NBA FanHouse

Did the Clippers Anger Elton Brand?

Tom Ziller — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:52:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Warriors, Clippers, Los Angeles, Philadelphia

In the immediate aftermath of Elton Brand's reported signing with Philadelphia, Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski reports the Clippers had given the forward some sort of ultimatum, a move which might have angered E.B. and sent him into Thaddeus Young's waiting arms (via ClipsNation).

What had come to hurt the Clippers' chances of retaining Brand has been the organization's refusal to offer anything but a "take-it-or-leave-it" deal since Golden State made its $90-plus million offer. People close to Brand say that "it pissed him off," and made him question his original desire to stay a Clipper.

What strikes me on first glance -- wasn't the reported $70 million, five years offer from the Clips the max they could offer after reeling in Baron Davis? There has some dispute over whether the Clippers renounced Brand to sign Davis; if not, the Clippers could have offered a sixth year. However, there were reports last week that Brand wasn't after a sixth year. (There were also reports Brand's agent had set up L.A.'s Davis snatch to help get Brand a good team around him, but obviously that one wasn't so right.)

One more thing strikes me: how can it be about money when Brand takes $8 million less from the Sixers than he would have received from the Warriors? Brand's mad about the Clipper offer, but takes the one from Philly when Golden State is showing it values him more? It doesn't make any sense, unless Brand refused to consider Golden State for other reasons. This story should be fun to follow for a while.

Did the Clippers Anger Elton Brand? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elton Brand Spurns California, Verbally Commits to Philly

Matt Watson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Warriors, Clippers, Eastern, Western, Los Angeles, Oakland, Philadelphia, The Word

For much of the last week, most basketball fans assumed that Elton Brand was either going to a) re-sign with the Clippers; or b) grab the pile of money that Baron Davis left behind with the Warriors. Instead, he surprised everyone by choosing c) none of the above, leaving behind the Western Conference entirely in favor of the 76ers. From the Los Angeles Times:

Elton Brand has reached a verbal agreement to sign a multiyear contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to an NBA source who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on player movements.

The deal is believed to be in the $80-million range and expected to span five years.

Okay, this wasn't a complete surprise -- there were rumblings last night that this might be a possibility, and Philly's salary dump of a trade earlier today was obviously setting up a larger move -- but it has to feel like a kick in the ribs to Clippers fans dreaming of Brand and B.Dizzle leading the Clips back to the playoffs.

Until the last 48 hours or so, the Sixers were believed to be focusing most of their interest on Hawks restricted free agent Josh Smith, but the addition of Brand, who's much more polished offensively, and the expected return of Andre Iguodala, who's a restricted free agent himself, makes the 76ers instant contenders in the East with an intriguing core of youth and experience. This is a team that gave the Pistons fits in the first round this past year even without a legitimate low-post scoring threat. If Brand regains his All-Star form and Philly's youngsters continue to develop, there's no telling what kind of damage they can do in 2007-08.

Elton Brand Spurns California, Verbally Commits to Philly originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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76ers Expand Cap Space -- Clips, Hawks Beware

Tom Ziller — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:38:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Hawks, Timberwolves, Warriors, Clippers, Minnesota, Philadelphia

Via The700Level, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports a rumored deal between Philadelphia and Minnesota has gone down, sending Beautiful Calvin Booth, Rodney Carney and a pick to the Wolves for nothing but a $2.8 million trade exception. The real prize for Philly general manager Ed Stefanski: even more salary cap breathing room to chase someone like Elton Brand or Josh Smith. Here's Woj:

Getting Carney and Booth off the cap gives the Sixers the chance to offer a starting salary of approximately $14 million a season.

If Atlanta wasn't going to match a contract starting at $11 million for Smith (a disputed rumor), will they even be able to play a straight face if the Sixers offer something like a flat $13 million per year, five-year contract? Or, Philadelphia could go big in year one -- $14.75 million is the max for a four-year veteran, but Stefanski expects to have $14 million as stated above -- and taper the contract down to $12 million by the final year.

For Brand, the 76ers could now offer about five years, $80 million ... which is right in the middle of the Clippers' ($70 million) and Warriors' ($90 million) offers. Watson wrote about the expanded interest in Brand last night; now, that interest has a feasible outlet.

76ers Expand Cap Space -- Clips, Hawks Beware originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philly Wants a Shot at Elton Brand, Too

Matt Watson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Warriors, Clippers, Eastern, Western, NBA Rumors, Los Angeles, Oakland, Philadelphia

Elton Brand has a generous offer on the table to stay with the Clippers, and an even larger offer on the table to bolt for the Warriors. But while most of the discussion surrounding his options has centered on those two teams, it's at least possible that he might bolt California completely and head back east.

