It feels like yesterday when we making predictions on the 76ers 04-05 season. Those fact or fiction threads, Philadelphia 76ers Season Preview threads and so on. Now with just nine games left in the season the 76ers are fighting for they're lives for a Playoff berth. This is not what we wanted nor expected, but that?s the NBA for ya. With a big win over the Boston Celtics this afternoon, the 76ers added a little more oxygen to their oxygen tank. And they?re remaining schedule looks a little something like this. <strike>Charlotte</strike> <font color="Blue">W</font> - Recap <strike>Cleveland</strike> <font color="Blue">W</font> - Recap <strike><font color="Red">Washington</font></strike> <font color="Blue">W</font> - Recap Boston Miami <font color="Red">Indiana</font> <font color="Red">New Jersey</font> Milwaukee Atlanta <font size="1"><font color="Red">*</font>- Denotes Road Game</font> Current Record: <font color="Blue">3-0</font> Final Recrod: -- <font size="1">Projected Final Record: <font color="Blue">7-2</font></font> With these nine games remaining the 76ers can finish with a 7-2 record or a 6-3 record. Whatever the case may be, if they want to end up making the Playoff's they MUST finish these final games with a +.500 record, not .500, but +.500. So what do you think will be they?re record over this stretch? I'll go out on a limb here and say they will finish with a 7-2 record. Webber or no Webber I think they will be able to defeat the Bobcats, and I'm sure Webber will be back against Washington and finish the season from. So when it's all said and done, I think they're only losses will come from Miami and Washington.
I see their losses coming against Miami, Washington, and potentially, Cleveland. I agree though, we definitely need to be over .500 during this stretch or else the playoff spot is really in question. If Philadelphia get a win over New Jersey, it would definitely make it a lot easier for us. During this stretch, I really hope the role players step it up such as Iguodala, Dalembert, Salmons, and Rogers. Iverson can't being doing it alone and if these players play tougher and more aggressive, it should prepare them for the playoffs where Webber will probably return.
This is the most critical span of games for the whole 76ers season. These last nine games could make our break the 76ers postseason hopes. Having six of are last nine games at home sure should help us and it's important to get plenty of support from the Philly fans. One thing you do notice is that six of the nine teams are all playoff teams (or in the New Jersey Nets case fighting for a playoff spot which ultimately says they are a playoff contender as well) so these games will be no pushovers. I think we have a chance at going 9-0 throughout this stretch but it's likely not going to happen. I see us getting about three losses to the Heat, New Jersey, and Washington. If they 76ers want to be successful the rest of these games it's very important they play as a team.
1-0 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/sixers/Iverson_300_050406.jpg[/IMGl]Iverson denied Cory Alexander the ball, leading to a turnover by Gerald Wallace, as the Philadelphia 76ers again held on for a 106-103 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. It was the 58th career 40-point game and eighth this season for Iverson, who is headed for his fourth scoring title. However, his biggest play came at the other end of the floor. A 3-pointer by Iverson opened a 102-95 lead with 4:07 remaining, but the 76ers did not score from the field again and saw the lead dwindle to 104-103 on two free throws by Alexander with 34 seconds left. Iverson, who made 17-of-31 shots and 13-of-14 free throws, missed a pull-up jumper and Samuel Dalembert inexplicably attempted a follow shot instead of running out the clock, giving the Bobcats possession with 11 seconds to go and a chance for a rare road win.</div> <div align="center">Recap</div> Good win, and hopefully they carry on the momentum Friday night agaisnt Cleveland. With this win the 76ers now move within 1 game behind the Cavaliers for the 7th seed.
2-0 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/sixers/dalembert_170_050408.jpg[/IMGl]Allen Iverson had trouble with his jump shot all night, but not with the game on the line. Iverson made just 9-of-30 shots but nailed a clutch jumper with 8.5 seconds left as the Philadelphia 76ers tied the Cavaliers for seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a 103-98 victory. Iverson, who scored 23 points, had a career-high 16 assists, frequently feeding Marc Jackson and Samuel Dalembert inside. Taking advantage of the absence of Cavaliers All-Star center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jackson scored 24 points and Dalembert contributed 23 and 16 rebounds for the 76ers (38-37), who outscored the Cavaliers in the paint, 60-38. Ilgauskas was out for a second straight game with a dislocated right ring finger.</div> <div align="center">Recap</div> Yet another solid win. With win we now move into the 7th seed. Now while we have an identical record to Celevland we hold the tiebreaker, thus we will get always get the seed above them if were to have identical recoards with them by the end of the season. As for the game, Iverson shot horrible! He was 9-30 which is down right nasty, however he did manage to get a career high 16 assists and most importantly he sealed the game with a 14ft jumped with 9 secs remaning.
