Following a tough loss to the Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night the Sixers were in need of a bounce-back victory to maintain their first place pace, which is why their eyes lit up when they saw the Wizards on the schedule – twice in two nights. In the first of a home-and-home, back-to-back with the last place Wizards the Sixers won handily at the Wells Fargo Center, by a final score of 120-89 en route to their eighth win of the season.
There's not much analysis to be done in this one. The Sixers led from start to finish and all but buried the Wizards in the third quarter – leading by as many as 34 – as they do against most bad teams. They saw the Wizards trim their lead to 16 about mid-way through the fourth – which Coach Collins was not pleased about – but turned the jets on once more and ended up winning by 31.
One theme I took from tonight's game – and it may be a non-issue – is the intensity of Doug Collins. The only reason I bring it up is because of the stories we've all heard about Doug eventually wearing out his welcome with teams for being too intense and too hard on his players. Well, tonight Doug yanked Jrue Holiday from the game after one minute of play because Jrue committed two turnovers, and later yanked Jrue again for another miscue. Collins was also furious early in the fourth when the Sixers seemed poised to blow their large lead. Now me personally, I like the intensity and the short leash Doug has with his players, especially Jrue. Jrue is still extremely young and an important piece of this franchise's future, so now is not the time for him to become lazy, cocky or anything of that nature. I haven't been too pleased with his apparent lax play at times this year, so I like seeing Doug put his foot down. And what coach wouldn't be pissed about his team blowing a 34 point lead? Like I said, I have no problem with Doug; I'm just pointing out the first signs of Collins potentially "wearing out his welcome" sometime down the road, which he has a history of doing. It's nothing to fret about at the moment, but something to keep an eye on.
(Check out this video of Lou discussing Jrue's struggles, via Derek Bodner.)
As for the game itself, it's difficult to find anything the Sixers did wrong. They shot 55 percent from the floor, hit 12 threes (in 18 attempts), and had seven players score in double figures. Jodie Meeks was the star of the game, hitting 10-11 shots (6-7 from deep) for 26 points. He also accumulated a game high +/- of +36. Hawes had a double-double in his return. Turner finished with an all-around 12 points, 5 boards and 4 assists. And Lou had 19 points, 6 assists. Andres Nocioni even got into the action with a late three pointer.
Side note: Each game I fall more and more in love with Malik Rose as a color commentator. MEEKdonalds, everybody! Another side note, "The Executioner" Bernard Hopkins was asked who he likes on the Sixers during an in-game interview with Meredith Marakovits and his response, after stumbling for a few seconds was "Eye-donna". It's pretty clear he was trying to pronounce Iguodala, and it's also pretty clear he had no idea where he was during the interview. Nice try, B-Hop.
Player of the Game: Jodie M333333ks
Up Next: @Washington tomorrow night
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0 recs | 24 comments
Reposting
PhiladelphiaEagles - January 13, 2012
Some more:
PhiladelphiaEagles - January 13, 2012
Best Part of the Game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4bOsXhLHWc
pman8 - January 13, 2012
Did he have a stroke sitting on the bench?
xEgan - January 13, 2012
Very nice
Dpez71 - January 13, 2012
This team is fun to watch
Loved the quickness of their rotations on defense. The Wiz-ARDs are awful, but that’s no reason to get lazy, and they didn’t. One thing I noticed in particular is how well Vucevic was moving around – for a guy whose athleticism was the big pre-draft question mark he looks pretty light on his feet to me, and while he’s obviously never going to be a big-time shot blocker he appears quick enough to get across to the backside and contest shots, which is enough not to be a defensive liability. Holiday, Turner, Iguodala, and even Meeks were great on the perimeter – this team gets into the passing lanes so well that they’ll kill teams that don’t have good guard play, which fortunately for us is about half the teams in the NBA.