That's crazy talk, right? Probably, but according to ESPN's Marc Stein, the 76ers have officially thrown their hat in the ring. It's true the Sixers have been connected to restricted free agent Josh Smith since the offseason began, but the team wants to do it's due diligence by gauging Brand's interest before tying up their finances by signing Smith to an offer sheet and waiting seven days while the Hawks decide if they're going to match it or not.

I can't say I'm completely surprised -- Smith has all the potential in the world, but Brand is a proven product and (when healthy) one of the most consistent big men in the game today. Smith would make the Sixers a joy to watch; Brand would get the Sixers out of the first round.

If this comes down to a pure bidding war, no one can top the Warriorrs, but Stein's sources say that if Brand leaves LA, he'd prefer to join the Sixers, where there's a solid nucleus in place and fewer contenders to deal with.

That said, even if Brand is open to signing with Sixers, the team would still need to juggle their roster to make it happen, renouncing rights to a handful of players as well as trading Rodney Carney (and possibly Calvin Booth) for future draft picks who won't count against this year's cap. It could happen, but it wouldn't happen overnight.

(Granted, the Clippers could theoretically trump everyone by adding a sixth year, but that's not a realistic option considering the team needs to technically renounce Brand's rights in order to have the cap space to sign Baron Davis.)

Whatever happens, expect a decision soon. The league will officially announce its salary cap numbers tonight, at which point every team will know exactly how much they can afford to offer. The smart money is still on Brand remaining a Clipper -- Davis doesn't think it's even a question -- but you can't blame a guy for allowing himself to be courted when he's clearly the most attractive free agent left on the market.

Philly Wants a Shot at Elton Brand, Too originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Josh Smith and Philly, Sitting in a Tree

Will Brinson — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Hawks, NBA Rumors, NBA Videos, Atlanta, Philadelphia

Ziller has already covered the fact that Josh Smith's visit to Philadelphia was very impressive. They rolled out the red carpet, they wooed him with limos and they introduced him to the Mayor. Fortunately for us, the media is quite nosy when it comes to things like this, so Comcast got a camera all up in J-Smoove's face to find out what he thought about the Iladelph.

If I were in charge of the Hawks, or were the lone remaining fan that held onto the 07-08 playoffs bandwagon, I would be freaking out right now. Smith did, after all, seem pretty impressed with Philly's spread. And it's not like Atlanta is known for making really great front office decisions.

H/T: The700Level

Josh Smith and Philly, Sitting in a Tree originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apparently, Philly Likes This Josh Smith Kid

Tom Ziller — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:35:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Hawks, Atlanta, Philadelphia

With the Pacific Coast continues to deal with its arms race, Philadelphia has loudly addressed its desire for a top-drawer power forward of the future. As expected, the 76ers charged vigorously into a wooing of Atlanta's Josh Smith, a restricted free agent. The early indications look pretty good, according to Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"We had a great meeting and a great time visiting with everyone here [Wednesday], and we'll continue to talk tomorrow," Brian Dyke, one of Smith's agents, said late Wednesday night. "What I can tell you is that we're very impressed with 76ers organization and the city of the Philadelphia."

The AJ-C's Smith also reveals the offer Atlanta made last summer: $45 million over five years. That's a painfully small offer when you consider it will likely take at least $67 million to keep him this year. The Hawks could probably have locked him up for $50 or $55 million. Billy Knight, still haunting the Hawks in exile!

Meanwhile, on the Sixer side, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Phil Anastastia gets a few NBA scouts to agree Smith would be a good match for the team. Yep. He sure would be.

Apparently, Philly Likes This Josh Smith Kid originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aaron McKie's New Neighborhood All in an Uproar About His Move

Will Brinson — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, NBA Media Watch, Philadelphia

Aaron McKie has had some recent trouble with the law -- an alleged 2001 attack on his then girlfriend is what got him in trouble recently for attempting to purchase a handgun -- but that does not make him any different from a large portion of America.
However, a member of the exclusive Gladwyne community, a suburb of Philadelphia, apparently took umbrage to the idea that McKie would be welcome as a new neighbor. So much so that a flier was distributed anonymously throughout the mailboxes in the community, which read:

"Attention please, read if you care about your neighborhood!!! How can we prevent Aaron McKie from moving into our safe and peaceful neighborhood. His house is almost complete on Youngsford Road. Let's prevent another Iverson from moving in!"

The stereotypical idioms expressed in the flier -- referring to McKie as "another Iverson" -- certainly seem to stem from a racially based prejudice rather than an actual belief that McKie is dangerous. Or, as Matt at the 700 Level said, it's a good guess "that the characteristic [Allen Iverson] and McKie share that is bothering the pamphleteer isn't that they're both professional athletes or possessors of criminal records."

