Saturday, January 26, 2008
SIXERS NEWS
Having lost three games in a row, the Sixers actually needed a win tonight to stay ahead of the Knicks in the standings. Thanks to a big third quarter the Sixers managed to pull out a win over the Charlotte Bobcats in Charlotte. Offensively, only three Sixers scored in double figures(Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Louis Williams) with Iggy's 33 leading the way. Defensively, Samuel Dalembert was again the standout with 14 rebounds and 3 blocks, as the Sixers out rebounded Charlotte 49-42 and held the Bobcats to just 40 % shooting from the field. Long story short, it was the Sixer's defense that won them the day. Through the first period of play the Bobcats jumped out a 27-20 lead. By the half the bobcat lead was up to 8 with the score 55-47. The third quarter was a different story as the Sixers outscored Charlotte 33-16 and surged to a nine point lead, with the score 80-71. In the 4th quarter the Sixers traded baskets with the Bobcats and hung on to win 103-96. So the Sixers improve to 17-28 overall but remain in 4th place in the Atlantic division.
Friday, January 25, 2008
SIXERS NEWS
If anything could get the Sixers out of this tailspin they are currently in it would be a game against the equally atrocious Knicks, one of only two teams in the Eastern conference with a record worse than the Sixers(Pat Riley's Miami Heat is the other). The last time these two met, the Sixers crushed the Knicks in back to back games, as part of a weekend home and home series. Tonight in New York, that unfortunately would not be the case. Offensively, four Sixers scored in double figures(Willie Green, Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Samuel Dalembert) with Iggy's 24 leading the way. Defensively, it was a team effort with the Sixers getting out rebounded by New York 44-38. However, since neither team performed all that well offensively, the defensive ability of the two teams, took a back seat tonight to their total ineptness on offense. In other words, this was not a well played game, by any stretch of the imagination. Through the first quarter of play, the Knicks jumped out a quick 28-23 lead. The Sixers pushed back within 4 by the half with the score 50-46. In the 3rd quarter New York edged its lead back up to 6, with the score 72-66. In the 4th quarter the Sixers put together yet another late surge and with 5 minutes left they were within 2 points of the Knicks. From there, they missed 6 shots in a row, including three free throws, while the Knicks sunk their last three shots and hung on to win 89-81. So the Sixers drop to 16-28 overall, but as always remain in 4th place in the Atlantic Division, just ahead of the Knicks.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
FLYERS NEWS
In a key contest and their last until after the all-star break, the Flyers faced off with the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight. Coming into the game a win for either team could set them up to head into the break leading the Atlantic division. In a back and forth shootout it would be the Orange and Black, who would outlast Pittsburgh. Through the first period of play, the match started true to form. Midway through the period R.J Umberger put the Flyers up 1-0. Then late in the period Evgeni Malkin tied it at 1 for Pittsburgh. Late in the second period Randy Jones put the Flyers up 2-1, but again the Pens answered, this time in the form of a Peter Sykora power play goal to tie it at 2. Early in the 3rd period Jim Vandermeer scored on the power play for a 3-2 Flyers lead, but just a minute later Ryan Whitney scored shorthanded to tie it up again at 3. Finally, just over five minutes into the period Mike Knuble put the Flyers up for good 4-3. From there Marty Biron, starting in goal for the first time in a while, held the lead until the Orange and Black had won 4-3. With the Devils losing tonight as well, the Flyers not only improve to 27-16-5 overall, but also move back into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division. So the Flyers are in good shape heading into the break.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
SIXERS NEWS
