Official Game Thread: Hawks - 76ers

[lethalweapon3]

When looking at the lineups at the start of the season, one could not help but glance at the Atlantic Division and make the sobering recognition that, with the cagey Celtics, wisened Knicks, and retooled Nets, that somebody will be settling for fourth place.

It turns out that role fell to the Philadelphia 76ers, tonight’s opponent for the Atlanta Hawks coming off of a decidedly half-baked road trip. The Sixers are kicking off a three-game road swing through the Southeast, losers of their last ten road games (2-18 in their last 20 away games) and winners of just one of their last ten overall. They offered not much resistance to the Boston Celtics last night in Philly, pressed into shooting just 41% in a 109-101 defeat.

They rolled the dice and apparently came out craps, shipping off Andre Iguodala, Nikola Vucevic, Mo Harkless, and a future first-rounder in a multi-team deal that netted them a potential star center in Andrew Bynum and veteran Jason Richardson. Bynum, an unrestricted free agent this summer, has not healed after a non-invasive procedure for his bruised right knee and is dealing with swelling in both knees. J-Rich was shut down for the remainder of the season after requiring knee surgery himself.

In Bynum’s absence, the Sixers are not a terribly physical bunch. Heavily reliant on Spencer Hawes, Lavoy Allen, and Kwame Brown, they’re last in the league for personal fouls drawn per game (16.4 opponent PF/G), and last in free throws made per game (12.1 FTM/G, two places ahead of the Hawks’ 13.7). More minutes will be allocated to 6’11” rookie Arnett Moultrie, who scored ten points on all five field goal attempts versus Boston. While he has not drawn trips to the line himself lately, he shot 78% on free throws at Mississippi State, fifth-highest among NCAA centers last year. Over the last four games, he made all 12 of his field goals.

After the West Coast road trip, Senor Al Horford has edged ahead of Sir Charles Barkley for 20^th all-time in career field-goal percentage (54.1%, 5^th among active NBA players). He’s shooting 63% since the All-Star break (54.1% before the break) and has averaged 24.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in those eight games. With limited resistance from the Sixers in the post, he and the Hawks’ frontcourt players need to take the ball to the hole repeatedly, and outrun their opponents on the fastbreak.

Akin to Woodsonian Hawks teams of the recent past, the Sixers depend heavily on ball control (12.6 TO/G, 2^nd-fewest in NBA), a plodding pace (21^st in NBA), and modest defensive efficiency (105 opponent points per 100 possessions, 12^th in NBA) to keep themselves in games when they lack offensive firepower (92.1 PPG, 29^th in NBA). Nick Young, another offseason acquisition, sprained an ankle last week and will remain out of action indefinitely. Dorell Wright comes off the bench looking to approximate production lost with Richardson and Young unavailable. Jeremy Pargo lit up Atlanta back in November with the Cavs, and is available if more offensive punch is needed.

To sustain a defensive focus in the backcourt, Royal Ivey (yes, that Royal Ivey) has been starting lately at the 2-spot. He has actually improved at the offensive end, with career highs of 46.0 FG% and 44.3 3FG%, although he’s far from a primary option. The Hawks’ shooters at the wing will be closely guarded by third-year guard-forward Evan Turner, who has yet to really turn the corner. The former second-overall pick averages career highs of 14.1 PPG, 36.4 3FG%, and 4.5 APG, but with a boost in minutes his overall efficiency has not been quite what was expected of him. Damien Wilkins will also be deployed to frustrate any dribble-driving Hawks, including Devin Harris, who missed out on Atlanta's 99-80 loss in Philadelphia on December 21, but will start tonight with DeShawn Stevenson at small forward.

One silver lining in this deep-sixed Sixers season is the long-predicted emergence of Jrue Holiday (19.1 PPG) as a top-flight point guard. STATS LLC reports that the 2013 All-Star’s per-game assist total (8.5 APG, 3^rd among active NBA players, up from 4.5 in 2011-12) represents the league’s largest jump in that category. That this is happening without Bynum or other previously expected offensive contributors at his disposal is an impressive feat. Holiday also leads the NBA in turnovers (4.0 per game), but with the Sixers turning over the ball so little as a team, that only serves to show, in contrast to the Hawks, how ball-dominant the point guard role is for Philly’s offense. When he gives up the ball, it is important for Atlanta defenders to deny him from getting the ball back, forcing other decision makers late in the shot clock.

Another emerging player is former Yellow Jacket Thaddeus Young (career-high 14.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 1.7 SPG, and 0.9 BPG). Young may not get consideration for Most Improved Player in the league this year as his free-throw shooting is down sharply (55.5 FT%, down from 77.1% in 2011-12). However, his turnover rate (7.4 pert 100 possessions) is among the five lowest in the league. Despite becoming the second-best offensive option in Philly, his usage rate is surprisingly down from previous seasons. Expect that to change as the regular season draws to a close.

New Hawk acquisition Shelvin Mack had a cup of tea with the Sixers about a month ago, playing just seven minutes in four games. He was invited back to the Wizards after getting waived in training camp, actually starting in his first two games, but was dropped in a squeeze play once John Wall was prepared to return. A fairly stable passer and energetic defender, Mack will have time to work on his wayward jumpshot and conditioning behind Jeff Teague and Devin Harris.

Sixers Coach Doug Collins has that Larry Brown look about him. Buoyed by the prospects of The ‘Drew and Jrue Show, Collins signed a contract in October extending his services through 2013-14. But with the chips not falling and the season unraveling, Collins seems to be at wit’s end and looking for the nearest exit out of the City of Brotherly Shove.

