12/3: Lakers Game

[tk76-]

Can't say I'm expecting much.  Iguopdala usually gets all fired up to guard Kobe, and Kobe tries to downplay his Philly connections.

My guess is that Kobe goes off this game- he's due against the Sixers.

It will be interesting to see how much Sam and Evans we see this game.  Speights probably will be a bit exposed against either of the Lakers frontcourt starters, but I'd see rather see him out there.

[Skates]

I think Brand will have a tough time offensively against the taller players on the Lakers front line, hopefully his jumper will be falling.  This is one of those games where you hope to play them to a stalemate and have one of your guys get incredibly hot.  Maybe we will get one of those WG games where he looks like a reincarnation of Andrew Toney for 30 minutes and can't miss. 

[jemagee]

I wonder how the lakers will react to their embarrassing fourth quarter performance last night.

[anklebreaker]

Even though he's slumping, I'd like to see Lou get a few more minutes tonight.  I don't think Farmar can stay in front of him, nor Fisher for that matter.  We're going to need to get something from our bench tonight.  Either Willie, Lou, or Speights is going to have to really show up tonight for us to have a chance. 

[jemagee]

And back in the starting line up goes Sam Dalembert - here's hoping his minutes are diminished again

[tk76-]

Any word on if Ed said anything relevant.  Other coaches have been canned in the past week.

[jemagee]

Well 10-3 hot start turns into 21-21

First subs - Willie and Theo for Thad and Sam?

[jemagee]

I don't think i've ever seen such an apathetic performance

[tk76-]

That was the most unsurprising run ever by the Lakers.  Was there any doubt it was about to happen... and then Mo put in the scrubs to increase the bleeding.

[jemagee]

Even though he's shooting 50% it drives me crazy that the 'point guard' has the most shots - michael thompson criticizing the sixers 'not performing' for miller when pointing out he only had 2 assists - he also said he saw some snipeing between players on the court

[jemagee]

Is it possible that like shawn marion iguodala has ugly mechanics but it works for him anyway?

[Skates]

Second half of a back to back against an all-around deeper and better team.  Speights got schooled as all rookies sometimes do, but the talent still looks great, I bet he bounces back next game.  Not much else to see here, move along.

[tk76-]

Games like this one make it clear that this Sixer team is much closer to a 40 win caliber team than a 50 win team.  Expecting more does not make them more than what they are.

This team will likely make the playoffs, barely.  I saw them as a 48-52 win team this year, and 50+ next year.  That was just wrong.  Its more than just the coach.  This team is very far away from being a contender.

Maybe with more realistic expectations this team will be somewhat more watchable.  Its been painful expecting more- but those expectations have proven themselves unreasonable.

[Derek Bodner]

Is it possible that like shawn marion iguodala has ugly mechanics but it works for him anyway?

Except that, you know, at 35.1% eFG% on his jump shots going into today, it's not working for him.

Last year his eFG% was 41%, regular fg% around 39%, so it wasn't exactly working for him last year either.

[Derek Bodner]

Apparently Brand was playing through an injury to his achilles....





















(no, just kidding.  Hamstring, I think).