<div align="center"> @ <font color="blue">Utah Jazz</font>(10-15) <font color="darkred"> Philadelphia 76ers</font>(10-13) <font color="red">Place: The Wachovia Center</font> <font color="red">Time: 7:00 PM et</font> <font color="red">TV: NBA TV</font></div> <div align="center"> Probable Starters <font size="1">(PG Allen Iverson, SG Willie Green, SF Andre Iguodala, PF Kenny Thomas, C Samuel Dalembert)</font></div> _________________________________________ <div align="center"> Probable Starters <font size="1">(Carlos Arroyo, Raja Bell, Matt Harpring, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur)</font></div> <font color="DarkRed">Philadelphia 76ers</font> <u>Keys to the Game</u> The Sixers have had a good last few games and they need to keep up the tempo, if they start to get to confident this could cause them to lose and underestimate other teams. It's key for the Sixers to take advantage of the star-less Jazz, who are missing their best player. It seems as if are Sixers seem to be more athletic then the Jazz, so I'm looking to see penetration and game changing plays. That means guy's like Andre Iguodala and Willie Green need to be looking to attack the rim every time they get the ball. Also, I know Allen may feel that he is hot coming off his season high 54 points. But I feel it's important for him to get everybody involved this game to set the tone for the road trip, if all the 76res are confident going into the road trip we'll be better off. Another key is for our players to stay out of foul trouble, these last few games Sam has been picking up a lot of fouls, resulting in less playing time and when Sam doesn?t play we lose strong rebounding and interior defense. Also vice versa, if we stay aggressive we can get guys like Carlos Boozer and Okur to pick up fouls and if that happens, then that opens up the post game even more. So it is very key for us to attack and not set back and settle for jump shots <div align="center"><u><font color="blue"> Key Matchup</u></div></font> <div align="center"></div> It's important for Allen not to try to do to much this game. It's ok for him to be agressive but we dont want him trying to do it all because it's very possible he can shoot us out of he game if that happens. Were going to have to keep Carlos Boozer contained and off the glass, because when he gets rebounds espically on offense they will lead to easy buckets and excitement to his game. My Prediction: The Sixers are going to have to bring a lot of engergy to this game, if they take advantage of the home croud then I'm confident that the Sixers can come out with a win. I'm going to predict us by 5 or more. Injury Report<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">12/20: John Salmons - Out - bronchitis Kenny Thomas - Game-time decision - mid back strain</div>
No Kirilenko, Arroyo struggling, Boozer settling for 15ft shots and the team played an exhausting game the day before. Looking at these circumstances I think it would be hard for the Jazz to pull off a win against a hot 76ers team, especially on the road. Thus that is why I'm going with Philly on this one. 76ers by 11. ________________ Philadelphia 76ers Injury Report - December 20, 2004
Seriously, even if he wasn't planning on giving the ball to him they could've just used him as a decoy. Stupid move by O'Brien Willie Green of all people? They couldn't have set up something for a Korver buzzer-beater? Someone please tell me why Iverson was out... EDIT: Found out Iverson fouled out
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NikeAir8:</div><div class="quote_post"> Seriously, even if he wasn't planning on giving the ball to him they could've just used him as a decoy. Stupid move by O'Brien </div> My brother (Philly fan), told me AI has 6 fouls thus he was not an option to take the game tie shot. All I know.
