<div align="center"> @ <font color="Green">Minnesota TimberWolves</font>(11-5) <font color="DarkRed">Philadelphia 76ers</font>(6-11) <font color="red">Place:Wachovia Center</font> <font color="red">Time:6:00 PM </font> <font color="red">TV:NBALP, NBATV, CSN</font></div> <div align="center"> Probable Starters <font size="1">(PG Allen Iverson, SG Kyle Korver, SF Andre Iguodala, PF Kenny Thomas, C Marc Jackson)</font></div> _________________________________________ <div align="center">Probable Satrters <font size="1">(PG Sam Cassel, SG Latrell Sprewell, SF Wally Szczerbiak, PF Kevin Garnett, C Michael Olowokandi)</font></div> <font color="DarkRed">Philadelphia 76ers</font> <u>Keys to the Game</u> Well we are all very disappointed in the Sixers recent play. Lets face it the Sixers have been terrible, they even lost to the Atlanta Hawks. If they can?t beat them, you would think they would really struggle against the TimberWolves. For the Sixers to win this game they are going to have to attack the boards, and keep Minnesota off the offensive boards. Its not going to be easy contain Kevin Garnett though, are main defender that will be on him will be Marc Jackson, and Kenny Thomas, those players wont cut it for us, so I see KG having a monster game against us. That doesn?t mean the Sixers will necessarily loose this game, but if the want to win, they are going to have to contain KG's Wolf Pack. If they contain guys like Sam Cassel and Sprewel then the Sixers will have a chance to compete with this team. The Sixers should be aggressive and attack the basket, because if you shoot jumpers on the Wolves all day, those misses will be converted to fast break points in the blink of an eye. If the Sixers drive and attack the paint hopefully they will be able to draw fouls against the Minnesota big men, keep in mind that the back big men for the Wolves aren?t really good, so the Sixers need to make that into an advantage. We are at home; it would be nice to see these Sixers end this ugly losing streak in Philly. The crowd may be tough on them but if they come out with the W it will be a huge confidence builder and maybe it will ignite a Sixers win streak. <font color="Green">Minnesota TimberWolves</font> <u>Keys to the Game</u> The Wolves are the better team then the Sixers are. So the keys to the game for them are simple, if they execute and get solid nights from the supporting cast then they should beat the 76ers. Garnett will do his thing, so with that alone that gives the Wolves the ability to compete no matter what in this game. My Prediction: Its tough to pick against my own team, thats why I'm not going to do it. Sixers with an upset ending this ugly losing streak. 104-98
My Prediction: If AI can get on Cassels face, and play good D, and Iguodala, Thomas can keep KG cold, Philly by 6. 102-96
That nba girl what are u thinking u r a philly fan so stick with it. They will get blown out c'mon man if they lose this i can promise u that AI will go off and people will start to wonder is it the coach or the players.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting lil nba:</div><div class="quote_post">That nba girl what are u thinking u r a philly fan so stick with it. They will get blown out c'mon man if they lose this i can promise u that AI will go off and people will start to wonder is it the coach or the players.</div> They can't beat Atlanta and they've been playing like crap and you think I should be hopeful? Sorry. But I have had it with this team. I've had it with Jim O'Brien. They're playing KG and the Timberwolves in case you haven't noticed. I'm just telling you what's gonna happen. The Sixers stink and they're playing a great team. They will not win this one and they will get blown out. That is my predicition. Like it or leave it. I'm sick of everyone on here yelling at me for criticizing them over and over and over. It's my OPINION. I can think however I want. I'm fed up with them, regardless if I'm a huge fan or one doesn't really follow them. I am a big fan and you all know that. However, if they're playing like crap and sucking, I'm not gonna pretend like they're playing great! So if you have a problem with what I have to say about the team, then PM me and deal with it that way. I'm not going to change the way I feel about this team until some change is made or until we start playing like a team. This is rediculous.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting That NBA Girl:</div><div class="quote_post">Sixers get blown out, 86-110.</div> Definitely agree with you one this all the way.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting That NBA Girl:</div><div class="quote_post">They can't beat Atlanta and they've been playing like crap and you think I should be hopeful? Sorry. But I have had it with this team. I've had it with Jim O'Brien. They're playing KG and the Timberwolves in case you haven't noticed. I'm just telling you what's gonna happen. The Sixers stink and they're playing a great team. They will not win this one and they will get blown out. That is my predicition. Like it or leave it. I'm sick of everyone on here yelling at me for criticizing them over and over and over. It's my OPINION. I can think however I want. I'm fed up with them, regardless if I'm a huge fan or one doesn't really follow them. I am a big fan and you all know that. However, if they're playing like crap and sucking, I'm not gonna pretend like they're playing great! So if you have a problem with what I have to say about the team, then PM me and deal with it that way. I'm not going to change the way I feel about this team until some change is made or until we start playing like a team. This is rediculous.</div> well the sixers game against the hawks, in my opinion too was a very winnable game the sxers just played around with atl and atl gave em an upset. but as for this game against minny everyone knows kg is going to get his numbers but spree is a little streaky. i know hes only one person but still its a little light. we'll just have to see after the game. and ey ya'll let nba have her opinion stop trying to jump on her. but i tfeel wehre both sides of this argument are steming from. cant we all just be friends.
