Game Preview(Home Opener)hoenix Suns @ Philadelphia 76ers. <div align="center">@</div> <div align="center"> <font color="Orange">Phoenix Suns</font> 1-0 <font color="Red">Philadelphia 76ers</font>1-0</div> <div align="center">Time7:00 PM,EST Location:Wachovia Center TV:CSN, NBALP</div> <div align="center">Probable Starters</div> <div align="center">Guards</div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center">Allen Iverson <font color="Red">vs</font> Steve Nash</div> <div align="center"></div> [<div align="center">Aaron McKie <font color="Red">vs</font> Quentin Richardson </div> <div align="center">______________</div> <div align="center">Forwards</div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center">Andre Iguodala <font color="Red">vs </font>Joe Johnson</div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center">Kenny Thomas <font color="Red">vs</font> Shawn Marion </div> <div align="center">______________</div> <div align="center">Center</div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center">Marc Jackson <font color="Red">vs</font> Amare Stoudemire </div> <div align="center">______________</div> <div align="center"><font color="blue">Head Coaches</font></div> <div align="center"></div> <font color="blue"><div align="center">Jim O'Brien - Mike D'Antoni</div></font> <div align="center">Key Matchup</div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center">Allen Iverson VS. Steve Nash</div> <div align="center">This matchup is probaly the most improtant of this game because both of these players are going to have to keep their team together.If one of these players shuts down one of the others,their team will really struggle throughout the game.I think that Allen I, will be able to make plays for the Sixers over Nash,since Nash is an average defender I expect AI to be pentrating to the paint,where he will meet two undersized post defenders in Marion and Amare.</div> Nash on the otherhand will need to take advantage of the Sixers bad perimeter defense,wether he is coming off a screen, or looking to pass to an open teamate he will need to exploit that weakness. <div align="center">Keys To The Game</div> <div align="center"><font color="Red">Philadelphia 76ers</font></div> If the Sixers want to be victorious they are going to have to take advantage of the Suns average defensive game.When you look at the Suns roster they dont have one player who is really an above average one on one defender.Players like Willie Green and AI should be able to exploit this.Another thing the Sixers need to do,that they didnt do very well against Boston, is defend around the perimeter better.4/5 Suns starters are very capable of hiting the 3 point shot consistantly and if the Sixers dont get a hand in those players face the Suns could have a feild day out on the perimeter. <div align="center"><font color="orange">Phoenix Suns</font></div> <div align="center">The Suns need to of course shoot well on the perimeter,on the Sixers weak perimeter defense.The Suns should also give the ball to Amare when he is one on one against the Sixers center Marc Jackson,while Amare is young and quick,Marc Jackson is more slower on his feet and more physical,Amare should be able to take advantage of this throughout the game.Likely the Sixers will be penetrating a lot throughout the game the Suns really need to foucus on playing hustle defense and staying out of early foul trouble.</div> <div align="center">The Bench</div> The Sixers have a pretty solid bench while the Suns bench is mediocre.The Sixers have depth at every position,while the Suns are kind of thin in their frontcourt.Players like Samuel Dalembert and Willie Green are going to impact the game somehow when they come off the bench.The Suns have players like Leanardo Barbosa and Steven Hunter who will brimng pure energy into the game. <div align="center">My Predictions</div> This is the Sixers home opener and I expect the Wachovia Center to be hyped.The Suns lineup is start studded,they have argubaly 5 All Star caliber players starting for them.The Sixers will need to step up on defense and if they do that I expect a win at home.91-83 Sixers.
Nice preview Silky. I only disagree with one thing and that is the score, sadly I think the Suns will take this one. They just have too many weapons in their starting lineup and a raising Barbosa on the bench. The Sixers will have to step it up defensivly to win, another test for Iggy in Joe Johnson. Our low post will have to play Amare and Marion well who are two players capible of making the all-star team, I think the Sixers will keep the centers that play Amare fresh in a rotation of Jackson, Skinner, and Dalembert Suns - 96 Sixers - 90
The sixers can't score enough to keep pace with the suns. Nash will have over 10 assists and AI won't have more than 6, their ball distribution will just be better.
come on iverson will have more than 6, last year they had noone and he avergaed 7, and this year they have so much more shooter, iverson shud avergae around 7-8.dont judge his numbers just by 1 game iff thats wat ur doing.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting That NBA Girl:</div><div class="quote_post">Sixers gotta win this one. I paid good money for seats to it ($10, lmao)! Anyone else going?</div> i've nevr been to a sixers game lol u shudc consider urself lucky :mrgreen:
Come visit me and I will take you, haha. Seriously though, the Sixers, I think, will win this one. I have the faith.=D
I think the Sixers can put up a good fight at home, and take this one 95-94, in a very close game. It can go either way, but Phoenix is on the road, so Philly should use that to their advantage. Marc Jackson will have a hard time with Amare, and if Phoenix can keep going to him, he can give them a big boost.
