<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 12:30 PM (local time) TV: KTLA 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 teh 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>
Well, first off Marko Jaric didn't play. Rick Brunson got the start at Point once again. I just got back from the game and here are my comments on it. I think we came out looking good and so did they but it all started to spark for us in the 2nd quarter. We really outscored them in the 2nd and that was our key to winning tonight. The 4th quarter gave us a scare but luckily we were able to hold on. The way we were playing in the 4th, we would have lost to a tougher opponent so I'd like to see that get better. Bobby Simmons had an okay game, not too good compared to how well he is playing this season. Elton Brand was the game mvp with his points and his excellent defense. He had some HUGE blocks for us and that helped us get a W. Maggette did his usual and ended up having a great game as well. I was surprised by the amount of minutes Wilcox got(very few) and Mikki Moore(none at all.) I wonder what was the reasoning behind that? The good news was Kaman got a lot of minutes and looked like he was back to his usual self after all those injuries. AI will always get his points but we did a good job in stopping his teammates from scoring too much. In the end, great game, bad 4th quarter but we can live with it as long as we got the W.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NickVanExel:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, first off Marko Jaric didn't play. Rick Brunson got the start at Point once again. I just got back from the game and here are my comments on it. I think we came out looking good and so did they but it all started to spark for us in the 2nd quarter. We really outscored them in the 2nd and that was our key to winning tonight. The 4th quarter gave us a scare but luckily we were able to hold on. The way we were playing in the 4th, we would have lost to a tougher opponent so I'd like to see that get better. Bobby Simmons had an okay game, not too good compared to how well he is playing this season. Elton Brand was the game mvp with his points and his excellent defense. He had some HUGE blocks for us and that helped us get a W. Maggette did his usual and ended up having a great game as well. I was surprised by the amount of minutes Wilcox got(very few) and Mikki Moore(none at all.) I wonder what was the reasoning behind that? The good news was Kaman got a lot of minutes and looked like he was back to his usual self after all those injuries. AI will always get his points but we did a good job in stopping his teammates from scoring too much. In the end, great game, bad 4th quarter but we can live with it as long as we got the W.</div> Yeah I new Jaric wouldnt play I said it in my preview I just left him there because I wasnt sure who was starting.