Fortunately, the majority of the neighbors in the community disagree with the flier's contents, expressing mostly shock and disdain that someone within the community would behave in such a public, albeit anonymous, manner. (Not to mention so poorly punctuated!)

"It was a disgrace," said Joe Brown, who lives a few doors down from McKie's nearly finished stone mansion on Youngs Ford Road and got one of the two-page flyers Saturday. "I have no idea what they were thinking."

McKie himself was, oddly, less exacerbated by the entire ordeal than the current homeowners, although obviously it has to be something that concerns him.

"What's new? You know how that stuff goes. They want to try to convict you before you even go on trial," he said. "I have to look into it. I have a family. I'll see what happens."

It's an awkward situation for McKie, of course, but even more so for the homeowners who already reside in the community. Essentially, one lone and anonymous voice has spoken louder than everyone else, and regardless of their protests, painted a picture of Gladwyne for the rest of the country that will be difficult to look past.

Aaron McKie's New Neighborhood All in an Uproar About His Move originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Charles Barkley Does Not Think Josh Smith Would Make the 76ers a 'Legit Contender'

Will Brinson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, NBA Gossip, NBA Media Watch, NBA Videos, Philadelphia

Via Enrico (although reclipped by yours truly), comes this clip of Charles Barkley appearing on NBC10's Sports Final Sunday night. On topic for Chuckles was, of course, the 76ers. Barkley thinks that Ed Stefanski -- who also appears in the clip (1:43) talking about making something 'pop' via free agency or a trade -- is making a mistake by attempting to spend money now, particularly if it's on Josh Smith (2:20).

Chuck's belief, obviously, isn't too far fetched. But odds are pretty good that he and Eddie S. aren't seeing completely eye-to-eye on this one.

Charles Barkley Does Not Think Josh Smith Would Make the 76ers a 'Legit Contender' originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Draft Crystal Ballin': Philadelphia 76ers

Matt Watson — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Eastern, NBA Draft, Philadelphia

Crystal Ballin' takes a team-by-team look at what should, could, and probably will happen in the June 26th NBA Draft.

There are two ways to look at the end of Philly's season. On the one hand, the team exceeded expectations by making the playoffs and blew everyone's minds by nearly upsetting the Pistons.

On the other, Andre Iguodala's disappearing act against Detroit should cement the notion that he's better-suited as a sidekick than a leading man. Unfortunately, there will be no leading men available in the middle of the first round, meaning they're going to end up with a sidekick to a sidekick.

Picks: #16

Needs: A scoring big man. Samuel Dalembert and Reggie Evans bring defense and rebounding, but this team lacks an inside presence on the other end of the ball. Playing Thaddeus Young, a natural three, out of position at the four is not the long-term answer.

Best case scenario: Fortunately, this draft is deep with big men -- Philly should have their pick of at least four or five of Donte Greene, Darrell Arthur, Jason Thompson, Marresse Speights, DeAndre Jordan and Kosta Koufos. Greene and Arthur aren't your traditional bangers, but the Sixers could decide that between Dalembert and Evans, they can afford to target a finesse big man.

More likely scenario: Honestly, I'd be shocked if Philly didn't take one of the six players mentioned above.

Please don't take: Someone who can't help immediately. The Sixers are young, but with Iggy and Lou Williams (presumably) getting big contracts this summer, Dalembert making $10 million a year and Andre Miller entering his final year, this team needs to make their move to respectability now, not two or three years down the line.

Trade possibilities: Nothing obvious, but anything is possible. Miller is an underrated starter and his $10 million expiring contract could draw interest, but unless the Sixers think they can land a leading man, there's no real reason for them to move up.

NBA Draft Crystal Ballin': Philadelphia 76ers originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will Atlanta Really Let Josh Smith Get Away?

Tom Ziller — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:25:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Hawks, NBA Rumors, Atlanta, Philadelphia

When Rick Sund took over the Hawks, he told the press he'd do whatever it takes to keep his two restricted free agents, Josh Smith and Josh Childress. If he had only referred to Smith, you could take him seriously. When he indicates he'll give whatever is necessary to keep a guy the Hawks think is not as good as Marvin Williams, a guy who started only one game last season despite being one of the most improved players in the league and far superior to the guy in front of him ... yeah, I'm not believing Sund on that. So why should we believe him about Josh?

ESPN's Chris Broussard is spitting lava this weekend. Following his Carmelo Anthony story, he offers up word Atlanta will go no higher than $11 million a year to keep Josh in town. That's a $55 million contract (same as Kevin Martin, less than Al Jefferson) -- the max is $80 million. Broussard says Philadelphia could and would offer Smith a contract starting at $11 million, which would tease out to a $60 million deal.

