You must read this before the Spurs game

Timothy from “48 minutes of hell” is a “Spurs aficionado” and contacted me for a Q & A session before tonight’s game at San Antonio.

You will read my answers to his Sixers questions here (he was kind enough to put them into english, so that the reading should be less painful than usual…), while what follow are his answers to my questions about the Spurs.

Let’s elevate our usually low standards and talk about a title team, once in a year…:

S4G: After a slow start, Spurs seem to have found their rythm and put up a nice streak of Ws, even if many of them came vs mediocre teams. Do you see them as a contender this year or you think Lakers are still a step ahead? (as much as I hate the Lakers, I would pick #2…)

48 MOH: This is the question on the mind of most of the Spurs faithful. Based on how teams are currently playing, it’s clear that the Celtics, Cavs, Magic, and Lakers are the class of the league. Honestly, I think Cleveland is the most dangerous team. I’m afraid that February will see two unpleasant developments: 1) LeBron James taking his game to an even more dominant level and 2) the Cavs moving the expiring contract of Wally Szczerbiak for an impact player. If that happens, I’m not confident anyone in the league can beat them.

I see the Spurs in the next class of teams, which would also include New Orleans. What distinguishes this class? I’d give SA and NO a fighting chance. while still playing the underdog, against those teams in the first class, even odds against one another, and favored against the rest of the league. So far this season, the Spurs and Hornets have been inconsistent and appear a player or so removed from the elite class of teams.

Few things about tonight’s Jazz

Sixers meet the Jazz tonight (btw check SLC dunk), and apparently Utah will be again without Okur, Boozer AND Millsap, meaning the three top scorers.

Nothing to be happy for, anyway, because yesterday I’ve watched their 120-115 double OT loss to the Houston Rockets and they are the same tough team that traditionally loves to destroy us, and that won 17 of the last 19 matchups at Salt Lake City.

Few observations after that exciting game, that I enjoyed from tip off to the final horn.

The Jazz are still a very deep team, that will use nine men to keep the intensity high and play hard nosed basketball for 48 minutes – and even more if necessary.

Just as you would expect from a team coached by Jerry Sloan, they never give up, reguardless of what the scoreboard tells. Rockets had a 16 point lead and were up basically the whole game, but had Brewer made both free throws with 8 seconds left in the first OT, they would have probably lost the game.

If you laughed this summer hearing the names Kosta Koufos and Kyrylo Fesenko as part of their roster, you better stop it immediately, because these two guys can ball.

Apart from Fesenko’s terribly ukrainian looking-face, and his awful shooting form (a couple of memorable bricks from the line), he’s more than a big body to throw out there. He’s athletic, can run, jump, dunk, block shots, BOARD. He played some stretches of outstanding defense vs Yao Ming who, as you might know, is NOT Sam Dalembert.

After four straight losses, many Sixers should man up

I was out on a business trip to Paris from Thursday to Saturday, so that I missed the 94-96 home loss to Orlando (7-8) and the 102-78 thrashing in Boston (7-9).

Just got home, I did watch (live) the 92-103 home loss vs Bulls (7-10, .412), though, our fourth straight loss. It wasn’t nice.

Sixers turned a 15 point second quarter lead (39-24, 10.20 to go) into a 17 point deficit at the end of the third: 66-83. The partial in less then two quarters was 27-59 then (-32), including a 20-2 run by the Bulls.

Chicago eventually extended the lead to nineteen points (66-85, then 73-92), when the garbage time bell officially rang.

How could that happen? Few considerations, 12 hrs after watching the game – and going to bed pissed off….

1) Sixers always have extended draughts and have troubles scoring in half court. Never heard of that, uh?

Last night, in that ugly spurt we simply couldn’t knock down a shot: drives, jumpers (open/contested), threes, low post moves… no way. In the second quarter Sixers didn’t even go for the offensive rebound: after every miss there were only red jerseys around the rim. Unacceptable. Missing shots is part of the game, missing many shots can happen, renounce to provide yourself a second chance is simply dumb. At least one player should ALWAYS go for the ball after a shot, two would be better. Mo ?????

2) key players are Missing In Action. In details:

Sixers are 2-0 with the old uniforms

Enough said.