Wow this was a close game, but I think one of the main reasons we lost was because we gave up a season high of 10 free thorw attempts to Okur. Had no one in double digit scoring besides Allen Iverson and Kyle Korver, and had no one besides AI attempt 10 field goals. The Jazz also had much better ball movement than us tonight 29 assists. Allen Iverson had the firs ttwo 50 point games this season I believe with the Bucks game, and now this game. At least we can say we have a .500 record when AI scores 50+ points, but seriously his teammates need to step up big time. You can not place any of the blame for the Sixers loses on AI. The man shot 18-31 and attempted 17 free throws knocking down 11 of them. Only down side to his game was seven turnovers the Jazz all together had still one more turnover than the Sixers so you can not blame the lose on AI's turnovers. NikeAir8 didnt Allen have six fouls and fouled out ? Honestly though take away AI and the rest of the Sixers shot 12-45 thats horrible. Thats not how any NBA ranchise should play. In fact take away KK and AI tonight and the Sixers shot 7-36. Wow funny how to players can do so much for a team. The Sixers had 41 free throw attempts tonight eighteen of those came from AI, and besides AI no one on the team got to the line more than eight times less than half of the amount of times that AI got there. This team has no chemistry, but there talent alone allows them to have good games, and keep games close. We never know who on this team will be our second option on what night, and that is something that hurts us. I remember after ther Bucks game someone said there is no way there sixers can lose when AI scores this much. Well apparently there is, and that is when the rest of the team barely scores at all. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting NikeAir8:</div><div class="quote_post">oh lol... didnt see/hear that Still, I would've liked to see Korver have it. What about u guys?</div> KK was hot beyoung the arc this game, but he did nothing else at al seven of his nine field goal attempts where three pointers, and all of his field goals made where three pointers. True shooting 5-7 from the arc is not bad. It makes me imagine what could KK do if he actually added a demention to his game with the mid range jumper, and new how to create his own shots. It just pains me at times to watch this kid. He is hot one night then sucks the next, because teams know all he has is a three pointer, and if they take that away he is not a threat. So in answer to your question no I would not have wanted Korver in there, because the Jazz would have known what was coming, and with them knowing that I do not think it would have made a difference having him in there. It is a dissappointing lose, but it seems like Philadelpiha and its teams/fans are getting there fair share of dissappointments lately. TO and now this lose along with the lose against the Knicks when we had the 19 point lead.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NikeAir8:</div><div class="quote_post">oh lol... didnt see/hear that Still, I would've liked to see Korver have it. What about u guys?</div> KK was hot beyoung the arc this game, but he did nothing else at al seven of his nine field goal attempts where three pointers, and all of his field goals made where three pointers. True shooting 5-7 from the arc is not bad. It makes me imagine what could KK do if he actually added a demention to his game with the mid range jumper, and new how to create his own shots. It just pains me at times to watch this kid. He is hot one night then sucks the next, because teams know all he has is a three pointer, and if they take that away he is not a threat. So in answer to your question no I would not have wanted Korver in there, because the Jazz would have known what was coming, and with them knowing that I do not think it would have made a difference having him in there. It is a dissappointing lose, but it seems like Philadelpiha and its teams/fans are getting there fair share of dissappointments lately. TO and now this lose along with the lose against the Knicks when we had the 19 point lead.
It's ridiculous Iverosn is still this unstoppable. I mean he's supposed to be past his prime no disrespect.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purpleb0n9:</div><div class="quote_post">It's ridiculous Iverosn is still this unstoppable. I mean he's supposed to be past his prime no disrespect.</div> See i dont under stand that thinking at times. I think people jsut say that, because of his size. truth AI is still 29 I believe about to hit 30, and when Juwan Howard signed with the Magic he was in his early 30's and they said on the orlando magic web site that he had choosen to play his prime of his career with the Magic. So when is a players "prime" and how do you define him being past it? I mean he has not really experenced any drop in his game he had a injury writled season last year, but still averaged his usual points, and was still our leading scorer. This is argueable his best season since his 2001 season. So how can we say he is past is prime he is shooting the best percentage he has since the 2002-03 season. That 2002-03 season also happened to be the only season of Iversons career where he played all 82 regular season contests. He is shooting the best free throw percentage of his career, averaging 41.1 minutes a game, and his career average is 41.4 minutes a game, and he has only missed one game this season due to injury which was for a hyper extended shoulder I believe. So he is just as good right now as he was a couple years ago. I do not think AI is the player he use to be when he was MVP I think he is a bit slower, but that is the only part of his game that has really showed any dramatic change. Other than that his stats have remained consistant. So I would not say he is past his prime yet. Just my opinion though. I think that each players primes depend on there health and work ethic, and I think AI's is still not past him.
