It was an ugly first quarter but through tough efforts from Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, and Jrue Holiday, the Sixers were able to make a dynamic 4th quarter comeback to end the road trip above .500.
Discuss all things from Turner's fabulous aggressiveness, Holiday's wet jumper in the 2nd half, and Andre Iguodala monstrous put-back slam in the 4th quarter.
JRU3!
0 recs | 52 comments
Five-game road trip ends with a 3-2 record
I’ll happily take that.
Justin F. - January 4, 2012
ET 21 8/12 fg 5/5 ft 6 reb 4 ast
I’ll take that!
IAMTHEJRUTH - January 4, 2012 via mobile
That was simply fantastic. So impressed with that 4th quarter. Loved how they clawed their way back into the game and played smart basketball. It’s really wonderful to watch the evolution of this team as they continue to gel and become a solid, smart basketball team.
Mitchell Green - January 4, 2012
Philly.com
I think the writers at Philly.com have to find another sixer to trade other than Iggy now, not an all-star or superstar start, but Iggy’s been playing solid basketball and doing what his team needs him to do
Phila76er9 - January 4, 2012
They’re pandering to the average fans. Nothing more.
jefu - January 4, 2012
this
KJ Brophy - January 4, 2012
Mannnn
I mentioned this on twitter but this is the Fan’s Dilemma.
It’s so easy to get excited and fall in love with this team. But the team built as it is has a better chance of falling into that hole of mediocrity than pushing through to the next level of a contender. And I’m trying to be a realist here (i’m typically an optimist)
soman319 - January 4, 2012
Not trying to offend u or anything, but thats exactly what they said about the pistons in the mid-'s
Phila76er9 - January 4, 2012
*2000's
Phila76er9 - January 4, 2012
Really hard to compare this team to the mid 2000s Pistons. Lot of borderline all-stars on that team.
Sheed > Hawes
Billups > Holiday
Rip > Meeks/Turner
Prince > Iguodala
PhillyWarrior - January 4, 2012
I would take Holiday and Iggy over Prince and Billups
Phila76er9 - January 4, 2012
And if hawes continues to play like this who knows?
Phila76er9 - January 4, 2012
U can’t be serious
IAMTHEJRUTH - January 4, 2012 via mobile
Nah, I’ll take the Pistons starting 5 in 2004 that won 54 games and destroyed the Lakers. I’m an optimist too, but come on, that was a good squad.
PhillyWarrior - January 4, 2012
what ?!?!?
Holiday’s not even close to prime Billups at this stage of his career.
Derek Bodner - January 4, 2012
Sippin that kooooooolaid
soman319 - January 4, 2012
billups
I would argue that holiday could transform into a bill ups-type player this year
Phila76er9 - January 4, 2012 via iPhone app
Talking about averaging 17 and 8, above average defense, 90% FT, 40% 3PT. It would be tremendous, but let’s not go nuts.
PhillyWarrior - January 4, 2012
why not?
Jrue just scored 23, and dropped around 5 dimes, along with all made free throws, these numbers are very similar to Billup’s numbers
Phila76er9 - January 4, 2012 via iPhone app
Sample size?
soman319 - January 4, 2012
Holiday
I’m not saying Jrue is going to put up these kind of numbers day in and day out but I believe he has the potential to reach that status this season.
Phila76er9 - January 4, 2012 via iPhone app
Oh definitely. But that’s the thing, its potential/ceiling. I think that if these first 5 games are indicative of the pace and evolution of this team over the course of the season, then I think the game of a lot of guys will be improved upon. But until the 20 game mark, this could just be a case of young/fresh legs. We’ll see as the season moves on. I guess I was just responding to the fact that you said you’d take Holiday (who is still developing) over ’04 Billups
soman319 - January 4, 2012
Whoops, used “I think” twice.
/Captain Redundancy
soman319 - January 4, 2012
Not prime Billups, but Holiday isn’t in his prime yet. I think the comparison fits because of how cool Holiday has seemed in big moments in games, like it doesn’t effect him. I wasn’t watching billups too much early in his career, but his stats aren’t that great until he was 26 with the pistons (1yr peak at age 29, 05-06 with 18.5 & 8.6).
J.P.Melle - January 4, 2012
none taken.
Cautiously optimistic is more accurate to what I feel.
But honestly, the expectations and “sipping the koolaid” sort of causes us fans to gloss over deficiencies. Case in point is the fact that the pick-and-roll game has torn us apart so far (even in this game).
soman319 - January 4, 2012
21 - 61 combined in 1st quarters this season
Hm…such slow starts. Can’t do that against the elite teams and hope to have any chance. Is Meeks the biggest problem, or is it something else?
PhillyWarrior - January 4, 2012
hes def not helping
would rather have xavier henry starting and be relieved by the Bo$$ but w/e. We get better each game and were gonna blow some teams out if we can figure out the 1st quarter.
jdol1568 - January 4, 2012
Philly basketball
is back baby.