The Hawks aren't insane enough to let the Sixers poach Josh for that spread, so the smart move for Atlanta -- if a deal with Josh's camp for these type of dollars can't be reached early in July -- would be to watch Smith sign the offer from Philly and simply match it. The Sixers could only go higher if the begin renouncing rights on their own restricted FAs (Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams), but giving up 'Dala would be silly and Darko'ing Lou wouldn't be of much financial help. (Of course, Atlanta could have locked Smith up for less last summer.)

Also, it would be awesome if Memphis decided to get mixed up in this, just to really confuse things.

Will Atlanta Really Let Josh Smith Get Away? originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Iguodala a Priority? Maybe Not

Tom Ziller — Sat, 03 May 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, NBA Rumors, Philadelphia

While much chatter following Philadelphia's noble defeat at the hands of Detroit has focused on how much cash Andre Iguodala lost himself with a bad series, no one's much paying attention to the 76er front office's view on the matter. Ed Stefankski, Philly's general manager, talked about Iguodala's contract status with the Philadelphia Daily News's Phil Jasner earlier this week.

"I would say, 'Thank God they're restricted,' because we have no intention of not matching any offer from another team," Stefanski said.

Iguodala rejected an in-season extension offer of $57 million from Billy King, Stefanski's predecessor. Whether he can now command anything close to that remains to be seen. In any case, the Sixers will attempt to complete their business in free agency and the trade market before attempting to re-sign Iguodala or [Louis] Williams.

The "we have no intention of not matching any offer from another team" would seem to be a smoking gun, but I'm more interested in "the Sixer will attempt to complete their business in free agency and the trade market before attempting to re-sign Iguodala" part. Stefanksi's going after a big free agent before worrying about 'Dala.

Iguodala, therefore, is not the priority -- Elton Brand or Josh Smith or Antawn Jamison or Shawn Marion might be. Stefanski's protected, as 'Dala is restricted and Philly can spend whatever it takes to keep AI2. But there's a chance things could get in the way, that Stefanski could be chasing a power forward while someone else swoops in and offers Iguodala $60 million. If Stef manages to pry Smith from Atlanta, suppose ... does it even make sense to pay Iguodala (as Thaddeus Young and Andre Miller lick their chops)? When it comes down it, 'Dala is not going to be first in line for the payday here.

It's all smart on Stefanski's end -- this is the way things should be played. But it's got to be a bit of a wake-up call for 'Dala, the supposed franchise player. Philadelphia may very well be rebuilt by the time Andre's number is called.

Is Iguodala a Priority? Maybe Not originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sat, 03 May 2008 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look at the Losers: Philadelphia 76ers

Matt Watson — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:00:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Eastern, NBA Playoffs, Philadelphia

For a team that looked destined for the lottery early in the year, the Sixers deserve a lot of credit for not only making the playoffs but also making the Pistons sweat. There are a lot of talented young pieces on this 76ers team, and a coach who knows how to help them improve. This team will be back next year, and if they invest their free agent dollars wisely, they may even contend for home court advantage. (No, seriously.) Let's recap their playoff run:

How They Got to the Dance: Believe it or not, the 76ers were actually one of the hottest teams in the league for a stretch in the second half, winning 19 of 24 from early February to late March. Losing five of six right at the end of the regular season kept them from posting a winning record (they finished 40-42), but that second-half surge was the result of a very young team taking the next step.

How They Got Bounced: Simply put, the Pistons woke up. The Sixers should be commended for jumping out to a 2-1 series lead, but the Pistons were just too deep, too talented and too experienced to simply roll over. That said, it would've helped Andre Iguodala failed to live up to top banana status, a role for which he may or may not be suited; the team's leading scorer in the regular season, Iguodala was held to just 13 points a night on 30% shooting. Even if the team's two wins he was largely irrelevant, a performance that likely cost him a few million off his next contract.

Can't Blame This Guy: Reggie Evans didn't start a single game, but he was a beast early in the series, posting a double-double in the first two games. He reverted back to his regular offensively-deficient ways as the series progressed but remained a nuisance on the boards even in limited minutes. Andre Miller also came up big in the first three games but fell like a rock in the last two, shooting just 9-33 from the field with just five assists.

Summer Vacation Plans: GM Ed Stefanski has his work cut out for him this summer with over $30 million coming off the books. Re-signing restricted free agents Iguodala and Louis Williams will take up a chunk of that dough, but there should still be enough left over to add another impact free agent, which should relieve some of the pressure on Iggy to come through every night.Once upon a time it seemed guaranteed that veteran point guard Andre Miller would be moved, but while some teams will be interested in his expiring contract, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Sixers keep him around to see if his steady presence can't help this team take the next step.

Look at the Losers: Philadelphia 76ers originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 02 May 2008 06:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pistons (Finally) Eliminate the 76ers

Matt Watson — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:15:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Pistons, Eastern, NBA Playoffs, Detroit, Philadelphia

It was a week ago today that the sky seemed to be falling for the Pistons. They had just lost to the 76ers for the second time in three games, looking completely discombobulated and confused in the process.