And not coincidentially, they are over .500 for the first time in the season.

Who follows this site knows I’ve been lobbying for the old, classic, Sixers uniforms since day 1, and even started a petition to bring them back full time at the beginning of 2008 (125 smart Sixers fans signing so far, and counting…).

As I said many times, I’ve been in contact with Sixers franchise (marketing and PR dept) about this specific topic, that is taken into serious consideration by the organization.

Pretty obvious, since uniforms = merchandise = $$$$…

Imagine my shock few minutes ago when I realized that ESPN.com put a link to Sixers4guidos (!!!!!) – scroll down, to “Uni watch: NBA throwback update”, Sixers – , to this old post of the last summer.

Yeah, that was actually an update of the first one – the petition I mean – but anyway, I should thank the crew from ESPN.com.

Blogger MVP/ROY rankings, version 1.0

The first edition of the Blogger MVP/ROY rankings, from an idea of Alex and Frank from Brewhoop, is up at Hoops Addict.

I took part to this panel and think the final ranking is very interesting: it’s barely a suprise that no Sixer cracked the Top Ten in the MVP race and Marreese Speights didn’t get any vote in the ROY poll.

Here were my rankings in the two categories (please note that votes were sent on Monday… yeah, I’m slow):

MVP:

1) LeBron James
It’s a no contest this year, apparently. Also “favored” by the fact that the rest of his team really sucks, even more than the usual

2) Bryant
Always a pleasure to rank him behind another player

3) Pierce
I hate the Celtics just as much as I like him. And I like him a lot…

4) Paul
Someone please get him a SG. I feel sorry for Paul everytime I read Peterson’s stat line on a boxscore

5) Howard
Numbers always unreal. Yeah, also from the FT line.

6) Wade
Looks like he’s back.

7) Joe Johnson
Don’t know if Hawks run will last much, but he’s the main responsable for their excellent start

8 ) Stoudamire
With THIS Shaq, he could climb the MVP rankings in few weeks

9) Roy
That buzzer beater was unbelievable. Hope Oden will be at 100% soon, he will be even better

10) dear old buddy Allen Iverson
Yes, I am biased. Hope he will kick the Celtics out in the ECF

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:

1) Rose
Hinrich can take all the time he needs to heal

2) Beasley
A poor man’s Thaddeus Young 🙂

3) Mayo
Never saw him play, honestly, but I’ve read that he’s good

4) Luc Mbah A Moute
With that name, he should be #1 in a serious ranking

5) Fernandez
Gotta love euro shooters

Blogger Power Rankings, week 4: Sixers at #13

The fourth edition of the Blogger Power Rankings I took part to is up at True Blue Jazz, take a look, you’ll find also some skepticism about our beloved team. I think it’s a good read, comments are insightful and often funny, hope you will enjoy the post.

Sixers were ranked at #13 this time by bloggers, while, shockingy, Lakers are at #1.

Just in case you are interested, here were my rankings:

1 f’n Lakers
2 f’n Celtics
3 Pistons
4 Jazz
5 Cavs
6 Hornets
7 Blazers
8 Rockets
9 Suns
10 Hawks
11 Raptors
12 Magic
13 Spurs
14 Sixers
15 Nuggets
16 Knicks
17 Bulls
18 Mavs
19 Bucks
20 Heat
21 Pacers
22 Warriors
23 Kings
24 Nets
25 Bobcats
26 T’wolves
27 Wizards
28 Clippers
29 Grizzlies
30 Thunder

So, despite being happily biased, I share pretty much the same thoughts of my “colleagues” about the team, being in the middle of the pack.

Am I being too pessimistic? Just realistic?

Florida 2, Sixers 0. Panic time already in Philly

Not here in Italy, though.

Yes, the trip to the Sun State was EXTREMELY disappointing, not much for the two losses but for how they came.

Still, there’s a long way to go before hitting the panic button. In Philly many fans already did it. Pretty predictable, anyway.

Here are my aggregate considerations after watching (replayed, again, and in both cases already knowing the final score) the 106-83 blowout vs Heat (2-3, .400) and the following 98-88 loss to Orlando (2-4, .333).

