Season Opener 2005-2006 Milwaukee Bucks @ the Philadelphia 76ers

Man, am I the only one that noticed how C-Webb put Bogut on a poster last night? That was freakin sick.

But Webber had a monster game, he looked awesome out there, but I was a bit disappointed about Iguodala, he didn't seem too involved in the offense, I really hope that changes.

Although it was a heartbreaker, the Sixers still played one hell of a game, and makes me more psyched for whats to come next.

 

Some things never change... Well okay. AMAZING game. Both teams brought it last night and I especially pleased with none other than Chris Webber. He looked like an All-Star; hopefully he can keep that up. With the lack of time on my hands, I'll jot down a couple things, I would like to get into detail, but I don't have the time.

<ul>Kyle Korver role is going to diminish. Now its not fair to judging him because of one game, but it's been like this since the preseason and like the preseason Salmons has been making a case to start. Although even though Salmons should start I don't know want him to. Mainly because Korver opens up the court for Iverson & Webber to operate. In addition if he came off the bench only Lee Nailon would be able to create his own shot. We need multiple guys to score for us not worrying about someone to set them up. So overall I think it would be best if Korver continues to start even with the struggles, he is a perfect decoy. Whatever the case may be I don?t see him having as close to a role he did last seaosn especially with Webber playing the way he is. If Korver continues the bad shooting and doesn?t really bring anything I believe King MIGHT, just MIGHT trade possible trade him if anything good is being offered like a big man for example.[/list]

<ul>Andre Iguodala, well he will have to demand the ball. There is no chance he will have the season we projected for him if he doesn't start asking for the ball and try to score. Again, it's only one game but there a lot of things you can tell from one game. Such as...[/list]

<ul>Iverson & Webber will be fine. Just like Cheeks envisioned, Webber will do the playmaking in the half court game where the 76ers struggle and Iverson will do the playmaking in transition. Everything looks excellent between them. They could have the worst shooting game of their careers but the way they were feeding off of each other, passing, cutting, eye contact and whole nine, all those ?Webber and Iverson can?t play together? will be put to rest real soon. The problem is will the other guys bring it every night? Korver and Iguodala will have to be more consistent if we want to win the division. Lastly....[/list]

<ul>We got out rebounded. Overall that's what cost us the game other than the fact Iverson played HORRENDOUS defense on TJ Ford. Back to the rebounding though, how much rebounds you think you can get if you have Webber at C and Nailon at PF for look stretches of the game? We DESPERATELY need Sam, Shav and Michael back. Once those three are ready to go, you will see a MAJOR difference.[/list]

That said, playing tonight against the Pistons at best I want the game to be competitive. I nor should anybody else expecting a win. Deep inside, I want a win, what Sixers fan doesn?t? But realistically we probably won?t win and a win for us would be if we kept it competitive. We played a grueling OT last night, and now we're playing against a championship contender, in their home on their opening night with all that energy in the Palace, the least we could do is keep it competitive. Expect the Pistons to come out with TONS of energy because again it is their season opener. There is like a 1-2/10 chance of us winning this game. If we win I will be shocked! What I will be looking for is how Webber does on back to back nights and how Korver & Iguodala will bounce back.

 

While his shot selection wasn't as bad as it usually is, Iverson's inability to stay in front of TJ Ford ultimatley cost ya'll the game.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When I first saw the score when I woke up I was really mad but after watching the box score and highligths I started to realize that the Sixers can be a very good team if Webber/Iverson play like this.We need to get Sam back as soon as possible.I actually belive that the Sixers can win today's game against the Pistons.</div>Yeah I was not that dissapointed after the loss because IMO like Mo said at the post conference, "We should of won that game." I was extremely happy with how the team played. If the Sixers can beat the Pistons tonight, which is highly probable I think, it will send some kind of message say thing that the Sixers can take on anyone and BEAT anyone. Now if we do end up with an 0-2 start to the season, I still think the 76ers can send that message throughout the NBA.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Man, am I the only one that noticed how C-Webb put Bogut on a poster last night? That was freakin sick.
</div>lol I saw it, he then like tied his legs around him when he was hanging on the rim. Bogut must of gotten caught up in Webber`s web.

Iggy also threw down one in Boguts face later in the first. Welcome to the NBA, Andrew Bogut.

 

Am I the only one that saw Salmons' performance? He brought it to the Bucks, and at a stretch had like 6 or 8 points in a row for the Sixers.