But then, something clicked. After trailing by 10 at halftime in Game 4, the Pistons suddenly reverted to form and became the team that won 59 games in the regular season. They came back to win Game 4 with an excellent second half, and they simply dominated the young 76ers from start to finish in Game 5 in Detroit and Game 6 last night in Philly.

Who's the guy responsible? The man holding the ball in the picture above. Not only did Tayshaun Prince make Andre Iguodala a complete afterthought in this series (Iggy averaged just 12.6 points per game on 30.6% shooting), he also shot an amazing 78% in the last four games. In a starting lineup featuring three All-Stars, Prince rarely gets the type of recognition he deserves, but without him there's a good chance the Pistons would be preparing for a Game 7 on Saturday at the Palace, or worse yet, already done for the year wondering what the hell just happened.

Pistons (Finally) Eliminate the 76ers originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Fri, 02 May 2008 02:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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5 Things to Keep an Eye on: Pistons at Sixers, Game 6

Matt Moore — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Pistons, Eastern, NBA Playoffs, Detroit, Philadelphia

In another of our continuing series, five things to keep an eye out for tonight in the Pistons-Sixers game tonight.

1. And Lo, Mr. Big Shot Awakened, And The Earth Did Tremble: It was only a matter of time, really. Chauncey Billups is too good of a player to have five straight bad games. Billups erupted in Game 5 to the tune of 21 points and 12 assists, looking very much like the underrated superstar we've come to know and love him as. While Andre Miller seemed to plummet to the Earth after his meteoric rise with 13 points on 5 of 17 shooting, Billups lead the charge for the Pistons and putting them firmly back in the driver's seat. Miller having the advantage was a central element in the Sixers' success, and if Billups is really back to playoff form, the Sixers are in deep trouble, on top of it being an elimination game.

2. Welcome Back, Iggy! You Do Remember Which Team You Play For, Right?: Andre Iguodala finally got off the snide for the Sixers and scored 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting to go along 6 assists! Hurrah! Oh, wait. He also turned the ball over 6 (!) times and the Sixers lost by 17. So I'm thinking maybe Iguodala isn't the most important factor in this series. The only game where he's an impact, and it's a blowout. Part of that could be the fact that the Sixers have dominated when they've had more size on the floor. Or part of it could be that when Iguodala's gunning, the offense isn't as effective. If the Sixers want to prolong this series, they need to either get back to what was working with Iguodala stifled, or somehow get all the pieces clicking. I'm not sure that's possible for them, yet.

3. 90 Score And Three Losses Ago: The Sixers aren't an offensive juggernaut, or anything, but they need to put the ball in the hole in order to beat the Pistons. In their three losses, they've failed to break 90. In their two wins, they scored over 90. A defensive slugfest favors the Pistons, because it allows them to pick you apart at the edges. In Game 5, the Pistons focused on shutting down the fast break, and it worked well. If you let the Pistons control the pace, that's usually game, set, match.

4. Knock Them Down: This series is ridiculously even. Only a 4.6 scoring differential, even with the blowout in Game 5, the Pistons have a 1.2 edge in turnovers, the Sixers lead in rebounds, and they're tied for offensive rebounds. Really the gap comes in shooting. The Pistons are shooting 3.8% better than the Sixers. That's it. This series isn't as much about talent, or size, or matchups, as it is about poise and shooting. When the Pistons flex it, the win, when they don't, the Sixers scrap it out. It's a closeout game for the Pistons, which they're great at historically, and an elimination game for the Sixers, who should have enough emotion to go around.

5. How Many Times Must I Say It?: This series is not about Andre Iguodala. It's about Samuel Dalembert. Dalembert made me look like a smart man when the Sixers got creamed with him putting in only 4 points and 6 rebounds. He's at home, where he's played well. He's young, but he's got to step up and be a leader for this team. Otherwise, he's got plenty of time to work on his game for next year.

5 Things to Keep an Eye on: Pistons at Sixers, Game 6 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Thu, 01 May 2008 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Notes From Courtside: Pistons Take Charge

Matt Watson — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:30:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Pistons, NBA Playoffs, NBA Last Night, Detroit, Philadelphia

Notes from a trip to the NBA Playoffs.

The Pistons opened the playoffs with a whimper, dropping two of their first three games to the 76ers and needing to come back from a double-digit halftime deficit in Game 4 to tie the series. I had a hunch they'd pull it out in Game 5 in front of a raucous crowd at the Palace, but I wasn't sure if it'd be another come-from-behind high-wire act or a blowout.

It didn't take long to figure it out.