Also loved the ball movement on offense. Meeks can be an asset if all he has to do is take uncontested threes and they got him a lot of those tonight with drives to the hoop by the guards and passing out of the double team by the big men. Even Sweet Lou passed up a couple of shots to dish it to the open man. They still have their hiccups but on the whole they’re playing very smart, especially for such a young team. Hopefully Collins can keep them “playing the right way”, to borrow LB’s phrase – I’d like to think that’s what he was trying to do by yanking Jrue after those two quick turnovers.
Xeynon - January 13, 2012
xEgan - January 13, 2012
That’s more like it.
nyunole - January 13, 2012
Meeks...
So frustrating. Can I ask for a little consistency from the starting SG? His PPG stat line looks like Powerball numbers…
3,12,5,2,2,21,7,5,14,3,26
PhillyWarrior - January 13, 2012
At least points per game is all that matters!
Michael Levin - January 13, 2012
But if you don’t score 20, it doesn’t matter anyway…
dweebowitz - January 13, 2012
better version of spence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnoIThHOgxI
pman8 - January 13, 2012
No mention of the 76ers in the second place?!
when was the last time the Sixers been in second place?
BIBTD - January 13, 2012
Wheres a vid of the jrue dunk
Djax10 - January 13, 2012
I feel bad for the Wizards' fans.
When they want to trade John Wall for Maya Moore ( Wnba player).. you know something is up. Flip probably get fired if the Wizards get lose by a blowout tomorrow.
BIBTD - January 13, 2012
I’m not worried about Collins wearing out his welcome. The vets seem to appreciate having an actual coach, and the young guys follow the vets. I’m sure if it becomes a problem, Iguodala and/or Brand will let him know.
When is it okay to start worrying about the fact that Jrue consistently comes out of the gate slow? I feel he’s a big reason why our offense stalls in the first quarter. It’s like…he just doesn’t get into the game until 6 minutes go by. I don’t get it.
duckyninja - January 13, 2012
General Question....
First off, I love the way the Six just beats on the truly bad teams. At one point late in the game, the Wizards TV broadcast(I live out west) went to a commercial break with the clip of Holiday dunking over Vesely. The Wizards broadcast. I’m amazed to even be writing such comments just two years removed from the Eddie Jordan era (I hear he’s now coaching a 9th grade team by the way). The Wizards absolutely stink. They’re at the lowest point that any professional sports organization can find themselves. I think it is just a matter of time until they start selling off some of their young players to get a couple veterans in there who can help develop Wall, Vesely, Singleton, and McGee (if McGee doesn’t get dealt). Which brings me to my question: Is their anybody on this Wizards team worth taking a chance on for the Six? Nick Young? Blatche? Blatche is on the books at roughly $8M per for the next three seasons, and I believe Young would have to be a FA acquisition since he signed a one-year deal. And let me be clear….the way these guys play right now, I wouldn’t want any part of them. But I have so much faith in Collins’ ability to teach that maybe he could turn one of these guys around. Or maybe they are just not that talented. Just a thought.
HermosaPhilly - January 14, 2012
Maybe but IDK
I don’t think there’s really a place for Nick Young on the sixers.
With Blatche, while I think talent wise it would be good, the guy is too much of a headcase
stonewall12345678 - January 14, 2012
I had a conversation with Bernard Hopkins in a Sprint store before, that guy really needs to stop getting hit in his head. It was like trying to make sense of a drunk toddler.
HossBoss - January 14, 2012 via mobile
If the playoffs started today it would be another 76ers / Heat matchup...
Sixers in the 3rd place spot and heat in the 6th place spot.
mopey - January 14, 2012
B-hop was asked something about the sixers fast start this season and his reply was something to the effect of having a better record than the wizards….good to know he keeps up with his favorite basketball team.
jefu - January 14, 2012 via mobile
Good to see Jodie heating up after the slow start. I know stomping the Wizards isn’t really something to brag about but damn I love watching the Sixers blow those guys out.
jrb5094 - January 14, 2012
Can They Keep It Up?
statforthat - January 14, 2012
Those ’91 Bucks were eventually swept in the playoffs by your 76ers.
nyunole - January 14, 2012
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