The 76ers sit in the ninth-place position, ten games behind the Hawks with 23 games to go, with Toronto and Detroit nipping at their heels. Any opportunity the Hawks allow Philadelphia to pull off a victory at Philips Arena tonight would greatly disappoint paying fans and serve merely as a granted stay for the Sixers’ eventual execution.

Go Hawks!

~lw3

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[Hawkfan89]

LETS GO HAWKS!!

[PSSSHHHRRR87]

Slow start, but all is good at half time... Tolly and Jeff are killing it!

[Admin]

Man that start was fugly! So bad that we're down 8-0, the crowd is quiet except for the soccer cheer and they pan to the bench and you see the newest Hawk looking around at the stands and clearly thinking something like "man we had better crowds than this in the D-League". But we only had to go scoreless for what 4-5 minutes with 5 TO's (including 3 straight by his PGness Josh Smith) before LD called timeout and got us settled down. We've looked pretty awesome since then with Teague having a nice half and Tolliver doing work on both ends of the floor. Really, really nice to have Korver back out there tonight and even Jenkins got some good shots up. Sure hope we run away with this thing and end that embarrassing losing streak to the Sixers tonight!

[benhillboy]

They got Damien too? Watching this team makes me appreciate Ferry that much more. They have a guy starting that was a scrub in our most embarrassing years.

[Admin]

They got Damien too? Watching this team makes me appreciate Ferry that much more. They have a guy starting that was a scrub in our most embarrassing years.

Don't hate on Royale with Cheese! And damn why does Damien always blow up against Atlanta?

[benhillboy]

Good win. All we needed was home cooking. Seems Teague isnt a bum after all. He clearly lost gas at the end of the trip. That was a nice graphic of Stingers top PGs, Teague has disposed of them all except Parker. Devin has paid more dividends than I thought he would all season. I don't understand the Tolliver hate here, even though I know most of it is in jest. He's very capable of a good all-around night against a good team, and I'd much rather have him hoisting from outside than Airball Shawty. Let's Go Somewhere.

Edited March 7, 2013 by benhillboy

[lethalweapon3]

"Where would we be without Anthony Tolliver?" #wordsIneverthoughtIdevertype

~lw3

[benhillboy]

No help from Indy with the gaining Celtics, of course the Cats wouldn't help us out versus Brooklyn. Lets Go San An!

[Gray Mule]

Apparently, after feeding him the ball and watching him fan,

(As opposed to, feed him and fan him) and watching three turnovers,

Josh realized there were other players beside himself in a

Hawk uniform.

He proceded to have a good game after he got that out of his system.

As Moses waved his rod and parted the sea, Jeff T. parted the 76ers

defense on his way to the basket.

76ers opened the second half, going inside, over and over. Sometimes

it worked. Great to be at home and win one.

Diesel, did you get to watch?

GOHAWKS!!

[cam1218]

Why does Damien play well against us, but is horrible for us and against any other team with his current team?Good win, we needed it with this stretch of games coming up.

[BrazilianHawk]

All I know is Josh shouldn't be allowed to use his hands during the game.

Most retarded PG ever!

[Bahamut]

I was surprised at how well Damien played too. For like 10 minutes, all I heard was his name announced. Surprised at the amount of people still cheering for the 6ers too. Good game to shake off the last 3 losses.

[macdaddy]

I didn't see the game but i'm glad we won. I'm a big fan of LD but i'm very surprised to see Horford played 41 minutes in a game we led by 20+points at times with Dnps for Ivan and Petro.

I'd like to see Horford start being the goto guy down the stretch but we'll need him not to be worn out come playoff time.

[benhillboy]

I didn't see the game but i'm glad we won. I'm a big fan of LD but i'm very surprised to see Horford played 41 minutes in a game we led by 20+points at times with Dnps for Ivan and Petro. I'd like to see Horford start being the goto guy down the stretch but we'll need him not to be worn out come playoff time.

Yeah that was weird. I don't know what Coach has against Ivan, but there's no doubt it's something. Ideally, I don't want any of our core going over 38 minutes unless we're going head to head with a playoff spot contender or in the playoffs.

[Watchman]

It appears that I owe an apology to Mr. Tolliver. Good game.

[Admin]

I didn't see the game but i'm glad we won. I'm a big fan of LD but i'm very surprised to see Horford played 41 minutes in a game we led by 20+points at times with Dnps for Ivan and Petro.

I'd like to see Horford start being the goto guy down the stretch but we'll need him not to be worn out come playoff time.

Ivan is going to be out for a bit with this dislocated finger from what I heard on NBA TV. For whatever reason, LD doesn't like to play Petro except against bigger C's and I'm guessing it's so he'll be fresh for those matchups, but I think at the same time he'll be rusty too. Would have liked to have seen Scott get some minutes and definitely wanted our starters out of there earlier than they were but we kept letting them back in the game and I'm guessing LD was afraid they'd go on a big run against our reserves.

[Peoriabird]

definitely wanted our starters out of there earlier than they were but we Josh Smith kept letting them back in the game

Corrected

[Admin]

Corrected

Josh actually only had 1 TO after that first 5 minute stretch of the game in which he had 3 straight TO's. I thought for sure he had more but that's all that's listed in the box score.

[Guest]

Josh actually only had 1 TO after that first 5 minute stretch of the game in which he had 3 straight TO's. I thought for sure he had more but that's all that's listed in the box score.

It wasn't about turnovers it was about dat da daaa....you guessed it SHOT SELECTION - I was listening to the game and heard Dominique and Bob saying 'that's not a shot you want, Josh should have given the ball up there, don't need to take that shot there, get inside. The usual. Those kinda shots are turnovers.

Edited March 7, 2013 by JayBirdHawk