The 76ers never had a chance after the Pistons kicked off the first quarter shooting 78.9% (15-19) from the field and jumping out to a 35-21 lead. Chauncey Billups, who averaged 13 points on 28.6% shooting in the first four games, scored 14 of his 21 points in the first quarter alone. Rip Hamilton, who missed 12 of his first 13 shots in Game 4, nailed 4-5 from the field for eight of his 20. Both the Pistons and Sixers have squandered leads in this series, but the Pistons held onto this one the rest of the night, leading by as many as 26 at one point before winning 98-81.

After the game, Mo Cheeks described how difficult it was to stop a team in which everybody on the floor was a threat to score. "There was a play that happened in front of our bench where Thaddeus Young was getting ready to rotate," said Cheeks. "He had Rip in the corner, he had Rasheed popping up top, and he was trying to figure out which one to go to. That put it in perspective right there. Do I got to Rasheed, do I go to Rip? He chose to go to Rip; Rasheed hits a three. And that put it in perspective because they have different guys that can make a shot at any time. And they were passing the ball so well, they were on the same page tonight. They were very good tonight."

He's not kidding: the Pistons finished the game shooting 58.1% from the floor with 27 assists.

I was seated with the press several rows behind the basket nearest the 76ers bench -- fortunately for me, the same basket the 76ers were attacking in the first half. From that vantage point, I had a perfect view of Rasheed Wallace putting on a defensive clinic that opening quarter, where he collected four of his six blocked shots. He wasn't letting anything near the rim. I'll give you that Wallace isn't the most consistent player night in and night out, but the fact that he came in 12th in Defensive Player of the Year voting is a joke.

Remember how in Game 1 he caught flack for joking around with the 76ers moments before he took the final shot? Anyone who watches him the entire game knows that he does that sort of thing all four quarters. I saw him approach Cheeks coming out of a timeout early in the first and make some kind of joke that left both men laughing, and then no less than 30 seconds later reject the 76ers first shot on the ensuing possession. Some guys just have the ability to snap into focus as quick as it takes to inbound a ball.

Overheard

Flip Saunders before the game, on what he thought about Chris Webber's comments from Game 4: "All I know is one thing. I talked at halftime, no one else really talked and I like the way our players responded. I think it's enough said."

Rasheed on whether the Pistons were determined to take care of business: "There was definitely business to handle, but we still have fun out there. We still do our little side jokes or whatever. We've been in situations like this before -- not a lot of pressure, our bootie-holes aren't tight."

Rasheed, on Samuel Dalembert's mohawk: "I actually told Mo that should have been a team fine, having him come in here like that."

Dalembert, on Rasheed's reaction to the mohawk: "Yeah, he was talking to me. He said, 'what the hell?' "

Cheeks during the post-game press conference: "The series is not over until someone gets four wins. That's the essence of it right now. The series is not over until someone gets four wins. And we got to play a little better, we got to play a little bit better on the defensive end, can't turn the ball over as much. And we got to defend a little bit better one on one."

Rasheed, on rookie Arron Afflalo's performance: "I'm proud of Arron. Arron's going to be a hell of a defensive player in this league once he starts getting them minutes every night. I just told him to go out there and listen for my voice, I try to yell to him from the bench, if the pick is coming from the left or the right. Just go out there and play your game. He takes pride in that defensive end of the floor. He always wants to go out there and guard the best guy, which is not too common for a rookie."

Iguodala, on whether he can take anything from his breakout game (21 points) after struggling most of the series: "Not really, because we lost the game, so it doesn't really matter what the numbers show. Just trying to win, that's the main point. I've been playing the same way the whole series; I just made some shots tonight."

Cheeks, as he stood up from the post-game press conference showing confidence his team will win Game 6 in Philly: "See you back here next week."

Notes From Courtside: Pistons Take Charge originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Notes From Courtside: Mo Knows Teaching

Matt Watson — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:35:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Eastern, Philadelphia

Notes from a trip to the NBA Playoffs.

Continuing with the "youth is served" meme that keeps popping up this postseason, let's take a look at the 76ers. The last time this team was in the playoffs, they were riding the backs of aging superstars Allen Iverson and Chris Webber. This time around, they have but one player (32-year-old Andre Miller) in the rotation older than 27.

While listening to Mo Cheeks talk to the press before last night's Game 5 match with the Pistons, I couldn't help but notice how much he seems to enjoy the responsibility of teaching as well as coaching.

"I enjoy coaching. I can't play anymore, so this is the closest thing I can do to play. I enjoy all of the things that come with it -- I don't enjoy you guys too much [laughter] -- but I enjoy all the things that go with coaching, and that is what I tell my players. ... I particularly enjoy when I see Lou Williams and [reminding] him about being up the floor and [how he'll have] a chance to get a steal up the court -- and I'll look up and he's up the floor and he's getting a steal. Those are some of the rewards of coaching.