PhilliePhan24 - January 4, 2012
Come on you guys where are the hot chicks!?
KJ Brophy - January 4, 2012
Buzz's Girlfriend...
WOOF!
Vince1129 - January 5, 2012
Did you guys know that Malik Rose is on twitter?
KJ Brophy - January 4, 2012
Rose
Love this guy, big time homer but that’s cool, he doesn’t do it in an annoying way.
Best color guy since Mix, hope he stays around awhile.
PhillyWarrior - January 4, 2012
As Bart Scott would say
“TO ALL THE NON-BELIEVERS” in Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner. 2nd Highest PPG in the league baby wassup
jdol1568 - January 4, 2012
andre iguodala
almost single handedly blew the game tho with that ill advised 3 jack-up and his 3rd drive turned turnover of the game. he scares me man but I’m glad doug has realized the ball in the 4th quarter is best suited for Jrue
jdol1568 - January 4, 2012
It’s up to Jrue, Turner and Boss to not defer to AI9 with the shot clock low. They did this around 2 to 3 times tonight, which causes Iguodala’s FG% to plummet. I’m the biggest Iguodala hater in the world and not tryin to defend him, but the young guys gotta do their part too.
Love Turner’s aggressiveness and Jrue’s ice cold J tonight.
PhillyWarrior - January 4, 2012
Hopefully you’ll get educated soon.
jefu - January 4, 2012
I honestly don't get the hate lol
He’s been pretty solid in the 4 games prior. And by solid i mean around 17-7-5 range.
soman319 - January 4, 2012
who are you talking about?
Phila76er9 - January 4, 2012 via iPhone app
Iguodala. I took a very cursory look at his stats so the numbers probably don’t add up but I know from watching the past 4 games that he’s filled the stat sheet and was picking and choosing his shots better.
soman319 - January 4, 2012
I have irrational hate about Iguodala, Willie Green and Andy Reid. I’m working on it.
PhillyWarrior - January 4, 2012
I’ll give you Willie Green and even Reid. haha
soman319 - January 4, 2012
yes
Even Iguodala haters have to accept the fact that he shut down Gordon in the 4th quarter
Phila76er9 - January 4, 2012 via iPhone app
I would love Iguodala if he never took any shots, including free throws, which are barely nicking the rim these days. I long for the days of Iggy’s rookie year, when he only played defense and dunked, and surprised Kobe with his defense and frustrated the bleep out of him.
PhillyWarrior - January 4, 2012
He held Kobe to 3/11 shooting at the Sixers/Lakers game I saw in person last year.
jefu - January 4, 2012
Oh
I do think Iguodala has played great this year so far but here in there in the 4th quarter, he makes a choice or two that really hurts his team. Those two decisions in the last 3 minutes of the game could have easily lost us the game if the Hornets capitalized. Just better decision making is all I ask, I dont hate him.
jdol1568 - January 5, 2012
Turned off the game in the first quarter – terrible, but also because the crappy wifi feed I had at this hotel was causing the game to pause every ten seconds.
Amazing comeback in the fourth. Quite impressive. Just a few comments:
- They struggled on the road last year, even with bad teams a la Hornets. Through five road games they have two close losses (one which never should have happened), two blowouts, and one game that was won in the fourth. I think they would’ve lost this game on the road last year, which brings me to…
- They struggled closing out close games last year. The season is far from over, but this team can win close games with good defense and timely shooting. Good to see strong games from Turner and Jrue and great JTI defense in the fourth.
-Not sure why Collins put Meeks in for the entire third, but he had a terrible game. Once he was taken out, Gordon was shut down in the fourth. Collins might still be playing around with rotations, but he made the right moves in the last quarter.
jefu - January 4, 2012
That is alright. I feel asleep and woke up at halftime.
Ben16 - January 4, 2012
I hope Meeks is just in a short shooting funk right now, but if this continues Collins should give the starting job to ET. Consistent mid range game from turner hawes, holiday should give enough spacing
clp2190 - January 4, 2012
Meeks
I think turner has to start asap. Meeks is downright horrible and only provides an outside shooting threat. E.T. Brings much more to the table when he is on the floor.
B-DON - January 4, 2012
Disagree. It`s more about who is finishing than who is starting. Meeks will break out of his funk eventully. Our bench is one of the strongest aspects of our team. Meeks wouldnt work as well coming out with lou and thad. No one there to really run the offense/defend. Just because you start doesnt mean you automatically get more minutes. If Meeks can still present a threat from deep it would mean a lot to the team at the beginning of games when setting the tone on offense.
jefu - January 4, 2012 via mobile
This.
dweebowitz - January 5, 2012
Um...
Lou then Thad
Sean of the dead - January 5, 2012
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