Due to work I wasn?t able to give impressions on the Cavs game nor the Nets game, better yet even be able to do a preview. Since I didn?t get to comment on the game prior to this (Cleveland), so here is may take on this: REBOUNDING. We know its preseason and we?re missing our two best rebounders but at the same time the 76ers cannot afford to get out rebounded like this. Outrebounded by 21 boards is crazy. That marked the the 5th consecutive preseason game that we got outrebounded.(Nets game made it 6) Hopefully Webber and Sammy will be able to fix that problem. If Webber can grab 8.5 rebounds and Sammy grab about 10+ rebounds we will be in good shape. Deng Gai and Hunter can than come in and grab boards against the opposition 2nd unit which would put them in better condition to do what they have to do. However, the biggest thing I noticed about that game is Iverson. He is playing with a knee injury that a lot of people can?t even pronounce so you know it?s not good. What makes matters worse is that he took 33 shot attempts and go to the line twelve times which means he drew six fouls. He got to remember that this is the preseason and he can?t be playing his butt of just yet. I think the whole thing about people saying how he is the one of gutsiest players that have ever played the game and the whole thing about his heart has gotten to his head. For some reason I think he feels OBLIGATED to play when he has injury. Hopefully, that?s not the case if not, then wow. Although at the same time he should have pass the ball more. Being that Webber was out he had to carry the load on the offensive end, but still 33 shot attempts? I?ve seen him have 40 point game numerous times and he doesn?t even take 30 shots. If you look at the boxscore, the guys around him were shooting at high percentages. In no way am I saying that those guys would have kept it up, but for the most part the way Iguodala, Salmons and Lee have been playing as of late there was no reason they shouldn?t have got the ball. -------- <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/sixers/Korver_170_051021.jpg[/imgl]EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J., Oct. 21 (Ticker) -- Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter appear comfortable with one another. Jefferson scored 25 points, Carter added 21 and both teamed for the decisive basket to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 93-91 preseason win over the Philadelphia 76ers. After Carter was traded to the Nets last December, he was able to play with Jefferson just seven times before a wrist injury wiped out the final 49 games of the regular season for Jefferson. The tandem lifted New Jersey down the stretch Friday to help offset a difficult outing by the third member of the Nets' star trio, Jason Kidd, who shot 0-of-6. Jefferson hit two free throws and Carter followed with a pair to pull New Jersey within 88-87 with 1:59 left. Following a timeout, 76ers guard Kyle Korver turned the ball over and Carter followed Jefferson's miss with a basket to give the Nets the lead, 89-88. Korver split two free throws before Jefferson cleaned up another miss by Kidd for a layup and a 91-89 lead. John Salmons, who scored 25 points and is averaging 23.3 points over his last three games, tied it for Philadelphia with a pair of free throws with 39.2 seconds left, but Carter and Jefferson had an answer.</div> <div align="center">Recap | Boxscore | Postgame Quotes</div> This probably has to be the best game yet for the 76ers. I am most pleased with this game. More than the Spurs win or even the Knicks and Cavs win. I for one have grown tired of moral victories looking at the seasons we?ve had in the last couple years and I think some fans might agree, but this time around being that it is preseason and all in addition without three of our top players we should be happy with this moral victory. Why? Salmons again, had another great night. That proved the game against the Knicks wasn't a fluke. The way he has been playing I expect major minutes for him and you never know, a MIP award may not be too much of a stretch. Next there is Iguodala. Well, he took twenty shots! . He shot 7-20, but still, that?s a major indication that he is getting more comfortable and aggressive on offense. He is no longer hesitant to try and score. However, the only real drawback to this game was that, like I said before, we got out rebounded. We only got an extra seven total rebounds than the Nets had offensive rebounds. Other than that, I can't stress it enough how the great this game was. They had the likes of Carter and Jefferson and Kidd playing 35+ minutes to keep up with our role players. Jefferson (who had a great btw) & Carter had to go down to the very last seconds and grind it out just to keep up with Salmons, Iggy and Korver. I?m not using this as an excuse because there are no excuses but if we would have done something as little as rebounded and boxing out we would have probably won. Fine we got out rebounded for most of the game but if our guys had boxed out just for the last minute of the game we would have most likely won. Now if that?s not saying anything about this team WITHOUT Iverson & Webber than I don?t know what to say. This team played with so much perseverance and I?m just ready to get the season started to see how things go when everything falls into place. ------ As a foot note, I don't know what's up with the whole "Webber will play" fiasco. From what I know, they had him sit for precautions reasons once again as indicated in a Yahoo! article that I read. While watching the Real Training Camp: 76ers, King & Cheeks assured us that Webber would have played the game against the Cavs. But to our ?surprise? the was not the case. Kevin Ollie is also injured.
I was impressed with the Nets game as well, loosing by two when your missing your best players isn't something to be really worried about. The young guys are getting the job done fairly well when it comes down to it. Andre looks like a whole new player when it comes to offense, he is a lot more offensive minded. Salmons continues to shine, he beat J Kidd a few times last night and I'm very very impressed with what he is doing I honestly think he has earned a job on this team for the future but first lets see what he does in the regular season. Hopefully he can still be a factor then. I also like the hustle play and the effort some of the young guys are making, particulary in the Nets game Famutini played agressive and scrapy, he looked nice out there fighting for a position and was pretty athlletic to. Nailion continues to produce off the bench also. Hopefully this can be a learning process for this young team and they'll be ready for the season.
well, im most imoressed with salmons. as avery said, he has finally been playing like the player we all envisioned him to be. hopefully this will continue throughout the regular season.
