<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The 76ers' reserves have been outscored by the opponents' bench players with regularity this season. And while Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks has said that he wants his bench to show energy at the defensive end, it would be nice if they scored more, too. "I'm not going to say that it doesn't bother me," Cheeks said yesterday after the Sixers held a hard two-hour practice at the Golden State Warriors' facility. "But I think we always talk about the bench because they always count bench scoring... . If we have a nice flow of the game and the bench comes in, they have to get some defensive pressure and maybe they'll score as well. But I don't think bench play is always good or bad depending on how we score." The Sixers' bench has outscored the opposing bench only twice in 30 games. It averages 16.4 points, compared with 30.6 by the opposition. Cheeks said he had no problem with the way his reserves had played in two games on this Western trip, which continues tonight in Sacramento against the Kings </div> link: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/13536023.htm one of the reasons why we have lost so many games this season is because of the lack of depth. bench players need to step up because they have only outscored the opponents bench twice in thirty games, which i find unacceptable.
It’s kind of hard to get production from the bench when your starters, excluding Dalembert, average a minimum of 35.4 minutes a game. How can you expect the bench to produce points when they are out there for such a limited amount of time?
But you also have to remember that the main reason the starters (except Allen) are out there so many minutes is because the bench cannot produce on the offensive end. I think Cheeks needs to start playing Nailon a little more, because he gave us some nice offense off the bench. Maybe just experiment with him behind Webber for a few more minutes, and see what he can do. He's dropped off the radar after his season-high 20 point game off the bench. Salmons cannot play on the road. His numbers are a lot worse on the road compared to his numbers at home, and we need his production the most in away games.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BigMo763:</div><div class="quote_post">But you also have to remember that the main reason the starters (except Allen) are out there so many minutes is because the bench cannot produce on the offensive end. I think Cheeks needs to start playing Nailon a little more, because he gave us some nice offense off the bench. Maybe just experiment with him behind Webber for a few more minutes, and see what he can do. He's dropped off the radar after his season-high 20 point game off the bench. Salmons cannot play on the road. His numbers are a lot worse on the road compared to his numbers at home, and we need his production the most in away games.</div> Completly agree.
The thing is scoring is not the problem for this team. Philadelphia just needs their bench to start producing in other ways though. Such as rebounding help, and playing a role on both sides of the ball. Salmons need to be efficeint scoring, and Hunter needs to block shots and provide a defensive presence.
The Good News & the Bad News... The good news is we won the game. The bad news is our bench scored only 4 lousy points. Webber sat out the game with back spasms. Salmons got the start in his place and added 18pts. It worked out tonight, but this can't continue with our starters logging so many minutes. I would've liked to see both L. Nailon and Salmons in the starting lineup while Korver provided some pop off the bench. This is of course until Webber returns.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kunlun:</div><div class="quote_post">If we're pushing so hard for bench scoring then why isn't Lee Nailon playing?</div> You hit the nail right on the head.
Because he is a defensive liability when put next to Hunter and/or Webber. Plus, he's not a good rebounder, but I'd like to see him get some more playing time. Again, OFFENSE is NOT the PROBLEM! DEFENSE is!
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Again, OFFENSE is NOT the PROBLEM! DEFENSE is!</div> Exactly. The postgame against the Jazz was the most I've seen Mo, AI and the rest of the guys stress defense. So mabye this time around the defense will start to get better. I have confidence.