I totally agree with Need4Sheed and That NBA Girl, the Sixers will lose by about 10 points. Watch their defense,(except against the Hawks which they did a ok job)it's pathetic, now the Twolves have 4 great offensive players, 3 of them can easily hit the 3 from the perimeter, do you really think we're going to contain them. If we're going to win this game we will need GREAT defensive effort and everybody else on the starting line up need to pick up the scoring.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting iversonfan3:</div><div class="quote_post">I totally agree with Need4Sheed and That NBA Girl, the Sixers will lose by about 10 points. Watch their defense,(except against the Hawks which they did a ok job)it's pathetic, now the Twolves have 4 great offensive players, 3 of them can easily hit the 3 from the perimeter, do you really think we're going to contain them. If we're going to win this game we will need GREAT defensive effort and everybody else on the starting line up need to pick up the scoring.</div> Don't forget we'll need rebounds? So, Sammy Dalem... oh yeah, that's right. He's nonexistant on this team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting That NBA Girl:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't forget we'll need rebounds? So, Sammy Dalem... oh yeah, that's right. He's nonexistant on this team. </div> Yeah...rebounding will be an issue in this game. Also, I don't see anyone containing Garnett...whether it's Josh Davis, Kenny Thomas, whoever. Iverson will get his against an older Cassell...but he won't go off. Hassell will push Iggy's buttons...unless he's put on Korver...and Erin, I know Korver is your favorite player, but Hassell's perimeter defense is too good, so he may struggle also. If the Sixers can pass the ball...get everyone a touch on every possession...and get guys open for easy shots, then I can see them keeping the game close. But...I don't think that'll happen, and the Sixers will be disappointed to know that I'm betting against them, 97-84.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah...rebounding will be an issue in this game. Also, I don't see anyone containing Garnett...whether it's Josh Davis, Kenny Thomas, whoever. Iverson will get his against an older Cassell...but he won't go off. Hassell will push Iggy's buttons...unless he's put on Korver...and Erin, I know Korver is your favorite player, but Hassell's perimeter defense is too good, so he may struggle also. If the Sixers can pass the ball...get everyone a touch on every possession...and get guys open for easy shots, then I can see them keeping the game close. But...I don't think that'll happen, and the Sixers will be disappointed to know that I'm betting against them, 97-84.</div> The Wolves arent going to match Cassell up against Iverson. They will cross match Cassell guard Kyle Kover, because he doesnt really attack the basket off the dribble. And Spree will cover AI until Hassell checks in the game. The Wolves will win but it wont be a blow out. The Wolves have blown out very few teams so far this season. And they have often played down to the level of their competion, allowing lesser teams to hang with them for 4 quarters, especially given the fact the Wolves havent played that well in the 3rd quarter. Kenny Thomas played well against KG in both matchups last season. So this is a matchup where he could have some unexpected confidence. I dont expect Kandiman to start for the Wolves at the 5 spot look for Madsen to start there. And look for Eddie Griffin & KG to play alot together along the frontline, since the Sixers arent that big of a team across their frontline. Anyway I expect a 6-8point victory for the Wolves.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">The Wolves arent going to match Cassell up against Iverson. They will cross match Cassell guard Kyle Kover, because he doesnt really attack the basket off the dribble. And Spree will cover AI until Hassell checks in the game. The Wolves will win but it wont be a blow out. The Wolves have blown out very few teams so far this season. And they have often played down to the level of their competion, allowing lesser teams to hang with them for 4 quarters, especially given the fact the Wolves havent played that well in the 3rd quarter. Kenny Thomas played well against KG in both matchups last season. So this is a matchup where he could have some unexpected confidence. I dont expect Kandiman to start for the Wolves at the 5 spot look for Madsen to start there. And look for Eddie Griffin & KG to play alot together along the frontline, since the Sixers arent that big of a team across their frontline. Anyway I expect a 6-8point victory for the Wolves.</div> Wait, I'm confused. Cassell guarding Korver? I must not know the Sixers' lineup. O'Brien is confusing the hell out of me. So, it's something along the lines of... PG - Iverson SG - Korver SF - Iggy PF - Kenny Thomas C - Marc Jackson Correct? I thought Korver was playing the three.