Tonight the Sixer's hosted the Detroit Pistons at the Wachovia center, and despite yet another loss they acquitted themselves well. Considering Detroit came in with the 2nd best record in Eastern conference, while the Sixers came in with the third worst, you would think the game would have been a blowout win for Detroit. Instead, the Sixers stood their ground and kept it close until the bitter end. As always with the Detroit, it was a defense fueled night. So while four Sixers scored in double figures(Andre Iguodala, Willie Green, Andre Miller, Louis Williams) the leading scorer was Green with only 16 points. Defensively, the Sixers performed far more admirably. Samuel Dalembert led the way with 13 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Reggie Evans chipped in 11 rebounds, as the Sixers out rebounded Detroit 47-33. On the other hand Detroit took better care of the ball with only 9 turnovers to the Sixers 18, and that was really the difference. Through the 1st quarter of play the Pistons clung to a 25-23 lead. In the 2nd quarter Detroit upped its lead to 9, with the halftime score 50-41. Rather than pull away in the 3rd quarter, Detroit was forced to fend off a Sixers charge which cut the lead to 7 with the score 70-63. In the 4th quarter, the Sixers stayed firmly within 2 possessions of Detroit, but could not find the late firepower to vanquish them and finally lost 86-78. So the Sixers drop to 16-27 overall, but yes, they still remain in 4th place in the Atlantic division.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers faced off with the New Jersey Devils tonight at the Wachovia Center for the right to take sole possession of first place in the Atlantic division. Sadly, as they have all season the Devils pounded the Flyers into the submission for a crushing defeat. In the end the difference on the night was the power play. The Devils scored 5 power play goals in 7 chances, while the Flyers managed just 2 in 8 chances. That just won't get it done against the Devils. The 1st period of play was a back and forth tussle. Danny Briere scored early in the period for a 1-0 Flyers lead. Johnny Oduya answered on the power play to knot it at 1. Mike Knuble briefly put the Flyers back ahead 2-1, then New Jersery, reeled off two late power play goals by Jamie Langenbrunner and former Flyer Dainius Zubrus for a 3-2 lead heading into the break. Late in the 2nd period Patrick Elias and Zach Parise scored 2 more Devils power play goals for a 5-2 lead, before Jeff Carter tapped in a power play goal in the final seconds of the period to cut the lead to 5-3 heading into the 3rd period. There Parise and Elias did it again, this time at even strength early in the period for an insurmountable 7-3 lead. Not surprisingly that's the way it ended with a 7-3 Devils victory. So the Flyers drop to 26-16-5 and back down into 3rd place in the Atlantic division.
Monday, January 21, 2008
SIXERS NEWS
The Sixers celebrated Martin Luther King day by welcoming the Indiana Pacers and old Sixers' head coach Jim O'brien to the Wachovia center for an afternoon matinee. From the beginning Indiana began drilling three pointers, and just never stopped, and despite yet another late surge the Sixers fell short. Offensively, four Sixers scored in double figures( Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, Louis Williams) with Iggy's 23 leading the way. Defensively, Samuel Dalembert led the way again with 9 rebounds and 2 blocks, as the Sixers out rebounded Indiana 44-38. Unfortunately, that was once again more because of Indiana's hot shooting, than because of the Sixers out muscling the Pacers on the boards, as Indiana shot over 50% from the field and from beyond the arc, drilling 14 three pointers. In the first quarter of play, the Pacers jumped out to an early 32-19 lead on the heels of 5 three pointers. The 2nd quarter was closer, but the Sixers could only trade baskets and actually fell further behind heading into the half(14 pts, 63-49). In the 3rd quarter the Sixers finally made some middling inroads, cutting the lead to 11, with the score 90-79. In the 4th quarter, the Sixers made their usual late surge cutting the lead all the way down to 5 with 39 seconds to play, before the Pacers hit their free throws and hung on to win 110-103. So the Sixers drop to 16-26 overall, but remain in 4th place in the Atlantic division.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
FLYERS NEWS
The Flyers stayed hot tonight and crushed the Eastern Conference leading Ottawa Senators. Antero Niittymaki got yet another start and saved 25 of the 26 shots he faced to spirit the Orange and Black to victory. In the first period of play, Braydon Coburn scored an early goal and Scott Hartnell added a late goal for a 2-0 Flyers lead. Early in the second period Scottie Upshall and R.J Umberger scored a couple early goals for a 4-0 Flyers lead. Then Midway through the period Chris Kelly finally put Ottawa on the board, cutting the lead to 4-1. Finally, in the 3rd period Sami Kapanen scored an early goal and Scottie Upshall added a late power play goal to cap an easy 6-1 Flyer's victory. So the with win the Flyers move into a log jammed three way tie for first place in the Atlantic division with the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins. That's pretty good considering they were in last place not too long ago, wouldn't you say?
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