<div align="center"><font face="Tahoma"><div align="center"> <font size="1"> Writen by Pure Skillz Copyrighted to AllenIversonOnline </font> Phiadelphia 76ers (13-15) @ Los Angeles Clippers (13-15) Date: January 2nd, 2005 3:30 PM (local time) TV: CSN Last Games Spurs 98, Clippers 79 Philadelphia 92, Nuggets 97 </div> 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 coach Larry 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 Jim 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. They have come off a couple close games, and nice wins lately they are only two games out of the lead in the Atlantic division <div align="center"> <font color="Blue">Sammy Dalembert </font> -PPG 5.6 RPG 6.80 APG .6 <font color="Blue">Kenny Thomas</font>- PPG 9.2 RPG 6.5 APG 1.3 <font color="Blue">Andre Iguodala</font>- PPG 8.7 RPG 5.4 APG 2.6 <font color="Blue">Willie Green</font>- PPG 8.6 RPG 2.6 APG 2.1 <font color="Blue">Allen Iverson</font>- PPG 28.9 RPG 4.0 APG 7.1</div> Last game for the 76ers was a dissappointing lose after leading for 36 minutes a last quarter calapse by the 76ers cost them the game they let the Nuggets out score them 30-18 in the fourth they lost the second half 51-30. They shot only 29% from three point land yet the team all together attempted a total of 17 three point shots that game. To give us our first lose of the season total from the field we out shot the Nuggets 44% to 41% yet that wasnt enough to lift us to the victory combined with 23 turnovers. Allen Iverson had a bad shooting night 11-28 from the field he also only shot 50% from the stripe that game we ended that game missing six free throws five of those being missed by Iverson he also got to the line six mroe times then anyone else on the team so he has to make them when he gets there.Iverson also had five turnovers that game he will need to hold on to the ball against a Clippers team who has no point guard as of this point after losing Livingston earlier in the year and now Jaric for 3-4 weeks. Sounds easy lets see if he can do it. Willie Green had a good night last ngiht for the 76ers if you consider 6 points on 3-9 shooting a good night wow this guy is asking to be put back on the bench he is wildly inconsistant with his game.He will need to perform tonight him or someone needs to step up Iverson, Jackson, and Williamson where the only ones to score double digit scoring yesterday while in previous games on the road trip normally five guys scored double digits. Iggy will also need to step up last night he had only six points however unlike Green he shot 2-4 from the field 2-2 from the line he did not have that many oppurtunities to score which is why he did not score he did however grab 7 rebounds and dish out 7 assists he had a pretty good all around game he needs to keep that up tonight. Kenny Thomas what happened to this guy!?!?! last ight he had 2 points and 4 rebounds he was probably one of the biggest reasosn we lost I am leabeling him our x factor for tonight we need him more than anyone outside of AI to perform in order for us to win he is going against a guy his size in Elton Brand so its all about who wants it more tonight hopefully it will be Thomas. SD is just not having that good of a overall year he needs to step it up for them to win seriously.4 points 3 rebounds out of a guy that last summer wanted a big time contract extension from the team if he keeps playing like this I wont mind seeing him walk he is the best defensive player we got we need him at his best out there for us especially against the western conference. If you notice my preview I left out a sixth man for the team today why? One because Im running out of time to right this preview lol and another because I really dont know if we have a sixth man KK's stats have been slowly decreasing after a great start to the year I can not place him at sixth man when the 76ers are 3-1 with him scoring less and less points a game. * How about holding on to the ball for one 23 turnovers thats not a way to win a agme imagine what kind of team we could be if we held on to the ball with AI and Iggy high up there in the league ranking in steals per game? We would be able to run our offense without any trouble once so ever. * Have people step up please! Its a proven fact when our entire team is out there scoring and producing we have been winning when five guys scored double digits the last three games before this one we where 3-0 we need that to happen again. This game in order to win it tonight. Sixers MVP Projected stats: 30 points, 10 assists, 10 rebound a Triple Double Mike Dunleavy Sr. father of Mike Dunleavy Jr. small forward for the Gordlen State Warriorrs. Dunleavy has brought a new attitude to the Clipper sorginization since getting here even if they are not winning with a spectacular record everyone feels good about the future of this team. He is a very good old school coach with a no none sense coaching style that has gained him a lot of respect around the league. * <font color="DarkRed">Chris Kaman</font>-PPG 3.6 RPG 4.3 APG .9 <font color="DarkRed">Elton Brand</font>-PPG 18.3 RPG 8.6 APG 3.0 <font color="DarkRed">Bobby Simmons</font>-PPG 15.9 RPG 6.0 APG 2.9 <font color="DarkRed">Corey Maggette</font>- 21.