 

This will be one of the last games Kyle Korver starts under Mo Cheeks because he is such a defensive liability on the court it's not even funny. Bobby Simmons had an absolute field day off Korver in his welcome to the Bucks and I can't say the defense from the rest of the Sixers squad was good either. Except for Iguodala (who had 5 steals!) this Sixers defense played poor, and I can tell you that under Mo Cheeks this won't happen that often again. The Bucks got everything on the Sixers D, second chance buckets, and open jumpers. On a side note, I was very impressed by John Salmons for his all around play and I guarentee that if Korver doesn't step up his D that Salmons will be a starter.

Also is it just me or was Bogut's first NBA quarter the worst possible quarter he could have. First he gets crossed up by A.I which made him look ridiculous and then he just got put on a poster by the other A.I on the next play.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">While his shot selection wasn't as bad as it usually is, Iverson's inability to stay in front of TJ Ford ultimatley cost ya'll the game.</div>
Was TJ Ford getting past AI a lot? Yes. Is that what ultimately cost the 76ers the game? No. TJ Ford has done what he always has been able to; he is a very quick player, one of the quickest. But you can't blame Iverson for the loss of the game, because Ford will do that to every guard in the league really, and if he does and the Bucks win at the same time I wonder if you are going to go in that teams game thread and say "so in so lost because they couldn't stay in front of TJ Ford". I know you sure didn't hesitate when you saw that AI had a tough night against him. TJ got his nice points but he sure wasn't doing anything on defense besides hack. Would you have come out and say that Ford inability to check Allen caused the Bucks the game if the 76ers won?

Anyways it was a good game, and the errors that occurred from the 76ers are fixable. Both teams played hard, but the team that made the plays in the end won. The Bucks made the plays at the end to win them the game and they stole the momentum right from the 76ers in a short amount of time. But I think in a way the 76ers made a statement for the season opener, kind of like loosing the battle, but winning the war. Hopefully this game can be a sign of what is to come. The players, who best days are supposedly way behind him, came out and showed he can still play. Webber had a monster night with Sacto type numbers, with 32 14 and 5 not to mention those 2 blocks. I want people to keep doubting AI and Webber, but when the time comes they will get surprised because it sure does look like this is going to work out.

Now on to the bad things; I think the 76ers gave up a lot of open looks to the Bucks. To often, the Bucks had wide-open looks from the outside and they were making they're shots. The Sixers were very strong in the paint, and the Bucks controlled the perimeter on offense. I also noticed that this team had a couple of lapses on the defensive side of the ball that got the Bucks easy buckets. That has to do with their defensive rotation, the Bucks had plays they ran to draw Hunter from the paint leaving somebody open and with Chris Webber responsible to stop them.

Another thing is Andre needs to be more aggressive on offense, either that or Mo needs to call his number more often. In the preseason Mo may have been forced to do that with all the injuries, or Iguodala may have just been more aggressive in the absence of the 76ers best players. But John Salmons finds a way to get his shots, so I feel Andre Iguodala should be able to as well. The 76ers need Dre to step up his role outside scoring off his athleticism, and playing good defense. I want to seem him creating some offense for himself. On a side note Iguodala did do a good job making plays for others in the opener as well.

It looks like the 76ers finally have a second compliment to AI in Chris Webber, so now it is time for the role players to play their role and play it well. The 76ers success resides on the role players as much as it does on AI and C Webb. If the role players don?t step it up a notch this team will not play to its full capabilities. It's time for Korver to start playing consistently, Nailion to come off and score efficiently, Iguodala and Salmons need to bring energy to the game, Steven Hunter needs to play smart basketball, and even Kevin Ollie needs to play like there is no tomorrow when he gets in the game.

The 76ers will have another test tonight against the defending eastern conference champs. I'm going to be excited every game because I honestly don't remember the last time we had two 76ers play so well together. If Chris can remain on the level he is at then him and Allen have a chance to be one of the deadliest duos in the league.

 

^ Last time 2 Sixers played this well. Iverson and Glenn Robinson(remember this guy)? were playing against the hornets and i think both of them had 30 + points.

But that was very well said B22, lost the battle but won the war, that's exactly what it feels like. There is a sense that the Sixers are finally to start to come together, but just lost a battle.

 

^no, actually a game last season both AI and C-Webb had 30 something points.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phiLA:</div><div class="quote_post">^no, actually a game last season both AI and C-Webb had 30 something points.</div>
It was against Toronto Raptors and Webber scored 32 in that game,Allen added 36