<div align="center"> <font color=""White"">@</font> <font color=""MediumTurquoise"">New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (4-5)</font> @ <font color=""DarkRed"">Philadelphia 76ers (6-5)</font> Time: Monday, Nov. 21, 7:00pm vs. Hornets TV: CSN, NBATVHighDef <u>Probable Starting Five</u> <font color="DarkRed">Philadelphia 76ers</font> <font size=""1""><font color=""DarkRed"">PG</font>- Allen Iverson <font color=""DarkRed"">SG</font>- Andre Iguodala <font color=""DarkRed"">SF</font>-Kyle Korver <font color=""DarkRed"">PF</font>- Chris Webber <font color=""DarkRed"">C</font>- Steven Hunter</font> <font size=""1"">Coach: Maurice Cheeks</font> ____________________________ <font color=""MediumTurquoise"">New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets</font> <font size=""1""><font color=""MediumTurquoise"">PG</font>- Chris Paul <font color=""MediumTurquoise"">SG</font>-Kirk Snyder <font color=""MediumTurquoise"">SF</font>-Bostjan Nachbar <font color=""MediumTurquoise"">PF</font>- David West <font color=""MediumTurquoise"">C</font>- Chris Anderson</font> <font size=""1"">Coach: Byron Scott</font> <u>Injury Report</u> <font size=""1""> S. Dalembert (Out) Obtained: Nov 2, 2005 Injury: Right quad strain S. Claxton (questionable) Obtained: Nov 19, 2005 Injury: Ankle injury P. Brown (questionable) Obtained: Nov 19, 2005 Reason: Personal J. Smith (doubtful) Obtained: Nov 16, 2005 Injury: Left ankle sprain </font></div> <u>Game Most Valuable Player</u> [IMGR]http://www.nba.com/media/sixers/iverson2_200_030420.jpg[/IMGR] Allen Iverson has been stroking the ball these past two games shooting 50% from the field in each of the last two contests. Iverson has also scored double digit points in the first quarter of each of the last two games. He is currently ranked first in the league in scoring so to say I expect him to have a big game is not going out on a limb. AI has also been creating for his teammates this season as he is ranked third in the league in assists. Allen has yet to score less than 25 points in a game this year. He will be matched up against a very young player in Chris Paul despite how great Paul has been this season there is nothing to suggest he will be able to stop Iverson in this contest. <div align="center"><u> Predicted Numbers: 40 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds</u></div> <u>Keys to the Game</u> <ul><font color="DarkRed">Don‘t under estimate the Hornets</font> the Hornets have taken down some good teams this season in the Rockets and Kings so if you take them likely they can pull out a win. They have played pretty good basketball this season, and seem to have a winning attitude for the first time in years thanks in large part to the sensational play by Chris Paul. The 76ers can not come into this game thinking it will be a cake walk.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">If you get a lead, hold on to it </font> the 76ers are frustrated everyone this season with their inability to hold on to large leads. They have had a double digit lead in each of the last three contests, and have allowed the other team to come back, and in the most recent contest (Cleveland) they actually allowed them to come all the way back and win. Cheeks has to get these guys focused, and keep them focused for 48 minutes. They could very well be 8-2 at this point if they played all 48 minutes of the game.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">Get rebounds</font> you can‘t win the game without the ball. The 76ers have been out rebounded by five rebounds a game this season. It is incredible that they are over .500 giving up those rebounding numbers. Cleveland killed them on the offensive boards, and that was one of the biggest reasons why they where able to come back in that game. The Hornets have Chris Anderson who has had a 18 rebound game this season, and PJ Brown (if he plays) who is a double double guy when he is on the court. If the 76ers don‘t box out those guys will take advantage.[/list] <ul><font color="DarkRed">Defense</font> the 76ers need to go back to playing defense the way they played against the Lakers. Stop allowing other teams to take your guys one on one while everyone else just stands around and watches.[/list] <ul><font color="MediumTurquoise">Get Chris Paul going early</font> Paul has had over 20 points during each of the last two contests, and three times so far this season when he plays well the team wins. He has played outstanding basketball during the time JR Smith has been out. If they get him going early they will be in a great position to win.[/list] <ul><font color="MediumTurquoise">Give Mason some playing time</font> this guy is a player who can give you at least 15 a night if he is getting playing time I don’t know what Scott is thinking he has not played Mason over 20 minutes so far this season. This Hornets team is playing solid basketball with a couple of their main weapons being none factors Smith due to injury, Mason due to playing time, imagine what they could do if those two start contributing.[/list] My Prediction: The Hornets have been the feel good story of the season so far this year in the NBA. However, don’t expect them to win tonight with Claxton out, and Smith out as well. The 76ers will be able focus all their attention of defense on Chris Paul which will in turn disrupt the entire Hornets offense. I think the Hornets can put up a great fight, but at the end of the day the 76ers pull out the win. Final score 110-98.
