<div align="center"> Where: Indiana Date: December 22, 2004 7:00 pm Coach As a interim head coach in the 200-01 season Jim O'Brien led the Celtics for 48 games to a .500 record (24-24). During his time in Boston Jim O'Brien led the Boston Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals, and a eventual lose in six games to the New Jersey nets. Last season O'Brien abruptly left the Celticsmid way through there season after the trade of his two favorite players Eric Williams and Tony Battie. The Sixers had also at the time lost there own coachLarry Brown at the time to the Detroit Pistons after a six game lose to the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the playoffs. They tried to have Randy Ayers as there replacement, but to no avail as he would be fired before all star break. The job would then fall to interm head coach Ford who's problems with star Allen Iverson and old school coaching style cost much contriversy in a some what hopeless losing season. Then the Sixers search lead them to home town native Jin O'Brien. JO has tryed many different lineups as head coach of the 76ers so far this season the only constant of the five starters being Allen Iverson and Andre Igoudala. We can not say that he has lived up to expectations as coach so far this year, but he is getting there. Projected Starting 5 PG- Allen Iverson (PPG 28.2 RPG 3.90 APG 7.3) SG- Willie Green (PPG 8.2 RPG 2.4 APG 2.1) SF- Andre Igoudala (PPG 8.4 RPG 5.1 APG 2.3) PF- Kenny Thomas (PPG 9.2 RPG 6.8 APG 1.3) C- Samuel Dalembert (PPG 5.2 RPG 6.9 APG .6) Allen Iverson is having the best season of his career since his mvp season in 2001. Iverson currently is coming off two back to back 50 point games he is the first person to achieve this mark since the 2001 season. He is also leading the league in scoring, and leads the Sixers in steals per game, asissts per game, and need less to say points per game. If he does not peroform tonight I have no hope for the 76ers to win this game. A break that helps the 76ers big time is the absence of Jermaine O'neal, Ron Artest, and Stephen Jackson. The 76ers are looking to get off to a good start to there eight game road stretch there longest of the season. Willie Green is back in the starting lineup after being in the dog house for a couple of games. He is one of the x-factors for this team, because of this team not having a solid second option you never know who is going to step up, but I expect him to have a good game, because he is due for one. he did very well over the stretch run of last season, but has not performed as well so far this year. Iggy is one the only rookie from this years draft class to be ranked top 10 in all statistical rookie catagories. As the Sixers first lottery pick in years this is expected from him he is going to be another x-factor like Willi Green this game. Trying to help out Allen Iverson with the scoring load. I think he is probably our best option as a second option for this game so I hope he can perform well against the Pacers team today. Kenny Thomas has been practicing with a minor back injury. He is a game time decision tonight, but he is probably going to be the second biggest leader for us this game emotionally if he plays. He always seems to make big plays for us, and I do not expect it to be any different tonight. So I think he will have a double double tonight if he plays. I think he will be a big factor in defending the Pacers under rated front court of Harrison and Foster. Sammy Dalembert is our biggest defensive player on this team over the last few games he has not put up great offensive games, but has had many blocks with Marc Jackson carring the scoring load for the position while he anchores the defense for us. I think if we can get a big defensive night from him tonight we will win this game. Sixth Man SF- Kyle Korver (PPG 11.7 RPG 3.9 APG 2.1 KK is one of the best options for second score ron this team the problem for him is he is two one dementional. I do not think he takes enough advantage of his shot. He settles to much for the three point shot even when he is not hot last game 15 of his 16 points came from the three point line. Seven of his nine shots where threes, and all five he made where threes. One thing that is good about KK for this matchup is since he does not drive it in or try to create much off the dribble then he can not be caught for a foul on the famous Reggie Miller flop. Hope he can score though, because if he is not hot then he will be a near no factor. Coach Rick Carlisle Starting Line Up PG- Jamaal Tinsley (15.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.8 APG) SG Reggie Miller (19.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.8 APG) SF- James Jones (8.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG, .9 APG) PF-Jeff Foster (10.2 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.6 APG) C- David Harrison (7.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, .4 APG) Sixth Man Fred Jones (13.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.5 APG) Jamal Tinsley has really emerged as a force lately so I expect a big game from him, and Reggie Miller so far this season has been a blast from the past. Hopefully they do not perform that well today and we can pull out a win. Foster is averaging a double double for them a very under rated player I can only hope they do not do that well tonight. Game MVP'S " target="_blank">http://www.nba.com/media/act_allen_iverson.jpg"></a> Allen Iverson 35 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists Reggie Miller 20 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds Keys * Rebound the ball not having Oneal makes the Pacers a little smaller in the front court I think we need to body them up, and try and fight for every board. We get killed a lot on the boards to the end of the games which costs us a lot of times. * Have a big game from someone other than AI. AI has been the only one performing lately so we need someone else to step up to help him. Be it KK, Iggy, or Green someone needs to do it.. * Hold on to the ball only bad part about AI's 50 point game was that he had 7 turnovers he needs to hold on to the ball and get more than one steal this game for us to run the break more often. Prediction Tough game through out I say that the Sixers take the lead into half time, but lose it in the third quarter like they usually do. i see them regaining the lead in the fourth though, and leading by five with a minute to go, and eventually winning by two points final score being 98-96.</div>
The Sixers are going to have to contain the Pacers on the perimeter, because a lot of their players are capable of nailing it from down town. Tinsley has stepped up for his team, since the brawl that suspended the three main Pacers. We'll also need to keep him from getting easy point or he could have a big night for the Pacers. I also think Allen can have another big game for us, with his hot shooting of late he should be aggressive and he may be double teamed through out the game. Therefore it's important for him not to force his shots and not to hesitate to dish to the other Sixers. If we play like we're capable, there is no reason why we shouldn?t win this game. Sharing the ball and perimeter defense is big keys to this game. If we execute we should come out with a victory.
