SIXERS NEWS

Fresh off back to back losses to sub par teams the Sixer's welcomed Kobe Bryant and the Western Conference leading L.A Lakers to the Wachovia center tonight. While the Sixers probably should have won their last couple games, there only chance tonight was for the Lakers to try to coast through this one. The Laker's did coast most of the night, and the Sixers were thus able to stay with them for most of the night, but it didn't matter. With all the talent L.A has these days they are one of the few teams that is good enough to coast some nights and still win easily. Tonight was no exception. The Sixers only trailed by one after the 1st quarter, but L.A turned on the intensity in the 2nd quarter take a 9 point lead into the half. In the 3rd quarter a red hot AI, in a entertaining duel with Kobe, managed to rally the Sixers to within 3, but again L.A turned up intensity just enough to finish the quarter ahead by 9. In the 4th quarter L.A coasted again but at that point the Sixers had already wasted all of their energy rallying back in the 3rd quarter, so the Lakers easily went on to win 99-91.

There's not much you can say about this one. The Sixer's were just thoroughly outclassed by L.A on this night. It really wasn't as close as the final score would indicate. It was close only because as usual the Lakers didn't put forth a full effort. The Sixers on other hand had to put in a strong effort to just to lose by 9. Offensively, AI had 23 to lead the way, Elton Brand had 19 and 9 rebounds, Sammy Dalembert had 10 and 12 rebounds, and Thad Young added 10 off the bench. Defensively, the Sixers, who are really the smaller of the two teams, actually outrebounded L.A pretty handily, 44 - 36, and held them to just 20% shooting from beyond the arc. None of that effort mattered in the end though which really shows the disparity in talent between these two teams.

This was the Sixers 3rd loss in a row. While they've only won 3 in a row a handful of times this season, they've lost 3 in a row more times than I count this season. Thus, it's no surprise that they currently have the 2nd worst record in the Eastern conference at 15-31 overall. This could be the beginning of long rest of the season for the Sixers. NBA Draft lottery here we come.