^ Juwan Howard's prime wasn't with the Magic, his was his second season with the Bullets in 1995-1996 when he made the All Star team and he had such a good year that he signed that fat contract. I am not gonna disagree with this season being Iverson's best year since that 2000-2001. But after that season, he kinda took a couple of steps backward although he did increase his scoring average a little bit, his field goal percentage fell to under 40% for the first time in his career. Then you have last year, when he only played 48 games. But I'm not here saying that he's totally past his prime, totally washed up, I meant his game slipped just a notch or two. Even if he is to have another 50 pt game(s) this season, I don't think it will top his 2000-2001 season MVP season. That was his peak, and he's past it, he's slowing down. Which is why I'm pleasantly surprised by this back-to-back 50 pt performances.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purpleb0n9 :</div><div class="quote_post">^ Juwan Howard's prime wasn't with the Magic, his was his second season with the Bullets in 1995-1996 when he made the All Star team and he had such a good year that he signed that fat contract. </div> I was not saing it was. i was stating that when he signed his contract with the Orando Magic the site was saying how he had choosen to play his prime with the Magic. Not my opinion just a statement I found intresting. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting purpleb0n9:</div><div class="quote_post">I am not gonna disagree with this season being Iverson's best year since that 2000-2001. But after that season, he kinda took a couple of steps backward although he did increase his scoring average a little bit, his field goal percentage fell to under 40% for the first time in his career. Then you have last year, when he only played 48 games. But I'm not here saying that he's totally past his prime, totally washed up, I meant his game slipped just a notch or two. Even if he is to have another 50 pt game(s) this season, I don't think it will top his 2000-2001 season MVP season. That was his peak, and he's past it, he's slowing down. Which is why I'm pleasantly surprised by this back-to-back 50 pt performances.</div> Can not argue with you there, but I feel a reason his percentage slipped was due to the lack of talent or should I say developed talent around him. I mean his average was always around 40% with talented veterns around him 42% was the percentage he shot his mvp year. I think if he still had those options on the roster his average would still be around 42-44% these days. How ever he has picked his game up this season including his percentage so that could be a good sign.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure Skillz:</div><div class="quote_post">Can not argue with you there, but I feel a reason his percentage slipped was due to the lack of talent or should I say developed talent around him. I mean his average was always around 40% with talented veterns around him 42% was the percentage he shot his mvp year. I think if he still had those options on the roster his average would still be around 42-44% these days. How ever he has picked his game up this season including his percentage so that could be a good sign.</div> On my second thought, his stats this season could top those of the 2000-2001 season, but if the Sixers aren't winning and don't reach the playoffs then forget it. I believe the decision to name him the MVP was he led the team to the best record in the L. Aaahh memories...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purpleb0n9:</div><div class="quote_post">On my second thought, his stats this season could top those of the 2000-2001 season, but if the Sixers aren't winning and don't reach the playoffs then forget it. I believe the decision to name him the MVP was he led the team to the best record in the L. Aaahh memories... </div> Yes a factor in the MVP voting is the teams success. Iversons stats this year may top his MVP season, but I guarantee you that the Sixers will not make the Finals this year. LEts take a look at the past 5 years: 2004: Kevin Garnett,Western Conference Finals 2003: Tim Duncan,Championship 2002: Tim Duncan, Western Conference SemiFinals 2001: Allen IVerson, Finals 2000: Shaq, Championship Most of these players respected teams were very good the seasons they won MVP. The only one any onne can really make a case for is Duncan in 2002. He was facing the LAker dynasty though who went on to win the championship. BTW, The Sixers didn't have the best record in 2000-2001, they were tied with the LAkers, and the Spurs had more wins, thus a better record. Philadelphia 76ers 56-26 Los Angeles Lakers 56-26 San Antonio Spurs 58 -24 lol I can't believe Milwaukee had 52 wins that season