:mrgreen: pHILLY WILL HAVE A TOUGH TIME AGAINST THE SUNS. PHILLY WILL COME OUT WITH THE WIN AND ALLEN IVERSON WILL HAVE 8 ASSISTS AND 25 POINTS IN THE SIXERS 95-92 VICTORY OVER THE SUNS LETS GO 76ERS
The primary reason in which I'm taking the 76ers over the Suns in tonight?s match-up is because Philadelphia is going to be playing at home. If it was an away game for the 76ers, I would take the Suns. However, now that many fans have a very good feeling about this team, the arena is going erupt in the first home game. After all, the 76ers and Suns split their season series last year with one a piece and both teams winning at home, so? Also, I'll be the first to say that Jackson is going to give Amare Stoudemire a hard time. Jackson is an underrated defender imo and an overall underrated player, but that aside I think his aggressiveness will surprise Stoudemire and take him off guard. However, I think he will be just a little overaggressive and end up getting into early foul trouble, but when he is in the game I think will do a great job guarding Stoudemire. The problem child(s) for the 76ers are going to be Marion and Richardson. Richardson especially, he's a scrappy player and his jumpshot seem to have caught fire lately, so I expect him to drop around 25-30 Points tonight. Steve Nash on the other hand is going to get his 8-10 assists regardless, but I think he will have a low-key night offensively. As for Allen Iverson, I expect an encore performance against Boston. I think his stat line well look somewhere around these numbers: 32 Points, 7 Assists, 3 Rebounds, 2 Steals and 3 turnovers. The Suns are going to have a very hard time defending Iverson. Nash will somewhat be able to keep up with Iverson speed, but Nash is not an overall good defender. Marion and Richardson should be able to keep a hand in his face at least, but that won't do much, just ask Ricky Davis. Also, with the exception of Stoudemire the Suns don't really have much of an interior defense so if Iverson shot is not falling he should attack the basket all game long. Other players, I see stepping up is Willie Green, Andre Iguodala and Marc Jackson. I think all these players will do they part in tonight game. Green and Korver on offense while Jackson and Iguodala ignites the defense. Suns 89, Sixers 94
Great preview Silky Smooth,Sixers will win this one,Wachovia Center will be loud,I agree with Avery,Marc Jackson is a good defender,I really like him vs. Duncan.He can really slow down Duncan,he's one of the reasons we swept Spurs last season. Nash vs. Allen will be a good matchup,also I like to see how Kenny does against Shawn Marion.Sixers by 7
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The problem child(s) for the 76ers are going to be Marion and Richardson. Richardson especially, he's a scrappy player and his jumpshot seem to have caught fire lately, so I expect him to drop around 25-30 Points tonight.</div> Q looked very good in the preseason,but in the Suns opener against the Hawks he scored only 4 points and shot porrley from beyond the arc,if the Hawks can shut him down,so can the Sixers.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Silky Smooth:</div><div class="quote_post">Q looked very good in the preseason,but in the Suns opener against the Hawks he scored only 4 points and shot porrley from beyond the arc,if the Hawks can shut him down,so can the Sixers.</div> Q has always been an unconsistant player but 4 points is a little low for him. I'll expect him to bounce back big time (like Avery said) for about 20-27 points. Stoudemire should have a big game also I'll give him 23 points and 12 boards. I am not so worried about Marion and JJ. KT matches Marion well, one of the few power forwards that are his height. Iggy should have a good game defensivly against JJ after playing Pierce. I'll expect Johnson to have about 12-15 points and Marion 13-15. If the Suns shots start to fall, and they get the break going, the Sixers should be in for a long night. I am standing by my prediction Suns - 96 Sixers - 90
Unless Philly control the tempo they could be in for a long night, the last thing you want to do is let a team like Phoenix get out on the break.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting That NBA Girl:</div><div class="quote_post">Come visit me and I will take you, haha. Seriously though, the Sixers, I think, will win this one. I have the faith.=D</div> :mrgreen: haha i wish. ya i agree the sixers gotta play good perimeter defense tonite, or else it's not gonna be possible to beat them.i still think the suns will win no matter what because they have too much on the offense. but who noes anything can happen edit: o ya my friends going to the game tonite too
yeah sixers is gonna win this game! <div class="quote_poster">Quoting That NBA Girl:</div><div class="quote_post"> Come visit me and I will take you, haha.</div> can i visit you? hehe, hopefully one day i have the chance to go to the sixers home game. Can i see Tabuse plays tonight? lol... go go go IVERSON~!!!
Its about half way through the 1rst quarter and I alrady see some major problems. One problem is the Suns are getting open looks on the perimeter and will start hitting them if the Sixers leave them open,one thing that I also notice is Amare is just out quick-ing are players inside,he is already off to a fast start. The Sixers are just playing sloppy and have already turned the ball over 7-8 times in the first quarter.They are going to have to take care of the ball,play the perimeter and box out on defense.
Only describe this game in one word; disguesting . The Sixers played like slop. 23 turnovers, not defending the perimeter AT ALL. If AI2 didn't have that sick block on STAT, I would have stoped watching the game. AI2 (who I am starting to love, 11 points 8 boards), AI, and Willie all had nice games but other then that no one really catches my eye. Bottom Line: Just improve on D