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.2 APG <font color="DarkRed">Marko Jaric</font>-PPG 11.0 RPG 3.6 APG 6.4 <font size="1">Marko is not starting, but not sure who will take his palce do to his injury</font> Chris Kaman is not the msot spectacular center in the NBA by any means, but he is the best thing the Clippers have right now in there less than deep roster he was there first round lottery pick a couple years back he has performed nicely nad is developing nicely, but has yet to reach the level people expected of him. I will bet many in the Knicks orginization are happy they didnt drfat this guy now because when the Clippers drafted him Im sure they wanted to see him perform right away. Get ready for this the following three players are possibly the three most under rated trio in the league. Elton Brand will egt you 18 and 10 on his worst nights he is just that good standing at 6'8 6'9" at best Elton plays with the heart of a player who is 7'6". He will be a threat and I hope he and Kenny will have a good matchup this game in a battle of will. Bobby Simmons is really come into his own this season if the season ended today no question who the most improved player of the year would be. He shoots a incredable free throw and field goal percentage 89% from the stripe and 56 % from the field lets just say I hope the 76ers dont get in a tight game today, because we dont want to put this guy on the line at the end. Corey Maggette the Clippers leading scorer. Has upped his scoring each year he has been in the NBA yet has never gotten the NBA most improved player award. Why? IDK, but he is making a cas efor a all star birth this season if not for the depth at his position I am sure he would have been a all star a while ago hope he gets the recognition this year. Well we all know Jaric is injurede, but my question is who will replace him? The Clippers already lost Livingston earlier this year so who will be there to take Jarics place today this will probably be the biggest liability for the Clippers this game AI will attack who ever starts taking him to the basket any chance he gets. * Shot selection, shot selection, shot selection! You can not stress that enough these days besides for Simmons and Brand most of the Clippers have horrible shot selection which has cost them in tight games. Not knowing how to win has cost this team recently after a great start to the year they need to rebound now if they have any hope of making a playoff run. * Crash the boards this team has the players they need to crash the boards with Wilcox and Brand even Kaman they need to try and take advantage of there good rebounders this game in order for them to win it. they need to be physical and bang there bodies down low. Clippers MVP Projected stats: 24 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists This will be a tight game through out we can not under rate the Clippers they are a team dispite there record tha can take it to any team in the league. So we need to keep up the pressure this game and stay focused. Same goes for the Clippers they can not under rate the 76ers they are a team with heart that knows what they have to do and are thriving to get back to .500. My prediction close game through out 76ers win by 5 in the end.</font></div>
The Sixers and Clippers are on the same level right now. Both teams have seen low and high times of the pre-mature season. For the Sixers to take this win we are going to have to control them tempo and produce offensivly. We need the other Sixers to be consistant and help with the scoring load, we have been doing that but we need to keep it up. After losing to Denver and giving up a huge lead this team needs to come out with a vengence and prove they can play with leads. At times I think the Sixers have a better chance at winning if they slack off for three quarters then make a comeback in the 4th, then them leading the game for three quarters. Prove me wrong and win this game Sixers!
