overseas for 24 seasons. "He wanted to come here. His agent told me," Stefanski said. "The kid is in love with [coach] Doug Collins and wants to play for him, so he's going to get his opportunity." Vucevic said he and Collins had a number of great conversations. "You could tell in the times we talked that he's a great person," Vucevic said. "I would really fit well with his system. He told me a lot of great things about me, what he liked about me, and which ways he could help me. I felt like it was a great fit for me." In Vucevic, the Sixers said they are getting a pro-ready big man with solid fundamentals and legitimate NBA size. Vucevic adds much-needed bulk to the team's interior. "Because of his basketball IQ and his shooting ability and his passing of the basketball, he will fight for some time as a rotation player," Stefanski said. During his junior season with USC, Vucevic averaged 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds a game. He was initially projected as a second-round pick but began climbing the draft charts after a strong showing at the NBA combine in Chicago. The Sixers interviewed Vucevic at the Chicago combine and also hosted him for a predraft workout at the team's practice facility, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. "We are incredibly thrilled to draft Nikola Vucevic," Collins said in a statement. "I liked him from the moment I saw him at the Chicago predraft camp. He is a hard working, skilled big man with the desire to succeed who gives us more size in the frontcourt, which is a need. He is a player that we are ecstatic to have on our roster, and I look forward to coaching him." As for Allen, a Pennsbury High School graduate, he said he was happy to stay close to home "where my family and friends are able to support me." Allen was the 2011 Big 5 most outstanding player. He ended his career as Temple's all-time rebound leader (1,147) and 24th on the all-time scoring list with 1,421 points. There were some early-day rumblings that the Sixers might be in discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves to trade Andre Iguodala, but as the draft neared it became clear that the team would stick with its selection. <!-- Module ends: article-text-1--> Dirk Nowitzki wins the playoff MVP award and now European players are the favor of the month as the Sixers run out and grab the big man from Montenegro. Not saying this is a bad thing, but it's funny when something is successful once everyone jumps on the bandwagon and copy the blueprint. Time will tell if Nikola Vucevic will be the next great European player but it will be interesting to watch the events unfold nevertheless. I guess I will have to fill the blanks that the Inquirer writer failed to mention in her article. Since I never seen this guy play and they keep saying he's a big man with size and skills. It would have been great if she would have listed his size/height, so I guess I have to do it for her.... BREAKDOWN: Nikola Vucevic, 6-foot-10, 240-pound junior forward is a multi-talented big man who demonstrates a great feel for the game and can score both inside and outside. He played for the Montenegro national team during the summer. 2009-10: Vucevic had a breakout season finishing second on the team in scoring (10.7 ppg) and first in rebounding (9.4 rpg). He lead USC in scoring five times and in rebounding 20 times, including the last nine games. He lead the Pac-10 with 283 rebounds and offensive rebounds per game (6.3) and his 39 blocks were the fourth most in the conference. Vucevic's .504 shooting percentage (126-for-250) led USC and was seventh best in the Pac-10. Vucevic was named the 2009-10 Pac-10 Most Improved Player. He had the second most blocks ever in a season by a Trojan sophomore and the third most rebounds. He started all 30 games for USC and posted 10 double-doubles. He scored 18 points and had eight rebounds in the first game of the season vs. UC Riverside on Nov. 17, both totals better than any of his freshman games. Scored a career-high 19 points and had 11 rebounds vs. LMU on Nov. 21 for his first career double-double. Matched his career high with 19 points on 9 of 12 shooting at UCLA on Jan. 16, scoring 17 points in the second half. Had 18 points and 14 rebounds at Texas on Dec. 3. His other eight double-doubles were vs. Coppin St. on Nov. 27 (15 points/12 rebounds), vs. Sacramento St. on Dec. 8 (14 points/15 rebounds), vs. Tennessee on Dec. 19 (15 points/10 rebounds), vs. Washington on Jan. 23 (11 points/13 rebounds), at Oregon on Jan. 30 (10 points/14 rebounds), vs. California on Feb. 4 (10 points/10 rebounds), vs. Stanford on Feb. 6 (18 points/14 rebounds) and at Washington on Feb. 18 (13 points/10 rebounds). Had a career-high 16 rebounds on Feb. 25 vs. Oregon. Was given the Harold Jones Award as USC's most improved player and the Top Rebounder Award at the team awards banquet. Category: NBA |
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