"I'm pretty fortunate in that I have players that listen, they try to go out and do all these things right. And I'm very fortunate in that area that I have these guys that go out there and try and do things right and listen, and they don't always do them right [laughs] but they're out there trying to do them. And that's a very fortunate thing for me as a coach, and I think that's rewarding for our coaches is that you have these guys, you're trying to teach them, you're trying to show them different things about the game and then they go out and try to do it."

There are a lot of young teams that are willing and able to learn, but one of the big reasons that the Sixers have been able to make a jump this year has been the steady play of Miller, their veteran point guard. "I think when you have veteran players, they've obviously been around a while, if they have a different ways of doing things, I think you have to allow a little leeway," said Cheeks.

"I rarely will tell Andre Miller how to do this [or] do that. He'll say something to me and I'll say, OK. Or I'll say something to him and he'll say, OK. See, I'm fortunate in having a player like that who understands the game and he tries to make the game easier for everyone else. When you have veterans like that, you've got to give them a little leeway. Young guys, you've got to stay on them, you're talking to them and teaching them all the time."

The Sixers aren't the only team benefiting from solid point guard play: the Hawks have been collecting lottery picks for years, but it wasn't until they added a guy like Mike Bibby to the mix that they were able to put it together and make some noise.

Notes From Courtside: Mo Knows Teaching originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Notes From Courtside: Young Teams Are Making Their Mark

Matt Watson — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:30:00 EST

Filed under: Celtics, 76ers, Pistons, Hawks, Eastern, NBA Playoffs, Boston, Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia

Notes from a trip to the NBA Playoffs.

Youth has been served in the NBA playoffs this year. You've seen it by Chris Paul schooling Jason Kidd in the West, and you've seen it by the Hawks and Sixers giving the Celtics and Pistons fits in the East. It's not just an anomaly, either; Henry Abbott of TrueHoop checked the numbers and discovered that players 23 years old and younger have accounted for 21% of the minutes played so far, by far the league's highest tally since the late 1970's.

Pistons coach Flip Saunders knows first-hand the danger of a young opponent, as his team had to claw back from behind 1-2 to being ahead 3-2 against the Sixers. Before Game 5 on Tuesday, he talked a little bit about Atlanta's win over the Celtics on Monday and why youth can be such a wild card.

"It proves that your young, athletic teams, on given nights they can get things going, no matter how good you are, they can cause some problems," said Saunders. "I thought Boston played pretty good [Monday]; Atlanta just played exceptional. I'm sure it it shows a little bit of the parity as far as the league, [but] I think more than anything else it shows that when you look at the playoffs, you can't look at teams' records, you have to look at what the matchups are. And certain teams will cause more matchup problems than other teams."

He's exactly right, and part of the problem these young teams pose such a threat is because their best players not only can reach an extra gear but also have a bigger gas tank. Boston's Big 3 of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are all on the wrong side of 30; the Hawks, meanwhile, evened the series by 26-year-old Joe Johnson and 22-year-old Josh Smith scoring every single one of Atlanta's points in the fourth on Monday. Obviously Johnson and Smith are rarely that dominant at the same time in every game, but when it happens, not even the league's best defense can contain them.

The Pistons, meanwhile, were caught off guard in two of the first three games against the Sixers due to a long, athletic Sixers team that completely knocked many of Detroit's veterans out of rhythm. I don't think it's a coincidence that Detroit's most consistent player on either end of the court has been Tayshaun Prince, the youngest and most athletic of the regular starting five.

The Pistons seem to have reverted back to their regular dominant selves over their last six quarters of basketball, but this is a squad that's been done in the past two years by younger, more athletic contenders, so nothing is etched in stone, no matter how much of an edge in experience they have. If it's any condolence, it's a problem every veteran contender (see: Mavericks, Dallas) has to face.

Notes From Courtside: Young Teams Are Making Their Mark originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBA Hair Watch: Dalembert Brings the 'Hawk

Tom Ziller — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:11:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Pistons, NBA Playoffs, NBA Hair Watch, Detroit, Philadelphia

The first nine days of the playoffs haven't given us much Hair Watch fodder, especially considering we had a whole slew of absurdity last spring. But hey! Samuel Dalembert brings it with a beautiful, beautiful mohawk (the keys with the mohawk being a nice base of hair before the sides are shorn and overall sharpness; Greg Oden's mess should be ashamed).

Dalembert's game -- excellent thus far this series -- has lacked a little tonight; Sam's got 2 points and 5 rebounds as we get close to halftime, while counterpart Rasheed Wallace has 11 points, 4 boards, and 4 blocks (several of them on Andre Miller, whom has been a disaster with 8 points on 3-of-12 shooting).