Well the Sixer's got a big win and Iverson had another great game. 40 points tonight and two 50 point games in the last two games. Wow he's averaging 45 points in the last 3 games. Very impressive but other players aren't really doing that much.
This win was really need for the Sixers. Hopefully this will set the tone for the upcoming road trip. Allen has been playing like a MVP, hopefully the rest of the team can pick up their consistency when it comes to scoring because thats a major flaw right now. If we want to be sucessful on this road trip we are going to have to out score teams. This was a great comeback win, and hopefully the Sixers will keep it up. We have a little holiday break and that could put some rust on the Sixers when they play the Blazers on Monday.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Silky Smooth:</div><div class="quote_post">This win was really need for the Sixers. Hopefully this will set the tone for the upcoming road trip. Allen has been playing like a MVP, hopefully the rest of the team can pick up their consistency when it comes to scoring because thats a major flaw right now. If we want to be sucessful on this road trip we are going to have to out score teams. This was a great comeback win, and hopefully the Sixers will keep it up. We have a little holiday break and that could put some rust on the Sixers when they play the Blazers on Monday.</div> Im actually thinking the holiday will help our team. Guys like Kenny Thomas, Allen Iverson, John Salmons, and Brian Skinner can get healthy from there injuries so we will be at full strength against the Portland Trail Blazers. It is going to be intresting to see what ahppens hopefully we go into that game with the energy we have had the past few games. The ones we has lost we lost in the last few minutes, and the ones we have won we have won with domination (some what) in most areas of the game.
Hey<u> Pure Skillz</u>....I dont understand your signature of Iverson saying he sucks...is it just being sarcastic or are ya for real? Dont flame me Im just wonderin
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheAnswerIsAi3:</div><div class="quote_post">Hey<u> Pure Skillz</u>....I dont understand your signature of Iverson saying he sucks...is it just being sarcastic or are ya for real? Dont flame me Im just wonderin </div> I think he had a bet with someone and lost 102-90 Sixers won,AI with 40! Just great
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheAnswerIsAi3:</div><div class="quote_post">Hey<u> Pure Skillz</u>....I dont understand your signature of Iverson saying he sucks...is it just being sarcastic or are ya for real? Dont flame me Im just wonderin </div> Voodoo Child is making me use it because I came in sixth place in the Around the Forum thing.I got to use it for two weeks. Each day Im gona add a new reason why Iverson is still better than the Griz though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure Skillz:</div><div class="quote_post">Im actually thinking the holiday will help our team. Guys like Kenny Thomas, Allen Iverson, John Salmons, and Brian Skinner can get healthy from there injuries so we will be at full strength against the Portland Trail Blazers. It is going to be intresting to see what ahppens hopefully we go into that game with the energy we have had the past few games. The ones we has lost we lost in the last few minutes, and the ones we have won we have won with domination (some what) in most areas of the game.</div> I understand what your saying and it's true. Guy's like Allen and Kenny Thomas will be able to rest some, and hopefully John Salmons will get beter over the holidays. But what I'm thinking is are young players who arent ailing with injuries might put on a little rust and thats all I'm worried about.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/sixers/AIguodala_170_041222.jpg[/IMGl] INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 22 (Ticker) -- Allen Iverson didn't have another 50 points in him. But he did have some help. Iverson scored 40 points in his bid for history and was part of a late surge that gave the Philadelphia 76ers a 102-90 victory over the struggling Indiana Pacers. A three-time scoring champion currently leading the NBA at 28.2 points per game, Iverson had scored 50-plus points in each of his last two games, becoming just the seventh player to turn the trick. The superstar point guard made 12-of-23 shots and 14-of-16 free throws for his 54th career 40-point game - and fourth in the last six. However, he failed to join Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players to score 50 in three consecutive games.</div> <div align="center">Recap Box Score Postgame Notes</div> Great game, I expected them to win, but as time progressed and I saw how they played for majority of the game I started to doubt them, but AI stepped up once again and lead them to victory. How could have I ever doubted them? Now while another 50 point performance would be great for Iverson, a 40 point performance is just as good if not better for the him and the team. I think Iverson had the chance to score 50, but he just choose not too. After his hot streak I would expect him to try tying Jordan's record, and yet he "only" took 23 shots with a hot hand. I?m guessing that he was looking to get his teammates involved, which shows a big sign of maturity. So good win overall, and we get a nice deserved break at the same time. Hopefully, this long break won't come with any rust and instead it will bring a more rejuvenated team. Also, isn't funny in the headlines when you see that the Pacers "held" Iverson to 40 Points. That headline alone tells about the rampage Iverson has been in as of late.