3-0 <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[IMGl]http://www.nba.com/media/sixers/iguodala_300_050409.jpg[/IMGl]Given some of the adversity facing the Philadelphia 76ers, facing the Washington Wizards was a much easier task. Playing without injured stars Allen Iverson and Chris Webber, the 76ers rallied from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 112-106 victory over the Wizards, who have lost five straight games. It was a total team effort by the Sixers, who had five players with at least 17 points and withstood a career-high 44 points from Gilbert Arenas, who led the Wizards back from a 21-point first-half deficit but faltered down the stretch. "We did everything that you need to do defensively to win the game against a good team," Philadelphia coach Jim O'Brien said. "Everything we needed to do, we did down the stretch."</div> <div align="center">Recap</div> Arguably one of the best all-time performances by the 76ers without Iverson... We had three players score twenty points followed by an additional two players which scored 18 and 17 point a piece. And most importantly when it came down to crunch time they managed to come through without they're leader. Crunch time is the part of the game in which they usually collapese, but ironically that's when they played they're best. So good job to them. Hopefully we can push this 4 game winning streak to 5 against the Celtics on Tesday. But in order for us to win this game, either Webber or Iverson will HAVE to be in uniform. The Celtics may be a little too much to handle without both of our leaders.
Yeah, we need Allen back as soon as possible. It seems as if Webber is very close to making a return and I think I heard Marc Jackson saying that Webber would be back Tuesday. Right now we are standing are ground without him so there is no need for him trying to rush back. But two sprained thumbs isn't easy to overcome, now we know why Allen was struggling with his shot against Cleveland. The game on tuesday is an important one because if Philly can pull out a win the Celtics will only be one game ahead of the 76ers for the Atlantic Division title, so go Sixers!
Yeah, Philadelphia is going to need Iverson and for rest of the players to step up to win against Boston. Its a pretty solid team and without Iverson, I don't think its really possible unless Green, Dalembert, and Jackson churn out more twenty point performances and shut them down on defense. Our team is confident winning three straight, so hopefully that confidence will carry them to more wins and not destroy them. Anyways, the sooner Iverson is back, the better.
I just thought about something... Allen Iverson actually sat out a game. When you look at where the 76ers are at right now, barley holding onto the 7th spot and the season is winding down, but yet Iverson takes a seat, that makes you think as if ?hey, he must be in real pain?. Looking at the circumstance the 76ers are in, even with the most excruciating pain Iverson would find a way to play, but yet he sits. So this must be a serious injury because again, looking at the 76ers circumstances as of right now, I would only think a displaced fracture to a body part would keep him out. But then again, I might be thinking too much of this, well I hope I am, but if I?m indeed right, we?re in trouble. Iverson already has had problems with his left hand which explains why he has been averaging probably at least 5 turnovers or so since that left thumb injury, but now that his right thumb is ailing not only may the turnovers increase, but his shooting % and accuracy for most important will plummet. -- <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">News The availability of Allen Iverson (sprained thumbs) and Chris Webber (shoulder) for Tuesday's game against the Celtics will be evaluated at Monday's practice, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.</div> Source As soon as they get revaluated, I will let you guys now. An ideal situation is that the both of them would suit of against Boston, but I doubt that will happen. If anything just the one of them MIGHT be able to play, but since I'm a Sixers fan and my teams always end up misfortunate, I'm leaning on the fact that the both of them will sit out against Boston. I hope I'm wrong...
Iverson could miss second game with sprained thumbs <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">``It's a lot better than it was on the day of the Wizards game, but the way I feel right now, I don't think so. I don't think I'll be able to go,'' Iverson said after sitting out Monday's practice. Iverson, the league's leading scorer with a 30.5 average, hurt his thumbs on separate plays in a 103-98 victory over the Cavaliers on Friday night. He stayed in the game and scored 23 points on 9-for-30 shooting. He also had a career-high 16 assists. ``As long as the swelling keeps coming down, it's been going down since yesterday, I think if it goes all the way down and I can try to play without a whole bunch of pain, then I'll give it a shot,'' Iverson said. ``If not, I'll try and make the best decision I can.'' The 76ers, who have won four straight, are jockeying for playoff position in the Eastern Conference with six games left in the regular season. They are just two games behind the Celtics for the Atlantic Division lead and beat Boston three times already this year.</div> <div align="center">Source</div> If Iverson is doubtful about his chances, than I don't see how a 24 hour span will make a significant amount of difference that would put him in the position to suit up. So basically Iverson can pretty much be ruled out for tomorrows game against the green team. But on a lighter note, the article indicated that Webber on the other hand may very well suit up. Yes, I know we heard this numerous times, but he is going to come back eventually, and I have a feeling this time might be the charm.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If Iverson is doubtful about his chances, than I don't see how a 24 hour span will make a significant amount of difference that would put him in the position to suit up. So basically Iverson can pretty much be ruled out for tomorrows game against the green team. But on a lighter note, the article indicated that Webber on the other hand may very well suit up. Yes, I know we heard this numerous times, but he is going to come back eventually, and I have a feeling this time might be the charm.</div>Yeah he doesn`t know 100% when he`ll be back, possibly against Miami, but what is unfortuate for us we have 2 of the Conference leaders coming up. Knowing the Sixers it will be tough but they always come out putting up decent numbers when their star-less.