The Pistons are up 12 at the half. After being accused of jinxing the Sixers on Sunday, consider this a make-up call.

NBA Hair Watch: Dalembert Brings the 'Hawk originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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5 Things to Keep an Eye on: Sixers at Pistons, Game 5

Matt Moore — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Pistons, Eastern, NBA Playoffs, Detroit, Philadelphia

In another of our continuing series, five things to keep an eye out for tonight in the Mavs-Hornets game tonight.

1. Prince Of Thieves: Predictable? Yes. But come on. Everything I do, I do it for you. Tayshaun Prince lodged four steals against the Sixers in Game 4, and was making the Sixers look silly at times. Throw that on top of his game high 23 points and you have a classic Pistons killer game. Not to be confused with Andre Miller, who's trying to be the Piston-Killer. Prince has had a marvelous series, and is the buoy keeping Detroit afloat with Chauncey Billups struggling and Rasheed Wallace being canceled out by the fleet of young bigs on Philadelphia. But Prince's most vital work has been on Andre Iguodala, making him a non-factor. He can't let up tonight, because the Pistons need to end this thing as quickly as possible to get ready for a sharp Magic team that's resting up for them.
2. Fahrenheit 90: The Sixers are 2-0 when they score 90 or more, 0-2 when they score less than 90. Seems simple, and it is. Shoot better, score more, make the pace faster, beat the Pistons. They want you in a defensive slugfest. It's not much of a strategy thing, but it should definitely be a goal for the Sixers. They need to get out and run as much as possible, especially with Thaddeus Young and Andre Miller. And for you, dear reader, keep an eye on that scoreboard. If it's in the 40s at halftime, Detroit's looking good. If it's at 50, this thing might get tight.

3. Start, Bench? Bench, Start?: Reggie Evans. Thaddeus Young. Jason Maxiell. Antonio McDyess. the power forward matchups in this series have been worthy of their own DVD series produced by FanHouse. Every time one coach makes a move, the other adjusts. And just when you think there's been some sort of consistency produces, the opposite happens. In Games 1 and 3, Antonio McDyess was a non-factor and an athletic liability. Games 2 and 4? An efficient beast. In the two Sixers wins, Thaddeus Young played fewer minutes and fewer rebounds. It's maddening. The interesting thing with Evans is his slow decline. He's had fewer and fewer points each game. The Sixers need another forward to step up.

4. Downtown Sheed: Two wins for Detroit? Rasheed is 53% from the arc. Two losses? 16.7% from the field. As crazy and dysfunctional as it sounds, Wallace has to light it up from three-point land to get it going. Maybe it's a mental thing. Maybe it's just Sheed being Sheed, but the instant offense from the center's threes get him in rhythm and that brings wins.

5. Down With Dalembert: That should be the battle cry for the Pistons. Samuel Dalembert is a huge part of this series, no pun intended, and his play has been the divider between wins and losses. As long as Prince has a lockdown on Iguodala, the Sixers need another points provider, and Dalembert filled that role in Game 3. It's a pick your poison for the Pistons. Go at him with Sheed and you risk getting Sheed out of his offensive rhythm. Leave him be and head to the arc, and Dalembert controls the paint. The balance must be struck for the Pistons to strike down the Sixers.

5 Things to Keep an Eye on: Sixers at Pistons, Game 5 originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Danger, Detroit! Pistons Down 10 at Halftime

Tom Ziller — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:37:00 EST

Filed under: 76ers, Pistons, NBA Playoffs, Detroit, Philadelphia

Video via The 700 Level, nastiness via Andre Iguodala. The Pistons were good enough to come back from 1-0 Philadelphia, and they are good enough to come back from 2-1 Philadelphia. What about a 3-1 series deficit? A little more worrisome, yes? Well, that's what Detroit faces, trailing the Sixers by 10 at the half.

Philly's defense has suffocated the Pistons -- Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton are a combined 3-of-18 from the floor, and Detroit's only 1-for-6 from three and has registered only 6 FTAs. The 76er offense hasn't been gorgeous (with 8 turnovers in roughly 45 possession and only a single offensive rebound in 16 opportunities), but 'Dala's finally hitting shots (see above) and every Sixer who has taken at least two shots is hitting at least 50%. And if you ignore Andre Miller's four turnovers, most of the team is playing well within control -- this young team isn't crapping the proverbial (I hope) bed.

Detroit's got to find a way to start scoring to pull this one off, lest they count on the whole slate of Sixers to start missing shots. Being forced to win three straight elimination games isn't just an annoyance on the way to the conference finals ... losing here could be the death of the Pistons.

UPDATE: Sorry Philadelphia. The world's back on its axis, as Detroit wakes up, wins by 9.

Danger, Detroit! Pistons Down 10 at Halftime originally appeared on NBA FanHouse on Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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