I agree with the point about not under estimating the Hornets. Even though we win in every matchup, as a unit the Hornets are playing well. But at the end of the day Iverson is way too much to handle and I'll be dissapointed with anything less than a 10+ point win. Great preview btw.
Best Kept Secret is on the money, in order for the 76ers to win they need to simply play better defense. Right now, they aren't helping out on defense. Mike James scored 38 points, and a lot of those were on inside close shots, Wade dominated the game by penetrating every time and making something happen he scored 7 dunks on the 76ers, LeBron James probably saw those highlights and he did basically the same thing dropping a triple double on the 76ers and also scoring lots of points inside. This team is really struggling defensively without Dalembert. Hopefully they can start swarming teams and playing team defense because a player like Chris Paul is definitely capable of going off. On the other hand, the Sixers have been playing pretty good on offense, if they can keep that up and play defense they are capable of playing they'd be blowing out teams. I think you'll see a major change once Sam D is back. In my opinion this is an easy game for the 76ers they can't play to their opponents level in this case. The Hornets have been respectable this season, but this Sixers team has more talent and a better all around team. I'm going with Philadelphia by 9.
I completely agree with everything said in this thread. Our offense looks as great as it has at any period during the last couple of years... we're pretty much scoring at will, but our defense right now is still horrible. It improved slightly during our win streak, but the last three games it has been atrocious. If we drop 120 points on a team we should win that game, that is more than enough to get a W, but our defense is killing us. We need Hunter to be more productive on the boards, as the Cavs got 15 offensive rebounds and dominated in second-chance points, and that is what basically allowed them to win that game. Defense isn't over until you grab the rebound. Hopefully Dalembert helps us in that specific area when he returns. As far as the Hornets go, we definitely cannot take them lightly as you all have already said. This game is a must win for the Sixers. My goal for us this week is to go atleast 2-1, and this is one that should be a win for us as long as he play the way we are capable of playing.
Nice preivew. I'm looking forward to seeing Chris Paul play. I havn't seen him play in an NBA game yet so I'm excited. I think we really got to win this game. We lost two in a row so far and hopefully a home game against the Hornets will help us get back on track. I predict Sixers win 108-95 with Iverson being the Player of the Game. I expect Igoudala to have a good offensive game also.
Damn Hunter got hit by Nachbar when he (Nachbar) was driving. Where down to James Thomas right now hopefully he will be alright. I cannot imagine what we will do if all we have is James Thomas for a extended period of time. He took a shot to his groin, and is in a lot of pain. Edit: Steven Hunter is back, and is playing well. Edit: Steven Hunter just twisted his ankle he is gone again. Edit: Hunter had a mild ankle sprain he is expected to return.
Great win we managed to hold on to our lead while not playing Allen Iverson most of the second half. We could reel off several wins in a row these next few days we will be playing very winnable games, even though it will be on the road. These teams we will be facing (@ Milwaukee, @ New York, Portland , @ Boston, @ NO/Okla. City ) for the most part have struggled up to this point in the season. the Bucks will probably be the only game we should have a trouble with, and I think we will end up winning that one by a large margin as well considering the emotion that will be involved. We need to get as many wins as we can, because after that we fact San Antonio, and have several tough games in a row.
Great game. We finally held a team under 100 Points. Yes, under 100 points this is worth frontpage news. Our offense look sharped as usual even with Iverson sitting out the last 14 minutes of the game. And overall was a good effort. Speaking of Iverson apparently he is not doing to well... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"I didn't feel good at shootaround," said Iverson, who told coach Maurice Cheeks he was ailing as he prepared to go back in for the fourth quarter. "He just told me to come back, and fortunately everything worked out fine." "I didn't feel good at all," he said. "I was dizzy out there for virtually the whole game. Once I stopped playing at halftime and came back in, I just never felt right. I think I'm coming down with something. I want to get home and take some medication and see how I feel in the morning."</div> <div align="center">Source</div> Not good news, but it's nothing he wouldn't be able to play through. Lastly, did anybody see that Iverson to Iguodala alley-oop? It has to be one of the best highlight play of the year so far. I'm sure that will be a Top 5 play of the year, it was just that good.
well, i didnt see this game because i was vactioning in vegas, but i did see the recaps at sportscenter. i have to say, the AI and AI2 duo is just amazing. also, avery, AI only got limited time not because of an injury, but it was flu like symptoms.
The 76ers played well, it all starts on defense and the 76ers played good when it came to that. It is good to see that AI got some needed rest, and when the other guys were in they didn't give up the lead and collapse to a team they were supposed to and did beat. Next up is Milwaukee, they have been playing a lot better then many thought they would, and the Sixers need to go and their house and pull off a win.