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Wait, I'm confused. Cassell guarding Korver? I must not know the Sixers' lineup. O'Brien is confusing the hell out of me. So, it's something along the lines of... PG - Iverson SG - Korver SF - Iggy PF - Kenny Thomas C - Marc Jackson Correct? I thought Korver was playing the three.</div> Yeah, their lineup is something like that...But Cassell will definately be guarding Korver and not AI. The Wolves arent going to risk giving up that much penetration to Iverson with Sammy checking him. And Iggy would be another tought matchup for Cassell because of his size & athletism. So the Wolves will use Cassell on Kover who for the most part with be out on the perimeter just looking for his jumper.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, their lineup is something like that...But Cassell will definately be guarding Korver and not AI. The Wolves arent going to risk giving up that much penetration to Iverson with Sammy checking him. And Iggy would be another tought matchup for Cassell because of his size & athletism. So the Wolves will use Cassell on Kover who for the most part with be out on the perimeter just looking for his jumper.</div> Yeah, I understand that Cassell wouldn't be guarding Iverson...but I was also taking into consideration that Korver would be playing the three, so I figured Minnesota would have no other choice but to put Cassell on either Iverson or Iggy. Putting Cassell on a three would cause alot of problems...so that's where I was lost.
Hey shut your yaps. I don't give a shit if we're losing, as a Sixers fan I will always think they are the best in the L. Change your attitude NBAGIRL, I don't consider you a Sixers fan. I don't really care if you even go to the Sixers games. All I know is that your doubting your own team. Yes that's your own opinion, but keep your opinion to yourself if its not one that we don't want to hear. Real fans stick with their teams even if they are on a 20 game losing streak and every game they say "this is the day we snap out of the streak". Sixers by 3, keep KG off the boards.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting zEx69:</div><div class="quote_post">Hey shut your yaps. I don't give a shit if we're losing, as a Sixers fan I will always think they are the best in the L. Change your attitude NBAGIRL, I don't consider you a Sixers fan. I don't really care if you even go to the Sixers games. All I know is that your doubting your own team. Yes that's your own opinion, but keep your opinion to yourself if its not one that we don't want to hear. Real fans stick with their teams even if they are on a 20 game losing streak and every game they say "this is the day we snap out of the streak". Sixers by 3, keep KG off the boards.</div> It's a prediction. You can be as positive as you want...you can hope all you want...but the Sixers (nor any other team in the league) aren't going to win 82 games, so predictions don't have to be positive all the time. The way I see it, Erin was being honest, like alot of others here. I don't see my favorite team winning every game, but I'll be optimistic. That doesn't mean a perfect record. The Sixers can pull off an upset...but there's no reason for a "true fan" to predict a win every time, because if that was the case, how would any team lose using that logic?
Hey buddy, If I was talking to you I would understand why your talking. But, I wasn't talking to you. Since you decided to throw yourself into something that didn't concern you, I'll have to address you. Yes, If she was a true fan she WOULD predict that the Sixers will win. It's not just that she predicted them to get BLOWN OUT, It's that she's been having negative attitude about the Sixers for a week or so now and I'm sick of it. It's getting annoying surfing these forums looking at all the negative shit that is written about the Sixers. If she wants to predict the Sixers to get blown out, let her go to the Timberwolves game thread and let her predict the Sixers to get blown out.
For all of you guys who are doubting Philly. You are worong, yes they have been on a terrible losing streak but any team in the NBA can beat another team who my be better any given night. Jeez, do you guys remeber last year when The T-Wolves came to town and the Sixre beat them without Allen or Bigg Dogg. Also I dont beleive they would put Cassel on Korver, since Korver is taller then him, he would be able to shoot easy jumpers over him. Not to mention Korver could probaly put some power in his game against Cassel's small frame.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Silky Smooth:</div><div class="quote_post">For all of you guys who are doubting Philly. You are worong, yes they have been on a terrible losing streak but any team in the NBA can beat another team who my be better any given night. Jeez, do you guys remeber last year when The T-Wolves came to town and the Sixre beat them without Allen or Bigg Dogg.</div> I believe we had someone that could rebound playing in that game? What's his name?? I think it was... Samuel? Samuel Dalemert?? I could be mistaken but I think that was his name...