First off WE ALL NEED TO CALM OUR FIREY ASSES DOWN. Especially you, fans in Philly.

Yes, you are just as pissed off as I am but let’s try to be rational for a while.

This team is playing really bad. Main points:

1) the offense is a total mess. We are not running plays, not executing, not hitting open shots. Difficult to win games in these conditions.

We got a 20 PPG low post scorer this summer, after a desperate research for a big man who could put points on the board, and we are not using him properly. Brand is rarely fed when and where he likes to get the ball, and when he has it, he is double teamed. Shocking, uh?

Well, we got him just with that purpose, drawing attention from defenses ! True. Too bad he doesn’t have a shooter to give the ball back to to, and when he does it, the final outcome is often a brick from the perimeter.

Danny Ainge is a lucky ass

The Celtics trashing the Lakers in game 6 for their 17th title made last night a lil’ bit sour.

Italy had previously dominated archrival France in the European championship (2-0), so it was overall a good sports day. Still, it sucks that Boston won. I hate the Celtics (hey, just as much as I hate the Lakers…) and I hate the fact that Ainge’s “plan” at the end worked.

With this sour grapes/rant/typical Sixers fan post I will try to prove some points of the theory expressed in the title. Fellow Celtics haters will perhaps like this, Celtics fans will love it even more because it shows how much we all are envious. You see, it’s a win-win situation (LOL) in which everybody is happy, so let’s start.

Mo and Thad getting love in the Blogger rankings

(BRING THE OLD SIXERS UNIFORMS BACK ! S4G CAMPAIGN – SIGN HERE)

The final edition of the MVP/ROY Blogger rankings is up at We Rite Goode.

After hosting Round 4, your favorite guido blogger took part to the final voting and contributed spreading the love for Thaddeus Young and Mo Cheeks so make sure to check it out.

Nice way to celebrate Sixers successes and this wonderful season, while we wait for game 2.

Well done guys !!!

UPDATE: in the second part of these last rankings, that includes the race for assigning the MVP award, you’ll find also Lou Williams, selected in a special category that We Rite Goode created for the occasion…. the page is wonderful, with graphics, sheets, smart ass comments etc, make sure not to miss it, really !! Thanks to We Rite Goode’s crew for the fantastic job.

Children and… dancers need Sixers fans’ help !!

(BRING THE OLD SIXERS UNIFORMS BACK ! S4G CAMPAIGN – SIGN HERE)

Guys, while we are waiting for the Bulls game, it’s time to make an effort for people who need our help.

1) The first is a serious one, I received this email and I’m pasting it here, hoping that:

a) it’s not a fake (it doesn’t look like, but you never know…also, living here in Italy it’s difficult for me to tell – UPDATE: it’s not a fake, continue reading)

b) it could help

“I am hitting the Sixers blog trail to try to find bidders for 4 club box tickets to the 4/9 Sixers v. Pistons game.  They were donated by Comcast to our organization for this charity event.  I’ve divided them up into pairs starting at $85 for a pair. 

Link number 1

Link number 2

We also have some Phillies memorabilia.  Signed baseballs from Jamie Moyer, Michael Bourn (now with Houston) and Gregg Dobbs.  Also a signed cap from Tom “Flash” Gordon.

Link number 3

We have these and many other exciting items for people to bid on at  www.ayudacc.org/auction. 

Please pass this info to your friends and readers.  Every dollar bid on these items benefits children and families in the Hunting Park neighborhood of North Philly. Thanks !”

Among the “memorabilia” you will find also an autographed Mo Cheeks jersey, check it. The mail is signed and I have all the contacts with the organization so in case somebody wants to check and/or have more details, feel free to email me at sixers4guidos [at] gmail.com.

2) The second “effort” is surely more fun.

SIXERS DANCERS (insert drooling smiley here) ARE ANTICIPATING THE FUTURE RUN OF OUR TEAM IN THE PLAYOFFS AND ALREADY REACHED THE CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS in the NBA Dance Team Bracket !!!

Vote here to support really hot chicks the Sixers dancers vs the Magic and they will give us something back be thankful for our support !!!

Go Sixers, go Sixers dancers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**** COUGH **** If any of you girls will ever come to Italy please dial +39-010-37… 🙂