Right now, things aint looking good in the second quarter...Iverson is scoreless..the Sixers have 5 turnovers in this quarter and we missed 12 in a row, but as i was typing, Iverson finally made one... But we are still down by 12. If Iverson gets on that 4th quarter run.... Sixers 84 Clippers 79
Down by 12 Points at Halftime? Iverson has 20 Points on 9-14 shooting, so great game for him thus far, but the team needs to step up. Iverson has more than half of the team points. But to be honest, I?m not worried one bit, with Iverson playing the way he is and our guys usually playing the best when they are in a "catch up" scenario, I like our chances of winning. Iverson will continue to play well and finish with 40+ Points, and Korver and Jackson will come alive and produce as well. So there is nothing to worry about, well at least I don't think there is. But at the same time, Iverson needs to watch himself. He already has 3 fouls. And having to catch up they will need to play intensive defense, and playing that type of defense will come with fouls. So hopefully he can avoid it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">omg.....they're losing to the Clippres by 21 points</div> 23 points to be exact. The way this game is looking, the Clippers will win this one by at least 12 points. We need a miracle to win because Iverson is doing his part, but the team isn't.
Alright guys, just got back from the game and I thought I'd share some opinions here. I am a Clippers fan but I also am a Sixers fan(they're my 2nd fav team in the east, primarily due to AI.) Anyways, I thought that the 1st quarter was very evenly matched and you guys lost it in the 2nd quarter which lead to being down by so much at the half. I don't quite understang why O'Brien doesn't use the lineup with AI at the Point, Iguodala at the 2, and Corver at the 3 more often..I think that would be a better lineup. It seemed whenever Iggy came in the game Korver went out and vice versa. The 4th quarter looked much better for the Sixers as Kyle Korver really stepped up and hit huge shots. To be honest, I wasn't really sold on him before I saw him in person. He is a very hardworking player(always is 1st to come out at halftime and before the game and shoot around) and my opinions have completely changed on him. It is too bad that AI didn't have the 4th quarter that most people would have thought he would have but you can't blame him. He was phenomenal today just like he always is. Too many turnovers for both teams, but still a good game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NickVanExel:</div><div class="quote_post">Alright guys, just got back from the game and I thought I'd share some opinions here. I am a Clippers fan but I also am a Sixers fan(they're my 2nd fav team in the east, primarily due to AI.) Anyways, I thought that the 1st quarter was very evenly matched and you guys lost it in the 2nd quarter which lead to being down by so much at the half. I don't quite understang why O'Brien doesn't use the lineup with AI at the Point, Iguodala at the 2, and Corver at the 3 more often..I think that would be a better lineup. It seemed whenever Iggy came in the game Korver went out and vice versa. The 4th quarter looked much better for the Sixers as Kyle Korver really stepped up and hit huge shots. To be honest, I wasn't really sold on him before I saw him in person. He is a very hardworking player(always is 1st to come out at halftime and before the game and shoot around) and my opinions have completely changed on him. It is too bad that AI didn't have the 4th quarter that most people would have thought he would have but you can't blame him. He was phenomenal today just like he always is. Too many turnovers for both teams, but still a good game.</div> Both teams played badly........ The Sixers shot a horrible percentage from the field and the Clippers had like 25 turnovers. THe Sixers Did a great job of coming back in the 4th, but the shithole they put themself in earlier in the game was just too deep to dig out of. Once again Iverson perfroms great. THe rest of the team doesn't. Korver hit a few key three's, but choked on that last shot O Brien set up for him, primarily because he was shooting from the left to the right. Hes a right hand shooter. Overall this game sucked except in the end. BTW NVE, nice thoughts on going to the game.
I don't think we should have lost to this team. The Sixers played good in the 4th quarter and thats it. The supporting cast didn't show up at all, the starters(excluding Iverson) were 4-20 from the field and thats terrible. Allen was the only one to show up for this game and it's starting to look like old times.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ace2k2:</div><div class="quote_post">Korver hit a few key three's, but choked on that last shot O Brien set up for him, primarily because he was shooting from the left to the right. Hes a right hand shooter. </div> You heard that from Marc Zumoff right actually he was shooting from the right to the left i believe cuz he was coming off a "screen" from the other side and then faded away to the left at the top of the key.
