There definitely has been some improvement, but it's far from fulfilling this team's potential. 21 points in a quarter is bad scoring, and the Sixers did it twice. Getting outrebounded by the other team and giving up 19 O-boards is pathetic against a team like the Hornets.
Not playing Speights enough is not a good thing, it's a serious mistake. First off with regard to his passing, he shoots a higher percentage than any other player on the team. More often that not, he SHOULD be taking the shot. The idiot who critisized him for not passing, know less about basketball than some Women I know. In fact, the negativity surrounding him is moronic, considering his potential. Best post up scorer the Sixers have and Jordan only finds 5 minutes for him? That's bad coaching.
Brand fouled out of the game last night and Sam also got into foul trouble. Having Speights and Smith ready to play is integral to this team's long-term success. And continuing to start Thad at the 4 is also stupid. How many times does Sammy do a good job defending the first shot only to have another player make the 2nd? Sam can't do it by himself, and Thad isn't strong enough to keep most 4's off the glass.
It was an Ok win, but it shouldn't have been anywhere near this close a game. Eddie tends to play some way too many minutes, and it usually costs us the game. You don't want bad players out there, making mistakes. But fatigue causes mistakes too.
The problem is Jordan has more confidence in his guards than he does his big forwards. We go 4 deep in the backcourt with Lou, AI, Willie and Jrue. But no one really spells Sam when he is out, and Speghts gets very little time, meaning that the Center and Power forward spot are only being manned by 3 players. Sam, Elton and Thad. Meanwhile Speights and Smith sit on the bench not getting any experience or providing any rest for the others who are getting overworked.
This also keeps Iguodala as a 3 and not a 2. Which forces Eddie to play Thad as a 4 which he is not. A third of the way into the season, you'd expect more out of Smith and Speights, who while raw both show potential to be solid players. This has been a problem with the Sixers for years, before it was because we didn't have these players but now it's because the coach is unwilling to use his bigs to create mismatch problems for the other team. If your team can have a height advantage that's a good thing!
